Race Report: Rockdale Ramblin Run 10K

This morning I ran my first 10K, a race billed as "the toughest 10K in the Midwest." Having no other 10K races to compare it to, I'll have to take their word for it. It was pretty hilly, by south suburban Chicago standards.

Going into the race, I thought a bit about my goals. I knew I would PR even if it took me two hours, but that's no fun, is it? I didn't look this up beforehand, but based on my Shamrock Shuffle 8K time from three weeks ago, the McMillan pace calculator predicted that I could finish a 10K in 49:53, an 8:01 pace. (I knew it was around 8 minutes, just didn't remember exactly.) Before the race, I told BFF Genevieve that my goal was to keep my heart rate around 173-176, and I would be happy to finish in under 50 minutes ... maybe 52. It was "tough," right? Plus I didn't know how to approach this race mentally. For 5K's, just push to almost-puke-speed and hold it. For races of 10 miles and above, keep it slow enough to not fall apart miles from the end. Where does a 10K fall?

Before the race with Genevieve

I won't go into a play-by-play breakdown of each mile. But it was a hilly race. (Again, for this area.) There were some uphills that were challenging (particularly one around mile 4 1/2), but the downhills were tricky too, especially the steep ones. Around the 3 mile mark I was definitely thinking "ugh I'm only halfway?"

The last turn put you on a straightaway to the end, you can see the finish line, but there was still over a half mile to go. I sped up, especially as I passed the 6 mile marker, and passed some people, and pushed myself to whatever sprint I could muster when a woman who could possibly be in my age group tried to sprint faster as I passed her right before the finish. (I crossed first.) It was a chip timed race, so who cares, but if I could push harder, why not? It is a race after all.

My official finish time was 49:52 ... one second faster than McMillan predicted. And under 50 minutes! So I was pretty happy. Once I caught my breath.

Post-race we met up with the other F'N Runners for some pictures.

Front: "This sh!t sucks! What time tomorrow?" 

Back: "F'NRC, Frankfort-New Lenox Running Club, Home of the Rucking Funners." 

By then they were starting the awards, so we stuck around. Of course I was hoping to place but I wouldn't have been surprised if I didn't. Turns out ...

Third place in my age group! Nicole got first in our age group, and was the second female overall!!

10K chip timed race, hoodie, finishers dog tag, beer post-race, coasters for AG winners
... not bad for $35 ($30 if you're a CARA member)

Officially

44:52, 8:02 pace

Overall: 139 / 562

Women: 19 / 288

F 25-29: 3 / 41

Race Report/Review: Chi Town Half Marathon

I mentioned in a past post that the main reason I signed up for the Chi Town Half Marathon was because my college friend Ali was doing it. We don't see each other very much, and I was already thinking about doing that race, so when she mentioned she had registered, that made up my mind. And as I also mentioned, I decided I wasn't going to go for a PR, but rather have fun running with Ali and help her finish her first half marathon. And as a fun bonus, Kelly ended up running this race as well!

I obsessively checked the weather all day yesterday, and it was looking like it might be a rainy race, but despite the rain (and thunder and lightning) during our drive up, it stopped by the time we got there. And didn't rain again. In fact with the cool temps and overcast skies, it was perfect running weather.

The race started and ended in the southern end of Lincoln Park, so we were able to park in a pay lot ($28) right next to the start/finish. We got there around 7am, saw Nicole (who ran two half marathons this weekend) and also had a brief Chicago Running Bloggers meet-up, before heading back to the car so I could ditch my pants and jacket.

Me, Kelly aka "Kate", Nicole

I planned to run in shorts, a short-sleeve top, "arm warmers" (this time a pair of BFF Ultra Vera's old softball socks ... with the feet cut off), and a light waterproof jacket. And a hat, in case it started raining again. Ali and I met up with her friend Eileen right before the start and lined up somewhere between the 10 and 11 minute pacers. Kelly lined up near a faster pace group.

