Shamrock Shuffle 8K RR

Saturday I didn't run at all. I woke up to snow/sleet/yucky rain. Instead I went with my cousin and her friend to Navy Pier to pick up our packets for the Shamrock Shuffle. I ended up splurging on a cute hoodie, and convinced my cousin AND her friend to get Spibelts! 2 more converts! Then we had lunch at Harry Caray's Tavern... so really I wasn't TOO disappointed that I didn't get out there and run.

Sunday morning was freaking FREEZING. Like 32 degrees when I left my house. Showing off my Team Pikermi shirt has to wait another week, as I had another layer on top of it. I could have worn the hoodie, but I wasn't sure if it would still be raining or not.

I was in the first wave. I felt important to be starting first. PLUS my corral was not too crowded at all, I didn't have to run around slow people at the beginning, and I was able to run MY race the entire time. Except for when 3, yes 3 hobos, crossed the street in front of me. Like there aren't 25,000 people running down the road.

Garmin didn't lose me at all, even in tunnels and around the tall buildings such as the Whatcha Talking 'Bout Willis Tower, aka the Sears Tower. I was amazed. Put Garmin downtown, no problem. Put him at Belmont Harbor, all hell breaks loose. Whatever.

I get to just before mile 2 when I hear, "Hey Mo, Nice A$$!" It was my bff from college (Mike) cheering for me on the sidewalk. LOL he is awesome and it was great to see him! Oh and btw, I finished mile 2 in 7:56! First time I've gone sub-8:00 since high school! Amazing!

Seriously I was just cruising through the miles. I got to the 5K mark in 25:22! Only 30 seconds off my PR, which tells me that maybe, just maybe, I can beat that at some point in 2010.

Up the last big hill (Roosevelt Rd, same as the end of the Chicago Marathon), I sprinted and gave it everything I had. Final time - 39:19. Good enough for an A goal and an 8K PR I can gladly retire... until next year that is!

St Paddy's Day 5K Race Report

Date/Time: Sunday, March 14th, 2010 @ 10:00am
Location: Diversey Harbor, Chicago IL

Let me just preface this by saying: I suck at 5Ks. I don't run them often, I'm not fast, I don't do speedwork, I don't train for them at all. That being said, I still think a PR is possible. I set my current 5K PR 10 years ago this coming May. I was still in high school, and high on life after a terrific track season. A 5K was the longest race I had ever run, and I nearly died at the end. But I finished AND got an age group award! Oh how time flies...

Fast forward to Sunday. I've been battling a quad/groin injury, and cut Saturday's run short because I was soaked from the misty yucky rain and no amount of money could have paid me to get back out there. Even so, running under 24:52 is certainly doable. It's roughly an 8:15 average pace, which I have done before in tempo runs. Granted, those tempos were on the treadmill, but still. It's doable.

I toed the line, waved goodbye to my dad (who was walking), and at 10:00 on the nose, we were off!

Mile 1:
Started in a cluster of people with "I think I'm fast with my 11:00 min/miles so I'll line up in the front" disease. Running around people for the first .35 or so was just about all I did. I settled into a comfortable pace when I had to veer off to the side of the gravel path. Because of all the rain we had (basically 4 days straight), the path was completely flooded. I had to run in the grass, I mean mud. SO GLAD I wore trail shoes and capri pants.

We're running alongside the Lincoln Park Zoo towards downtown. I can see the John Hancock completely, but the other tall buildings are shrouded in lingering clouds. It's beautiful. I love Chicago!

Mile 1 split: 8:56. Completely off pace.

Mile 2:
Is it possible to catch up once you lose pace on the first mile? There's only 3 miles in the race, 2 left, and I'm off pace by over a half a minute. The math is too complicated. I know it involves a sub-8:00 mile. Gah! Not possible to get a PR today, I'm afraid. But I'm still going to run my tail off.

Off the lakefront path and around the park, another great thing about this beautiful city. I pass the aid station right by and keep on running. Garmin is behaving nicely and telling me great things, like how I'm currently holding an 8:20 pace. My leg isn't bothering me and I'm not gimping it up.

Mile 2 split: 8:37

Mile 3:
Once I start this mile, I'm hit by a WALL of wind. It was horrible. I ran through the same thing on Saturday, so at least it's not raining. I'm having trouble keeping a consistent pace, due to all the people in front of me who just stop running and go into a slow walk. Grr! Plus more muddy paths and lots of people to pass. I know I would do so much better running a 5K on roads instead of gravel paths and sidewalks.

I found someone to draft off for a 1/4 mi or so. It was nice to not have to be alone into the wind!
I could see the finish line, so I just went for it, as fast as I could. I really, really wanted to break 27:00 but that wasn't in the cards.

