Race #265 - Mint City 10-Miler and 5k - St. Johns, Michigan - 08/02/14

This is a photo of the start of the 5k (don't have a pic of the 10-miler start).
My son Joe recently became an Anthropology professor at Michigan State University in East Lansing, so of course I picked a weekend to go and visit him when there would be a local race to run. I found this 10-miler just north of Lansing. It was a fairly small race but well organized and there were a lot of fast runners there. Usually when I run a race 700+ miles away from home I don't know anybody there, but my wife Linda ran and so did Joe, while Joe's fiancee Kandus took some great photos. In addition to that, my good running buddy Bob Nelson just happened to be in East Lansing for a wedding and he and his wife Patty decided to surprise us by showing up at the race! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw them standing there as we approached the race site! Besides being a good friend Bob is also one of my biggest competitors, so I was kind of relieved when he told me he was running the 5k instead of the 10-miler. Bob and I both got 1st place in our 60-64 age group while Linda and Joe both got 3rd place in their age groups.

Pros:
  • Nicely organized small-town race.
  • Plenty of helpful volunteers along the course.
  • Watermelon (and other stuff) after the race.
  • Reasonably priced race-day registration.
  • Almost completely flat course (that's how the land is in that area... no hills).
Cons:
  • There were 5-year age groups, which is good, but they only went 2-deep so Joe and Linda didn't get an award despite placing 3rd.

Click Here for Age Group Results (Both Races)

 Click Here for Race Photos from Kandus on Facebook

 Click Here for Race Website
Bob Nelson and me. I had no idea he was going to be at this race halfway across the country.

My son Joe did great in his fourth 5k ever. He's secretly hoping to beat me in a race over the next couple years.

My wife Linda ran her best 5k in the last couple of years. 

I actually managed a semi-smile for the camera near the finish line.


My Stats:

Time: 1:11:06
Pace:  7:06
Age Group: 1 of  10
Overall:  30 of 150 (approximately)
Age Graded Equivalent Time: 56:20 (78.8%)

***************
* RACE RATING *
***************

RACE COURSE
3 - Chip Timing: (3 points if yes)
2 - Starting Mat: (2 points if yes)
2 - Water Stops: (0)none  (2)normal  (5)extras [Gu, sports drink, etc.]
1 - Course Marking:  (0)bad  (1)good
3 - Course Scenery:  (0-5) 1=bad  and 5=fantastic
1 - Mile Markers: (0)poor or none  (1)normal  (2)with clocks or time called out
2 - Volunteers:  (0)too few  (2)good
6 - Finish line: (0-7)   0=bad  and 9=spectacular!
2 - Certified Course: (0)no  (2) yes
2 - Correct Distance: (0)no  (2)yes
0 - Partly or fully on unpaved roads:  (0)yes  (1)no (almost 2 miles non-paved)

REGISTRATION
2 - Cost:  (0)expensive  (2)reasonable  (5)cheap!
3 - Race Day Registration:  (0)no  (3)yes

RESULTS
2 - Posted promptly online:  (0)no  (2)yes
1 - Clear link on website:  (0)no  (1)yes

AGE GROUPS
0 - 3 deep awards: (2)yes (0 for anything less) (*2-deep)
5 - 5-year age groups (5 points) (0 for anything less)
1 - 14 and under group (1)
1 - 65+ group (1)
1 - 70+ group (1)
0 - Top Overall M/F:  (0)none or first only  (2)top 3 or better
0 - Masters Category(40+): (0)no  (2)yes
0 - Grand Masters Category (50+):  (0)no  (3)yes
0 - Senior Grand Masters Category: (0)no  (5)yes

AWARDS
2 - Overall Winner Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
2 - Age Group Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
0 - Door Prizes or Drawing: (0)no  (2)yes   (5-9)fabulous door prizes!
5* - Finisher Medals for All Finishers: (0)no  (3)yes  (5)really cool medals
      (*nice medal for finishers of both the 10-miler and 5k)

POST RACE
7 - Food for Race Participants: (0-10 with 5 being average)
5 - Entertainment:  (0)no  (1-9)yes
2 - Finisher times posted after race:  (0)no  (2)yes

REST ROOMS
2 - Porta Potties:  (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful
2 - Indoor Restrooms: (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful

T-SHIRTS
2 - T-Shirts: (0)no  (2)yes
2 - Design: (0)not good  (1)not bad  (2)nice  (5)beautiful!
2 - Material: (0)cotton  (2)technical fabric (long sleeve tech blend)
2 - Discount for no-shirt option:  (0)no (2)yes

PHOTOGRAPHY
0 - Professional Photography: (0)no  (5)yes
x - Prices: (0)expensive  (2)reasonable  (5)cheap!
0 - Free Photographs (newspaper, etc.):  (0)no  (2)yes  (5)lots of free pics!

PARKING
2 - Close to Start:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 - Close to Finish:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 - Plenty of spaces:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 - Free Parking:  (2)yes  (0)no

OTHER
2 - Shelter from Inclement Weather (needed or not): (0)no  (2)yes
2 - Swag (free socks, water bottles, etc.): (0)no  (2)yes, some  (5)excellent
2 - Part of race series or Grand Prix:  (0)no  (2)yes
2 - Kids Fun Run: (0)no   (2)yes
0 - Miscellaneous not covered above: (-10 to +10)


TOTAL:  91

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