Today was race #77 for me.
Today was also my 4th Anniversary of competing publicly in foot races.
The Skyline 5K was my very first race back in 2008 and, as such, it holds sentimental value. In 2008 there were 1327 runners present - yesterday there were only 669 finishers, something I am sad to see. The weather was perfect for a race, cooler temps, overcast and no rain. This race is also the kickoff of the Run For Your Life Grand Prix Race Series (RFYL GPX).
The route travels a fairly consistent incline throughout the entire course. All but approximately .5 miles are uphill - very moderate incline - which makes this a do-able challenge. Top scores were 15:15 M and 17:57 F proving that the competitors do come out for a challenge.
Shirts for this event took a step up this year. They were made by 'American Apparel' and specifically designed and labeled as 'The Track Shirt'. Gray in color but 50% Polyester, 25% Rayon and 25% Combed Cotton, making for a lighter weight shirt very suitable for running or every day wear. Much improved fabric over previous years although I am personally not a fan of this year's winning design.
CPCC has a fall competition for Advertising and Graphic Design students every year as a course assignment. The designs are presented to the race committee, and a winner is chosen.
The winning artist is recognized during the awards ceremony. My favorite thus far is the 2010, followed closely by the 2008. I like the strong accentuation on the actual city skyline that is incorporated into each of these winning entries. Also like that the 2010 design used the Panther's colors, something to be said for promoting our Queen City.
Race Results were posted a bit differently this year also. Most of us are used to going to the RFYL website to see posted results and viewing the standard software data with gun time, chip time, and rankings. The website link now takes you to Active.com for results and utilizes their format for results posting. Not sure if I am a fan or not. I like that Active now has the results, I perhaps dislike that RFYL no longer hosts those results on their own site with the standardized formatting.
The RFYL results were previously printable in their entirety and an individual could contact directly if there was a posting error without having to backtrack or retrace his/her steps. Change is inevitable, we all know, and with growth, these are expected changes. I just hate to see another local business getting on the fast track with mainstream 'cookie cutter' choices and losing that "personal touch" that builds brand loyalty. It's not a bad decision, it simply makes RFYL more generic... no different than any other.
CHIP TIME: 45:10
(Stats provided by Active.com)