Kicked off July with my first 10K since 2013!
Greg and I both ran the Mind the Gap 10k supporting the Eastern Trail up in Maine. The Eastern Trail Alliance is working hard to close the 1.6 mile gap in the trail between Scarborough and South Portland. When they do, there will be 16 miles of continuous off-road trail for running, biking and walking! It’s a beautiful trail and a great cause (you can donate here).
It’s also Plastic Free July, a month dedicated to helping people take the challenge to refuse single-use plastics. I opted to skip the plastic cups at the race water station and ran with my reusable water belt instead. Not only was it eco-friendly, but I could also drink water every mile, a benefit in the heat and humidity.
Besides, at my pace a little extra weight from carrying my own water isn’t a big deal. I’m not breaking any records here. (Greg, on the other hand, got second place over-all!)
This was the first year of the Mend the Gap 10k, but there were hints that it might become an annual event. Around 90 runners participated, making it a low key race with easy parking, short bathroom and registration lines, and a relaxed vibe.
Running included some roads and some of the Eastern Trail, and the one street crossing had a police officer stopping cars for the runners. Volunteers at every turn made it easy to stay on course despite some turns. The turnaround point wasn’t at the halfway mark, which can be mentally tough if you’re not prepared for that, but the course was precisely 6.2 miles!
The race wasn’t chip timed and it included trail running, so it’s not the fastest 10k course out there but it’s absolutely gorgeous running the trails through the Scarborough marshes.
The race was sponsored by Mend Health & Wellness, who said at the end that they do Active Release Technique and Graston Technique which is what resolved my plantar fascia issues in 2017.
Overall, it was a great community event and fun to get out on the trails with other runners to support making it easier for everyone to exercise in a safe and beautiful off-road environment!