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| No more Larges????? I am a big woman, but this is a bit much! |
Positives:
1) Neighborhood support
2) Musicians
3) Water/Booze Stops (beer and champagne!)
4) Chip timing at start and finish
5) After race goodies (i.e. hot dogs, Ritas, and beer, etc.)
Disappointments:
1) Not enough packets
2) Not enough T-shirts (claims on website you are guaranteed t-shirt size if you register by August 13th...) From the website: *Early bird registration ($19.00 per person) online or via mail until August 13, 2010 at midnight. You save $6 per registration and you are guaranteed the t-shirt size requested. I registered early and did not get the right size T-shirt or a packet.
3) Award ceremony
Improvements:
1) If packet pick-up is earlier in the week, order 10% more T-shirts in each size for those who pick up packets on the day of the race. Large T-shirts run out quickly so order more of them in the future.
2) The award ceremony needs to go much quicker. When I left around 11:15AM, they still hadn't announced the top runners in the various age categories for both men and women. People did not hang around to hear those winners announced. Out of the 1500 or so runners and their families, maybe 200 people were left waiting for the awards to be handed out in the age categories. It was getting hot, vendors were out of food/free items, and people were not waiting around while a beautiful day awaited them.
Helpful Tips:
1) Park closer to the packet pick up location (Wilkins School Community Center) on Charlestown Avenue near S. Braddock. If you park closer to the start line (@ Henretta and Milton) you have to walk down the hill to get your packet and back up. If you park closer to the Community Center, you only have to make one trip up to the start line.
2) Pick up your packet the day before.
3) Use the bathroom in the community center if you don't want to use the honeypots. BUT beware: there are only two stalls with no locks, but the line isn't as long as the honeypot lines.
4) Since the chip time begins at the start line, don't force your way to the front unless you are really an elite runner or able to do a mile under 7 minutes and want to try for a prize in your age category. My finish time was three minutes slower than my actual chip time. I let lots of folks go ahead of me so that I wouldn't have to make people go around me. The only problem is that you may get stuck behind walkers or walker-runners when the trail narrows.
5) Don't bring young children (including elementary age children) who cannot run/jog a 5K because they won't make it on the hills. Trust me on this one. If you really want to bring your kids, do a couple of practice runs on the trails in hot weather. Then you can make an educated decision on whether or not they can handle the route. I have seen kids break down and moms look harried/upset/impatient/dumb founded. It isn't worth it.
6) Leave the strollers at home for the 5K or just do the family-friendly 1.5 mile race.
7) If you truly are a heavy-set woman (i.e. 180 lbs of pure woman or more), skip the humiliating weigh-in for Athenas/Heavyweights. The heavyweights @ 140lbs were running 7-8 minute miles. I didn't even bother to weigh-in this year b/c the heavyweight category really isn't for traditionally built women.
