We’ve run this race the past couple years, and in this post we’ll give you our best tips for a good race and a good time. If you don’t know, this race is a 5k put on by the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. It starts/ends right outside the arena. It draws some speedy folks. It also features a fun post-race party. Know you know.
Firsty off doe, lettuce say that we shant be running it this year ’round. Not cause we don’t like this event, but it just wasn’t happening this year. In years past, this race was in October, but this year they bumped it up to the first week of September. That’s a tough time for those of us with kids who just started the new school year. So we’ve got obligations – yeah, we’re adulting big time.
But for those of you going, here’s our tippity tips:
1.) GET THERE EARLY. It’s a (school) night race. That means you will be battling Dallas rush hour traffic to get there. That traffic blows. Our belief is that traffic is our living version of Hades. Leave early so you won’t be as stressed about making it to the race on time, while you sit in bumper to bumper Hades.
2.) PARK IN THE GARAGE. On game nights, this garage costs skrilla to park in. On race day, this garage don’t cost no skrilla. Park there and save the dolla dolla bills for making it precipitate later on (if you so choose).
3.) *TINKLE INDOORS. One yuuuuge perk of this race is they open up the arena so you can use the facilities pre & post race. Take advantage of that…Unless, of course, you prefer port-a-potties, then we’re sure you can find one around. There’s always construction going on in North Texas, and that means port-a-potties-a-plenty.
4.) GET READY FOR CRAMPED CONDITIONS. The race start is on a narrow street. You’ll be packed in the crowd like Swedish sardines. If you’re a faster runner, work your way to the start of the (only) corral. If you’re not a faster runner, get in your proper place (further back) as to not cause accidents/annoyances.
5.) **DON’T GO OUT TOO FAST. Once you pass the arena, you go down a nice little downhill. It’s the beginning of the race, so people are already jacked, don’t buy into their hype. They’ll be sprinting down that hill – resist the urge. Save that energy for later in the race.
6.) CAREFUL ON THE COURSE. It’s dark. There’s potholes. There’s switchbacks. There’s sprinkler run-off. Just be careful, please.
7. EMBRACE LONELINESS. There’s like one Mavs Cheer Station, the rest of the time it’s pretty lonely out there. Not much crowd support to speak of.
8.) **GIT UP DAT HEEL. You did save energy instead of sprinting down the hill at the beginning of the race, didn’t you? Didn’t you??? We hope so, cause you’ll need it to get back up the hill and finish strong.
9.) GIT YER DRANK ON. After the race, it’s party time…*Or potty time, if you need to go again. They usually have free adult brews and some live music. Find your friends (or make new ones) and get turnt (if you so choose).
If you’ve trained properly followed all of our tips, you’ll probably place in your age group and earn a medal. We were both lucky enough to do this last year.
And remember the other big perks of running this race: it benefits a great charity (Mavs Foundation) and you get A FREE TICKET VOUCHER TO A MAVS GAME!!!! You’ve gotta take advantage of dat!
So there you have it, kids. We hope our tips/pics inspire you to get out there and have a great time! Please let us know what you think in the comments!
Have you run this race before? Do you have any tips we missed? If not in Dallas, have you run any sports themed races in your town?
-Scott & Marsha #scarsha #commonlonghorns
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