The Old Runner

It’s a small race but a good one, and I’m not just saying that because the race director is a good friend of mine. It’s also part of the Gaston County race series, which means there are a lot of friends there to run with (and to compete with). There are some hills but they’re mostly smaller ones, and the course seems to be one of the fastest around since it results in some of my best times each year. Most years the weather has been cold for this one, but this year it was about as perfect as you could ask for, at least for me since I prefer warmer temperatures than most runners.

I spent almost all of the race running a little ahead or a little behind several friends — Andy Wilmarth, Scott Hammontree, and Kenny Primm. Scott had a score to settle with me since I beat him in the last race. I didn’t realize it until about halfway through the race but he was staying just a couple steps in back of me the whole way. I could hear him breathing but didn’t know it was him until I took a peak as I rounded a corner. When I saw him I knew he was waiting for me to walk (as I usually do) so I thought it would be best if I could run the entire race. I made sure not to overdo my pace and was able to hold him off as he took a short walk break in the last mile and I opened up a little space between us. Kenny was just a second or two in back of him. Andy was just a little ahead of me and I passed him going down the final hill before the uphill finish. I knew Andy was better at running uphill than me so I wasn’t surprised when he overtook me going up the hill to the finish and got me by about 3 seconds. Overall I was happy to finish 8th overall with a time of 23:14.

Best of all, it’s cheap, with race-day registration only 20 bucks on race day, which includes a nice T-shirt!

Race Name:  Run Around Down Town 5k

Location:  Bessemer City, North Carolina

Date: October 12, 2019

Race Rating:  78

Winners (Top 10 Overall):

Course:

Elevation Per Mile:

Weather at Start:

Click Here for Race Results

My Stats:

Time:  23:14
Pace:  7:29
Age Group: 1 of 2 
Overall:  8 of 44
Average Heart Rate:  157
Maximum Heart Rate:  168
Age Grade Percentage:  73.53% 

***************
* RACE RATING *
***************

RACE COURSE 
0 – Chip & Gun Timing: (3 points if yes)
2 – Water Stops: (0)none  (2)normal  (5)extras [Gu, sports drink, etc.]
1 – Course Marking:  (0)bad  (1)good
3 – Course Scenery:  (0-5) 1=bad  and 5=fantastic
1 – Mile Markers: (0)poor or none  (1)normal  (2)with clocks or time called out
2 – Volunteers:  (0)too few  (2)good
7 – Finish line: (0-9)   0=bad  and 9=spectacular!
0 – Certified Course: (0)no  (2) yes
2 – Correct Distance: (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Partly or fully on unpaved roads:  (0)yes  (1)no

REGISTRATION 
5 – Cost:  (0)expensive  (2)reasonable  (5)cheap!
3 – Race Day Registration:  (0)no  (3)yes

RESULTS
2 – Posted online within 24 hours:  (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Easy to find results:  (0)no  (1)yes

AGE GROUPS
2 – 3 deep awards: (2)yes (0 for anything less)
5 – 5-year age groups (5 points) (0 for anything less)
1 – 14 and under group (1)
1 – 65+ group (1)
1 – 70+ group (1)
1 – Top Overall M/F:  (0)none; (1) first only; (2)top 3 or better
2 – Masters Category(40+): (0)no  (2)yes
3 – Grand Masters Category (50+):  (0)no  (3)yes
0 – Senior Grand Masters Category: (0)no  (5)yes

AWARDS
2 – Overall Winner Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
2 – Age Group Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
0 – Door Prizes or Drawing: (0-9)
0 – Finisher Medals for All Finishers: (0)no  (3)yes  (5)really cool medals

POST RACE 
5 – Food for Race Participants: (0-10 with 5 being average)
5 – Entertainment:  (0)no  (1-9)yes
0 – Finisher times posted after race:  (0)no  (2)yes

REST ROOMS 
0 – Porta Potties:  (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful
0 – Indoor Restrooms: (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful

T-SHIRTS
2 – T-Shirts: (0)no  (2)yes
4 – Design: (1-5)
2 – Material Quality: (1-3)
0 – Discount for no-shirt option:  (0)no (2)yes

PHOTOGRAPHY 
0 – Professional Photography: (0)no  (5)yes
0 – Prices: (1)expensive  (3)reasonable  (5)cheap
0 – Free Photographs (newspaper, etc.):  (0)no  (1-10)yes 

PARKING 
2 – Close to Start:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Close to Finish:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Plenty of spaces:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Free Parking:  (2)yes  (0)no

OTHER
0 – Shelter from Inclement Weather (needed or not): (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Swag (free socks, water bottles, etc.): (0)no  (2)yes, some  (5)excellent
2 – Part of race series or Grand Prix:  (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Kids Fun Run: (0)no   (2)yes
x – Miscellaneous not covered above: (-10 to +10)

TOTAL:  78

I’ve run this race several times previously back when it was the Lungstrong 15k and I always ran the 15k until this year. With my self-imposed limit of 10k I decided the 5k would be better for me this time around and when it was over I was glad I chose the shorter distance. The temperature was warm for this autumn race that’s usually on the cool side, and the 72 degrees felt fine to me although the 100% humidity made things a little more difficult.

