Shamrock Shuffle 2015

March 29, 2015

3rd 8k - Shamrock Shuffle, Chicago, IL

  

I was a little worried about this race because, I'm no going to go into it but, people suck. Eight people exactly. Anyway, I thought it might be hard to run all annoyed and partially depressed. but thats the beauty of running a race. there really isn't time in an 8k to ruminate about things. all I could concentrate on was running. 

The not so loveliest part of spring running in Chicago is the agony that goes along with what to wear every time you go out for a run. Or any other time in the spring really. I walked out the door in the outfit below plus a black running jacket. I really wanted to do without the jacket but the chilling cold waiting for the bus and walking to the hotel pre race was rough.  Ultimately I went without the jacket and I'm glad I did. The wind was unreal but it all worked out once I got going.

CARA (Chicago Area Runners Association) had an indoor private gear check inside the Congress Hotel on Michigan Avenue. The bus didn't go that far down Michigan Ave due to the race so I got the chance to get in a little pre race warm up run 4 blocks to the hotel. I talked to a few people and scurried to my starting corral. They had already started to release my wave. I wove my way throughout the late wave to my proper corral.

A little drama for the camera

Last year my last minute strategy was to run the whole thing without stopping. This would be the first time I did that but I walked through the water stops which no one really counts as stopping running.  This time my strategy was to keep running, even through the water stops. And I did! Up the hills and through the water stops I went! I think the next goal would be to do the same in a 10k.

This is the first race I've done for a second time. I think I'll do this one each year. It's more than a 5k so it's a tad more challenging, it's in the streets (so sick of running on the path) and it's the kick off to the running season in Chicago! This race is also such a crap shoot weather-wise. Last year was magnificent and sunny. This year was cold and super windy.

When I first started running it was impossible to manage technical difficulties or doing simply things like blowing my nose while running. I am a pro now! I wore my favorite pair of Athleta running pants on this day. They feel great, protect my skin from the wind and look good. The only bad thing is the lack of a serious waist band. I wanted to run as light as possible so I  brought my Roo Sport Pocket. its this awesome pocket that tucks in between your pants and your skin. A flap folds over the outside of your pants and secures in place with a strong magnet. Because of the unsturdy waist band it dragged my pants down. I didn't want to spend the next hour pulling my pants back up every 9 seconds. I moved it to my backside but that didn't work either. In addition, the blue tooth was spotty which I think was because of the waterproof case around my phone. I had to keep the phone in the Roo Pocket and hold it in my hand. No biggie.

Now let's talk about snot. I can usually keep the snot at bay and wait to blow my nose. It was so windy the wind was sucking the snot right out of my nose! I did manage to blow a few times but needed more Kleenex! This wind was unreal. I felt so bad for the volunteers at the second water station. The cups were blowing all over. Hair was whipping in their faces. It looked horrible being in that wind tunnel. At least I got to move on. Rounding Roosevelt to head up that hill near the end was real fun. The course goes left and the wind was blowing me to the right. I kept running though!

Damn this photographer! I took two awesome leaps across the finish line and he or she gets this?

Around the corner and over that friggin' hill to the finish line I went.  I am always thinking three steps ahead. The only thing running through my mind as I climbed that hill was how much this was going to suck when I run the marathon in October. 

They gave out medals this year. If that;s why the price of this race was $50, I could have done with out the tiny tiny lame-o medal for a reduced price. It didn't even have anything written on the ribbon!

I watched the runners for a few minutes on Michigan Ave and then headed back to the hotel. Lagunitas beer is one of CARA's sponsors and they were there handing out freebies! Unfortunately not until 11 am.  I got stretched out by Nova Care's finest and talked to some people I know. By this time it was raining outside so I hopped into a cab and headed to the west loop for brunch with the few people who bothered to show up and help me celebrate.