Running: 2nd annual Women’s business all the way 5k

My race day didn’t start the typical way. A combination of a race that was moved and my unfamiliarity with the city combined to have me arrive at the race with fifteen minutes until the start. I hadn’t finished my coffee, nor even opened my water. I registered, relieved to have not driven around for 45 extra minutes for nothing, and ran the shortest, fastest “warm up” of all time. Anyone who knows me knows that being behind absolutely kills me. The staff was pleasant and helpful; they offered me a small T-shirt since that was all they had left, but I turned it down since I will never lose enough weight to put that on! It was a standard white T with a couple different colors of writing on the front. This was a charity based run for the Women’s business something-er-other. I probably should pay more attention if I’m going to blog about it, but I was in a bit of a hurry.
My understanding is that the start of the race is normally in another location, but construction or something forced the move. In the end, most of the course was the same as the races that start at the Zoo entrance. There is a bit of hill at the beginning and therefore the end since it was an out and back mostly along the canal.
It was a small but very friendly crowd; I didn’t have a chance to talk to anyone before the race but did so after while waiting for the awards ceremony. Several of the age divisions didn’t have three finishers and several others clearly had walkers fill the spots based on time. I think I overheard an estimate of 150 with preregisters and race-dayers; but it felt even smaller, maybe 100.
Conversation after the race was at first based around everyone thinking the race was about a tenth of a mile or more long, which may not sound like much, but that will add 30 to 60 seconds to your time depending on your pace. I really couldn’t tell because I didn’t warm up or stretch, but I was also suspicious of my first mile split being 7:57. I normally get caught up in the start, get some adrenaline and come very close to 7:00 flat (and then run a horrible 2nd mile, but that’s a different story all together).
I met some really great guys after the race and I’m starting to establish a collection of faces in my mind of people that I see week in and week out. One gentleman I was talking with was quite an inspirational story, he told us he used to weigh 380 lbs. (and I’m pretty sure I had heard that correctly) and was now in the 190 lb. range and getting better. He was thankful of running and gave it most of the credit for turning his health around. He had run the P.F. Chang’s Rock and Roll Marathon last month had set his sights on several others. He also commented on the race being long, since his pace per mile was faster in the Marathon than it was in this 5k! …and so was mine. (but I did the ½ marathon)
I was very happy that even though this was a small race there were awards for every five years of age and despite my lack of warming up, I did finish tenth over all and second in my age category. The awards were fairly common looking, but each place had a unique medal and it felt like someone actually tried.
I’ve had a topsy turvy last couple of weeks on the running scene with odd weather patterns and relocated courses but I’m still having fun. Next up…something called a “Double Nickel” a 5k and 5miler in the same day!