Steel Rail Half Marathon

Sunday morning Jordan and I drove over to Lanesborough, Massachusetts for the Steel Rail Half Marathon. I had wanted to run this race last year but didn’t get a chance to, so I signed up this year. It is advertised as being flat and fast since it’s on a paved rail trail that runs from Lanesborough to Adams, Massachusetts with views of the Berkshire Mountains. There is also a free beer from Berkshire Brewing Company waiting at the finish!

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The race started at 9:30 so we didn’t have to get up at an ungodly hour to drive the morning of. It was about an hour drive from Troy and despite getting lost once we still got there with a half hour to spare. I picked up my packet (no lines!) and chatted with Jona, who was also running the race, while we waited for the race to start.

The race began and it was warm and getting warmer by the minute. The first two miles were laps around the Berkshire Mall’s parking lot. I could have done without those miles for sure. Finally, we got on the rail trail and were greeted with some stunning views.

The first five or six miles were pretty brutal. My legs were feeling heavy and I just didn’t feel it. I honestly wanted to quit the race and actually thought this race might be my first ever DNF. However, spotting Jordan at one of the spectator spots around mile 9 I gave him my heart rate monitor (it was chaffing!) and continued on. I started to feel much better and ran the rest of the race feeling great.

Before I knew it I was at the end. The medals are awesome. I enjoyed a Steel Rail Pale Ale along with some BBQ they were selling at the finish line. Delicious!

Overall it was a nice race, despite the almost too-warm weather. I would run it again!

Steel Rail Half Marathon – #19
13.1 miles
2:20:11
10:41/mile average pace