Pirates Week 5k 2019

Almost perfect conditions in Grand Cayman for the annual running of the Pirates’ Week 5k which starts the full weekend of festival activities. A cool breeze and the sun going down is a welcome positive for those on the start line at 5.30pm. The course starts and finishes on Harbour Drive next to Bar Crudo with runners heading along South Church Street passing Sunset House, Grand Old House and Smith Barcadere before taking a turn up Websters where the half-way turn was located. Around the cone and pass the timing panels that provided the Half-way Split times, then all the way back – and if you were quick it was still daylight.The race started on time and once the pace settled down it was last year’s winner Patrick Harfield who stormed off into a healthy lead setting a fast pace and reaching 2.5k in 8:25. A group of young athletes were running together with Juan Pablo Valerio, Abraham Whittaker and Levi Superville around 26 seconds behind Patrick by the turn. Wyatt Bodden and James Crooks were running together and turned in 9.09. In the ladies race, visitor Jenna Parker was some distance ahead of her nearest rival and reached 2.5k turn in 9.46. Ava Hider was 32 seconds behind at the Turn with Kirsten Cellier and Doireann Lynch turning around 12 minutes for 3^rd and 4^th spots.The key to running well in any race is knowing how to pace and try to feel strong on the second half of the race, hopefully running the second 2.5k the same speed or even quicker than the first, which we runners call ‘Negative Splits’. James Crooks did this perfectly running marginally quicker on the second half which pulled him ahead of Wyatt and moved him past Juan Pablo and finishing in fourth place but not quite enough to pass Abraham who finished third. Meanwhile, Levi also had the bit between his teeth as he could see Patrick who had slowed a little on the way back, and although Levi’s splits were almost identical he could not catch Patrick but he did finish very strong in second place in a time of 17:46, whilst Patrick did what he had to do for a comfortable win in 17:33.No change in the ladies race as Jenna stayed consistent and won in 19:42, whilst Ava was second in 21:17. The battle for 3^rd and 4^th was tight but Kirsten just managed to stay ahead of Doireann, who after all is only 11 years old.Thanks to Pirates Week office for all they do, thanks of course to all the volunteers who turned out to help, thanks also to the sponsors and most of all, thanks to the participants who support this race.

Pirates Week 5k 2019 Results