The Spud Run 10K was a new one for me. I didn’t manage an April race, so the timing on this was close enough. The event offered a 5K, a 10K, and a 15K Challenge (run the 10K, and then line up again for the 5K), but J and I decided on just 6.2 miles.
Race Morning
Our race began at 7:00AM, in Hastings, about 30 minutes away. J and I decided to leave at 6:00AM, to give us time to park and pick up our packets. Our timing was perfect. We arrived at the Hastings Public Library right around 6:30AM, parked in the grass lot behind the building, and picked up our packets inside.
Even though we both missed the t-shirt deadline, we both got race shirts in our preferred size. Yay!
We had plenty of time to drop our stuff at the car, use the portapotty and find our way to the start line. I’m all about perfect timing.
The Start
We lined up on Main Street with the rest of the runners. This was a smaller race than usual, so the social distancing was less “official” than other races that set out cones and offer wave starts. We masked at the beginning (except for this quick photo).
The National Anthem played, and we were off.
The Race
The 10K course followed cut through the farmlands of Hastings. We were treated to the sunrise as we ran a straightaway, turned right, and ran another straightway to the water stop at Mile 2.
It was hot, and we didn’t have any respite from the sun until we turned left and ran to the most lovely canopied stretch. If only the whole course was as shaded as this.
We enjoyed this bit of road for a bit, until we turned, and made our way back to the same water table. From there, we went straight (back in the beating sun) to Main Street. We had one last turn or two, and then it was a sprint to the finish line! Yay!
After The Finish
We collected our medals at the finish line and headed back to the main venue. In addition to cold bottled water, runners could choose cans of Pepsi or Mountain Dew, bananas, rice krispie treats, or granola bars. It was a nice assortment, and a few sips of Pepsi were very welcome on a hot morning.
But the best swag was yet to come.
Each runner received two heads of cabbage and a bag of potatoes for their efforts.
After all, Hastings is the Potato Capital of Florida, and our run went through all the cabbage fields.
This race was a great way to showcase our incredible local farms, and I was so glad to support it. I might try the 15K Challenge next time, but we’ll see! The mornings get hot pretty quickly, so maybe the 10K was just enough!
Ever score vegetables in your race swag? What kind of recovery treats do you love to see at the finish line?
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Haha, I love the cabbage’n’potato swag!
Are these the cabbage fields in your second photo?
At my race last weekend, we were given onions! We have been eating a lot of onion soup this week.
Those prizes are so fun! I can’t say I’ve ever gotten vegetables for running a race…at least that I can remember. Great job!
Best swag ever!!! How were the potatoes? I’ve never gotten veggies for race swag, but I feel like I want to! Congrats!
I like to race a 10K it’s a fun distance.Just enough to make it feel worth getting up and out for. Potatoes are an interesting choice of swag for sure. Congrats!
I’ve never gotten vegetables for swag before. Maybe more races should do that.
I’m thinking of doing more 5 and 10k’s instead of half’s. You’re right, the 10k is the perfect distance for a challenge but not too short or too long.
Florida has a Potato Capital??? You learn something new everyday! Sounds like a fun race! What are you doing with your “swag?” I’m picturing some sort of Irish dish.
Thanks for posting- I love race recaps!
Congrats! Wow, potatoes and cabbage at the finish line is definitely a first that I’ve seen. It looks like you had a great race and I would have love running in the fields and the shade!
You know? I might come out of race retirement for a bag of potatoes…
Congratulation! I love that you got veggies! So fun!
I don’t drink much soda these days, but I LOVE me a Pepsi (or Coke) after the finish line! I prefer that to Gatorade…but I know it’s not the healthiest choice.
Sweet getting local produce, but with just the 2 of us & someone who doesn’t eat much veggies — even though I love them it would be hard to use all that up! At least they both last a while.
Congrats on your race! Racing in heat & no shade is tough!
Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…Don’t Hurry!: April 2021
Nope. Never got veggies as swag. Cute idea.
Chocolate milk is my chosen recovery drink.
Love reading race reports.