Race 14 Chattahoochee Challenge 10K

It has been a while since my last road 10K, 10 years to be exact and that was way before I switched from running to walking.  I do not think that I am anti-10K, I just need a reason to do one.  Once I found out that the proceeds from the Chattahoochee Challenge 10K benefited the Chattahoochee Nature Center, I had my reason. 

The race was in Roswell, GA, two towns over, and it started at 8:00 AM.  As usual, I got there early and scoped things out.   They had a nice heated gym at the Nature Center and that meant nice heated bathrooms!  The first thing I noticed outside, they even had portalets (unlike the Callaway Gardens Half Marathon I just did two weeks earlier – funny how even a low key $27 entrance fee race can afford portalets).

I was able to walk around the Nature Center a bit. I saw two bald eagles!   Wow, this is a great place, must make plans to come back and spend some time here exploring, hiking, and take some of the classes on bird identification (I have multiple bird feeders in the back yard and really enjoy those birds – just wish I knew more about each species).

The temperature and wind where going to be a factor in this race as an artic front was making its way into Georgia.  However, the weather seemed okay just prior to the race.  There was virtually no wind blowing and the sun was peeking through the clouds, it was actually quite nice.  Since I’d only be out there for a bit more than an hour, I decided to shed my top layer.

An odd thing about this race that I really liked, we had to walk about ¾ of mile to get to the start.  This solves a huge problem that I think exists with a lot of races – most folks are not warmed up and loose for that start and they end up just starting the race that way.  Not this race – it was an excellent warm up just prior to the race!

Just prior to the start

We were very close to Chattahoochee River for the entire course – the road pretty much followed it.  One of the things I saw during this race that just made me feel good, I saw a policeman blocking, not allowing a car to get out of a subdivision onto the road we were on.  As I passed by, I noticed the driver of the car, out of his car, on his cell phone complaining to someone how he could not get out of his subdivision (right now).  Mr. Policeman and the Roswell, GA Police Department – Thank You!!!

Remember earlier when I told you I shed that top layer?  Well that was a wrong move : )  That artic blast started making its way in, quickly.  Before the race was over, we had a little rain, some sleet, a few snow flurries, and some gusting wind!  The wind was blowing so hard, there were white caps on the river! 

One other thing that I noticed while getting along on the course, they have rowing clubs here (I did not know that).  I will need to find out when they have regattas and come over and watch.

http://rowsteadystate.com/

All in all this was a good race, it supported the Chattahoochee Nature Center, and it was a pretty good workout.

Garmin Stats:

Time: 1:16

Average Heart Rate: 133, 81% of max for one hour and 16 minutes

Calories Spent:  655

Average Speed:  4.9 mph;  Pace: 12:15

Distance:  6.2 miles

Steps:  24,620