Plumbers and Pipefitters 5K

Last Saturday several people were talking about a 5K on Monday night.  I was kind of surprised because most of them are serious, competitive runners and don't usually do the funsy type races.  The race is the Plumbers and Pipefitters 5K.  It's put on by the Plumbers and Pipefitters union and raises money for wounded soldiers.  The Plumbers have to have education every year for their licenses and this past week was a big annual week-long plumbers convention type thingy. 
Sunday evening, my long time running group friend, Larry, texted asking if I was going to go.  He was going and said that I should go.  I looked up the details and ended up registering because, surprisingly, online registration was still open.  It rained all day Monday and I found myself wondering why I was so quick to register for this thing.  It rained all the way as I drove to downtown Ann Arbor before the race.  It stopped raining as I was pulling into the parking lot where I parked.  I walked a few blocks to where I picked up my number and shirt.  Bonus - a neon yellow shirt which I will wear for biking!  It started sprinkling while I was in the race area.  I walked back to my car with the shirt and to wait to hear from Larry.  I suddenly had my doubts that he would show up.  I was sitting in my car and it began raining again.  Lovely.  Larry called saying he was on his way and asked where I was parked so I told him and he arrived a few minutes later.  We walked in the rain to the race area.  He still had to register.  It did stop raining before the race started and didn't rain during the race.
I had a pretty good race!  I even won my age group!  When running a race put on by plumbers what would you expect as an award but a plumbing wrench!  Yep, age group awards were plumbing wrenches!

This is a real wrench! 

I came in at 26:40 for an 8:36 pace so this is counting as my tempo run for this week! 
Doug Kurtis, Detroit running celebrity who I talked about in my last post, was also at this race.  I was walking with Larry when they saw each other and talked for a few minutes before the race.  During the race, he was near the finish line with a portable PA system calling out to the runners.  It was a two loop course so we had to pass by the finish line on the first loop.  He said my name as I was coming up the street; I can't believe he remembered it!  He also put out his hand for a high five.  I found a picture in the race photos of me as I was putting my hand up to high five him!  I am pretty sure that both my feet are off of the ground in this picture!  I've always wanted a picture of me running where both feet are off the ground! 

High-fiving Doug Kurtis!  Both feet off the ground! 

When Larry was talking to Doug Kurtis I told him that I discovered his two page story in the July Runner's World magazine after the Red Carpet Run and said that I hope to get him to autograph my magazine article someday and he said he would love to!  He actually told Larry to bring it to the next meeting of the race that they are both on the staff of!  This could possibly be my first celebrity runner autograph! 

After the race it got chilly and I ended up driving home with the heat on in the car.  Yes, heat on August 11th.
After it was all said and done, I'm glad that I ran this race! I can't wait to find something to use my wrench on!

Runner Nerd
runs to win cool prizes