Race: Hockinson Fun Days 5K
Runner: Laurie Porter
Race Date: 06/01/2019
Location: Hockinson, Washington
Results: 1st place female, 4th overall
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Beautiful fast course!
Great swag for a small race!
Gift certificates and plaques for 1st-3rd overall men and women!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The only thing I did not like about the race was there were no mile markers and they do not post the results.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
I could not think of anything weird about this race.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I felt I competed well. In about the first mile there were four girls with me. Knowing that I typically slow down in the second mile, I pushed myself keeping an uncomfortable pace. By the turnaround I saw that I had gained a lot of ground so I began to focus on the two guys ahead of me. I passed one of them close to two miles into the race. For the rest of the race I tried to catch that next guy but couldn’t. He took third overall and I was first woman, fourth overall.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
It is tempting to go out to hard since it starts out on the track. It is best to reign yourself in after that first minute. Be prepared for a narrow turnaround as well.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
If you have the option, preview the course. I think it will help you plan your race.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
The course has a lot of curves, so running the tangent is so important. Keep your mind engaged during this race. Always look ahead to the next curve.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
The race starts out on Hockinson High School’s track and heads out on to a beautiful country road. It is a very rural setting with hills and mountains in the background.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
This is an easy gentle rolling and flat course.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
It is a small low key race. This race was well organised and very friendly. It is also a fundraiser for Hockinson High School’s Cross Country team.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Not a strong field this year. The winner on the men’s side 16:55 and I won the women’s with a time of 21:50.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
It is not well advertised other than Facebook, local newspapers and Hockinson Boosters.
The cost is $25.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Just one aid station at the start with water.
Weather and typical race conditions
It is typically mild, 60-70 degrees and usually sunny.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
Nothing special other than flats and light racing wear.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
This is a great spectator course for about the first third and the last third of the race.
How’s the Swag?
The swag was awesome for a small race. Each participant received a nice drawstring bag with Hockinson High School’s logo filled with all kinds of goodies including: discount coupons to various local businesses, a Gatorade, a protein bar and fruit leather,
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
For a small race I give it 4.5 stars. It just needs mile markers.
Laurie Porter is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about her or to work with Coach Laurie, check out her coaching page.
