A Race with Small Town Charm ...and Pie!

What would you think of running a 10K on a straight, flat course along quiet wooded bicycle trails in the light of a sunrise in early November? What if I added that they also offered pie at the end?

One would assume that a smart runner would have their debit cards at the ready even before the word "pie" completely escaped my lips.

Yet this year was my first time actually running this race in four years. What is wrong with me?

Truth be told, I have reasonable excuses that include pandemics, injuries and running a rescheduled race closer to home. Through no fault of its own, the Hillbilly Hike Half Marathon, 10k & Greubel 5k became the most overlooked race on my calendar. Seeking atonement for those sins, I took the 30-minute drive to Carlisle, Iowa.

Running Trails Turned into Skating Rinks.

I believe it's safe to say that each of us in this pic would have gladly traded our running shoes for a pair of track spikes to run on that icy surface.

I should add that my previous experience in this race proved quite memorable. Courtesy of a freeze following rain the previous day, the asphalt trails were covered with a thin layer of ice. Just enough to present the unique challenge of trying to reach a race pace without suddenly becoming fodder for a blooper reel. My recollection is 6.2 miles of short, careful strides, pushing it only until I'd feel the slightest sliding. Of course, not long after crossing the finish line, a bold morning sun evaporated the ice rink. Final outcome had no injuries and any inadvertent damage to anyone's pride found healing with healthy servings of pie.

Small Races Vs. Large Races

That takes us to this year. I have to admit that I've not always had positive experiences with smaller races. I've missed turns because courses were poorly marked or run additional distance due to mix-ups with volunteers. As a result, I tend to prefer the larger races like the Drake Half Marathon and Bix 7 which tend to be much better organized and attract a good number of talented runners.

However, I like running 10 K's and since the Des Moines area does not offer many races of that distance, I opted to give the Hillbilly Hike another "day in court." What transpired on that day were a series of experiences that had me truly regretting that it had been so long since I've made the brief sojourn this rural community.

Sunrise on the trail.

The Race Itself

• Will Anyone Move to the Starting Line? Having stood in a sea of several thousand runners three weeks earlier, I was surprised to find myself following a handful of runners when they called for the start of the 10K. Only a few brave (and young) souls ventured to the starting line. I hesitantly moved closer only have everyone take off as if they were running the 1500 instead of the 10K.

• At Least Passing Wasn't an Issue. Hearing the stern voice of my running coach in my mind, telling me to stick to the strategy we discussed, I maintained a controlled pace, picking it up a bit with each mile and passing most of those speedsters who blazed away at the start. With a small field in the 10K, I had no problem when it came to getting around anyone.

• Sometimes You Get Lucky. When it was all said and done, I achieved my goal of beating my 10K time from earlier this year. To my pleasant surprise, I placed 5th overall - coming in first for the Masters Age group. I'm not a bad runner. But I'm also a realistic one. I've never won the Masters division before and the only reason I did in this race was because the top four finishers were all about a third my age. While the Hillbilly Hike had nearly 600 participants, nearly half of those selected the half marathon, leaving a much smaller, less competitive field for the 10K. Or like I said, with smaller races, sometimes you can get lucky. Real lucky.

My first plaque in 40 years.

• Distance Matters. A minor quibble is that the half marathon was actually a shade short - just 13.05 mile instead of 13.1 while the 10K had me actually 6.25 miles as opposed to just 6.2. That may not seem like an issue. But not to those seeking to qualify for other races such as Boston.

Munch-Munch Time!

• It Isn't All About Pie. This isn't about pie - not yet. The Hillbilly Hike not only provided ample amounts of the usual post-race treats, including bananas and chocolate milk, they also had hot biscuits and gravy! The first moment the aroma of that sausage gravy hit my nose, I was suddenly a kid back at my parent's breakfast table in southern Oregon.

• Then Came Pie! The Hillbilly Hike's known for the pie it serves after the races. What's not known is the incredible work that goes into preparing a delectable variety of these mouth-watering desserts that can entice the strongest of wills. Me? I surrendered in a New York minute to a scrumptious slice of pumpkin pie. No need for whipped cream for a pie that tasty.

Post-Race "Oops".

• Careless Volunteer. The only real negative I have about the race stems from a careless or unprepared volunteer at the results booth. When I asked about prizes for age-group winners, I was told they didn't have anything. Assuming something would be mailed out, I didn't give it any further thought and wouldn't have brought it up in this post. What I didn't know was that I'd I'd earned a plaque for winning the Masters, only they'd awarded it to the wrong person. I only found out about this after the runner who received the award checked the results. To this person's immense credit, once they saw the mistake, they contacted the race director, then myself so that they could send the award to me. This same runner refused to allow me to pay the UPS costs. That plaque will carry far more significance to me because of the actions of this other runner than anything else. I truly hope to meet this person in a future race and purchase them a nice beverage afterwards!

Sign Me Up Again!

Aside from that minor frustration with the results, it's safe to say that, thanks to races like the Hillbilly Hike, I will give much stronger consideration to smaller races in the future. As for this one, it's already on my calendar for next year!

What about you? Do you have similar experiences or thoughts on races like this? I'd love to read about them below or on Facebook! (Now to add some more miles to next week's workout to burn off the calories from all that amazing food!)

Where to even begin with all these tasty choices?

When in doubt, go with the season. In November, that means Pumpkin Pie!