2020 Race #22 Semper FI-VE 5K
Photos are here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/u1wwZYermpsvhGBr7
BEFORE MY START: On Oct 3, 2020 I did my 22nd race of 2020, the Semper FI-VE “live” 5K at New Braunfels High School in support of the school’s US Marines Jr ROTC program. The event has a nice turnout, 137 male finishers, 145 female finishers for a total of 282 participants. I arrived onsite with about 45 minutes to go to 9 a.m. start time. Had already picked up my packet the day before, so wanderered around pre-start chatting with friends, giving some doggies treats – this is a dog-friendly event – and taking a few photos. A nice pre-start ceremony with a JR ROTC Marine Color Guard and the singing of The National Anthem.
ON THE COURSE: Nice course with nice weather, about 65 degrees at 9 a.m., with low humidity, and “abundant’ sunshine. This was a kind of out-and-back and loop finish. We started in front of the JR ROTC building on the campus, did a little route through the school grounds, and then went into a really nice neighborhood in proximity to the school. The course was mainly flat with a couple of inclines and a couple of fair-sized hills along the way. On the way back we passed where we had exited the school grounds after the start and went down to a gate a bit farther down that took onto the road that got us back to the finish line. I ended up 4th in my 60-69 male age group, with a time of 37:04. My friend, Woody, was first in our age group with a blazing time of 24:05, zowie! I jokingly told him, it was his fault that I got 4th because if it had been a larger event, it would have been 5 year age groups and he would have been in the 60 – 64 age group, and then I would have gotten 3rd in the 60 – 69 group, lol. All good though. A little under the last half-mile I saw my speedy friend Sammy on the course and he kindly allowed his speedy legs to run at my slow pace as he ran in with me to the finish. Thanks for the company, Sammy, much appreciated!
After My Finish. Got my ‘finisher medal” – for this event a set of dog tags…appropriate for me, right? – and then went to my car and sat for a few minutes with the a/c on, cooling down, and drinking my bottle of water. Changed into a dry shirt I had brought and then it was off to chat with friends and participants post-race and get some “after” photos.
Epilogue: This was the 4th year anniversary for this event, and the first time I’ve done it. Really nicely done, and I will certainly do this one again in the future. Very nice course, lots of parking on the school grounds. Also, indoor restrooms in the JR ROTB building, which beats porta-potties anytime…especially for we senior citizen folks, lol. Not that much post-race snack, etc., except for some bottled water, but I get that; it’s a school and this is a tough budgeting time for life in the education world. I figured as much so had brought my own post-race snack. All good. As said, a really nicely done event. I would certainly recommend this 5K to others and will do it again myself.
Mucho thanks to the JR ROTC and New Braunfels High School leadership for allowing this event on the campus. Also kudos to race company Athlete Guild for the timing, course setup, results, etc. Nice bright pink race shirt, and good quality too. Thank you to all the volunteers, sponsors, the officers on the course doing road safety duties for us, the lead motorcycle drivers, and anyone else I may not have mentioned here for making this event happen for we participants. Thank you all!
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