Cambridge Robot Race and Human 5K – Race Recap & Photos

We had a fun morning at the inaugural Cambridge Robot Race and Human 5K! There was a kid’s fun run, a human 5k, and a robot race with multiple robot heats competing to travel around a cone and return with a paper cup of confetti.

Kid’s Fun Run: Andrew decided to run, even though he was probably the youngest participant.  Greg and I reminded him that the goal of any race is just to finish: and he did.  I like to think it helped that we stressed the goal of finishing, and not worrying about the other kids, because it’s fun enough just to run and make it to the finish line.  He was the littlest, got off to the slowest start, and almost got run over when the older kids circled the cone and headed back.  A little confusion he had at the turn-around meant he ran to the finish alone (except for the compassionate race director who’d turned him around).  People were cheering, and he had a grin plastered across his face.  We were so proud.  There were so many minutes he could have lost his smile or given up.  Starting off so far behind.  Never catching up.  Seeing the crowd of kids turn at the cone and stampede towards him.  Mixing up where he was supposed to turn around.  Running towards the finish alone with everyone staring at him.  So many, many opportunities for him to lose composure… but he didn’t.  He ran as fast as his little legs could, followed directions as best as he could, and he finished to thunderous applause.  (And possibly some tears, but I was wearing sunglasses, so you’ll never prove it.)

5K: Greg ran a solid 5k with a PR time of 19:02, coming in 8th overall.  I have this weird feeling of pride, as if him being a fast runner reflects on me even remotely.  I’m impressed and happy for him that his running continues to improve, but I’m also like… hey, everyone, check out my race entry.  That’s right.  I’ve got a top tenner right here.  I’m with this guy.  #186 fan club, right here.  See those kids?  Their Dad is super fast.  Also, those are my kids.  Yeah.

The Robot Costume: Another highlight of the 5k was seeing a guy in a cardboard box robot costume come in 3rd place.  You just know everyone at the start line was like… dude, I’m not getting beaten by THE GUY IN THE ROBOT COSTUME.  And uhhhh… they were wrong. All but two of them.  And one of those guys was only seconds away from losing to a guy in a cardboard robot costume.  If that’d happened, the only guy to beat the guy in the cardboard robot costume would have been:

John Wichers, age 48, finishing in 17:25.  I love seeing these experienced runners come in and clean house.  That’s inspiring.  I won’t be winning races at age 48, but I plan to be running them, and I love seeing reminders at every race that it’s a realistic dream to be a life-long runner.

Robot Race: After the human 5k was a robot race.  Robots competed in smaller heats to travel to a cone and return with a cup of confetti.  My boys were riveted watching the robots.  Not only was it perfect weather to be outside, but the participants and spectators all seemed in great humor as their robots attempted to complete the task.  Many of these robots had been built for other robotics competitions and then re-purposed, so we didn’t always see the best of what these machines were capable of.  It was impressive nonetheless, and an amazing spectator opportunity.  The boys spent the entire time Greg was running watching people prepare their robots for the competition, and even getting some robotics lessons from friendly participants.

Race Review: Overall, it was a wonderful event.  Parking was good, the finish line and start line were right near an indoor lobby with restrooms, things started on time, and there were food trucks for a fun picnic lunch afterwards.  (We had Vietnamese food and the vegan options were clearly labeled… ahhh.)

Rumor has it they’ll be doing the event next year – and I hope we’ll go back!

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