Latest reviews by Jackey Deschamps

(2019)
"World Refugee Day 5k"
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This was a virtual run for me so I ran it around my neighborhood which I love but I loved running for a good cause. I loved that across the planet refugees were coming together to run a 5k as well.
I am super excited to get my BOCO hat. It looks super pretty and I love wearing baseball hats especially in the summer.
Overall if you’re looking to do a virtual this is a great one and the swag is different which is a plus

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(2019)
"First race in NYC- Brooklyn Half"
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I was super excited to run my first race in NYC. The race expo was very organized and bib pickup was easy. We got great race shirts as well. Race day morning the subway was a little complicated getting to race start but luckily my friends new where they were going.
I loved the course. The first half was through a hilly park but it wasn’t too bad and the sights made it worth it. There was a stretch on the highway and it got pretty hot, but the water and Gatorade stops were every single mile, which was fantastic. You finish the race in the boardwalk at Coney Island which I just loved. It was a beautiful day and the post race party was at the minor league baseball stadium. We went to the beach after and went to the amusement park on the boardwalk and rode the cyclone and ate Nathan’s hot dogs at the original

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(2019)
"A great smaller 5k "
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I signed up last minute, about 10 minutes before the race started for this one. Last minute price was 30.00. It was based at a restaurant on Grand Island NY (Say Chesse Pizza). Since I got there so late I didn’t get to experience too much prerace atmosphere. It was cold and rainy and many people were crammed in the restaurant. Which was dry and warm. The volunteers were super nice. Offering to hold onto my swag bag til after but I decided to run to car and put in there.
For a 5k last minute signup the swag was great. A nice tech T-shirt, a purple ribbon sugar cookie, granola bar, chapstick and hand sanitizer. More than I’ve gotten for half marathons. Who doesn’t love free goodies.
This was a smaller 5k. Looking at results it had 170 complete it. There were many many volunteers throughout, one water station. I didn’t notice a medic station but possible there was one. They even had a photographer on the course and taking pics after. She was a volunteer and must’ve been freezing in the rain. So thank you!! After the race they had pizza and hot dogs and some fruit. You also got a ticket for free beer after. I hung around after because I saw results and realized I got 3rd in my age group so I wanted to get my medal! Yay! The restaurant was very crowded. Great race overall despite the weather. I’d do it again.

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(2019)
"Hermes Cleveland 10miler "
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I would recommend this race to a friend with some warnings. I had a friend that lived in Cleveland that said just a few rolling hills. LIES! The weather wasn’t cooperative either so between both of these things the race wasn’t high on my list.
We picked up our bibs morning of the race and it was cold and windy. The wind off Lake Erie was horrible.
Bib pickup must’ve been easy since I can’t really remember. We had to walk up a huge hill to get to start from where we parked. Once race started I wasn’t familiar with course and the hills didn’t stop. We were twisting and winding all over and it just felt like a very difficult race to me. I live where it’s flat. The weather made any post race party difficult as it finished right neck to the lake which was like a frozen windy tundra.
The medals were pretty cool, and they had chocolate milk after the race which I always love. Though I doubt I’ll drive all the way to Cleveland for this one.

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(2019)
"Superhero 5k- an unexpected emotional run"
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My family and I planned a last minute getaway to Sarasota to get away from the cold Buffalo weather. Before leaving I googled local races just because hey you never know. And I saw there was a 5k less than a mile from our hotel. I also saw the theme for this race was super hero so I went to my costume bin and pulled out one of my favorite race costumes, Ms Marvel.
The morning of race I woke up early and since we planned to hang at hotel that day and my teenage boys were sleeping I decided to go. The race takes place along Benderson Park which appeared to be a big lake meant for rowing. Initially I went to the wrong end of the lake where a rowing meet was taking place and must’ve looked silly in my costume but then I checked the fb page and realized I was in the wrong place. Luckily my husband was with me and we quickly rushed to the right spot.

I was hoping I wasn’t too late to register. It was around 8:25 and race started at 9. I was the last person they let register.
My husband left to go back to hotel and I waited for race to begin. They had several tents lined up from different local companies giving out freebies and a local school band playing. They had a fun 1mile/kids run that was taking place before the 5k.

So let me get to the emotional part. This race was meant to help kids in foster care in the Sarasota area. When I registered they gave me a card with a child’s name. They told me I would be running for Jonathan, there was a photo and a little bio about him. As a mom to 3 young boys this touched me. And I thought about Jonathan a bit thought the race. Also they had written in chalk hundreds of names of each child written on the pavement. And along the course they had signs that really spoke to my heart. An example “Superman was adopted”.

It was a bit odd being at a race where I knew absolutely nobody. And it seems like Sarasota had a tight knit running community. Lots of people knew eachother.
The course was an out and back. Not my favorite type typically but I didn’t mind being that I have never been here and it was nice to know when I was halfway done at the turnaround.
It was also quite warm out. I’m not sure to it. They had a water stop at mile 1 and again when you came back at mile 2.
At the finish they had water. I think there was some food at tents but I didn’t stand in line to wait.
I did go to registration tent after race to see if they happen to have extra shirts and they did and I was happy because it was a super soft Bella Cotton T-shirt.
As for awards I thought it was great the top 6 in each age group won a medal or ribbon. I came in 13 in my age group. No medal or ribbon for me. They also had costume contest but I didn’t wait for it. I thought the awards would take a while and I wanted to get back to hotel and the family. My husband came to pick me up after race and had no problem finding parking or finding me.
I would recommend this 5k because it’s really a wonderful cause. Everything seemed smooth and I’m so happy I did it!

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