Race #2 of the Season: MLB All-Star 5K

I'm not 100% sure why I decided to run this race. Maybe because I missed the Rockies race. Maybe because I've missed racing. Maybe because I wanted to do something part of the All-Star Weekend festivities since we opted to not purchase game (and entire weekend) tickets and this also got me into PlayBall Park. 

Who knows.

In any case, I decided to run this. Timing looked horrible - 9am race in July? - but whatever.

As you've known from my update blogs, running has been okay this year. Probably the only sport that has. Nothing has really been speedy in training, but I have a decent amount of miles on the legs, all things considered. This was also going to be a completely new downtown course so I had literally no expectations going in.

I woke up that morning and drove downtown, finding a spot like half a block from the start line (and about 2, 2.5 from the finish). I did, however, realize that I forgot my race belt and would actually have to use safety pins for my bib for the first time in a good five years. At least. D'oh.

I also got downtown at like 7a. Oops. That's when they said packet pick-up started ...?

Regardless, got my stuff and then sat in the car and hung out until it got close to race time. I thought that the nervous colon may make an appearance, but thankfully, it did not. So already a win over the Saguaro Half.

Finish line getting all set up. This was near the City and County Building on the other side of Civic Center Park.

Waiting to start. Uphill. Next to the Capitol.

Race started and off I went. I really had no expectations (and I was running with my Rockies jersey on, because why not?), but I wanted to at least try to run well.

I didn't see the first mile sign, but my Garmin beeped at like a 9:28, despite the walking I had already been having to do. Um, okay, cool. Let's try to keep that up, shall we?

Off through the neighborhoods and we got to run on Speer some, too, which was kind of neat. A bit more downhill, but mile two (with a banner sign this time) was at the top of a hill, which is just cruel. Still, the Garmin beeped in the 9:30s, which was great.

However, it was getting warm. A race starting at 9am in early July is not nice. I started having to walk more and more. I still tried to run as much and as hard as I could though. I distracted myself with some of the great street art I saw (and walked back to get pictures of post-race). Finally, we came up to the final bit. I knew if I pushed it, I could possibly get sub-30, which I was in no way expecting to do.

DONE. And there was a Dinger to get a selfie with. (and see? ran in a jersey)

Seriously no clue how I pulled this out of my ass.

Final Stats:

Time: 29:50

19/197 AG (F35-39)

116/780 gender

444/1616 overall

Walked through Civic Center Park to the very sad water and banana table ... but then saw the greatest thing ... the best sign that racing in Colorado truly IS back ...

That's right, Flippin' Flapjacks. Good lord have I missed this. Best post-race food.

I'm also glad I finished *relatively* quick, because the line after I got mine and wandered around a bit? Like three times as long.

Glad I ran it, glad it was only like two seconds slower than the last 5K I ran pre-COVID, glad I could still drag my butt sub-30.