So, it has been one hell of a year. 2020 – the year everyone wants to forget! Covid-19, Social Injustice, protests and looting and the craziest Presidential Election year ever. But it was Covid that effected the running community more than anything! Races were cancelled, postponed or made virtual. A whole new virtual race cottage industry surfaced with Covid-19 and Toilet Paper themes topping the list! Then some live races started popping up with Covid Protocols and limited sizes. People were starting to go back to racing!
For the third year in a row, Jennifer and I decided to head to Allen TX, just north of Dallas for the New Years Double, 2 days of 5Ks, Half Marathons and Marathons. Jennifer would run a 5K and a Half on New Years Eve and then repeat it the next day on New Years Day. Ushering out the old and bringing in the new!!
A couple of weeks prior, We had been to Ft Worth for the Texas Double. On our way, we passed “Santa Land in Tyler TX. Christmas lights and decorations in a Drive Through setting just off the I-20. This time, we decided to stop and see the lights close up.
It was quite amazing with Cristmas music playing and numerous of themes lighting up the one way drive on both sides. A salute to the Veterans, aliens landing, a Christmas ton and a very well done Nativity scene toward the end. Quite enjoyable and a good start to a Holiday week!
We knew the weather would be an issue. Snow was a certainly west of Dallas and unsure for our area and the race. But, we knew it would be wet and cold. And it was! It started off with a chilly 37 degrees, wind out of the north, light rain and a wind chill of 29! Walking from the motel door to the car was an indication of what was to come. 10 minutes later we were at Celebration Park in Allen for the start of a long day!
The race had a number of Covid Protocols in place, one of which included a “Rolling Start” for both the 5K and the Endurance races (Half and Full Marathon). Since the 5K had a separate starting mat, you could choose which race you wanted to run first if you were doing both! Of course, Jennifer is going for the big medal so she had signed up for a 5K and a Half on both days. She starts with the 5K.
It started with a light rain and just kept on coming! I don’t think it ever stopped raining even for a brief moment. I certainly wasn’t going to get out of the car very much to cheer!! I thought about a new 0.0 shirt “Someone has to keep the car warm!” Since the 5K route was all inside the Park, I was able to keep an eye on her. I met her at the finish line as she grabbed her medal and we headed to a nice warm car!!
The Medal was certainly appropriate… a rain cloud with raindrops and a lightning bolt. The only thing missing in the real race was the lightening bolt… thank goodness!!
With the temperature dropping and he wind picking up, Jennifer changed into some dry socks and dry runing shoes. Adding another jacket, she was ready to get back out and run the Half.