Cranford Firecracker 4 Mile Race Review

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July!  July 4th to me always means the Cranford Firecracker 4 Mile Race.  This was my 4th year running the race and I have the pint glasses to prove it!

This year was a little different because my local friend came to the race with me.  She has been joining Lucas and I on our morning BOB stroller runs a couple of times a week and we also did the Share NJ 5k together.  Since we’ve been increasing our pace and mileage, we were excited to test out our fitness sans stroller at the 4 mile race.

Enjoying this morning’s iced coffee in my new pint glass!

We headed to the race around 7:30am but made a quick iced coffee pit stop at DD.  Got to get in my pre-race hazelnut goodness.  We made it to Cranford around 8am and quickly picked up our packets.

My new shoes are so neon that they actually glow.  HAHA!

After watching the kids run the fun run mile, we headed to the start line.   With a boom of a cannon, the 33rd annual Cranford Jaycees Firecracker 4 miler started. The weather was super hot and muggy, so we decided to start slow then see how we feel.  It took about 30 seconds to cross the start line and we finished mile 1 in 10:17.  Mile 2 continued with the flat course wrapping around the local neighborhood and we finished mile 2 in 10 minutes flat.  My friend had to slow down a bit at mile 3 so we initiated a run/walk method and did the mile in 11:40.  She felt much better after our slowdown so we picked up the pace and finished mile 4 in 9:58.  She and I crossed the finish line together and completed the race in 42:23 for an average pace of 10:27.

After grabbing a water and a banana we walked around the finish area.  As we were stretching (well, her not me…I am so not a stretcher), reader Katie came up to say hi!!  Hi Katie! It was so great to meet you yesterday and can’t wait to run into you again at future races.

Then it was time to indulge in the awesome Firecracker 4 miler treat…the free ice cream truck.

The line was a bit long and they had run out of my favorite ice pop but I did score an Oreo ice cream bar.

I love the Cranford Firecracker 4 miler and I can’t wait to bring Lucas to the run next year.  I think decorating the stroller might happen.

After the run the husband, L and I went to a 4th of July BBQ and Lucas tried out the pool for the 1st time.  Verdict – He loved the pool but hated his hat.  :)

How did you spend your 4th of July? Anyone else run a July 4th race?