With Ali at the start

The sun came out right before we started, and I thought I might get too warm, so I ditched my arm warmers and jacket (Ali's friend Kate was with us, but not running). This was a good idea for the first half of the race, but the clouds came back and I got a little chilly near the end (it was 50 and we were running right next to Lake Michigan). Hard to believe we had temps in the 80s two weeks ago.

I thought the race was well done, especially since this is a fairly newer race (I think this is the second year of it). I've never done an All Community Events race, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Race day packet pick-up was easy, the port-o-potty lines were long but not ridiculous, and the start was spaced out enough so there wasn't congestion on the course. The course was also well-marked - it was on the Lakefront Path (heading north to Montrose), which was not closed to the public, so we needed all of the direction signs and on-course volunteers, which there were plenty of. There was water and Gatorade about every two miles. I stuck to water and went through a pack of Clif Shot Bloks.

Running with Ali and Eileen was fun. For most of the race, we just talked and had a good time, but by mile 9, Ali was feeling it, so she started listening to her music, as did Eileen. I never run with music, but I never feel like I need it. Honestly, it's nice to not have noise in my ears sometimes.

For it being her first half marathon, Ali did awesome. For the first 9 miles, our pace was around 11-12 minute miles. I think her music helped, because for the last three, we were around 10:20-11 miles, picking it up to around 9 for the last quarter mile, and passing people.

We finished in 2:30:05. Not a PR for me, but actually my second-best half marathon time (this was my fourth half marathon). Just for comparison, last August I ran the RnR Chicago Half in 2:34 and my average heart rate was 154. Today my average heart rate was 142. So even if I didn't PR, I still know that I'm improving!

Kelly and me post-race

After the race, they had pretzels, bananas and other snacks, but no bottled water (they had cups of water). That is my only complaint for the race. It's easy to stick a bottle of water under your arm as you eat your other post-race food, and then have something in the car for the ride home. With cups, we just drank what we could there and luckily I had a bottle of water in the car that we shared. Otherwise, I thought this was a well-run race with a fun course (very pretty - mostly along Lake Michigan, with a loop around a harbor), so I would definitely consider doing it again.

 

The shirts were nice - very similar to the Fort2Base tops that everyone loves.

Don't forget: I'm giving away a free entry to 13.1 Chicago half marathon on June 9. Enter for a chance to win today!

Shamrock Shuffle 8K Race Report

Spoiler alert: I PR'd! But of course I did, I've never raced an 8K!

I knew going into today's race that it would be a little crazy. With 40,000 registered, the Shamrock Shuffle 8K is the second largest race in Chicago (after the marathon) and the "official" start of Chicago's running season. I guess. I've been racing all winter ...

Anyway, I had a lovely 5am wake-up call in order to catch the Metra train to get downtown by 7am. I met up with the other F'N Runners at the Hilton for indoor bathrooms and a group photo.

Look at all those sparkle skirts! This isn't even the whole group. 

Then it was off to gear check and the corrals.

Me, Kelly, Amanda
My arm warmers are courtesy of my high school soccer team.
They were my socks, I cut off the feet. Worked really well.

Upon entering the race area, Kelly looked around, and said with a straight face, "I'm surprised no one else is dressed up for The Hunger Games." Cracked. Me. Up.

I didn't find our corral to be too crowded or crazy, but maybe that's because we got in about 20 minutes before they closed. And then had another 15 minutes before the race started. According to the official results, I crossed the start about 2:20 after the gun, er, air horn. And even though the course was pretty crowded, I didn't have to deal with too much weaving around people. So I'm glad I submitted my recent 5K times to get in such a high corral.

I, of course, forgot to turn off my auto-lap on my Garmin, so shortly after we went under the first tunnel, my Garmin beeped for lap 1. I spent the race doing mental math, between what Garmin beeped and hitting lap at the actual mile markers.

