4th of July 5K Race

Every year we have a 4th of July race near my hometown and I always seem to get stuck working. My sister has run it a few times but always says it is a very hot race. This year I finally got off and I was going to run it. Since it is always so hot this year they changed the time to an hour earlier.  Thank goodness!




We arrived in plenty of time to find a parking spot, use the restroom, and pick up our race bib. It was a fairly small race but big for our area, almost 500 people.  I didn’t know what to expect since I have never ran it before, but my sister was telling me a few things about the course. She said it was pretty flat up until this huge gradual hill then it has a steep downhill followed by some uneven terrain under a covered bridge.  

It was chip time so I didn’t feel the need to have to get right up to the start line, however, I didn’t want to get stuck too far back weaving around slower runners, so I got as close as I could. The National Anthem was sung then we were off.  I started off way too fast like I always do, especially in shorter races. I looked down at my watch and it said my first mile was 6:53. I knew I needed to slow down, but this was the flat part of the race and knew my pace would soon change once I got to that massive hill. I thought I might as well make up the time now.  

I eventually arrived at that hill and that was no joke! It was like the never ending hill. Some people even stopped running and decided to walk up it.  I continued to keep running and did pass a few others during this time.  I finally was on the other side of the hill making my way down.  Though it was a gradual uphill, it was a pretty steep downhill, so I had to go a little slower because I was afraid of tripping. While running downhill I saw this man running towards me on other side of the road running saying good job to us runners. I thought to myself, oh no we have to run back up this other side (thinking it was an out and back, which my sister didn’t mention). The closer I got to him, I saw that he wasn’t wearing a bib but just out running that morning. Thank goodness! I arrived at the covered bridge and remembered to stay to the left, because the rest of the bridge was not a smooth terrain.

  I knew I was near the home stretch after this so I tried to keep my pace up as much as I could. There were people sitting out in their lawns with hoses spraying the runners. Since I was already sweating, I didn’t feel the need to get even wetter especially my shoes. So I had to weave in and out to avoid this. I was on the final stretch and could see the finish line so I kicked it into high gear and ended up passing someone right at the finish line. I wasn’t sure if she would be in my age group or not, but just in case, right?

 After crossing the finish line they gave us a bottle of water and they had orange slices on the table to grab, but nothing else, which was surprising.  In year's past they had watermelon and bananas. 

Since the race started earlier this year, we thought the awards would be starting earlier as well, but that wasn’t the case. We had to wait for the kids’ fun run to be over. Luckily this year was not as hot as year’s pasts. In addition to getting an early start, it was overcast as well.



 I placed 2nd in my age group and receive this beach towel. 

That girl that I passed ended up not being in my age group anyway. Other than lack of snack options after the race and what seemed like forever waiting for the award ceremony it was a nice race.  The finish line was at the community swimming pool, so they had that open free for any of the runners who wanted to swim after the race.  We didn't swim because we knew we had to go home and get ready for our bike ride.  I hope to run this race again next year it again if I happen to have off work!

Did you run a race over the 4th? 



We will be linking up with the gals from TOTR.

17 comments:

  1. Congrats to you both! That hill sounds tough and I would have been so worried about having to run back up it going the other way! Thats nice that runner had the option to use the pool after the race

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  2. Congrats on your blazing fast finish and 2d place AG award! Sounds like a tough race--not a fan of hills!

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  3. Congrats on placing in your age group! I also ran on the 4th with a few hills. This Chicago girl does not like hills.

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  4. Congrats on getting 2nd in your age group! Sounds like a tough race, especially with the heat and hills, but you rocked it!

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  5. Well thats a fun award :) One you can definitely put to use :)

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  6. Congrats girl! I bet that beach town came in handy for the sweaty ride home.

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  7. Congrats on the age group placement! That's a nice little perk that it ends at the pool and people can cool down with a swim if they want.

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  8. OMG, a pool after the race? How fabulous! Although a friend did offer her pool, I just had too much to do this week & couldn't afford the time.

    LOL at the runner just out for his run. :) And I ran through every.damn.sprinkler -- it helps!

    Congrats on your award -- always nice when it's something we can actually use.

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  9. Congrats on your AG 2nd place! The beach towel is a neat award. and practical ;-)

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    1. Yes very practical. The overall prize was a canister of candies, so I am kind of glad I didn't win that, who needs that?

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  10. Congrats! Talk about that hill gives me flashbacks to San Francisco. I definitely walked up that hill!

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    1. I have always wanted to go to San Francisco. Maybe I will plan for just a visit rather than a race there.

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  11. Congrats on your 2nd in AG! I didn't run a race this year. I've run one trail run on the 4th back in 2015, and was planning to run it again this year, but never bothered to register. I'm so not motivating for racing right now!

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    1. With the way the heat has been it is very hard to be motivated.

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  12. Congrats on finishing 2nd in your age group, especially on a tough course. I have a love/hate relationship with hills, especially during races.

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  13. Love the towel as an award. Medals are pretty useless (yet meaningful).

    Glad you had the day off and could run this race even if it was challenging.

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