Bird In Hand 5K 2016

The Bird In Hand Races are amazing! This race happens in Lancaster County, which has a very high Amish Population. And Amish men, women, and children run the 5K and the Half Marathon. Both races are staffed by Amish families.

Last year I did the 5K and was really sad that the Half Marathon had sold out, registration starts on December and it sells out before May.

The 5K takes place the night before the half, along with the Pasta dinner, the Hot air Balloon launch, the Bonfire after the race, and a Keynote speaker. Last year the keynote speaker was Christopher McDougall, author of Born To Run. When I saw that, I knew that I had to do the race, if nothing else to meet this great author. We had an amazing time last year, so I signed up as early as possible to do the Fire hall Challenge, the 5K on Friday and the Half on Saturday.

Bathroom inspiration

This year the speaker was Zach Miller, an Ultra marathon runner.

My sisters decided to join me at the 5K this year, because I wouldn't shut up about how amazing it was last year.

I arrived in Bird In Hand around 4, and after picking up my stuff, walked around the expo and waited in my car for my sisters. I was grumpy, because Rundelmort decided to sit this one out and not come with me to the 5K or Half Marathon. (Rundelmort is the name I give Roger when he makes me mad on running related things... He who runs, who shall not be named). So I sat in my car for 1 hour, just mediating ( By medicating I mean listening to Pitbull and Heroes Del Silencio really loud in my car with my eyes closed ) and trying to get over being angry. By 5:00 I decided to just let it go and not be angry anymore, because all my energy needed to go to the 5K.

Friday was hot, and by 6:30 when the race started, it was hot. We watched the balloon launch and did our best to not drool while staring at the sky.

 
 

Amish Men and Women run in their regular outfits. So complaining about how hot it was feels very frivolous, when other runners were wearing full dresses, pants, dress shirts, and some even barefoot. And The Amish runners, run FAST!

Sisters and I ran the 5K. I took it super easy and slow, like a very calm and slow run. My time was 29 minutes. That is my slowest 5K in 1.5 years!

 


The course was beautiful, there were Amish families out cheering the runners and the water stop was staffed by Amish girls and Amish children.

 
 
The best part came after the race, the Amish Dinner!


We did the Pasta Dinner, while listening to the Guest Speaker. We didn't hear a word he said because we were busy stuffing our faces.
 
 
My sisters, Mom and Royal Baby ate lots of good food. I limited myself to one serving of pasta, and 2 salads. I know it's supposed to be carb loading day, but carb loading doesn't work for me, it makes feel bloated and gross. But I couldn't resist a little bit of pasta!

There is tons of food at the dinner pasta, spaghetti, meatballs, pizza, breadsticks, salad, pie, cake, ice cream! I was a little sad to not be able to eat tons of food!


 After the pasta dinner, we headed to the smores bonfire. My sister enjoyed her smore. I had some roasted marshmallows. I don't like smores.  

 

My niece started playing with a group of Amish toddlers, they were having fun running around the field and when it was time to go home, they hugged each other. They were adorable!

We left, it was time to go home, take a shower, roll, and get some sleep, as the Half Marathon was less than 12 hours away.

Now, if we had this much fun at a 5K, can you even begin to imagine the party we had for the Half Marathon? It was amazing! Come back for that recap tomorrow.

Have you ever run with Amish people?
What kind of feast have you seen at a Race?
Do you like smores?




Comments

  1. LOL at the Rundelmort name and the "He who runs, who shall not be named." I TOTALLY relate. =)

    So cool that the Amish are such fast runners! Who would have ever thought that, right? Can you imagine what they'd do if they didn't have to wear all that clothing?

    That dinner looks so delicious. Roasted marshmallows, YUMMMMM. Sounds like such a great evening with your family.

    Can't wait to hear about the half marathon!!!

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    1. The Amish runners are amazing! The running is a new thing, and from what I have read, they are to keep it as minimal as possible, no gps watches, no tech fabrics, some don't even wear fancy sneakers, and some run barefoot. It is truly remarkable!

      I'm glad you enjoyed the Rundelmort!

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  2. Ha, I thought I was the only one who couldn't care less about having a s'more. Everyone just goes crazy for them but not me!

    I have heard about the Amish running in their full clothing and their regular shoes and think how hot that must me. I have heard that Amish people are not allowed to have their picture taken so I wonder how this works with the on course photographers (or even runners taking photos). Did the 5k runners get aa medal?

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    1. I was reluctant to post the pictures with their faces, but I felt I needed them to show that they were running. I might remove the ones with their faces later.

      When my niece was playing with the Amish toddler, my mom wanted a picture of the toddler and my niece, but her mom said no. We tried our best to respect their space and not take many pictures of them. I do wonder how they deal with race photographers.

      No medal for the 5K, only for the kid's race and the Half marathon.

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  3. So cool. Amish food is definitely something worth running for. You ran a 5K the night before a marathon?! That's pretty badass!

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    1. Thank you Suzy! but it was a Half, I could not run a 5K and a Marathon.... I could do a zumba class and then a Marathon. The Amish food is amazing!!

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  4. Wow, that's really impressive that the Amish runners run in their full outfits. Especially given the heat. I love marshmallows but am not a fan of smores either. I think it's the graham crackers I don't like.

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    1. I agree Chaitali! I'm ok with the graham crackers, I'm ok with the marshmallow, and even in bad days I'm ok with chocolate, but all together is not my ideal combination.

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  5. Wow they sure make this a big event! It looks like it was a lot of fun. I didn't know they did balloon launches and all that stuff. I love Amish food. Pies, mac salad... it's all so good!

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    1. It is a huge event! And everybody is so nice and chatty! I didn't even take pictures of the Expo, but there was a group of amish women who make quilts from old race shirts, apple cider donuts, pretzels, lemonade.

      There was a mountain of fresh amish potato salad at the Half Marathon picnic. I regret not eating the pie.

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  6. I love smores, but I'm the weirdo who doesn't like to burn my marshmallows. I just like to lightly toast/heat them before I put them inbetween the graham crackers and chocolate.

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    1. You are not a weirdo! We are all allowed to like smores our own way!

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  7. What a wonderful bunch of events surround this race! I love that the Amish run! I do love me some s'mores, especially when the marshmallow is super melty without being super burnt. Ha!

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    1. This race got me spoiled for any future races! MM, melty marshmallow sounds delicious!

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  8. Rundlemort!!! That cracked me up.

    This sounds like such an interesting race. I love the balloons! And that there are Amish people running in their usual Amish clothes. What a cool atmosphere.

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    1. I told Roger his new nickname, he liked it a little too much!

      The hot air balloons were amazing!

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