On November 30th, I set out the Esther Short Park in Vancouverto run in the Hot Buttered Run, put on by Energy Events. The race offered two different options, a 5k or a 12k run, in addition to the kid’s races. I was excited about this race because a lot of people from my running group were all signed up to run together, which makes running so much more fun for me. My friend Mechell and I planned out our festive holiday outfits the week before the race and came packed with Christmas spirit.
The Hot Buttered Run Photo Credit: Jon Hokama
I met up with the other 5k runners from our running group at the beginning of the race right after the 12k runners left at 9:30. It was crowded in the starting area, and very cold. Luckily there was a bag check so we could wear our jackets until the last-minute before checking them. After a couple of pre-run photos we lined up in the starting chute before taking off for the 5k race.
Mile 1 Photo Credit: Amber Corsen
I’ve ran many races along the Washington side of the Columbia River waterfront but this one seemed a little different. The course starts in Esther Short park and took runners north on Main Street before turning east on Evergreen Blvd. towards Officers Row. Once there, we took a right and ran south through Fort Vancouver. There was a short out and back on 5th street that took us to the Pearson Air Museum and back. I normally don’t enjoy out and back’s but I thought this one was great because I got to give my fellow running group teammates high fives as we passed each other.
Amber and Mechell at the Hot Buttered Run Photo Credit: Kurt Schmidt
There was a water station positioned at mile 2, which was full of some of our running group people there to cheer us on. We took a couple of pictures at the Fort before headed south and running over the walking bridge. The final half mile of the route was along the Columbia River waterfront, under the I-5 bridge, and back north to Esther Short Park. The course felt similar to parts of the Fort Vancouver Run, the Cosmo 7k run, and the Vancouver Half Marathon run, however this was in reverse. It felt like a completely new course, although very familiar.
Mile 2 at the Hot Buttered Run Photo Credit: Amber Corsen
At the finish line our entire group met up for some photos. There was a big Santa chair set up for people to take pictures in as well as many festive decorations that were perfect for photo ops. I heard Santa was there although I didn’t personally get to see him. The line for the hot buttered rum was very long so I decided not to wait it in but some of my friends stayed and enjoyed the free rum drinks. Overall, I thought this event was very festive, fun to do as a group, it was a familiar-yet-new course and was really well-organized.
Photos in Santa’s Chair at the Hot Buttered Run Photo Credit: Amber Corsen
