Race #510 -- Gaston College Stampede 5k -- Dallas, NC -- 10/02/21



This was the inaugural running of the "Gaston College Foundation Stampede for Student Success 5k," which almost takes longer to say than it does to run the race. The TV show The Office outdid it a little bit with "Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race for the Cure 5k," but not by much. 

The race was organized well and run entirely on the 150-acre campus of Gaston College. One nice perk was that they had a table set up with a big variety of items and all of the runners were invited to take whatever item they wanted. There was still quite a bit left over after the awards and people were invited to clean it out and take everything. Beats having to organize a yard sale I guess. 

There was a bit of an issue with the awards. Because of the epidemic apparently, they were unable to get the medals that were ordered for age groups, but they said they'd mail them out once they arrived, and after a little coaxing they at least read out the names of the top 3 finishers in each age group.

Another thing that's been happening in races lately is that T-shirts are ordered well in advance of the race, which is quite understandable, so if you registered after a particular date or on the day of the race you don't get a shirt. I don't have a problem with that, but I do have a problem with paying the same amount (or even more) than the people who did get a shirt. I don't like to register too far in advance for races so it's happened to me at least five times recently. I've added a new item in my rating system to deduct 3 points if you register too late for a shirt and don't get at least a $5 discount. I'm sure that won't make race directors happy but it's only fair that we should pay a few bucks less if we don't get the shirt, which is the main perk you get at a race other than running the race itself.

As far as my race performance, it wasn't great although I managed not to walk any, which is somewhat of a victory for me. Despite not walking though, I still didn't manage to get under 25 minutes, which is my meager goal these days, but my time of 25:16 was 1st in the 65-69 age group. Other than one fairly steep hill in the first mile that I managed to grunt my way through, the course was fairly flat with no huge uphills or downhills.

There were a little over 200 runners registered but about half of those ran the untimed 2k, so there were only 108 finishers in the 5k, which is actually not too bad for a first-year race in this pandemic year when almost all races are smaller than previously.

Race Name:  Gaston College Foundation Stampede for Student Success 5k

Location:  Dallas, North Carolina (Campus of Gaston College)

Date:  October 2, 2021

Race Rating:  92

Top 10:


Course:


Elevation by Mile:


Weather at Start:



Click Here for Race Results


Click Here for 25 Race Photos on Gaston Gazette Website

There are only 25 photos from the race on the Gaston Gazette website, but they're pretty good if you happen to be in one of them.  


My Stats:

  • Time:  25:16
  • Pace:  8:07
  • Age Group: 1 of 4  
  • Overall:  29 of 108
  • Average Heart Rate:   150
  • Maximum Heart Rate:  160
  • Age Grade Percentage:  69%

The good news is that I didn't walk. The bad news is that I wasn't all that fast either and my pace was kind of inconsistent. My heart rate range was just what I wanted to do though, averaging about 150 until the finish when it went to around 160. 

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

* RACE RATING *

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


RACE COURSE 

3 - Chip Timing (Start & Finish Mat): (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

6 - 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

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

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

0 - 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)

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

(-3) - No shirt/No discount for late registration (-3)



PHOTOGRAPHY 

0 - 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

5 - 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:  92


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