2023 All in Autism 5K: The course runs longer than a 5K, but it’s OK because my knee holds up

Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson, a physical therapist, leads runners through pre-race stretching exercises

For the first time that I can remember, I am experiencing knee pain (right knee) from running. Not serious enough to stop me from running a race, but annoying and a bit concerning. Until now, my knees have held up pretty well for about 22 years of running races; it’s my left ankle that’s caused me hardship.

So I was fortunate to get through the All in for Autism 5K in my hometown of Bellevue, Wash., on Sunday, April 30, without a problem. I ran cautiously and didn’t feel it like I had expected. But now, as I sit here and write this, the knee pain has returned. I likely won’t run again until next weekend, but I’m hoping it somehow eases or goes away.

It was good to get through this 5K and complete my run No. 254. Also great to see runner friend (and former Microsoft teammate) Jackie Soo at the race. She and I both noted that this run was a bit longer than a 5K — she calculated 3.42 miles on her phone app (I had 3.44 miles). Times for everyone were slower than normal as a result.

My time was a lackluster 48:13 (15:34 per mile for a typical 3.12 miles, but 14:06 per mile, based on Jackie’s calculated race distance). Full results are here. Still, I finished in the top 50% — 285th out of 700 finishers and 136th out of 308 male participants. Jackie’s time was 35:56 (10:30 per mile based on her calculations), good for 122nd overall and 48th out of 383 women. Nice job, Jackie!

Women runners take first place
Nearly 200 runners also completed a 10K race. The total of about 900 runners and walkers was a decent turnout for an event sponsored by the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club and benefitting Kindering and other autism-related organizations. The weather also was decent — no rain and temperatures in the 60s.

And, for the first time that I can remember, women were the top overall finishers in both races! Sarah Paquet won the 5K in 20:54 and Michelle Morrison the 10K in 37:21. Congrats to both ladies!

It was my third year doing this event, although its predecessor was the Bellevue 10K/5K Run, which I ran numerous times (both the 10K and 5K) in the past decade. Under the All in for Autism event name, I ran it a year ago (and got a better time) and in 2018 as my first race following my second ankle surgery. (The event took a hiatus in 2020 and 2021, due to the pandemic.)

Both 5K and 10K courses feature a loop around Bellevue’s west side that begins and ends at the Bellevue Downtown Park. The first mile in both presents an uphill climb across N.E. Second Street and the last mile is a slow incline up Bellevue Way. But each course is manageable, and I’m happy to support the cause.

I’m hoping to next run the Beat the Bridge 8K, in and around the University of Washington, on May 21. But doing race No. 255 might depend on how my knee is faring. Thanks for reading!