Mile 3 split: 8:13. Finish time: 27:05

When I got home and looked at my stats on my Garmin, I realized that in total, I ran 3.14 miles. Not a PR, but a Pi Day celebration nonetheless :)

Next race: Shamrock Shuffle 8K - 3.21.2010
Next chance at this distance: Ravenswood Run - 4.25.2010

Hope Springs Eternal

I'm an optimist. I tend to look on the bright side of everything, expect great things, and usually end up slightly disappointed in the end. So I tried to take a different approach- I tried to become a pessimist.

I tried to enjoy the cold, dreary winter days here in Chicago. I tried to find something wrong with every run I did, something else I could improve. "It's not negativity," I told myself, "It's honesty, and it's going to make me a better runner." I also told myself that I was still an optimist, all I needed to do was flip the switch.

But the problem with training yourself to become a pessimist? You actually become one.

So when I felt a tweak in my groin muscle last week, I was devastated. I convinced myself that all my hard training was for nothing, that I definitely wouldn't get a PR in the marathon. Hell, I wouldn't even be able to START the marathon.

So with that attitude, a failed Tuesday 6 miler and an injury Wednesday, I sat down at my desk after lunch on Thursday. My co-worker reminded me that the Cubs had their first spring training game, and it was being broadcast on the radio.

"Humph," I snorted, "Like that team is going anywhere this year! But it's something to pass the time, so I'll listen."

I settled into the game and quickly got into it. Grins and smiles when the announcers said something amusing. Wows to myself when I learned new, interesting facts about my favorite players from last season. Smacking my hand on the desk when bad baserunning took away scoring chances.

By the end of the 2nd inning, a had a completely new lease on life. I found myself so enrapt with the announcer, wishing I had a passion for something the way he has a passion for baseball, in the way that it oozes out everywhere.

Oh wait, I do. RUNNING.

So after work, my new outlook and I got dressed to run outside. My leg was feeling much better and I was no longer walking all gimpy. I figured, just try a couple of miles and see how you do.

I was able to do all 5, following my training program to the letter. No pain in the leg.

Spring is such a chance for renewal. Every year, us Cubs fans gear up to watch our team in spring training and tell each other, "THIS is the year!" We're usually wrong, but it's fun to hope. Besides, if we have a bad day, shake it off. Tomorrow's a clean slate, both for baseball and for life.

Welcome back, Ms. Optimist!

On the Sidelines

Friday night the bf and I went out for a late dinner at Chili's. On the way into the restaurant, I slipped on some ice. I didn't fall, but somehow caught myself (I credited my boots and my enhanced proprioception.) I put it out of my mind and went on with my day.

Saturday's long run went as planned, 12 miles with a break about halfway through. I felt fine, except for my new-found intolerance for tomatoes flaring up. My right inner thigh was sore, but I put it out of mind and chalked it up to a long hard day on the treadmill.

Sunday was much the same way, except I limped off the treadmill after 5 miles, kicking the side of it and somewhat destroying it. (I'm a total klutz, what can I say! It was sooo embarassing!) Monday was more of the same- I was able to complete my run but felt a nagging pain in my inner thigh.

Tuesday I had enough. I was relegated to the indoor track (damn crowded gym), and could only do 6 miles of 8 because I was in some pain. I think the turns only made it worse. But what IS it, I kept asking myself. A quick consultation with my old college anatomy textbook and WebMD revealed the grim self-diagnosis: groin strain. Adductor longus strain, to be more exact. UGH.

Treatment calls for ice and rest. So yesterday, instead of an easy 5 miler in the bright sunshine, I sat on the couch and watched TV. It was horrible. All day long at work, with the sun shining on me and obscuring my computer screen, I tried to think of excuses so that I COULD get out there and run. I tried to trick myself into thinking that all was ok with my leg. It didn't work, especially as I got out of my car after the drive home and had to hobble towards the door. No fun.

Missing a day or two during training shouldn't sound like a big deal, but it is to me. One of my goals in training for the Wisconsin Marathon was to complete all of my runs. Maybe I'll have time to make it up down the road, but I doubt it. I've been taking everything week by week thus far, but now it's time to look at the bigger picture. In less than 2 months, I will be running the Wisconsin Marathon. I'm in the best shape of my life, and missing a couple of days to HEAL is not a big deal. I will get better and I will get to that starting line.

My leg feels 100xs better today. I was able to put my pants on standing on one leg without tipping over. It's the little improvements that make all the difference! I want to run, but I don't want to push my leg into something it's not ready for. I'll be smart about getting back out there, because I know...

The only thing worse than a DNF is a DNS.