Robinson Preserver 5k trail race

Robinson Preserve 5k trail race

While searching for things to do while visiting my parents in Florida I came across a few races.  The Robinson Preserve race looked like the most interesting.  It is an established race which attracts a large field and it is held in a scenic nature preserve.  The biggest drawback (for me) was the 6:30 PM start time.  I don’t like racing at night.

We (mom, dad, and me) drove the 70 miles to Bradenton and grabbed our race packets.  I headed out for a 3 mile warm-up and checked out some of the course.  It was warm (80) and windy, but at least there were some high clouds keeping the sun from making it worse.  I bumped into some Greater Lowell Road Runners right before the start (they are EVERYWHERE!).

I got a good spot on the line way over on the side and got out cleanyly, which was important, there was only about ¼ mile before we got on to the narrow trail.  By the time I hit the trail I was in 7^th place with the lead group pulling away.  The mile marks didn’t seem to match up with the effort (the mile seemed too fast and the third seemed too long).  I tried to work hard but didn’t feel all that good.  There were some twisty parts where I could see the guys in front of me and I was not going to catch anyone, but I also wasn’t going to be caught.  So basically I ran the entire race alone (no one to block the wind) and rolled into the finish in 17:29 for 7^th overall and 2^nd in the 40+.  Nearly 1,300 finished the race including mom who took 5^th in the 65-69 and beat over 200 people!  The last time I raced in Florida (and the only other time I’d raced there) was almost exactly 29 years ago!  On March 26, 1983 I won the 5,000 at the Florida Relays with a 14:27.7 over THREE minutes faster than I ran at this race.

Mom

Male                                                                     

 Place    Time      Runner's Name          Age     

City                  Place

   Pace

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    1     16:07 Hank Campbell               32   St Pete, FL                 1    5:11

    2     16:17 Sean Daugherty              19   Bradenton, FL            2    5:15

    3     16:24 Michael Rosato                23   Gainesville, FL           3    5:17

    4     16:35 Douglas Morton               40   Sebring, FL               4    5:21

    5     16:51 Bruce Bragg                    17   Bradenton, FL           5    5:26

    6     17:08 John Biffan                      28   Unknown, XX            6    5:31

    7     17:29 Dave Dunham                 48   Bradford, MA             7    5:38

    8     17:48 Alexander Oberg              29   Unknown, XX            8    5:44

    9     17:52 Scott Lafferty                  40   Gainesville, FL           9    5:45

   10     18:39 Kevin Brennen                24   Tampa, FL                12    6:01

516 Men 1,254 total finishers

  494     38:45 Regina Dunham               69   Zephryhills, FL           935   12:26

738 women