Can we talk about the Klompen 5K?

Can we talk about the Klompen?

First of all, what is it? The Klompen Classic 5K run/walk is an event in nearby Pella (IA) that has been happening for the past 24 years. It's the big kick-off for the annual Tulip Time Festival every spring. It's an evening race, benefiting the area families sponsored by the Crossroads nonprofit organization.

This was my first year taking part in the celebration. The hubby and I drove up with our friend, Barb, and met another friend, Chuck, there. At the risk of sounding like a racing snob, I do not do many 5K races anymore. It's not that they aren't plentiful, but I just prefer the longer distance events much more. It's only recently that I have a new respect for the 5K distance, though. Although the distance itself is pretty short in terms of running (especially for runners who are accustomed to running much farther), that short distance becomes a pretty tough challenge if you try to run it at a faster-than-usual pace.

Ready for the start line

I have been known to run "races" as part of my 26.2 training, though those races are often much longer in distance. I was intrigued by the notion of doing a 5K as part of my training, and treat it as a speed workout. Couple that with the notion of an evening race...and it had all the makings of a great out-of-my-comfort-zone challenge on tap.

So, what are some thoughts of my experience in this endeavor?  If we were chatting over coffee, for example, here are some things I'd share with you:

The race setting was almost perfect. We're talking temps in the mid-50's, sunshine, and a race course that had some gentle rolling hills, but was pretty flat and fast for the most part. The race began at the town square (which is the main hub for all of the Tulip Time activity), and basically took us on an extended loop around the town square. And, when I say the course was fast, I'm not exaggerating. The overall men's and women's champions finished in 16:32 and 19:39, respectively. Even the master's division winners were speedy: 18:49 (m) and 21:12 (w)!

It was great having the hubby there

 Almost all of the participants were where they were supposed to be! Seriously, I have done a lot of races, and nothing infuriates me more than that first half mile or so of (necessary) nonstop dodging of walkers, strollers, and groups of unsupervised kids. Granted, there was a little bit of that shuffling in the first mile or so (and several rambunctious kids throughout the entire race), but for the most part, the crowd of runners all moved in constant motion....because we were all in sync.

I almost missed seeing the tulips. True. It was one of those races where I was totally in the zone. The crowd of runners really never thinned out much, so I was constantly on "high alert" to my surroundings in case I'd need to pass someone or catch a glimpse of someone coming around me. Most of the boulevards are lined with nonstop tulips....and there were several times along the course that I didn't think to even look for tulips, let alone take time to appreciate them.

Just some of the many tulips...

It almost was my fastest 5K ever...key word: almost. I haven't had time to dig out my previous 5K's to verify my current PR. I have a few that I know are under my Klompen finish time (which was 26:05), but I think all (or most?) of them were shortened courses. When I checked my splits (after the fact), I was pleasantly surprised to see how fast they were: 8:12, 8:23, and 8:08. The fact that my final mile was my fastest (after already running two previous miles at a good clip) kinda blows my mind.

I almost placed in the top three in my age group. Yes, you read that correctly...another 4th place finish. The gal who beat me to the 3rd place finish was a mere 14 seconds ahead of me...14 seconds! Somehow that revelation is both satisfying and frustrating at the same time. My stats showed I finished 4th out of 67 other gals in my age group, 71st out of 1105 women, and overall 286th out of the total 1874 5K participants (which also includes walkers). All things considered, I'm pretty happy with everything...though it would have been a nice reward to make the podium for my efforts.

Celebrating our efforts at the Peanut Pub after the race

All in all, this was a great event. The course was fast and pretty flat, and there was quite a bit of crowd support...especially along the final stretch to the finish line. The race attracted a lot of runners from outlying communities as well as many local residents. It's definitely a race I'd like to do again.

So, talk to me! Have you ever done a similar race as part of a local festival or celebration? Ever have a 4th place finish? Have you ever run a 5K as part of training for a longer race?

I'm linking this with Meranda and Lacey and Rachel for the Friday Five 2.0. 

 I'm also linking with Nicole for her  Fit and Fashionable Friday link-up.

And, since it's the first weekend of the month, I'm also linking with Deborah and Coco for the Ultimate Coffee Date