Kiwanis Memorial Day Running Celebration

Kiwanis Memorial Day Running Celebration

(8K - 5K - 5K)

Kiwanis Memorial Day 8K

May 31, 2010
Cordele, GA
Time: 38:33
Age Group: 3
Overall: 17

Award: Finisher's Medal & Award Medal

Comments: The Cordele Kiwanis Memorial Day 8K was set to become my first 4-time race in Georgia. The pleasure I took from this race right as I started running again is a big reason why I got back into the sport so much. I always look forward to going back.

This year brought some changes to the race. Roadwork on part of the certified course forced organizers to use a completely different, uncertified course just for this year. Also, two 5Ks were added to the offerings. These races were to be no thrills (i.e. no awards) races just for points hounds. I (of course) planned to run all three.

The Kiwanis club always does a nice job with this race. Good indoor facilities are available, packet pickup is well-organized, and there is always a nice display of results and pictures from previous years. I had forgotten to pre-register this year so paid what felt like an expensive $50 for all three races. I knew the money would be going to a good cause with Kiwanis so considered it a donation to their community efforts.

The race start was the same as previous years - on the road right beside a school carpool drop-off area. I could tell just standing at the starting line that this was going to be a painful race. The humidity was sky high and felt like it was still getting worse. The surly outline of the first hill was visible off in the distance. I wanted to run a respectable race, but a PR looked like a lost cause from the beginning.

The new course was a surprise - in both good and bad ways. I actually think it was more interesting than the usual jaunt beside I-75. We ran through residential neighborhoods, by small lakes, and other interesting sites. Not as much carbon monoxide either - a huge improvement there! On the not-so-good side: more hills. Now, I like a good hill, but the combination of constant hills (none very bad, just no end to them it seemed) and the oppressive humidity was painful indeed. I was aware of my shoes filling up with sweat. It felt as if I had run through a creek they were so wet. Fun.

The course was an out-and-back so we took some relief in the thought of seeing many of those hills from a downward perspective. I grabbed water at the only aid station which was positioned rather late in the race - to be available for the 5K I suspected. On such a humid day the organizers may should have considered a second water stop earlier on.

I powered through the final miles, thankful that I had saved some energy back for the uphill finish. It was rather grueling despite my preparations. I was grateful to cross the line in a respectable 38:34. I was also thrilled to see that the race had once again provided dogtags to all finishers. Simple finisher awards like these are such a nice touch to a race, especially when the runners had to work so hard for a finish in the humid conditions.

I staggered to the refreshment table and grabbed some water and diet cola as I tried to get my hydration balanced out before the next race began.

I was not around for the awards -- I was running the second 5K -- but the organizers held my award for me. I was pleased to take third place and get a winged-foot medal to match my one from last year.

Kiwanis Memorial Day 5K - #1

May 31, 2010
Cordele, GA
Time: 25:58
Age Group: ?
Overall: ?

Comments: A group of hardy runners turned out to run another race in the humid conditions. I planned to take it easy for this race, maybe even to walk. This one was only about the Run & See Georgia points.

Or so I thought.

After the start I noticed Susie Dorminy running not far in front me. Susie is an 8-year-old from quite a running family. I have enjoyed running with her older brothers Danny and Tommy in many races. I have been impressed by her dedication and control in running races at such a young age. Susie had not run the 8K to save up strength for the 5K. I ran beside her and found out that she had a goal for today: to win women's overall. I loved hearing her say that and wanted to help. So, I joined another runner in pacing Susie and giving her encouragement. My goodness I wish I could run like that in elementary school! Susie kept a strong pace and gradually managed to pass every other woman in the field. I loved every minute of running into the finish line just in front of her, cheering her on. Wow, an overall win at age 8! It's really a pity that this was a non-award race. I would have loved to see her get a serious trophy for her work today.

I also appreciate Susie for turning a dull race into an exciting run. I still don't know how I placed, but I enjoyed myself greatly.

Kiwanis Memorial Day 5K - #2

May 31, 2010
Cordele, GA
Time: 28:10
Age Group: ?
Overall: 8

Comments: On the other hand, this race really was all about the points. I ran the whole thing, took my time, and was alive at the finish. Enough said.

