The Harpoon 5 Miler is my absolute favorite road race of the year. And for many reasons: I love the course — you start at the brewery in South Boston and head through the industrial park, by the cruise terminal and down towards the harbor. There’s a section where you do a loop around a park and you’re right up next to the water and you can see Castle Island. It’s an amazing view.
I love the after party. After the race, the party starts outside the brewery — there’s a DJ, food, and, of course, Harpoon beer on tap. Everyone is just so happy and after running 5 miles on a Sunday morning, you feel like you’ve really earned that beer!
And it’s always the Sunday before my birthday, so this race has turned into my official kick-off to birthday week!
Also, 5 years ago today was the first road race that I ever did and it just happened to be the 5 Miler! So I have a lot of history with this race.
Due to COVID-19, today’s Harpoon 5 Miler was a virtual event. My husband and I registered for the event, received race bibs in the mail (I wore mine for a photo and then took it off, don’t tell!), and went out in our town to do our 5 miles. The one plus — we didn’t get up as early as we usually do on a normal race day to get into Boston and also didn’t start our race until 12 p.m.
5 miles isn’t a super easy distance. I definitely do better on a race day because the other folks running motivate me to go faster, be better. Today I was slow. I did the full 5 miles, but it wasn’t my best time. I felt slow and heavy for most of the race. And I really missed having water stops out on the course!
But my husband made sure to stand out at the “finish line” to cheer me on and take photos like he normally does at a race. And that made me feel good, and pushed me to the finish line.
Was it the best Harpoon 5 Miler ever? No, but it was good to get out and do a run even if I was by myself. And it will just make me more excited for next year.
Notes from a Self Quarantine 