Race Recap: Run Sunset Beach 5K 2018
Back in May, we traveled to Sunset Beach, NC for the Run Sunset Beach 5K and 1-miler. While the weather on race day was terrible (sideways, torrential rain and crazy wind), the race experience itself was pretty awesome, and I highly recommend Coastal Race Productions races.
They’re very organized, the expo was nice and well run, the t-shirts are ones I actually want to wear (a rarity in race t-shirts), and the medals are pretty awesome. All races distances get a medal, too, including the 1-miler.
Since Sunset Beach is a few hours from our house, we went up the day before for the expo and to hang out at the beach. It was a little grey and kind of clammy (chilly in the 70s but still humid), but we still had a fun time collecting shells.
On race day, we woke up to pouring rain, but still crazy humid. Such a perfect combo for racing, especially when a bridge is involved. Twice.
We stayed within walking distance to the race at the Sea Trail Resort, which was nice since the starting line didn’t have parking and required riding a shuttle if you weren’t staying close by. If you come in from out of town, I recommend staying at this resort since it’s where the expo is and it’s so close to the start line.
That bridge was most of the race on an out and back course
The course itself is run mostly on a big bridge and it’s out and back, so that means hills (and had it been sunny, a rather hot race)! But in this case, it meant a lot of wind. And rain. It was raining so hard, my eyes were stinging and I was afraid I’d lose my contacts (fortunately, that didn’t happen!).
Because of the rain, I put my phone away so I had no idea what my time or pace was at all. And really, it didn’t matter, because all-out racing in that weather wasn’t really possible for me. I was just trying to see and not fall.
I was also dealing with the remnants of my nearly 8 month UTI battle then, and was on antibiotics that made me feel gross. However, in spite of that, and the weather, I think I ran a fairly strong race. It wasn’t exactly the time I’d hoped for, but given I’ve been sick for more than 2 years (anemia, infection, etc), my body is going to take some time to recover and regain speed.
I finished the race in 27:27, an 8:50 pace, which was a little faster than the beach run a month earlier.
So much rain!
After I finished the 5K, we had to wait about 45 minutes until the 1-miler started. B got a little restless, but we gave him a snocone to help calm him down. Then he was freezing. Sigh. Anyway, after a few meltdowns and him wanting to leave, we finally started the 1-miler and he took off!
Post-race sno cones - even though he was cold, he wanted one!
The 1-miler was a loop around the park and we ran it 3 times. Little dude ran the entire way and came in about an 11:30 pace. He was so proud of himself and his medal! (And I was proud of him, too.)
I will definitely be back for more Coastal Race Productions races (they run the Wilmington Historic Half, which is my goal race for this fall), and I’ll probably be back to Sunset Beach next year.
Post-race medal (apparently, I was also 3rd in my age group but left before I could claim my award)
Little guy with his medal
Race info
Race: Run Sunset Beach 5K (also a half marathon and untimed 1-miler option)
Date: May 19, 2018
Location: Sunset Beach, NC
Medals: Yes, for all distances
Course: Road, out and back, no shade, mostly on a bridge
Weather: 70s, 100% humidity, torrential rain and wind
Performace (1/worst to 5/best):3
Health: Dealing with a UTI