Amanda sped off ahead somewhere under the first tunnel, so Kelly and I ran the first 3 miles together. Her goal was to finish sub-40, but she was running Garmin-less, so I told her our [actual] splits. After the mile 3 sign, Kelly took off, and my heart rate was right where I wanted it to be, so I didn't try to catch up. Around mile 4, the course turns down Michigan Ave (almost the Mag Mile, but a little too far south), and I kept plugging along, trying to mentally prepare myself for the Roosevelt hill (overpass) that I have heard about so many times, but had yet to ever experience. It wasn't too bad today, but I'm sure I'll hate it at mile 26 of the marathon.

The last turn (off of Roosevelt) was close to the finish, so I started speeding up. I think a guy tried to pass me in the end, so I sped up faster, and I'm not sure who finished first. Which is silly, it's a huge race and I'm sure there were plenty of people around me speeding past, they just weren't right next to me. I like to think that my sparkle skirt inspired the people around me to run faster, because they are probably thinking "just don't let the chick in the sparkly skirt beat you." So this is one way I can give back to the running community.

Officially:

7:57 pace

I was pretty happy to get in under 40 minutes. This isn't quite what McMillan thinks I can do, but I wasn't expecting to hit that time. 

I found my friends in the post-race area, and we ended up taking some photos with the infamous Green Men of the Shamrock Shuffle but those photos are on someone else's camera, so you (and I) will have to wait to see them. Then, after waiting for everyone else to get through a monster Gear Check line (I had my super-fashionable fanny pack and DIY arm warmers and didn't need to check anything), we made use of our beer tickets and enjoyed a beautiful Chicago day morning by Buckingham Fountain (which was still off).

Get your own "I run with fast women" shirt at http://magmilerunner.spreadshirt.com.
Proceeds go to the American Cancer Society!

Amanda, me, Kelly
Expo vendors, if you're reading, sunglasses are a great giveaway for us cheapskates.

After waiting around for my train (damn you Metra and your Sunday schedule), I was starving when I finally got home, but luckily I walked in on the middle of a late breakfast, and there were pancakes and sausages already made! Seriously, I may never move out of my parents' house.

Also, my niece was over for a visit!! So today is like the best day ever. I think she liked my skirt. Or maybe she smiles at everything. Not this picture though.

Next up: Chi-Town Half Marathon next Sunday. At one point during the race today, I thought to myself "I can't believe I signed up for a half next weekend. What was I thinking?" In true runner-amnesia form, I wasn't even off the train before I was thinking "I'm gonna KILL my PR at Sunday's half! Yeah!!!!!! Running is awesome!!!" Although PR'ing shouldn't be hard, my half marathon PR is 2:22. But I've improved a lot since my last half. 

Race Report: Oak Forest Fleadh 5K

Post-race with BFF Genevieve

Today is full of WIN! New 5K PR and I found out we got Radiohead tickets for June 10! Everything's coming up Maggie!

After a few unseasonably warm days in Chicagoland this week (highs in the mid-to-upper 60s), it's back to reality. This morning's temps were around freezing and it was WINDY. We've been spoiled this winter, so I'll be happy with seasonable temps for early March.

I ran today's race with a bunch of ladies from my running club, including BFF Genevieve. (Spoiler alert: she had a huge PR! So proud of her!!) Of course we wore sparkle skirts.

I often wonder when I dress like this for a race, are the people racing around me thinking "just don't let the chick in the sparkle skirt beat you." Knowing what I think during races, my guess is yes.

Also if a guy in a skirt (kilt) passes you near the end, does that still count as being chicked? Or dragged? If so, I was dragged. That sounds bad.

Anyway, like I said, today was windy. The race started off on a long straight-away with the wind at our backs. My first mile was 7:09. WHOA. Hello speedy. By the second mile, we were going through a residential area, so not as much wind, and my second mile was 7:28. My goal was just to keep my heart rate at 178. Then it was back out onto the main road where we started, for a long straight-away to finish the race. No surprise - running straight into the wind. And I mean WIND. I just told myself to keep my heart rate up, and know that my last split won't be as stellar. I run with my Garmin screen on my heart rate, so I had no clue what my pace was. Finally it beeped and it was 7:53. Alrightie then! Good thing I had that awesome first mile. I tried to sprint to the end as much as I could.

