Vacation Races' Everglades 5K Experience
I’m back at it with another Vacation Races event, but this time it’s in my backyard: Everglades 5K. This is the first time since 2017 that Vacation Races is back in Florida and the event featured a 5K on Friday night and a half marathon on Saturday morning. Keep on reading for my experience with the 5K race.
Accommodations
This race is semi-local for me in that it was about an hour away in Homestead, FL. Still, it’s always nice to be able to stay, sleep, eat, rest, and recover in my own home pre- and post-race.
Expo
The expo for this was special as I was there as a race sponsor on behalf of Cor∙rer Retreats. Let me tell you, it’s pretty interesting to be on the other side of things as a vendor! I still got to experience the expo as a runner though; bib and shirt pick up were straight-forward and the vendors that were there met all your needs for a fun race experience. I personally stocked up on Goodr’s National Parks collection of sunglasses.
Pre-Race
I spent the day at the expo so my pre-race experience included being outside all day, standing for long periods of time, teaching yoga, and setting up/breaking down our sponsor area. Thankfully, the weather was great all day and I had easy access to water and bathrooms. Aside from this, I loved that everything pre-race (parking, expo, bathrooms, and start line) was in the same area. Because expo ended at 4:30pm, I didn’t have time to get my usual pre-race warm-up done before the 5:00pm race start time.
Post-Race
Vacation Races gives each runner the best snack box right after the finish line. Heck, it’s an amazing snack box for a 5K race – a distance that normally sees fruit or bagels at the end. The nice thing about this race is that it started and ended on Schnebly Winery property and runners had the option to celebrate their 5K finish at the winery or the brewery (I didn’t because your girl was TIRED).
On the Course
The unique thing about Vacation Races is that they are cup-free events, meaning you have to bring your own bottle or use the free reusable and collapsible cup they give each runner at expo. As a result, when you reach the water and electrolyte station at the midpoint of the race, you need to have your own cup in order to hydrate.
Spectators were limited to the very beginning and the last .10-mile of the course due to course route. As someone who loves and appreciates spectators, the lack of spectators for a good chunk of the race actually didn’t bother me because I was surrounded by runners the entire time.
The looped course was a bit of a challenge for this concrete jungle runner as there was gravel and grass along different parts of the course. From mile marker 3 to the end of the race, you are running on grass. It’s not that it’s awful, it just requires a different level of awareness and effort from me. I liked running on roads flanked by fruit farms because it allowed me to see parts of South Florida that I don’t normally see.
Race Experience
I don’t normally run in the evening, so my goal for this race to run strong and not end feeling like I need to throw up (that’s how I felt after the Great Smoky Mountains 5K). Both goals were accomplished, and I felt steady the entire time; I even took the last mile as a chance to work on surges and have fun with a little bit of speedwork. While the temperature was “cool” by Florida standards, the sun was OUT and there was no protection from the sun (I have an interesting tan now!). Thankfully, the sun didn’t bother me too much, but I heard from others that it was hot and humid for their preferences. What did get to me, however, was the length of the course as my watch logged 3.44 miles. Keeping in mind where the race started and ended and the course, there really wasn’t nowhere else they could have “shaved” distance off to make it an exact 3.1. I would have liked to know that the course was longer, but because I wasn’t racing for time, the length of the course didn’t bother or upset me. My family was at the finish line, making this finish line an extra special one.
Overall Impression
I love Vacation Races and I love what they stand for when it comes to racing responsibly with nature in mind. I would do any and all of their races over and over again, so this race was a win for me. It was fun to run in the more agricultural parts of South Florida and I appreciated getting to meet all the non-local runners that follow Vacation Races across the country. I personally wasn’t bothered by the longer course, but if I were racing for time, it probably would have frustrated me. Hopefully this isn’t an issue for the half marathon on Saturday!
Pros
Local race for me.
Same-day expo and race: especially important given the race is about an hour away from me.
5pm start time that’s almost a rolling start, even though there are different waves (you self-select which wave to be in).
Quick and easy expo experience for bib and shirt pick up.
Plenty of runners so you never feel like you are running alone.
Running through farmlands on concrete, gravel, and grass.
Post-race snack box.
Plenty of bathrooms with little to no wait.
Beautiful race medal commemorating the 75th anniversary of Everglades National Park.
Cup-free race.
Cons
Homestead and Schnebly Winery can be a little far for most people.
Depending on preference, course terrain might be a challenge.
Depending on preference, evening races can be a challenge.
Course was long for me, making my pace per mile different from the official results.
No race photographers (that I noticed).
No spectators for big chunks of the race.
For those of you who like the numbers, my official time for a 5K was 32:55 (again, my watch logged 3.44 miles). Next up for me is the Freaky 4-Miler on Saturday, October 22nd.
Related Links (not sponsored!):
