Port to Park 5K Recap

Port to Park 5K Series

Location: Port Richey Waterfront Park, Florida

Date: Friday, May 11^th, 2012

Participants: 61

The Port to Park 5K Series is a little different than 5Ks I’ve done in the past. It’s a small, family-friendly, local event that is run in the evening at 7pm over the course of three evenings. Also happening just before the 5K is a diaper dash and kids 1-miler.

A series like this is a great example of why it’s fantastic to goLocal. While probably one of the cheaper sports to get into, running can start to get expensive the more events you sign up for. Event fees and travel costs add up. By staying local, you cut out most of the travel cost. And many smaller events are very affordable. Port to Park for instance was $25 per race, but only $35 ($45 late registration) if you sign up for the full series of 3 races, each a month apart. It doesn’t get much better than that!

For the most part, you give up all the bells and whistles for the lower entry fee – no overflowing goodie bags, no blinged out finisher medals, no expos or vendor tents, etc. However, I was pleasantly surprised that my $45 entry fee included a pretty nice tech shirt! The winners and category winners got medals (the rest of us got leis), as well as some odd categories like mid-packer, fastest stroller jogger, an dead last!

The course was mostly bike trail and road, but at the start and finish there was some running around the park in the gravel and grass. But it was an average course with police support at the crossing and two passes through a water station. The park is easy to get to, has ample parking, and real bathrooms (bonus!). Upon returning, there was music, fruit, beans and rice, a hula contest and limbo contest for the kids. The only snag was that they ran out of water afterwards.

Participating in a low key 5K keeps you tuned up and motivated without any pressure. The Friday evening timing was perfect for my husband and I so that we could still do our longer Saturday workouts.

So one down, two to go! Next time you’re searching for a race, goLocal!