Bucktown 5k 2013

September 15, 2013

ninth 5k - Bucktown 5k

Chicago, IL

Time 34:01 Place 2791/3909 Overall; 137/211 age; 1549/2393 female

Average pace: 10:57

Uhm, yeah. I am not as annoyed as I look in this photo. Actually I wasn't annoyed at all, I just had bagel in my mouth. Yummmmm, that was the first bagel I've had in like 1.5 years.

So anyway, I am still dealing with plantar fasciitis. After the Chinatown 5k I got my foot x-rayed at a podiatrist. Thankfully, I do not have heal spurs. That would have required painful surgery to remove. So instead I got to pay out nearly $800 for special orthodics, a excruciatingly painful cortizone shot, and naproxen. I was banned from running for two weeks. 

The first thing I did when my two weeks was up was run 6 miles. Not a very good idea! I didn't do anything for a few days and ran about 3-4 miles every few days. That wasn't a good idea either. 

I was scheduled to run an 11.5 miles race from Ft. Sheridan to Great Lakes Naval Center. I decided two days before the race that I was fooling myself thinking I could make that race. I got my race shirt and bib but never raced. I went for a 25 mile bike ride instead that day.

Before the Bucktown 5k I had not run for about 3 weeks. I was trying to stay off this damn nuisance.

I got a new pair of Mizunos the day before. They felt good. I got this!

We all gathered at Karen's house and discussed our low expectations for the race. We parked far far away and walked over to the starting line in the rain. I was drenched before the race even began. Ni modo, I like running in the rain....but when it's a little warmer outside. 

I enjoyed this race. For one, I surprised myself by running straight through proving that even though I've been taking it easy I can still crank out 3.1 miles in less than a 12 minute mile pace. Neighborhood races are great because you get the whole street and the residents come out to cheer us on. The cheering people make the whole race for me. I always smile big and forget about the race for at least a few seconds but as you may know, a few seconds in running can be an eternity. 

A few local places were offering post race deals but they didnt open until ten or eleven. Unfortunately Veronica had to catch her train home and couldt celebrate with me and Karen. 

Karen and I celebrated our victories with brunch at Milk and Honey, Massages at a Chinese foot bath, and dogs at Super Dawg. mmmmmm.... and ahhhhhh......