Peach Stand Road Race 5K

Peach Stand Road Race 10K

May 29, 2010
Locust Grove, GA
Time: 22:44
Age Group: 4/9
Overall: 10/163+

Comments: The Peach Stand Road Race has become an annual tradition for me. This is unusual since the race is not part of Run & See Georgia or the Macon Tracks series. It is located within a convenient drive of Macon and is scheduled for the Saturday before Memorial Day. I have run the race the last two years and have been impressed by the size of the field (especially with the limited publicity I see for the race), amenities, awards, and course.

I found things much the same this year. The race is held (shockingly enough) near a roadside peach stand. Portions of the set-up are on either side of a fairly busy road with the race start itself on the other side of a busy train track. This set-up makes for some tricky pedestrian antics. Thankfully a police officer stops traffic to allow people to cross the road. The train tracks are another story!

As usual packet pick-up was well-organized with superb goody bags. In previous races they had used lightweight backpacks. This year the bag was a sturdy canvas tote bag - very nice quality, especially for a giveaway. The logo for the race this year was very striking online but did not make the transition to the shirts as well as last year. Still, the shirts were bright and colorful.

The race stays completely on one side of the busy road and train tracks so no difficult crossing there. I chatted with Tony Edmondson as we walked to the start. He was teasing a few of the younger runners in the front, asking them what he could do to throw them off their pace. Tony always seems to challenge for the lead these days. He and I discussed the weather for the race which was humid but with a light breeze that made it bearable. We both hoped a light rain would break out. It never did.

We were led in warm-ups by a woman who tried to shame us all into taking part. I appreciate her enthusiasm, but I know from experience that a person can harm themselves just as much by doing a stretch they are unfamiliar with as not stretching at all. I wish more races would consider this. Thankfully she did not do anything too outlandish (which some races do). I did my own warm-up, not wanting to be impolite but refusing to do break my routine as well. After brief race announcements (no mayor this year) we were off.

I started very close to the front this year, aiming for a top-10 finish. The field was pretty large - more than 150 - but I thought I could hang in the front of the pack. The course itself was the same - nondescript back roads, a glimpse of the Locust Grove convention center, and a return back to the start. The middle mile is rather hilly, but I was ready for it. I was still not able to hold my pace where I wanted, but I never felt like I was overexerting. I held my position to the line finishing in 10th place overall.

The race has a nice results board in a shady area near the peach stand. I turned in my card and was pleased to see myself in 3rd place in my age group. However, I noticed that an earlier finisher had still not turned in his card. This flashed me back to last year when I also thought I was in 3rd place until another card was turned in, knocking me out of the medals. Sure enough, more than 20 minutes after his finish, the runner brought his card back. What a shock - he was in my age group. I just smiled wryly and walked away. I got the place I deserved, but I am starting to develop a pet peeve about people who take so long to fill out finish line cards. Missing the card was driving the volunteers working the board crazy. They were relieved to finally get it turned in. For goodness sakes, be kind to race organizers (and your fellow runners) and turn in your card promptly. There is plenty of time to cool down afterwards.

The awards looked quite nice as usual - custom made medals in gold, silver, and bronze featuring the new race logo. While I did not add one to my collection, I did pause for a moment to add a delicious slice of orange-cranberry cake to my stomach. The finish line food was as good as usual.

Butler Toyota Run for the Heart 10K

Butler Toyota Run for the Heart 10K

May 22, 2010
Macon, GA
Time: 48:33
Age Group: 4/8
Overall: 25/81

Comments:The Butler Toyota Run for Your Heart sounded like a good new addition to the Macon running scene. It was being developed with help from people from the Macon Tracks, it seemed to have good sponsorship, and it was a Run & See and Tracks points race. I was glad to change my plans from driving to Covington to staying home and running a race with local friends.