It’s a pretty big local race with 327 finishers in the 15k and another 349 in the 5k, and when I arrived an hour before the race I was surprised at how many runners were already there. Guess I’ll have to leave a little earlier next year.

I wanted to run under 23 minutes but I didn’t quite make it, finishing in 23:19, but I was happy with being 14th overall.

Race Name:  Novant Health Lake Norman 15k/5k

Location:  Cornelius, North Carolina

Date:  September 29, 2019

Race Rating:  94

Winners:

Course (5k):

Elevation Per Mile:

Weather at Start:

Click Here for Race Results

Click Here for Race Photos from Marathon-Photos


My Stats:

Time:  23:19
Pace:  7:30
Age Group:  1 of 7 
Overall:  14 of 349
Average Heart Rate: 158 
Maximum Heart Rate:  169
Age Grade Percentage:  73.27%

Thanks to Bobby Aswell for this pic. The professionals at Marathon-Photos managed to take exactly *zero* pics of me running the race, although they did get one photo of me at the awards. Don’t think I’ll pay 20 bucks for it though.

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* RACE RATING *
***************

RACE COURSE 
3 – Chip & Gun Timing: (3 points if yes)
2 – Water Stops: (0)none  (2)normal  (5)extras [Gu, sports drink, etc.]
1 – Course Marking:  (0)bad  (1)good
4 – Course Scenery:  (0-5) 1=bad  and 5=fantastic
1 – Mile Markers: (0)poor or none  (1)normal  (2)with clocks or time called out
2 – Volunteers:  (0)too few  (2)good
7 – Finish line: (0-9)   0=bad  and 9=spectacular!
2 – Certified Course: (0)no  (2) yes
2 – Correct Distance: (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Partly or fully on unpaved roads:  (0)yes  (1)no

REGISTRATION 
0 – Cost:  (0)expensive  (2)reasonable  (5)cheap!
0 – Race Day Registration:  (0)no  (3)yes

RESULTS
2 – Posted online within 24 hours:  (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Easy to find results:  (0)no  (1)yes

AGE GROUPS
2 – 3 deep awards: (2)yes (0 for anything less)
5 – 5-year age groups (5 points) (0 for anything less)
1 – 14 and under group (1)
1 – 65+ group (1)
1 – 70+ group (1)
2 – Top Overall M/F:  (0)none; (1) first only; (2)top 3 or better
2 – Masters Category(40+): (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Grand Masters Category (50+):  (0)no  (3)yes
0 – Senior Grand Masters Category: (0)no  (5)yes

AWARDS
2 – Overall Winner Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
2 – Age Group Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
0 – Door Prizes or Drawing: (0-9)
5 – Finisher Medals for All Finishers: (0)no  (3)yes  (5)really cool medals

POST RACE 
6 – Food for Race Participants: (0-10 with 5 being average)
8 – Entertainment:  (0)no  (1-9)yes
2 – Finisher times posted after race:  (0)no  (2)yes

REST ROOMS 
2 – Porta Potties:  (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful
0 – Indoor Restrooms: (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful

T-SHIRTS
2 – T-Shirts: (0)no  (2)yes
3 – Design: (1-5)
2 – Material Quality: (1-3)
0 – Discount for no-shirt option:  (0)no (2)yes

PHOTOGRAPHY 
5 – Professional Photography: (0)no  (5)yes
1 – Prices: (1)expensive  (3)reasonable  (5)cheap
0 – Free Photographs (newspaper, etc.):  (0)no  (1-10)yes 

PARKING 
2 – Close to Start:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Close to Finish:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Plenty of spaces:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Free Parking:  (2)yes  (0)no

OTHER
0 – Shelter from Inclement Weather (needed or not): (0)no  (2)yes
2 – Swag (free socks, water bottles, etc.): (0)no  (2)yes, some  (5)excellent
2 – Part of race series or Grand Prix:  (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Kids Fun Run: (0)no   (2)yes
0 – Miscellaneous not covered above: (-10 to +10)

TOTAL:  94

After running quite a few bigger races lately, it was nice to get back to one of the smaller races in the Gaston County race series. This year’s race had 114 finishers, and I usually like this kind of race where you can park near the start/finish, visit with everybody you know, and not get lost in the shuffle. With only 77 feet of elevation gain, it’s also one of the flattest races around and my time of 22:53 landed me in 5th place overall (another nice perk of smaller races) although it might have been just a little short. My Garmin measured 3.04 miles and I heard somebody else mention 3.07, but it was close enough.

