Race #520 - Leader of the Pack 5k - Forest City, NC - 05/14/22

I had only run this race once before, back in 2016. It's a good one but kind of a long drive from home. This year it seemed like the best local option so a few other Gaston County running buddies and I made the trip and it was fun. My results were nothing to jump up and down about but I did manage to run my fastest 5k since turning 70 (25:51). It was the first time I was under 26 minutes this year so that's at least some minor improvement. The race's first half was almost flat, but the last half was filled with rolling hills. I didn't walk at all for 1.8 miles but once I took one walk break it started the pattern I'd like to get out of. I walked six times in the final 1.3 miles of the race. Definitely room for improvement. As is the case many times, the real highlight of the race was breakfast afterward with friends. Smith's Drugs in downtown Forest City is great. A 3-egg veggie omelet with toast and a bowl of fruit on the side was only $4.99, and coffee was another 79 cents. Quite a bargain these days, and it's good food.

Race Name:  Leader of the Pack 5k

Location: Forest City, North Carolina

Date: May 14, 2022

Race Rating:  106

Top 10:


My Age Group (70-74):


Course:


Elevation:


Weather at Start:



Click Here for Race Results


Click Here for Race Photos

One huge perk of most of the races in Rutherford County is the free professional-quality race photos taken by Willie Lowe. 



My Stats:

  • Time:  25:51
  • Pace:  8:21
  • Age Group:  1 of 6  
  • Overall:  45 of 485
  • Average Heart Rate:  153
  • Maximum Heart Rate:  164
  • Age Grade Percentage:  68.21%



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

* RACE RATING *

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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

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

2 - Volunteers:  (0)too few  (2)good

8 - 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!

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

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

3 - 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)

2 - 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)

3 - Material Quality: (1-3)

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

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



PHOTOGRAPHY 

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

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

10 - 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:  106


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