Harry Spring Run-Off 5 KM

This year I decided to get an earlier start to my medal collection than I did last year. Last year was my first year of training to run. I started around April after I signed up for my first run and 10 KM race, the Sporting Life 10 KM, and began training as fast as I could! My goal wasn't to get a PB by any means, but I was pleased with my completion time of 1:07.

At first, when I signed up for this race it was the dead of winter and I was amped up to get some 'BLING!!', so I signed up for the 8 KM run. A week or two before the race I realized I hadn't nearly trained enough for the 8 KM just yet so I paid the extra $10 to drop down to the 5 KM. And BOY AM I GLAD I did! After scouring Instagram for pictures of race kits, bib and shirt pictures as well as past medal pictures, I found myself curious about the #killthehill hashtag. I hadn't heard anything about a hill before, likely since I haven't ever run at High Park, and I started to get worried. I started thinking about if this 'hill' is going to 'kill me'!

The morning of the run was a bit chilly and windy but nice and sunny. I think it flurried the day before, but I can't be certain. I was going to drive myself down then take the subway, but my mom and dad ended up driving me down instead. It was the first time my mom has cheered me on along the sidelines and it was quite nice! I definitely appreciated her company! When we got to High Park in Toronto I headed over to get my race kit (that included a shirt, some goodies, and a drawstring bag) which was quick and easy and then hung out for a bit. When I signed up I also signed up to get a Pancake Breakfast for $3, even though I typically go gluten free. Since my mom was with me I gave it to her so we got that before the race then slowly made out way to the starting line.

After waiting for the time to tick away all the corral's were in place and went off at once. It was a nice  route that started with a small loop past the crowds, where I picked up my handheld water bottle I had forgot from my mom, and then began to descend.....and descend again....and again....And I thought to myself, crap....what goes down must go up again (in races). The route was all paved roads through a forested area that passed by a river and wound around and back. It was not too bad really....until I realized what the #killthehill hashtag had really meant. It was the last half kilometre of the race where this hill took place. And it took up 400 meters worth of it, no lie. Thankfully my mom was along the sidelines of the hill to let me know it was just up the hill then I was done, and that definitely kept me going, but I won't lie and say I ran up it all. I definitely had to take a 'break' to walk at one point and likely another. But the end was upon me and I received my medal and matching light green beanie and another race had finished.

Overall it was a great race. Now I know what to expect with the hill and I'd definitely be willing to do this route again. It had a great medal and swag (It is a Canada Run Series run, so I knew it would be good anyways). The nice thing too was that with it being downtown with limited parking, the subway was a short walk away. This made it easy to park at another location and take the subway down. And I definitely advise that.

Here's my race swag to add to the drawers and medal rack!