Official time was 23:18. A seven-second PR! Sweet. Considering how windy it was, I'm happy!!

I saw Amanda finish, and then we back-tracked to find the rest of our group. Amanda's daughter was running the race as well, so Amanda finished with her. I kept going until I found Genevieve. When I caught up to her, she told me she her pace was around 11:30. I paced her to a 5K PR last month, so I knew she was going to kill her PR today. As we approached the finish I saw that the clock was still in the 36s, and sure enough, Genevieve PR'd by over 3 1/2 minutes! In one month!! Her official time was 36:04. I had veered off course right before the finish, so I ran around the barricades and found her after the finish and jumped on her yelling "you PR'd by three minutes!!" I'm sure the people around us thought we were crazy. But when you're wearing a sparkle skirt, you have to act a little wacky, right?

Source: TooTallFritz.com

It was a pretty great showing for our group this morning. I placed third in my age group, as did Amanda, and her daughter, and our friend Judy. Nicole was there too, and placed second in our age group.

Source: TooTallFritz.com

Officially: 
23:18, 7:30 pace
Overall: 57 / 542
Women: 11 / 322
F25-29: 3 / 51

Race Report: Cupid's Chase 5K - Chicago

Alternate title: What feels just as good as PRing?

So, after my last post, I changed my mind about today's race. I decided I was going to pace my best friend Genevieve. If you can believe it (because I can't), my mom, who is usually very competitive (you should see us play volleyball together, kind of scary), said I should pace Genevieve. Her exact words were something along the lines of "You know what your own PR is, have fun, run with your best friend, and help her do well." Perhaps my mom was biased; so has often commented that Genevieve is her other daughter.

Anyway, it was COLD this morning. I think it warmed up to around 12 degrees when we got to the race. Because I wasn't going to be pushing myself as hard, I bundled up. Five layers on top and four on bottom. (No, I'm not exaggerating - I think I set a PR for layering!) I meant to take off my track pants and windbreaker for the race, but once they were on, I didn't want to take them off. And I didn't want to pin my bib to my windbreaker, so I broke rule #1 of racing and wore the shirt during the race.

Amanda, Kelly, Gen, me

Bibs for the Virtual Run for Sherry
The race shirts said "unavailable" or "available."

We met up before the race with Kelly and Amanda, and ran into Nicole and Kate. I actually know Kate from my childhood - our parents were neighbors before we were born, and we would play together when our moms got together for coffee. (Kate and Nicole ended up placing #1 and #2 in our age group!)

Kate, their friend, Nicole

Earlier in the week, Gen told me she wanted to get sub-40 for her time. I paced us with my Garmin, but she decided when we would take walk breaks. I didn't tell her our pace, just that she was doing awesome, or I would encourage us to start running again. Our first mile was 12:09! So maybe I should have been a better pacer and started a little slower. The second mile wasn't quite as fast.

I made Gen take a pic of me + Chicago during the race (I'm facing the camera)

Nicole zooming past (part of the course was 2-way)

When we got close enough to the end and could see the time on the finishing clock, I think Gen got discouraged because it was over 40 minutes. I reminded her that it took us a bit to cross the start line, and it was a chip timed race.

Also, we were pretty close to the finish and there were two people in front of us and I asked if she wanted to pass them. Gen said no, but I didn't like that answer.

Sorry dude, you're about to be chicked x2

We crossed the finish line ... Garmin said 39:49!!!! I was so happy, it felt just as good as achieving my own PR!!! Gen needed a few minutes to compose herself (I told her that meant she did it right). Once it set in, she was happy about the time! She realized she took 3 minutes off her 5K PR in about 6 weeks. Not too shabby! (Our official time was 39:47.)

Post-race, Kelly, Amanda, Gen and I went to breakfast at Nookies, where I proceeded to remove a pair of pants and two tops right at our table. What can I say, I'm classy. If you're keeping track, that left me wearing three pairs of pants and three shirts.

