Ah, September – cruising through 5K’s

September comes to a close and we’re moving into the heaviest month of marathon training. Interspersed in my September training miles were a couple of 5K’s, a distance I seldom race.

The first was local, close to home, budget-friendly, more than ample food at the finish line, and of course a good cause. the Homeland Hospice 5K and Memory Walk.

Enjoying post-race goodies and converation with new friend Shawn from Florida

This course is a double loop around a business park with a short hill, but otherwise flat. I’ve run this 5K in the past and it is an opportunity to catch up with some running friends I don’t see at longer distance races.

It was great to catch up with community volunteer Sally who has also volunteered at Capital 10-Miler races.

Always a bit of a turtle with the 5K distance, I was pleased to finally get in one 5K under 30 minutes. (finished with 29:11) in this calendar year.

This must have been vintage day in my closet. The hat is from an Annapolis 10-Miler and the shirt from a Harrisburg 1/2 Marathon – both I believe dating to the early 2000’s. Time for a wardrobe check.

Patty and me (70-79 AG) and Judy (60-69 AG) working hard to hold up the senior women categories.

The next 5K was a bit of an early morning drive to Wilmington Delaware for the Delaware Senior Olympics 5 & 10K National Senior Games qualifier. Lee competed in the 90-94 AG and me in the 75-79 AG.

The course for the race was located in the beautiful multi-use Bellvue State Park, a former DuPont estate. The first and last mile were run on a former horse track with a soft sandy surface.

The middle mile included a short stint on a portion of the cross-country track used locally, then extended to a shaded asphalt out-and back path. The path section had a number of rutted areas (my New England friends would call these ‘road heaves’). Wanting to avoid returning home with skinned and bloody knees I slowed down my pace through the dappled shade and ruts. I picked it up again as I returned to that delightfuly-soft former horse track for the final mile.

So goodbye September. It was fun throwing in the 5Ks. Now its time for the final mileage increases pre-marathon.

Happy October all in whatever you are persuing. As for me, I gotta run.