Race Report: Shamrock Shuffle 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011 at 7:00AM Sooooo, yesterday was the unofficial opening of running season in Chicago: the Shamrock Shuffle. I've run this race three times now, and it's actually an important race to me, since it was the first race that I trained for and ran just for myself, way back in 2009. The first year was in a freak blizzard; last year was foggy, wet, and muggy. This year, they delayed the race date into April in hopes of snagging warmer weather... which was successful - it was so hot!!! So hot.
Here are the deets (drumroll please):
TOTAL TIME: 54:13
AVERAGE PACE: 10:54
Last year, my time was 59:49. Boo-yah! I cut 5:36 off of my previous years' Shuffle time! Meeting my goal of a sub-55 race made me feel so great; all my hard work paid off. And here's the thing - that goal was met due to the work I've done within the last two months. I didn't run much last year, and I started my 2011 training in January - so it makes me feel good that I was able to trim off so much time by busting booty over the last few months. It makes me hopeful that I can meet my hopes for a sub-5hr marathon.
Lots of my friends and I run the race together - lots of Chicagoans turn out, period. This year was the largest field in history with 40,000 runners. The race takes place downtown, and we are just all so happy to be outside without coats.
Here are the ladies bright and early (I'm all the way on the left):
We were back in Corral G because we are workin' on our speed skillz. Wrigley-T and I looked around, saw a couple people in jeans and then a lady in a walking cast. It was at that point that we determined we must bust it out and get a great time so that we can get promoted into the better (faster, less crowded, more experienced runners) corrals. Corral G is where the people who walk down the middle of the thoroughfare hang out, and we aren't down with that. I think walkers who don't move to the sides of the track might be my biggest racing pet peeve. Wrigley-T did even better than I did, at about 52 minutes, so we are both in seeded corrals next year (celebrate!)
With so many runners, we couldn't even see the starting line from our corral!
I had a great race. The weather was really hot, which was tough. I didn't feel so great, but I still kept on pace. I stuck to my training methods.... run for 8 minutes, then take a 1 minute walk break - rinse, repeat. For awhile, my Garmin watch said I was on track to bring in a sub-54 race, but the heat started to really affect me and slowed me down a bit. Otherwise, I had a tough, but solid run, even under less than ideal circumstances.
The best part about the Shamrock Shuffle? The free post-race beer, of course!
Bossyboots and K-Spice really brought the race home for themselves, with 41 and 40 minute finishes, respectively. Overall, we had a great race day, and it set a great tone for all the other races I have planned this year. Two big things I learned this weekend: I need to buy racing sunglasses, and I need to remember my sunblock - eeesh.
Next up? The Race to Wrigley 5k with none other than namesake Wrigley-T. Will we finally make our sub-30 5k? Only time will tell!
Running, race report
Reader Comments (7)
Congrats on your PR!!! That's an awesome accomplishment!
Nice job! It must have felt so great to knock out that PR! I got Nike running sunglasses and I don't think they were too pricey - maybe $30 online - and they have worked out great for me.
Great job!! That is an awesome PR! I'm sure you can bang out a sub 30 5k!
Congrats on a great race!!
Congratulations! I just started running last fall, and I am supposed to be doing my first 5k this spring. I'm a little nervous. You are inspiring. :)
Congrats on your PR! That looks like a great race!
You amaze me!