Anyway, if you ever get a chance to pace a friend to a PR, do it!!!! It will feel awesome when you help them achieve their goal, I promise. Now I understand why my cousin Judie is a coach!

Don't forget, every $5 you donate to the American Cancer Society before Feb 14 = 1 entry in the raffle for a swim lesson with Judie in Lisle or Rolling Meadows!

Race Report: Frost Bite 5K

Jess and Kim

This past weekend, I headed out to southwest Michigan to spend time with one of my college roommates, Jess, and also run a race put on by her friend Kim's family, the Frost Bite 5K in Vicksburg, MI.

It really was a family affair! I think I met all of Kim's immediate family plus some extended family. The race was smallish (231 finishers) and to allow the most money possible to go to the local food bank, there was no chip timing or online registration. But everything went off seamlessly.

The race was also pretty cheap. Registration was $10, $15 if you wanted a shirt or hat, and $25 if you wanted both. And there were tons of delicious homemade baked goods post-race, all prepared by Kim and her family.

The race itself was a flat out-and-back on a local paved trail. I knew that it would be a little narrow, so I lined up near the front. We took off, and it wasn't too bad. We quickly spaced out. The first mile was good, I did it in 7:30. Shortly after the first mile marker, I got passed by a guy pushing a double-wide jogging stroller.

I don't know if I was distracted by him in front of me, or near and after the turn-around I was distracted by people running in the opposite direction, but I kind of zoned out and slowed down. I should have pushed myself harder - my heart rate was around 176-177 for that mile, and I really should have been at 179. When mile 2 beeped at 7:58, I picked up the pace and pushed my heart rate to 180-182.

Post-race: Jess, her niece, me

Mile 3 was 7:17, which is my fastest mile ever during a race, but I probably would not have been able to hit that pace had mile two not been so slow. I also spent most of the end of the race neck-and-neck with another woman, and I think that also helped me get such a fast mile 3.

Either way, my official time was 23:25, which is a four-second PR for me! So I'm pretty happy that I pulled that off, even with "falling asleep" in the middle. After I finished, I walked back on the course and found Jess, and finished the last half mile with her.

Officially:
Time: 23:25, 7:34 pace
Overall: 35 / 231
F26+: 6 / 114
Females: 8 / 137

Don't forget! I'm raffling off a half-hour swim lesson session in Lisle or Rolling Meadows with my cousin Judie. Every $5 you donate to the American Cancer Society before February 14 = 1 entry.

Race Report: Midwinter Cruise 5K

Freezing at the start with Judy (pink headband)
and Kelly (blue vest)

Going into this morning's race, I wasn't really sure what to expect. Part of me was worried that my last race was a fluke and I wouldn't P.R. Not that I have to P.R. at every race, but it's fun, and I do feel like I am still improving.

Also, this was a small local race, so good chance for an age group award, but you never know who is going to show up. Now that I'm starting to meet a lot more local runners, I know who is fast and in my age group. Plus there is always the unknown of who is going to show up that I don't know yet?

Anyway, my point being, I tried to go into this race as I do every other race, without any expectations. Just run my best based on my own personal effort and see what happens.

It was a bit chilly this morning (I didn't check the temps before I left the house, but yup, winter is here for sure). I went for an easy run yesterday (running on part of today's course) and it was supposed to be a couple degrees warmer at the start of the race than when I went for yesterday's run, so I planned my outfit accordingly.

Of course the wind changes everything. Yesterday was sunny with no wind. Today was partly cloudy with WIND. I wore my sunglasses because it was sunny when I left the house (plus with the snow it gets bright), but it clouded up by race time. I took them off for my husband to hold while I ran, but realized they were protecting my eyes from the wind so I left them on.

Just past mile 3. I knew Kelly was behind me, but I didn't
know there was someone on her heels that looked to be
in our age group. (She was. Good race!)

We lined up at the start behind a kid in shorts and a short sleeve shirt and some pretty killer legs who looked like he could be related to Abdi Abdirahman. (Spoiler: He was 16 and won the race in 17 minutes and some change, I think.)

