This was my third year running this race, and I can honestly say it was most likely my last. There are some issues that have yet to be resolved, and the disorganization is not worth the stress to me! If you will remember last year it was very hot, and the rae started late, and they ran out of water. I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and try again this year, but they got a big fat fail.

It was a beautiful sunny day, but the temps were climbing and the race wasn’t slated to start until 9:30 (one of the things I had hoped they had changed…even a 9:00 start would have made it a little cooler and given a little more shade.) Bobby and I got dressed in our St. Patrick’s Day green and headed down to the beach.

We were running a little late, and we got there a minute or two after nine. The 1 mile started at 9:00 with the 5k starting at 9:30, so we hurried to get our bib’s and T-shirts so we would still have time  for a restroom stop and to warm up. Well, what do you know…they ran out of shirts…again. I asked the lady why…we were pre-registered…shouldn’t they NOT give away our shirts to the day of people registering? All she said was “we have a bigger crowd than anticipated, sorry” Um…ya…that’s exactly what happened last year when they ran out of WATER! Just don’t give pre-registered shirts away, it’s SO simple. Problem solved. Annoyed, We ran back to the car to put on our bibs, take a GU, and get ready to go.

There is a BBQ and craft festival on the adjacent village green every year, and I remembered last year that we used the bathrooms down there and it was a MUCH shorter line than up by the race start. Yes! Something was going right for us, Virtually no line. We ran about a half mile warm up, and got to the starting line at 9:30….and we waited….and waited. As I was standing there, someone taped me on my shoulder. It was Gina! We chatted for a few minutes (mainly me griping about the race and starting late again, sorry Gina!) and finally we were on our way about 9:40.

I wasn’t sure what to expect for this race. I had been struggling with my sinuses the end of the week, and also with the heat/late start time I wasn’t sure if I had another PR in me. A 7 day turn around for another 5k PR is tough! I admittedly started out a bit too fast. The course was CROWDED and with no chip timing, I knew my time would be “off”. I hurried to get around slower people and into some breathing room, which ended up making me go too fast that first mile. So much for negative splitting! I chugged along looking at all the green outfits, and we quickly were at mile one. I felt good, but knew it wouldn’t last. I knew we were getting close to the turn around, and I saw Bobby and gave him a high five as he went the other way.

I typically don’t stop for water during a 5k, but I was having a hard time breathing with the phlegm in my throat (again, you are welcome.) So I thought maybe some water would help. I walked for about ten seconds drinking water and dumping it on my head. I kept going and we hit mile two. I know it was only a mile left, but it was a tough one. There wasn’t anymore shade, and the heat was starting to get to me. I had stopped paying attention to my Garmin and I decided to take a walk break. Keep in mind I walked ZERO seconds just seven days prior in my other 5k. I only walked about ten seconds, and kept moving. I ended up doing this two other times because I didn’t think I had a chance to PR again so thought why kill myself. Well, I am apparently an idiot and wish I had been paying closer attention to my Garmin. I looked at my watch when I hit mile three, and saw…holy crap, I CAN PR! I gave it all I had, and crossed the line with a ONE SECOND PR! I am of course happy, but also made at myself because if I had realized I had a shot I never would have walked so much and could have run probably about 15-20 seconds faster. Oh well. I learn new things every time I race, but I won’t be back at this particular one.

So, new PR stands at 27:51. Bobby PR’ed by about nine seconds, 23:10. Luckily, they did not run out of water this year. The small area where you hung around and waited was VERY crowded. This race had over 600 people in it. There was nowhere to stand or sit, so we decided to go.

We headed back to the car to change into some flip flops before walking down to the BBQ festival next door.

Thank you KT Tape for another pain free run!

Kind of creepy how similar these photos are! (2012 and 2013) You can tell I started lifting weights and now have arm muscle, score!

Every year we say we are going to stay and eat BBQ at the festival and never do. Since it was such a nice day to be outside we decided to hang around this year.

We shared a pulled pork sandwich and beef brisket sandwich, and Bobby also had two ribs.

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They had live music, entertainment for the kids, it was a neat little thing, officially called “Grillin on the green”.

We came home, walked the dogs and sat outside in the sun. I ended up getting a bit sunburned though.

I’m not sure what is on our schedule as far as another 5k before it gets too hot to race them. I would love to hit 27:30 before the summer but with the way the temperatures were climbing yesterday I’m not sure if that is going to happen!

*The winner of my VFuel Giveaway is Jacinta Dawson! Please  email runningwithsass@gmail.com with you address and flavor choice so I can get you your prize! A big thanks to everyone who entered. Don’t forget you can enter code “LookingGlass” at checkout and get a discount at vfuel.com!

QOTD: Would you go back to a disappointing race or other sporting event if they had this many mess ups?