This past weekend was the Chain Reaction 5k. If you read My Preview, you know I had some concerns going in about the course. Welp, my concerns were justified. But I’ll get to that.
First off, let me say that I won the Whole.Stinkin.Race! Like, as in, nobody was in front of me. I was all alone at the finish.
Look at that plaque! I guess I should brush my teeth more. Badumpump.
Yup, that’s right…according to that plaque, I am an overall male. But you probably already knew that.
Anyway, here’s what had happened. My run bud Marsha was also running the race, so she picked me up on the way (not literally, she’s too tiny to hold me up).
Before the race. As you can see by my finger, I correctly predicted my finish. Marsha was one off.
This was a very small race. Around 50 people. I told you it was small.
When the gun sounded I settled in with the lead group – mostly teenagers. After the first lap, it was down to me and one of the teens. I didn’t want it to come down to a sprint at the finish where his youthful energy would work against me, so I made my move when we came to an uphill with 1/2 a mile to go. It worked, he fell behind and I was free to cruise on home!
My finish time: 13:54!!!!!!!!
Rockin a 4:28 per mile pace.
Amazing time, right? I bet you didn’t know I was that fast. Neither did I. But slow your roll, hombre. The course was about A MILE SHORT!!!
So yes, my concerns before the race over the course map were spot on. I spoke with the timing guy and he said the volunteers who marked the course missed a whole section that we were supposed to run.
We only ran 2/3 of this course.
That said, everyone ran the same distance. So in that aspect, it was a fair race.
It felt good, but strange to finish 1st Overall. I don’t think that’s happened since high school track.
Me in high school.
Anykitandkaboodle, at the awards ceremony, they called my name to come get the plaque.
Listening intently as the MC tells me how great I am.
And here’s some more good news…Marsha was also called up as the 1st Female Finisher!!!!! Very cool!!
1st Overall Female & Male plaques selfie.
And the best part, this race gives 100% of the proceeds to a charity that’s a very passionate cause for the race directors. You can read about it HERE.
Final picture of the plaques, I promise.
So all in all, it was a successful race. We had a good time and they raised some funds for charity. Booyah!
How bout you? Prefer small or big races? Ever won a race? Do you have a race strategy you deploy against teenagers?
-Scott
Piratebobcat 
Wow!!! Nice job!!! You rocked it!! 🙂 Congrats on WINNING!! That’s phenomenal! XOXO
Thanks Kristin! It was a fun/cool/weird feeling. Miss you! XOXO
Awesome!
Thanks!
it’s pretty awesome to win, even if it wasn’t a proper 5K. Congrats!!!
Ha, yeah, and I think Athlinks rejected my time. I need to let them know it was more like a 2 mile race. Thanks!
Awesome!! Congrats, that’s fun stuff!
Thanks so much! We did have some fun!
Awesome run! When I first saw your time on IG I thought perhaps you were part Kenyan as that would equate to under 3 minute km’s (I’m in the world of metric) which is insanely fast. Regardless you still ran smokin’ fast and won! Awesome that you beat those teens too. Feels good to beat those young ones I bet. Congratulations and congrats to your friend too!
Thanks! And hahahaha! I have elite friends who can run that fast, but I’m not there (yet). And yes, I hate losing to kids at races, so this was some sweet vengeance!
Wow, how did they miss an entire mile?! That is crazy! Congrats on your win though!! Great job showing up the teenagers!
Ha, I’m not sure. The sad thing is that all those people who it was their first 5k, think that it’s super easy to run a fast time!
Thank you!!!
Congrats! You’ll never beat that PR for a 5K until you find an even shorter course.
LOL, good point! I’ve got some work to do!
HUGE CONGRATS to you and Marsha!! Sorry the course was a bit of a bust, but you still get every right to relish in your victory 😀
Smaller races are good in some aspects (ex. being closer to placing), but I’ve found that organization is generally not so good for the really small races
THANKS SO MUCH!!! Believe me, I’m holding on to that plaque!
