Race not sponsored by IHOP...but we wouldn't turn them down, if they offered.
On Saturday, my fellow Renegades and I ran the RRC's first annual Panqueque 5K race - yes, a race put on for and solely run by our running group. What can I say...we like to have fun and mix things up with our training!
This origin of this race stemmed from the year 2010, when I was training for my first half marathon. While I was running with a group, our breakfast club hadn't yet formed, so after my long run on Saturdays I'd go home, get Jeff (who wasn't running yet), and we'd go out to breakfast...often at IHOP, where Jeff noticed that the Spanish word for pancake was panqueque (the menus are bilingual), and much like Buddy the Elf who couldn't stop saying the word "Francisco" (Francisco...Franciiiisco), Jeff latched onto panqueque. Which was never annoying, haha. Eventually, as Jeff started running and doing races, he wondered why there wasn't an official Panqueque 5K race - so we made it happen and put it into our training schedule.
This ended up coming at the right time, as it was a good distraction from last week's sadness. I was able to round up some leftover race bibs and personalized them:
Official race bibs, ready for our runners!
And for packet pickup, I put together race bags. Going on the random theme that seems to be prevalent in most race bags (you get whatever the sponsor donates), I gathered up my saved shopping bags and some items that I had on hand, plus I asked Jeff to see if he had anything at work to donate, and I also asked Kendall, the volunteer coordinator at the hospital, if she could add to our bags. Being as the hospital has been the sponsor of our town's December marathon, I figured they had something lying around. I was surprised when she came up with cooling towels - that was prefect! Here's the loot:
Doesn't every runner get a bar of hotel soap in their race bag at some point? And a random training DVD? As an homage to all race bags, I went by our running store and picked up flyers for an upcoming race...that's usually what fills most bags.
Bags and bibs all ready:
I can't be the only person to save all the "good" bags that come from shopping, can I?
Race day dawned early - my committee (Jeff) and I got to the IHOP parking lot and set up for packet pickup:
There was a north wind blowing and I had to put on my sweatshirt!!!
Ready for the runners!
The racers arrived and got their bibs and bags - packet pickup went smoothly and was a success, whew! Because we were in charge, we had a start time of 6:00 am which is unusual for most 5K races, but that's the beauty of hosting your own race - you get to do it your way! The race started just a few minutes late, as we were waiting on one runner who insisted on running to the start line from his house. There's always one overachiever in the group, LOL. We lined up at the invisible start line (because I'd forgotten about getting chalk until the middle of the night prior to the race - oops), and with a "ready set GO" we began running.
This race was an out-and-back, from the IHOP parking lot. The weather was perfect - 63 degrees, with less humidity than normal, plus there was a slight north wind. Julia, Diane and I ran together - we started out running into the wind, on a slight incline. I felt a little out of breath but we arrived at a major intersection and had to stop for traffic (yes, traffic at 6:00 am - college football game day in Aggieland), and that little break was all I needed - once we started running again I felt fine. We didn't do intervals; we just ran for a mile and then took a short walking break, then ran the next mile; another walking break; then we were on the home stretch. The last bit ended up being slightly downhill and it was fabulous...I felt like I was flying!
When we finished and joined the rest of our group, everyone remarked on how great the downhill finish was. I even high-fived myself at how nicely that worked out - honestly, the route was that way because that's where the pancakes were, but it sure made for a great end to the race!
We had a raffle drawing for the finishers, and Diane won the prize:
Pumpkin pancake mix! From Kerbey Lane, no less - our favorite breakfast restaurant in Austin.
We attempted a couple of post-race group pictures, but it wasn't easy seeing as it was still dark:
Diane, Julia, Karen, me, Jeff, Brian, Cary, Loretta, and CC.
Afterward, we headed into IHOP for breakfast, where the best part of running with our renegades comes - the talking, the razzing, and the completely inappropriate humor, which we try to tone down when we're in public. It isn't always easy:
Diane and CC trying to hold it together...
Karen and Jimmymeow pretty much losing it. What can I say, we find all kinds of things to laugh at!