The course looked interesting from the first time I saw a map weeks ago. The plan originally was to start at the "new" mall (the Shoppes at River Crossing - what a terribly pretentious name), run up to the "Al Toll" hill, take a tour of the property surrounding the Bass Pro Shops complex, and come back to the start. Unfortunately, the mall management decided to pull their support from the race a few days before it was to start. Their reasoning? Runners were nasty people and would probably pee on their precious parking lot. Unreal. Of course, they only made this decision after they got tons of publicity for their sponsorship of the race. At the last minute the organizers had to shift the race start to an unfinished parking lot off to the side of the mall. It was certainly not the most charming of starting places, but the organizers made it work. I made sure to run my warm-up miles in the parking lot of the mall. I was watched by security constantly. I was tempted to run up to a tree and pretend to take care of some bladder-related business, but decided the security detail had probably been instructed to "shoot to kill" in any such circumstances. I am still ticked off at the mall's decision, as are many people in the running community.

The race turned out very well despite the mall mismanagement. The parking lot may not have been finished, but it was quite decorative with the Macon Tracks finish line scaffold and downright festive with a DJ playing an endless assortment of 80s songs - many of which I had not heard in years. What a treat for me! The race also featured bib timing chips, so no finish line cards. I had thought the race was a bit overpriced originally, but seeing that it was chip-timed explained the higher price. I know the expense that sort of timing can add to a race.

The race started off well. I did not start as near the line as usual, planning to hold back a bit and not go out too fast. I did not think a PR was possible with the ultra-muggy conditions and hilly course, but I wanted to run as well as possible.

I enjoyed the course. Traffic was well-controlled. The course was not well-marked, but the police and other support personnel did a good job of keeping us on course. I knew we would hit some hills, knowing good and well just how fun the Al Toll hill is. What I did not realize was how hilly the Bass Pro Shops property is - and how long the road is that runs through it.

I was passed by several of my running friends throughout the race. I fought the urge to run off with them, sticking to my plan of an easier, controlled run. I did choose a gentleman who had passed me earlier the race to follow. I hoped to run him down before we reached the finish. I suspected he might be in my age group, but the real fun was just to have someone to chase. It really makes the miles go easier.

I caught my "rabbit" just as we were turning behind the mall. I continued picking up the pace until I was flying toward the finish line. The downhill finish helped my efforts and I crossed the line in a respectable 48:33 - less than a minute off my PR. My Garmin (if it can be believed) said I was running a sub-5 minute mile pace at the finish. Even for that short a distance, that's an impressive feat for my short legs.

I didn't place in this race, but still enjoyed myself greatly. Several of my students (and former students) ran the 5K and one, Jeremy Bullard, ran the 10K. I ran back out after catching my breath to pace Bullard in. He PRed with very little training under difficult conditions. I have a feeling I'll be chasing him before too long.

The awards were metal water bottles, not my favorite type of award but nicely done any way. Refreshments were more than adequate. The race shirt was covered with text with very little artwork but made up for this some by being made of technical fabric. Results were quick, although I am still confused a bit by the difference between gun and chip time. Some people who started right on the line were credited with taking many seconds to get across the line. This timing oddity seemed to be consistently applied to all, so no harm done. [The timing has since been corrected on the results. ]

This was a nicely done first-time race - especially considering the big changes the organizers had to make a few days before the race started. Congratulations to the race staff. Well done - and good luck with plans for next year.

Old Capitol City Classic 5K

Old Capitol City Classic 5K

May 15, 2010
Milledgeville, GA
Time: 23:04
Age Group: 2/12
Overall: 23/121

Comments:This was a very nicely organized race. Good facilities at a hospital (and handy if the run gets to be a little too much for you.) The Old Capitol City 5K also boasted an excellent t-shirt and lots of volunteers.

The course was rather wacky: it started on the road outside of the hospital campus, then turned into the hospital seemingly just to explore the brutal little hills that lined the parking lot. We then shot out the other side, ran an out and back along another road, returned back through a hospital drop-off area, and finished on the far side of the parking lot.

I had a run similar to my last efforts: decent first mile followed by difficult slogs through the humidity for the next two miles. I enjoyed running with Tom Weitzel for the first part of the race then pacing Jacqueline Hunsicker at the end. I was thrilled to find that she was in the lead for women's overall. I encouraged her along and was delighted to see her finish in a strong first place. It's good to see her coming off some nagging injuries to run so well.

