Carolina Spartan Beast

MRT Fall Series 5K**

Race #2 in the McLelland's Racing Team Fall Championship Series, held at ESC Park in Troutman NC.  Early registration was $10, race day registration was $15 (shirts are extra). Great course, relatively flat, small turnout but worth the drive, temps were perfect! Race is chip-timed, two water stops, overall and age group awards as well as door prizes.  Hard to beat for the price!

32 runners total, including three children in the 1 Mile Fun Run.

CHIP TIME:  42:09

1st Place in Age Group

MRT Facebook Page

Race #3 Registration 
 

CRC Uptown Throwdown

You had to be there!

Lots of laughter and fun on Saturday! Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous day in Freedom Park! Temps were perfect, route was fantastic and the company was stellar!

This was a club managed run, open to the public with discount rates for members. $15 for the public, $10 for members - shirts were an additional $15 if you wanted one.  Only eight of us bought the shirts.  They were light blue with dark blue printed logo on the front, blank on the back, Gildan Softstyle in both men's and women's cut crewnecks. By day's end about 25 runners total joined in on the festivities.

Food is a factor at this function!  You name it, it was probably on the table or in a cooler... doughnuts, M&Ms, pizza, Gatorade, Mtn Dew, Coke, Rootbeer, more doughnuts, baked goods, CheezIts, Doritoes, baked goods, cookies, trail mix, nuts, water, plenty of water, and the list goes on.  We lacked for nothing! Someone cranked up a Bose bluetooth speaker and the fun just kept coming.

The route differed for each runner depending on where he or she chose to turn around.  Bill, Club President, no doubt held the single record for the day with a total of 24 miles (non-stop) followed by many runners that did 5 laps (with breaks between).  I personally did three laps and averaged a distance of 3.68 per lap.  I ran with Team Happy Feet again this year (love those guys!) and decidedly it was not a competition for 2014 as there was only one other team listed.  All other runners ran solo, and listed their laps on the official Relay Tracking Board.

The route began at the Lake in Freedom Park, Shelter #6, turn right (running counter clockwise) around the lake back towards downtown on the Sugar Creek Greenway.  Runners were told to turn around at the 2nd water fountain and that meant different things to different people.  Not a drinking fountain but rather the fountain displays on S Kings Drive.  I personally turned around at the stone, freestanding restrooms (near Dunkin Donuts) just past the 2nd water fountain - made for an easy turn around and a good pit stop.  This course is also predominantly flat, as are most of the greenways in Charlotte. It was fully paved and family friendly during the morning and afternoon hours.  Great place to log some miles. 

The turnout numbers (people present) is not a reflection of the event itself but rather the weekend and it's activities.  Susan G Komen was also on Saturday (a few blocks away) as well as a nearby race in the Mountains.  Lots of runners have full schedules for the fall when temps are lower and running is so incredibly enjoyable. The date was simply the best choice available, all things considered.

I would recommend this event to anyone, as well as membership in the club.  Great group of runners, lots of activities and the t-shirts... don't forget those t-shirts! As of today's date, individual membership is only $20, family membership is $35.  If interested click here for more information:  Charlotte Running Club.

My personal times made me happy today. Not where I want to be but consistently improved.  My split averages per lap:  

1.   13:57 per mile
2.   14:34 per mile
3.   14:42 per mile

With the distance from the parking area to the shelter, I got in a total of 12 miles for the day.  Just a great run day overall. Hope to do this again soon!  Freedom Park is definitely on my list for long runs.

Early morning photo with runners on course and others arriving later in the day.

(photo courtesy of Tin Ha)