Race #509 -- Novant Health Lake Norman 15k/5k -- Cornelius, NC -- 09/26/21


Back in 2009 when I first ran this race it was called the Lungstrong 15k/5k and it was one of the Charlotte area's major racing events. That year there were 929 finishers in the two races combined. Last year (2020) the race was canceled because of Covid and there seems to be a hesitancy for people to come back to the races. In the fall of 2019, just before the pandemic, the race size had fallen off some but there were still about 700 in the two races. Anticipating a packed parking lot, I headed out early to get a good parking spot but I arrived to find an empty parking lot so I had plenty of choices. The parking lot never did fill up, and as we lined up to start the 15k a few minutes before the 5k began, there wasn't a lot of need to jockey for position to get near the starting line. It turns out there were fewer than 200 runners in the two races combined this year (130 in the 15k and 66 in the 5k). That's disappointing, and it leaves me wondering if there will be a next year for this race. I hope so because it's the only 15k race around and overall is a great event, but I'm not too sure it'll recover. I'm sure the major part of the problem is Covid, but how that affects future races is yet to be seen. 

As for how I did in the 15k, I was happy with the outcome. My time of 1:18:52 was an 8:28 pace for 15k (9.3 miles) and my Garmin actually had my pace at 8:22, measuring the course a little long at 9.44 miles. This was kind of a tune-up for the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon that's coming up three weeks later and is my major race this fall.

Race Name:  Novant Health Lake Norman 15k/5k

Location:  Cornelius, North Carolina (Lake Norman)

Date: September 26, 2021

Race Rating:  100

Top 10 (15k):


Top 10 (5k):


My Age Group (65-69 Male 15k):


Course:


Elevation by Mile:


Weather at Start:



Click Here for Race Results


Click Here for Race Photos

The good news is that you can buy all of your photos for $29.95. The Bad news is that if you only want one photo it's $19.95. Pretty good deal if you have a bunch of good photos. Not so much if you just want one. I didn't look at anybody else's pics but mine weren't great.

My Stats:

  • Time:  1:18:52
  • Pace:  8:28
  • Age Group (65-69): 1 of 4 
  • Overall:  41 of 130
  • Average Heart Rate:  154
  • Maximum Heart Rate:  160
  • Age Grade Percentage:  70.46%

I planned on taking a walk break at 3 miles and again at 6 miles just to drink some energy drink so I was fine until then. I took 5 more walk breaks after the one at 6 miles (shown as spikes on the graph). It wasn't as bad as some recent races but I was definitely tired in the last third of the race. I was able to keep my heart rate (red line) in check at just under 160 for almost the whole race.


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

* 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

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

2 - 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 

0 - 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

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: (0-9)

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


POST RACE 

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

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

2 - 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

5 - Design: (1-5)

3 - Material Quality: (1-3)

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


PHOTOGRAPHY 

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

1 - 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

2 - 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:  100


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