Trish Hillery wins Run For Humanity 5K Outright in Attleboro, MA.
By Robert Rose
Posted Sunday, 20 March, 2005
A year ago at the Run For Humanity 5K, Providence's Kim Thalmann held the lead at the one mile mark, raising the expectation of the unprecedented, a woman winning a local road race. Thalmann's aspirations were dashed when Medfield's Jeremy Ruud moved ahead and won the Attleboro race. Thalmann finished only six seconds back in 2004, lending credence that a woman's day was near. It came Saturday when Trish Hillery broke through the barricade.
The Smithfield, RI resident won the 2005 Run For Humanity 5K in 18:10, easily fending off North Attleboro's Jeff LaPlante. "It was fun; I enjoyed it. It was the first time that I won outright in America," the Irish native said. "Once I felt that I could, I decided that I really wanted to."
Hillery in the lead pack at the Run For Humanity 5K has been a common sight in recent years. Last year she placed fifth overall and in 2003 was the women's champion. When the starting gate opened, Hillery was in a familiar setting, jockeying for the lead with Sharon's Steve Connolly, Attleboro's Larry O'Toole, Corey McKearney and LaPlante. She took the lead within the first half mile with Connolly briefly linking up with her. "I felt good," Connolly said. "I knew I could run a 5:30. When I saw she was running a 5:30, I hung with her for the first mile but she had more endurance." Shortly before the first mile, Hillery lost her partner.
"It would have been nice to run with him for a little bit more," Hillery said. "I didn't want to let him pass me but I liked running beside him. It's nice to have someone to pace off of but I didn't want to cut the pace so I kept on going because I like to go out fast and then hang on the last mile." Hillery
cruised through the first mile in 5:29 extending the breech to thirty yards with Connolly fading on the horizon. True to form, Hillery did slow in the second mile (11:35), which allowed LaPlante an opportunity to become a contender.
"I tend to relax in my first mile, which helps me," LaPlante said of the early going. "I just stayed with Steve and Larry and I did a 5:48 and I tried to stay even with that but I couldn't. "In the final mile, LaPlante gained on Hillery but the mathematics of the situation made winning improbable. "I made up some ground," he said. "She was twenty seconds ahead of me in the first mile. The first mile was where the race was won or lost. Even if she's fading, she's going to run a 6:10. That means I've got to run a 5:50 and I didn't have a 5:50 in me at that point. So I wasn't trying to beat the girl; I was just trying to run my race."
For the greater part, Hillery was running alone, unusual for her in a race situation. "I enjoy running by myself," she said. "I'm very used to pacing so that's why I was able to run comfortably. I didn't feel fast but I felt very strong. Early in the season like this that's enough. I'll take it."
She was pleased with her accomplishment but not overwhelmed. It was the sport and the act of participation that brought the most satisfaction. "I could get used to winning outright," she admitted. "There's so much good talent out here that's it's probably once in a blue moon. I'm just glad to get a race in. I haven't had a race in quite a while. It's nice to get one in."
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