Race #134 - Firecracker 5k - Columbus, NC - 07/04/11

We celebrated the 4th of July this year with a trip over to Columbus, North Carolina, which is at the bottom of the mountain as you leave Asheville on Interstate 26. Unfortunately, it's still on the edge of the mountains so there are all kinds of hills, which resulted in a slower race time for me (21:27) than a couple days ago in the much flatter Huntersville race. I also ran an 11-mile training run yesterday, and with no rest in between and the hilly course I expected to be slower. Still, I felt good and I'm still on track with my "comeback" although I was enticed by some of the homemade baked goodies after the race and even more junk at the 4th of July festival just a block away.

This is a small-town race but a lot of fun, with cash for the overall male and female winners -- $100 for 1st place, $50 for second place, and $25 for third place. I was excited that Phyllis Neriah, from our running club (Gaston County Runners) ran in her very first 5k race ever and walked away with 50 bucks as the 2nd place overall female in the race!


Click Here for Race Website

Click Here for Results


Race Rating:

8 - 1-10  Website (Information, results, registration, photo links, etc.)
8 - 1-10  Awards (Quality of medals, trophies, etc.) (1 to 10)
8 - 1-10  Awards Presentation (PA system, winning times, etc.) (1 to 10)
7 - 1-10  Food for Race Participants (1 to 10)
5 - 1-10  T-Shirts (1 to 10 with 5 being average)
4 - 4/6   Part of Race Series (Grand Prix, etc.) (6=Yes and 4=No)
0 - 0/5   Professional Photography (5=Yes and 0=No)
4 - 4/6   Chip Timing (6=Yes and 4=No)
7 - 3/7   Certified Course (by USA Track & Field) (7=Yes and 3=No)
6 - 1-10  Course (1 to 10 with 5 being average)
6 - 1-10  Parking (1 to 10 with 5 being average)
7 - 1-10  Entertainment (1 to 10 with 5 being average)
10 - 0-10  Age Groups (10 if 5-year groups; 0 if 10-year groups)
0 - 0/5   Indoor Shelter from Elements (0 if none; 5 if provided)
6 - 1-10  Bathroom Facilities
0-10  Other

TOTAL - 86

My Stats:

Time:  21:27
Pace:  6:57
Age Group:  1 of  2
Overall:  13 of 66