Inspired by seeing my kids finish their race, I sprinted to a 5K PB

A great way to spend an early May weekend was participating in the Chocolate Race in St. Catharines, Ont. with our kids also running and my husband as the unsung hero coat-holder. This was a high-energy, fun, superhero and chocolate filled event that I can’t wait to go to again next year.

The event started with the Kids 1K superhero run for Mom. Cuteness overload ensued while little kids and toddlers decked out in superhero costumes ran alongside their moms also wearing superhero outfits.

Next up was the 2.5K Kids run in which our kids ran on the heels of the 1K Kids’ Run in the Mercedes-Benz race in Oakville, Ont. two weeks prior. They have been doing well with the long distances at their school
Track and Field races, so I promoted this as continued training for them and a ramp up to their much-anticipated 5K Foam Fest at Wasaga Beach, Ont. this summer.

For the 2.5K kids’ race, the top 10 finishers were going to win a gift for their mothers. I’ve never cheered as hard as I saw my daughter sprint to the finish line in the top 10. Ella finished in just over nine minutes and my son finished quickly behind in just over 11 minutes. I can’t help but think how quickly they would be able to run a 5K – if we double their time they would be completing it in half the time it takes me to finish a 5K. They even got to enjoy some Smarties at the halfway mark. (It was a chocolate race, after all)!

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The course was beautiful, winding through forest trails, by a beautiful beach and winding through a subdivision. It was apparent that this race is embraced by the St. Catharines community. Entire families
were sitting outside on their front yards watching and cheering on racers. A pop-up water stand at the
edge of a family’s front yard was staffed by young children, and was a popular stop for the runners.

I especially enjoyed the two chocolate stations throughout the 5K Race. Volunteers were handing out chocolate covered marshmallows and strawberries and a wooden pick. When I approached the station
and they asked me if I wanted one, my response was an emphatic “heck yes!” The treats were a bit of a
challenge to eat while running, but delicious nonetheless. I definitely appreciated the sugar rush and I
think my running benefitted from it. Inspired by seeing my kids sprint to the end of their race, I sprinted to the end of mine.

To my amazement, I had a 5K personal best of 37:34.

So take time to smell the roses – or in this case taste the chocolate – and will come out ahead in the end!