Running Outta Our Mine 5K

Running Outta Our Mine 5K February 18, 2012

So the four of us traveledto Wampum PA to do the Runnin' Out of O
ur Mine 5K. The whole race was underground in a mine- which was why we decided to try it. We stayed in a very nice hotel (the Sheraton) in Cranberry PA and then drove the 20 miles to the race. First impression was wow- its much more modern than I expected. For some reason I had pictured narrow tunnel with wood support beams, bare bulb lights, possibly an old ore car rusting outside. The kind of mine where you expect to see an old grizzled miner with a pick ax wa
lking out yelling “there's gold in them hills!”

Instead we had a much more modern mine that was large and filled with RV's. The race began inside in a nice, moist 55 degree tunnel with a paved road. This soon turned to darker, gravely, and was filled with lots of turns and switchbacks past RV's and old carnival trailers mixed in among huge pillar rocks. Much more like a trail race. It was awesome! I ran along some nice man from outside Pittsburgh who was very nice andfinished with a time of 29:54, a personal 5K best for me and it was my first race back since partially tearing my Achilles last summer. Matt came in 27th overall with a time of 19:45 (6:21 per mile). Jared finished with a 31:50 and Cori finished with 37:04. She ran more of this 5K than she has for any other
and only stopped to walk twice.

We spent the rest of the weekend relaxing at the hotel, looking around the area stores, and eating. The sushi bar and hibachi grill was great! We looked around a store that looked cool and advertized a room that had all clothing 50% off. That sounds great but when the jeans are originally $245 half off doesn't mean crap. I wont pay more than like $30 for jeans so I don't know what kind of yuppies shop there. We did get some great new colorful running clothes through! ( Not at the same store).

The hot tub at the hotel was hot, the pool warn, the beds comfortable, and there was a glass elevator. I mention this because Matt and Jared took several trips up and down it Saturday night because there was a naked girl in a bed with the curtains wide open who waved at them. Obviously they think the hotel is great.

Tomorrow we head back to NY but this is definitely a race to do again! The road trip is not over until we get back!

-Jenni