Super Sunday 2017

This was my third Super Sunday race. In 2015 I ran the 5K and met Team Slow and Thirsties. Last year I stepped up to the 5 Mile run.

Super Sunday 2017

2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the Super Sunday race. This race and several others managed by Race Cancer and Race Menu raise money for cancer prevention and research. At their summer races, Race Cancer Foundation provides sunscreen dispensers!

In late 2014, RACE Cancer Foundation began working on the Sunscreen Squad, an initiative to bring free sunscreen to people where they need it most—at the point of exposure to the sun’s dangerous UV rays. Our sunscreen dispensers are mounted on portable stands, backpacks, bike trailers, and can also be permanently installed in parks and stadiums. On April 20, 2015, the Sunscreen Squad debuted in Hopkinton, MA to protect runners at the 2015 Boston Marathon.

Pennies spent to prevent a highly preventable cancer. Such a simple idea that many of us will never know may have saved our lives.

If you raise at least $100 for Race Cancer, you get a free race bib! The more you raise the more they give you. My friend Jesse volunteers and told me all about it while we were hanging out after the race. I think I’m going to give that a shot next year. I had to raise a lot more than $100 for Boston last year.

Super Sunday Races

The Super Sunday isn’t just one race, how super would that be? The Super Sunday race event is a 5K and a 5 Miler. I’ve run both and this will be my second year running the 5 miler.

Only a handful of races start in Kendall Square. It seems that most start on Sidney Street and run down Mass Ave.

Super Sunday races start on Athaneum Street, go down 3rd and out Broadway. Just after Cambridge Rindge & Latin we take Quincy Street over to Cambridge Street and head for home.

All of the turns at the end of the race are brutal! You can hear the finish line announcer, but the turns just keep coming!

The 5K takes the same route out but vears off Broadway onto Hampshire Street and then takes Lincoln Street over to Cambridge Street.

The 5K route also finishes the same as the 5 Miler, with all of those teasing turns near the end!

When you are spent and you can hear people crossing the finish line it can be tough.

You know you are so close, you can hear it, but you can’t see it!

I guess some people use that for inspiration for the final kick. For me it just seems like a whack over the head when I’m already reeling.

Super Sunday 5 Miler

My office is near the start, so I parked in the garage there. The walk over was amazingly cold with the wind whipping through me running clothes.

I walked into the Genzyme lobby about 8:25 and picked up my bib, number 118, in no time. Then I went across the way to the tents to get my swag. I didn’t know before, but we got to pick two items from seven options!

I selected the tin tumbler and running gloves. They also had coffee mugs, hats, pint glasses and other items. How cool is that?

I hung out in the Genzyme lobby as long as I could. They kept telling us we had to leave after we picked up our numbers. Eventually I had to stop ignoring these nice volunteers and comply. I am way too nice!

I managed to spend a few minutes in the lobby of the near-by condo. The nice guy at the desk told me runners could use the bathrooms but we could not hang out and stay warm. If I was smart I would have talked to that guy for 20 minutes. They didn’t have a sign welcoming or dissuading runners, but it was cool.

It was Fahrenheit cold

So Fahrenheit is like “shut the front door” for polite company. It’s like “Freakin.” What it really means is , it was fucking cold as fucking hell out! It felt like a god damned moon walk! Holy Fahrenheit!

After I left the condo lobby I found a spot in front of Genzyme with a glass panel that worked as a wind block. I wrapped my Mylar sheet around my shoulders and tried to keep warm. It was Fahrenheit futile!

While standing there I saw Judy and Mike Dolan from the Melrose  RC. Mike was in charge of the dog and not running. He was going to the Celtics game later in the afternoon. Always great to see friends at a race.

I also saw Jamie Weinstock. She was in the shwag line, saw me standing in front of Genzyme and ran over to say hello. We spoke for a few minutes and she had to go get back in line.

She signed up for the race as a member of “Team Slow and Thirsties.” Our rag tag band of running nomads!

Around 9:40 I headed for the lobby of the near-by parking garage. I knew I could get a few minutes of relative warmth there. There were a few people there and the guard didn’t seem to mind.

I sorted my gear, checked Facebook and tucked my phone into my running belt. When I opened my pre-race beverage my shivering caused it to spill all over the floor.

It was almost frightening how little control I had over my hand. For a moment I thought, this must be what it’s like to have MS. I watched my hand like it was someone else’s shake the bottle so badly that beverage went everywhere.

With conscious effort I got the bottle to my mouth.

After I had my drink and sorted my gear I headed for the bag check. Even after standing inside for 5 minutes, my hands were almost useless to put my bag tag on.

Now I was at the mercy of the elements: No extra clothes or Mylar blanket to put on.

I went to the last line for the porta potties and imagined how warm they might be inside. Not!

