CPCC Skyline 5K

This was my 5th Running Anniversary, my best time yet on this course!  My current PR for a 5K is 42:00, I finished at 43:59 today.  This was my inaugural 5K in 2008 and as such it holds a special place in my running history. Of the six Skyline races during the last five years, I have registered for all and only missed two.  I am definitely a supporter.

2013  43:59
2012  45:10
2011  RNP
2010  45:53
2009  RNP
2008  48:52 

This year had a much smaller crowd than in previous years. The 2008 race had 1327 finishers, 2012 had 669.  This year only had 572, less than half the turnout from 2008.  Not certain about the cause of decline but nonetheless, it's still a great event!

Post race amenities were great!  Powerade was back this year, as well as pizza, bread, snack crackers, and lots of other goodies.  This is the first race of the 2013 Run For Your Life GPX Series and Vendor turnout is always maximum for the GPX events.

Looking forward to 2014.

CHIP TIME:  43:59
OVERALL RANK:  499/572
AGE/GENDER RANK:  14/20

RESULTS:

Cherry Blossom 5K

No one said there would be hills.

96 runners in this small town race.  I was 94th.

96th was a 56 yr old male runner and he was only six seconds behind me.

Nice tech shirts, lots of post race amenities, friendly crowd, course is entirely asphalt, and there are HILLS.  

I ran with a good friend and we both felt this was an excellent workout and plan to do it again next year.  Awards are spread out in ten year increments which keeps many competitors away.  I enjoyed the smaller group AND the local festival two blocks away.  Lots of good food and music, rides for the kiddies at the Festival.  Ample parking for both events.

See ya next year!

GUN TIME:  49:13
RANK:  94/96

RESULTS:

Pure Religion 5K

This was my first race after the Boston Marathon Bombing.

The emotion was palpable.

The turnout doubled from last year and many participants were first timers.

Both the cause (human trafficking) and the recent event gave room for true camaraderie amongst the crowd.  

I was glad to be there.  Glad to see a sport where ALL pull together in the time of need and honor those who suffered.

The opening prayer remembered those in Boston and praised those that gave so much during such a tragedy.

As the nearly 1000 runners and walkers began the course, cars stopped, opened their windows, cheered, blew their horns, and basically showed overwhelming love knowing so many choose to run and not fear.  

We are Runners.  We are America.

Our hearts go out to the city of Boston.  May she recover and be stronger than ever.  And may 2014 be the biggest Marathon ever.  NO FEAR.

This race wasn't about timing.  The crowd was too large for the first mile or so to even consider a PR (except for those that started at the very front).  Start 2 Finish provided the timing results, finish line video and finish time printouts.  As always, S2F has a state of the art set up for races.  Chips were used for the race but only gun times were given for results.

Goodie bags for this event were outstanding!  Cinch sack with race logo, book, coupons, and Gildan SoftStyle t-shirt for a $20 race!  Lots of volunteer support and police presence.  Parking was ample (church) and the Youth Center was open for restrooms and speech presentations.  The course was well marked and paramedics, church volunteers and police circled the route many times to ensure safety.  The course was on main roadways in the Sardis area but with the cones and constant patrolling, safety was ensured.

I wish much success to the organizers of this event, as I fully support the cause - STAMP OUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING - $133,000 was raised.  May the church ever be blessed for its efforts.

GUN TIME:  48:39

RANK:  478/914

RESULTS: