Race Report: Trailbreaker Marathon/Half/5k. Where? Frame
Park, Waukesha, WI What? Marathon (8:00am, 163
participants), Half Marathon (9:30am, 434 participants), 5K
(10:00am, 233 participants) My Time? (I did the 5K) 18:18.
My Place? 3rd, 1/22 age group. Perks? T-shirt, (Marathoners
got a LSTS) LOTS of soda, water, beer, hot dogs, popcorn,
bagels, donuts. Inside place for sitting and socializing,
DJ.Results: trailbreakermarathon.comtrailbreakermarathon.comOpen ↗
Story time: I had a unique perspective for this morning of
events, because in addition to participating in the 5K, I
was also working for the people that were timing the races.
I arrived at Frame Park in Waukesha bleary eyed at about
6:00am, with my race bag in my car, just in case, I felt the
need to run. After a briefing of what was to be done, we
began work of hanging the start banner in the road, using
only rope, one long 2x4, and stakes. Don't ask how it was
done, but it was easier since last year's high winds yielded
to this years milder breeze. Next, around 7:30, I worked on
laying out the chip mats for the start line, while another
tuned the mats to the timing system. At 8:00, we saw the
start of the marathon, which is always fun. After the smoke
cleared, and the pat-pat of the shoes was further off in the
distance, I worked on getting the finish line set up, mostly
the ever-important timing mats. Which for some reason, keep
getting heavier as I moved them. (They are about 90lbs, dead
weight). After the finish line was done, I went inside for a
breather, and noticed the chaos that was the registration
area. Apperently, the nice weather brought about 30% more
runners than last year, and a lot of them felt the need to
run the half marathon, which was probably the most
competitive race of the day. So, I helped over there,
running for t-shirts and chips for the registering runners,
and then got in line myself and signed up for the 5k. I
figured my boss would let me have a little break after the
start of the 5K and before the people that were running the
Marathon/Half/5K started finishing. I headed back outside to
make sure the started of the Half went smoothly ("smoothly"
means that all runners have stepped on the chip mats). After
the start, I helped break down the start line (the 5K start
was about a 400m away and was a "ready - set - go" start, no
chip mats except for the mats at the finish). After this, I
scrambled to warm up, stretch, and find a phone booth to
change into my "race gear." I then hot footed it the the
start of the 5K and positioned myself at the front, ready to
go. In my mind, my break from work is running, which some
people don't consider a break. The 5K course is a simple
1.75 laps around the river, and finish with the marathoners
and half marathoners. The race starts, and I am torn between
taking it easy, (this was kind of a spur of the moment
thing) and really racing it hard. Well, I take off to an
early lead, and then I am joined by another runner, and we
are pretty much step for step. Another runner was very close
behind us. With no person calling times at the mile mark
calling splits, I volunteered my services to my fellow
runners, calling 5:35 . . . 5:36 . . . 5:37 when we hit the
mile mark. I try to my best to make myself useful. As we
passed by the finish line on the first lap, I found that I
have slipped to second with the runner who was in third.
And, my back was starting to feel tight (again) so I just
thought I would take it easy, and glide to the finish. I
finished at 18:18 in third place overall. I hustled inside,
put on some fresh clothes, and went to get a post race hot
dog. I congratulated the winner, who had beat me to the hot
dogs. I then went outside and helped supervise the finish
line chip taking until the last marathoner came through
around 1:30pm (with breaks to get more food and get my
award). The marathon and half marathon finishers were fun to
observe, because of the post race conversations, which
consisted of, who they should have beat, who should have
beat them, how much fun they had, how miserable they were,
and of course "where are the beer and hot dogs.?" I love
Wisconsin. Post races, we took down the finish line and
packed up the start line, and I got to leave. Kind of a long
day at the races for me, but it was fun. So this was really
a "working a race" report, with a "race" report in between.
I hope all you rec.runners' enjoyed the report.
-Aaron TheYAM.net