Race #467 -- Apple Festival 8k -- Hendersonville, NC -- 08/31/19

This is my fourth year in a row to run this great 8k in the mountain town of Hendersonville. It's always well managed, and while the course does feel a little hilly, the elevation map says it's really not all that bad. I've won my age group all four times I've run it, but keeping me humble is George Luke, who's now 79 years old and has beaten me 3 of those 4 years, this time by about a minute. He's a phenomenal runner and holds multiple South Carolina state records. It'll be interesting to see how he does next year at 80 years old. I'd love to see him demolish some of the 80+ records.

I'm writing this on Thursday following the race and the site says photos will be coming soon so I'm counting on that in my race rating. They always have some great photos taken by the local camera club and I talked for several minutes to two of the photographers whom I'd met before, so I might come back and update this post with a photo or two after the pics are posted.

The age group awards were great! For 1st place I got a nice mug filled with 15 gift cards from Chick-fil-A, one of the major sponsors of the race. There were 5 salads, 5 Chick-fil-A sandwiches, and 5 milkshakes. I think 2nd and 3rd got 10 and 5 cards respectively.

I like the race size -- not too big or too small. There are usually around 200 finishers in the 8k and 100 in the 5k, so parking is convenient and you don't get swallowed up in the crowds.



Race Name:  Apple Festival Races Presented by Hunter Suburu (8k and 5k)


Location:  Hendersonville, NC


Date: August 31, 2019


Race Rating:  98


Winners (8k):


Top Ten (5k):


Course:



Elevation Per Mile:

Weather at Start:
(It was the first kinda cool race of the fall season!)



Click Here for Race Results

Click Here for Race Photos


My Stats:

Time:  38:36
Pace:  7:46
Age Group: 1 of 3
Overall:  40 of 203
Average Heart Rate:  155
Maximum Heart Rate:  168
Age Grade Percentage:  72.75%

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

RACE COURSE 
0 - Chip & Gun Timing: (3 points if yes)
2 - Water Stops: (0)none  (2)normal  (5)extras [Gu, sports drink, etc.]
1 - Course Marking:  (0)bad  (1)good
4 - 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
7 - Finish line: (0-9)   0=bad  and 9=spectacular!
0 - Certified Course: (0)no  (2) yes
2 - Correct Distance: (0)no  (2)yes
1 - Partly or fully on unpaved roads:  (0)yes  (1)no

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

RESULTS
2 - Posted online within 24 hours:  (0)no  (2)yes
1 - Easy to find results:  (0)no  (1)yes

AGE GROUPS
2 - 3 deep awards: (2)yes (0 for anything less)
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)
2 - Top Overall M/F:  (0)none; (1) first only; (2)top 3 or better
2 - 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
5 - Overall Winner Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
5 - Age Group Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
0 - Door Prizes or Drawing: (0-9)
5 - Finisher Medals for All Finishers: (0)no  (3)yes  (5)really cool medals

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

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

T-SHIRTS
2 - T-Shirts: (0)no  (2)yes
3 - Design: (1-5)
3 - Material Quality: (1-3)
0 - Discount for no-shirt option:  (0)no (2)yes

PHOTOGRAPHY 
5 - Professional Photography: (0)no  (5)yes
x - Prices: (1)expensive  (3)reasonable  (5)cheap
5 - Free Photographs (newspaper, etc.):  (0)no  (1-10)yes 

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
0 - Shelter from Inclement Weather (needed or not): (0)no  (2)yes
0 - Swag (free socks, water bottles, etc.): (0)no  (2)yes, some  (5)excellent
0 - 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:  98

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