TriVeggies

It’s a tradition unlike any other: After any spring marathons have concluded and before long-distance race training begins, there’s one little matter to contend with: The Poplar Spring Run for the Animals 5K. It ticks all the boxes for me: It’s a great race for a great cause in a beautiful Maryland regional park, and usually the weather is divine. 

Let’s start with the cause: The Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary is a wonderful farm sanctuary in Poolesville, Md., that serves as home to many wayward farmed animals and other creatures, allowing them to live their best natural lives surrounded by plenty of love and TLC. It’s a great place to volunteer, and a wonderful organization to support year-round. The annual 5K is one of the sanctuary’s biggest fundraisers, and it’s always a joy to take part.

And now let’s tackle the course: It’s not for the weak. It’s a hilly behemoth of a course that, while gorgeous, confronts your stamina at nearly every turn. The uphills are definitely walk-worthy at times (there are a couple that I ALWAYS walk – it just makes sense to keep my heart rate slightly lower), but the plus side is that those downhills are so sweet indeed! Nestled among the trails of the Wheaton Regional Park, it’s truly a great course for a morning run.

This year, I felt pretty good; I knew what to expect with the hills, the temperature was warm but not blazing – more humid than anything, really – and I was just coming off my half-marathon season, so I still had a bit of pep in my step. I started off strong and pushed to keep it that way throughout, adhering to my 10-and-2 run-walk pattern and jogging up most of the hills. I ran into some friends along the way, which is always a joy! And before I knew it, I was headed back toward the sound of the music and the finish line. My final time was (37:12) – slightly off my PR, but not by much!

One of my favorite parts of this race is the postrace buffet. Everything is vegan, and the offerings are plentiful – lots of bananas and apples, sure, but also bagels, and dried fruit and nuts, and – my favorite – mini cupcakes. I must admit I did have a few of those! With a cup of coffee, because why not?

After the race I ran into my friend Abbie and one of her chickens, Cece, who was definitely the star of the show. Truly one of the best parts of this race is that if you’re a veg-minded individual, you’re among friends! It’s the only race of the year that I feel like I’m truly in my niche, and I’ll always love this race for that especially.

Come out and join us next year – you’ll have a blast!

🙂