She was rewarded with one of the best looking awards ever: a handsome, homemade plate. I was very impressed with the earthenware-style plate. I was overjoyed when I realized that my second place age group finish would get me a smaller version of the plate. Very nice indeed. I liked how the plates got progressively smaller for each level of award. The overalls got a large dinner plate, 1st place age groups a regular dinner plate, 2nd place a salad plate, 3rd place a desert plate. If you had a bunch of friends running you could have put together an entire place setting. Really beautiful work was done on those awards, very classy touch to a nice race. I will return to this one if possible!

Macon Exchange Club Georgia State Fair 5K

Macon Exchange Club Georgia State Fair 5K

May 8, 2010
Macon, GA
Time: 22:42
Age Group: 3/6
Overall: 21/143

Comments:This was another slightly grumpy race for me. I really wanted to be defending by trophies from the Brentwood races last year. Instead I found myself running a new race in Macon. I always like to support hometown races when possible, but I'm enough of a points hound to like getting Run & See points for it too. Still, I needed to try and hold onto my lead in the Macon Tracks series races so the Exchange Club Georgia State Fair 5K was a must do.

The course was continually being changed over the last week as flooding made parts of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail un-runnable. The organizers decided to do an interesting combination of the trail, turning back before the flooded section, and making up the extra distance around the dirt track in Central City Park. Having run numerous races both on the trail and in the park, the path was well-known to me. It didn't seem like it would be the most interesting race in the world, but at least it wouldn't have traffic. That's always a plus. The pre-race organization seemed fine. I arrived as packet pick-up was still being set up. I picked up my packet and shirt and was quite amused at the color scheme on the shirt. I have long commented on the loud, unusual colors of the Georgia State Fair posters. This colorful trend was continued on the shirts for the race. Unusual though the colors were, I liked the shirt. It certainly is striking, to say the least. The race packet included a free ticket to the fair. Nice touch.

I spent a few minutes helping Sam Martinez and some other Tracks set up the new finish line scaffolding. It does look quite impressive. It makes any race seem like an event, that's for sure. When race time came around we were still a little confused about the changes in the course. We learned that we were going to be crossing on the narrow pedestrian portion of the bridge that leads to the far portion of the Heritage Trail, running down the hill, then turning around and pretending to be salmon swimming upstream as we ran against the other runners. It sounded slightly dangerous and completely pointless.

Both observations turned out to be correct. As the race started I headed out at a decent pace but again felt the humidity crushing me. I kept up a good pace and survived the annoying narrow bridge crossing and return. I understood that the course needed to be changed to avoid the mess further down, but I could not figure out why they did not turn us around before the bridge and simply use more of the mile-long track in Central City to complete the distance. It would have been safer (and faster too!) I did enjoy the section on the dirt track and the finish along the same route that the Labor Day Road Race finishes on.

I did not run particularly well over the last two miles, but did manage to take 3rd place in my age group. The trophies were excellent from this race - large, brightly colored, and quite attractive. This was a first year race and felt like it , but the organizers seem to have their hearts in the right place. They were quick to ask for feedback and want to grow the race into something special. I hope they succeed. They have a solid first race to build from.

Run4Missions 5K

Run4Missions 5K

May 1, 2010
Bolingbroke, GA
Time: 22:53
Age Group: 5/14
Overall: 34/287

Comments: Run4Missions was its usual excellent self. Great organization, incredibly friendly volunteers, great t-shirt, excellent facilities...you name it, Run4Missions has it. I spend the year telling people it is one of the best 5Ks in Macon (well, technically Bolingbroke, I guess.) The race has never let me down.

I only wish I could run fast enough to actually place at this delightful race. I had a decent run on the out and back course (run on part of the Macon Tracks' Sunday running loop.) What kept it from being a great run was largely the humidity, along with my paucity of training over the last few weeks. It always takes me about 6 weeks to adjust to the summer humidity. You would think I would be better at this having grown up in muggy South Florida, but apparently not.

I did enjoy the run greatly and enjoyed the usual buffet of baked goods even more. The only reason anyone needs to run Run4Missions is the banana pudding. I've eaten a lot of banana pudding in my time but never any as good as at Run4Missions. Maybe it's just because it tastes better after a race, but I doubt it. It's just fine stuff.