Lake Norman Turkey Trot 5K

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

This was a last minute decision for me, I literally registered late Wednesday afternoon.  I had no idea that I would be "pain-free" after my half marathon and I had zero runs on my calendar as a result.  As it turns out, signing up and showing up may have given me a new PR in the 5K category (waiting on final results to post).

This is the 5th year for the Lake Norman Turkey Trot and the event is growing larger than anticipated.  A new location for the course was introduced and it's a keeper.  The START/FINISH was held at Gold's Gym in Cornelius which also allowed ample parking and much easier access / directions.  The registrars had over 1300 signed up by Wednesday afternoon which is 500 more than 2009.  Fantastic growth for the Buttar event and a energetic crowd for the runners.

TO BE CONTINUED WHEN RESULTS ARE POSTED  10:29AM 11-25-10

CONTINUATION  4:36PM  11-26-10

Apparently I live in a bubble...  I seem to be the only attendee that actually enjoyed myself.  Please read here --> REVIEWS  & REVIEWS and you will obtain a more accurate or perhaps a more common opinion of the event.

Results were posted today, I personally emailed Buttar.com, Epic Sports Marketing and Zahid Buttar to find the results.  Seems Buttar was bought by Epic and Zahid Buttar was the one responsible for posting the results.  He delayed postings for accuracy.  The timing may be accurate but according to professional runners, the distances are not.  The half marathon was short by over 2 miles, the 10K was 6.1 mi and the 5K was 2.8 mi all depending on whether or not you followed the designated route or the people around you as a majority of complaints centered around a lack of volunteers and proper signage for the course.

Buttar.com is part of the Center for Advanced Medicine and Clinical Research and has also been the recipient of a recent Medical Board investigation here in NC: --> Dr. Rashid Buttar Article so some of the comments will be quite critical.

Back to my bubble...

I am still glad I attended.  This was an easy location, an energetic crowd and, in my humble opinion, an improvement access-wise over previous years. I can only hope that Buttar will take all the feedback from this year's event to heart and make some drastic improvements to the course set up, volunteer arrangements, packet pick-up and t-shirt design (truly the ugliest race shirt I own!).  Failure to do so will hinder turnout for future events.  Due to the current number of registered runners - over 1300 registered, 1149 posted results - Buttar needs to consider hiring a Race Director like RFYL or Queen City Timing to manage this process or at least educate them on the areas where improvement is needed.

While other attendees believed this to be the "worst race ever", I have attended much worse than this so I wasn't as displeased.  2009 UNCC and 2010 James K Polk hold that record on my list in a very close tie.  I am open-minded towards improvements by both organizers but I have nothing positive to say about either at this point.  So, I can say in clear conscience, I enjoyed this race even though it was short by .3 mi and I sincerely hope it improves for 2011.

GUNTIME:  42:00

RESULTS:  Epic Sports Marketing

And yes, I will count this as a new PR as chip time was not given and all timings were "adjusted" by Buttar for accuracy.  The actual clock time when I crossed the finish line was 41:38 and I started from the rear (behind 600+ others) meaning the 41:38 would have been reduced to allow the group ahead of me to cross the START line first. The timing will not have perfect accuracy but it is improved based on distance feedback (increased) and that is acceptable, all things considered.

St Pete Women's Half Marathon

St Petersburg FL 2010

CHIPTIME:   3:24:53

4756 finishers

Largest Age Group:  35-39 (842)

My Age Group:  45-49  (556/633)

Oldest Runner: 76  (3:22:26)

Youngest Runners:  12, 13, 14

This is a superb event!  Well managed, well sponsored (many, many kudos to Publix) and as runner friendly as any event could possibly be.

I signed up for this race several months ago with the intention of training prior to race day.  Several unforeseen events prevented me from training thus my choices were to forgo the event or walk it.  I chose to walk (all but 1.5 miles) and never regretted a minute of it.  At present, I'm not in it to compete, I'm in it to complete.  The course was open and monitored (cordoned off) for 4.5 hours.  Runners passed through Demens Landing Park, Vinoy Park, The Pier, Snell Isle, Crisp Park, around part of Tampa Bay, around Mirror Lake, inside Tropicana Field, and START / FINISH in front of Mahaffey Theater.

Even though this is listed as an all women's event, men do register and run it.  Last year 138 men posted results and this year is about the same.  It was actually not a noticeable occurrence, with all the volunteers, security and race staff, the genders present were fairly equal everywhere except the track itself.  I truly enjoyed the fact that is was predominantly women as it produces a far less competitiveness and LOTS of PINK!!

On that note, I will mention the marathons (half and full) are all about the "bling" and WRM did not skimp on this aspect.  Ladies received designer goodie bags, v-neck hot pink tech tees, Publix running towels and hot pink banded, palm tree laden, oval charm included, medals!!

Looking forward to future races with Women's Running Magazine!

Thin Blue Line 5K

 

As always, CMPD puts on a fantastic event!  This was the second year for this event and it was as much fun as the first year!  Lots of energy with these guys and gals and a fantastic course (challenging) for runners!  The race supports a scholarship fund for high school students choosing to pursue a career in law enforcement and it is in honor of fallen officers of the CMPD, with special regard to those who lost their lives on 4/1/07.

Back of Cotton Shirts sold at Fundraiser during race

COURSE:

Ashpalt, Trail, Grass, Gravel, Asphalt, Stairs, Grass, Trail, Asphalt, Stairs, Gun Range Weave, Stairs, Asphalt and then BUBBA... Bubba is one big bad hill... so help me I believe it is a 90 degree + angle up that hill and when you reach the top... there is 'cruel and unusual punishment'...  Cops in full uniform holding out boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts...   *laugh*

If you are planning your 2011 calendar, this is a "must add" for the Charlotte area.  

This year's event included technical tees for all registered participants (we know it's all about the shirt!).

 FRONT

 BACK

The fundraiser also included (for sale) dog tags, cotton t-shirts and raffle tickets.  Post race refreshments were phenomenal - water, two vitamin waters, bagels, cookies, oranges, apples, crackers, bananas and DON'T FORGET the doughnuts!! Looking forward to next year!

GUNTIME:  48:36  Race Results

RACE NAME: Thin Blue Line 5K              
LOCATION:  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Academy
DATE:      11/13/2010
TOTALS ENTRANTS:  321
FINISHERS:     126 MALE  129 FEMALE (255)