Whoever came up with the Hot Cider Hustle 5k concept deserves to win an award, and speaking of medals… we’ll get there in just a moment.

Location? Lake St. Clair Metropark was an idyllic setting in autumn; crisp air, crunching leaves underfoot, and Lake St. Clair as a shimmering partner on this run were hallmarks of beauty one couldn’t help but admire. And like some reminder (or maybe just for fun!), just 26.3 miles later appeared the Detroit Renaissance Center — precisely a marathon’s distance!

Registration was an effortless experience for this procrastinator. I took advantage of “extended registration” and was not disappointed: on race day morning, I arrived early, got my packet within 10 minutes, and returned to my Jeep to relax before stretching and doing a short jog before race time rolled around. While a fashion crisis may have influenced the selection of clothing (I chose a 1/4 zip pullover or long-sleeve tee?), opting for a pullover became my fall favorite piece.

As expected, the actual race was flat & fast – perfect for runners seeking their personal best time (PR). But here’s where it got interesting: Lake St. Clair provided plenty of wind resistance training! But who could complain about such stunning views to admire!

Coming around the final bend and hitting that finish line was pure joy – until I thought I had it in the bag, only to turn into an epic showdown in the last 50 yards! A young runner thought he could outwit my veteran running style; nope – not today! I turned on my afterburners and out-sprinted him right to the tape. Victory tastes sweet, especially when you’ve out-sprinted someone half your age!

As exciting as all this was, my race results took the cake: first place for the age group 55-59 years old! Clocking in at 26:41.3 (8:35 Pace), I finished 43rd overall out of 449 runners and 27th out of 150 male runners, respectively – not bad considering I sprinted past many and held off against younger sprinters at the finish line to earn myself my very first AG/Winners Medal – something many say can only come through hard work? So, who said teaching an old dog new tricks can’t work?

The finisher giveaways were unforgettable: an awesome mug that makes everything taste better, steaming hot cider that warms the soul, and an irresistibly nostalgic caramel apple.

Behold! A big thanks goes out to our photographer. He was everywhere! Snapping before, during, and after events, even taking photographs using our phones as solo warriors like me were lucky enough to do! Those photos will become priceless memories.

Final Verdict? The Hot Cider Hustle is more than just a race; it celebrates autumn, running, and community spirit. The park was bustling with activity while music filled the air; like-minded souls shared their stories over cider!

Will I return next year? It’s already on my calendar! Here’s to chasing down that horizon (and possibly the Detroit Renaissance Center) again come fall.

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Additional Resource(s)

• Hot Cider Hustle Website
• Ninja Runner:  Race Reviews and Training Runs