Grand Prix of Running 5K on St Patrick’s Day

Grand Prix of Running 5K on St Patrick’s Day will always be a special race for me. It was my very first distance race and I ran it in 2007. I have to specify distance because growing up I ran track and participated in countless races under 400 meters (anything further was just stupid, or so I thought!)

This is the 28th running of one of Colorado Springs oldest races and fits in with the second oldest parade in our community. The 5K on St. Patrick's Day kicks off the start of the running season for runners in the Springs. For most of the races, the weather has been quite marvelous, with just enough of a nip in the air. The 5K is one of the fastest 5K's in Colorado Springs and will be run on Tejon Street, starting and ending at Acacia Park. Come on Down(town)!!

Making a Splash for Uncle Wilber!

The Leprechaun Fun Run is a fundraiser for the Uncle Wilber Fountain in Acacia Park. In 2001, the fountain was given as a gift to the citizens of the Pikes Peak Region. However, the maintenance and operation costs are publicly supported. The proceeds of the Leprechaun Fun Run will go to this effort.

The colorful fountain has entertained thousands of kids (and adults too!) with its whimsical music, colored lights, and unpredictable streams of water. The fountain is open daily in the summertime from Noon to 6 pm. Bring a towel and join the fun on a hot summer afternoon!

Goodie Bag: A t-shirt, race bib and some ads in a paper bag. They have done better!

Start Line: This race takes place right in downtown Colorado Springs. I admit, Colorado Springs is not a big city, it is a small city and downtown is even smaller. And it happens right before the parade which could make things really interesting! Every year the start area is set up very well. There is no question where the start line is. There could be more porta potties, but I don’t think any race could ever have enough! This year they actually had a starting mat so I think people were a little more relaxed when it came to starting the race.

Course: This is the second Colorado race I get to say was flat! It wasn’t quite an out and back, but pretty close. Maybe a big misshapen ‘I’ would be a little more accurate. The course goes by two of the local running stores (one of them being on the top of my list, the other I don’t really go to). Then it is nice smooth sailing to the finish line.

Course Support: There are no water stops, but this is only a 5K so are they really needed? I don’t think so since it isn’t a hard course nor is it in the summer. The volunteers – wonderful! They were friendly, they were cheering everyone on, they were great! The cops also did a great job, I realize they are paid to be there, but just because you are paid to be somewhere doesn’t mean much.

Finish Line: It seems every year or so it moves! I think this is the second year it was located on the straight away instead of around the corner (I like it on the straight away!). After the finish line, around the corner was a table with water cups and then in the main area of the park were the

Overall: I personally treated this race as a training run. I enjoyed running with over 2,000 of my closest friends! To me this is a good start of the season race it helps give me an idea where my training is at and what I need to do to get it to where I want it to be.

Disney Marathon Weekend

I started looking at Disney World’s Marathon Weekend (http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/wdw-marathon/) years ago. As I have said before I am one of the runners you hear about who plans their vacations around their races, what better place to race AND vacation then Disney World?

Expo: If you are staying in a on property hotel shuttles are offered every 20 minutes to the expo at the ESPN site. Packet Pick-up was in one building and goodie bag pick-up and expo were in another building. Since the buildings are right across from each other it makes getting your packet a little less painful (not as many people). The good bag pick up was at the back of the expo and as you leave the goodie bag area you go straight into the race merchandise area. Then you can hit all the booths are wiggle your way to the exit.

Start Line:

5K – The start line was a very short walk from the busses (again, offered to those staying at a property hotel). There were a decent amount of port-a-potties for the number of races. Buzz and Woody were right there (after all it was the “Buzz and Woody Best Friends 5K”). The start was a in a parking lot right outside Epcot.

Half Marathon/Marathon – The busses dropped you off close to the Family Reunion area, which is about a good 20 minute walk from the start line. The Family Reunion area was a large open area (parking lot) with vendors along half of the perimeter, a DJ with a huge screen in one corner, the Cheer Squad area (a tent with food for runners and their family, who have paid to be in there), and then the bag check you go through to get to the finish line. Ok, you also have to be at the start line a good half hour to an hour before the start of the race. There are plenty of port-o-potties along the route and around the start line (which is always a good thing).

Course:

5K – The course started off a little dull, you are running though parking lots. Within the first mile you hit the back area of Epcot, being one who loves to see behind the scenes I enjoyed this, before long the course goes into Epcot goes around the world, then pops out into the back lots again and right back into the park. There were characters along the course (which was a change from two years ago) and there were cast members cheering everyone along.

Half Marathon/Marathon – The start of the race is done in true Disney style. Fireworks, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald (I think Daisy was there too, but I can't remember). It is just YAY! The initial start got all sorts of fireworks, but then each and every wave received their own firework display as they started.

Half marathon –The half marathon course was almost an out and back course. You run out to Magic Kingdom and then back to Epcot. Instead of running through the main gate at the Magic Kingdom you get to hit some of the back lots again. Once the course enters Magic Kingdom you only have a short distance before you are on Main Street and the castle is right there in front of you! Before you get to the castle you take a right turn into Tomorrow Land and then you come and around and run through the castle then into Liberty Square into Frontier Land and then out of the park. Once you leave Magic Kingdom you start heading right back to Epcot and before you know it, you are approaching the finish line!