The race was sponsored by Promised Land Baptist Church, and the pastor not only served as race director but also ran the race. All of the proceeds benefited their Nicaraguan mission fund. Age groups were limited to 1-deep in 10-year age groups, but the awards for 1st place were nice but small trophies (rare these days), and really nice trophies for the top 3 male and female overall trophies (I just missed it). Oddly, this was offset in all finishers receiving a really nice custom made medal, and I spoke to the pastor after the race who assured me that next year he would have 3-deep age group awards in 5-year age groups next year (he’s still learning how all of this works).

All in all though, it was a fun race and I’ll plan on being back to run it again next year.

Race Name: Running with the Good News 5k

Location:  Dallas, North Carolina

Date: September 28, 2019

Race Rating:  76

Top 10 Overall:

Course:

Elevation Per Mile:

Weather at Start:

Click Here for Race Results

My Stats:

Time:  22:53
Pace:  7:23
Age Group: 1 of 6 
Overall:  5 of 114
Average Heart Rate:  157
Maximum Heart Rate:  167
Age Grade Percentage:  74.65%

There was no official race photographer, but there was a photographer from the About Face Boot Camp who took pics of their members. Not sure where to find those (didn’t see them on their Facebook page) but somebody sent me this one.

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* RACE RATING *
***************

RACE COURSE 
0 – Chip & Gun Timing: (3 points if yes)
2 – Water Stops: (0)none  (2)normal  (5)extras [Gu, sports drink, etc.]
1 – Course Marking:  (0)bad  (1)good
3 – Course Scenery:  (0-5) 1=bad  and 5=fantastic
1 – Mile Markers: (0)poor or none  (1)normal  (2)with clocks or time called out
2 – Volunteers:  (0)too few  (2)good
6 – Finish line: (0-9)   0=bad  and 9=spectacular!
0 – Certified Course: (0)no  (2) yes
2 – Correct Distance: (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Partly or fully on unpaved roads:  (0)yes  (1)no

REGISTRATION 
2 – Cost:  (0)expensive  (2)reasonable  (5)cheap!
3 – Race Day Registration:  (0)no  (3)yes

RESULTS
2 – Posted online within 24 hours:  (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Easy to find results:  (0)no  (1)yes

AGE GROUPS
0 – 3 deep awards: (2)yes (0 for anything less)
0 – 5-year age groups (5 points) (0 for anything less)
1 – 10 and under group (1)
1 – 65+ group (1)
0 – 70+ group (1)
2 – Top Overall M/F:  (0)none; (1) first only; (2)top 3 or better
0 – Masters Category(40+): (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Grand Masters Category (50+):  (0)no  (3)yes
0 – Senior Grand Masters Category: (0)no  (5)yes

AWARDS
5 – Overall Winner Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
5 – Age Group Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
0 – Door Prizes or Drawing: (0-9)
5 – Finisher Medals for All Finishers: (0)no  (3)yes  (5)really cool medals

POST RACE 
6 – Food for Race Participants: (0-10 with 5 being average)
4 – Entertainment:  (0)no  (1-9)yes
2 – Finisher times posted after race:  (0)no  (2)yes

REST ROOMS 
2 – Porta Potties:  (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful
0 – Indoor Restrooms: (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful

T-SHIRTS
2 – T-Shirts: (0)no  (2)yes
3 – Design: (1-5)
2 – Material Quality: (1-3)
0 – Discount for no-shirt option:  (0)no (2)yes

PHOTOGRAPHY 
0 – Professional Photography: (0)no  (5)yes
0 – Prices: (1)expensive  (3)reasonable  (5)cheap
0 – Free Photographs (newspaper, etc.):  (0)no  (1-10)yes 

PARKING 
2 – Close to Start:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Close to Finish:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Plenty of spaces:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Free Parking:  (2)yes  (0)no

OTHER
0 – Shelter from Inclement Weather (needed or not): (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Swag (free socks, water bottles, etc.): (0)no  (2)yes, some  (5)excellent
2 – Part of race series or Grand Prix:  (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Kids Fun Run: (0)no   (2)yes
0 – Miscellaneous not covered above: (-10 to +10)

TOTAL:  76

Now in its fourth year, the Stop Soldier Suicide race keeps getting better and I’ve now run all four times that it’s been held. Race director Ronald Rhodes always does a good job with the little details that makes it an enjoyable experience for all the runners who participate. For the first time, this year’s race was held at South Point High School instead of downtown, and that made parking much better. The course remained almost the same except for the start/finish location and the route was reversed, which was a good move since it made the course flat over the last mile instead of a tough uphill.

The 10k course was exactly 6.22 miles according to my Garmin, which is perfect, but I heard a few 5k runners say the 5k course was about a tenth of a mile short, so maybe that’ll be fixed next year. Although the 10k course remained basically unchanged, the 5k course is different now, which on the map looked to me straight out and back and almost completely flat so there were some faster-than-normal 5k times (which is better than slower-than-normal).

