I did the 5k right here in our tiny town for a third time, the second time on this course. It was cold. Although warmer than I expected, the wind chill was 15, making this probably the coldest race I’ve done…unless my runner’s amnesia is flaring. This race has grown exponentially. It sold out before Thing 1’s friends signed up. So I told her we’d run it together. The night before she hemmed and hawed. I knew she didn’t want to run it. She flaked. Earlier in the week I took a ‘finish what you start’ stance. If she asked me to sign her up, she’d better run. Then she started worrying about the cold. With no friends there, I knew she’d be miserable. Especially with a 15 degree wind chill.
So off I went by myself. The race got so large there was remote parking with a shuttle bus. Great planning but really? Our town is tiny. How would the course handle so many runners? I got there early for prime parking then cowered in the car with magazines and my salted caramel GU.
There were plenty of potties. But the race had far outgrown the starting arch, which was the width of my kitchen counter. I lined up too far back and I knew it. Freezing. We were off and it was ridiculous. People were walking 3 across down the narrow streets. I turned the corner, wishing for my balaclava when I took a sharp elbow to the ribs. A flat tire happened about 10 seconds later. We wound through town then out to a badly potholed path. The potholes were more like landmines they were so large. We crossed a busy street to a residential neighborhood for a long incline hard into the wind. Thing 1 made a good call. People were jovial and casually chatting. I may have hung back and used many as wind shields. I enjoyed those in turkey costumes, the clan of rasta cavemen and the pilgrims. Although I never saw him, I could have sworn Chris Farley was behind me. It was his voice exactly and it sounded like a lung was coming up any second. He’d shout “nice job, thanks for coming out” to the course marshalls between hacks and wheezes, I picked it up to get away. The miles went fast and before I knew it I was back on the pothole path where I had to pull over retching last time I ran this. I took the final turn more gingerly this time and finished without heaving. Almost a full minute slower than the 5k I ran 2 weeks ago. Bleh.
I beelined for the car and headed home. Smart move because results show I took 4th in my age group, edged off the podium by 30 seconds.
Final words: 3,000 runners is far too many for this course. Hot cider at the finish was a nice touch. With over 100 runners in my geriatric age group, I suppose 4th is a solid finish. But I’m not thrilled about being almost a minute slower than I was 2 weeks ago. Chalk it up to the cold? Slow start? Tight course? All of the above probably. The course was hillier than I remember too: registered 11 flights of stairs on my Fitbit. I’ll get over myself now and just be happy I was able to run at all.
The hoodie was a refreshing change from the usual shirt.
Did you trot? Did you shop?
I’ve got the Schaumburg race Sat–doing the half. Our hoody looks a lot like yours–same race promoters! I think we will have a little better weather.
I really don’t like crowded races. Do you think you’ll do this one again? Too bad, since it is your town!
I like how you threw it that last line of the recap…the one before the hoodie 😉 #gratitude
Glad you survived and hope Thanksgiving was awesome 🙂
Sounds very much like the turkey trot I ran yesterday! 96 in my age group, I took 7th and was 2 minutes slower than my last 5k in October. It was a very slow start with so many runners/trotters in a small space. I’m blaming my performance on single digit wind chills (the first half a mile my lungs were on fire!!) heavy blowing snow and a few small hills with too many people. Oh, the ran out of shirts, too, so no race souvenir for me. I love the sweatshirt you got, it looks cozy!
That sounds like a really crowded race. At least people are coming out to support the community. I don’t think I can run in the cold like that so I think 4th is awesome. I don’t like sweatshirts, but it is cute.
I neither trotted nor shopped. I did run with a friend this morning though.
15 deg is cold!!. My coldest race ever was 11 with a wind chill of “freeze my face off”
Well we don’t have Turkey Trots or Black Friday in our hemisphere but I understand crowded races. I walked my last 10k race about 2 weeks ago and was still bumping elbows at 8k.
That is most definately a sweet hoodie though.
Ugh…that sounds like not my kind of scene. You can’t even count your time as YOUR time…that was all the crowded, suboptimal conditions…and you STILL took 4th in your AG. #winning
Ours was COLD too. My kid bailed on me, too. And I seriously thought about throwing up and/or stopping to walk.
3000 runners in a 5 km are too many; the race was too crowded to get a good finishing time but you did well, congrats!
My coldest race was in Edinburgh (some years ago in february) when my son (who had the bag with my racing clothes) arrived after the start and I had to run all the 10 m in t-shirt of cotton.
My town is tiny (1.5X3 miles) – but in the middle of the densest (word?) part of NJ – and I think over 2,500 participate. It’s crazy, but so much fun. The key is to get the turkey in before the race starts!
That is one narrow start! Congrats on your 4th place, too!
It makes me so happy to read that you’re always running with your kiddos. I really hope to do the same someday! 🙂
Getting elbowed and a flat tire this year and retching last year? That race sounds like a blast! 🙂 Anyway, congrats on your 4th AG, maybe next year will be your year with the race – third time’s a charm?
Really crowded races aren’t fun when the course isn’t set up to handle it. I’ve done a couple here in the past that I’ll never repeat because they were almost dangerous with poor organisation and planning.
Our turkey trot is getting the same way. It’s in a small state park and there is no where to park. We got there so early, we sat in the car watching tv on my phone so we wouldn’t have to freeze just standing around.
3000 is A LOT for most races, I think. Around here, I would say that the average for a 5k is between 1000-2000 runners.
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