OK, I admit it. I’m not a runner. Yes, I dabble in jogging a few miles, a few times a week purely for exercise – but a serious runner I am not. So when I decided to run my first 5K a few years ago, I figured I’d better make it a good one as it would probably be my first and last race.
I found the perfect race, the Healthy Planet, Healthy People 5K Run/Walk. It’s a fun and challenging race for all skill levels on a beautiful course. As there would be both runners and walkers, depending on how I ran/jogged, I figured I would blend in as either a slow runner or a fast walker. Perfect strategy!
Considered one of the most scenic races in Greater Cleveland, this chip-timed 3.1-mile run starts on a paved road then winds through the natural surface trails in Rocky River Reservation. The scenery was so breathtaking (so that must be why I had a difficult time catching my breath) I almost forgot I was running/jogging/very fast walking. The course winds through the woods with scenic views of the Rocky River with varying terrain and elevation changes. In the past when I ran the race, and lived to tell the tale, the course included the 135 stairs to the top of Fort Hill. I hear tell, those challenging stairs will not be part of this year’s course.
However, this year the Healthy Planet, Healthy People 5K will be held on June 6 which is also National Trails Day. That is very appropriate as one of the unique features of the race is that it includes trails not just roads.
Since my first attempt at a 5K, I have become somewhat hooked. Though I limit my participation to one or two local 5Ks a year, I have run in the Healthy Planet, Healthy People 5K every year and strive to better my time each year. Look for me in the middle of the pack – behind the serious runners and a little ahead of the walkers. See you there!
