Swag bag

 It's been a busy few weeks since I wrote my last post about the state parks we've been visiting.  Well, we did it again.  I wanted to roll up our trip to Jordan Lake with an update on the Csapo Family 5k and a shortened write up from our in-person 5k.  So, let's get to it.

We hit up state park #5, Jordan Lake, a few weeks ago.  Just a bit outside of Raleigh, the man-made Jordan Lake is the 7th largest lake in the state.  Upon its several inlets, the state park includes several campgrounds, boat launches, and recreation areas.  We wanted a 2-3 mile trail so we went with the red trail at Vista Point.  Many of the other trails were either different distances or accessible only to campers.

 The red trail has an inauspicious beginning as it's located kind of near a rentable pavilion.  It took us a minute to find it as there wasn't much of a trailhead sign.  Furthermore, it is a path through the woods, not quite the obviously delineated trail that we're used to.  

Always gotta keep an eye out for "red Bill"

The woodsy trail loosely followed the shoreline of the lake.  It was a bit chilly so, even though I wanted to, we didn't get more than our fingertips in the water.  Another time I guess.

Guess how many takes this took

We just dipped our fingers in and were glad to find it not frigid

We found a lot of those flowers all over the forest floor

and tons of shrooms

doin shroom things

sections like this reminded us a bit of Hoyt Arboretum in Portland

I'm gonna say that's quicksand

always love a good bridge

Is it just me or does she look like she's floating?

Mila made a friend

Moving on

The family virtual 5k competition is humming along quite nicely.  We've had some surprises this year as Mila being 11 minutes faster than her predicted time and Danny and David both being 2 minutes faster than last year.  What's not surprising is the Chicken Chasers (Andy, David, KT, James, Mike/Tami) have a strong 5 point lead.  With no team having a full complement of finishers as of yet, the competition is still up for grabs as only 5 points separate 2nd-4th.  I'll work on getting the website finished ASAP so that everyone's pics and results are updated. For now, David is leading the runners after throwing down a track 19:34.  He's got over a 90 second lead on his wife Emily, whose best time is 21:12.  For the saunterers, Katie the reigning champ holds a one minute lead over Mar.  Our only new entrant this year, Mila is currently in 3rd.

And that brings us to the first race Mila's done in quite some time.  I think she did one in 2019.  Also, it was my first cross country race.  Granted, I didn't know that when I signed up.  In order to get a more competitive time for the family 5k, we had decided we should actually compete.  The first race I had in mind got cancelled so I had to widen my search and selected one taking place about an hour away, The Charity Distance Festival.  Although not as cheap as San Angelo races, the race was put on as a fundraiser for several Raleigh area charities.  (see, the name?)  After some digging, I found that Fit & Able is a local race production company similar to where I got my start in San Antonio, Carrerathon and IAAP.  Not only do they put on various races throughout the year (looks like they all benefit  various charities), they also offer paid training groups.  If only they weren't located an hour away.  

Training has been going fairly well and I'd run a 26:30 5k around my neighborhood while not exactly pushing it.  So, I thought I'd have a good shot at running 25.  That is, until I actually looked at the course profile and realized it was a hilly cross country route.  So... 25:30?  Yeah, let's shoot for that.

Socially distanced at the start

Start/Finish Chute

I mean, I just wanted to start so I could take off the mask

As with the Run Oak Island 1/2 I ran in February, COVID precautions were in place.  They just looked a bit different, with every family group of starters separated by a few seconds.  Definitely changes the dynamics of a race if you start a minute or two behind the first person.

Way to center up you two.  Just moments before starting out (photo credit: Fit & Able Productions)

The first half mile was down a grassy hill.  As I got about halfway down a large man looking to be in my age group came bowling by.  OK, well let's wait until we get to flat land and/or the eventual uphill to see if I can't make that pass.  As we came down to the first loop through the woods, we transitioned to basically a well kept dirt road with little rolling sections.  I kept the guy in my sites until I was able to make the pass about a mile in.  The course goes back uphill (uff) around the staging field, and through a larger woodsy loop.  

Mila's view mid race

The final push was, of course, uphill.  I was pleasantly surprised by my time - 24:49.  That's faster than last year.  I've still got to improve and lose weight, but it's a great start.  I had no clue how I'd placed due to the wave start and the fact that the 8K folks started about 15 minutes before us, but I was pleased.  Now, time to change shirts and cheer Mila on.

there's a face only a mother could love (photo credit: Fit & Able Productions)

looking down the hill

Other folks cheering on their runners

Wait...

There she is!

Sauntering to the finish

It was cool at the start, in the low 50s, so Mila started with a jacket but regretted that later towards the finish.  She finished in 49:36, roughly 10 minutes faster than her expected time.  As far as placing, I was 12/109 overall and won my age group of 9!  (they e-mailed me just yesterday with a prize of a $10 discount off my next race with Fit & Able)  We had a good time and look forward to coming back.