Cleveland Space Race Rocket Run 5K

I headed out to the NASA Glenn Research Center right by Cleveland Hopkins Airport for the inaugural running of the Space Race Rocket Run 5K. Because the race course was within a proper NASA facility, security was much tighter than your typical local race. We had to check in at an outside parking lot to get our bibs before lining up to clear security screening. The screening line moved a bit slowly, which ended up delaying the start by about five minutes, but they had warned us in advance to expect it.

There was a light sprinkle at the start line, but thankfully the rain tapered off as we got moving. The course surface remained a little slick with some scattered puddles, but nothing too severe. Running through NASA Glenn is a unique experience. Half of it feels like a standard retro corporate office park, while the other half is filled with industrial research buildings featuring massive pipes, tubes, and ventilation stacks.

With the Berlin Marathon just one week away, I went into this race feeling a bit of an internal tug-of-war. Part of me wanted to keep it strictly conversational and preserve my legs so I’d arrive in Berlin completely fresh; another part of me wanted to challenge myself and feel some speed. I decided to compromise by pushing the pace without going fully into the red or gunning for placements.

Between a half-mile and three-quarter-mile, the course plunged down a fast, steep downhill. Naturally, we have to pay that back and immediately right back into a steep climb up the other side of the valley to get back into the main Glenn complex. Despite that elevation hit, I clocked the first mile right around 6:30.

From there, the course leveled out and stayed fast and flat. The organizers mentioned expecting around a thousand runners, and seeing the size of the field ahead of me around Mile 2, I figured any chance at an age group or overall award was completely out of reach. I just focused on keeping steady among the runners around me. Around Mile 2.5, we ran past a massive airplane hangar where the finish area was staged. The course looped out and back right in front of it, which gave us a sneak peek of the finish chute from about a half-mile away.

Turning toward the line, I saw the race clock ticking in the 18-minute range and kicked it in to cross just under the 20-minute barrier.

Going sub-20 again felt incredibly validating. Being relatively new to running fast 5Ks, there’s always a lingering voice in the back of my mind wondering if previous fast races were just flukes. Backing it up with a third sub-20 finish gives me genuine confidence that this speed is truly mine. More than anything, it provides a fantastic mental boost heading into Berlin next weekend, reassuring me that the fitness is right where it needs to be.

Despite the slight security delay, NASA put on a fantastic event. They had an astronaut out before the race taking photos, themed characters, and since outside spectators weren't allowed on the secure campus, volunteers were stationed throughout the entire route with cowbells and signs to keep the energy up. Finishing by the hangar was a great touch, and I’d definitely run this one again.