26th Annual Resolution Run 5k

This was the second week in a row that I ran a race that started at Papago Park. The 26th annual Resolution Run by RunningMasters.net. This race actually had a different course and one that I haven’t run before. Instead of running directly from the start area to the canal this race uses the roads in the Park area. The first half mile includes some pretty steep up and downs and I see why most races don’t use this course. I guess the rest of the field knew about this and took it a little easy at the beginning. I was not in the know and ran FARRRRRR too fast at the beginning. Through the first two hills I was in the top five and felt fairly disoriented with this position. By the final downhill of that first half mile I was back to around fifteenth and hurting! I eventually caught my breath but I suspect my early charge was a really bad idea. I digress.
The race itself had a few other details that were new to me. The race was the 26th annual but was fairly small and included a walking category that looked well populated. I have never seen such a small race use a chip system to time and it caused me a bit of confusion at the finish. I had two runners finish just behind me, but yet ahead of me. In large races you’re never really aware of who is around you, but this race was so small I could have counted what place I was in if I had tried to. One fact didn’t escape me however, for the first time in my road racing “career” not a single woman finished ahead of me…at least not physically, the time results say otherwise! I finished a second ahead physically, but a second behind on the clock. Again, I digress. The chip system was something I’ve never seen before and I hope that I don’t see a lot. The chip is attached to a neoprene ankle bracelet and is fairly bulky. I felt like I was on home arrest or something when I put it on! I adjusted to it shortly after putting it on, but definitely felt myself sweating under it during the run; which brings up an “eww” factor. Hopefully they wash them in some way, but I’m pretty sure this is a technology that will never catch on.
This race also had a bit of an odd start. The race began on the road, which is definitely not anything out of the ordinary. The fact that only closed the road two minutes (literally two minutes…no exaggerating!) before the start was odd. The area they collected people was on the course side of the start line so when we were allowed to enter the road the people that wanted to be near the start line had to let everyone pass between them. Several people were still filing in when the race director said “ready set go” or whatever he said in 0.05 seconds flat! I was actually caught off guard.
The T shirt was nice; it’s a long sleeve cotton T with what at first appears to be black printing with some very light pink. The race director pointed out that the color changes with different levels of sunlight, so I’ll have to see what color it actually is. Since the race was pretty small I actually finished third in my age group and received a “bronze” medal. I appreciate any awards that races give out and since this was a very inexpensive race, the somewhat generic medals seemed pretty fair. I’ll attempt to include a picture with this blog and let you decide.
All in all, these are the type of races I like to run in between big races. The crowd is small but friendly, and the race is organized enough to not frustrate you. The course had a little challenge but wasn’t too tough. The timing was accurate and the course was well marked. They actually had two water stops for a 5k although I don’t get water on distances that short, it’s not really needed and just slows you down. The T shirt seems nice and they have awards in 5 year divisions.