Shamrock Shuffle 2014

March 30, 2014

second 8k (4.97 miles) - Shamrock Shuffle

Chicago, IL

around 45 degrees

Time: 54:52 average pace 11:03

Place 1321/1880 Females 40-45; 10299/17154 females overall; 20814/30115 overall

Ok, my pace sucked but this was the first time I have ever in my life ran 5 continuous miles without stopping! Yes! I walked through the water stops for like 15 seconds but I'm not counting that. I will savor the victory!

My jacket has "hi dad!" on it in pink lettering made from duct tape (it's fancy now) because I misread the Shamrock Shuffle website and thought the race was going to be on TV. My Dad called me while I was pulling up to JoAnn fabrics the day before to ask if I was running the race. I told him to watch me on TV and then went in and got the duct tape. It streamed online and wasnt on TV. Oh well.

Those are my fancy green compression socks in the photo above. I won them at a self defense for runners class at Running Away Multisport in the deep of the winter. I picked the green ones just for this race. Since I put myself on a clothing purchase ban this year I was happy to have a new pair of socks for the race.

Karen and Vero met me at my apartment a little after 7. I stuck my head out the window as they were coming up the walk to be greeted by biting cold! Yikes, it was supposed to be warm. We briskly walked to the train around 8. We stood there for what seemed like forever. The train sure was taking a long time. Apparently the south bound train wasn't stopping at the Loyola stop due to construction. We found this out thanks to an eavesdropping stranger. We ran out the station and hailed a cab. Whew! We made it just in time to get our gear checked, go potty and get into the corrals.

I changed my strategy a few times before we started. Originally I was going to do a run walk of 5/1. Then I thought this is a race you whimp, you can do better. How about a run walk of 60 seconds walking for every mile of running? Well, I felt so good, I just kept going. I didn't have to talk myself through it, I just kept going! I remember someone shouting out "you're awesome," which made me say to myself "I AM awesome!" Indeed. It sounds crazy and a little self centered but these are the things you have to tell yourself to keep going. If you dont realize how awesome you are, you'll never make it. You have to be your own cheerleader. sI'd like to give a shout out to the woman holding the sign that said "Go! random stranger!" Since no one ever shows up to cheer me on, I was happy to see that sign. Thanks for thinking of me random bystander!

Other things I was thankful for were:

•  the red carpet along the bridges
• I didnt see the dead rat everyone walk talking about
• the end part of Como Baila  where the temp kicks into super fast which sailed me up the third hill
• the sun!
• 2 post race Bloody Marys at Eleven City Diner
• public transportation after said Bloody Mary's 
• friends with whom share in the victory
• running in the streets of Chicago rocks!!!!!
• the cheering crowds
• the feeling I get from completing a race assures me that I am so ready to train for my half marathon