Cold, numb fingers are not your friend in a hurry. The draw string for my shorts turned into a knot. Between the cold, dark and my useless fingers I was in a quandary for a moment.  I quickly realized I had to take my time and un do the knot or I would likely loose my shorts on the run.

The alley in which the porta potties were stationed was a wind tunnel which only enhanced the frigidity which sunk into me.

As I made my way back down the line of porta potties I heard the announcer call the 10 minute warning for the 5 mile race.

Running Super Sunday 5 Miler

I made my way toward Athenaeum Street. The once crowded area in front of Genzyme was eerily empty now. As I crossed to the far side of Athenaeum I looked down the street to the start line. So many guys in shorts and singlets. The hard core.

I nestled into the crowd making their way down the sidewalk and heard my friend Jamie call my name. I said I didn’t need to be this far up, like I was going to keep moving, but stayed.

I ended up talking to some Europeans and a New Yorker. They knew less about football and the Pats than I did.

Allain made some announcements and I wished out loud that he was done and that they would not play the National Anthem. Everyone agreed that was their wish also.

We were off in no time on a verbal start at about 10:05. Very quickly we began to run and crossed the start mats. I knew this route well and made an efficient left onto 3rd Street.

It seemed like a long way getting to Broadway, but we were there in no time. At this point in the race last year I knew I was in trouble. This time, all was good.

As we headed down Broadway the street widened and there was room to move. I cautioned my self to take it easy. 5 miles is still a good run.

Even though I started near the front, I found my self working around people. I didn’t feel like I was running too fast, but mile one came in at 7:56. About what I ran last year.

I felt strong all the way out Broadway and enjoyed taking in the sights. Like many other runners I saw, I frequently checked my watch. Not too fast and how far? Mile two came in at 7:58. Still under 8 and on track.

Just after mile 2 we hit Quincy Street for the turn. Somewhere before the turn I grabbed a cup at the water stop. It seemed early but I knew late in the race that water would make a difference.

We turned onto Cambridge Street and ran past the other side of the Rindge & Latin campus. This was beginning to feel like a race.

For some reason I wore my racing flats. Even though I knew it would be cold, I wore the lightest shoes I own. I had less cushion than I’m used to and could feel each nub of tread.

When we hit a Cambridge hill I tried to maintain my pace and extended my stride on the down hill. Mile 3 came in at 7:58 and my average pace was 7:57.

Mile four felt fast but chimed in at 8:06. I felt pretty good, but must have let up too much.

My average pace was now 8:02. I had to make a decision. What did I want? What could I do? Was I here for a fun run or a race? I decided I was there for a race.

As we continued down Cambridge Street I worked the down hills and pushed up the “hills.” It was cold and I was racing.

Mile five came in at 7:24 on Athenaeum Street with the finish line in view and another 0.12 miles to run. I managed a pace of 6:48 for that fraction of a mile and finished at 40:06 officially.

After kicking in the after burners for the last 1.12 miles I was spent at the finish. I walked down Athenaeum Street to 3rd Street and then jogged down Kendall Street to the party.

Super Sunday Apre Party

When I got to the party area there were very few people. I grabbed some chicken tenders to refuel and headed for a beer. On the way I met my running buddy Jim Gallant. We talked for a minute and had a few laughs.

As I ordered a beer they asked me for my chip. “What chip?” Apparently they were handing those out at the finish. Who knew?

Since I was near the bag check I decided to grab my gear and head for the parking garage lobby. In the relative warmth I changed and bundled up. Then I made my way all the way back to the finish to get my chips.

After I grabbed my two beers I saw “Team Slow and Thirsties” and we headed for Genzyme. In the lobby I saw Judy and Mike Dolan again. Judy’s results slip said “Age Group Winner.” Judy had an extra chip and gave it to me after asking if I would really use it.

I had a great time talking with everyone. When people started heading out for the awards, Judy and Mike started heading out and so did Team Slow and Thirsties.

We all parted ways and I went to get another beer. On the way back towards my car I met Jesse.

She is a family friend and we run into each other occasionally at races. We said hello and chatted briefly. After I got some more chicken tenders I saw Jesse and her friends at a table. I invited my self and they welcomed me.

Everyone was having a good time, even though it was so cold. Jesse had some extra chips and gave me one. We went to one of the beer tents and I got my last beer.

Jesse was a race volunteer and told me all about how she volunteers for different races and gets to run a few races for free. I was fascinated and was glad to hear how it works.

We headed back to the schwag tent where she spoke with one of her fellow volunteers. They had a bunch of stuff left and Jesse hooked me up with a few extras.

We were both freezing and were done drinking.  Next weekend we are running the same race and agreed to meet up.

I enjoyed the race even though it was so cold. The after party was fun because I kept running into people I knew and just couldn’t leave.

Race Results – Race Menu 

Run well my Friends!

Andy