The course was a double loop and flat as flat can be. Kelly, Judy and I started together, but about a half mile in, I checked my heart rate and knew I could pick it up, so I did. Kelly stayed with me.

There was a guy who ran with us for much of the race, I secretly hoped I could chick him at the end, but he picked it up in the last mile and there went that goal. (I'm starting to realize local strangers are reading my blog, so if that was you and you're reading this, good job!)

I spent most of the race monitoring my heart rate and trying to push it to "almost puking." I did a good job.

My Garmin time was 23:28. Yes, another P.R.! I've P.R.'d every race (of a distance I've raced before) since April. It never stops feeling good, but I know it won't last forever.

Kelly finished two seconds behind me (I really think that will be our thing, flip-flopping and finishing within seconds of each other ... but in eight months I'll be 30 and we won't be in the same age group anymore, but hopefully we'll still push each other in races).

We watched some of our other friends finish before we got cold and headed inside for all-you-can-eat-pancakes and sausage! Yup! Pretty sweet. I also won a $15 gift certificate for a Road ID. (Once again, Hot Chocolate races, you have NOTHING on small local races. A fraction of the price and way more swag. Thank you, Park Forest Running & Pancake Club!)

Age group awards! Judy, Kelly, me, Amanda.

They did five-year age group awards 2-deep, and Kelly and I placed in our age group! They also let you pick your own trophy which was kind of fun. Most of the trophies had little cruise ships on them which I found totally amusing (since it was the Midwinter Cruise ... they also had leis and goofy hats and decorations, some of which you can see in the photo above ... very fun).

Officially:
Time: 23:29, 7:35 pace
Overall: 33 out of 189
Females: 4 out of 99
F25-29: 1 out of 6

Race Report: Dash into the New Year 5K

Gen and me

Spoiler alert: I PR'd.

Awhile back, me, my BFF Genevieve, and some of my local online runner friends who I don't think I had yet met in person, signed up for a local inaugural 5K through a Schwaggle deal on Active.com. I think it was $15 for the race and the shirt (which turned out to be a long sleeve tech shirt).

After almost PR'ing for real at my last 5K-that-wasn't, I was eager for this race so I could actually PR.

Going into the race, I knew I probably wouldn't place in my age group. They were doing 10-year age groups, and only doing awards for the top 2, and between the fast women in my running club and another local fast gal who we knew would be there, I didn't have my hopes set on placing. (Spoiler alert: I didn't place.)

The race course was nice. It started off at the Matteson Community Center, headed to a street that went over the expressway (hill), did a small loop through a neighborhood, came back over the expressway (again with the hill), did another small loop through a different neighborhood, and finished. There were a few spots that were a little slick, but not too bad.

Also doing this as a New Years Virtual 5K

Also, note to self: don't eat anything in the morning before a 5K. Not even a few bites of a Clif Bar. Just don't.

I started off the race closely following Amanda, who has been taking some time off from running because of pain. Between miles 1 and 2 I passed Amanda, but Kelly caught up with me. We stayed together until pretty much the end, I kicked at the end, and she kicked too, and she finished before me.

When I was telling my husband this story, he asked why I didn't trip her. He said he would have tripped Jason [his BFF]. And they think women are the catty ones.

After catching my breath and getting some water and a banana (and my phone out of my car), I backtracked on the course to find Genevieve. She was run/waking with a really sweet woman she met on the course, and that woman helped her PR as well! Runners are so awesome!!!

Amanda and Kelly both placed second in their age groups (I placed third, behind Kelly). I was just so happy to PR! Considering just eight months ago, I PR'd in a 5K with a time of 28:15. Also, I beat Kelly by one second at the Turkey Trot, and she beat me by a second today, so I guess we're even? Perhaps this will become our thing? Heh. 

You may have noticed (if you read my last post) that I PR'd a lot this year. I've only been running for two years, and my training kind of fell off last winter (as you can see by a screen grab from Daily Mile), so I'm still improving as a runner. Eventually, I won't PR as much, but hopefully my times will be more consistent (hopefully consistently fast). So I'll enjoy it while I can!

