When there’s a race in your own backyard, you can’t pass up the opportunity to be involved in something local, and unique. The Battle Creek Half Marathon and 5k, in its 2nd year of existence, offers runners a fun course complete with planes, runways, and great lake views. The WSI team tackled the event from all fronts; from race directing, to providing bike lead out, to racing on two legs instead of two wheels.
With such a large event, we recruited our neighboring cycling team, Custer Cyclery, for the event as well.
Danny ran the half marathon for the second year in a row. To him, it is one of the best organized events he has done. Great course, volunteers and all around organization. Once again he joined the 7:30 pace group with a goal of finishing with them. Last year he elected to drop off around the 10-11 mile mark to save the legs a bit. With a few more long runs in the weeks leading up to it, he thought he would make it. But around 10 miles the legs and hips tightened up so he elected to back off and finish well. Overall he finished second in his age group and 22nd overall. Not too shabby at all!
Holly also ran the half marathon.
Matt elected for the 5k as he had to scoot off to work shortly after. At least he could squeeze it in. He loves the well organized events put on by Cereal City Athletics. The course was well marked and volunteers were everywhere. The beautiful, cool morning helped as well. Matt chose this event to support WSI sponsors, the local community and St. Jude Children’s Research through Charity Miles. With a goal of finishing under 27, he blew it out of the water with a finish time of 24:32. Way to rack it, Matt.
Josh decided to run the 5k as well and wasn’t quite sure how great his performance would be given last year was pretty much a loss due to an early season knee injury. It’s been a tough year getting back to it but his runs are improving and his cycling base is coming back. His goal was to run the 5k in around 25min and he finished in 24:37. That was a nice way to get back to racing and he plans to run a couple more 5ks this year, compete in the Cereal City Du coming up in a couple weeks as well as some fall races to complete his 2017 season.
Charles ran the half marathon as well. Not his best, but he finished. Who can blame him for being exhausted before the race even started from a 4:30 set up start to unloading a 30 foot trailer all before the race start at 7 am?
As for me, Nikki, I was behind the scenes, putting out fires, making sure aid stations were set up, taping all the turns, and so forth. The hours upon hours of emails, coordinating with local businesses and PD, answering questions and so forth were all made worth it when I got to take a short break and watch runners cross the finish line! (And I promise, I did not threaten my teammates in any way to say such nice things about the event!)
