Esprit de She Race Report -- Cary, NC

Last Thursday evening my friend Christine and I ran the first Esprit de She in Cary, NC.  More than 700 runners were on hand at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre for the combined 5k and 10K race.  Christine hadn't run a 5K in years, and this was her first event since I insisted on dragging her to 5:30AM track sessions a year ago. We ran together, finished together, and celebrated her accomplishment together. This was a great event, and I recommend it -- especially for women new to the sport.

This is not one of the many 5K races for a cause or a charity.  It is an event and a girls night out. Athleta and Lifetime Fitness sponsored the race and pulled it off brilliantly. In a week filled with rain storms, they somehow managed to keep the rain away.  The heat was there at first, but by the time the after party was in full swing, the summer night felt just right.

When we arrived at 5:30PM for the 6:30PM race, the temperature was 88 degrees and the humidity was high.  At 6PM fitness instructors led runners assembled inside the amphitheatre in a zumba like warm up.  At 6:15PM we left the area for the starting line.  The competitors were already at the start.  Behind the line I noticed how easy going the crowd was pretty far back. Women chatted in friendly circles, and mothers gave advice to their young daughters.  From where we were, we couldn't hear what was being said over the announcement system, but when the National Anthem played, everyone could tell.

Christine and I wove in and out of runners for the first mile.  We ended up behind people who were walking or running slowly at the start.  I hadn't anticipated that.  We ran on one of Cary's fine greenways, and the view around the lake was beautiful.  The path was a little narrow for the number of runners, but no one around us seemed to mind.  After the lake was an uphill portion, which Christine dreaded before the start.  I told her to take small steps and to not look toward the top of the hill.  We ascended it in no time.  At the top of the hill, an irate woman in a large SUV was yelling at a race representative.  She could not leave her subdivision because racers were passing.  The race representative jogged toward a nearby police officer, and I was glad to leave the scene.  We ran around a neighborhood and back toward the amphitheatre.  It was hot, we were hot, and there was no shade.  No one should plan on a personal record at this race because of the summer evening start.  A quarter mile from the finish, I told Christine that if she had anything left, this was the time to turn it on, and she did. We finished strong together.

We got a bottle of water and made our way toward the finish celebration where we feasted on scrumptious carb laden creations catered by La Farm Bakery, one of the best bakeries in Cary.  The food was great, and we could use tickets for wine, champagne and beer.  I took a glass of champagne just because I've never had champagne at a race.  We relaxed, recovered and enjoyed dinner and good conversation with one of Christine's neighbors and one of her friends.  Before leaving, we visited some of the vendors on hand including Wild Planet Tuna.  In another booth, we could have had our nail polished changed, hair braided or a massage of some sort, but feeling a little sweaty, we passed.  Just before leaving, we watched the award ceremony for the 5K.  The first three young woman to finish ran fast and were competitive.  So, while this race is a fun girls night out, competitors can also find their place at the event on the podium.  Christine and I checked our posted finish time and went home happy.

My friend Christine and I crossing the finish line together.
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