Spectator Recap: 2012 IOA Corporate 5k

I did not run the Corporate 5k this year (I’ve run it 2 or 3 times in the past), but I did have a race of my own on Thursday: trying to get to my spot of the course in time to see my friends pass by.

I failed. Well sort of. I did catch one of my running group mates, Beth. And the only reason I think I caught her is because she ran earlier that day, so she was walking. But I missed everyone else. I was much later than expected getting out of work and running an errand.

The race started at 7:15. I met Donnie around 7:40 on a grassy knoll on Livingston, where he had been sitting watching the runners with the unruly pugs.

My boys

Rex wishing he could run that fast.

Tank wishing we would let him loose to run.

I quickly made myself comfortable next to them and started scanning the runners for familiar faces.

Well, after a photo op of course.

The route of this local race takes runners just a couple of blocks away from my house, so it’s super easy access for me.

I couldn’t run last year (2011) either, and loved walking out to this spot to catch my friends run by:

Roxy, running so fast she's a blur.

T and Jesse #winning

Back to this year… I was like a pig in mud when I captured this moment:

Sometimes you just gotta stretch... while running a 5k in your jeans.

And this one:

Warning: Jogging in jorts may cause chafing.

I am a huge fan of JoggingJeans.com (if you haven’t visited for a good chuckle, check it out ASAP), but it seems ever since I started reading the blog, I been unable to actually capture a runner in jeans with my camera… until Thursday, that is! Best. Day. Ever.

We left shortly after and headed off in search for dinner.

So while I didn’t run this year, I can share my pros and cons of the race from my previous runs:

PROS

• Local Orlando 5k
• This is a Track Shack Event. They always put on great races!
• Great race to get non-runners involved: co-workers, family, friends, etc.
• You can ask your company to sponsor you and your co-workers… FREE for you. 🙂
• Great downtown Orlando course that starts and ends at Lake Eola
• Seeing some of your co-workers in spandex

CONS

• Seeing some of your co-workers in spandex
• Super crowded (don’t expect a personal best)
• I don’t remember there being medals
• The line for your free beer is long

Hopefully I will be able to rejoin the fun next year. This is always a fun race that ends with a free beer at the end. Who needs a medal when you have beer?

Have you run the IOA Corporate 5k? What are your thoughts?

Tags: corporate 5k, orlando 5k