Matanzas 5K

It was a most gorgeous day to be out running along the waterfront. Temps were perfect around 50° and with a crowd of 1669 finishers it was quite an event! This is literally the flattest race I have ever run and with a very soothing scenic route. We ran along the waterway and through a residential district located on an inlet, quite the view!

I must also admit this is the first time I've showed up for a race and...

...forgot my running shoes.

Yes, I did.

Everybody does it once.

So there, I admitted it. Hi, my name is Tracy. I am a forgetaholic.

Actually, I tried really hard this time to pack lightly, something that is not very easy for my female self. I achieved this goal and was quite proud of myself as I left home Friday afternoon. Yet at 6:45 AM Saturday morning I realized, from 431 miles away, that I had no running shoes! Talk about wanting to kick yourself! So I lay in bed wondering where shoes could be bought at 7am on a Saturday morning prior to race kickoff...

Yes, I went to Wally World. Good old Wal-Mart had a pair of $20 Danskin running shoes and that would just have to suffice if I intended to run. They worked exceedingly well and are now a permanent staple in the cargo area of my SUV! Right next to the windshield de-icer and the road maps!

I love to look at race stats (when available) and the results of this one proved to be truly interesting. 807 M, 862 F runners. 94 of these female runners were in my age group (45-49) and they are tough ladies! I was 74th in that group and 731st out of all female runners. The majority of runners, regardless of gender fall in the 25-39 age brackets. The finish times for my age group ranged from 20:11 to 55:44 - quite a variance, and quite a PR to set if I am ever to win for my age group. Just goes to prove, life begins at 40!

The male stats for my same age group are just as impressive. 77 male runners aged 45-49 with finish times ranging from 16:23 to 49:02. Nothing to smirk about! The oldest male runner was 90 years old, his finish time was 22:22, followed by an 85 yr old that finished 50:52. The oldest female runner was 81 and she finished at 59:26 followed by an 80 yr old at 41:18. This sport truly is for everyone.

If you're ever in St. Augustine Florida during January, this is a race to check out!

CHIP TIME: 42:36

Ocean Isle Beach Bridge Run 5K

What was I thinking?? 26° F with a wind chill factor of 10° F

This was my first year running this race, the wind was bitter cold at the race but I would not have missed it for anything! Absolutely fantastic race! If you're looking for all the bells and whistles (sponsor giveaways, timing chips, etc) this race doesn't have that but for a good reason. Funds go to support a local church organization that feeds families in need in the Shallotte NC area. What makes this race spectacular is the comraderie! You won't enjoy meeting a group of runners any more than you will this group and they come from all over - Raleigh, Eden, Wilmington, Charlotte, Calabash, Lexington, etc. and they greet each other like long lost friends.

The race is timed using barcodes on the bibs which are scanned as you cross the finish line. The route runs over an inlet bridge (OIB) which is not too steep for even the most amateur runner and the view from the top is breathtaking. You can see for miles, both the community and the ocean. The remainder of the route (for both 5K and Half Marathon) is predominantly flat.

Definitely on my list for 2011 although I will be paying very close attention to the weather forecast! Typical temperatures are 55-65° so this was an unusually cold day for OIB, but worth every shiver!

Manual Time: 46:15

NOTE: I was 76th out of 103 runners in the 5K, there were 168 runners in the Half Marathon.