This race was one that my old cross country team puts on for a fundraiser. I ran it the previous year and had to sign up again this year. It is run on their home XC course, which is a hilly route at the local soccer complex. You complete 3 laps, moving from soccer field to soccer field, which are separated by short, steep hills. There is one long, gradual hill that you run during each lap, and it is tough. The looping can make the course a little repetitive, and can cause you to be lapped if youre towards the back, but these are things easily are ignored with such a fun race.

The weather usually is hot, and if it rains the night before, the course will be soupy, as this year was.

Overall, it is a great race that benefits a great cause and provides other runners a look at what a cross country race looks like and feels like.

Check out my blog review for the race! https://theracecritic.blogspot.com/2017/07/john-penning-5k.html