The Heights 5k

So, I ran The Heights 5k today. Yea, yea, yea another running blog wtf? We are every where. I am not sure who the announcer is for this race but I have heard him many times before at other races. His voice has become like the voice of God before the storm. As the horn sounded today he sent us off with some sage advise, "Take your time going but hurry back" how great is that for a send off. I chuckled. All I could think as I crossed the start, was about how crowed it was. Normally once you pass the walkers (more about walkers who insist on lining up before runners later) races tend to spread out but that wasn't the case today...it was the street, two really narrow lanes that forced many people to run the median in order to get out of the crowd. The course was good, down Heights ave (blvd, st, whatever) catch a turn around and head back up where you started, most pointed out and back race I have been at. The 3 water stops were a welcome change, so directors see a 5k as a no biggie and skip the water tables altogether but with this heat it was more than justified to have them. Did I mention it was 73 at 6 am when I left for the race, and about 50% humidity, the weather guy said today was going to be the hottest day of the year so far, (it's only June 1st, summer has yet to hit Houston) 93 is what our predicted top out temp.  Anyways, I brought my handheld bottle b/c you never know. I always check out what gear other people feel the need to bring for a 5k. I mean as far a races go it's not really that far and even the walkers finish under the 1 hour mark so the need for true running gear is small. BUT people still feel the need to run with full 4 bottle belts or even camel backs. I don't get it. I ran well for the first mile, I knew I was going faster than the heat was going to allow me to continue at but I trucked on hitting the first flag at 11 minutes, hit the turn around slowing to about a 11:30 pace until the 2nd mile marker. By then I knew I was in trouble, running too fast for the heat. So I switched to a 1 minute run :50 second walk (hey it was the last pace my kid and I were working at for her first 5k) it took a bit to settle in but over all it was the best choice for the heat. Here comes my next biggest pet peeve, crowded finish lines, oh you finished that's great now get the fuck out of my way. Crossed the finish, no thanks to the lady pushing her running stroller across the street, and on the other side...nothing...no water. Temp over 80 by now and they have run out of water for finishers and what is that I see on the park bench a runner struggling with the heat, looks to be about passed out, sad sight. BUT MAYBE had there been enough cold water at the finish for everyone his distress could have been diverted. Lots of tents up in the park for the after party, plenty of apples,out of bananas, tons of stale bagels (so sick of stale bagels at races), a iced coffee line that is bigger than any beer line I have ever waited in BUT NO FUCKING WATER! On the way out I crossed path with an ambulance with full sirens blazing, I hope that runner down is alright and no one else was hurt. I ran about a C race for me, heat really kills it for me and for the race itself, D+ no excuse for running out of water.