Race Recap: Lions Reindeer Run 5K

If you follow me on Facebook, you already know that I did not PR. Not even close. I actually added a significant amount of time to my personal record. But, because this was an uber small race, I still got a medal. Hometown races for the win!

I got up early and headed over to Wheaton, a nearby suburb where I've raced before.  For some reason, the Cosley Zoo 10k wasn't all that memorable (probably because I didn't get a time) and I didn't recall how hilly it was there.  Meh.

Packet pick up was easy.  There wasn't really a packet, just your number and a shirt. This race had both tech and cotton T-shirts and I had to go back and swap out my shirt for a tech shirt. The organizer told me it was because the race reached capacity and the had to order more with a quick turnaround. Jenny, Barbara and I hung around waiting for the start, checking out my competition

First mistake: I lined up to close to the start.

Second mistake: I went out too fast. My first half mile was blazing before I burned out. My first mile was like 7:40.  Way too fast and not sustainable.  So my subsequent miles suffered as I watched countless people fly by me.

Third mistake: Ill fitting clothes and costume. I couldn't figure out what was worse: the coal costume falling down past my boobs or my running tights falling down past my ass. At least my brown fleece dress covered my bare ass from the crowd. TMI perhaps?

Anyhow, because of all these things, I had to take walk breaks.  I felt like a pansy. I mean, it's three miles.  I got lapped by a 76-year-old man and a 9-year-old girl. Go me.

But, those people undoubtedly trained harder than I did.  Let's get real: I can't accept a PR just because I go to CrossFit a few times a week and run once or twice a week. If I want it, I have to work for it.

When I finished, I immediately got a stretch from waiting physical therapists, then grabbed hot coffee. For a small race, they had a nice post-event spread with bagels, water, bananas and fruit roll ups for the kiddies.
I stayed for the award ceremony and found out I snagged third in my age group, which is great since I wasn't so happy with my time.  The medal was really cute, too!

All in all, this was a great race. It benefited the Wheaton Lions Club and had maybe 600 runners?  The weather was great, the course was well-marked and the shirt was nice. For $25 and a 20-minute drive, you can't hope for much more. Except for maybe a faster time. That would be great.


Cost: $25

Time: 27:21

Pros: Easy to get to, free parking, nice tech shirt (if you knew to ask for it ... the cotton shirts aren't my favorite. I'm a snobby runner), well-marked course, decent post-race spread, post-race stretching with NO WAITING!, cute medal, fewer runners = greater odd of medaling!

Cons: A bit hill, weather could be unpredictable this time of year, I heard out-of-towners saying they weren't sure where it would be