The 2015 edition of the Rum Run in Tualatin and Tigard was an eventful one, with a snafu leading to a wrong turn in the 10k and subsequent congestion for both the 10k and 5k races along the narrow, winding paths of Cook Park. But you know what? For me, the 5k turned into a unique and entertaining adventure run of sorts, and in the end it was a lot of fun. A festive atmosphere awaited runners at Tualatin Commons, with a variety of sponsors and vendors tents offering samples and information.
After seeing the 10k runners off, I did a short warmup run, then returned to line up under the arch for the 5k start. Both races started in waves based on anticipated pace per mile, a good idea given the nature of the course and the high percentage of paths and trails involved.
When the horn sounded, a couple of teenagers bolted to the front (and I mean they took off like Usain Bolt, sprinting out to a half-block lead before most of us had taken our first breath!) We followed the lead bike down Boones Ferry Rd. for a couple blocks, heading toward the railway trestle and the path past the dog park.
As we approached the entrance to the footpath, I noticed 10k runners coming along the road from the left and turning under the trestle and onto the path ahead of us. I thought this was unusual, as I hadn’t remembered the 10k course doing this in the past, but then I had only studied the 5k online before the race.
In any event, we 5k runners suddenly found ourselves in the midst of the throngs of 10k runners, all sharing the path. We had to duck, dodge, and weave our way through the crowd, carefully picking our spots, and darting through the gaps, gasping “Coming through!” or “On your left/right!” whenever we could.
At first there was an element of frustration and resignation as I was forced to slow my pace way down and stutter-step through the congestion, but those feelings soon gave way to a sharpened sense of concentration and a strategic and tactical mindset, as I carefully timed my accelerated bursts toward the open spots and made split-second decisions about where to aim myself next.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see other 5k runners around me picking alternate routes through the hordes, as our paces ebbed and flowed and we moved through any available open space. It was like a Le Mans auto race, where several different types of race cars share the track simultaneously, or maybe like salmon heading upstream.
Once we reached Cook Park, the paths became even more narrow and went from straight to curving, and the strategizing and maneuvering intensified. Was there enough room to take the inside line? Or should I be conservative and swing wide? Sometimes I shifted into overdrive and accelerated onto the grass for a few seconds of cross-country.
Your concentration had to be razor-sharp if you wanted to maintain a decent pace and avoid causing a major pile-up, and as the race went along I began to appreciate the novelty of the situation. This was more than just putting one foot in front of the other as rapidly as possible; it required a certain agility and athleticism not necessary in your average road race.
The 10k runners seemed to be aware of the situation, and were universally conscientious about making way when they became aware of 5k runners approaching. One woman in the 10k was calling out for people to move to the side, sacrificing a little of her own lung capacity to help us out, which I really appreciated.
Another unforeseen benefit of the 10k course error was that I got to see some familiar faces in the crowd. I was able to weave past some friends and cheer them on, which was a nice respite from the intense effort and focus of the rest of the race.
Despite the 10k snafu and the resulting congestion, I found the 5k course very well-marked and thoroughly staffed with volunteers. I finally rounded a turn and saw large signs directing the 10k to the left and the 5k to the right. After all the dodging, weaving, and darting, I emerged from the crowd and found myself in 4th place in the 5k, with the teenagers not as far ahead as I had imagined.
After a pleasant jaunt through the woods on bark chip trails, we rejoined the paved curving path we had run out on, this time with only outgoing runners coming toward us, making navigation much easier on the return trip.
After the whirlwind journey through the crowds, it was as if we were suddenly launched into open space, able to stretch out and pick up the pace without any constraints beyond our own cardiovascular limitations. Cheers from passing runners and walkers on their way out gave me a boost as I hit the straight path back toward the road. With the curves and the congestion in my “rearview mirror”, I felt like I was gaining on the leaders, though I never caught them.
We left the path, hit the wide open spaces of Boones Ferry Rd., and then headed back toward the Commons for a final loop around the lake to finish under the inflated arch. Lots of festivities awaited, including the namesake rum as well as a variety of other refreshments.
While the 10k course problems were an unfortunate glitch, almost everybody seemed to take it in stride, and the event was a happy celebration. As far as the 5k, I can’t speak for everybody, but in retrospect I had a blast!
