Palmetto Dunes Turtle Trot 5K

This was my 3rd year running the Palmetto Dunes Turtle Trot 5K.   Each year when I vacation on Hilton Head Island I try to compete in the race.   Not often do you get the opportunity to get off the roads and trails and run a race entirely on the beach with ocean views.

The course itself is smartly designed with the start / finish area in the middle as apposed to a more traditional out and back course.  Runners head West for 3/4 of a mile then turn back East through the start area for a mandatory water stop then continuing another 3/4 of a mile to another turnaround area to again head west back to the finish.   The weather is always very hot and humid for this race and I don't blame anyone who elects to carry their own hydration for this one.  Course conditions change drastically depending on which direction you are running.  Heading West you are typically facing a steady mild to heave wind and the sun is at your back.  Heading East the wind quickly disappears, the air is stagnant and heavy, and the sun makes its presence felt.  Many runners go out hot the first mile only to slow down in the second or third as the humidity, sun, and high temperatures do their damage.

Being this was a vacation race I wanted to run fast enough to be competitive, but slow enough to enjoy the experience.  I settled in around a 7:30 mile pace running a little faster heading West and slowing down a bit heading East.  I finished 20th overall.  There were no awards or age groups but looking at the results I was 2nd in my age division.

All participants received nicely designed super soft turtle themed t-shirts.   The race is always well organized.   I would like to see overall and age group awards and perhaps some post race snacks.  With typically anywhere from 600 -250 participants each week I think their budget could accommodate some awards.  I do understand that this is a charity event so keeping it bare bones means more money to save the turtles which is nice.   

If you find yourself vacationing in Hilton Head I highly recommend you check out this race!