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| Jingle Bell 5K Course |
This is my 3rd year doing this race. I am not sure I like the course very much, but I do like the event. It’s so much fun to see everyone dressed up and with their jingle bells on. In 2008 I ran this as my second race ever since moving to NC. I ran the Second Empire 5K in Oct 2008 as my first “comeback” race. The only running I was doing was on the weekend, usually pushing one of the kids in the jogging stroller. I ran that in 23:xx. Not too bad for not really training I’d say. Then I ran the Jingle Bell. Owen and Grace did the kids dash that year. It was very cold however and quite stressful for Keith to watch both kids in the cold while I ran. So the following year, I went solo but for some reason wasn’t feeling quite so well after the race. I placed in my age group but asked someone to get my award for me because I was feeling nauseous. So that year, not so fun. I did 22:xx but it was not my best race that year for sure. I skipped the race in 2010 so was happy to return in 2011 to do it as part of the Second Empire series.
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| Ready for the Jingle Bell |
I wore my Santa hat for the race the last 2 times, so was planning to do that this time as well. Last minute before leaving the house I decided to add a little something. I had a garland that had some bulb Christmas lights hanging from it so I fastened them with safety pins after wrapping them around me. Pretty festive and unobtrusive. I don’t mind a bit of dressing up in the holiday spirit as long as it doesn’t’ interfere with my running. I am not coordinated enough to pull off the real costumed running so you won’t see me running any Turkey Trots dressed as a turkey or anything!
The Jingle Bell 5K starts at St. Mary’s School off Hillsborough St. in Raleigh. It’s a pretty big event, well organized. And this year it was even warm enough to roam around outside. I got a great parking spot right on the campus. It’s blocked in by the race course but since I was staying until after the awards I didn’t care. And it was right near the port a potties! However, the one problem with this race is the lack of potties for the size of the race field. Sorely lacking. Not and issue early on, but once the crowd starts to grow, so does the line. And per usual I had to go again right before the start. I also knew that for this race I’d better line up early. Unlike the Triangle Expressway Trot, no one would be shy about getting right up on the starting line at this race. There was absolutely no way the line would move fast enough to get me to the potty before the start. However as luck would have it I saw another woman duck into a door in the school where the bib and chip pickup is. So I followed her and sure enough she was heading to an upstairs bathroom that only a few knew about. There was a line but short enough that I was able to go and get to the start 10 minutes ahead. Whew!
Before the potty quest, I had gotten my bib and chip and double, triple checked that the chip and bib matched. The number on my chip was hand written on there on a little round sticker, not like the other chips with the preprinted number. Not exactly confidence inspiring given my last two races. But I was surely sticking around for results and awards so if there was any issue I’d be there to fix it at least.
I saw Pauline and met some of her new friends from work. She was looking all buff as usual and festive with her cute earrings and red shirt. I also saw Bill who runs sometimes with our group and we chatted about the Umstead Marathon, which I had just signed up for, since I guess I needed a new challenge now that the Second Empire Series was winding down. He told stories of miserable looking runners that he’d seen out there last year. Gee thanks Bill!
So after the potty issue was resolved, I dashed to the start and got right up there. Before lining up and at the starting line, I saw a lot of the “regulars” (Debra, Rodney, Rusty, Emil, etc) who are running the series and chatted a bit until the gun went off. I took off up the hill down St. Mary’s Street pretty fast to try to get right out there. But was cautious to not go out too crazy fast because I have done that in some of the downtown races before with bad results. I didn’t want to crash and burn around mile 2. So I consciously had to slow myself down a bit with a goal of trying to run at a more even pace this time. I noticed that for much of the race I wasn’t too far behind Kimberly but was cautious to try to not keep the pace faster than I was able to maintain. I finished the first mile in around 6:15, so not too bad.
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| Just before rounding the corner back onto St. Mary's Street to the finish |
Running straight down Hillsborough St. isn’t the easiest course. It feels like you are running forever and can’t wait to get to the turnaround. Again an out and back course which isn’t my favorite type of course. But I kept focused on a constant pace and not slowing down but just looking at the current and average mile pace. I hit the turnaround and was feeling a bit tired but tried to not let that feeling take over and slow down. I finished mile 2 in 6:20, so a little bit slower but much more consistent pace than usual. I just had to hang on one more mile. Since this course turns back on St. Mary’s Street, it didn’t feel quite as bad as just running straight to the finish on Hillsborough. Unfortunately I had about 2 blocks more to go before the turn then I thought, since the school is big enough that there are 2 more driveway entrances before actually getting to the corner of St. Mary’s Street. I could still see Kim up ahead and Santa was standing on the corner cheering everyone on. I gave Santa a shout out and turned the corner. I knew it was a short way at this point so felt some energy to sprint. Once I could see the clock I was even more motivated, because it seemed I would not only PR but maybe even come in under 19:30!
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| Results posted on race day |
I crossed the finish with a time on my Garmin of 19:31, so hoped perhaps the chip time would be a bit faster. Later that night when results were posted my chip time was 19:29, YAY! I was 4th overall female which put me as first in age group since there was no masters category. I was really happy with a PR and the AG win and was also glad that the weather this year was finally warm enough to roam around outside and enjoy the day and the post run coffee and food while waiting for the awards. I spent some more time chatting with some friends and then got my award, a $20 gift certificate to Omega Sports. Another great 5K in the Second Empire series down, one last race, the Jolly Elf Trail Run, to go.
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| Hanging out with Mr. C! |
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