My Dad's First 5K

After my half marathon, my race schedule got filled up pretty quick. I was hooked on trail running. Not only did it hook me, but it hooked my dad. My dad had never run a race before and I was excited when he wanted to sign up for a trail 5K race with me. The 5K was called the Hilltop Hustle and the title says it all. The route has hills everywhere to give you several options to run around. When I say hills, I mean it has long hills, short hills and steep hills. These trails were pathed with tiny asphalt, which was a huge disappointment for me because I had fallen in love with my nice dirt trail by the river. I decided it would be my new challenge and gave me the chance to spend more time with my dad.

 The week before the race, my dad and I started running the route for practice. The first day we had to navigate the race route since there are many forks along the trail. It took us 35 minutes because we had to keep stopping to figure out which way we were going. However, once we figured out the route, we began to run it faster. After my half I wasn’t really planning on doing this 5K for time, but it seemed important to my dad. We did our final run that Thursday night before the race and then carbo loaded the next night.

My dad and I before the race.

 

Saturday morning came and it was a cold one for an April. Temperatures were in the low 30’s and there was some wind. I knew that once we started running it wasn’t going to be an issue. We got there and saw a lot of people ready to run. There were people with strollers. I for the life of me did not understand how they we’re going to make it up all the hills, half of them which were really steep and long. My dad and I quickly agreed we we’re not letting a stroller pass us. With our last practice time in the 28 minute mark, we lined up near the beginning of the starting line. Then they sounded the horn and we we’re off.

My dad and I stayed together for the first minute of the race. We went down the first steep hill and then started the trek to the next hill. My dad soon was in front of me. I let him go. I would never consider myself a fast runner, but this was pretty fast pace for me. So I stayed behind my dad and never let him out of my sight. Eventually he got further ahead, but he never got too far away that I couldn’t see him. We went up and down the hills and whenever I saw him look back to see where I was I would cheer him on to keep going because this race was for him. I wanted him to do the best that he could.

Eventually we made it to the last steep hill. It’s a long hill that zig zags and then levels off. It wasn’t what we had practiced running because we had gotten the route confused. I remember my dad making it almost to the top of the hill and then looked to see where I was. I scream at him on to keep going and finish strong. Then I steadied my breathing and equalized my strides for this steep hill that I hadn’t encountered before. I had to push my body to make it up there, but once I did, I was about a quarter mile to the finish. It was all smooth running from there. I ran to the finish line and saw my dad and my mom waiting for me. I finished it in 27:53. My dad was awesome and finished it 27:17!

We cheered the rest of the finishers on as we waited for the results of the race. I thought my dad had placed so we needed to stick around. It turns out my dad got first place in his age group, which was 50 and over and I got first in my age group! I was proud to finish under 28 minutes and swore this would be my fastest 5K, but now I’m thinking that might change. I was so happy for my dad for working so hard. Overall, I was just happy to share the running experience with my dad. I’m looking forward to sharing many more miles with my dad.

First place finishers in our age groups!