We made it! We were up late into the night preparing for today. As of last night we had only 30 runners registered for the 5K. We think (don't know, but think) that it is more work to put it on for few runners than it is for a hundred! We still had to pick up all the fliers, the same number of prizes because we did three deep in each division, the food at the end still has to happen. The packing of the race packets would be a longer process, but in comparison to the other work involved, we have spent days preparing for, and an hour or two actually packing the packets. We were ready to roll this morning! We were ready for 100 runners, although we had just 55 actually show up to do it. That meant we checked in some 25 this morning between 6 and 7 a.m.. The race started right on time - thanks to J! We were over the river at the park, completing the registration details, preparing the finish line, and heard the air horn starting the race. The timer was not aware that he was starting, and that was the first problem of the morning... it got worse!
The first runner came over the line in 17:39 with another not far behind him. Then a woman finished, I don't know her time, but she was not happy! She was upset because apparently the course was not EXACTLY a 5K. It is true, we googled it, and then checked it, but we didn't worry much about the placement of the finish line, and we were more concerned about the bottle neck start line - moving the start line back into the parking lot to allow runners a chance to spread out and then thin the pack into the trail beginning which is wide enough for a car, but not street wide.
Anyway, all plans went perfectly! Each of our family members had their own jobs, and they put their parts in place including the start line details (flags, line, barricades, flashing lights, etc.) and the aid station was set up and ready complete with cups, water, first aid, etc. We had also taken most of the supplies for the breakfast at the park which was to begin at 8 a.m.. Wow it was lots of details! I just cleaned off my clipboard and it feels much better! We are talking pages and pages of lists!
Day of race registration was not too hectic! Due to the small size of the race, we were over prepared with triple laptops, staff, shirts, packets ready, etc. etc. I felt great about the runner packets - we found good fliers to include, samples, etc.
For post race recovery, Great Harvest Bread donated 12 loaves of fresh bread. I took butter, and spread some to have them ready in a bin. We had left over water bottles from the Tri's for all the runners and then 5 gallon coolers to refill their bottles. We also had watermelon on the rhine for the runners. I forgot a garbage can, and had to tie a garbage bag (which I did have for the breakfast right there, but they needed the cans). We had plenty of food for the finish line. I didn't hear any thanks for the bottles, but they weren't complaining either - that was nice of them because... the timing was a MESS! 1st she had to wait for all the runners to come in before we could get any results! Then after convincing her that they were all in, she began printing the list to realize that the names didn't look right. What? Somehow in the transfer of the data, the info on our laptops and on the zip drive was accurate, but in the transfer, it changed the bib number with all the other pertinent information. We had ladies finishing first in the men's division, then we had 46 yr old women it said were in the 20-29 category. It was a MESS! I grabbed the list of numbers and began deciphering the data the long way with a pen on the notepad she had asked L to keep, writing the finishers numbers down in order. It was in this manner that we SLOWLY began to give away the cool prizes we had! What a shame! It was a long wait as I had to look up their number, name, gender, and then age, and then put them in the order they finished! What a mess! It was literally an hour or more before we announced all the results! Disaster! Needless to say, we will change that if we ever do another one in the future!
On a good note, the participants were patient. They didn't get hostile, or upset, I believe they could see that we were stuck. The timing person (only one person came) kept trying, printing a new list only to find another problem, and then try again. It was not good!
We went straight from there to the breakfast being cooked by the Jamboree Scouts as a fund raiser. They did pretty good, however we donated all the food - not something I really planned on doing. Each boy has been challenged to earn $100/month towards their Jamboree trip. Well for the three boys who had a parent there working, they did better than that this morning. It has been an expensive weekend for us, and we didn't do anything fun! We are still scrubbing the dutch ovens, unloading the trailers, putting all the leftover food away. My great kids are soo fabulous! This weekend could NOT have happened without their outstanding help! Each one had their own responsibilities down to B and S who... were the stars of the race!!
B & S decided yesterday that they wanted to run the race even though no one else in the family was (we needed all their help elsewhere!). The rest of us all got up and were gone by 5 a.m. this morning. Those two little girls were up and dressed, ready to go race by 6:30, with their little brother dressed and ready to come too! They promised to stay together, and when they came sprinting across the line, the crowd erupted - one of the only times they did! I looked up to see them dressed in matching white shirts and blue shorts, with their new Old Navy flag hats on, smiling as big as can be going together across the finish line! There was a kind gentleman who was right behind them, who they tell me was really really nice, and encouraged them all the way along the way! He was kind to allow them to beat him into the finish line! Thank you kind sir! I owe you kindness - I will try to share kindness to those around me, hoping to have someone someday repay you for the kindness you shared today! Thank you!
After all the cars were loaded at the park, well mostly, we decided we needed to play with our kids and not just work! We played D.C.'s fun Soccer Football with a family there playing on the play set from CA and their grandparents. We enjoyed the game and then had a nice visit learning about them and their parents who have lived here in Bloomington for ten years. It was a nice visit! This activity finally filled my needs for the entire project of today - to meet someone new, and have fun together! We did! It was really hot - now after 11:00 a.m. but that didn't keep us from playing! Even the Grandpa joined the fun! Wish it was my own family, our own grandparents out there running with us. We're grateful for times we have shared together!
