Date: 2010-12-04
To: Cadiz,KY
Miles today: 0.0

Saturday December 4thAfter less than a day of driving back from the NC mtns...& a whole day full of meetings & errands...I head North to Cadiz,KY for the 3rd Annual Reindeer Run 5K...This event is @ the start of the Christmas Parade there in Cadiz...so...it should be over quick...I havent exercised all week...(walking or treadmilling)....so, I'm just hoping for a "decent" time...I Map-quested a printed map before I left the house & also borrowed Donna's GPS unit...just to make sure i dont get lost...(never been to Cadiz before)...As i approached Clarksville area on the Interstate (I-24)....i just noticed the GPS was telling me i had over 2 hours to go til i arrived...the race starts @ 5:45pm...& it said i was to arrive @ 5:40pm....YIKES!That CAN'T be right!...my map said it was only 1 hour & 21 mins drive...the GPS said it was 2 hours & 22 mins....I hope that darn GPS is wrong...As i make it into KY its getting darker...& cloudier...a possiblility of rain mixed with snow tonite...hopefully it'll hold off til after the run...I make it to my exit...it says abt 36 miles to Cadiz...according to the GPS...I make my way onto Hwy 68/80...I pass by a couple signs that point to the right for Cadiz...but my GPS says continue on for another 10 miles...I guess the GPS knows where its going....i continue on....I drive out & over a bridge...over the Cumberland River?....yikes...where am I going....then by Lake Barkley resort....& then the GPS tells me turn right on Long Branch Rd....I slowly turn in...& abt that that time I see orange construction barrels...& just beyond...water....a load of water...maybe the back waters of Lake Barkley or the Cumberland....what in the world???...What has this GPS doing to me???...I turn around & figure...I can drive back to one of those signs pointing to Cadiz....i re-set the GPS...again to Cadiz, KY....but this time...instead of an exact address...i click on town center....so,....now the GPS is telling me to go back 6 miles....(which is where the sign to Cadiz is...)I turn onto Main Street...drive slowly...& finally (after stopping for directions to the Trigg County Middle School)arrive @ my destination...with 15 minutes to spare...luckily I'm already in my race-walking clothes & shoes....I go in...check in..get my "goodie bag" (yep!..another T-shirt...)pin my race number on...put a little strobe light on the back of my shirt...(so nobody runs me over!)& a few minutes later...a few announcements & we're off...I'm race-walking the 5K Run...So its very cold & the start of the race abt 30 degrees with wind blowing & dark!Down Main street....& almost out of town when we go down abt a 1/4 mile downhill....not good....this means going back its gonna be a killer up-hill...i turn the corner...& yep....theres that uphill...have to shift into high "go" gear to get up the hill...fairly steep too...& very dark...Main Street was lit well...this back road...the way back...not lit @ all & not closed to traffic....kinda scarey!walking...walking...fast-walking....uphill...then abt 1/4 mile...relatively flat...then more uphill...before making it back to the Middle School & around the school track for 3/4 length & the finish...I click my stop-watch & see my time...is not very good...35:57.25...My personl BEST time is: 35:05Not Bad... considering i havent exercised in over 10 days...i guess thats all i could've hoped for...I stayed for the prizes & awards (just in case)...but there was a mix-up in times...they will post them on the Bowling Green(KY) Road Runners website...in the near future.I did win a couple door prizes...movie passes & ear muffs...weeeeeeee ;0)I have another event next week...that one is a bit closer...in Nashville...@ SHelby Bottoms...the SnowFlake 5K....its a RUN...but, of course...i'll be race-walking it...See ya'll out on the course & UP the trail!p.s. recieved my 3rd place medal (i came in 3rd place out of 7 runners in my 55-59 age group)yesterday...woooooo-hoooooo!