The third annual Race for the Animals was muddy but fun. More than 200 people showed up for the rainy race last Saturday. The course wound up and down the hilly trails of Forest Park. It’s a spectacularly beautiful place.
Waiting for the Race for the Animals 5K to begin
The race included runners, walkers, a few little kids and several barefoot runners. Plenty of mud to ooze through their toes.
Barefoot runner Jennifer Deleon, all dressed up for the Race for the Animals
Considering it was my first ever 5K, I did pretty well. I finished in 41:25 despite descending the slippery hills in the slowest jog ever. Many of the runners were fearless, roaring past me as though they hadn’t noticed how easy it would be to slide over the muddy cliff.
If I run more 5Ks, maybe I’ll learn to hang my number straight. It was pretty early.
Innovative Timing Systems had a high tech system of recording our times through chips in our race bibs. I loved how they called out your name as you crossed the finish line. That was a victorious feeling.
The finish line!
Northwest VEG, Portland’s local vegetarian organization, raised about $6,000 for its education and outreach fund. Runners were rewarded post-race with endless delights, including treats from Back to Eden and Petunia’s Pies and Pastries.
Did I run enough to eat this many sweets? Probably not.
