Race Review - Panerathon 10k

The Panerathon is a 5k/10k charity event hosted by Panera Bread with all proceeds going to Food Bank of the Rockies. Both the 5k and 10k routes are USATF certified as well.

It's held at the Penera Bread in Westminster and the path shared some of the same route as the Holy COW 5k we ran back in August during our 4inOne race record. The 10k is runners only, but walkers are welcome on the 5k route. We chose the 10k, which would be the first straight certified 10k for both my son and I.

We showed up cutting it close to our start time. This is a pretty good sized event and we had to park a good distance away from the start. We breezed through the packet pick-up and we were lined up to start when the race master asked everyone to check that their timing chip was secured to their shoes. We didn't get chips with our bibs, and I had assumed they were micro chipped bibs and didn't even look.
We scrambled back towards the pick up tent when I noticed a separate tent marked timing chip pick up. We were able to get our chips laced into our shoes literal within a minute of the start time!

Both 5 and 10k start at the same time and use the same route for just over a mile, then the 10k splits off for a 3 mile out and back where it then merges back in with the 5k route. The route was nice, using mostly paved park paths the wound along a creek, over some bridges and under some overpasses.

We started off pretty strong, but slowed down through miles 3-5 when Kellan started having some trouble breathing. He refused to stop however, and pushed through the pain and got his wind back on the last mile to the point that I couldn't catch him on the last incline and he bested me by a few seconds.
He came in at 57:56 and I at 58:01, making my under 1 hour goal.

The overall 5k winner, Jason Graham, came in at 19:04 and Mark Mulholland won the 10k with a time of 36:26.

Our results.

After the race, they had games and several booths in the fairground area. Panera provided a ton of food for all participants with bread and sandwiches coming hot out of the front door.

The even was well organized, inexpensive and the course had pleasing, rolling ups and downs without being too difficult. The 10k course dips down to just under a 100' at the low point before rising back up to the finish.

It was a great race to cut my 10k teeth on and I'd definitely recommend it to new to 5 or 10k runners and welcome the chance to run it again.