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First Annual Veteran's Day 5k
Race name: First Annual Veteran's Day Run
Date and time: Saturday November 8th, 2014
Events and price: 5k run/walk; $35
Location: Camp Withycombe; Clackamas, OR
Number of participants:
Beneficiary: $10 of every registration goes to the Oregon Military Museum
Date and time: Saturday November 8th, 2014
Events and price: 5k run/walk; $35
Location: Camp Withycombe; Clackamas, OR
Number of participants:
Beneficiary: $10 of every registration goes to the Oregon Military Museum
This year, the Hood to Coast Race Series added a Veteran's Day 5k to their lineup! I was excited about this race because several of my family members and friends have served or are currently in the military, and also because the race was going to take place at Camp Withycombe, which is a facility used by the Oregon National Guard--AND THERE WERE GOING TO BE TANKS. Additionally, $10 of each registration was donated to the Oregon Military Museum for its renovation and remodel. The entry fee was also very reasonable too--only $35.
Race day was chilly but clear as we headed to Camp Withycombe. As our car approached the facility, each person's ID was checked at the gate before allowing us to enter. Inside, there was a nice outdoor setup on the main lawn. I picked up my packet and there was no line at all. There was a bag check, but we opted to just hang on to our jackets until right before the race, and then toss them back in the car, since the parking lot was so close to the start/finish. As we hung around waiting for the race to start, I realized several of my friends had signed up for the event as well! We took a bunch of pictures--there were lots of great photo ops at the starting line: a firetruck with a giant American flag, some tanks, and a DUCK (which is much more dangerous than it sounds!).
Just before the race was going to start, a few people hit the portapotties (there were plenty). The race was a nice size--just 500 people. The course itself was very flat, a 1.55mi loop around the base that was run twice, with 1 aid station that you passed twice. I started off with Ardara and Krista, since I was going to pace them. About a mile into the race, Ardara's foot was bothering her, so I paced Krista for the remainder of the race. I was really excited to help her reach her PR! The course was just about right for the number of runners. A portion of the course were just a smidge congested--at the turnaround for the water station, which was more narrow, but the congestion was mostly due to runners/walkers/children not being aware and not moving out of the way as faster runners passed them on their second loop.
At the finish line, we were handed a our dogtag "medals" and a small flag. Results were posted fairly quickly, and I saw that I had placed 3rd in my age group, so we stuck around waiting for the awards ceremony so I could receive my mug. I hadn't really expected to place, so I was pleasantly surprised (yay small races!).
This was an awesome event that did a great job honoring veterans. I enjoyed that it was a smaller race in terms of number of participants, but that it was fairly well organized and still had the same things that you would expect from a larger race. My favorite part is that the location is so unique--I can't think of any other races in the area like it? So I would definitely like to run it again!
Race day was chilly but clear as we headed to Camp Withycombe. As our car approached the facility, each person's ID was checked at the gate before allowing us to enter. Inside, there was a nice outdoor setup on the main lawn. I picked up my packet and there was no line at all. There was a bag check, but we opted to just hang on to our jackets until right before the race, and then toss them back in the car, since the parking lot was so close to the start/finish. As we hung around waiting for the race to start, I realized several of my friends had signed up for the event as well! We took a bunch of pictures--there were lots of great photo ops at the starting line: a firetruck with a giant American flag, some tanks, and a DUCK (which is much more dangerous than it sounds!).
Just before the race was going to start, a few people hit the portapotties (there were plenty). The race was a nice size--just 500 people. The course itself was very flat, a 1.55mi loop around the base that was run twice, with 1 aid station that you passed twice. I started off with Ardara and Krista, since I was going to pace them. About a mile into the race, Ardara's foot was bothering her, so I paced Krista for the remainder of the race. I was really excited to help her reach her PR! The course was just about right for the number of runners. A portion of the course were just a smidge congested--at the turnaround for the water station, which was more narrow, but the congestion was mostly due to runners/walkers/children not being aware and not moving out of the way as faster runners passed them on their second loop.
At the finish line, we were handed a our dogtag "medals" and a small flag. Results were posted fairly quickly, and I saw that I had placed 3rd in my age group, so we stuck around waiting for the awards ceremony so I could receive my mug. I hadn't really expected to place, so I was pleasantly surprised (yay small races!).
This was an awesome event that did a great job honoring veterans. I enjoyed that it was a smaller race in terms of number of participants, but that it was fairly well organized and still had the same things that you would expect from a larger race. My favorite part is that the location is so unique--I can't think of any other races in the area like it? So I would definitely like to run it again!
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