Photos are here:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/LxtTjg71QT3Dm3rB7

Before the start.    My 8^th race of 2024 was the Be My Valentine 5K on Sunday, February 11 at 9:30 am. This event, put on my iaap, had a different slant to it, as it the shorter race this year was 3.45 miles this year and the main event was a 2-person relay race totaling 6.9 miles, with 2 team runners splitting the distance, each doing 1 leg of the event.  The race was held at McAllister Park, which I appreciated, since it would be a flat course, after I did a very hilly course on Feb 10 at OP Schnable Park. Nice to sleep in a bit before this one, as I only live about a 3-mile drive from McAllister Park. I arrived on site with a little over an hour to go, got my packet and several “Happy birthday’ call-outs (the 10^th was my birthday) and then wandered around getting a few pre-start photos and chatting with friends, participants, volunteers, iaap staff, etc., and handed out doggie treats, as this is a dog-friendly event.

On the course:  We had very sunny skies for this one, with a temp of 61 degrees, but the wind was crazy-blowing with some really wild gusts at times, making it feel colder than that, so I was glad I had worn a small base layer shirt.  The course was a mix of loop/out-and-back. We started on the road beside the park’s lower soccer fields and heading in the direction of they youth baseball field in the park. For the first mile we stayed on an asphalt park road. Shortly after the mile mark, we then turned onto an off-road paved trail that looped us past Becken Pavilion in the park, and then past a nearby police sub-station close to the park.  This loop brought us back out onto the paved road and then we went back to the finish the way we had come out.  I did my usual 8-min-run/2-minute walk and took photos during my walk breaks.  However, after I passed the 1.5-mile point, I decided I was going to see if I could finish from there nonstop all the way to the finish.   I pretty much did just that, making just one quick stop to get a photo of two coming toward me – they were doing the relay – one of them carrying Old Glory. After that photo, I went nonstop to the finish, ending with a chip-time of 44:33, averaging a 12:55 per mile pace.  I was really happy with this result since I am still dealing with some post-cancer treatment side-effects and usually average 13-15-minute miles, so this was very encouraging to me that I am slowly but surely finally getting back my running strength.   I was 33^rd out of the 59 males who did the 5K.  There was a total of 177 finishers, both men and women, for the 5K. Awards for this event were given only to the overall finishers, but all finishers did get a really nice finisher medal.

After My Finish:  I did a short cool-down walk, chatted with a few other participants, handed out more doggie treats, and got a few photos of others finishing. After that, it was off to get treats. Iaap really throws a nice spread for this one, there was so much good stuff, including a variety of muffins, apple turnovers, Alamo beer, lots of water, fresh fruits, and more. The Girl Scouts were also there to sell their Girl Scout cookies. Between my periodic grazing time, lol, I continued wandering around getting more photo, handing out more doggie treats, and chatting with participants, supporters, volunteers, iaap staff, etc.

 Epilogue:  iaap goes all-out for this one and does a very fine job of it.  Race Director Ceci really had the area looking good; all kinds of valentine’s day decorations; photo backdrop areas; one of those platform things to stand on and then this thing-a-majig – yes, that’s my technical term for it, lol – goes around you taking your photo while you are on standing on the platform. Since I am kind of a klutz, I did not use this contraption, lol. Everyone got a really nice finisher medal and a very nicely designed, very good quality race shirt. I got a smaller size than I usually wear and gifted my shirt to my wife, as our anniversary is February 14 – will be 39 years this year. Even the race bibs had a nice design on it, all of these done with a sense of humor.   I don’t know how many times I’ve done this event but I try to get it on my schedule every year as this is a special week for me and Gail, what with my birthday on the 10^th, our anniversary on the 14^th, and her birthday on the 15^th. I would certainly recommend this to others, and most assuredly will keep on doing this one as long as much as I can.  Mucho thanks to all those who made this one happen for we participants, e.g., iaap and all the volunteers; our music-and-sound guy; the park police and law enforcement officers out there for our safety; all the event sponsors; and thanks to the non-participants using the park too, for their patience with all of us during the event. Apologies if I missed anyone; thanks to all involved!  Hope to see you next year at the event.