Rolesville 5K 2011
By: Mark Ulrich
My in-law’s live in Rolesville, NC which is just north of Raleigh. It is quite the thriving metropolis, population ~2000. Rolesville started with the 5k three years ago. Last year, they added a 10K as well. I finished first in my age group last year, but I noticed that the 5k times were particularly soft, it was obvious the fast runners all ran the 10k. The City of Oaks marathon in Raleigh is also held this weekend which takes away from the competition. There are about 50 people in the 10K and 50 in the 5k. Fellow persons of speed, this race has some serious cherry picking potential.
My wife had to work today, but I decided to come for the weekend with Morgan anyway since I do this race every year. My parents also came along to stay with my in-laws because my mother walked the 5k. I was focused like a laser on the big (small) race. So much so that when we arrived last night, as we unloaded the car I realized I forgot Morgan’s suitcase at home when we packed. So she only has the clothes she is currently wearing and we will be going to the mall shortly to buy her some clothes. Oops.
Back to business. At the starting line, I was sizing up the competition. I was hoping no fast guys would run the 5k. There were about 10 guys up front at the start who looked like they could run. When the gun went off, about 8 guys took off really fast and I was quickly about 50 yards back. Shoot, I thought, some fast guys found out about this race and are going to steal my moment for a podium spot. After about a half mile, the lead group began to slow a tad and I was holding my ground, maybe even gaining on them. This course is an out and back with some 2 nasty hills that aren’t big but are quite steep and you get to run them twice each since it’s an out and back. As we start up the first hill, I noticed all of the guys up front slowing down a good bit and I made up some ground. At the one mile mark, I was about 30 yards back from the leader with five guys in front of me. I may just have a shot at a good finish after all. I caught up more ground on the second hill and was up to third place at the turnaround.
The two guys in front of me were starting to fade. Holy crap, I have a chance to win this thing! The guy in second pulls up beside the leader in a rather weak move. The leader sprints down the next hill and leaves the two of us behind opening up a 20 yard lead. On the way back up, the leader slowed way down again and I passed the second place guy. At the top of the hill, I was on the leader’s shoulder. We had about a mile to go, down a steep hill, back up, then flat the rest of the way. I saw the leader sprint down the last hill and struggle back up so I knew what to do. I pulled up beside the leader just before the downhill. He saw me and sprinted down the hill at probably a 5:00 pace. I knew my chance to catch him was coming back up the hill so I started hammering up the hill and he was fading fast. I caught him near the top and did my best to pass him decisively. After about 15 seconds I looked back and he was already 25 yards back and fading. A half mile to go and I’m in front, this is nuts! I figured the others were fading so if I could keep a constant pace I would take it. With maybe 200 yards to go, I looked back again and the second place guy was now 100 yards back with no one else in sight. I came across the finish at 20:00 all by myself, an amazing feeling. They told me when they gave me the award it was a course record which made me kinda laugh. I’m not sure there are many 5K’s in the Charlotte area with a course record of 20:00. Side note, the winner of the 10K ran 36 something which is VERY fast and he obviously would have broken 18 minutes if he had run the 5K. I certainly made the right call to run the 5K. My mom finished first in the 60 and up female division and took home some hardware as well. She was the only one in her age group, but that’s beside the point.
