8/9/2024

Sea Pines, Dolphin Dash 5K

Hilton Head, SC

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  23:50

Overall Place:  10th Place / 80

Division Place:  1st Place / 3

The Dolphin Dash 5K is a new race being held every week during the Summer in the Sea Pines plantation of Hilton Head Island.  The Dolphin Dash is the sister race to the Turtle Trot 5K held every week in the Palmetto Dunes plantation.  Typically the Turtle Trot is held every Wednesday of the Summer season and the Dolphin Dash is held on every Thursday.  Both race are organized by the fine people at The Hilton Head Running Company.  Funds from both races benefit the local turtle preservation efforts.

I have competed in the Turtle Trot 5K several times so this year I thought I would try my luck at the new Dolphin Dash race.  I was staying in Sea Pines so it only made sense.  The race was postponed a day and moved to Friday thanks to the tropical storm Debby that stalled out directly above the island dumping over 20 inches of rain during the week.  The race saw a smaller field of just 80 runners mostly due in part to the tropical storm and probably a little bit to due with the race being moved to Friday.  On a typical week each of the races will field around 300 – 600 runners.

Race conditions were hot and steamy which is typical for August on the island.  Temperatures were around 90 with extreme humidity making it feel like 104 degrees.  It was cloudy the morning of the race which did protect runners some from direct sunlight.  The entire race is on the beach which makes for great scenery but not always great running conditions.  Runners ran into the wind for the first part of the race then turned around at a flag marker and headed back through the start area where they were required to drink water.  The next section of the race with the wind at your back was the toughest.  The air was hot and dead slowing down even the best of runners.  The final section of the race was around another flag then running into the wind again back to the finish.  The race is the identical course set up as the Turtle Trot just on a different part of the beach.

This was a vacation race for me which means I was a little slower in pace and a little less prepared with by pre race nutrition.  I started off at a pace that was fast but much slower than my normal 5K pace knowing that the heat would soon start effecting the runners.  Early in the second mile many runners ahead of me slowed down, walked, or stopped completely because of the extreme heat.  I slowed down as well but my previous experience racing on the beach kept me competitive.  The long section heading through the start and down the other side of the beach was grueling and I was working hard to get to the turn around flag to feel that ocean breeze back in my face and head to the finish.  I was able to pass a few more people and finished 10th overall.

The race was well organized and a lot of fun.  Participants received t-shirts and race bibs.  Now awards or finisher medals are presented.  Both would be nice.  Race results were available immediately after crossing the finish line.  Hilton Head Running Company does a great job with both of these races.  If you are ever in Hilton Head during the summer I recommend checking out the Turtle Trot and Dolphin Dash.