A Runner’s Mind Gobble Wobble
San Mateo, CA
- 10K, 5K, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
A Runner’s Mind, the Bay Area’s local run specialty store, is proud to present its annual Gobble Wobble. Join us on Thanksgiving morning for your choice of a 5K or 10K race and a kids dash, celebrating friends, family and community as we ARM up and give thanks! … MORE
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Good turkey run
Although a bit cold the course is pretty good other than navigating through slow runners at the start and merge of 5k runners into mile 4.5. Pancakes at the end … MORE
Although a bit cold the course is pretty good other than navigating through slow runners at the start and merge of 5k runners into mile 4.5. Pancakes at the end and Turkey’s for the winners in age groups. Nice long sleeve performance shirt as well. No beer but the coffee waS GREATLY appreciated despite the long line.
fitness before the feast!
my company helped sponsor this event and also had a booth at the post-race festival area, so i was able to run this race for free. for this event, there … MORE
my company helped sponsor this event and also had a booth at the post-race festival area, so i was able to run this race for free.
for this event, there was a choice of 2 distances:
1. 10k (6.2 miles)
2. 5k (3.1 miles)
i chose the 5k since i also needed to help man the booth after the race.
the pros:
-REASONABLE race fees, $37 for either 5k or 10k. even on race morning, it was still just $42, which is pretty good compared to other last minute/day of race prices.
-PACKET PICKUP at ARM burlingame the day before the event as well as on site the morning of (for those who live a bit further and didn’t want to make two trips to burlingame in 24 hours)
-takes place along coyote point recreation area in san mateo/burlingame, where you have some nice VIEWS OF THE BAY.
-course is relatively FLAT, with just a few inclines/declines to mix things up.
-good RACE DAY WEATHER, mid-upper 50s throughout, which is warm for thanksgiving morning!
-MEDIUM-SIZED local race, about 1300 participants between the 2 distances, which meant fewer crowds and shorter waiting lines for parking, restrooms, etc
-STAGGERED race start times to avoid congestion. 10k started at 8, 5k started at 8.30.
-CLEAR MILE MARKERS and signs for both the 5k and 10k, as well as volunteers and signage at the turnaround points and other points along the course so we wouldn’t get lost!
-FRIENDLY VOLUNTEERS assisting at the registration/information booths, handing out water at aid stations along the course, and handing out snacks at the refreshments table post-race.
-EASY PARKING in the lots adjacent to the start/finish area. since i arrived extra early, i ended up parking just steps from the registration and start/finish line.
-PARK RESTROOMS near the start/finish area…there were 2 inside the park, and likely a third a little further away.
-VERY FAMILY FRIENDLY, perfect for families, small children, and strollers.
what you get:
*dri-fit, technical FINISHER’S TSHIRT with ARM gobble wobble logo…i loved the burgundy red colour, perfect for the season!
*several AID STATIONS with volunteers handing out cups of water
*POST-RACE FOOD & DRINKS, including bare snacks apple chips, hippeas chickpea puffs, nature’s bakery fig newtons and brownies, that’s it 100% fruit bars, noosa yoghurt, vita coco coconut milk, hint water, kona deep electrolyte water, and water in gallon jugs with recyclable cups (way to be green!)
*PANCAKE breakfast post-race, compliments of ARM….i saw the volunteers making the batter and grilling the pancakes around the time the 5k started!
*official RESULTS available immediately on-site…posted online the evening of the event which was a surprise since it was thanksgiving evening! kudos to arm for getting the results up so quickly!
bonuses for top finishers:
*gold, silver or bronze covered turkeys for the top 3 overall men & women for both distances
*ARM gift certificates for the top 3 men & women per age group, for both distances
the cons:
-both courses were slightly short. my garmin measured 3.07mi for the 5k and my friends who ran the 10k reported readings between 6.1-6.2mi…not a huge deal as it was pretty close. note that these courses were not usa track & field certified.
-there were no finisher medals for this event
i didn’t have high expectations for myself since i was busy working the event and helping with logistics in the days leading up to the race, but to my surprise, i ended up setting a pr for the 5k (21:50) and placing 3rd in my age group, so i got to be a part of the awards ceremony, receiving a $25 gift certificate to spend at ARM.
overall, a great event and great way to sweat it out and get some fresh air before the big feast in the afternoon!
New race working out the kinks
This was the race's first year (put on by a Runners Mind), and you can tell they are still working out a lot of the kinks. The bib pick up … MORE
This was the race’s first year (put on by a Runners Mind), and you can tell they are still working out a lot of the kinks.
The bib pick up took FOREVER, even though there weren’t lots of people waiting there.
10k race started about 10 minutes late – and it was super cold that day (in the 30s), which made a huge deal because I had gotten rid of my sweats and ended up completely frozen just standing there trying to keep warm.
Also, one major thing to call out, was that they advertised 2 aid stations for the 10k. However, when I passed by the first aid station, it wasn’t even set up yet! When it’s that cold, you get dehydrated much quicker, and I had to go a little off course just to get to a water fountain.
Swag wise, the shirt was nice, but no medals, which for the price ($50) would have been nice. Also, the food at the end was very disappointing – plus a HUGE line for pancakes (like 15 minutes long), I didn’t even bother waiting around for it.