Trot with Troops/PT Challenge

As runners go, I'm of the gimicky variety.  No offense to those who sign up every weekend for a 5k through the summer, I'll run my share.  But what really makes me sign up for a 5k is the gimick.

Dress like a princess?  I just so happen to have a tutu to wear.  Mud & obstacles?  Bring it on.  Beer at the finish line?  Now you're talking my language.

When I saw the Trot with Troops 5k advertised in Rochester it already had my attention.  The first half of the 5k was to be run in formation, led by drill instructors calling out a cadence.  Even better, the proceeds from the race went towards Operation Patriot, helping America's returning soldiers in times of need.

As a bonus, participants could sign up this year for a "PT Challenge"- a short bootcamp followed by a 1.5 mile sprint to the finish line.  Push-ups and sit-ups?  I can do that, I figured.... so I signed up.
The day of the race was cold- especially next to the Genesee River!  The crowd was glad to start moving after the brief ceremony and swearing in of half a dozen Air Force recruits.  The first lap- starting from the Time Warner building on Mount Hope- went to the Ford Street Bridge, through Corn Hill Landing, back over the Exchange Street Bridge and home.  It was a SLOOOW lap, the Marines at the front setting a 9 1/2 mile pace.

And then we were done.  We went through the finish line and the group disbanded.  "Is that it?" I asked the runner next to me.  He glanced at his GPS watch and said "Yup, that was 2.7 miles.  Close enough, I guess."

Figuring we had a few minutes until the PT challenge portion started I went to find the bathrooms and the water station... only to find out from a very irate drill instructor that there was a second lap.  Apparently my fellow runner needs a better GPS.

When it came time for the PT Challenge there were less than 20 people left.  We were led through a series of push-ups, sit-ups, and other drills while drill sargents came around taking 10 seconds off our time if we couldn't keep up the pace.  The exercise portion wasn't necessarily difficult on its own.  But the drilll instructors yelling made it seem a lot tougher!  I heard many times "Number 8 zero 2 get all the way down on those girlie pushups!"

Then it was off to the race- after a 25-yard bear crawl and 25-yard low crawl under wires.  Another 1.6 mile lap around the course and through the finish line for the final time.

The winner walked away with $500.  I went home with a skinned elbow... and a lot of respect for the men and women who do this on a daily basis.