Hero Run 5K 2016

Race Details

Fee: $15 (Registered in May)
Date : November 6th, 2016
Weather: sunny, high 60s, low wind.
Goodies: There was a table full of Bananas, coffee, cupcakes, granola bars, water. Included with the race packet were a tech long sleeve shirt, and a magnet.

Swatara Police Hero Run 5K is one of my favorite races of the year, and on May, I start looking for the registration information and mark my calendar right away.

I love any races in which I can dress up! my son questions my sanity when I don't dress up as what he would call a "normal super hero", as I have gone as El Chapulin Colorado ( A Mexican parody of super heroes, not because I wanted to make a joke of Heroes, but because he is a Mexican Icon) and last year, I was supposed to go as Selena, but accidentally left my sparkly sports bra at home.

First Hero Run in 2014

 

This year, I put on everything before leaving home, only waited to put on the red lipstick, that is the Selena signature, until after my coffee.

I met up the River Runners for the group picture after Bib Pick up. There was a big group running!



River Runners- Super Hero Pose

 

My running belt didn't fit between my bib and the sparkly bra and pants, so I opted for leaving it behind, and I haven't been using music or headphones for 5ks this year.

I met up with Jodi and Emily at the start line. Jodi asked me what my time goal was, and I said 27 minutes. She said that she would run with me. I have never had somebody stay with me for an entire race, my family usually follows the "Run your own race" Rule. But I decided I would stay with Jodi, if she went fast, I would go fast, even if it hurt a little.

The race started about 10 minutes late. We were in the back, thinking that we were going to start off slow, but we quickly passed many other runners. Right after we left the parking lot, a guy cut the course, instead of circling where the cones were, he cut across the parking lot. "Who does he think he is cheating? " I asked Jodi, and she replied "Right, the winners are probably a mile ahead already."

We passed a lot of people and had a bit of trouble staying next to each other, but we kept an eye on each other until the course cleared up some.

We ran past an older man who was chugging along, we both told him that he was amazing and to keep going. Right before the 1 mile mark, we were running behind a young girl who was leaping super fast. We stayed behind her for a few minutes, and as we passed next to her I said to her "You are amazing, I want to be like you when I grow up!" this put a spark on her and she started running faster.

A little while later, we passed two boys who were also running super fast, as we came close to them, I told them that they were super awesome, they also started running faster. Kids on race courses are amazing!! they always blow me away.

The course took us up behind the mall, we were running side to side, I felt Jodi slowing down a bit, so I slowed myself down to stay with her. I shouted if she was ok, she shouted back yes.

I felt fine the entire time, only had a bit of a pain on my left shin, but nothing to stop for.

The last bit of the course goes through the mall, and that is always a difficult part when it is so cold outside, and the shock of the heat is difficult to deal with, but the day was so warm, that it didn't make much of a difference this year.

I got a little ahead of Jodi, because the mall part was a tight squeeze to stay side to side. She was right behind me the entire time we were inside the mall.

We made the online edition of the local paper

Right after we excited the mall, I turned and yelled ( or mumbled) Let's go Jodi, we are there! Let's finish this thing, and we both started sprinting to the finish. Roger caught the awesome moment of us crossing the finish line in perfect sync!

My Garmin said 25.58. I turned and high fived Jodi as we both tried to catch our breath. We went inside the mall to grab some water and snacks. I couldn't stop smiling!

After some coffee and snacks we did more pictures.

We waited for Emily and her son, we were getting worried about them, because they were starting to take things down and they were not back yet. But finally, they crossed the finish line smiling.

I already marked my calendar for next year.... and maybe this time I'll make my son stop questioning my levels of normal and go as Wonder Woman.

Who is your Hero?
Who would you dress like for a Hero Run?