St. Paddy's Day 8k - 2013

March 16, 2013

First 8k - St. Paddy's Day 8k

 Chicago, IL

Time 54:17 Pace 10:56

My original plan was to do all 5ks this year and then next year work my way up starting with the Shamrock Shuffle 8k in 2014. So I scrapped that plan and nervously signed up for the St. Paddy's Day 8k and then decided on the Monster Dash half in October.

I started training for the 8k (4.97 miles) and then I got a cold for the first time in over 2 years. It set me back two weeks. I finally reached 5 miles in my training last Wednesday and that included a warm up and cool down! I was on the treadmill in the cool down phase and decided I wasn't stopping until I completed a full 5 miles.

In cool down on this treadmill, no matter what pace you're running, every minute it brings you back down to a cool down pace. And it only lets you extend the cool down period so many times. I'd boost myself up to a nine minute mile and then get bumped back down. 5 times! I made it to 5 miles by a hair.

OK, so I was ready.

I met this woman on the train and we talked the whole ride. She lives in Maywood and was meeting her friend at the race. Then on the bus ( I Actually got a seat on the overcrowded bus!!!!! - what a day I was having!) ride back downtown I met these three lovely ladies below from Phoenix. There are 10 kids in the family and most of them are spread out all over the country; one brother lives in Germany. They travel to a different city each year for St. Paddy's day. If hey have a race, they do it and walk and then go to the city's parade. After the race they were meeting their 84 year old mom and their aunt near the parade. They have shamrock vests to wear for the parade. each year they add a patch to the vest to commemorate the time spent celebrating the holiday in whatever city. 

How darn inspiring! Most people I know outside of Chicago are either afraid of public transportation or don't know how to get around on it. These ladies were all over the place on the buses, getting lost and relying on the kindness of strangers to help them get around. I so hope I am like them when I get older (I so will be). I admire their adventurous spirit and zest for living! They were so sweet and were passing out beads on the bus. 

So with the help of my train ride friend Cindy from Maywood we made it over to the hidden starting line across from the nature museum. I checked my gear, got in the pee line and headed on over to the starting line. Damn it was cold! And windy! This was not a good day for a race. 

I was impressed with myself. I made it about 3 miles of straight running before I took a small walking break. I took another short walking break and then hauled ass towards the finish line! So there I just ran 5 miles. Check me out!

Generally there is a huge long line after each race to get your finishing time. You put your bib number in one of only about 3 laptops and get a print out. This time there was no line for finishing times; seriously, I walked right up to the computer. The huge line was for a free small cup of beer! 

I forewent the beer because I had decided to treat myself to pizza. I am yeast-free and one yeasty product today was going to be enough. But first before pizza I had another forbidden item - cupcake! Oooooooh, hello sugary, chocolatey goodness!!!! Happy Happy Happy day!