Official: 23:41.8, pace 7:38
Overall: 42 / 253
F20-29: 3 / 21

Race Report: Reindeer Run 5K. Pictures of baby animals! And a sort of PR.

My antlers were free. I guess so were the reindeer's.

I'm a sucker for (most) gimmicky or themed races. Especially ones that aren't oversold (Hot Chocolate 15K I'm looking at you) and ones that benefit charity.

I was able to talk my BFF Genevieve into signing up for the Reindeer Run 5K, benefiting a local YMCA, and held at Brookfield Zoo. Actually it was really easy to talk her into it because there was a Kids Dash, and the $30 5K race fee included admission to the zoo (and parking), so she signed up her 5-year-old daughter Jolynn as well.

Unfortunately, her other little one was sick all night, so instead of her whole family coming, and spectating while she ran the 5K, she ended up coming alone with her 5-year-old for the Kids Dash and skipped the 5K. Kind of a bummer, but at least she was still able to come (and the two of us are signed up for a 5K later this month).

Those are soccer socks from 1996

It was raining before the race, but luckily stopped right before race time, and only drizzled on us a little bit during the race. My goal going into the race was to P.R. (beat 25:59).

The first mile marker was after a turn, and as I approached it, the official clock next to it was in the low 6:10s. Um, yeah. I knew I started off fast but not that fast.

Eventually my Garmin beeped and said I did the first mile in 7:30. Which is still really fast for me! Mile two (per my Garmin) was 8:09.

Mile three never happened because I finished, stopped my Garmin and:

(5K = 3.1 miles for the zero non-runners who read my blog.) I asked some of my Monday night friends who were also at the race, and they also had 2.89 on their Garmins. And there is no way I shaved over 3 minutes off my 5K P.R. in one month. Right?

Had it been a full 5K, it still would have been a P.R. - the pace was 30 seconds faster than my current 5K P.R. pace! From one month ago! Either way, it was good enough for second in my age group (F20-29). I'm not sure how many runners there were total. It wasn't a huge race. (Why do I always admit that? I'M SUPER FAST, GUYS.)

I'm signed up for two 5K races (12/31 and 1/15) so hopefully those are the correct distance and I can actually P.R. for real.

After the 5K was the Kids Dash. I expected more red and green. (The race shirts were blue ... why?)

Jolynn is in the red pants

Nice beard, hipster

And then we stayed to look at animals.

Because I truly am my mother's daughter

Orangutans

Oh. Not only is it the second most popular dog's name, now this.

After awhile looking at primates gets mildly creepy. Just me?

Penguins!!!

I could keep one as a pet, right? It wasn't that cold in their habitat.
Plus it's an excuse for an indoor pool.

Because no post is truly complete without a picture of my cat.
For the record this was not taken at the zoo.

Reindeer Run 5K
Officially: 22:43, Pace: 7:20 (had it been 3.1 miles)
Overall: 44 / 293
F20-29: 2 / 19


Don't forget: Give me $5 and I might just give you a FuelBelt. (Raising money for the American Cancer Society. Raffle info here.)

Race Report: Running For Kicks 4 Mile Turkey Trot

Me, The Sailor, and "Mike Ryan"

I had big hopes for today's Turkey Trot:

1. Finish in under 34 minutes
2. Beat my husband
3. Meet fellow running bloggers 

I went two for three, so that ain't bad.

I figured my 5K PR is 25:59, a pace of 8:22 or 8:23. If I ran 8:30, I could finish in 34:00 minutes.

The race was great. Up and down rolling (Chicagoland) hills, which I expected from hearing all the Monday night folks talk about. There were clocks at every mile, and my Garmin beeped a little past every mile, but it was close enough. I tried to keep my heart rate around 180, which I think is around 96 percent of my max heart rate.

