Janet Bawcom Hits the Road Again

Published by NYRR on October 16, 2013

Janet Bawcom, who plans to make her ING New York City Marathon debut on November 3, clocked 32:28 in finishing fourth in Monday’s Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women. Although she hadn't raced since July 4 because of injury, the time was just one second off her 2011 personal best.

“It felt a little quicker than I wanted but I felt strong, so that’s a very good sign, for sure,” said Bawcom, 35.

Known as a prolific racer, Bawcom lined up 13 times last year. By contrast, the Tufts 10K was only her fifth race of 2013 as she battled shin splints. The ever-smiling, late-blooming pro won the USA 15K Championships, her first race of the season, in early March, but after finishing eighth in the Peachtree Road Race 10K on July 4 took about a month off to heal.

“I have been so itching to get on the roads so bad,” she said. “I didn’t know how [Tufts] was going to stack up. For somebody who races so often, you kind of know yourself, and for me not racing in three months I didn’t know what to expect. I’m excited just to be back and feeling fast for once.”