Sweat Your Thorns OFF Virtual 5km Race Report

 

I decided to take part in Adam the boring runner’s virtual 5km race even though it is winter here in South Africa now. The race is called “Sweat Your Thorns Off 5k” because of the heat experienced in the USA at the moment. I could not have had a more opposite experience than this morning’s.


A very strong cold front moved over the country yesterday and this morning was the coldest so far this year in Johannesburg. The low was -2°C (28.4F) and when I went out for my run it was 0°C (32F). There is also a very annoying and freezing wind blowing today. During my run it was no different.


I’ve never run a 5km race but this was my second virtual 5km race. I had 7.5km planned for today and decided to run the first 5km as the race. I have a nice 2.5km loop from my front gate through our neighborhood and decided to run three of the loops.


The wind was really cold and quite strong, but other than that I had a good run. I pushed a little towards the end of the second loop to complete the 5km virtual race in 28:20. Not fast in most books, but for me that was more than fast enough.


I completed another loop for my 7.5km and then went for the prize giving.


Post race photo. I did sweat (a bit) even though it was zero degrees.

The race swag was all home made in my garden. A lovely ice medal from the bowl of water I put out last night for the race and a lovely branch with thorns from the thorn tree I planted 4 years ago. Maybe I didn’t sweat the thorns off, but they were handpicked just for this race.

Thanks Adam, for hosting the race! Maybe I’ll do a proper sweat one when you host a freeze race in your winter.


Happy running everyone!