The “elusive” status of Westbrook was enough to overcome the fact that the forecast predicted solid rain all day (to the point where the race website posted a pop-up indicating that the race would go on, rain or shine). The town is one of the closer targets left on my list, now numbering less than 50, and I set out in the downpour, up 95 to Westbrook, where I don’t think I’ve ever been before. Despite the rain requiring some double-time wipers and making visibility on the drive pretty poor, it calmed down by the time I arrived, and the race itself wasn’t bad.

Again, 25:00 seems to be the new 23:00, which I keep trying to touch again, but it wasn’t to be, especially with a back muscle that seized up at mile one and the stiff breeze along Long Island Sound on the way back. I managed a decent finish, in a race that was won by a 17 year-old who finished a full two minutes ahead of the next finisher.

Daisy Dash | 5K | 3/23/24 | 25:20 | 125/169