My friend Bianca (the Yale PhD student doing research in Dallas for the summer, that Bianca) spotted this race online and asked me if I wanted to run it with her. We had so much fun at the last race we did together, I’m majorly in need of some destressors, and my schedule was wide open, so I gave her a big “heck yes!”
Unfortunately, what I though was a big “heck yes!” must have been just in my mind. We got our wires crossed, and she didn’t realize I had agreed to do the race. Thus, when I showed up at Reverchon Park last night, I never did find Bianca.
Beautiful, tree-lined Reverchon Park
Alas, I was there, so I was going to run the race. I ran previous night race back in March. I didn’t really love that race, but I thought that this one might still be good.
It wasn’t. In fact, this race was a big poop sandwich in my book. My complaints:
- The race was billed as a 5k. In fact, it was only 2.17 miles on my Garmin. Now I know Garmins can be wrong, but that wrong? And I know that this race location can accommodate a 5k; I’ve run one here before. They just mis-measured. Boo.
- The trail was far too narrow to accommodate the sold out 1,200 person race. It was so crowded that for the first half mile, I was trotting at a 13:00/mile pace. And the entire first mile I was elbow to elbow with other people. Super crowded.
- It was too dark. I know, it’s a night race, it will be dark, but I just think it is unsafe. Even with my lighted hat atop my head, I couldn’t see where I was stepping. Danger, Will Robinson!
- Folks that came out for a casual glow experience were walking 5 wide at some points. That’s cool if you want to take a leisurely stroll with your 4 best buds, but why didn’t you line up at the very back of the start? Why aren’t you over to the right? Why are you scowling at me as I push through you? It’s a race!
- The water at the finish line was hard to locate. Keep in mind, the temperature was about 97* when the race finished. They should have had volunteers handing water bottles to people. Instead, I had to wander around in the dark to find it gasping “water! water!” as I went.
It’s not all bad. The positives:
- My biggest worry (parking) was actually no big deal. I parked in a parking garage directly across from the race, and there was no crazy traffic getting in or out.
- The volunteers were extremely friendly.
- The race benefits a really awesome cause, Back on my Feet. BomF is a national organization that supports the homeless by getting them involved in running as a means of boosting their confidence and self-worth. Very cool. Next time, I’d just write them a check and run around my neighborhood instead of attending this race.
My stats:
- Mile 1: 10:16
- Mile 2: 9:09
- .17 mile: 6:53
- 2.17 mile finish time: 20:35
- Average pace: 9:30 per mile
Because I was going so slow (trapped in by wall to wall people!) at some points, when there was free space, I was hauling ass. According to my Garmin, the max pace I hit was 5:56. Oh, that’s why I felt like I was going to die. I’m not a huge fan of speed walking followed by balls-to-the-wall sprinting. Not my style. The race was majorly messing with my head, so afterwards, I hit up DQ for a Blizzard.
Who do I see in the drive-thru holding my blizzy? A former student from my very first year teaching! I can’t tell you how much pride it gives me to see my once-teeny-7th graders all grown up and working. I helped mold a productive member of society! (Mission accomplished!) And the fact that she recognized me (and didn’t comment on how rough I was looking) was even better. All’s well that ends well, I suppose.*
Good job! Even though the race did not sound super well put together
and ice cream tastes so good after running!!
I was totally craving the ice cream. I tried to tell myself that I didn’t need it, but my taste buds won out.*
It wasn’t even 3 miles!?!? Well, a DQ Blizzard makes up for it!
Yeah, the race was about a mile short. (A whole mile!) They billed the race as non-competitive, fun, etc., but I don’t think you can advertise as a 5k if your race is only 2 miles.*
Sorry that you didn’t end up finding Bianca there, but great job on completing another race! That’s a major bummer that it was so crowded – I get really, really irritated with people that walk in huge wide tandems on the course. Major bummer also that the distance was so short! But without knowing the distance issue, a 20:35 finishing time for a 5K looks darned impressive. =D
You must be so proud when you run into former students that have grown up! Yay for helping the children of the future!!!
I love running into my former students. I don’t think they realize how happy it makes me to see them doing well. (I try to convey it, but I’m not sure that I do a good job of expressing it.)
Crowded races are probably one of my big pet peeves. When it comes down to it, I guess that falls on me. If a race is sold out or advertises that x number of people are expected, I should choose a different race.*
I’m so sad we didn’t find each other there! I left my phone in the car otherwise I would have seen your texts in time to locate you!
I agree, this race was REALLY frustrating. I was so looking forward to trying to improve my overall 5K time but this race was just all wrong for that. Andrew and I had a really hard time staying together because of those 5-across people lines you mentioned and because the trail was too narrow. I could tell the mileage was wrong when we came across two “Mile 1″ signs followed soon after by a “Mile 2″ sign. When we neared the finish, I asked Andrew to pull out his iPhone (he was timing me) and when he said 24:00, I just knew I hadn’t run 3.1 miles. I was SO annoyed. And the field was so dark we couldn’t find the water tent forever! When we finally did find it, they were running out and handing out water that wasn’t even cold!
So yeah, sorry for the Glow Dallas epic fail
But at least you got a Blizzard out of it!
I think I would have more fun with you! I feel like such a schmo for thinking that I told you “yes” when in reality, I signed up for the race and assumed you knew that I was doing it. Oh, well. Any time spent running is not time wasted, so I’m counting it as a win even though the race left a lot to be desired.
Did the race organizers make any sort of apology or statement regarding how short it was?
No! I even went to their website today to see if there had been any announcements, nada.*