NatNews

In exactly a month, thousands of individuals from throughout the Dallas metro area will line up to take part in one of the most anticipated events of the year—the 24th annual Katy Trail 5K.

This popular race, which used to take place in late May and then early June, was rescheduled last year to September and this year falls on Thursday, September 8. The course begins and ends at Reverchon Park, allowing participants to run or walk through parts of Turtle Creek and Uptown before finishing the course down a portion of Dallas’ beloved Katy Trail.

“It’s a pretty fun night,” Celina resident Robyn Allen, who has taken part in the Katy Trail 5K nine times (including virtually in 2020), said. “There is an adrenaline that you naturally experience from the entire event.”

That adrenaline comes as a result of a multitude of factors that help to create a unique environment for all involved—runners, walkers, volunteers, and those who simply take part in the post-race festivities.

“It is one of the few races that is run in the evening, and it gives Dallasites the opportunity to sample from many Dallas-area restaurants,” Frisco resident and three-time participant Kyle Burnett said. “It’s the perfect combination of running and food while being serenaded by live music during the evening—a true party atmosphere!”

Shortly before making it to the finish line, race participants pass by the Katy Trail Ice House, a popular beer garden and restaurant in the Uptown area. Some runners might even opt to make a pit stop there as they are finishing the course.

“Only those with remarkable talent can stop for a beer at Katy Trail Ice House along the route and continue to the finish line,” Tory Castillo, who has run the Katy Trail 5K five times, said.

After crossing the finish line, runners make their way down from the trail to a fenced-in area in Reverchon Park that is filled with free food from 30+ restaurants, two free Michelob ULTRAs, live music from Downtown Fever Band, and plenty of time to mingle with others.

“My favorite memories are from when I see several of my friends from different running groups all at one event,” Allen said. “It’s like a mini runner reunion, and we make a party of it!”

Even early September can still be warm, so it’s important for runners and walkers to remember to take care of themselves leading up to the race.

“Hydrate and fuel during the day—night running is way different than a morning race,” Burnett said. “And be prepared for an amazing after-party.”

Billy Crystal may have told Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally that a man and woman cannot actually be friends, but many individuals tend to disagree, especially when they are making conscious efforts to put others in what is notoriously known as the “friend zone.”

This undesirable relationship status occurs when two single people have a strictly non-romantic relationship as the result of one of the individuals intentionally making it clear—whether subtly or bluntly—that he or she does not wish to be anything more than friends with the other person. While being put in the friend zone isn’t exactly a goal most people have, White Rock Running Co-op member Becca Finke said that it’s often better than the alternative.

“I have been in the friend zone,” Finke said. “It’s not the most fun of experiences, as no one likes rejection. However, I’d much rather be friend zoned than led on.”

Becoming a designated member of the friend zone isn’t always as recognizable or accepted as one might expect, though.

“When you’re interested in someone, your hope can blind you,” WRRC member and IT specialist Josh Odegard said. “You might not immediately recognize that the person’s interest isn’t the same as yours, or you might just not want to believe it. But it’s better to accept reality as soon as possible, because it probably won’t change.”

Needless to say, the person entering the friend zone isn’t the only one who must be honest. Finke said the individual wishing to be nothing more than friends needs to make it completely clear that the relationship is to remain non-romantic.

“Once you have personally been friend zoned, it’s much easier to put someone else in the friend zone, because you don’t want to hurt anyone,” Finke said. “Tell it like it is, be blunt without being mean, and hope they get the hint. If they don’t, you have to ignore them forever.”

And after an individual is placed in the friend zone, Odegard said there’s not much the person can say or do to change that reality.

“The only way out of the friend zone is when something changes for the person who put you there,” he said. “Maybe they spend more time with you, get to know you better, and realize that their first impression of you was inaccurate. But don’t expect that to happen—and certainly don’t wait for it.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Cirila Villa is excited to welcome baby Emma into the world soon

Monday, August 8: National Pickleball Day
Thursday, August 11: Kevin Hart — Reality Check Tour at Ameican Airlines Center
Saturday, August 13: WRRC Saturday Run My Hood at Scott Manis’ house
Saturday, August 13: Movies in the Park at Klyde Warren Park: Soul