Miles on the Mississippi 5K Race Recap

By , July 3, 2017 6:58 am

The Miles on the Mississippi 5K was in Guttenberg, Iowa on July 1. Race proceeds will be used to provide clean drinking water to those in need through Childcare Worldwide.

I wasn’t planning on doing a 5K this weekend, but when I saw there was going to be one in the town we spend the Independence Day holiday weekend in, and that it was only $15 to enter, I though “Eh, why not?”

The race was small – forty-four participants! I was actually impressed we had real bibs (I’ve done races in this area where they just use index cards)!

Dad and I rode our bikes there (about 3.5 miles) and I registered thirty minutes before the race start. I lined up at the front of the pack for the race. And immediately felt like half of the group took off from in front of me.

Huh. I knew there was prizes for “top runners” and basically said goodbye to the idea of placing as I watched seven or eight women run off ahead of me (ha, not that I am fast, just that with such a small field, I thought I had a chance of placing due to lack of fast runners).

I felt good though – good enough to take a goofy selfie of myself and “my competition” and send it to Dad.

I saw my mom shortly after sending that text to my dad. Quick, Kim – act like you’re running and not screwing around! (It’s not like me to take photos and text during a 5K – I obviously was not taking the race very seriously).

A lot of the first mile was in the shade on city streets, which is probably why I felt good. I passed a few women in that mile (8:22).

Then we went up a short incline to run along the dike along the Mississippi River. Ahh, beautiful views. BUT SUNNY.

I passed another woman on the dike, and a young boy (who would eventually pass me back).

I still felt good, but the sun was making me feel hot (even though it was in the mid 60s). I felt encouraged to keep running strong though, since I could see my parents and nephew ahead! Mile 2 was in 8:05.

Mile 3 was mostly back on the city streets. There was a tiny incline and then it was flat. And somewhat shaded. By that point my face was dripping in sweat (maybe I shouldn’t have put sunscreen on for my bike ride) and I was ready to be done!

The last mile had a little loop past the finish line (on an adjacent street) and when we ran by the finish, I saw my parents waiting there, and tried to keep pumping my arms to finish strong so I wouldn’t look like a complete mess in front of them! Mile 3 was 8:20 (there was no .1 at the end – I’m guessing the course was short).

I finished in 24:41 and all I could think about was water (there was one water stop at mile 1 but I didn’t want to risk being passed again if I stopped) and shade. I was completely dripping in sweat. I wasn’t out of breath or anything, but my skin felt icky.

My parents and nephew and I all went back to the gazebo where registration was and I downed a bottle of water, and used paper towels to wipe off all the sweat, and started to feel better. I asked a volunteer about the age group awards, and she said they were first place awards for 13 and under, and 14 and above. Ha – that’s a big age group! My dad told me a few women finished in front of me, so I figured I didn’t place, but we stuck around to cheer on the winners (and for me to cool down).

When they did the awards, they gave out first place first and I expected that to be it, but they also had second and third, and I was very surprised to hear my name called for third place (in the 14 and above women’s age group). What a nice surprise!

I liked this course and running in the town I have been visiting since I was a child. I saw this was the third annual race and hope to run it again!

After the awards, we picked up some donuts in town, then dad and I rode our bikes back (mom took the donuts in the car, ha). I’m grateful my dad rode with me and waited around for over an hour and a half for all this, and that my mom came out and spectated, too! I bet I wouldn’t have finished at the time I did if “no one was watching”! Ha ha ha.

8 Responses to “Miles on the Mississippi 5K Race Recap”

  1. Kathy says:

    That’s a hard age group….I wouldn’t want to be competing against 18 yr olds :p that is a sweet award too, well done!

  2. My very first 5K only had about 40 runners, but it was part of a sprint triathlon (not as part of a relay – you could either do the full sprint triathlon, or just sign up for the 5K), so it didn’t feel too small. I can’t imagine what it must be like to do a race that actually only had 45 participants!

    • kilax says:

      Ahh, interesting! You know… I wonder if the other races I’ve done around this area have been smaller. It’s definitely different!

  3. Shelley B says:

    DYING at the “14 and up” age group – I guess the race organizers aren’t runners, and don’t think adults might be competitive. Congrats on getting an award!!

    • kilax says:

      From the looks of it, the race was put on by a high school club, so props to them for doing so well and having course marshals at each corner, an almost 5K course, food and drinks after, and some awards 😉 Maybe they were thinking high school age kids and above! LOL.

      Thanks!

  4. Karen Bayne says:

    Congrats!! You did great 🙂 Sunshine will make you feel cooked lol and you toughed it out. A sub 25 is impressive!!

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