I like the race size — not too big and not too small — with about 300 finishers in the 5k and 10k combined (214 in the 5k and 95 in the 10k).

Stop Soldier Suicide is a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to veterans and active duty soldiers who are in need of their services, and there is plenty of patriotism on display for the race festivities.

For the really fast people (not me), the 10k offers a Visa gift card to the top three overall winners in the 10k — $125 for first, $75 for second, and $50 for third.

One of the best perks for this race was free photography, with several photographers covering different areas of the course and providing well over 1,200 professional quality photos of runners. I would guess that every runner had at least one or more pictures of themselves along the way. I didn’t count but I think there were about 10 pics of me at various locations and at the finish. When you consider the majority of races charges as much as $20 per photo, if they even offer race photos at all, it’s a no-brainer that this is one of the best benefits a race can offer. Of course, some people would rather not have a visual record of their misery as they’re plodding along, but most of us like it.

I had a good race thanks to some recent seriousness about my diet and exercise regimen, and I cut about two and a half minutes off last year’s time!

Race Name: Stop Soldier Suicide 10k/5k and Kids Dash

Location:  Belmont, North Carolina

Date: September 21, 2019

Race Rating: 102

Top 10 (10k):

Top 10 (5k):

Course:

Elevation Per Mile:

Weather at Start:

Click Here for Race Results

Click Here for Photo Collection #1 on Facebook (600+ Photos)

Click Here for Photo Collection #2 on Facebook (600+ Photos)

My Stats:

Time:  47:42
Pace:  7:42
Age Group: 1 of 2
Overall:  14 of 95
Average Heart Rate:  156
Maximum Heart Rate:  167
Age Grade Percentage:  74.56%

***************
* RACE RATING *
***************

RACE COURSE 
0 – Chip & Gun Timing: (3 points if yes)
2 – Water Stops: (0)none  (2)normal  (5)extras [Gu, sports drink, etc.]
1 – Course Marking:  (0)bad  (1)good
3 – Course Scenery:  (0-5) 1=bad  and 5=fantastic
1 – Mile Markers: (0)poor or none  (1)normal  (2)with clocks or time called out
2 – Volunteers:  (0)too few  (2)good
7 – Finish line: (0-9)   0=bad  and 9=spectacular!
0 – Certified Course: (0)no  (2) yes
2 – Correct Distance: (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Partly or fully on unpaved roads:  (0)yes  (1)no

REGISTRATION 
2 – Cost:  (0)expensive  (2)reasonable  (5)cheap!
3 – Race Day Registration:  (0)no  (3)yes

RESULTS
2 – Posted online within 24 hours:  (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Easy to find results:  (0)no  (1)yes

AGE GROUPS
3 – 3 deep awards: (2)yes (0 for anything less)
5 – 5-year age groups (5 points) (0 for anything less)
1 – 14 and under group (1)
1 – 65+ group (1)
1 – 70+ group (1)
2 – Top Overall M/F:  (0)none; (1) first only; (2)top 3 or better
0 – Masters Category(40+): (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Grand Masters Category (50+):  (0)no  (3)yes
0 – Senior Grand Masters Category: (0)no  (5)yes

AWARDS
5 – Overall Winner Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
5 – Age Group Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
0 – Door Prizes or Drawing: (0-9)
3 – Finisher Medals for All Finishers: (0)no  (3)yes  (5)really cool medals

POST RACE 
5 – Food for Race Participants: (0-10 with 5 being average)
7 – Entertainment:  (0)no  (1-9)yes
2 – Finisher times posted after race:  (0)no  (2)yes

REST ROOMS 
2 – Porta Potties:  (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful
0 – Indoor Restrooms: (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful

T-SHIRTS
2 – T-Shirts: (0)no  (2)yes
3 – Design: (1-5)
2 – Material Quality: (1-3)
2 – Discount for no-shirt option:  (0)no (2)yes

PHOTOGRAPHY 
x – Professional Photography: (0)no  (5)yes
x – Prices: (1)expensive  (3)reasonable  (5)cheap
10 – Free Photographs (newspaper, etc.):  (0)no  (1-10)yes 

PARKING 
2 – Close to Start:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Close to Finish:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Plenty of spaces:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Free Parking:  (2)yes  (0)no

OTHER
0 – Shelter from Inclement Weather (needed or not): (0)no  (2)yes
2 – Swag (free socks, water bottles, etc.): (0)no  (2)yes, some  (5)excellent
2 – Part of race series or Grand Prix:  (0)no  (2)yes
2 – Kids Fun Run: (0)no   (2)yes
x – Miscellaneous not covered above: (-10 to +10)

TOTAL:  102

My 115th — and possibly my last — half marathon. There’s a chance it’s not the last, and as I write this a few days after the race I feel great. I didn’t get injured and my time of 1:53:26 wasn’t terrible, and it actually extended my streak of sub 2-hour half marathons to 114 in a row, possibly my biggest running achievement. For the record, my first half marathon back in 2008 was 2:01:05, and all of my half marathons since then have been under 2 hours. I do feel though, at age 67, running 13 miles in a race is getting to be a little too much. I didn’t exactly struggle to finish as I did a few times last year, but I definitely felt uncomfortable the last few miles of the race. I think for me that dropping back to the 5k and 10k distances would make life a little easier and more enjoyable, and it might also prevent me from an injury that might be more likely as I age.

