If you remember on Thursday I wrote So Many Races, So Little Time where I lamented that there were three races in one weekend, and I wanted to run them all, especially the Dulles Day on the Runway 5K! Four Cruisers ran the race and Jessica agreed to do a guest post for me! Thank you, Jessica, for taking my readers on this fun little run with you!
Thank you, Debbie, for inviting me to guest blog about the Dulles Airport 5K on the Runway. Let me start out by typing some words you’ll rarely, if ever, see on Deb Runs again. I hate running.
Last year, after training with Debbie for several years, I finally decided to try a 5K. I used the Couch to 5K running program. I knew I might be in trouble when I finished the nine week program and was running for the full 30 minutes but only covering 2 miles. Rather than pick up my pace, I decided I’d just run longer. I’m a slow runner. If I went any slower I’m afraid someone might try and perform CPR on me.
Here it is a year later and I now have five 5K’s under my belt. I enjoy the accomplishment of running it even if I don’t actually enjoy the running itself.
The Dulles International Airport’s 5K on the Runway was a unique running venue. When I heard about it, I thought to myself, “A straight, flat 5K? Sign me up!” For some reason, all the other 5K’s I’ve run have been uphill for the entire race. I don’t know how that’s physically possible but it’s true.
The race was capped at 2000 runners and I think they all showed up. This guy caught my eye more than once:
I initially thought it was going to be an out and back race but that wasn’t the case. The course had several wide turns that kept us from having to do any back tracking.
I wonder if any early morning travelers had a moment of panic when they saw 2000 people running away from the airport?
At the half way point, there was a water station. I’ve never seen one of those at any of my other 5K’s. It was appreciated! The picture is a little blurry; I didn’t want to slow down too much. Just kidding, I wanted to keep moving so I wouldn’t get in anyone else’s way and have water spilled on me.
At the 2 mile mark United, one of the sponsors, had parked an airplane.
I needed to stop so I could take a good picture. Yes, I needed to stop. For the picture.
None of the other runways near us were being used so we didn’t get any grand views of a plane landing or taking off. They were on the other side of the control tower.
Last, but not least, I took this picture just for Debbie. As she said about it, “Planes and port-a-potties. Two of my favorite things!”
Added by Deb: Here’s a picture of the race shirt that Jessica just sent to me.
- Questions:
- Do the 5K races that you run have water stops?
- What’s the coolest race venue you’ve run?
- What’s your favorite race shirt color combination?
That sounds like an interesting race!
All of the 5K races I’ve ever run have had water stops. It’s interesting to hear that some don’t.
There’s also a plane pull as part of the Dulles Day festivities!
I was curious what this race would be like when I saw it advertised. Her recap makes me want to do it next year!
Let’s just hope it’s not the same weekend as the Hokie Half again next year. 🙂
In eastern Pennsylvania we had an awesome 5K and 10K on an Armed Forces base in the pre 9/11 days that gave out the biggest trophies I’ve ever seen. There were lots of cool classic planes from old wars to look at too. Unfortunately they don’t allow races on the base anymore. That one did not have a water stop for the 5K, but I can’t think of any that I’ve been to in recent years that didn’t have water stops. As for t-shirt color combos, I like my bright blue with yellow and white writing the best.
That sounds like a very interesting race, too! Too bad that it can’t be run anymore.
Every time I am at an airport (often, actually) I think about how nice the runways would be for nice, long runs. Glad they made a race there!
I know! When I heard about the race I thought, “That’s the best new race idea I’ve heard in ages!”
What a neat race! I love that you took a picture of the porta potties with the plane in the background just for Deb 🙂 I wonder what people who could see the race from the terminal thought.
Jessica is looking out for me!
To start off with 5K’s as a beginning runner is smart! I’m sure they give you an incentive to train on those days when you might need a little extra push.
Exactly!
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[…] year I broke the 10K tradition and signed up to run the 5K with my friend Jessica in her very first race ever, and we finished in 40:27 (13:01 pace). It ended up being a very good […]