Race To Wrigley 5K, April 25th

I've started this new thing where I try and race the week before a half marathon, basically just to get the junk out. Running is like any other sport, in that it requires practice. So you could call my 5Ks "practice races," in a sense.

Why did I pick this race? For a multitude of reasons, such as:
1. You get to run on the Wrigley Field concourse!
2. The tshirts, albeit very very large, are awesome. And they are tech shirts instead of cotton, which is so much cooler.
3. YOU GET TO RUN ON THE CONCOURSE!

We got to the race VERY early, as the pre-race pickup did not have my correct t-shirt size. Got the t-shirt, walked it back to my car, and made it back to the start line a few minutes before the race.

Another reason to run this race- Wayne Messmer sings the National Anthem. Totally worth every penny. It's just like going to a day game at Wrigley! This is great!

I decided to run this race chip-less, meaning without the timing chip. Let's face it, I'm not going to win any age group awards. I'm slow. I know. Get over it. (Sorry, I borrowed that slogan from a Penguin t-shirt). And if the only difference is that I have to keep time on my watch, so be it. This is practice.

Mile 1: Slowest mile of the bunch. I'm weaving around slow people, walkers, people with strollers and people with dogs. I just wish that those people would start in the back, and make life easier for the rest of us. I applaud you for being out there, but I hate having to run around you.

I checked the course map before we left this morning, and it's pretty straightforward. Not too many turns where I'll be wondering if the finish will ever come around, but just enough to keep me interested.

We're running down Addison. Easy, easy. I feel good so far, which is saying a lot. It's humid, though. I can feel my hair curling up. We turn the corner onto Ravenswood, potholes, potholes, potholes... it just gets worse every year. I see a big black cloud off to the west. Definitely rain.
While trying to figure out which way the clouds are moving, I miss the mile mark. Oops.

Mile 2: From Ravenswood we turn onto Irving Park, and run past the new construction townhouses and old, rambling Victorians. I love this part of town. It's like a town within the big city. You can't beat it.

About halfway down Irving, I finally realize that I missed the mile mark. I know where the 2 mile mark is, just east of Clark, and I know that we are on pace for a sub-10:00 mile. We pass the aid station, on the corner of Irving and Ashland, and I skip the water. (Bad Maureen!) But after all, it's only a 5K and we are nearly done.

As we near Clark Street, I am on the lookout for the mile marker. This part is a two-way road with a strange turnaround...

Mile 3: In the middle of Irving, halfway between Clark and Seminary, is the mile marker. Under 20:00. So far, so good. We start to kick it in all the way down Clark Street, because after all, it's just a practice 5K. We turn the corner on Waveland, see the firefighters outside the house, and turn into Gate K.

We're running on the concourse! This part of the race passes in such a blur... I was looking forward to this so much, but I want a good time even more. I pass the 3 mile marker and kick it into gear.

Mile 3.1: There's a girl in front of me wearing a David Wright jersey. Is she lost? This is nowhere near Mets country! I want to beat her.

I race around the Ernie Banks statue and head towards the finish. It's a tight squeeze, but I manage to beat both David Wright fan AND Jay. And in a good time, good deal.

We get some Gatorade and stop to stretch... and... there it is, the rain. We made it just in the nick of time :)

I think I'm ready for my next half... give it your best shot, Wisconsin!