The Run for Green Half Marathon is one I’ve run several times over the years. It’s fairly challenging, with over 500 feet of elevation gain, but it’s a nice course through upscale neighborhoods and along the greenway and I’ve always enjoyed it. Quite a bit of the uphill is in the last couple miles of the race and that adds to the difficulty.

Every year they have chocolate milk at the finish line along with chicken strips and the usual fruit and bagels. There’s also beer but since I don’t drink I’m always in for about 3 trips back to the chocolate milk table.

I like the size of this race — about 800 runners total for the half marathon, 10k, and 5k combined.

Race Name: Run for Green Half Marathon, 10k, and 5k

Location:  Davidson, North Carolina

Date: September 14, 2019

Race Rating:  96

Top 10 (Half Marathon):

Top 10 (10k):

Top 10 (5k):

Course:

Elevation by Mile:

Weather at Start:

Click Here for Race Results

Click Here for Race Photos from Marathon-Photos

My Stats:

Time:  1:53:26
Pace:  8:40
Age Group:  1 of 3
Overall:  66 of 241
Average Heart Rate:  154
Maximum Heart Rate:  164
Age Grade Percentage:  69.04%

With friends — Sonny Ali, Wayne Eckert, and Phillip Cooley

***************
* RACE RATING *
***************

RACE COURSE 
0 – Chip & Gun Timing: (3 points if yes)
5 – Water Stops: (0)none  (2)normal  (5)extras [Gu, sports drink, etc.]
1 – Course Marking:  (0)bad  (1)good
4 – Course Scenery:  (0-5) 1=bad  and 5=fantastic
1 – Mile Markers: (0)poor or none  (1)normal  (2)with clocks or time called out
2 – Volunteers:  (0)too few  (2)good
7 – Finish line: (0-9)   0=bad  and 9=spectacular!
2 – Certified Course: (0)no  (2) yes
2 – Correct Distance: (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Partly or fully on unpaved roads:  (0)yes  (1)no

REGISTRATION 
2 – Cost:  (0)expensive  (2)reasonable  (5)cheap!
3 – Race Day Registration:  (0)no  (3)yes

RESULTS
2 – Posted online within 24 hours:  (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Easy to find results:  (0)no  (1)yes

AGE GROUPS
2 – 3 deep awards: (2)yes (0 for anything less)
5 – 5-year age groups (5 points) (0 for anything less)
1 – 14 and under group (1)
1 – 65+ group (1)
1 – 70+ group (1)
2 – Top Overall M/F:  (0)none; (1) first only; (2)top 3 or better
2 – Masters Category(40+): (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Grand Masters Category (50+):  (0)no  (3)yes
0 – Senior Grand Masters Category: (0)no  (5)yes

AWARDS
2 – Overall Winner Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
2 – Age Group Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
0 – Door Prizes or Drawing: (0-9)
5 – Finisher Medals for All Finishers: (0)no  (3)yes  (5)really cool medals

POST RACE 
7 – Food for Race Participants: (0-10 with 5 being average)
8 – Entertainment:  (0)no  (1-9)yes
2 – Finisher times posted after race:  (0)no  (2)yes

REST ROOMS 
2 – Porta Potties:  (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful
0 – Indoor Restrooms: (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful

T-SHIRTS
2 – T-Shirts: (0)no  (2)yes
3 – Design: (1-5)
2 – Material Quality: (1-3)
0 – Discount for no-shirt option:  (0)no (2)yes

PHOTOGRAPHY 
5 – Professional Photography: (0)no  (5)yes
1 – Prices: (1)expensive  (3)reasonable  (5)cheap
0 – Free Photographs (newspaper, etc.):  (0)no  (1-10)yes 

PARKING 
2 – Close to Start:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Close to Finish:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Plenty of spaces:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Free Parking:  (2)yes  (0)no

OTHER
0 – Shelter from Inclement Weather (needed or not): (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Swag (free socks, water bottles, etc.): (0)no  (2)yes, some  (5)excellent
0 – Part of race series or Grand Prix:  (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Kids Fun Run: (0)no   (2)yes
0 – Miscellaneous not covered above: (-10 to +10)

TOTAL:  96

 Oy vey! Here’s a race destined to be remembered as one of the biggest stinkers of all time! It’s not just that there were no monitors along the course, or that there was only one water stop for the 10k, or that there were no mile markers along the way, or that the bananas were green and the water was hot. Of 470 races that I’ve now run, this was the first one I can remember that had NO AGE GROUP AWARDS. At all. Not only that, but the race director acted indignant that anybody would even broach the subject, what with this being a good cause and all. Well ya know, almost every race is in honor of a good cause.

