Saturday morning, I did my 11th race – my 2nd 10K – Fit For Life Half marathon, 10K, & 5K.
Of course I PR’ed. 10Ks are easy and anyone can do one. I told the BF my time will be 1:05-1:10. I came in at 1:07.
The morning was better then expected. I got off work at 11:30pm and was in bed at 12:30am. Up at 6:15. Not enough sleep at all, but I didn’t have nerves bothering my gut. I had a piece of toast, cup of coffee & some water.
The start of the race was at Hawks Stadium and the finish was at home plate. Kinda fun. Downside was the timing chip pickup wasn’t with the packet pickup. It was at the start line of the race. So I was standing in line for my chip, and the half marathoners were lining up. Yes, some of us in line were in the way of the start.
After 2 weeks of not running, I was pretty stiff on my running warm-up. My hamstrings were tight. I mean tight. I was out of breath. I was sorta dreading running this morning just a little bit – lol!
Actually, the run wasn’t so bad. Up and back on the greenbelt. All of the horses were out warming up for the races and the handlers had music playing. We started out right on time – 7:40am. I got into a groove with 4 other people. 2 girls chatting the whole way, and a male/female pair. The girls broke off after mile 2 and zoomed ahead. The other couple, I stayed behind the whole race. I don’t know how much I annoyed them being right behind them but they did help pace me and I would have stopped and walked because I was hot and tired. Yes, it was hot and I was tired, but I didn’t stop.
There were not very many volunteers at all. One water table (just one!) was about mile 1.5 with 2 or 3 volunteers. I didn’t take water the first time, but when I came back I sure did. I think that there could have been more volunteers for sure. I was hoping for water at the 3 mile turnaround and was pretty disappointed that there wasn’t. For this fact alone, I am so, so glad I didn’t do the half.
There was a little bit of confusion for coming off the greenbelt where the course wasn’t marked. I did find a Del Taco coupon on the ground. Yes, I picked it up. Free taco, yes!
Like I said, a home plate finish inside the stadium. Trying to find water after was my priority. There were 2 containers of water and Gatorade at the finish. But I wanted my promised hot dog and beer. I changed my shoes and found water, chocolate milk, someone slicing up I think just 2 boxes of Marathon bars into samples, and my hot dog and beer. They had other things to drink, but a Coors Light at 9AM? Ok.
I took an hour nap after I got home.
Things could have been better organized and more volunteers. I felt like the cost of the stadium (whatever that was) took the directors focus away from getting more water, better signage, and organizing volunteers. This will be a local race that I am glad that I did, but probably won’t do again.