Rotary Santa Run 2014

December 6, 2014

19th 5k -  Rotary Santa Run

Arlington Height, IL

Time: 31:16; pace: 10:05

Place: 411/1092 overall; 22/79 age 40-44

 Yes, this is the outfit they age me to wear. I am 5'5" and the pants were floods. Ha! I had to tuck in the waist to my running tights to keep them on. It was fun watching those who didn't think to do that. About a quarter mile in there was a lot of drooping pants to see.

The weather was wintery so I wore two shirts and a jacket plus the santa jacket. I was burning up.

 This race was my last race in completion if my 2014 goal of one race a month! Expectations were low. I made it to the start line and that was all that mattered. I realized about a half mile in I was doing well. I was running between a 9:20 and a 10:10 minute mile. Was I going to have another sub 30 5k? The mile 1 marker told me that wasn't going to happen. The kid I nearly plowed over was another clue.

In the beginning of the race there was a wonderful elevated vantage point in which a stream of red Santas could be seen for blocks ahead. This was before I cared about a good finish time. I got out my camera, held it above my head and pointed it down the street to capture the moment. As I was about to hit the shutter button some dumb ass kid who wasn't watching where he was running ran right in front of me. My eyes were not looking in front of me. I slammed right into his back, nearly fell and dropped my camera. The kid actually had some manners and apologized and an adult yanked him away.

The end of this race was confusing and I wish they would send me a survey so I can tell them so. Actually the beginning was confusing too. I didn't see a "start" sign or a timing pad to run over. The end was the same. I had no idea when to stop running.  NO "finish" sign. There were two nearly single file corals that divided runners. I guess this meant the end but I didn't get it so as I tried to get past these people slowing down I twisted my ankle.  Great!