She added that, “If anybody sees that they finished in the top 3 in their age group and wants an award, let me know afterwards and I’ll be sure to mail you one.”

Lady, that’s not the point, and if it has to be explained to you, never mind. Keep the award.

The course is actually a good one along the greenway at Catawba Meadows Park. It’s flat and mostly shady and is generally the same course as the much better organized Cat’s Cradle race held earlier in the year.

Interestingly, there were only 62 finishers in the 10k, 106 in the 5k, and more than 300 in the “Student Fun Run,” whatever that was. I think it was a mile or so that different schools participated in. Maybe the disregard for regular runners was because the emphasis was meant to be on the students.

Race Name: Sunrise on the Greenway 10k and 5k

Location: Morganton, North Carolina

Date: September 7, 2019

Race Rating:  56

Winners (10k):

Winners (5k):

Course:

Elevation:

Weather at Start:

Click Here for Race Results

My Stats:

Time:  48:15
Pace:  7:45
Age Group: 1 of 2
Overall:  18 of 62
Average Heart Rate:  159
Maximum Heart Rate:  168
Age Grade Percentage:  73.71%

***************
* RACE RATING *
***************

RACE COURSE
0 – Chip & Gun Timing: (3 points if yes)
1 – Water Stops: (0)none  (2)normal  (5)extras [Gu, sports drink, etc.]
1 – Course Marking:  (0)bad  (1)good
3 – Course Scenery:  (0-5) 1=bad  and 5=fantastic
0 – Mile Markers: (0)poor or none  (1)normal  (2)with clocks or time called out
0 – Volunteers:  (0)too few  (2)good
5 – Finish line: (0-9)   0=bad  and 9=spectacular!
2 – Certified Course: (0)no  (2) yes
2 – Correct Distance: (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Partly or fully on unpaved roads:  (0)yes  (1)no

REGISTRATION
2 – Cost:  (0)expensive  (2)reasonable  (5)cheap!
3 – Race Day Registration:  (0)no  (3)yes

RESULTS
2 – Posted online within 24 hours:  (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Easy to find results:  (0)no  (1)yes

AGE GROUPS
0 – 3 deep awards: (2)yes (0 for anything less)
0 – 5-year age groups (5 points) (0 for anything less)
0 – 14 and under group (1)
0 – 65+ group (1)
0 – 70+ group (1)
2 – Top Overall M/F:  (0)none; (1) first only; (2)top 3 or better
0 – Masters Category(40+): (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Grand Masters Category (50+):  (0)no  (3)yes
0 – Senior Grand Masters Category: (0)no  (5)yes

AWARDS
5 – Overall Winner Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
0 – Age Group Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
0 – Door Prizes or Drawing: (0-9)
0 – Finisher Medals for All Finishers: (0)no  (3)yes  (5)really cool medals

POST RACE
2 – Food for Race Participants: (0-10 with 5 being average)
3 – Entertainment:  (0)no  (1-9)yes
0 – Finisher times posted after race:  (0)no  (2)yes

REST ROOMS
0 – Porta Potties:  (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful
2 – Indoor Restrooms: (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful

T-SHIRTS
2 – T-Shirts: (0)no  (2)yes
3 – Design: (1-5)
2 – Material Quality: (1-3)
0 – Discount for no-shirt option:  (0)no (2)yes

PHOTOGRAPHY
0 – Professional Photography: (0)no  (5)yes
0 – Prices: (1)expensive  (3)reasonable  (5)cheap
0 – Free Photographs (newspaper, etc.):  (0)no  (1-10)yes

PARKING
2 – Close to Start:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Close to Finish:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Plenty of spaces:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Free Parking:  (2)yes  (0)no

OTHER
2 – Shelter from Inclement Weather (needed or not): (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Swag (free socks, water bottles, etc.): (0)no  (2)yes, some  (5)excellent
0 – Part of race series or Grand Prix:  (0)no  (2)yes
2 – Kids Fun Run: (0)no   (2)yes
x – Miscellaneous not covered above: (-10 to +10)

TOTAL:  56

This was the 2nd year of the Jaycees Labor Day 5k and this year it was hosted in a new location. Originally at the now defunct Rivermen Brewery, this year it was hosted at The Lodge Tavern & Tap, another Belmont establishment just a block over from the original location. We were told the course is still certified and I was glad to see that the distance was correct.

