2010 The Amigos for Christ “Strides for Strength” 5K Race Review

The Amigos for Christ “Strides for Strength” 5K is a small family oriented event with approximately 200 pre-registered runner and walkers.  The race is held at the Suwanee Town Center Park in Suwanee, GA about 30 miles northeast of Atlanta in Gwinnett County on the first Saturday of October in the morning of their “Celebrate Service Music Festival”.  A little background on Amigos for Christ, they are a international non-profit organization started and based in Buford, Georgia in 1999.   Amigos for Christ is an interdenominational service ministry which has provided several million dollars in aid to the poor and has created opportunities for families to flourish. They focus on strengthening families without resources through our community development, health, education, long-term missionary, water and sanitation, small business, and spirituality programs in rural communities.  Please visit their website, http://www.amigosforchrist.org, to learn more.

 

The Course:

 

The course is an out and back 5K which starts in the Suwanee Town Center Park on Boston Common St near the Olde Town Grill.  The course starts on a long fairly steep down hill (~.5 mi) and runs through a beautiful cluster home subdivision to the entrance of the Suwanee Greenway Trail, which makes for a good first mile split.  The trail starts with a well made and maintained wooden bridge that leads to an asphalt “soft” trail.  Once you are on the asphalt trail it is relative flat with one police protected road crossing.  They had two water stations (one with bananas) and the turn around was on a wide area of the trail which allowed for you to maintain a decent pace.  The middle section of the course which is all on the asphalt trail is mostly flat with one small hill for crossing Martin Farm Rd is also conducive to a fast pace.  The last half mile is all up hill.  The finish line was about 50’ beyond the start line with an elevation increase of an additional 12'.  Over all I would give the course difficulty a rating of a 5.2/10 (course difficulty rating of 5.2 is perfect for a family course) is a due to the finish. 

 

Things I liked about the race:

 

·   Cost, only $20 for the race which also included entrance fee for a 3 on 3 soccer tournament, corn hole tournament, a dessert contest, and a five mile family fun bike ride and music from 10am until 10pm.  I almost forgot to mention, a cotton Amigos for Christ t-shirt. 

·   There was plenty of parking and close to the start.

·   Race day registration and race packet pick up, always a nice option for smaller races.  The race day packet included discounts to the at park restaurants which could come in handy during the Celebrate Service Music Festival.

·   The logistics of the event, everything (race packet pick-up & race day registration) was within 125’ of the start line.

·   Plenty of real bathrooms since it took place at the Suwanee Center Park.  No waiting in line at a porta-potty half concern of a swamp monster jumping out and biting you if squatting is necessary.

 

Things I was indifferent about:

 

·   No wave starting, children, walkers and runners all started at the same time, which require faster runners to weave in and out with them. When children participate in races generally they are not ware of race etiquette.  Many of the children start out like it’s a 50 yard dash and when they run out of energy they just stop on the dime, which is very dangerous.  Or keeping to the right so faster runners can pass.

·   The course is on a very popular local running trail with many casual Saturday morning walkers, bikers, dog walkers, roller bladders, strollers, some are going with you and some are going against you. 

·   Nothing at the finish area; water, bananas, etc

 

Tips:

 

·   Bring your own water, energy drinks and gels for the finish area.

·   If you are fast or want to finish with a PR, go to the starting line early.

·   Be prepared for inexperience runners/walkers and casual Saturday morning obstructions.

 

Summery:

 

I love this race for what it is – a great family event.  You will love the scenery and it is for a great cause.  I plan on running this race again next year and I hope you will join us.