Erin Go Braugh 7.77k – Post Race Recap 2017

2013 to 2017!

This is my 5th time running this race – I absolutely love it! I even request it off so that I can run it (or I would probably be stuck working it). I would have to say it’s my favorite 3W race.

I’m not quite sure what it is about this race that I love so much – there’s a lot of good things:

The course is super fun (a hilly lollipop 4.8 miles = 7.77k), dirt and concrete
Cute swag (green shirts with fun phrases like “Kiss me I ran 7.77k”)
People always seem to be happy and in a good mood.
Dance and costume contests!
ALL YOU CAN EAT LUCKY CHARMS! (In case you couldn’t tell, I love Lucky Charms. In fact, I’m eating this year’s race leftovers for dessert right now.)

Heath (a 3W friend), Me, Ben and Luke

This year was no exception and I even got to run it with Ben! #thosethatruntogetherstay together (except that I left him behind when he started to walk due to knee pain #feelingguilty). We started off together and it wasn’t until about 5.77k that Ben had to walk.

I was feeling pretty good and asked him a few times if he wanted me to stay with him. He assured me I could keep pushing the pace I was going. Before I knew it there was another runner beside me, keeping my exact pace. He was super nice and kept pushing me to keep going. If I slowed, I’d see him look over his shoulder, silently saying “come on! Hang in there!”

Wearing ALL the colors!

With just a half mile left, Chewey I learned later, was audibly speaking, “Almost done! Keep going!” We sped around the corner and over the bridge into the finish. Everything hurt but I felt very accomplished. Chewey greeted me with a high five as we waited for Ben to finish just a few minutes later. It turns out, Chewey is trying run 54 races in a year while dealing with Type 1 diabetes! The Erin Go Braugh was his 24th race and he was such a sweet person and truly inspiring.

Friends of Erin Go Braugh (Chewey is on the right)

Once Ben came across the finish line, we got our Lucky Charms and hung out with our friends. I didn’t place in my age group this year (last year I was 1st) but I was 4th! For this course, I ran my second fastest time. Next year I want to beat my Erin Go Braugh PR!