This was my third race in three days of Labor Day Weekend, and since I’d won my age group in the first two I thought it would be nice if I could get this one as well. Mark Jackson, a fast 66-year-old from Huntersville, wanted to make sure I had to earn it. I managed to squeak by him by just a few seconds in the end, and I thanked him for the push. I would have probably won my age group without him there but no doubt I would have been a little bit slower without him breathing down my neck the entire race.

The star of the race though was Ben Kassel, who not only was the overall winner of the race that started at 9:00 a.m., but he also won the Matthews Labor Day 5k that began at 7:30! It’s not too unusual for the gung-ho among us to run a race and then go straight to another one and run it, but this is the first time I’ve seen somebody run two different races on Saturday morning and win both of them!

Race Name:  Jaycees Labor Day 5k

Location:  Belmont, North Carolina

Date: September 2, 2019

Race Rating:  76

Top 10 Overall:

Course:

Elevation Per Mile:

Weather at Start:

Click Here for Race Results

My Stats:

Time:  23:31
Pace:  7:33
Age Group:  1 of 5
Overall:  17 of 120
Average Heart Rate:  157
Maximum Heart Rate:  169
Age Grade Percentage:  72.64%

***************
* RACE RATING *
***************

RACE COURSE
0 – Chip & Gun Timing: (3 points if yes)
2 – Water Stops: (0)none  (2)normal  (5)extras [Gu, sports drink, etc.]
1 – Course Marking:  (0)bad  (1)good
3 – Course Scenery:  (0-5) 1=bad  and 5=fantastic
1 – Mile Markers: (0)poor or none  (1)normal  (2)with clocks or time called out
2 – Volunteers:  (0)too few  (2)good
6 – Finish line: (0-9)   0=bad  and 9=spectacular!
2 – Certified Course: (0)no  (2) yes
2 – Correct Distance: (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Partly or fully on unpaved roads:  (0)yes  (1)no

REGISTRATION
2 – Cost:  (0)expensive  (2)reasonable  (5)cheap!
3 – Race Day Registration:  (0)no  (3)yes

RESULTS
2 – Posted online within 24 hours:  (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Easy to find results:  (0)no  (1)yes

AGE GROUPS
2 – 3 deep awards: (2)yes (0 for anything less)
5 – 5-year age groups (5 points) (0 for anything less)
1 – 14 and under group (1)
1 – 65+ group (1)
1 – 70+ group (1)
1 – Top Overall M/F:  (0)none; (1) first only; (2)top 3 or better
0 – Masters Category(40+): (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Grand Masters Category (50+):  (0)no  (3)yes
0 – Senior Grand Masters Category: (0)no  (5)yes

AWARDS
2 – Overall Winner Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
2 – Age Group Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
0 – Door Prizes or Drawing: (0-9)
5 – Finisher Medals for All Finishers: (0)no  (3)yes  (5)really cool medals

POST RACE
4 – Food for Race Participants: (0-10 with 5 being average)
2 – Entertainment:  (0)no  (1-9)yes
0 – Finisher times posted after race:  (0)no  (2)yes

REST ROOMS
2 – Porta Potties:  (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful
0 – Indoor Restrooms: (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful

T-SHIRTS
2 – T-Shirts: (0)no  (2)yes
3 – Design: (1-5)
3 – Material Quality: (1-3)
0 – Discount for no-shirt option:  (0)no (2)yes

PHOTOGRAPHY
0 – Professional Photography: (0)no  (5)yes
x – Prices: (1)expensive  (3)reasonable  (5)cheap
0 – Free Photographs (newspaper, etc.):  (0)no  (1-10)yes

PARKING
2 – Close to Start:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Close to Finish:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Plenty of spaces:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Free Parking:  (2)yes  (0)no

OTHER
0 – Shelter from Inclement Weather (needed or not): (0)no  (2)yes
2 – Swag (free socks, water bottles, etc.): (0)no  (2)yes, some  (5)excellent
2 – Part of race series or Grand Prix:  (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Kids Fun Run: (0)no   (2)yes
0 – Miscellaneous not covered above: (-10 to +10)

TOTAL:  76

This was the inaugural year of the Around the Crown 10k and it was quite the extravaganza. There was a ton of hype in the months leading up to the race, and when race day came the hype seemed to pay off. There were around 4,000 finishers, making it one of Charlotte’s biggest races in its first year. The big draw was that I-277, the loop around uptown Charlotte, was being closed off for the first time to allow runners to race on it.

I arrived over an hour before the start but so did a couple thousand other people. I could have parked in the dirt lot just below the baseball stadium for six bucks but decided to go around the block and see if I could do better on parking. That was a bad idea and I fell in line with everybody else going into the big parking garage closest to the stadium. Not only did it cost me $12 to park there, but after the race it took me an hour and a half to get out of the garage! That’s a mistake I won’t make next year.