I had some pumpkin spice pancakes, lots of coffee, and a lot of fun - this was a great race and I'll definitely sign up for it again next year!
I think that is so cool putting on and finding sponsors for your own 5K race. I hope all your hard work was appreciated.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lot of fun to make this run into a race. :)
DeleteWhat a fantastic idea! More running groups need to follow your lead and make training FUN. You and Jeff should consider professional race coordination as a retirement career ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks - it was a lot of fun from start to finish. And race planning is easy...of course, I didn't have to coordinate porta potties or road closures or deal with irritable runners like most race coordinators, LOL.
DeleteThis is so cool. What a great idea and i'm so glad that your friends all came out to support it!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes! We keep mostly all our shopping bags. We always have one hanging in the garage for extra trash. My mouth dropped the other day when I saw my husband had hung. Shopping bag from Disney world up as our trash bag! In my mind disney bags should never be used as trash bags..lol.
Too funny - I have "better" bags that get higher priority jobs (not just trash).
DeleteThis is such a Great idea! What a wonderful way to make your training fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteAwww, I love this! Sounds like so much fun. You have a great group!
ReplyDeleteThanks - it was fun!
DeleteOMG.....why can't I remember what was so funny?!?!? Always so many laughs with everyone....good for the soul!
ReplyDeleteYou can't remember because, rightly so, your brain has blocked the images of what you were looking at...does that ring a bell?
DeleteThat is so cool!!!! My old running club always talked about putting on a race, but we never got around to actually doing it. Love the early start time, and especially the downhill finish (since every race in Chicago seems to end after going up the city's one hill).
ReplyDeleteCracking up at the city's "one" hill. There's always that one!!!
DeleteOh my gosh--too much fun! All the work you put into the details is what makes it so fun for everyone!
ReplyDeleteI think everyone had a good time, which made me feel good. :)
DeleteThat sounds like so much fun! That's a lot of work you did, too. Helen is right, you should organize races as a career.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun, both the planning and the event. :)
DeleteThis is so creative! Love the name too. It's a joke/dream between me and a running friend to be sponsored by Waffle House. If they'd only ask...
ReplyDeleteHey, I'd run in a Waffle House shirt!
DeleteHow fun! What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI also save all the "good" bags. I don't really know what I'm saving them for, but I'll have them if ever I need them! :)
I suppose people in California don't have good bags saved - well, unless they paid for them. ;)
DeleteToo fun! I love the race bag :-) Why don't they regularly give us soap in those, anyway - goodness knows we're going to need it by the end, right? I'll be signing up if the Panqueque 5k ever expands to Seattle!
ReplyDeleteReally, soap and deodorant would be good bag stuffers all the time!
DeleteThis sounds like the BEST RACE EVER!!!!! And you've given me a great idea for my own running group. On a side note, I'm heading your way in Dec for BCS...hoping we can meet IRL.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to borrow on my idea for your group! And for sure, let's meet up in December. :)
DeleteI am jealous! You have such a wonderful running group and friends. How can someone not love to run if you have support like this!
ReplyDeleteAnd what a great idea to organize your own race, love the idea!
If I ever am able to visit you, can I please please come as a guest runner on your Saturday run?
Of course, you will be the runner guest of honor!! :)
DeleteHow do I sign up for next year's race?
ReplyDeleteLOL.
Love this!!!!!!!!!!!
I want to plan a visit sometime and run with your group. And knit with you, of course!!!
ReplyDeleteThat would be fun! :)
DeleteHow fun! I am happy the inaugural Panqueque 5K was a success! I totally save all my shopping bags for reuse too - this is a great way to re-purpose them. And the stuff you put in seriously seems like stuff you would get at a race you paid for! Ha!
ReplyDeleteI swear, if I do a race and get a bar of soap in my race bag I'll be laughing so hard...
Delete"Please have ID ready" hahaha
ReplyDeleteI hope the entrance fees weren't too high.
This post made me smile.
Save up some IHOP coupons to put in the goodie bags next year.
Chrissy