Boordy Vineyards Trail 5k Race Recap

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Sunday night hubby and I ran the Boordy Vineyards Trail Run 5k. It was our first night race (yes, we've run the Harrisburg Mile, but this was a distance race). We chose to pick up our packets at the race rather than drive into MD early to get them. So, we headed to Hydes, MD about 3:45 p.m. to make sure we got there before the 5:30 p.m. arrival requirement and with plenty of time to park the car, get our bibs, and make it back to the start line.

We arrived with plenty of time, probably about an hour. LOL! We parked and headed over the main buildings to pick up our packet. It was a little chaotic, but we found our numbers (700 & 701), grabbed our bags which included a shirt and a Boordy Vineyards glass, then headed back to the car to get ready.

This is what our car faced. How pretty is that? We got our bibs on and took our obligatory self-portrait.

We had to wait a bit for the start, which totally not their fault, it was ours for overestimating how long it would take for us to get there. LOL! We did line up about 10 minutes before the race and went towards the back. I needed that but, hubby decided to stick with me due to his lack of running this summer and his injuries.

Just as we were wondering what time we were going to get started (6:00 p.m. start time), we actually started. It may have been 6:01 p.m. according to our watch, but really not bad for getting started on time. We ran through the start and onto the winery grounds.

We ran around this area of grapes, then hit the road. I was a little surprised as I thought it was a trail run, but in reality we ran less than a mile on the winery grounds total (about .4 miles at the start, then the same .4 miles on the way back). We hit the road in front of the winery and hit the hills. Ugh. So not a hill girl.

I'll be honest, the hills did me in. I did more walking than I wanted to. I'm not going to complain too much, I haven't run more than 2 miles in 2 months. How can I bitch that I should have run more of the race? I was really glad hubby decided to run with me. It was nice to have someone to be with. We were at the end of the pack, but we did have a good time chatting and running.

Here are some photos from along the course:

Hello hills

Look! A good race photo!

Yea...we would have been arrested for not coming CLOSE to the speed limit!

Oh look, more hills

Up hill to the end. Why are all races this way?

The finish line is within sight!

We crossed the finish line and headed to get our timing chips removed when hubby realized he never put his on. It was not intentional. He made fun of me putting mine on, somehow he just forgot to do the same. Oops! It's ok. We finished so slow that it wasn't worth the timing chip. LOL! Both of our Garmins said 42:29, but officially I came in (and unofficially so did he) at 42:27.

We grabbed a water each, then back to the car to grab our wine glasses and hubby changed shirts. We grabbed his unused timing chip so he didn't get charged for losing it. Once that was returned we headed off for after run food and wine. We arrived back to the winery buildings and had no idea where to go or what to do. There were no signs or volunteers. You couldn't see where post-race food was or where the wine would be. We got in a line that led into the barn, but had no idea what the line was for - food, wine, unrelated? The line was so slow too! Too many people in too small a space. Once we were inside, it turned out to be food. There were vegetables, crackers, bread rounds, red and green grapes, and cheese. The problem was that the runners who finished first took huge amounts of cheese and there was very little left by the time the slow runners got to the end. By the time we got there, we were told we could only have 2 pieces of cheese so everyone could get some. Ugh.

Once we got our food, we moved onto wine. We had no idea what we were to do, but went over to the sign that said wine tasting. Hubby changed his shirt after the race, but didn't bring is bib. When we got to the tasting, they said he couldn't do one without the bib. Huh? So, he went back to get it. That was a bit frustrating, especially when someone asked if their friend could get a sample and the same guy who refused my husband said he could get a small plastic cup for free. We eventually tasted about 6 wines, but if we wanted a glass, we had to buy a bottle. So, we bought a bottle of their blush wine to have with our snacks. We found a spot on the stone wall and sat.

The wine was tasty and one we could agree on. The food was yummy and now makes me want a meal of cheese, crackers, and grapes. LOL! We listened to the band, which was pretty good. They did offer a larger BBQ meal we could purchase, but by the time we finished, got through the food line and did the wine thing, we were ready to head back.

On the way home, we saw the most beautiful sunset. Honestly. It was the best one we have seen since the ones we saw in Negril, Jamaica, which has some of the most incredible sunsets in the world.

Straight out of camera from my point and shoot. Seriously. Did NOTHING to enhance it.

So, while I had a good time with the race because I got to share it with hubby I'm not sure this the overall experience was that great. It was a tad frustrating at times. But, it really was a fun time with Brian.

