Race #506 -- Around the Crown 10k -- Charlotte, NC -- 09/05/21


Every so often I get lazy and would rather do anything other than writing a blog entry. If that ever happens, you'll be able to tell because I'll either just completely dump the blog (I've done it twice over the years) or I'll just do some bullet points because that's easier than actual writing, but it does give a pretty good idea about the race. So here ya go.

The Good

  • It's one of Charlotte's biggest races of the year.
  • It's the only race that allows you to run on the I-277 loop around Charlotte.
  • Great finishers medal for all runners.
  • Five-year age groups.
  • Packet pickup/race expo is a pretty big event in itself if that appeals to you.

The Bad

  • The number of runners shrunk by about 1200 this year as opposed to pre-Covid (around 2800 runners this year and about 4000 in 2019). Maybe the drop was entirely due to the pandemic, or maybe there was just less interest for those who have already been there and done that.
  • No packet pickup on race morning. Camp North End, where the expo/packet pickup was held, was packed with people viewing the Van Gogh exhibit as well as other shoppers.  
  • Not enough porta-potties for a crowd this size and they started removing them at 9 a.m.
  • Running on I-277 is unique and all that, but have you ever run 7 mph on a freeway that you're used to driving 70 mph on? Kind of underwhelming.
  • No race photographers, which is more than a little odd in a race this size.
  • Post-race food was almost non-existent, consisting of bananas and boxed water. There was a huge waiting line and I suspect quite a bit of disappointment once they reached the end of the line. The bananas were fine, but have you ever drank warm water from what looks kind of appears to be a chocolate milk carton? Blech. 
  • Race T-shirt says "For the Crown" instead of "Around the Crown." Who does that?

The Ugly

The part of this that says "parking is free in Uptown during the weekends" didn't turn out well for me. I parked in the huge lot next to the start/finish line along with hundreds of other cars. There was a small sign at the entrance saying where you could pay (online) to park there but I paid little attention since parking was free, or so I thought. I returned after the race and had a $35 parking ticket. About three-fourths of the other cars in the lot also had a ticket on their windshield. And no, this wasn't the Subaru VIP lot. And what really irked me more than anything was that when I posted about it on the ATC Facebook page (and I was being a lot nicer than I am now) whoever administers the page not only didn't respond, but they just quietly removed my post so nobody else would see it. Not cool, ATC peeps. 


Race Name:  Around the Crown 10k

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

Date: September 5, 2021

Race Rating:  70

Top 10 (Male):


Top 10 (Female):


Top 10 (My Age Group: 65-69):


Course:


Elevation by Mile:


Weather at Start:


Click Here for Race Results


My Stats:

  • Time:  53:15
  • Pace:  8:35
  • Age Group:  3 of 20  
  • Overall:  662 of 2806
  • Average Heart Rate:  155
  • Maximum Heart Rate:  165
  • Age Grade Percentage:  68.11%


I walked 7 or 8 times but it was actually a little better than the previous week's 5k. Three of the walk breaks were in the 5th mile on the biggest hill in the race just before the end of the I-277 section.


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

* RACE RATING *

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


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

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!

2 - 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!

0 - 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)

0 - 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

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

5 - Overall Winner Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent

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

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

5 - 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)

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

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


REST ROOMS 

1 - Porta Potties:  (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful

0 - Indoor Restrooms: (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful

Good luck if you drank that extra cup of coffee.

T-SHIRTS

2 - T-Shirts: (0)no  (2)yes

2 - 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

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

0 - Free Parking:  (2)yes  (0)no (Not for me it wasn't)


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

2 - Kids Fun Run: (0)no   (2)yes

-10 - Miscellaneous not covered above: (-10 to +10) (Parking ticket gets you a 10-point deduction)


TOTAL:  70


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