Silicon Labs Sunshine Run 5k 10k and Kids K

Well, darnit… This is so far my favorite 10K (though to be fair, I’ve only done one other road 10K).
What’s not to like?
* The date (May 3) was conducive to it not being a freezing morning, but not a hot/​sticky one either.
* The course is much flatter, and easier than the first half of the Cap 10K. Even though the Cap 10K start up Congress Ave is more «scenic», that climb, plus the hills across Enfield can throw off your second half if you started out too strong. This out and back to Lake Austin Blvd. only has one slightly annoying hill to slow you down (the climb from the Town Lake boat ramp, around the high school, up to Lake Austin Blvd.).
* I guess I’m getting used to 7:30am starts… Then you’re done, home, and showering by 9:30, or enjoying the festivities.
* With under 2,000 competitors, it was logistically simpler than the Cap 10K. Underground garage parking at City Hall is free and fast on weekend morning, and then you’re a quick walk across the S. 1^st bridge to the starting line.
* We had plenty of room to navigate, even when we were sharing the road with traffic. Sometimes I always feel in the way of other runners on narrower courses.
* Two bands along the route (though I had my earbuds in, since I need tunes throughout, and the ‘coaching’ of my running app).
* Got an amazing high-​five from a returning Shannon B., somewhere in Mile 3. Can’t do that at the Cap 10K, where the course is a not-​overlapping loop. :)
The start was on time (well, maybe one minute late, once they got the green light from City of Austin). I didn’t feel like I was tripping over other folks, or squeezed around tight corners the first mile. I could just do my thing. Afterwards, there were photo-​ops with a sign set up for the event with downtown as the backdrop, and that dude dressed up as the sun. Plentiful water on the course, and after. The chorizo and egg tacos we found (at the «Medical» table?) were quite tasty. Times were available immediately for those that didn’t glance at the clock at the finish line. All in all, a great event that I hope I can do next year to try and beat my 1:11:29.
Though the next time I do any distance over 5K, I might need to preemptively apply two strategically-​placed band-​aids…
Oh, was that last bit out loud?
4.75 stars