Marathon – Obviously the marathon course is a little different, but then again you are talking twice the distance. The Full marathon starts in the same location with the same send off as the half, but instead of heading straight up to Magic Kingdom it goes into Epcot for a little bit. Comes back around and passes the start line. Miles 4 – 10 are on the highway, but there are Characters and marching bands to keep the runners from getting board. The entrance into and run through Magic Kingdom is the same as it is for the half marathon. Miles 11 – 15 are back on highways, part of it is the course the half marathon run the day before. By Mile 16 the course has reached Animal Kingdom, again, the runners get to go through the back lots for a short distance before entering into the park. The Animal Kingdom is pretty enjoyable, running towards Mount Everest, having the music playing. One good thing about being a slow poke is the park is opened and there and there were a lot more spectators cheering. The mileage between Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are the worst of the entire course, and even then, they aren't bad. Mile 20 to 21 is the most painful, it is an out and back on highway. Disney does the best they can to keep it exciting, but there is only so much you can do. Once the course enters into Hollywood Studios you know you have made it. You get to see even more back lots! You come out of Hollywood Studios and down a trail along a trail ending up in Epcot, after running around the World Showcase you find yourself running under the ball and into more back lots. As you approach the finish line you see a gospel choir and you kick it in and ta da! There is the finish line!

Course Support: I admit, I am spoiled when it comes to course support. But I have to say upfront, Disney has not let me down!

5K – there were two water stops along the course, both were well stocked and both had amazing people working them

Half Marathon – Gu was offered at mile 8, there were plenty of well stocked water stations along the entire course and of course there are a ton of characters!

Marathon – The marathon had water stops about every two miles, there were Gu stops, there were at least two banana stops. Once you make it to Hollywood Studios there was even a chocolate stop! And again, there were of course a ton of charaters!

Finish Line:

5K – After crossing the finish line Buzz and Woody medals were handed out and little bags with food in it (banana, bagel, water).

Half marathon/Full marathon – There were characters at the finish line cheering everyone on. Once passed the finish line, Donald Duck (half marathon) or Mickey Mouse (full marathon) medals were handed out with the obligatory water. After a short walk, Power Aid and food were offered.

Goofy – Once you received your Mickey Mouse medal, you went over to the Goofy area showed your bib and got your Goofy Medal as well and then you could get to the food and Power Aid.

Overall Yes, Disney charges an arm and leg for everything but I would have to say this weekend is one worth investing in, it is so much fun! I highly recommend staying on property, the busses make it so much easier. Remember it is January and at 4 AM it is still dark and will probably be a little chilly, dress appropriately! If you can only run one race in your entire life and you aren’t too concerned about the time this is the race to run. If you are worried about your time, you might want to go elsewhere, all the charaters along the course can affect your time (most people stop to take pictures)!

I would have to say this race weekend is amazing. It is well organized, it is enjoyable, they say every mile has a smile and they are right.

I dare you to go Goofy!

Great Pumpkin Race 5K/10K

Down and dirty - love this one!

From the race site:
4th Annual Great Pumpkin Run at Venetucci Farm - October 2nd, 8:30 a.m. - Registration opens at 7:00 a.m. Race shirts and Running Bibs, for the 4th Annual Great Pumpkin Run at Venetucci Farm, are now available for pick up at Runners Roost, 121 North Tejon. If you registered online or via mail, you can pick up your packet through 6:00 p.m. on Friday, 10/1.
Race Limited to 600 runners - $30.00 - Register at Runner's Roost until 6:00 p.m. Friday, October 1stSaturday, October 2nd - Registration opens at 7:00 a.m. (t-shirts not guaranteed for racers after 600)


I signed up for this race probably close to 5 minutes before online registration closed. My PT doc had been talking about it and then I got an email so it was one of those, why not!
Expo: There wasn’t really one. Packet pickup was at one of the local running stores. In and out, nice, quick and easy.

Start Line: This race was on a pumpkin farm! The starting line had all of six porta-potties (I will get to those in a minute), Harley – the monster pig, a bunch of pumpkins, and a hand of runners! There were six porta-potties with a cap of 600 runners. The race was held off until all the potty people were lined up ready to race.

Course: Keeping in mind it is Colorado, this course was pretty much flat. Ok, Colorado flat. We were warned about animals (and the fact we weren’t supposed to ride them to the finish line), cow pies (hello, farm!) and holes. The course had some pretty narrow areas, but it was a very peaceful run. It was 99% dirt (I think I stole about five pounds of it in my shoes), there was a short section of cement and about two feet of asphalt (ok, it was more than two feet, but whatever!).

Course Support: There was only one water stop (10K hit it twice), there were multiple volunteers along the course making sure we didn’t take the scenic route (I heard one lady did). They were all very friendly and cheering everyone on. It was great!

Finish Line: Was well marked, the last .2 miles passed some horses, Harley and I think some chickens. The two shoots were VERY vibrantly marked.

Overall: This race was run. I was using it as a training run and enjoyed every step of it. I PRed (but then again, I have only done two 10Ks and the last one was up a mountain). I would highly recommend trying to be one of the first 200 to register, the tech shirts looked a lot better than the t-shirts. For a small local race, it was perfect!