LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle - 8K - Run8k


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Chicago, Illinois
United States
43F / 6C
Overcast
Total Time = 9h 45m
Overall Rank = 5296/22558
Age Group = 35-39
Age Group Rank = 627/1732
Pre-race routine:

Woke up. Took a shower. Don't know why, but I did. Didn't have a cliff bar to eat like I normally do so I just downed a Lemon GU. Breakfast of champions. Got in the car and Beth drove us in.
Event warmup:

Did a little over a 1/2 mile job at race pace and threw a few accelerations in to get the legs warmed up since it was so cold out. Then went into the corrals to get ready to run.
Run
  • 41m 55s
  • 4.97 miles
  • 08m 26s  min/mile
Comments:

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. :)
What would you do differently?:

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.
Post race
Warm down:

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.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

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.

Event comments:

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




Last updated: 2008-01-15 12:00 AM
Running
00:41:55 | 04.97 miles | 08m 26s  min/mile
Age Group: 627/1732
Overall: 5296/22558
Performance: Good
HR averaged 183 and maxed out at 195. The 195 max was the run up the Roosevelt hill. So wrong to have that at the end of the race but it is what it is.
Course: Loop through down town Chicago. The layout was a bit different this year. They went under Congress this year instead of crossing over it on Michigan. I actually like this route better.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5] 4