I had the pleasure of participating in the 4th Annual EC 5k & 10k on Sunday, June 30th. This was the second year I ran the 10k, and also the second year they offered the 10k option.
Rip It Events puts on the race, along with duathlons and other road races throughout the year. I've participated in their Columbia Turkey Trot in November, and I have not been disappointed by their events!
This 10k, and frankly the 5k, is not for the weary; check out the
course map.
The course begins at the Banneker Center in Oella, goes to Old Frederick Road, a right onto Old Frederick Road, a right
DOWNHILL on Frederick Road, a right
UPHILL onto Westchester Avenue, and straight up the Trolley Trail #9! Another right was made onto Oella Avenue, where 5k participants turned right into Banneker Center toward the finish line and 10k participants turned right toward the turn-around cone. Thanks right, folks, I got to do that again! Thankfully, I had water at the bottom of Frederick Road (handed to me by a lovely BWC Catonsville training night participant!), and I got a nice cup of cold water as soon as I made my way out onto Oella Avenue again. I must say, I was a lucky runner because I had two great cheering sections for this race; Emily and her family were at the corner of the Trolley Trail and Oella Avenue and Ed and our children were at Banneker. I just had to keep my eye on the prize. So, I went back out on the course, chatted (of course), and made my way down Frederick Road with some ladies. I was chatting for 3/4 of a mile when we hit a flat bit, and I felt good enough to try to speed up a bit to gain some momentum for Westchester Avenue, again (but first, I needed a cup of water from my BWC friend)! It's incredible to write, but that hot, humid, muggy morning, I felt amazing running up the Trolley Trail a second time; one wouldn't know by my finishing time, but I
almost, maybe, kind of felt like I ran uphill better the second time around! I encouraged a runner up the hill, as we leap-frogged positions, and then made a right and headed toward the finish line. There is something to be said for cheerleaders, they really helped pull me through the last 1/4 mile; especially the great stranger who commented on my
Moms RUN This Town shirt and shouted encouraging words! As I ran toward the finish,
MRTT got a major shout-out, and I saw that I beat last year's time by 9 minutes, so I was one soaked, tired, happy mama!
Once I finished, I grabbed a half of a banana, cup of Gatorade, and watermelon slice. I cooled down for a bit with a fun game of hide-and-seek with Julia and Reed, and then I grabbed a cup of water and two bags of Doritos to satisfy my children's hunger for the short drive home.
I really like this race; I don't necessarily recommend it after being at the beach and running with no elevation changes for two weeks, but hey, I did it, so can you! Also, they have a children's run following the starts of the 5k &10k; children received finisher's medals. The ease of packet pick-up at Fleet Feet in Columbia, and unisex technical shirts are a nice touch, too!
Sorry for the lack of pictures in the post, I'm in vacation mode!
See you out on the roads!
Deb
