Cruising the Creekwalk 5K

January 9, 2016

This was my fourth year running the 9th Annual Cruising the Creekwalk Run hosted by Leadership Autauga County to support youth leadership programs in the county. There are always plenty of volunteers, good food, and great door prizes at this run. The t-shirt designs are cool looking, and they are long sleeve which I love to wear in the fall and winter. I love the course that runs by the Creekwalk and through downtown Prattville.

                                                             photo by Just4Running

The race starts and ends at the Doster Community Center in downtown Prattville

photo by Just4Running

 

This run usually attracts 200-300 runners, but there were only 120 runners this year. They held it a few weeks earlier and there were two other races on the same day. The weather was in the high 50's with a light drizzle on race day. I haven't raced a 5K in six months, so I really didn't know what to expect for this race. I PR'd during this race the past two years, but I wasn't expecting to beat my current PR of 24:33. That is going to be tough to beat!

 



Michael snapped a picture of me at start of the race

 

I started out way too fast as usual. I passed several people in the first mile which ran past the creek and through downtown Prattville. I stopped to walk through the water stop around 1.5 miles. A few people passed me at the water stop including one woman who I suspected was in my age group. She stayed ahead of me as we ran through the cemetery. I could feel myself slowing down in the second mile. Although, I didn't realize by how much until my Garmin vibrated and displayed my time. I knew I needed to speed up if I was going to have any chance at winning my age group. We had half a mile to go when we turned out of the cemetery. I was stride for stride with the woman who passed me earlier. I waited until the final turn to kick it in to the finish. I finished just a few seconds ahead of her. When she crossed the finish we both congratulated each other on a great race.

 

Mile 1- 8:02

Mile 2-8:53

Mile 3-7:47

 

Photo by Just4Running

 

Photo by Just4Running

 

My official time was 25:05. It was not a PR, but it was good enough to place 1st in my age group. Turns out the woman I thought was in my age group was a year older than me. I was so happy to finally place first at this run because it meant I got a medal, 2nd and 3rd place get certificates. I've wanted a medal from this run for the past two years. Both years I got second in my age group. 



 

 Photo by Just4Running

 Photo by Just4Running

 

I also got to meet Valerie, Facebook friend and fellow Half Fanatic, at this race. She had a great race and placed 2nd in her age division despite being sick all week. I look forward to seeing her at many more races.

 

Me and Valerie