As the race drew nearer, I asked him if he wanted to go do packet pickup with me. Well, it's really not a packet, more like bag, bib, and shirt pickup. The bag has very little in it. Even less than last year. Last year, at least had some coupons in it, not this time. Just a bag to put your bib and t-shirt in along with your bib pins. At least my guy was excited, well, he acted like he was excited.
I had warned him that we'd have to get up early to head over to the race site. Again, it's a local university, Michigan State, and about 10 minutes from our house. He wasn't happy to get up that early, but we got going and headed over to the start area. This time I kinda knew what to expect and talked him through what was going on. Well, first things first, gotta get your pic taken with Sparty.
Next is to take a pre-race photo near a tree followed by a pre-race shot with me.
I made sure we were well back in the pack. Like I mean well back, by people with strollers and walkers, ok, they didn't really have walkers.
The horn went off and we were moving. The course was set up different this year. Thank goodness, not as many rolling little hills for us. We headed up the first hill, which is right at the start. Then made a right turn and headed towards the athletic complex. I made sure we waved at the firemen who were out watching us go by.
We then went between Munn Ice Arena and the Breslin Center toward Jenison Field House where Magic Johnson did....well....his Magic. Then we headed towards Sparty, the statute not the mascot. One of my friends was volunteering there. It was the only water station on the course. I didn't know she was volunteering and she didn't know I was running. We had a quick chat and then it was run ON.
We then ran up by the outdoor pool and I asked my son if he wanted to go. Of course he said yes. I said you can go, but you have to jump of the 10m platform first. I got the "are you kidding" look. We made a turn toward the stadium. I got a quick shot of that.
A volunteer was directing our way and I made sure to let her know that I really liked the course this year. She said they have to change it every year due to construction on campus while the students are gone on summer break. Makes sense.
We headed back towards the start and my son began to fade a little. Said he was getting tired. Well, we made it back to the start area only to run up the first hill that was after the start, to cross the street and head back down it. This time there was no up and down and around the dorm. Just run along the river and up the hill to the bridge. Once we got there, the volunteers were saying it was all down hill to the finish. When we rounded the last corner, a volunteer asked my son if he was going to win or if he was going to let me win. Well, the energy came back and he took off like a shot.
I was able to catch him and point out where my wife and I were married. He took no interest.
The thing I like about this race is they can announce you as you finish. They announced both of us as we crossed the finish line. He thought that was pretty cool. We grabbed some water, chocolate milk, and a banana or two. Then we saw balloon animals and of course had to get one.
We got in line and I recognized the clown. She worked with my Mom when I was at MSU and did my 20th birthday party. Yes, I said 20. It was a riot. She did the typical 3 - 6 year old stuff, but we managed to turn it into something completely different. She thought she could never go back to the younger kids without thinking of what we did to her routine.
Anyway, her clown name is Shenanigans. If you're older, like me, you may recognize her from Saturday Night Live, yes, SNL. They put her picture up on the show 2 years in a row. She had a little boy sitting on her knee after the annual White House, yes that White House, Easter Egg hunt. SNL made a joke about the boy being Dan Quayle. She's been to the White House 4 times under 3 different Presidents. I'm impressed.
I ran into my older son's hockey teammate and family. He had run the race. I didn't realize it at the time, but they were waiting around for medals. He finished the 5K in just over 18 minutes. I believe he was 8th overall and 3rd in his age group. To me, that's crazy fast.
After that, we headed back to the car and headed for home. I like this race, and even more so this year. I think it's because I have been running and knew what to expect, but also the nice change in the course.a
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