Race Report: Run for Russ 5K [Triple Crown Race 2]

 

Run for Russ

February 1 | Chino, CA

The annual Run for Russ is a 5K held by the Chino Police Department each year that contributes to the memorial fund for Officer Russ Miller, who was killed on the line of duty on February 1, 2000. This year’s race was the 12^th race, and held on the exact date he had been killed.

Pre-race necessity.

This race was huge – at least in comparison to the other 5Ks we’ve done in Chino so far – and it shows that there were nearly 800 finishers. It truly seemed like all of Chino came out for this, which was a pretty cool sight to see. Even more than that, two local sheriff’s training squadrons (one from Orange County, and one from out in San Bernardino I think) were there to run the race as a squad. More on that in a minute, because it was truly touching.

I didn’t feel great even starting this race, but Doug apparently felt great. We chugged along through mile 1, and somewhere between 1 and 2 we started to separate. I felt a little more in my groove by mile 2, and followed one of the squads alongside me. They chanted and sang the entire time – I can barely keep my break running at a 9’ mile, let along yelling and singing the whole way. Holy cow.

               

source.

The really touching part to me was when we ran by the new memorial, both sheriff groups stopped and circled the memorial. Part of me wished I had stopped to see what they had done, but I was so moved. It

was one of their own, whether they knew the man or not, but wow… what a testament to the saying that officers are all the same, they are one.

Just past that, you turned the final corner and headed up a slight hill into mile 3 and the finish. I stopped to walk just past the mile 3 marker – Doug told me later that when he saw that (from behind) he thought “Sweet! I might actually pass her!”… and then I started running again, but still finished not even a minute before he did! He ran his first sub-30 5K! So proud!

The cool part at the start/finish was the raised fire truck ladder that had a huge American flag hanging over it. It reminded me a lot of Peachtree and was a great way to mark the start and finish lines!

Triple Crown race #2, done and done!

All in all, a great race, and a great tribute. I think I’ll start doing this one every year. It’s a such a great local, community effort, and obviously goes towards a local purpose.

What’s been the coolest thing you’ve run alongside in a race? 

Race Report: Dairy Aire 5K [Triple Crown Race 3]

I've been the super slacker lately... hoping to get back on this blogging bandwagon - I kinda miss y'all! That being said, this weekend we completed the Chino Triple Crown race series. This started back in December with the Reindeer Romp, February with the Run for Russ, and Saturday concluded it all.

With that... my super short race report. I love this course - fast and flat, though not the most scenic, it certainly allows for some substantial PRs. My current 5K PR is from this course at the Reindeer Romp, so I was excited to run this one again and see what I could do, despite not being trained... whatever.

Dairy Aire (say it aloud for some giggles) 5K

Chino, CA | March 1

In case you weren't paying attention, you know that Southern California got a LOT of needed rain this weekend - so, naturally, it poured all night before the run. I'm not one to shy away from running in the rain, especially just a 5K, but I was relieved when it was not actually raining as we drove to the race.

Doug and I, pre-race!

Just before the start though, it started misting, and sprinkled pretty good almost the whole way through. Whatever, I like running in the cold, truth be told.

At chip-timed 5Ks lately, I've started following Doug's tactic of allowing everyone to start first. That way, the walkers get moving and start to spread out so you don't spend the first half mile dodging a wall of them all. It works! Trust me. So I chug along and hit mile 1 in an 8:28. Oops, that's going to suck later. Onward - I said if I could run solid through mile 2, I could walk the loop they take you through and then chug onward into mile 3 and getting to that finish line.

Dug hard through mile 2, as there were some large lakes on the bike path to avoid, so got to run in the grass for a nice little cushion to change things up a bit. Mile 3, walked another 15 seconds, and then pushed hard into the finish to come in at 26:38. That PR from December is a 26:12, so for walking twice (my former self would hate me for walking in a 5K), and only being 20 seconds off that, I'm pretty stoked. Not bad for not being in racing shape. I'll take it.

Oh! Did I mention that got me an age group award? 2nd in my group, also like the Romp. I think it was meant to be.

So, with that sad little recap, we're at the end of our Triple Crown challenge. I need to be frank and say I'm really disappointed that the PRIZE for running all 3 5Ks was a water bottle. A water bottle. Now, I don't think it would be as harsh hadn't it been for the fact that TWO of the 5Ks gave medals to all finishers. So for someone who ran all 3, a water bottle is ... well, lame. Try again, Chino. #disgruntled

All 3, done and done!

What was the silliest prize you've ever gotten for completing a race 'challenge'?

Race Report: YMCA Reindeer Romp [Triple Crown Race 1]

Chino YMA Reindeer Romp | December 7, 2013

Chino, California

Chino is hosting a Triple Crown race series -- a 5K each in December (the Romp), February (Run for Russ) and March (Dairy Aire). Complete all three and you get some extra award - count me in! Doug and I saw it, were interested, and his sister wanted to do it too. So despite also having a Reindeer Run next weekend, we did yesterday's Reindeer Romp too. 

A cold, 40 degrees and some on-and-off sprinkling didn't scare away 354 runners. Lucky for us, the heavy rain held off until we were done and in the car, minus some sprinkles here and there. We didn't get to the race hardly before 8, but thankfully chip time does ya some good! They were singing the national anthem and yelled 'Start!' just as we were walking up -- I nearly took off, but we took a quick pre-race photo and then I took off.

About that first mile -- 8:35. Way too fast to maintain anything, let alone two more miles at that pace! I felt really good though. It was a gorgeous morning (the sun came out during the run), enjoyed seeing people in holiday costumes (you bet I will next weekend) and enjoying being out. 

Second in AG!

The course is super flat, super fast. Just after the first mile, you double back and Doug said I was probably in the top 50 people at that point. Just about mile two, you come to the top of the course, double a little bit, run past the finish line for the last half mile or so. I hate, hate hate, no matter how short the course, running by the finish line! Mental torture.

I got it back together and sprinted it for a solid, strong finish. 26:12?! Yeah buddy! That's a 58 second 5K PR, not to mention really close to one of my goals for 2013 (sub-26 5K). Who knew that was in me, considering I barely ran a 28:32 a week and a half ago for Thanksgiving?

Race #1 of the Triple Crown - DONE!

A second in age group win, and some major mental boost for the next few weeks. Hooray! Doug scored himself a pretty huge PR (just over a minute off) and his sister (and Todd) are on their way to getting better and better through each 5K of this series. I'm so excited to do them all!

I also need to talk about the adorableness of this race -- so this year's shirts were blue and we were kind of confused, being that it's a holiday race, so why not red or green? So we learned that last year's shirts (and medals, see below) were red. Each year, they'll have a new reindeer featured and a new color to go along with him. Adorable. Sign me up for the next seven years, please.

 

 What a cute touch, right? We bought last year's medals ($2!) just to ensure we had the full collection. Awesome race, awesome day! 

Have you ever run a race as part of a triple crown type series? Or even better, one where the theme goes on year to year like reindeer? LOVE. 

If you're looking for super fast and super flat in Chino, this is your guy. I believe the Dairy Aire 5K runs the exact same course. Check it out!

HOLLERRRRRR.