Columbus Promise 5K Review

 While most races ignore participants between sign-up and race week, Cap City/Promise 5K participants receive regular emails with training tips and tricks, so they’ll be prepared for race day.  These emails are especially helpful for first-timers, but even veterans will find interesting information on everything from stretching to nutrition.
 
 In the days before the race, then, racers head into downtown Columbus—through the usual construction mess—to packet pickup at Vue Columbus.  The hours are extensive, and everything here goes incredibly smoothly.   
 
 While I always love the race’s themed drawstring bag, I was admittedly a little disappointed by this year’s race shirt.  Not only did it run incredibly small (which made me thankful that I always size up for women’s shirts, just in case), but it was a tri-blend t-shirt instead of the usual tech shirt.  The design is nice, but these shirts turned anyone who opted to wear them on race day into a cotton-sweaty mess. 

Well before race day, participants are encouraged to plan ahead and show up early—and there’s definitely a good reason for that.  Not only are 11,000+ racers trying to find their way to parking spots, but they’re doing so while trying to navigate 13.1 miles of street closures.  In short, it’s a mess.  
 
 Once we finally managed to park the car, we made our way up to the street and back to the back of the pack—past the half and quarter marathon racers, to the 5K corral.  Participating in the Promise 5K made for a different experience.  And though it was strange not to be lining up for the other races, I appreciated the laid-back feel in the back of the pack.  

Once we finally reached the starting line, we were warmed up and ready to go.  The Columbus Promise 5K may be a shorter race, but it still travels through many of the same downtown neighborhoods.  Unlike a lot of 5Ks, this one has amazing spectator support—along with musicians and DJs on street corners—which makes it a completely different event.  It may be a busy course, it’s a quick, easy, enjoyable one.  And before we knew it, we’d crossed the finish line and collected our medals.
 

Though the race itself is a whole lot of fun, the post-race party makes this event one that’s not to be missed.  It’s so much more than just a place to take selfies with your medals and polish off your water and a banana.  Instead, the entire Columbus Commons is loaded with booths, and racers are treated to things like free pizza, wings, sparkling wine, and delicious margaritas that I dream about all year long while a band plays on the stage.  
 
With temperatures already in the low 70s by the time we finished, it may have been a little warm for the race, but it was perfect for the party—and we enjoyed the time to relax on the Commons lawn while sipping our drinks before making our way home.