Race #493 -- Memorial Run 5k -- Shelby NC -- 05/22/2021


Another race directed by the YMCA, this time the Cleveland County YMCA, and dare I say, another stinker. I try not to complain about the organization, which I believe does a good job most of the time, but when it comes to most of the races they're involved with, they're organized poorly with very little consideration given to runners. A case in point at this race is that not only did they not have age group awards, it was also too much trouble for them to even separate the results into age groups. At least they did separate male from female, but if you want to know how you did among the peers your own age, start counting. I mean, I know how to count, and I can do it, but it's kind of inconsiderate on the part of the race directors to have age groups of ages "0 to 99."

If you're looking for a banana or a bagel to choke down after the race, go elsewhere. They did have some little bottles of warm water, so there's that, but the pandemic's over and it's time to get the races back on track with a little hospitality or people are going to stop going to races.

They did give out "participation medals" about a half hour after the race ended. Apparently, they forgot to hand them out at the finish line. That's fine and all, but most of us are not looking for and don't want participation medals. We would much prefer the same medals had been used as age group awards. 

Sorry for all of the complaining, but I possibly got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

I should mention that not all YMCA races are this bad. The Corporate Cup in Charlotte is one example of a YMCA race done right, and there are others as well, but when it comes to the local YMCA races, in the future I'll go elsewhere if there are any other races available to run.

Was there anything good about the race? Of course. I ran relatively well and beat Steve Staley and Tim Hepler for the first time this year. Steve got me by two and a half minutes in my first 5k this year back on February 27th, and I've been trying to narrow the margin on him ever since. Tim beat me by almost a minute just a week earlier at the Belmont Classic 5k and has trounced me in every 5k so far this year.

So I still seem to be improving, and my pace of 7:50 this week is the best I've done so far this year. My time was a little slower than a couple others but my Garmin measured this race long at 3.17 miles. 

Race Name:  Memorial Run 5k

Location:  Shelby, North Carolina

Date:  May 22, 2021

Race Rating:  51 

Top 10:


Course:



Elevation by Mile:


Weather at Start:


Click Here for Race Results


My Stats:

  • Time:  24:44
  • Pace:  7:50
  • Age Group (65-69): 1 of 3 
  • Overall:  16 of 64
  • Average Heart Rate:   153
  • Maximum Heart Rate:  168
  • Age Grade Percentage:  70.49%


***************

* RACE RATING *

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RACE COURSE 

3 - 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

3 - Course Scenery:  (0-5) 1=bad  and 5=fantastic

0 - Mile Markers: (0)poor or none  (1)normal  (2)with clocks or time called out

2 - Volunteers:  (0)too few  (2)good

4 - Finish line: (0-9)   0=bad  and 9=spectacular!

0 - Certified Course: (0)no  (2) yes

0 - 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

0 - 3 deep awards: (2)yes (0 for anything less)

0 - 5-year age groups (5 points) (0 for anything less)

0 - 14 and under group (1)

0 - 65+ group (1)

0 - 70+ group (1)

2 - Top Overall M/F:  (0)none; (1) 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

0 - Age Group Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent

0 - Door Prizes or Drawing: (0-9)

3 - Finisher Medals for All Finishers: (0)no  (3)yes  (5)really cool medals


POST RACE 

1 - Food for Race Participants: (0-10 with 5 being average)

0 - Entertainment:  (0)no  (1-9)yes

0 - Finisher times posted after race:  (0)no  (2)yes


REST ROOMS 

0 - 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

3 - Design: (1-5)

2 - Material Quality: (1-3)

0 - Discount for no-shirt option:  (0)no (2)yes


PHOTOGRAPHY 

0 - Professional Photography: (0)no  (5)yes

0 - Prices: (1)expensive  (3)reasonable  (5)cheap

0 - 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

2 - 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

0 - Kids Fun Run: (0)no   (2)yes

x - Miscellaneous not covered above: (-10 to +10)


TOTAL:  51


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