It was so hard for me to get up for this race. I had been in Rockford the night before at a minor league baseball. I drank a good amount of beer and then got to bed kinda late. Needless to say, the alarm clock ringing at 4:45 was not a welcome sound. I wanted nothing more than to go back to bed and sleep til noon. But I somehow dragged myself out of bed, got dressed, ate breakfast, and got into the car.
I drove down to Montrose Harbor, and parked my car by the Waveland golf course (where parking is FREE! heehee!) I had to walk about a mile to the start line, but it was no big deal. I was actually walking on the lakefront paths right on the actual course. So I got a preview before we got going.
The race started on time, which was AWESOME! And it being an all-women's race, there was considerably less jostling and shoving to get into the start corral. Only a minute or so to the start line, and away we go!
Mile 1: I feel like death. Why oh why did I drink beer last night? I am kicking myself for this one. To the point where I will never do something so stupid ever again. Like, EVER again. The start of the race is surprisingly slow. Well, not all that surprising, now that I think about it. I lined up right at the 10:00 per mile pace sign. But there are walkers in front of me, and it's CROWDED. Most of that is due to the fact that both the 5K and 10K start together.
Oh wow, we're already at Foster Beach. Time certainly flew. I'm right at a 10:00 mile pace, which is good. I didn't really want to race this one- just work on starting out slow and maintaining a consistent pace. So far, so good.
Mile 2: I'm starting to feel a little bit better. Slowly but surely, the breeze from the lake is cooling me off. It's amazing how running has a sobering effect. I am starting to get more focused.
I'm frustrated with all of the slow people though! Ugh! Not that I am lightning fast or anything, but I am running the entire race, not run/walking. And there is one lady with a baby jogger that keeps cutting me off. I move onto the grass, both to get away from the slowsies and for a little softer terrain. Mile 2 is up ahead, and I can actually see the finish line! How deceiving!
Mile 3: Ok, now I'm cured. I feel great. My pacing is awesome, I am so well-hydrated, the weather is perfect, my tunes are motivating. And what's that ahead? The 5K/10K split! Yay!
The course is considerably less crowded at this point. Which I like. It's kind of hard to have 3400 people running on a 2-lane bike path. Even though the lanes are wide, that's still hard to accommodate all of those people.
Mile 4: We're now running down the bike path that I had walked down after parking my car. For some bizarre reason, I feel better being on more familiar territory. I am in no way tired and I am still maintaining a consistent pace. However, I am still slightly frustrated because I keep having to adjust my pace to run around people. Definitely on the fence if I would ever do this one again.
It's seriously amazing to me how many people are on the path this morning. There are lots of marathon training groups, plus people just out for a Sunday jog with their training partner. Sometimes I think I'm missing out because I don't live in the city. Well that and I don't have a training partner. Usually I like running alone, but I'm kinda jealous that these people have someone to talk to the whole time.
We're able to see the leaders from here. Wow, they are fast. And they have killer abs! I'm so jealous...
Turnaround time! We're almost at Belmont Ave, so it's time to head back towards Montrose Harbor and the FINISH LINE! :)
Mile 5: I secretly love when there's a race that inconveniences drivers. Watching their reactions is hilarious. The people pulling out of the golf course parking lot have to wait for the runners to go by. And boy are they angry! Hee hee :)
We're still on the lakefront paths, weaving around the softball fields. Hey, I can see my car from here! And it's still there... that's a good sign!
This mile was a little slower because I'm still weaving around run/walkers. Blech. Need to pick it up, only 1.2 miles to go!
Mile 6: Lalala... I'm almost starting to get bored with this course, since we are back on the path that I walked this morning. But I'm feeling great and I'm proud of myself for NOT racing and for NOT straying from my pace. I understand that goals do change, sometimes midway through the race, but not for me, and not today. I'm going with consistency over pace, and I'm not wavering.
Ooh almost there! Last aid station! I gulp a cup of Gatorade and run under the tunnel. It always amazes me how much runners love tunnels. It just gives us an excuse to woop and holler and be loud. (Plus I think we love the echo!)
Home stretch, running through the park next to Montrose Harbor. We can see the astro turf soccer field (I've played there before and it rules), then the big hill, then the huge parking lot. All the while, the official photographers and snapping shots of us. I really hope I don't look like a retard like I did during the North Shore Half.
Mile 6.2: Right at the mile 6 mark there's a guy screaming his head off for the runners and yelling "Time to kick it in!" I decide to heed his advice, lengthen my stride, and do a quick pickup to the finish line. I finished right at my goal of 10:00 min per mile. I mean, it's exactly. Final time: 1:02:06. Not bad for someone who had to make deals with themselves just to enter the start corral. :)
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