Running into Gillette Stadium: Finish at the 50 5k!
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UPDATE: According to their Facebook page, this event was cancelled in 2023. I hope they bring it back one of these days as it was such an incredible experience. I am sure many others would agree with me!
On Wednesday, I participated in a unique Patriots themed 5k race called Finish at the 50. 2013 marked the 4th anniversary of this amazing race. This race is a must-do for any New England Patriot fan as you get to run directly onto the field at Gillette Stadium! Crossing into the finish line and seeing yourself on the giant 48 foot HGTV screen was a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
The race starts around the stadium. You will then proceed to run up the ramps, down the ramps, and end with a spectacular finish onto the field! Even though I am originally from Chicago, I have always been a huge Patriots and Tom Brady fan, so this was a really special race experience for me. It’s definitely the most exciting 5k race I’ve ever run. I have not been to an actual game yet, so seeing the stadium was pretty cool.
UPDATE: Since moving to Massachusetts, this has been one of my favorite experiences. You can read through my New England travel guide for more of my favorite things about this region.
The Race Experience
Both the 5k and 10k race were packed with participants (over 3500 for the 5k and over 2000 for the 10k!). I was expecting it to be a hot day, but I thought it would cool down a bit before the 5:30pm race time – no such luck/ We were going through a heat streak this week and it was much hotter than usual. My race time was pretty bad due to the extremely hot temperatures (over 90 degrees), but I was still able to place 489/3671 overall and 45/639 in my age group!
Running up the ramps was definitely the hardest part of the 5k – the incline is very high and turning for each ramp really slowed down my time. I was expecting this to be a flat race as I didn’t look up much about it beforehand, so I was pretty surprised. It seems a lot of other runners were having a hard time with the steepness of the ramps. On the bright side, the views of the stadium were amazing!
Imagine running up these ramps in the 90+ degree heat!
We got a bit of a break for the last half mile as we got to run downhill on the ramps on the other portion of the stadium. I needed this to pump me up for the finish line! After running up all those hills it was nice to gain a little bit of speed going downhill. Next year, they could use another water station (there is only 1 stop and a second stop after the ramps would be nice!).
Race day photos
Taking a quick photo before I got all hot and sweaty
The Expo was really crowded, but there were plenty of free samples! I didn’t want to eat much before my run, but we sampled a lot of stuff after the race.
The Starting Line right before the runners started lining up.
Getting ready by your pace group. The race is conveniently organized by pace – basically, you go stand by the group holding the sign closest to your estimated pace. I started around the 8:00 min pace. These pace markers are great because they prevent runners trampling each other. I also feel that they help motivate me a bit. I am probably at a 8:30 min pace, so starting a little bit lower helps motivate me to go a bit faster.
The front of the starting line. Props to these runners – I can’t imagine the effort and training required to reach such an elite level.
Runners take off! That’s me in front of the lady with the blue hat. I look so short in this photo!
The 1st place finisher came in at 17:08! What a feat especially in the extremely hot conditions! I can’t imagine finishing at that time even under ideal conditions.
Your family and friends get to sit in the stands and cheer you on as you cross the finish line. I was happy that Mike was able to be there to cheer me on after a long, hot race.
The Patriots mascot and cheerleaders cheer you on as you cross the finish line! Here’s a pic he let us take before the 5k.
One of the best races in New England! (Especially for football fans!)
I highly recommend training for this 5k, especially if you are a Patriots fan. It was a unique opportunity to be able to run through the same tunnel that the players come out of during the games! It is also motivating to pass the finish line with the cheers and support of thousands of spectators.
Pros of Finish
- Chip-timed
- Organized into pace groups
- Great views of Gillette Stadium
- Opportunity to see yourself on the big screen as you cross in the finish line
- Great restaurants and shopping at Patriots Place after the race
- Amazing food samples before and after the race
- Healthy snacks like organic salad and Whole Foods samples
- Fireworks show after the race (not as good as I expected, but still worth staying around for)
- Misting fans to cool off after the race
Cons
- Ran out of small size T-shirts
- No awards ceremony
- Goodie bag wasn’t spectacular
- Not allowing spectators on the field
- A bit pricey ($40)
- Not enough water stops (It was really hot out and we could have used at least one other stop on the 5k!)
To sign up for next year’s 5k or 10 race, visit the following website:
