When Annie turns off Route 6 she has lost sight of Charlie. For him, five miles is not as difficult as it is for Annie. Like many recreational runners, she wishes she had trained more and was in better shape, but life always seems to get in the way and the next thing she knows it is the 4th of July. Annie’s favorite part of the race is the approach to Ned’s Point Lighthouse. Runners who are new to the area are always struck by the view in front of them – the lighthouse and the open water beyond the stone wall is amazing. It often gives Annie the urge to just stop and enjoy the view. The runners surge around Ned’s Point because it is flat surface, grabbing water as they go. There is a short downhill piece which gives Annie a little breather before she will hit the Mattapoisett Road Race version of Heartbreak Hill: Oakland Street.
Annie knows some of the runners will have turned up the volume on their headsets so they can’t hear how hard they are breathing. But everyone pushes on because the fans are out in front of their homes cheering them on. Many have music playing loud enough for the runners to hear. Facing the last two miles is the moment when Annie tells herself she will finish no matter what. Some people have given up but most are still moving. Over the years, Annie has spoken to enough participants to know how important finishing is. Last year she had a chance to talk to Joe Fernandez, the oldest person to run the race. Still running in his early 80s, Joe thinks this is one of the best races and visually “picturesque.”
The turn on to Oakland Street if the sun is out is torture. At least it is overcast today. Now Annie and the other runners are faced with the need to push themselves physically and mentally. One of the “senior” runners told Annie that Mile 4 is her “Wednesday” mile, also known as her “hump” mile. And, of course, there are all those runners who are passing Annie which just gets her mad, especially the ones who are obviously older than she is. She consoles herself by thinking they have had more practice than she has. Of course, she knows this is just delusional thinking; in her heart she knows they are just in better shape and better runners than she is.
Heading into the last mile next week we will hear how Annie, Charlie and others feel as the finish line comes into view.