I'm really glad that the event organizers emailed us shortly after the race to explain what happened yesterday. I arrived about 10 minutes early for yesterday's 7:30 a.m. 5K start time. I was a couple blocks from Civic Park as I heard the race countdown. I ran the rest of the way to find nobody at the start - the time was already 2:04. They started early?!
The beginning part of the course was really muddy so you had to go walking-speed slow, but I made up some of this time later, especially with all the wonderful encouragement I received along the track from College Park HS students. The kids volunteered to stand around the course with signs and words of encouragement, and even their school mascot at Walden Park! A giant purple falcon will make you RUN!
I ran through the school yard, on the trails, up and down the Robert Schroeder Bridge, and finally, back to Civic Park. My ending time was 35:50. Minus the 2:04....33:46 - my fastest run in a long time! So, what happened? Some a$$hole drunk driver crashed earlier that morning in Concord (actually at the intersection where I live - which is notorious for fatalities and terrible accidents). The streets were closed and the 1/2 marathon was shortened by 3 miles, so they changed our start time to prevent the majority of both race's runners all ending at the same time.
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| Volunteers passing out water & snacks |
It was great to hear my name announced as I crossed the finish line and received my awesome medal. That's fun! And there was a photographer at the finish (as well as many others along the course.) Lots of awesome snacks and beverages were gifted to us, and McKinnon massage school students were there giving free (amazing) massages. I found a friend who flew into town just for the 1/2 marathon, gave her a hug, and went home to crawl back into bed.
Wonderful, well-organized race - especially since they had to deal with rain-soaked fields and one stupid, selfish, drunk driver.
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