Tread the Trail for Epilepsy 5K Race Report
Aka, Dad’s FIRST 5K EVER*!!!
I had planned to run this race solo, at the end of June, but the race had to be postponed until today, because the trail was flooded so badly on the original race date. Oh! Did I mention this was a trail race? Muah ha ha. My first 5K (in 2003) was a trail race too!
This was a pretty legit trail race. Back in the woods, running over sticks and rocks, hills, a few streams to jump over and one that you had to run through. Yay mud! Yay puddles! I loved it!
Oops. Back to the story.
So. The race was postponed and I told my dad it would be an awesome birthday gift for me (my birthday is next week) if he ran this race with me. And lo and behold, he started training (following this plan) on June 30th! Woo hoo! I was super excited to hear about all of my dad’s training walk/runs, especially since he told me he was starting to look forward to running and really liked the way it made him feel after.
The race was held at a campground in Garnavillo, IA, and the proceeds went toward Epilepsy Research. 21 people ran the 5K. I am not sure how many walked. But it was small and AWESOME! Free pancakes and sausage after! I didn’t eat any, but thought that was really cool that they offered them. And it was also really cool that most of the participants knew each other – I think we may have been the only random people that found the race!
The race started up a steep incline on a road, then we were on nice, soft trails right away.
It was cool when we started (55°!), and we were back in the shaded woods, with a breeze. It really felt nice out! Perfect fall summer weather. In July.
Most of the race was in the woods, with a bit of it on the campground and one bit around a corn field. The volunteers did a great job marking the race and directing runners**. I was impressed. For the first year of the race, it went off really well! I was a little bummed I didn’t get an official bib (for my BibFOLIO), but I got a nice shirt and water bottle!
I think my dad did really well during the race. Especially since he trained on a paved flat trail, not a “trail” trail! No trips on the trail, very few walk breaks, and he ran right through the stream. Woo hoo! His breathing rate was pretty high, but yeah, we were running hills. On an uneven terrain. Derpitty.
We told a few other runners that this was his first 5K and I think they were impressed his first 5K was a trail 5K! They told him (as I did) that a road 5K would feel like a breeze now. Time to find one! I have my eye on the one I normally run in my hometown in October…
I don’t think I can express in words how happy I am that my dad trained and ran this with me. Running is really important to me (duh). It makes me feel good, it puts me at peace, it’s helped me make friends and learn more about my community and communities I visit… It just makes me happy. And to share that with someone in my family makes me feel really good. Thank you, dad. Now, KEEP running!
Since the race was really small, I placed 1st in my age group. Out of one. And my prize was a Subway gift card!
Dad was third in his age group! Out of three! He didn’t get a prize though. Ha ha.
Our final finish time was 35:42!
It would be fun to do this again next year, if we happen to be in town. I do hope they do it again – I really enjoyed the course, especially the puddles and mud. Ha ha!
Thanks to Mom for being spectator extraordinaire!!! Maybe she’ll want to do it next year too. Muah ha ha.
*run, not walked
**The winner got off course, but I think it’s because his missed a sign that said “keep left.”
Themocracy
Sounds like a great race that has potential to grow. Congrats to your dad, nice job.
Your Dad did awesome!!! That race sounded perfect! I’m so happy you received such an amazing gift from your dad! Go Team Ilax!
Love this! I wish I could share my love of running with anyone in my family. I especially would have loved to do a run/walk with my dad!
wow your dad is speedy! Great job!
Woo hoo! Go Kim’s Dad (and Kim)! What a great experience for a dad & daughter– so precious!
I love this!!! I’m really jealous of being able to share that type of run and experience with your dad!
And congrats on finishing first and last in your AG!!
That’s great your dad joined you. I understand the excitement. I talked to my mom yesterday and she told me she has a treadmill now. She says that I’ve inspired her to start running! I think that’s great. She will probably get started on the mill but she loves being outside as much as I do so I know that’s not too far away for her. Yay!
How awesome!!!
Looks like you both had a great time. Maybe this is the start of your Dad’s new interest in running! Glad you were able to do this with him and that your mom was there to celebrate both of your successes!
I bet the cooler temp’s helped him.
That’s so awesome! Your dad did great!!
Congrats to your dad on his first 5K.
Best birthday present ever!!! That is so awesome that your dad trained and ran with you!!! Very very cool!!! It’s even more awesome that his first 5k was a trail!!!
=^..^=
That race sounds awesome! I love “real” trail races (and running). Congrats to your dad!
I was thinking about telling you about the race! But I figured it would be too far of a drive!
Congrats to your dad!!! I’m jealous. I want to do a 5K with my parents.
so awesome!! congrats to you and your Dad – what a perfect birthday present! and so happy your mom could come out too and take photos – what a great day 🙂
Your dad did awesome. That’s so great that you got to share your love of running with him!
This is awesome! Your dad has a great time for his first 5k and just starting to run! I hope he keeps it up!
That is great! Congrats to your dad, and you too.
How funny! I’ve never done a REAL race with my Dad, because he’s way to good of a runner for me. He runs about 8-13 miles per day, everyday and his marathon PR is faster than my half marathon PR. But he DID run the last 5 miles of my marathon with me. In deck shoes. 🙂
FUN not funny!
What a great experience to share with your dad! And good for him – trails can be quite challenging!
Yay, congratulations to your dad! That’s so sweet that he trained to run it with you. (I’m getting emotional thinking about “dad things” right now. Haha, I told you about this strange quirk, right??) Your dad’s headband is totally bad-ass too!!
Ha ha! I don’t think you have! You must tell me about it!
Yay for you guys!! What an awesome, awesome gift from your dad. And that’s awesome that he started looking forward to running. He’d better do the one in October or we’ll all come find him and tell him he’s a loser 🙂
Awesome!! My dad started running when he retired a year or so ago. He ran one 5k and then was injured for a while but started running again in April of this year. He and my mom ran a 5k while I ran my PR half marathon. I love running races with my family, even if we aren’t in the same race. When I was home for my birthday, I did get to run a 5k training run with my dad. It’s been years since we’ve actually run together so it was nice. I’m glad your dad trained and raced with you!
Yay! I love family races! Congrats to your Dad on his first – hopefully first of many! 🙂
That is so awesome!!! He’s hardcore doing a trail run for his first race! Those things are hard!