Today was a great day to run in Northern California. At race time it was about 58 degrees and sunny and quickly warming up. I was running the 10k at a half marathon in napa valley, and the 10k was only about 350 people compared to the 1/2's 2000 so things weren't quite documented so well. In any case, I found the place where the buses came to take us to the start line (point to point races are so difficult, I've only run loop races before). I ask at the registration table by the bus if there's a gear check. They say there's one at the start of the 10k. So a bunch of us get on the bus with bags full of stuff. Of course we get to the start and they are like, nope, no gear check here. But sice it was a small race, one of the organizers had us throw everything in the back of her truck and she left it at the finish line for us. How nice! :)
We got started right on time at this auto body shop with a big parking lot so everyone could line up (see picture). Since it was so small, they had no chip sensor for the start so everyone went with gun time. With only 350 people, this was no big deal. We head out and merge onto the road the 1/2 marathoners are running on...only problem...we're runninng 9ish minute miles and the 1/2er's are running 6's. So we get passed, and passed, and passed. :) The run was amazing and went through a bunch of vineyards with the mountains in the background. The 10k even took a little out and back detour right into a vinenyard for about 0.4 of a mile and then back out to the road. All in all, I was feeling great and kept moving at about a 9 minute pace. Of course I had no idea what the pace was since I don't own a watch and they seemingly don't believe in split time clocks in Sonoma :) I was running behind this girl from WI who kept looking at her watch and seemed to be moving at a good pace.
Speaking of midwest people, I was waiting for the race to start and standing right next to me is someone who looks really familiar. I look at her bib and it says she's from Hoffman Estates, IL and is 27. I'm sure I met her sometime growing up or at someone's party or something at some time. Anyway, we thought that it was pretty random that people who live in towns right next to each other 1/2 way across the country randomly run the same 350 person 10k in CA. :)
So back to the race...all was good for the whole run and when it was over I was like, really, that's it! I want to keep going! :) Still probably better that I didn't run the 1/2 but man I wanted to keep running...it was so nice outside! I finished with a nice 56:17 which was a 9:03/mile. Not bad at all.
The race ended in a park where they had wine tasting from a bunch of local vineyards. All very very tasty :) They also had lots of fruit, but no bananas. What, a race without bananas? Yes! They seem to do some things different out here. Including the champion chip (see photo). It goes around your ankle. Bizarre. :)
So yes, the race is highly recommended. Maybe I'll come back next year for the 1/2!
