Back in the Saddle : Myrtle Creek Fun Festival 5k

I chose the Myrtle Creek Fun Festival Race for the Pool to kick off my 5k training because I've been itching to race in Douglas County ever since I discovered that there were road races in the area (via the  Roseburg Roadrunners Club). * short version below

Several months have passed since the Eugene Marathon in April. Since then I have been recovering from injury and running almost exclusively easy/recovery, with a grand total of (maybe) 4 miles of Tempo-paced running (total), over the last 3 months, no interval training, some strides.

It's been over a year since I ran a 5k.
Did I expect a PR?     No.
I set some low expectations for myself and had a great time beating them!


My goal was really just to have fun and get a baseline idea of where to place my training goals for the 5k.

 

The race is point-to-point with a hairpin turn just after mile one. The finish (at Oregon South Fitness) almost loops back to the start (outside of Mill Park), but is a few blocks uphill from it.

At 8:59 we lined up behind orange cones on the paved road. I didn't push to be up front this time, since I tend to go out too hard. It was the first time I have seen a race start with a rifle! That's Douglas County for you. :)

Moments later we were racing up a scenic rural road along South Myrtle Creek. After a bit my Garmin settled in on a sub six pace and I let the young guys ahead of me go. It would be fun to see who, if any, could maintain the pace. One was wearing an CC uniform. I did my best to keep them in sight and managed to for most of the race, though the fastest two were well ahead at the end.

After mile 1 we turned around and went through a covered bridge. In a few steps we began the long, steady, slightly uphill.

Photo of Neal Lane bridge from www.oregon.com

Somewhere in here I passed some younger guys who I had been following. There were a few slightly harder uphills and I drew on my experience at the Prefontaine 10k last year---I eased up.
I heard them closing in, but as they did, we hit some downhill and I had the reserve to kick it up a notch, (unlike at the Prefontaine).

Although my paces were fading, it didn't feel that way. Given the uphill, it seems a pretty even effort in retrospect. In all of this, I kept waiting for my legs to die. But they didn't. The limiting factor was oxygen, and I will enjoy working on that part. 

We turned left and I kept thinking to myself..man this is a long mile! The fastest men were way head now, but I was still trying to use them to "pull me" uphill to the next turn. When I reached the corner it was all downhill to the finish chute. People were cheering and I got to "break the tape" for the first time since I have started racing... So did a lot of other people :)

There was a good crowd at the end cheering on all of the racers, including this 4 year-old who finished in 28:40!

No stopping this guy! He invited me to a BBQ at his house after the race- but I had to drive home. :) Next year I will bring my boys! photo by Karlie Westbrooks

The race measured a little short by about 30 yards. I don't know if that has anything to do with the covered bridge, but I was running the tangents as much as possible and crossed the center line in the road a few times (But I stayed on course! I promise!!).

The awards ceremony started on time and there were some unique trophies!  There was also a prize raffle and I won a 10$ gift certificate to the town's dollar store. The local businesses were very generous and donated some great prizes. There were a lot of winners!

photo by Karlie Westbrooks

I am looking forward to doing this race again. It was very well organized for its first year. I realized again how fun it is to race! I also learned that my max heart rate is higher than I thought, so that will be factored into my training now.

Ah...I think I am going to like the 5k. :)
***
Short Version

• Stats: 4/103, 1F, 20:07 official (my watch said 20:10)
• Cost: 20$ day of race, less & with tech shirt if registered early  - Benefit to the Myrtle Creek pool
• Pre-race: 2 protein/oatmeal breakfast cookies & coffee & also drive through mocha at Cowgirl's in Sutherlin (all before 7:45). 1 mile warm-up w/ a few strides and drills. Got lost, and followed the sheep to the start.
• Bathrooms: in the fitness center at the finish line, porta-potties at the start and within a half mile at Mill park. I am not sure about along the course, as I was not looking for them. 
• Water stations: at the finish line
•  Great volunteer support! Marshals at every turn/intersection.
• Awards/prizes: Ribbons 3 deep in each 10-year age group, "trophies" for overall winners M/F
• Post race: bagels, bananas, bottled water 
• Extra you might like to know if considering this race: Scenic course and in a hilly, rugged part of southern Oregon. Myrtle Creek is a friendly community and a great destination for hunting, fishing, and camping. The festival included a parade which started at the end of the race.