What did I learn from this race? A couple things actually.

1. I learned I need to lose weight. This was the first race that I really felt the pounds I've gained. Maybe it was the hills, maybe it's because I haven't run in ages. I don't know, but whatever it was, I knew I would have felt better, maybe even run faster if I weighed less. I'm not saying this as a pity thing. I'm saying this as a fact thing. Just a strong realization.

2. I hate hills. Seriously. What did the race teach me? I need to incorporate hills into my training. Now, sure, I haven't run in two months, so I'm sure that had something to do with it, but the last few races with hills have messed with me. I know as much as I don't like them, I need them. So, this running season, I will actually focus a bit more on hills.

I will say I want to know what's up with the shirts this year at races? I haven't gained or lost that much this year, I gained it all last year. The first races of the year, the shirts fit fine. Since June, every shirt I have picked up is WAY too small. I even upped the size the BWC shirt and it's still too tight. I know that girl shirts are fitted, but what the heck is going on with them being cut 2 sizes smaller than what the size should be? I know as I lose weight the shirts will fit better, but the fact that I can't wear them NOW when I ran the race is disappointing.

Overall, there were really good things about this race, things I loved. On the other hand, there were things that I really didn't like. It's kinda strange at how there was no middle ground - I either loved aspects or hated aspects. I'm not sure I would do this one again, but I'm glad I did get the chance to run it this time around.

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Movie Madness 5k

Yesterday I got my butt up and ran the Movie Madness 5k hosted by the York Road Runners Club. I have to say the main reason was twofold: 1. The race was 5 minutes from the house and 2. I got a medal. How can you go wrong with this???

So, we met our friends Tina (For The Love Of The Run) and her hubby Friday night at packet pick-up and for dinner, which was at the same place. Tina's hubby was running the half the next morning, while I was slacking with the 5k. We had a great dinner and great conversations.

Hubby and I got up about 7:00 am. Saturday morning. The race started at 8:00 a.m. So nice to get up at a reasonable hour to run a race! Got out the door about 7:30 a.m. and made the parking lot about 7:35 a.m. :-) Got there and walked to the start, which wasn't far and found Tina and her hubby.

The half marathon set off at 8:00 a.m., which the 5k started 10 minutes later so we all cheered as Tina's hubby headed off for 13.1. The 5k had the same first 1.5 miles as the half, so they wanted to make sure the half marathoners had a good head start and not get caught up with us 5kers.

I got in line at the back and chatted with a lady who ran the half in April. And then we were off!  The bulk of the race really was in the parking lots of the high and middle schools. A tad boring honestly. But that's another story.

Yup. Caught playing with Garmin.

We headed off towards the middle school, then around it. Once around the middle school, we ran back towards the high school, but turned out of the parking lot areas onto Board Road. I saw Hubby and Tina as I turned to go onto the road.

I was freaking out a bit. My first half mile was 5:30. I have never run a 5:30 half mile before...

 Then it was time to run on Board Road. It was an out and back on the road portion of the race. It was off running the this part of this course because I run here all the time for training purposes. I did think the course would take us out further than it did, but we turned around much closer to the schools than I thought. On the way back though, apparently the neighbors didn't get the message that a race was going on. One of the them was using a forklift to move items off a flat bed truck. Really? You couldn't wait the 30/40 minutes to let the race finish before doing that? Jerk.

Anyway... I got back to the school and turned back into the parking lot.

The rest of the race was pretty uneventful. Complete the course backwards from how we went out. Lots of hilly areas to get through, but it wasn't awful. I came up to the high school and yea! the race was almost over.

And there is even a race photo of me! I had no idea there was even photography at the event! It's not even a bad photo either.

And then it's the finish line! The time above me reflects the half marathon rather than the half. I finished the race about 10 minutes faster than the timer.

I didn't PR this event, but I didn't have any preconceived notions I would. I really haven't been running like I should, so just finishing was a victory. I mean, not a come-back from awful injury victory, but I haven't run in ages, I don't want to embarrass myself victory. LOL!

I didn't get a t-shirt, but I did get a medal.  Woot!

Nice medal, huh? Overall, it was a good local race. Because there was a theme (movie madness), there were lots of people dressed in costumes. There was a guy dressed as Forest Gump in a suit who ran the half marathon. Yes, he ran 13.1 miles in a suit. Impressed? Yes. It was fun that people dressed up and ran. I'm thinking of running the next one and dressing up. Why not? It's local. I get a medal. I can dress up in a costume. Seems like a fun time!