Date/Location: | 11/25/21, Auburn, CA |
Distances: | 5K |
Time: | 50:56 (Unofficial) |
Place: | 2nd |
Teammates: | Teammates- 10K: Dillon Holloway, Jim Kepfer, Troy Soares 5K: Ariel Soares, , Jesse Redding, Micah Redding & MANY OTHER AUBURN FRIENDS |
It’s Thanksgiving morning and it’s time to “race” before turkey dinner! It’s been a long while since my last race back in July! Hard to believe! The local food closet puts on this low key 5K/10K event to get folks to bring donations and canned goods. Many folks bring out there families to walk and some take it seriously too like us. I drop off our cans. Troy, Oscar and I go for a warm-up.
Before the race starts I get the chance to catch up with some old friends like David and Stephanie Holloway. It’s like a mini reunion. Anna is racing the CA state meet on Saturday but came out to support a friend. She’s going to stick with Troy for the first 5K running a conservative pace. Ariel is pumped up to run hard for the 5K. I hope to average 8 min pace. It’s a test run for the CIM relay I’m doing with Troy in a week.
I realize the race is about to start. Ariel and I barely get our watches ready before they say start! Go!
It’s a grueling start uphill through Downtown Auburn. We turn on Cherry and climb more. Troy and Anna are pulling away. Ariel is also running strong and pulls away from me too. I’m surrounded by kids that look to be 8 to 13 years old. I’m impressed with their effort up this hill!
We are all rewarded with a steep downhill down to Placer High School. I can see Troy and Anna far off in the distance. Ariel is moving farther from me. Jim Kepfer, local running great and Ariel’s XC coach, and his daughter catch up to me and pass. They make it look so easy!
Mile 1 is 7:59. On pace. Glad I had that downhill to get my average down! Back uphill as we come around the front of Placer and run up past the fairgrounds to the Overlook. Troy and Anna are no longer in sight. I see Mr. Kepfer catching up to Ariel. I hope she tries to stay with him!
I’m thankful for the downhill to Railhead park. I get another chance to bring down my average.
Mile 2 is 8:06. Pretty good! I pick it up to try to catch up to Ariel. I try to shout to her to encourage her to go after Mr. Kepfer but I don’t think she can hear me.
I’m feeling good and moving well as I continue to run downhill. I’m running 7:30 pace and catching Ariel. I don’t think I’ll catch her but trying!
Mile 3 is 7:54. Ariel is holding me off! I tell her good job as I pass the start to do another loop. I hear Anna cheering me on.
Uphill again! It’s slower going this time but I fight through the fatigue and remain hopeful I can maintain close to my goal pace. I push the downhill and don’t make up as much time this time.
Mile 4 is 8:22. Ok, not as fast as last time here but keep pressing on. I’m catching up now to some families walking the 5K.
I head up to the Overlook and see lots walking families! I spend the next half mile passing the huge crowds of smiling parents and kids. Fun to see so many out enjoying this beautiful sunny Thanksgiving day!
Mile 5 is 8:22. I’ve got to push this last downhill mile to get my average close to 8 min! I start to see the pace finally dip to under 8:10 pace. Let’s go!
I still have families to pass so I carefully pass on busy Auburn Folsom Road. The pace is dropping!
Mile 6 is 7:44. Down to the finish! I push and finish at 50:56 with a 8:05 min pace average. I’ll take it. Thank you Lord! Thank you for the opportunity to race with my family in our backyard!
