LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle - 8K - Run8k

Good run overall. Very good run. Would have loved to get it down to 40 flat, but I'll take a sub 42:00. Means I shaved 5:30 off from last year. And with taking almost all of November and December off, I'll take it. Means that I should be able to do sub 8:00 on my next stand alone 5k. I hope.

Anyway, the race started off like it was supposed to. Sending all the Top 100 and Corrals on time. I really want to make it into that next year. Hopefully I will make it.

So off we went. Got into a 8:15 pace right off the bat and it felt really good. Went through the first mile at around 8:15-8:20. Hard to get an exact time because the Garmin didn't do so hot going through the tunnel. And the next thing I know, we are at the first water station. Wow! That was fast.

Just past it, we turned west and I think this is when I slowed down just a little bit. It is a long slow hill. Nothing major, but I also started to get a little bit of a stitch on my right side. I remembered listening on the TriTalk podcast that the best thing to do is start to really forcefully expel air. Did that for the next 20-30 breaths and boom, it was gone. Leaned forward and took off again.

The layout was a bit different. We went under Congress this time, and just before that was the 5k mark. I look down and I just did a 5k in about 26:00! So now I'm spending more time trying to figure out what I have to run to hit my 40:00 than on my running. I look down after a couple of minutes and realize I've slowed down a bit (about 9:15 pace). Funny, there used to be a time when that was quick. So we turned back East and it was a bit of a down hill so I let the stride go to try to make up some time.

At about the 4 mile mark, running over the river, I see Whizzz on the side. I holler at her to keep going (she is walking) and realize she may not recognize me so I bark "Its Crowny! Keep it up!" and give her a big grin. Then return to focusing on what I'm doing.

I finally hit Michigan Ave and make the turn and look at my watch. I now realize I won't make the 40:00 mark. But I can make the 42:00 which is my secondary goal. So I keep the turnover going. Mainly at a 8:15 pace and figure, I'm not breathing hard my legs are just a little heavy. So I'll just keep this pace knowing there is a killer hill very soon. And boy did it come up soon. Hit the hill with the 8:15 pace and I believe I kept it really close to that. Once I peaked, all that was left was about a 250m sprint to the end. Come on legs, don't fail me now! Ok, so I didn't really sprint, but the pace was better. And crossed the line with a sub 42:00!!! And I wasn't dead. I felt great.

Last year, when I did this race, it was the first race I had run in since I was in College. And it was the farthest I had run. Ever! This year, I'm 10-15 pounds lighter, and I've run farther than this more times that I can count. I would have loved to get the 40:00 flat, but I'm still really happy with the sub 42:00.

Finally a comparison in ranking.
Last year Overall 9657 out of 23965. This year 5296 out of 22558.
Last year AG 1029 out of 1820. This year 627 out of 1732. I would call that an improvement. :)

Well, hopefully next year, I will be in one of the corrals. If I am, then I think I can push it a bit more. Being with the larger waves makes it difficult. Playing poll position for the first 1/2 of the race.

Grabbed food and found Beth. She was a popsicle due to the cold so we took off quick like. Sorry BT peeps. Didn't want to ditch on you but the little lady was shivering like a leaf.


Crowds. Honestly think I could have knocked another 1-1 1/2 minutes off the time if I didn't have to keep slowing down to get around people. Corners are the worst.


I'll keep doing it. Especially as I continue to improve. Just wish it was a bit warmer.