Yeah, that’s true about the organization at small races being off. Usually takes them a few years, but by then the race is usually bigger. Oh well!
When I read your finish time, I admit my jaw dropped a bit. 🙂 But that’s still awesome, congrats on the win!!! And your friend too! I like smaller races but have had mis-measured courses more than a few times. Congrats again!
Ha, my jaw would drop too!
Thanks so much! I hear ya, this was my 3rd or 4th mis-measured course in the past few months. Oh well, I guess it’s the same for everyone!
YEAH OVERALL MALE!!! That ROCKS!!!!! Congrats to you and to your friend! That stinks that the course was short, but it was a fair race and it will be fun to tell people that’s your 5K PR. 😀
THANK YOU!!!!!! It rocks and rolls! Yeah, bummer about the course, but like you say, it was fair for everyone. And oh yes, I was taunting friends with my time on social media for sure 😉
Oh and I like races of all sizes. 🙂
They all have their ups and downs!
That is so awesome!!!!!! Congrats!
It was pretty cool! Thank you!
That is awesome (and thrilled that you are now officially overall male)! Congrats. I was looking at your average pace and I may have said a holy profanity! Then I read your disclaimer about the course. By the way, what’s with, “Oops they missed a section of the race?” That is hilarious.
I know, right! It’s so nice to be recognized finally! 😉 Haha, I wish that was my average pace. And no, I have no idea how they shorted us 1/3 of the race?!?!
That’s amazing! Bummer about the short course, but I like to think that you still would have won even if it were a full 5k 😉
Thanks so much! Yeah, I’m pretty sure the teenagers would have faded even more if it was a proper 5k, but to be honest, it was kind of nice being done with the discomfort of racing so soon!
I’m protesting the results! Just kidding, just kidding. Well done, fella. Was there a victory celebration? Did you get down and do push-ups?
I’m all about the small races – and I may win a race every now and again. As far as teenagers, no problemo. They’re all on a suicide mission. They treat every distance as if it’s 100 meters. Let them go at the start and then reel them in one at a time!
Haha, I don’t think you need to – I’m pretty sure Athlinks rejected the results.
Ya know, there was no celebration. There were zero people at the finish line to show off for. And since it was a two lap course, I was in the middle of lapping people, so when I crossed the line, there were two slightly larger women walking next to me.
Hahaha, yes, they were on a suicide mission. That’s exactly what I did – let them lead the way and then started picking them off one by one!
I just LOL’d.
you rock!! amazing job.
No, you rock! Thank you!
That’s so cool!!
Thanks Shell-B!
A win is a win. Unless it’s a loss. BRAVO!
Word up! I hope to give you an ENCORE someday!
HOLY COW, a sub 5:00 mile??? !!! You freaking rock!!!! No really, you do rock. Great finish! I’ve finished first female in the Houston Run For Wellness (or something of the sort), a free race they do monthly at George Bush Park. And there was a youngin’ following me so I tried to be sure there was no one close in my vision. And if she would’ve tried to pass me, I’m sure there would be nothing I could’ve done about it. Anyway, great run, great cause!
Hahaha, yeah, well it’s easy to run those splits when the course was over a mile short!!!
Congrats on your Houston win! I’m with you, I want to leave the youngins behind well before the final sprint to the finish!
Thank you!!!!
Huge congratulations! Comings in first overall is awesome! It must’ve felt great to beat the teenagers!
I haven’t won a race since my track days either…a long time ago!
Thank you!!!! It’s nice to get a win…and even nicer to beat those kids still being blessed by the sweet bird of youth.
You need to find a small race to relive your high school days!
You run like the wind, my friend!
I think you mean to say I break the wind. 😉
Congrats!
Thanks!!
Fantastic! Seriously, what an amazing accomplishment for both you and your friend!
Thanks so much Jill! It was a very small race, but it felt good to get a win!
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Fabulous on your first place finish but too bad the race directors couldn’t get the course right! This happens to you a lot!
Thank you!!! Yeah, bummer about the course, but what can I do? And you’re right, that’s like 4 times in the past few months!