This race always has the vibe of a block party or a cookout or something where everybody is familiar (or close enough) and the ones you don't recognize are just … MORE
This race always has the vibe of a block party or a cookout or something where everybody is familiar (or close enough) and the ones you don’t recognize are just friends you haven’t met yet. Race goes through “downtown” Martin City on their “main street’ (Boulevard), loops through residential area, then crosses back over Boulevard for a windy out and back. There’s a slow inline shortly after the start and the out and back is basically a bowl, so down and up going out and again coming back, with a long final stretch downhill right into the finish line. This was a 5k PR for a while but today I was still working through an injury.
One of the local celebrity race dogs that’s really popular on the circuit had his 50th race today, so minicupcakes with 50 on them were passed around in addition to the pretzels, beer, muffin tops and one or two other treats. For a 5k this thing really hits hard in the after party, which of course also includes a live German band playing appropriate music (with accordion!). In cool weather this is a great course. In less cool weather it’s still a pretty great course. This race is worth the drive for a fun little race of about 350 people.
The medal was nicely designed and hefty and the tshirt was a white cotton one that feels VERY soft.
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Block party vibe
This race always has the vibe of a block party or a cookout or something where everybody is familiar (or close enough) and the ones you don't recognize are just … MORE
This race always has the vibe of a block party or a cookout or something where everybody is familiar (or close enough) and the ones you don’t recognize are just friends you haven’t met yet. Race goes through “downtown” Martin City on their “main street’ (Boulevard), loops through residential area, then crosses back over Boulevard for a windy out and back. There’s a slow inline shortly after the start and the out and back is basically a bowl, so down and up going out and again coming back, with a long final stretch downhill right into the finish line. This was a 5k PR for a while but today I was still working through an injury.
One of the local celebrity race dogs that’s really popular on the circuit had his 50th race today, so minicupcakes with 50 on them were passed around in addition to the pretzels, beer, muffin tops and one or two other treats. For a 5k this thing really hits hard in the after party, which of course also includes a live German band playing appropriate music (with accordion!). In cool weather this is a great course. In less cool weather it’s still a pretty great course. This race is worth the drive for a fun little race of about 350 people.
The medal was nicely designed and hefty and the tshirt was a white cotton one that feels VERY soft.
Punches above it's weight class
This little 5k seems like it's a larger race in a larger town. The support along the course was great and everyone coming out of the shopping centers I passed … MORE
This little 5k seems like it’s a larger race in a larger town. The support along the course was great and everyone coming out of the shopping centers I passed (which is most of the way) all either waved or shouted out words of encouragement. The optional swag included a nice stein and pretzel pieces were available at the finish. The energy was amazing before and after the race. Of the 30-some odd 5k races I’d done at that point, here was where I PR’ed, and did so on a day I hadn’t even set out with that kind of motivation. This hidden gym seems to be an insider favorite, as several people I’d raced with before were there. Two women had told me that I motivated them to PR in previous races, I told them I PRed that day, and before I knew it about half a dozen other people had joined our little circle to talk about future races, our experience on this one, the circuit in general. Everybody seemed to be having a great time on the course as well, with a few people in costume for the event and dog’s a plenty to pet.
What was originally just going to be a recovery race from a brutal (and amazing) race the day before turned into an event in and of itself, and I can’t wait to register for next year.