The race itself was a lot of fun. I was a little apprehensive at the race start with so many other runners in close proximity, but I didn’t get tripped up and I didn’t see anybody else have a problem, so it’s all good. A mile or so into the race the runners were spread out comfortably where I was, ahead of the biggest part of the crowd. Just to see such a huge crowd of runners along I-277 was pretty exciting and reminded me of some of the huge races I’ve been in (Cooper River Bridge, NYC Marathon, etc.).

I managed to finish 1st in the 65-69 age group with a time of 46:41, but honestly the course was a little short, and if it was correct I would have probably been around 2 or 3 minutes slower. Still, I think I would have been under 50 minutes and that’s good for me right now.

I’d definitely run this race next year if they have it, but next time I’ll park somewhere else. I’ll also register early if it’s cheap. Early registration was cheap this year, but as race day came closer the prices went up a lot. I heard that registration at the expo was $60, way too expensive, but some folks told me they registered early for $25. My registration was $40 a few weeks before the race.

Pretty exciting seeing this many runners on I-277!

Race Name: Around the Crown 10k

Location:  Charlotte, North Carolina

Date: September 1, 2019

Race Rating:  100

Winners:

Course:

Elevation Per Mile:

Weather at Start:

Click Here for Race Results

Click Here for FREE Race Photos

Click Here for Race Website

Finish Line Video:

My Stats:

Time:  46:41
Pace:  7:31
Age Group: 1 of 26
Overall:  439 of 3970
Average Heart Rate:  157
Maximum Heart Rate:  167
Age Grade Percentage:  76.46%

***************
* RACE RATING *
***************

RACE COURSE
3 – Chip & Gun Timing: (3 points if yes)
2 – Water Stops: (0)none  (2)normal  (5)extras [Gu, sports drink, etc.]
1 – Course Marking:  (0)bad  (1)good
4 – Course Scenery:  (0-5) 1=bad  and 5=fantastic
1 – Mile Markers: (0)poor or none  (1)normal  (2)with clocks or time called out
2 – Volunteers:  (0)too few  (2)good
8 – Finish line: (0-9)   0=bad  and 9=spectacular!
0 – Certified Course: (0)no  (2) yes
0 – Correct Distance: (0)no  (2)yes (About a quarter mile short!)
1 – Partly or fully on unpaved roads:  (0)yes  (1)no

REGISTRATION
2 – Cost:  (0)expensive  (2)reasonable  (5)cheap! (Reasonable IF you signed up early)
0 – Race Day Registration:  (0)no  (3)yes

RESULTS
2 – Posted online within 24 hours:  (0)no  (2)yes
1 – Easy to find results:  (0)no  (1)yes

AGE GROUPS
2 – 3 deep awards: (2)yes (0 for anything less)
5 – 5-year age groups (5 points) (0 for anything less)
1 – 14 and under group (1)
1 – 65+ group (1)
1 – 70+ group (1)
2 – Top Overall M/F:  (0)none; (1) first only; (2)top 3 or better
2 – Masters Category(40+): (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Grand Masters Category (50+):  (0)no  (3)yes
0 – Senior Grand Masters Category: (0)no  (5)yes

AWARDS
5 – Overall Winner Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
2 – Age Group Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
0 – Door Prizes or Drawing: (0-9)
5 – Finisher Medals for All Finishers: (0)no  (3)yes  (5)really cool medals

POST RACE
4 – Food for Race Participants: (0-10 with 5 being average)
9 – Entertainment:  (0)no  (1-9)yes
2 – Finisher times posted after race:  (0)no  (2)yes

REST ROOMS
0 – Porta Potties:  (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful
2 – Indoor Restrooms: (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful

T-SHIRTS
2 – T-Shirts: (0)no  (2)yes
3 – Design: (1-5)
2 – Material Quality: (1-3)
0 – Discount for no-shirt option:  (0)no (2)yes

PHOTOGRAPHY
0 – Professional Photography: (0)no  (5)yes
x – Prices: (1)expensive  (3)reasonable  (5)cheap
10 – Free Photographs (newspaper, etc.):  (0)no  (1-10)yes
2 – Finish Line Video: (0)no  (2)yes

PARKING
2 – Close to Start:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Close to Finish:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 – Plenty of spaces:  (2)yes  (0)no
0 – Free Parking:  (2)yes  (0)no

OTHER
0 – Shelter from Inclement Weather (needed or not): (0)no  (2)yes
5 – Swag (free socks, water bottles, etc.): (0)no  (2)yes, some  (5)excellent
0 – Part of race series or Grand Prix:  (0)no  (2)yes
0 – Kids Fun Run: (0)no   (2)yes
x – Miscellaneous not covered above: (-10 to +10)

TOTAL:  100

Before the race with Judy Caswell, Ashley Amirkhanian, and Cindy Pomeroy.