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?