Mills River Brewing 5-K

We have always liked Mills River, a rural area that we often drive through between Brevard and Asheville.  Aside from its scenic beauty, it also boasts five breweries within a mile or two of one another – Sierra Nevada, Burning Blush, Bold Rock, Appalachian Mountain, and Mills River Brewery – and we had learned there was a 5-K race at the last-named establishment.  Beautiful scenery (that we remembered as being relatively flat), a 10:00 a.m. start time, and a brewery with free beer at the finish – what more could a runner ask for?  The upbeat website promised a fun time for all:

Join us for an exhilarating day of fitness and fun at the Mills River Brewery annual 5-K Race and Family Fun Run!  Whether you’re a seasoned runner aiming for a new personal record or a family looking for a lively and healthy way to spend the day together, this event is perfect for all ages and abilities.  Set in a beautiful, community-friendly location, our 5K race offers a well-marked, scenic course suitable for competitive runners, while the Family Fun Run provides a relaxed and joyful atmosphere for families and children to jog, walk, or even skip their way to the finish line.  Enjoy a day filled with energy, laughter, and the spirit of community as we come together to celebrate fitness, family, and fun!

Martha was not sure she wanted to run this race due to an injured hamstring, and when we arrived and she had walked a few steps, she confirmed that it would be a mistake.  It was a perfect Spring day for a race, overcast, temperatures in the 60s, and as expected there were many children and dogs in attendance. 

I lined up with about 200 other runners on a gravel road adjacent to a large grass field, and when the race started I was relieved when we quickly turned onto paved roads – I do not do well on uneven terrain.  The route climbed uphill (my memory of “relative” flatness had been faulty), turned right, climbed uphill some more, and then turned right and continued to climb, about a mile of uphill running in all, before turning and going back downhill.  When I checked my Garmin watch after the race, I discovered that the course had 142 feet of ascent compared to 148 feet of ascent at our last race in Easley (see previous post). 

The course was a beautiful one, though, with brilliant freshly-mowed grass all around and azaleas and dogwoods blooming.  A light, misty rain came and went, cooling us off just when it was needed, and I enjoyed the fragrance of the flowering trees and grass.  And I really can’t complain about hills – I run them all the time in Highlands.  But I was a little put off by the last half-mile, which was a long loop around those large grass fields.

At least the grass had been recently mowed, and here and there someone had marked holes with an “X” in white paint.  Most of the runners (except for we “seasoned” and “competitive” runners) were walking at that point, as if out for a morning stroll.  I was happy with my time of 44:22, a little faster than my last race, and proud that I did not stop to walk the steeper hills as many others did.

I didn’t see anyone exactly skipping their way to the finish line, but it was a fun family event, with plenty of small children participating in the Fun Run.  One little boy in the restroom afterward asked me earnestly, “Did you do the Fun Run?”  I guess I didn’t looked seasoned or competitive at that point. “No, I ran the other race.  How did you do?” I asked him.  “I didn’t stop once!” he proudly announced.  “Good for you,” I said.  “You’ll be running the big race next year!”

The Brewery had plenty of picnic tables scattered out behind the building under tall trees, and we settled down with a very good IPA and waited for the awards, where I learned that I had taken third place in the 70-79 age group.  It was indeed a fun, family event.  And another good race - No. 216!