I PR’d my 10K race time on Saturday at the Run Like a Nut race in Florence, SC. It was a fun event, but mostly because I ran it with 4 other friends. The event staff and volunteers were less than “fun”. I should say that all I needed to be entertained was the boy at one of the turns that was ”dancing” the left turn indicator and the lady giving out pecans (it was a part of Florence’s annual pecan festival) from in front of her house.
The best thing was giving a good effort, relatively pain free (a little sore in my right knee) and finishing with a 10K PR of 55:35.
The crew (Brandi, Karen, Ryan, Crystal and I) - ready to rock!
Crystal & Brandi before startBrandi bringing it home!
Brandi rockin' her first 5K!
First 5K in 30 minutes! You go girl!
Karen heading to the line!
All smiles!
Great job Karen!
Me heading in!
I was trying to pass this guy the whole race!
He took off in a sprint and I couldn't catch him!
It's all good, still a PR!
Ryan & Crystal (she's behind him) about to fight it out
Ryan & Crystal starting full out sprint!
Ryan blocked her out to take it!
Karen & Brandi after race
Group after race
Group after race photo by London (Brandi's 3 year old daughter)
Brandi London & Crystal after race
After the race in the car minus Karen
Crystal in the car on the way to the race and wearing $400 sunglasses!
Ryan & Crystal
Karen & Crystal
Also, this weekend, I was fortunate enough to be able to give back to my fellow runner/multi-sport athlete community and volunteer at a local event. It was the Inaugural Recon Double Trouble Off Road Duathlon at Anne Springs Close Greenway. I had a blast working the event, but it takes just that – work. There were several volunteers and they could have used more. To all of those that compete in these types of events: volunteer all you can. It makes the event not only more enjoyable, but even possible. I hope I helped out with some great photos as I became a sort of unofficial event photographer and even helped hand out awards at the finish. I provided all 1275 photos that I took of the event to the race director, Marcus Barton, so that he could use at his discretion.
I wanted so bad to race this event, but given the injuries I sustained after the BRR and Cane Creek, I have decided to keep my races to running only in an effort to continue on and finish my first marathon in December. The next two Saturdays are preview runs so I will see what I am up against!
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Congrats on your PR!! It looks like you guys had a great time, and a wonderful day for it!
Thanks Andrew! Yeah, it was a great time. You should have come and be nuts with us!
You never know when this nut will come out and play with the rest of you nuts. I am glad that you guys had fun!
Those were also my two favorite points of the race of contributing outsiders. Well besides London squeezing my neck so tight and telling me Good Job!!! Everyone else were duds, no one out in their yards, and most volunteers being young kids, talking on their cell phones
I didn’t like that it wasn’t mile marked, but overall I couldn’t have asked for better. I ran 6.2 miles in 1 hr 10 sec. Can we tell everyone in the whole world please? SOOOOO excited, and I did it with Ryan 
You’re Kevin, we should volunteer. Let’s do it! Ok then!
Oh and for the record, Karen was in that picture in spirit, she took it. Also, those are not my sunglasses, so no one come breakin in looking for them
Crystal has a jump-start on the volunteering with her wanting to bring the Ta-Ta Chasers 5K here! We will all help at that event for sure!
That is a good point, Kev. I volunteered as a kid with the Girl Scouts a few times at road races, handing out water. I always thought it was so much fun! Of course, I knew nothing then about racing and I would love to be able to provide support in a way that I like to get support!
The race I ran in Greenville last weekend was amazing support. The energy was so high among volunteers and spectators! And the organization at the water stops and at turns was very well done. I have seen races that were the opposite and it is no fun.
At any rate – congrats to all of you! Sounds like a record-setting day, a great time, and a fun group despite teenagers on cell phones!