I was paying attention to the mile splits on the clocks and my Garmin, but I knew I started about 10 seconds after the clock started and as much as I love math, sometimes it's hard to get mental math perfect down to the second while you're pushing yourself. I think I knew I was beating my 5K PR pace, so that felt pretty great. Around miles 2-3, I started regretting the little bit of toast/peanut butter and coffee/soy milk I had for breakfast. I think I should stick to stuff like shot bloks before shorter races.

To quote our third grade teacher,
we are "strong, smart women"

I got to the last 400m and started pushing myself, saw Vera who had already finished and kept pushing, and as soon as the finish line came into view (and I could hear people [men] behind me start sprinting), I sprinted faster. I crossed the finish line/mats, stopped my Garmin and then went off to the side to catch my breath. It took a minute (and pulling down my heart rate strap). Once I recomposed myself, I checked my Garmin. 33:01! WHAT?? A minute faster than my goal!

I saw Amanda at the start and again as I finished, so I went back over to say hi again, and then went back to find Vera and watch for The Sailor to finish. He finished about 10 minutes later. We went and got water and bananas, and then headed home. We had cakes, pies and stuffed mushrooms to make.

So, as you can see, I met my time goal and my beating-the-husband goal, but I didn't meet my two running blogger friends. Next race!

Running For Kicks 4 Mile Turkey Trot
Chip time: 33:00 / 8:15 pace
Overall: 226 / 1,133
F25-29: 9 / 99

Did you race this morning? How did it go?

Race Report: Palos Park Rec Dept Turkey Trot 5K (and a PR)

It's November! And if there's one thing the running community loves, it's a Thanksgiving themed race.

Seriously though, what's up with that? Is there any other holiday that has so many related races? Is it because the weather is perfect for running? (Probably.) Or that running excessively is the perfect antidote to the gluttonous nature of Thankgiving?

My co-worker is a runner*, and recommended today's race.

She runs, and does 5Ks, but whenever I suggest doing a half marathon, she is uninterested. Says she doesn't have the endurance. But who does, without training? Anyway, it seems so foreign to me to be a runner and not want to torture yourself with training for and finishing at least a half marathon. But perhaps I am the crazy one.  

Today's race did not disappoint. For $18, we had free parking next to the start/finish and a lovely race through a pretty residential neighborhood with lots of fall color while 100,000 other local runners (or so it sounds from the complaints on Facebook) were clogging the streets of Chicago in the name of chocolate. We had no course congestion. There were probably 100 or so finishers in our race.

However, despite the small size, they did 5-year age groups, and TROPHIES.

My co-worker ended up winning our age group (F25-29). But guess who placed second (in our age group)?

25:59 gets second in an AG when everyone else is downtown running for chocolate

I'm going to try to milk my last months is this age group as much as I can. I know once I hit 30, I'll need faster times to place. 

The Sailor placed third in his age group (M30-34). Not bad considering on our way to the start he said he was just going to "take it easy." Lesson learned: American soldiers never truly take it easy.

29 and some change gets third in his age group

In addition, we got some festive long sleeve (cotton) shirts and finishers ribbons (like what you got in elementary school for perfect attendance ... I fully intend to hang it with my other race medals). AND they did a raffle with tons of donated stuff from local businesses, and I won a $15 gift certificate to a local pizza place. The overall winners got frozen turkeys, of course.

Not bad for $18 registration fee, eh?? (I'm looking at you Hot Chocolate racers.) (Although, yes, I will admit I ran the Hot Chocolate 15K last year and I love the brown hoodie I got for it.)

Yes, I wore this to the movies

Oh, by the way, I PR'd. 25:59. Pace was 8:23. So that's 21 seconds off my last PR. Not bad considering my weekly mileage has dropped since my last half marathon (on October 1). I've been trying to push my pace during my last few runs, knowing that my next "long" (over 10K) race probably won't be until May 6.

By the way, the movie we saw was Tower Heist. The Sailor picked it. It was predictable and exactly what you expect, but that's what we were in the mood for. It's funny to see Ferris Bueller and Zoolander with gray hair though.