Last night B.M. organized the celebration to dedicate all the work done in Bloomington including the new sign, flag pole, landscaping, trees, etc. etc. It was a beautiful ceremony! J. took some great pictures! I'll post them.
The first runner came over the line in 17:39 with another not far behind him. Then a woman finished, I don't know her time, but she was not happy! She was upset because apparently the course was not EXACTLY a 5K. It is true, we googled it, and then checked it, but we didn't worry much about the placement of the finish line, and we were more concerned about the bottle neck start line - moving the start line back into the parking lot to allow runners a chance to spread out and then thin the pack into the trail beginning which is wide enough for a car, but not street wide.
Anyway, all plans went perfectly! Each of our family members had their own jobs, and they put their parts in place including the start line details (flags, line, barricades, flashing lights, etc.) and the aid station was set up and ready complete with cups, water, first aid, etc. We had also taken most of the supplies for the breakfast at the park which was to begin at 8 a.m.. Wow it was lots of details! I just cleaned off my clipboard and it feels much better! We are talking pages and pages of lists!
Day of race registration was not too hectic! Due to the small size of the race, we were over prepared with triple laptops, staff, shirts, packets ready, etc. etc. I felt great about the runner packets - we found good fliers to include, samples, etc.
For post race recovery, Great Harvest Bread donated 12 loaves of fresh bread. I took butter, and spread some to have them ready in a bin. We had left over water bottles from the Tri's for all the runners and then 5 gallon coolers to refill their bottles. We also had watermelon on the rhine for the runners. I forgot a garbage can, and had to tie a garbage bag (which I did have for the breakfast right there, but they needed the cans). We had plenty of food for the finish line. I didn't hear any thanks for the bottles, but they weren't complaining either - that was nice of them because... the timing was a MESS! 1st she had to wait for all the runners to come in before we could get any results! Then after convincing her that they were all in, she began printing the list to realize that the names didn't look right. What? Somehow in the transfer of the data, the info on our laptops and on the zip drive was accurate, but in the transfer, it changed the bib number with all the other pertinent information. We had ladies finishing first in the men's division, then we had 46 yr old women it said were in the 20-29 category. It was a MESS! I grabbed the list of numbers and began deciphering the data the long way with a pen on the notepad she had asked L to keep, writing the finishers numbers down in order. It was in this manner that we SLOWLY began to give away the cool prizes we had! What a shame! It was a long wait as I had to look up their number, name, gender, and then age, and then put them in the order they finished! What a mess! It was literally an hour or more before we announced all the results! Disaster! Needless to say, we will change that if we ever do another one in the future!
On a good note, the participants were patient. They didn't get hostile, or upset, I believe they could see that we were stuck. The timing person (only one person came) kept trying, printing a new list only to find another problem, and then try again. It was not good!
We went straight from there to the breakfast being cooked by the Jamboree Scouts as a fund raiser. They did pretty good, however we donated all the food - not something I really planned on doing. Each boy has been challenged to earn $100/month towards their Jamboree trip. Well for the three boys who had a parent there working, they did better than that this morning. It has been an expensive weekend for us, and we didn't do anything fun! We are still scrubbing the dutch ovens, unloading the trailers, putting all the leftover food away. My great kids are soo fabulous! This weekend could NOT have happened without their outstanding help! Each one had their own responsibilities down to B and S who... were the stars of the race!!
B & S decided yesterday that they wanted to run the race even though no one else in the family was (we needed all their help elsewhere!). The rest of us all got up and were gone by 5 a.m. this morning. Those two little girls were up and dressed, ready to go race by 6:30, with their little brother dressed and ready to come too! They promised to stay together, and when they came sprinting across the line, the crowd erupted - one of the only times they did! I looked up to see them dressed in matching white shirts and blue shorts, with their new Old Navy flag hats on, smiling as big as can be going together across the finish line! There was a kind gentleman who was right behind them, who they tell me was really really nice, and encouraged them all the way along the way! He was kind to allow them to beat him into the finish line! Thank you kind sir! I owe you kindness - I will try to share kindness to those around me, hoping to have someone someday repay you for the kindness you shared today! Thank you!
After all the cars were loaded at the park, well mostly, we decided we needed to play with our kids and not just work! We played D.C.'s fun Soccer Football with a family there playing on the play set from CA and their grandparents. We enjoyed the game and then had a nice visit learning about them and their parents who have lived here in Bloomington for ten years. It was a nice visit! This activity finally filled my needs for the entire project of today - to meet someone new, and have fun together! We did! It was really hot - now after 11:00 a.m. but that didn't keep us from playing! Even the Grandpa joined the fun! Wish it was my own family, our own grandparents out there running with us. We're grateful for times we have shared together!
Last night B.M. organized the celebration to dedicate all the work done in Bloomington including the new sign, flag pole, landscaping, trees, etc. etc. It was a beautiful ceremony! J. took some great pictures! I'll post them.