Guess what I won at this race?

I finally ran my first race of 2020 last weekend. I would say this race was a very low budget race. But hey a race is a race right? It is the Browning Ross Winter's Series. They put on several 5k's and the last race of the series is a 10k. 

Never running it before I didn't really know what to expect.  My friend tried to explain it. However, it was one of those things that you don't really believe it, until you see it!

We had to arrive over an hour before the race so he could warm up and such. I said I was good and I planned to stay warm in the car instead. It was freezing out. The wind was so strong that it felt like it was only in the teens. I haven't even ran in a week prior to this since I have been feeling under the weather, and knew this wasn't going to help.

Soon the Race Director arrived and we went and paid our $7 entry fee (can't beat the price). The race director was Derick Adamson aka "Ringo!" He is a Jamaican former marathon runner who competed in both the 1985 and 1988 Olympic Games. In addition, he won the Philadelphia Marathon in 1984 and 1985.

Because this was a low budget race, there were no course markings, no volunteers directing which way to go, and no road closures. Usually this wouldn't be a big deal because you just follow the crowd, but when you are one of the lead runners, you are not sure which way the course goes.

When I was about a mile into the race I couldn't see anyone in front of  me besides a few people walking ahead of me. My friend also told me they let walkers start ahead of time., so I just figures that was the way.  It wasn't until I heard someone yelling behind me that I was going the wrong way and I should have turned down this alley way instead. 

After I turned around and began to go in the right direction, another man caught up with me. We ended up running together the rest of the course. There was a few times I wanted to pass him, but if I did, I wouldn't know which way the course went, so I decided not to. By the last half mile, I knew the way to the finish line, so I sped up in order to pass him the last stretch of the course. 

When you finish, the race director yells out your time from the stop watch he is holding and hands you a piece of paper so you can write your name, finish time, and age group on it to place in the correct bin.

I finished 1st female overall! We waited until everyone else finished and then waited for the "awards." Instead of medals, we were able to chose something out of the back of his SUV!

Most of the items were food related such as chips and Gatorades. But there were even Clorox wipes and trash bags to chose from. I guess everyone could use those. 

Luckily since I was first female overall I was second to chose and I chose a very practical item. A clothes steamer, which I needed! There is something to be said for small town races.

What's the most random thing you have ever won at a race? -L

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