Race #122
10 Miler #3
2017 Race #6
2017 10 Miler #2
Greer Earth Day Run #3
This race feels like the red-headed step child of the Greenville Track Club’s series of races. First they have to deal with train crossings and issues with CSX. Then they move the race to Travelers Rest for two years. The second year they push back the race date by two weeks so that it now is run on the same day as Cooper River. Then they move the race back to Greer and change the half marathon to a 10 miler. With one of the biggest races on the Track Club’s calendar now coming up after this race, Reedy River, it would be easy to think that organizers are distracted and almost forget about this race.
We arrived a little early but not too much. We started to head to what we assumed would be the start line when we heard an announcement from Ed Hughes saying that even though the 10 Miler had been advertised as starting at 7:30, it would now be starting at 7:45. That was it. No explanation for the postponement. He also said that he would come back up to the stage at 7:40 to get everybody started.
We walked back to the car to wait for a few minutes before cycling through the bathroom one more time and going back to the “start” line to wait. I kept looking at the bibs of the other runners looking for other two digit or low 100 numbers. Those numbers indicated other 10 mile runners. I saw one other guy and a cyclist I thought was the lead cyclist for the race.
Pretty soon it was after 7:40 and no one had gotten back onto the stage to give any announcements. We figured that the race was delayed again but no one bothered to tell us. The time ticked over to 7:45. I started to get a little nervous when I looked around and didn’t see anyone else that looked like they were supposed to be running the 10 miler.
I went up to the lead cyclist. It was now 7:47. I asked her if this was the start for the 10 miler. You know where this is leading. She told me, “No, this is the start for the 10k. The start for the 10 miler is up there.” She pointed up the road in front of the start sign, Randall Street.
We looked over and saw 10 milers turning back down Poinsett. We had missed the start! Are you kidding me?
All three of us took off in a panic looking for the 10 mile start further up Randall Street. To make a long, frustrating story short, five minutes later we found what probably was the start only because there were a few indications on the road. There was nothing on the street to indicate a start line. Thankfully there were enough markers on the road for us to make it on the course without getting lost.
As we were navigating the turns we saw a handful of other runners who had also missed the 10 mile start.
It was such a relief to finally catch up to other runners on the course around the one mile mark. Talk about ridiculous.
For the first three miles I was so focused on trying to catch up and recover the lost time that the distance seemed to fly by.
Mile 1: 7:53
Mile 2: 8:02
Mile 3: 8:39
In my head I had tentatively planned to aim for a PR, a 1:20 if I could but after the cluster that was the start, I set that aside. I just wanted to pass as many people as I could to claw my way back up in the standings.
Mom had a pretty exhausting week so she didn’t feel quite as fresh as I did. The hills in the middle drained her more than they did me. I tried to be as encouraging as I could. I felt too good to slow down. I debated what I should do in this section, whether I should go on ahead and leave her behind or slow down and have an average training run so that I could run with her and provide encouragement.
Mile 4: 8:44
Mile 5: 8:45
Mile 6: 8:46
Mile 7: 8:59
After we completed mile 7 we encountered a lovely “little” hill that looks incredibly daunting before you’re on it. It was on this hill I started chanting a new mantra, “Kill the Hills.” Mom started to drop behind me. I never really made an outright decision to “drop” her but then she started to walk. I said something that I hope was encouraging but can’t remember what it was. I ended up starting to pull away. I knew if she could she would catch back up.
I started to lay down as much of the hammer as I could and nearly made another, very small, PR. I felt good in those last miles, really good.
Mile 8: 8:04
Mile 9: 8:01
Mile 10: 7:42
Final Time: 1:23:51
Mom finished a little less than a half mile behind me. She always does so well.
Race Review
Registration and Packet Pick Up
Registration went off without a hitch. However, it was a bit strange to have two different companies processing the registration. When I looked on one and did not find either Mom or I, I thought that I had somehow managed to forget to register us for the race. Then I checked go-green and found us there.
Race Shirt
For once, a Greenville Track Club race provided gender specific shirts that look like they might actually work long term. I have not tried it on yet but it looks to be about the right size.
Prerace/morning amenities
There is a permanent bathroom installed in Greer City Park which is nice. However, I did not notice any other bathroom facilities available which can be a problem when there are only two stalls in the permanent bathroom.
Course
The course itself is nothing spectacular. Unfortunately, that’s what you get with much of Greer. There are quite a few turns only a portion of which were marked well. Two of the turns had no markings or volunteers whatsoever. The only reason that I knew to turn at the first one is that I’ve run the course before. The second of the unmarked turns happened in the “new” part of the course. If it had not been for the runners ahead of me also turning, I would have had no idea. Ellis said that he heard Ed Hughes mention before the start of the 10k that he hoped all the turns were well marked and that people didn’t get lost. Really? Ed has directed enough races that he should know how to mark the turns.
Course Support
I think that there were three water stops. I suppose that that is sufficient. Since I generally wear my OrangeMud quiver now, I usually do not partake. Only two of the turns on the course were manned by volunteers.
Finish line and Post Race Amenities
For some reason the organizers thought it would be “cool” to finish on the grass so a small portion of the last .10 was on the lawn in front of Greer City Hall. Of all the possibilities, this makes the least sense. At least the grass is smooth unlike New River.
Photography
I saw at least two photographers on the course but have not seen the photos yet.
Results
Scott Bagwell with Palmetto Timing, timed this race. He had the instant results available as well as the age group winner awards, no need to wait around for an hour. Even more than that, when Scott asked me how I did I mentioned that we had missed the start. After we got our awards he took us over to his computer and adjusted our results by my Garmin data. So cool. Excellent customer service and the only really well done aspect of this race.
I hate to advise against running local races because I do not want the options to diminish. However, until Greenville Track Club gets its act together and stops treating this race like the red-headed step child, I do not think that I will run this race again unless it is my only option. Hopefully next year I will manage to remember to register for Cooper River.