I signed up for this 5k because it sounded like fun and the prizes were the best in town. I showed up early because I wanted to run 6 or so miles before the start. I started running on the course and got a little confused because I went around the course once and it was 1.5 miles long. Then I realized it was a two loop course. The course was beautiful but it climbed up and down some pretty big hills. It was a fun course and I made some few strategies as I did my warm up. Take it easy on the up hills and fast as I could fly down the down hills. The race didn't have very many people registered and I could tell there weren't any "fast" ladies as I looked around at the start. We were off and a girl was trying to keep with me, but I could tell she would fall off on the first hill. Sure enough, the first hill she was left behind. I tried to push my pace to keep as close to 20 minutes. First 1.5 miles I ran in a few seconds less than 10 min. Ran the second lap and just wanted the race to be over. Finished and the clock read 20:14. I took another lap around the course to cool down. While I was running I watched a couple in front of me in their 20s cheat the course. I kind of laughed that they were really cheating on a 5k course. I caught up to them and jokingly said "Were you cheating?" The girl replied, "no" and the guy said, "um yesss!" It just made me laugh. Toward the the finish line I caught up to a teenage girl and when she saw me, she started sprinting. It made me laugh. I guess I helped her finish faster, right? For the prizes I got a huge purple towel, a water bottle and $50 gift certificate to the overpriced spa that sponsored the race. I get some of the strangest things for prizes at races. Oh well, better than nothing and I had a lot of fun. | 