Late into August and I have not raced since mid July! Training has been good and mileage is up, just the weekends are so busy with other things. Some great hikes around Mt Rainier and the Olympics, I'm thinking of starting a blog for our day hikes. When I read about this 5K I jumped at the chance. I also realized that this would allow my streak of running at least one race per calendar month to continue past 32!
$10 entry!! Put on by Terra Perkins and Tailwind Runners!! On the trails at Priest Point Park so close to home! Weather is so nice! Watermelon and raffles after! 5K and 10K options, I am going to run the 5K
Great to see some friends and even chat with runners I have not met before.
Only issue before the race is not fully knowing the course. I wish that I ran here more often. I am provided with a map, but that only confuses me a little. A little worried about the cross trails over near the water. But Terra tells us all to take the long loop over there, staying along the water and also she has marked the route with ribbon. I am uncomfortable enough that I take a copy of the map to carry with me.
Start - We line up at the rose garden, at the stop sign by the turn to the bridge. We are all facing forward but will immediately turn left and go over East Bay Drive. I position myself on the left so that when we start I am in front and have room to run. There are about 50 runners here, most doing the 5K. No fast folks other than Martinho and he is running the 10K.
Mile 0.1 - Over the bridge, right and down the parking lot, left on to East Bay and quick left on the trail. I am leading the way.
Mile 0.4 - Gnarly trail. Serious up and down. Over wood bridges, up wooden steps, single track roots and rocks. Martinho catches up to me and we navigate together. No one else close behind. When my heart is not pounding from the uphill climbs, this is super fun. Side trail to the left, but that just goes to an overlook....I think. Another side trail right and Martinho says that one goes down to the beach. Unsure if we are going the right way, almost going to turn back, and then there is a ribbon.
Mile 1 - Another questionable spot and I pull out my map which helps me gain confidence, then another ribbon so we are sure we are OK.
Mile 1.3 - "Major" trail intersection. We stop and see a ribbon for our left turn, but to my dismay there are 4 runners coming at us from the right. They clearly took a shorter route and since we saw the ribbons on every piece of trail we were on I am sure that they inadvertently cut the course short, but Martinho and I have done it correctly. I think I am still in front but a pack is on my heels so I pick it up about as fast as I can on this wider flat section.
Mile 1.5 - Water stop and exit at Flora Vista Road. I ask if I am in front and they say no, I am in 5th place. Turn on to East Bay and I can see 4 runners ahead of me, some quite far. So discouraging and frustrating!! I have to have a serious attitude check. I think of how some people would get all bent out of shape and demand justice from the race director. But really this is meant to be a fun run and I am grateful to be out here. The 10K runners should turn left here, but none of them do. This will create mass confusion for that race.
Mile 2 - Back over the bridge and loop down to the road again. I pass one guy and enter the trail on the east side of the park. Working hard I pass two together, who admit that their distance is short as we know we are near the end. Can't see the first place person so no need to push it hard on the last bit
Finish - Cross the line and find that Jenny has been declared the winner. We discuss the route and compare GPS distances as the others come in. I seem to be about two tenths of a mile longer than the others. My watch reads 2.91 miles. There is no way to fix things, so Terra will just leave the results as is. There is no prize for overall winner and I can claim first male if I want to brag.
Decide to jog a mile cool down and find Martinho coming back on the road. I run with him and when we have to stop to consult the map, Bill zooms by on his bike. The 10K as Martinho ran it is going to be very short, so he loops around, finds a random trail and eventually connects with another 10K runner and they just run around until they get in 6.2 miles.
Meanwhile it is watermelon and raffle time. Pleasant post race atmosphere. A few raffles like a "Gu boquet" but the big prize is that Terra has divided the race proceeds into two prizes each of $250 cash. Alas I do not win, but we are all so happy to see a young lady (going into 8th grade I think) take home one of the big cash awards.
So a mess of a course in a couple of places, but I would totally come run this one again.
29:17
Race#424, 5K#111
*****
