Race Report: Pumpkin Roll 5K (2015)

But there were no pumpkins....



Last week I visited a local lake.  It's been so dry that docks were resting on the ground.  Over the past few days we've received some welcome rain, so it makes it very hard to complain about the weather.  Overall it was perfect for a 5K today, with just a little drizzle and near 60°F with a very light breeze.  The long-sleeve race shirts were a nice Autumnal brown and orange.

Seasonal long-sleeve shirt.
Who says "Autumnal" anymore?

Sponsors.
Visit them.

There was a sea of orange-clad folks out there with the #gosailfish hashtag.  After the race I learned this is the Sailfish Aquatics team, associated with the YMCA.  The Sailfish brightened a dreary morning with the way they encouraged one another and ran well.

Pumpkin Roll 2k15! #whatrain #gosailfish

A photo posted by Coach (@sailfish_aquatics) on Sep 26, 2015 at 4:58am PDT

As per usual, I didn't start near the front.  Team Sailfish had that covered, and most of them looked faster than me.  Also as per usual, the volunteers were terrifically helpful, and I knew a few from the YMCA staff as well.

At the start.
See the guy with glasses just behind me?
Read on.

This race is part of the YMCA 5K Race Series, a group of three races that includes the Harrisburg 5K and the Frostbite 5K.  Back in 2013, a man named Donald Council and I were running fairly close together at the end of the Frostbite 5K, but the final hill sucked out all of my energy while Donald kept going.  I think he finished 15-20 seconds ahead of me.

I didn't notice until the awards ceremony on this rainy day in 2015, but if you look in the pic above, there's a man just behind me, wearing glasses and looking down and to the left.  That is Donald Council, wearing his 2013 Frostbite 5K shirt.  He collected a little more age group hardware today as well - way to get it done!

West Cabarrus YMCA.

If you aren't plugged into the YCMA community, the 5K series is a great way to get your feet wet, figuratively speaking.  Or you can join the YMCA and spend some time at the pools in Kannapolis and Concord to literally get your feet wet.  Who knows?  You may even run into a Sailfish while you're there. :)

Bling.

So I mentioned Donald getting a little more age group hardware - he wasn't the only one!  I picked up a fabulous medal for first in my age group.  In all a good run - thanks YMCA!


===  RACE DAY  ===
Race:  Pumpkin Roll 5K
Location:  Concord, NC
Shoe:  Asics GT-2000 3
Date:  9/26/2015
Distance: 5K
Time: 24:09
Pace:  7:47/mile
Overall:  11/130 (8.5%)  --- timing co says 6/130 (4.6%)
Gender:  9/55 (16.3%)  ---  timing co says on web site 6/55 (10.9%)
Group: 1/10 (10.0%)  ---  timing co cays on web site 1/11 (9.1%)

=== STRAVA SAYS  ===
Distance:  3.1 miles
Moving Time:  24:18
Avg Pace:  7:37/mile

===  LINKS  ===
Website:  Cannon Memorial YMCA
Registration:  Cannon Memorial YMCA
Results:  Racemine.com