Heartbreaker Half was one of my very favorite races I've ran this year. It was definitely on the quaint side but what a nice comparison to the whole megarace vibe like the Shamrock. The course was hilly, the medal was meager but the total effect of the race in whole was of a charming delight in support of charity and suffused with positive energy.
It was located in... I want to say Hillsboro? Out yonder in the western boonies off of 26 in a farming community characterized by rolling hills, lush greenery and the difference of scale and grandeur between the residences. It seemed like a hardscrabble rural community confronting rich newcomers with 8,000 sq foot homes who only want to farm protected viewscapes. But that's neither here nor there. It was very pretty.
The starting area was Liberty High School which was a real John Hughesian place. It felt like real Americana. Tons of signs promoting extracurricular, clean and expansive facilitiess and a big banner with the college admission or post-graduate plans of every graduating senior. It just had a real nice energy to it.
Course itself was quite attractive. Two loops of a road track featuring rolling farmland, great old trees, a variety of houses and farms and a real cool old pioneer cemetery.The loops were extended out for an additional mile through the addition of “Heartbreaker Hill,” a separately timed uphill climb around mile 4.
The grade was not overly challenging but I certainly could feel it. It was on the way to rejoin the road for a second loop that we passed what was far and away the coolest part of the course. There was a huge old wooden rail trestle; completely out-of-place and incredibly alien to the landscape. It dominated the horizon, looking like the wall the natives of Skull Island erect to keep out Kong
I would google this trestle (aka the Dick Road trestle which, hey don’t laugh...) later and found out that it is the site of numerous urban legends and ghost stories. I did not witness any phantom hanging specters myself but I did get a real kick out of seeing this fantastic piece of vintage America. Later I’d find out that the trestle is, incredibly, still in use as a train crossing. This is something I’d love to see.
By the end of the race we had all substantially spread out and there was no one in front or behind me except for a young woman with the same pace. We had a greatly competitive final mile that added a frisson of challenge before crossing the finish line together.
After the race I was extremely heartened to receive an email from the organizing charitable body describing some of the inspirational stories of some of the people who raced. These people included former drug addicts and homeless runaways being united with their families for the first time in years. I have felt the transformative power that comes with recognizing ones ability to transcend your own beliefs about your body. Completing something you never believed you’d be able to has real carry-over benefits for the rest of your life. It’s one of the ways in which improvement through hard work in any field can really help instill a dynamic and transformative mindset.
This was an excellent race by any rubric. It supported positive charities, its organizers ensured an inclusive race experience and the course was just gorgeous. I’m very excited for next year
