Harvest Festival 5K

 Every year our local area puts on a 5k race in celebration of the Harvest Festival. None of my family ran it last year, but my dad and sister ran it in 2013 and I ran it in 2012 and then another time a few years back.  The last time I ran it I placed first in my age group. I run a lot more now than I did back then so I was hoping to place again!
 
We had a beautiful day for the race. The best I can remember in recent years. The race did not start till 9:30 am and it was already starting to get hot. This was a chip timed race, however there was not a timing mat to step on as you started the race, there was only the finish line timing mat.  So I guess those that started near the back had the same start time as those in the front.  That isn't really fair but I guess since it is only a 5K it's not like anyone needed this as an official time to qualify for another race! 

Right from the start, I felt short of breath and just didn't feel right. Knowing that I won first in my age group before, I wanted to meet my goal again. Since it was a local race, I knew a lot of people there and I felt that added pressure to make sure I did well. The first mile I didn't feel like I was going that fast since my breathing was off. I looked at my Garmin and it read 6:47. What??? I have to slow down. No wonder I didn't feel right. I knew I had to hold my pace back the following miles. When I did that, I started to feel a little better. Even though I finished strong, I wasn't feeling very confident with my time this year, like I had in the past.

I met my mom, Scott, and Baylee at the finish line and waited for my sister and dad to cross.  After they crossed we had to walk across a parking lot back to the  lawn of the registration building to get water and snacks. It wasn't a far walk, but it would have been nice to have the water given out somewhere right past the finish line, especially since it was such a hot day. The race was pretty organized and right away they had our names, times, and places up on a board to view. I saw that I placed 2nd in my age group, which I was still happy with. My dad said that he placed 4th, and of course awards were only for the first three in each age group. 
 
 
 We stayed for the awards ceremony and we were surprised as well as my dad was to hear his name being called for 3rd place. Silly guy can't read the results right. He says, "well I'm glad I stuck around."  I was also fortunate enough to win one of the door prizes, free admission to one of the corn mazes!  Later that afternoon I went back downtown to visit friends and watch the annual parade.

What a beautiful weekend.  Next up, is a 5k through the Vineyards next weekend. I will be looking forward to that.

Do you like running local/small races? -L

29 comments:

  1. Congrats on your race Lacey and to your dad too. It is always fun winning AG awards! I know what you mean about pressure at local races. When I ran a recent 5k with friends from the neighborhood, I felt pressure to do well even though I could not push my pace (long run up 2 days later and my coach was adamant I keep an easy pace). I have never done a corn maze but love the maze at Hampton Court Palace in London. Have fun doing that!

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    1. Thanks. Yeah that's the only bad thing about local races. The pressure. I'm looking forward to go to the Corn maze.I bet the won in London was awesome.

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  2. Congrats to you and your dad! I do enjoy local races. Yes, there's often no chip timing but I think they put great effort into their swag, raffles, etc. It's nice to support the community too!

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    1. Thanks. Yeah it was a pretty good race for a local one. And you can't beat the cost.

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  3. Congrats on a great race! That's awesome that you and your dad both got AG awards.

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  4. Congrats on a good race and your 2nd place! That is so awesome! I love running small races because then I actually have a tiny shot of placing in my age category ; )

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    1. Yeah that's another good thing about local races. They are much smaller.

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  5. Great job to you and your dad! That's so cool. It's always so fun to win an award...which is one big reason I love doing local races :)

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    1. Thanks. Yes it is much easier to place than in big races

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  6. How fun that it was a family affair :)
    & all the prizes? Good for you all!!!
    Isn't it awful to live up to the pressure of past goals? But you still held your ground - good for you!!!

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    1. Thanks. It ended up being a great race. I didn't know they were going to do a raffle afterwards. It was nice for others to get prizes that may have not gotten an award.

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  7. 6:47? I've never done a mile that fast. No wonder you felt off. Congrats on the second place.

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    1. Yeah neither have I. I'm sure thats why I felt like that. But I pushed thru and it paid off at the end.

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  8. Great job! I love how 9.30 is a late start for you - I'm barely out of bed by then!
    PS. Sorry if this posts multiple times, I'm having computer problems!

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    1. Well after getting up for Disney races to start at 530 am anything is later. This was a perfect time. I wish more races started this late.

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  9. I love a local race - and there are some that I run every year. Congratulations on your AG award - holy moly, you were FAST!!!

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  10. Small races are fun! Big congrats to both of you for AG awards! Fun to be surprised by a third place win for your dad!

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  11. I do like running the small, local races! Congrats to you and your Dad on your AG placement.

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  12. Congrats on your placing and congrats to your dad!!

    I'll be honest- for the most part, I HATE doing 5Ks. Disney is the exception because they're just for fun. Otherwise, it's takes me 3 miles to start feeling good on my runs, so 5Ks just tend to feel miserable the whole time. Lol

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  13. That is awesome Congratulations, that's an awesome mile time, speedy girl!!! Even more fun that your family was involved in it together. Congrats to your dad too:)

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  14. I love doing smaller races sometimes . I don't get as nervous! Wow that is a speedy fast mile time

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  15. Congrats to you and your dad. I enjoy the smaller races - they tend to be more low key and relaxing.

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  16. Sometimes those small, local races are the most fun! Definitely a bit less stressful, and you can hang with friends and family afterwards!

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  17. Congrats! I love small local races like this. It's so much fun and I can't really think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning! Congrats to your Dad too!

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  18. Congrats! I love small local races like this. It's so much fun and I can't really think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning! Congrats to your Dad too!

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  19. I very rarely get the chance to run in a small race living in DC. I really want to run in more small races!

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  20. Sounds like a fun race. Congrats to you and your dad!

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