Racing for Pie

Saturday was a big day around here, we ran our first race in Colorado! Yes, “we.” Woody also put a bib on and lined up for a 5k jaunt through City Park.

Being new to the Denver race scene, it took me a while to settle on a first race. But then I read about the Pumpkin Pie 5K. Really, what else is there to say?

It was the first year of this race, put on by Colorado Runner Magazine, and will likely be an annual race. There was a 5k and a 10k, I assume some people did both but not us though. There were kids, strollers and dogs. I’m not used to the latter two, but most started in the back and only a few dogs and strollers passed me along the course. At the end of the race, there was pumpkin pie for all!

Woody had planned to do the 10k but pulled a rib muscle earlier in the week and after a four day shut-down, he ran the 5k instead. Thankfully it was feeling much better Saturday morning and didn’t slow him down much. He’s speedy.

I had two very long days with a few very heavy meals and several glasses of wine leading up to race day so I wasn’t sure how it would go but the 9am start time let us get up and out without being rushed and gave us a chance to jog a bit beforehand. The only thing I have to say about this race is that I wish they had a bag check. I had to run back to the car after the race to grab my phone so I could take some pictures and it would have been a very cold post-race celebration if the temps had been much lower, which they could have been.

There were over 3,000 runners – I’m not sure if the dogs counted – so it was a sizeable race but a bit smaller than what I’m used to with NYRR races. Because City Park doesn’t have a ton of roadways there were three out and backs on the course but overall it was a good route in the pretty park setting. There was a DJ, maybe half way through, which was awesome. I love some unexpected tunes along the way to keep the energy high! The sunny November morning made it great racing weather. I wore my Oiselle rundelicious top under my singlet but it was almost too warm!

My race was pretty good. It’s been a bit difficult getting used to running at altitude and with such dry air, but Saturday run was one of my best so far. I think the beautiful weather definitely helped. For some reason the results list has my chip and gun time both as 29:09, which just isn’t possible. I crossed at least a second after Woody did and since he had a 25 second difference between Gun and Chip, and my Garmin agrees, I’m counting my time as 28:43. Not nearly as fast as I used to be, but almost 5 years past surgery I’m starting to come to terms with the fact that I won’t be that fast again. So given where I am today, I’m happy with the race and looking forward to our next one, the Mile High United Way Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving! For the record, Woody crossed the line in a speedy 23:52. He’s now the fast one in our little family.

What’s your favorite season for running? * Pumpkin, apple or pecan pie? * Are you as flummoxed by the fact that it’s nearly Thanksgiving as I am? This year has flown by!