2014 St Paddy’s Day Dash & Bash 5K

Once again I made the St. Paddy’s Day Dash & Bash 5K in downtown Greenville, SC, my first race of the year. Like last year I decided to treat the race as training run with 1,200 or so of my friends, most of them in costume or at least wearing green. I would try to stay in heart rate zone 2 for most of the race. I decided not to be as strict as last year when I walked every time I crossed into zone 3.

Given the time of year and how unpredictable the weather has been this year I took John “the Penguin” Bingham’s advice and brought one of each type of running garment I own. I had my old faithful running cap, my new Merino wool beanie, an ultra lightweight running jacket, a fleece vest, my Medoc marathon vest, short and long sleeve shirts, a singlet, running shorts, compression shorts, running pants and shoes. It’s good to come prepared, otherwise you can find yourself running the race wearing your wife’s cardigan and your daughter’s sock monkey hat with ear flaps.

Fortunately just like last year the weather was near perfect on race day. It was sunny with a light breeze and in the mid 40s when I hit the bricks wearing my running cap, compression shirt, Medoc vest, running shorts, Drymax socks and Saucony running shoes for the short walk from my hotel to the start line at the corner of Main, River and Augusta streets. I arrived about a half hour before the start and the green throng was just starting to arrive.

Milling about before the start of this race is always a treat. There is a costume contest, and runners come up with some imaginative outfits. I saw at least two women with viking helmets, a man who was running wearing a green suit jacket, a man running in green t-shirt and shorts with a green argyle tie. One woman pinned a cardboard pot of gold to the front and back of her t-shirt. Another woman sported fake green dreadlocks with tiny flashing lights. One of my favorites was a woman and her daughter dressed as characters from Disney’s Brave. Granted the characters are Scottish not Irish but who is going to nitpick at a festive event like this? There were also quite a few people wearing novelty mustaches, mostly women and the mustaches were mostly green. There were also a lot of green fedoras this year. Race sponsor, Zaxby’s had two mascot chickens in attendance. I did not spot Gumby or the sloth with the green feather boa that outran me last year. It was colorful. It was chaos. It was a great way to start my race year.

Shortly the word came over the speakers that it was five minutes to race start. The countdown went down to one minute, and I once more felt the mental transition from butterflies in my stomach to “bring it on.” The horn sounded and runners began the familiar run a few paces, walk a few paces dance until we crossed the start line and got the room to run.

We head down Main street, and mere moments into the race we have folks cheering us from the outdoor tables in front of the Starbucks on our right and Falls Park on the Reedy on our left. As we cross the river, runners are still finding their pace and position in the pack. I start up the hill just before the turn onto Broad street, beside the Greenville News building, my running feels almost effortless, and I’m excited that my off-season training is paying dividends so early this year. A couple of turns and hills later, I reach the mile mark, and a race clock is showing time elapsed. I wonder why my Garmin didn’t buzz to mark the mile and discover that it is only tracking time and heart rate. For some reason the GPS isn’t working. I’m not stopping in the middle of a race to fiddle with my watch. So I move on mentally and physically.

On the long downhill stretch just before Rock Quarry Garden I notice that I’m running beside a very heavy man. I’m cruising in the upper end of zone 2. His breathing tells me that he is maxed out. I try to think of something encouraging to say but for once my nonstop banter just isn’t there. I slide by running my race and letting him run his race. We hit the water stop, and I grab a cup from a volunteer, thank her and walk through drinking it. I notice a nearby runner, he is wearing a green fedora with a GoPro camera on top. He is running behind – by my estimate – a 10-year-old girl. A dad who will shortly be boring his friends and relatives with video of his daughter’s race. Completely cool. I saw several parents running children and at least two groups that appeared to be families running together in the race.

After the water stop, the course is essentially a series of gentle hills climbing back to the start line and then on to Fluor Field and the finish line inside the ballpark. As I run up the hills, my heart rate climbs into zone 3. I realize that I am reeling in several runners that passed me earlier as they walk the hills. At the bridge over Church street I notice a woman on the sidewalk stretching her quads. I smile and she smiles back, kindred spirits. Been there done that. Stretch a little, run a little, walk a little, make it to the finish line.

The course loops back to Broad street, and there a volunteer is shouting “two miles, you’re almost to the finish.” I can’t resist yelling back, “make up your mind.” She laughs. Back on Main street, recrossing the river I notice a woman stop to chat for a minute with a recreational runner headed the opposite way. Clearly she is not worried about losing a few minutes to say hey to a friend, and clearly she is less obsessive than I am.

As I near the start line I can hear rock music blaring from the speakers. The tune is “R.O.C.K. in the USA” by John Mellencamp. I am compelled to pick up my pace, and fleetingly think about the power of music. I might need to put that song back into my running playlist. One long hill to go to reach Fluor Field. I push the pace and pass a few more runners. Soon the stadium is in view, and I make the turn onto Markley street, running beside the stadium. Last year I was winded at this point and had to take a short walk break. This year I’m good to go and press on.

Volunteers direct runners into one of the back gates of the stadium, and I find myself running on the warning track. I can see the finish line and feel its magnetic pull. I accelerate until I’m running hard. Under my breath I grunt “fat man on the move.” I cross the finish line near home plate, hit the stop button on my Garmin, and exchange a couple high fives with nearby runner. Yes I initiated the high fives. I move down the finish chute, tear the tab off my race bib and hand it to a volunteer. Then with the rest of the runners I climb the steps up into the grandstand and queue up for a water bottle and post race snacks. Once more I am a member in good standing of the Order of the Banana and Water Bottle. It’s a good feeling. Stumble on.

Links:

St Paddy’s Day Dash & Bash Race Website Link

Official Course Map Link

Map My Run Course Map with Elevation Profile Link

John “the Penguin” Bingham Website Link