Kilt & Kolor Run 5k

W and I made a long weekend trip to Savannah last week.  It was a beautiful time and I got some great running in at Forsyth Park.  The weather was also perfect with temperatures in the mid-60s to low-70s.  I looked for a half marathon and didn't see anything I wanted to drive to.  This little 5k on nearby Hutchinson Island fit the bill just fine.  It is nice to do something low-key in an unfamiliar city.

I know, I don't do color runs (or similarly gimmicky races).  Thankfully this one offered a clean, timed 5k at 8:00am prior to the color (or kolor) run at 9:00am.  This worked out well as I was able to just run the race and head back well before the main event started.

W and I were both a bit under the weather prior to this trip.  I told her to sit this one out so we could enjoy the rest of the day.  I got up on race morning and laid back down, debating whether to run or not.  In the end, to no one's surprise, I decided to give it a shot.  The venue was only about 15 minutes away from where we were staying and I figured I could gut out a 5k.  My expectations were low and I was really just looking for a decent run.

The course was nothing to write home about.  I was expecting that going in, but it could have been any 5k back home.  We started out with an odd portion on grass for about two hundred yards or so.  Then we made our way around the parking area and out to the main road.  I started out in the top ten and focused on picking off one runner at a time.  The course had a few minor hills and weaved in and out some.  My first mile clocked in at 6:57 which was much faster than expected.  I picked off several runners and found myself in fourth place where I would stay for the remainder.

Overall, I felt really good up to the turnaround.  This was an out and back course so we knew what to expect in the second half.  I slowed down some to 7:07 for the second mile, but I was still firmly entrenched into the fourth spot.  The runner in front was ahead by 100 meters and the one behind me was about the same.  This wasn't the most competitive race as more people were here for the color run.  I slowed down briefly during mile three and then sped back up for the final run through the parking lot and the grassy area.  I was pretty shocked to find I had run a 20:59 which was good enough for 4/72 overall and 1/3 in my age group.  Not a bad effort, though I had the course measuring at 3.04 miles.  Still, I'm pretty happy with this time.

My next effort will be back in Mansfield at a race I won two years ago.  I'm expecting it to be tougher this time around as my training has been inconsistent over the past few weeks.

Next race: Liwiro la Malawi 5k- Mansfield, OH

Super Bull Run 12.5K

Well, this was different.  Very different.  It's been several years since I have entered a true trail race.  I got the itch and found this new race in nearby Wooster.  The course sounded very challenging and March is usually a quiet month on my race calendar.  I signed up for this one without taking a good hard look at the course description.  It wasn't until about two weeks prior to the race when I found out there are 8-10 stream crossings.  That would be great in mid-summer but we're talking Ohio in early March.  Naturally it was a bit below thirty degrees at the start.  There was also a 25k and 50k attached to this event.  I can't imagine what those folks went through!

I was actually a bit nervous for this as there are not many trails in this area.  I figured it would be like riding a bike, but I forgot how much concentration it takes to run technical trails.  You can't just zone out like in most road races.  Rocks, roots, and streams are ready to take you out of your comfort zone.  With that in mind, this was more about having fun than racing.  What a novel concept!  I sort of kept splits for the race, but the constant changing terrain made them meaningless.  I'll just post some thoughts on this race.

Miles 1-4: The race started off well as we started in a field and made our way to the dirt trail.  It hadn't rained in a while, so the trails were in excellent shape.  I really felt out of my groove and started near the back of the pack before passing a few people who were running about an 11:00 pace.  We hit a few simple downhills/uphills which us acclimated to the terrain.  Going downhill felt different compared to road races, as you have to do that thing where you put your arms out to the sides to keep your balance.

We hit the first stream crossing in just under one and a half miles.  Good grief, was it ever cold!  It certainly woke me up!  I was worried that the water would make the entire race freezing cold.  My feet actually warmed right up after a half mile or so after the crossing.  We continued up a wicked hill around two miles and everyone was reduced to walking.  I vaguely remember writing about the comradarie at these trail races in the past.  It was on full display here as runners chatted, laughed and cursed at this trail.  This was up there with the Horseshoe Hill 20k I did a few years ago as far as difficulty goes.

The second stream crossing came after some nice downhill and simple trail running.  It was difficult as you had to jump in off the rocks.  One runner in front of me almost went in face first and thankfully recovered.  The worst part was when you got out of the water.  There was water from the faster runners on the rocks and ground after getting out of the crossing, which had frozen.  That was the most dangerous part of this race.  But being a sick person, it was still kind of fun.

Miles 5-7.7:  Mile 5 started out just fine as we made our way around a large field.  We all were able to make up some lost time during this section.  Then we made our way back to the woods and another decent downhill.  Then all heck broke loose.  I'm talking six stream crossings, most about halfway up my calves, in a one mile stretch.  This took whatever spirit I had left.  The first two were somewhat fun.  Then it got progressively worse as my feet just could not warm back up and the water kept going into my shoes.  This was a really rough stretch.  It took the air out of me every time we hit one of these streams.

But that's not all!  After the stream crossings of doom, we had a fun mega-uphill waiting for us.  It felt like we were going at a ninety degree angle up this thing.  And it was so close to the finish!  The race organizers really did a great job fitting in such different terrain with lots of difficulty into a 7.7 mile race.

I finished with a respectable time of 1:24:14 and 15/52 overall.  Not a bad day considering my lack of trail running.

I would HIGHLY recommend this race, but do know what you are getting yourself into.  It's very tough, but you get to run with a great group of people.  Very well done!

W will be joining me at my next one.  We've decided to head south for a few days and I will be doing my second race in Georgia.

Next race: Kilt & Kolor Run 5k- Savannah, GA