Faster, Stronger, Happier: My Lucky Clover 5K Adventure

Like an excited kid on Christmas morning, I gathered my stuff, hopped into an Uber—a Nissan Altima—and buckled up. My driver and I made small talk about Arizona’s weather, which lately has been having an identity crisis—summer one day, winter the next, and today? A perfect spring preview. The sun was beaming through the window, so I cracked it open, already wondering if my jacket was overkill. But hey, it’s Arizona—random downpours aren’t out of the question, so better safe than sorry.

I pulled up to the Springfield Golf Resort at 1:37 p.m., probably the first to arrive (because, you know, I’m that person). At the gate, a sweet little old lady with a clipboard approached the car and asked the driver if we were there for the race. He didn’t know—because I hadn’t told him! From the back seat, I jumped in with a quick “Yes!” She smiled, waved us through, and wished me fun. Game on!

The vibe at the resort was…interesting. Lots of older white men milling about, but no eye contact. No biggie—I walked straight into the building and locked eyes with the first person who looked like they knew what was happening. “You here for the race?” she asked. I nodded. She handed me a menu, but I passed since running on a full stomach isn’t exactly my thing. I did accept a cup of water, though—hydration is key!

I sat outside on the patio, soaking up the sun and vibing to the throwback playlist blasting through the speakers: "Back to Life, Back to Reality" and "It Takes Two" had me swaying in my seat. The cool breeze was a welcome contrast to the heat I’d felt earlier. 

Around 1:47 p.m., I spotted the crew from 131 Events in their purple shirts, setting up the course. Then came the announcement: the course would close at 2:00 p.m., with everyone expected off the field by 2:15 p.m. Meanwhile, golfers were casually driving balls across the range, looking so content. It reminded me of my first time at the range with my old colleague, Randy. He taught me how to hit those little white balls, and it was surprisingly fun. Mental note: Get back to the range sometime soon!

Packet pickup was smooth, and I got to chatting with a mix of people. I met another Black woman running her first race and connected with a lovely couple from Minnesota who were there as spectators. We got to talking about health, wellness, and the DJ’s epic music taste. A woman named Gail reassured me that my four trips to the bathroom were just nerves—she wasn’t wrong.

The starting waves kicked off at 4:00 p.m., with the 7.5-minute-per-mile runners taking off first. You know where I was? Right where I belonged—with the 13-minute-per-mile crowd. 😆 But maybe next time, I’ll join the 12’s.

Now for the stats:

• My Apple Watch clocked me at 13:43 minutes per mile and a total time of 40:46.
• Official race results: (which logged my pace a bit faster than my Apple Watch–SWEET!)
  • Bib: 5522
  • Time: 40:54.10
  • Pace: 13:11 min/mile
  • Rank: 244
  • Age Group Rank: 16 out of 46 (in the F 45–49 group)

I was over a minute faster than my January 10K time! My big brother always says to celebrate even the smallest improvements, so you better believe I’m dancing like nobody’s watching! 

And the St. Patrick’s Day costumes? Priceless. Some were funny, some were cute, and a few were downright brilliant.

Honestly, this whole experience reminded me how important it is to keep showing up for myself—mind, body, and spirit. Growth isn’t just physical; it’s mental and emotional too. I’m already looking forward to my next two races in April. And speaking of races… stay tuned for details on my 505050 Campaign—you won’t want to miss it!

Here are some pictures from the race—the start, the middle, me crossing the finish line with my arms raised, and some festive St. Paddy’s Day fun. Enjoy!

With joy and a deep sense of accomplishment,

Stacie J. Whitaker-Harris

And We're Off....

Crossed the finish line like a BOSS...

Loved this dudes outfit and the beard...

Didn't know these ladies at all but they were
so excited that I crossed the finish line.
They were celebrating me and was excited to snap a pic too!

Sat with him and his wife and chatted a bit
(a different couple than mentioned earlier).
He had a little a little bottle of Louisiana hot sauce
as his "secret sauce" to help him cross the finish line.
Yup, right in his pocket and he had all the jokes!

My Bib #...

Had to get that post run photo rocking my metal...

This was actually before the race started.
I had to get a pic with my tank top, but that wind
got a little chilly so I put my jacket back on. 

This sort of speaks to all of my bathroom runs
before the race started because hey, why not!

I snapped a few pics of the crew setting up before the race.