Posted by IMT Des Moines Marathon Races celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. I try to participate every year and I have done 7 half-marathon before. For many years, the race includes marathon, half marathon, and 5K. However it has been 5 years since I ran a half-marathon, and I haven’t done a full marathon yet (will I ever?), so my last participations were in the 5K race. This year, they added a 10K (10 kilometers or 6.2 miles) run, and so I did that. I have run 10K before but on different events, not an IMT race.
It was 41 degree F (5 C) when the race started. Since it was a little cold, at least for me, I layered up, though some hardy runners were in shorts and t-shirt.
There were more than 9,000 runners this year. They released us in batches, depending on our predicted pace. Since I am slow, I was among the last in line. By the time the race officially started, or when the elite runners crossed the starting line, it took another 28 minutes before I can cross the starting line. Here’s how slow our start was:
Finally, I was off from the starting line!
First mile. Passing the old historic Courthouse in Des Moines.
Approaching Iowa State Capitol, the most iconic building in the state of Iowa.
Second mile. In front of the Iowa State Capitol and its beautiful golden dome.
Race course separating the marathon and half marathon runners, from 10K runners….
Third mile. Under the shadow of the Principal Building, the tallest building in the city of Des Moines.
Fifth mile. Running by the banks of Des Moines River. One more mile to go! Somehow I missed the fourth mile marker. Though I did not cut corners, I promised.
I was not able to get a photo of the finish line also, as I was sprinting to end the race. The finish line was where the starting line was anyway.
I was able to finish within my goal time. In fact, I was the 12th male finisher for the 10K for my group class: age 55-59. But before you applaud my accomplishment, there were only 14 male finishers in my age group, so that means I was among the last. Hah! Maybe next year I’ll rank higher, in my new age group of 60-64.
My official time was 1 hour 17 minutes. But that includes stopping to use the portable toilet, slowing down to take photos, pausing to check if I was on the right course, high fiving the spectators on the side of the streets, stopping to smell the roses, yeah….excuses, excuses.
From Des Moines,
Pinoytransplant
(video, first, and last photo taken by my wife; the rest were mine; last photo was with Censored App)