The Pickle Run is a 30K course that follows the Bicentennial Greenway from a Fleet Feet store in High Point, NC to another store in neighboring Greensboro, NC. Runners can put together a relay team of two or four, or they can go solo. My buddy John and I went with the latter option, made our $25 donation, and showed up at the HP store on a cool August Saturday morning.
National Anthem, some instructions, and a countdown prefaced a cheerful start to the fun run.
The Running Part
John and I have been running together for a few years. He’s an ultra runner who trains on mountain trails around 11:30 min pace. I tend to train on slightly slanted roads at 7:30 min pace. Since this run was mostly road and greenway I opted to push the pace a little. The first mile went by in 9:03. John let me know that he wasn’t having it. I slowed to 9:23 and didn’t hear much from John. I’m not sure if he didn’t want to talk or just couldn’t or was simply planning my murder.
We kept the pace for another 5 miles before I picked it up to 9:10 for three and sub 9 for one. While I’m sure John was thinking, “I hope you fall through a manhole” he was really looking strong on the outside. And then around mile 15, at the base of a rather large hill, the wheels came off. We slowed to double digit pace. By mile 17.9 John was ready for the run to be over and for me to be under (by about 6 feet). Lucky for him, I had one more trick up my sleeve.
Just before the finish line, I spotted a few trash cans whereupon I dropped my shoulder and shoved John towards the cans. HAHAHA! I laughed. He didn’t. Surprisingly, he managed to avoid crashing, albeit narrowly. Back on the road, with just 50 feet to go and fueled by rage, he sought revenge with a surprise sprint to the finish.
ME: Seriously?
JOHN: I can try.
As the word “try” left his mouth John grabbed my right arm, tugged me back, and tried once more to best me. I wiggled my sweaty arm from his grip and…
Photo by Laura Greene, High Point Enterprise
I WON!
We finished in just under 3 hours and had a great time (well, I did). I look forward to adding this run to my calendar (and I look forward to crushing John’s hopes, dreams, and spirits year after year) and suggest that you do the same (run, not crush John’s spirit).
Course
Elevation Profile
Minimum Elevation: 770 feet | Maximum Elevation: 960 feet
Elevation gain: 801 feet | Elevation loss: 755 feet
Other information you may want to know
- Hills: 2 medium hills at mile 5 and a big mamba jamba at mile 15
- Temperature: It’s August, so hot. Race started in the mid 60s and rose near 90 by the finish. The good news is the route is mostly shaded. But good Lord when it’s not shaded it got crazy hot.
- Subjective Fact: Jalapeño pickles are delicious
Happy Photo
Photo by Fleet Feet GSO