race report: ready. set. glow 5k {3.31.2017}

I received free registration to this event for myself and my family in exchange for my promotion of the race. All opinions are my own.

For the second year in a row, three neighborhood schools came together for one of the most fun races around: Ready. Set. Glow 5K!

Due to a prior commitment, I missed out on the fun last year, so I was incredibly excited. In fact, the only negative was the Mr. PugRunner had to go out of town, so we weren’t able to run as a family.

Packet pickup took place on Thursday, the day prior, outside of Willie Jewell’s BBQ. Pre-registered runners got bibs, glow-in-the-dark cotton t-shirts (in youth and adult sizes), and a glow stick. It was quick and easy, plus we were able to grab dinner while we were doing it.

The festivities started on Friday night at 6:00 PM. Participants were advised to arrive early , in order to get parking in the main lot. Overflow parking was also available, but it was a bit of a walk from the start line (as were the portapotties, but it was manageable).

Race day registration was also available, but those who signed up last minute would not receive a shirt. The registration table was hopping all the same.

The staging area was set up with sponsor and vendor booths: there was a DJ, an ice/ice cream truck and Chick-Fil-A sandwiches for sale; other sponsors offered face painting with glow-in-the-dark paint and all kinds of glow gear.

Little man and I brought some of our own glow sticks, but we also took a few extra from the offerings.

I also customized our running shirts with glow-in-the-dark paint. Hey. We’ve got spirit.

At around 7:15 PM, the one mile Fun Run started. We continued to walk around, meet up with friends and hang out until it got a little darker and it was time for the 5K.

The sun started to sink, night fell, and we kind of lost track of time, so we headed over to the start line…

Only to realize that people had already begun to run! Oops! It’s always been a fear of mine to miss the start of a race, so we hurried to catch up and got ourselves in with the other runners!

Little man was sporting his new shoes, which he proclaimed made him extra fast. We had chatted a little about strategy prior to the race, and I thought we decided to take things like Daytona: run for about a half mile or so, until we were out of the initial crowd, and then fall into our :30/:30 intervals.

We were not on the same page.

With his “fast shoes”, he darted ahead, and I was compelled to keep up. At this age, I’m ok with him being a little more independent, but it was quite dark and hard to see, so I didn’t want him out there alone. When I did catch up to him, we quickly discussed a meet up plan, just in case he crossed the finish line before me.

That being said, after the first mile, we slowed down considerably. Fortunately, we were out of the thick of the crowd, and I tried to keep us moving at a nice clip. Pacing is not in little man’s vocabulary quite yet.

The course was simple enough. It was one and a half loops along a stretch of road with a median in front of the RingPower facility. Since it’s dark, the scenery comes from all the participants in their glow gear, helped along by some black lights set up at one point on the course. There was one water stop set up in the median that served for both sides of the course, and seemed well supplied.

This was the best I could do with photos. Let’s just say we were so fast all you could see was a blur.

The chute to the finish line was full of cheering spectators, glow sticks and cow bells! We kicked it in and collected medals, bananas and water.

I have to say, last year’s glow-in-the-dark medal was fun, but this? This was incredible.

RSG medal

The best part? Little man PR’d! I was so incredibly proud!

The Ready. Set. Glow 5K is a growing event. It’s a really nice size, and I love the community involvement and local support. Most of all, I love  seeing all the kids and families come out to participate. Proceeds from this race go to improvements at three of the area’s neighborhood schools, which is definitely a great cause. I will always support any activity that gets people of all ages moving, and this is truly one of the most fun around!

Ever run a glow run?

Do you have any local events that go to support your community?