Race #504 -- Slam the Dam 10k -- Lake Lure, NC -- 08/07/21

It's an 80-mile drive from home, but I've always liked this race along the curvy and hilly roads along Lake Lure that begins at the Ingles Supermarket on the south side of the lake and finishes at the beach on Rumbling Bald Resort. The final stretch along the beach is fun and lined with cheering spectators, making it one of the best local race finishes. The post-race food is excellent, with lots of homemade goodies, but the best perk is the ice cream sundae bar where you can choose your ice cream and toppings, and they don't mind you coming back for seconds (I didn't try for thirds).

There was one big disappointment after the race though. This year they completely skipped the awards ceremony for age group winners. There was a half-hearted attempt at an awards ceremony in that they gave an award to the 1st place overall male and female, but that was it, and quite a few runners were miffed that their age group awards were completely omitted from the post-race activities, especially since this race has done such a good job with them in the past. The excuse from the race directors was that it was because of Covid, but there was no social distancing and I suspect it was more like laziness or general disregard for the folks who had driven a couple hours to get here to race with their peers. 

Not that I've got a lot to brag about as far as the running goes. Just one week after being inspired by the Olympics to "only" walk twice in last week's 5k, I managed to walk a total of 23 times in this 10k. Ouch. The course is pretty much like a roller coaster the whole way, so that's a little bit of an excuse, and it was hot, with a "feels like" temperature of 85 degrees at the start. My time was 7 minutes slower than on the same course 6 years ago, so that's a pretty good indication of how slow I'm getting, but that's the life of an older runner I guess.

My Garmin measured the course at a little less than 6 miles, but I'm pretty sure that's because of all of the hairpin turns and mountain curves. I think the actual distance for the race is correct.


Race Name: Slam the Dam 10k

Location: Lake Lure, North Carolina

Date: August 13, 2021

Race Rating:  80

Top 10 Overall:


My Age Group (65-69):


Course:


Elevation by Mile:


Weather at Start:



Click Here for Race Results


Click Here for Race Photos from Willie Lowe on Flickr


My Stats:

  • Time:  53:25
  • Pace:  8:35
  • Age Group: 1 of 4 
  • Overall:  34 of 107
  • Average Heart Rate:  157
  • Maximum Heart Rate:  171
  • Age Grade Percentage:  67.89%


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

* 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

9 - 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

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

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

0 - 14 and under group (1)

1 - 65+ group (1)

1 - 70+ group (1)

1 - 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)

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


POST RACE 

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

8 - Venue (Entertainment, Race Setting, etc.): (1-9)

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

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

7 - Free Photographs (newspaper, etc.):  (0)no  (1-10)yes 


PARKING 

2 - Close to Start:  (2)yes  (0)no

0* - Close to Finish:  (2)yes  (0)no

2 - Plenty of spaces:  (2)yes  (0)no

2 - Free Parking:  (2)yes  (0)no

*(Actually you can park near the start or the finish, but not both)


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

2 - Part of race series or Grand Prix:  (0)no  (2)yes

0 - Kids Fun Run: (0)no   (2)yes

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


TOTAL:  80


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