Race 1: Auggie’s 5K Run and Walk
When: The second weekend in October
Where: Registration at Warwood Middle School (Warwood, W.Va.), Race starts on the rail-trail behind the school and goes toward the Pike Island Lock and Dam. In 2015, the race went south toward Wheeling, as construction blocked off the trail toward Pike Island.
Course: Asphalt rail-trail, out and back
Race swag: Long sleeve tech shirts with race’s logo on the front and a packet filled with information about other races. Some registrants got sturdy plastic bags while others got purple drawstring backpacks from the Ohio Valley Society for the Prevention of Creulty to Animals. An after-race meal included water, soda, fruit, pizza and chips.
Awards: Door prizes; medals for top three finishers male and female and age group winners
Attendence: 150 runners and walkers (in 2015)
What the race helps: The Ohio Valley SPCA
Race recap as a spectator:
This is a cute race. Auggie was a black cat, who was adopted from a shelter and lived in his forever home for seven short years. The owner wanted to help other shelter animals and set up the race. He gives the story a lot better that I write it.
Since the race is 15 years old, it has a very loyal following. The race director knew most of the participants and asked about the shirts, which he gave out this year instead of windbreakers.
The race is out and back along the Ohio River. Every once in a while, you’ll get a great view of the river through the trees. The path has some autumn leaves this time of year, but not a lot.
The race is USATF certified, and has water stop at about the one mile walk so you could get a drink both ways.
It was chilly the day of the race, but the crowd and organizers were welcoming and happy to help a worthy cause. So much so, the participants told us about a race the next day. Both of these races are part of the local Grand Prix series.
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Race recap 2: Faith, Family and Friends 5k
Where: Flushing, Ohio
When: Usually in May, held in October in 2015
Course: Gravel trail and road, mostly fine gravel, like on a walking trail or road
Hills: Yes, a lot. The steepest hill is within the first mile, but the rest is rolling hills.
Trail terrain: Not very technical, but the hills make it fast. When you get into the trail around the coal company lake, as soon as you get up a hill, you’re on you way down. The turns tend to bank slightly, making them a bit faster. There are signs with Christain verses and tree identification throughout the course.
Race swag: T-shirt and a decent after race spread including sandwiches, drink and granola bars.
Race recap:
I wasn’t expecting to run this race. My husband gave his entry to me after studying the course. So, I had to turn into a trail runner and get out on the course.
Within the first 100 yards, I knew something was wrong. I wasn’t breathing right. According to Map My Fitness, I did the first two miles faster than most of my training runs.
My goal was the beat the speed walkers. There are some wicked fast walkers in the Ohio Valley. I didn’t achieve my goal.
But being on the trails again was awesome. The last time I did a trail race was 2013. I had the same time in this race as I did back then. Maybe it’s a sign of sustained fitness. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.
At the end of the race, we were given cards with numbers in them. We had to fill out the card with our name and time and circle our age group and whether we where a runner or walker. The cards went into cups. From there, they found our time and place in the age groups.
I placed first in my age group, 15th overall. I walked a lot more than I would have liked. I plan on training at the course often.
Mountain Mama Adventures 
Awesome! Congrats!