The Ridge Run, which is hosted by the Beverly Area Planning Association, is well known to runners in the area as a competitive and semi-challenging race that everyone should try to take on at some point. A race doesn’t get to be 40 years old without being a great running experience.
This year, the 10k was added to the CARA Runner’s Choice Circuit so some friends and I decided to take the trip to the Beverly area to give it a chance. As an added challenge, I registered for both the 10k and the 5k, which started 90 minutes apart.
The 10k started first at 8 a.m. and lived up to its reputation as not being the flattest course around. Even though there were plenty of ups and downs, the course actually moved along quite quickly* and I ended up with a better finishing time than I thought I would get with the effort I was putting in. (*The course moved by quickly until that last turn where the straightaway seemed to last forever. Counting down the street numbers knowing the finish was at 97th Street did not help to pass the time.)
As you were running, you could tell that the community not only was fully aware of the race, but were proud to show off their community as runners and friends went by their houses. There were multiple spots where residents were playing music, putting out their sprinklers or setting up their own aid stations just to be a part of the event.
The 5k started at 9:30 a.m. and started with the same first mile and a half as the 10k. Mentally, this helped a lot as I was now familiar with many of the streets and hills around the course. The 5k course, in my opinion, can be a fast one, and a good opportunity to hit a goal time if you are looking for a race to put in a max effort. Running the double is also a good way to prepare for any half marathons you may be running in the summer.
The finish line set-up was excellent with the last 100 meters of the race being totally fenced off with the fence line continuing past the finish line for another 100 meters or so, so runners never had to worry about a stray spectator getting in the way or a clog after the race ended. There was plenty of food for finishers and the park had a picnic area set up with tables and umbrellas which made for a relaxing post-race experience. My friends and I commented that this would be a wonderful area to bring our own tent and grill and enjoy a long morning outing with friends. If that is not your thing, the Memorial Day Parade passed right by the park so you could plop down your blanket and watch the floats go by.
It was a perfect, patriotic morning in Beverly and a great reminder why we honor the veterans that sacrificed for our country.
