The day before this race, ice show day of the walking dead, I was on my feet from 5 am until well after midnight. Fuel consisted of 3 Twizzlers, 2 drags on a blue Icee and a cupcake. Heck the entire week was like this. I entertained not going at all. But I knew I’d feel guilty if I did not run at least 6 miles on Sunday. I was spectating a race in my dreams when when my alarm sounded the next morning at 4:30. Ugh.
Still can’t believe I got up.
I went with retina-searing orange and snow leopard. A match made in heaven, no? It was already 62 degrees at 4:30. I suspected I was in for a hot race. Little did I know that was the high for the day and temps would plummet a dozen degrees before I finished.
When I pulled out of the driveway I noticed the dark skies in the west. Ran? It wasn’t in the forecast until later!
I got to the race and was directed into a fabulous, FREE parking garage. Score! I love me some free parking. While in the potty line waiting for the 5k to go off, a stiff wind whipped up, the temps dropped and it started pouring. Joy. We were soaked before we even started. That’s when I decided to do a quarter marathon instead of the half. I’d pull off around the 10k mark, call it good and head back to bed.
30 seconds before my corral went off I realized I wasn’t in it. I was one back. Since it was pouring, I limbo’d under the rope. Why wait another 3 minutes in cold rain if I didn’t have to? We were off. It was cold. And windy. And slick.
Goals: Just run/walk an easy/any pace quarter marathon. Bonus points if you can sleep run.
Miles 1-3: My music worked fine in the corrals but stopped as soon as we were off. WTH? Since it was pouring I didn’t mess with it and evesdropped instead. One convo about how never to put pizza crust down a garbage disposal because it expands.
Another lady talked about coming back to running after having a baby. The woman running with her replied “Oh so you WERE out with an injury then!” What?? Babies are injuries now?
We ran 3 miles South to Ravinia, then headed back North through a pretty neighborhood. Could not believe how many people had their large dogs out spectating, soaking wet. That will be some serious wet dog smell to deal with, but ok.
Part of me starting thinking about where 6 miles would be so I could pull off and go home…another part of me took a pineapple Roctane at mile 5. What’s going on here?
I planned on quitting but just never pulled off. By mile 8, yesterday’s crap food/minimal sleep/total dehydration caught up with me and I was dying. Except now I was too far North of the starting line. I death marched on. Was wogging by mile 10, pretty sure I’d be DFL. Whatevs.
Could have sworn we ran under the Fort Sheridan tower last time I did this race but not this time. Hmmm…
I found a ponytailed Hawaiian guy (probably not Hawaiian, what do I know?) who was doing walk intervals as well and drafted the rest of the way in. In the final mile a guy yelled “now’s the time to give it all you’ve got cuz you don’t need it anymore!” Ugh. So I had to run. I chicked Hawaiian guy and finished in 2:09. Home, hot shower, back to bed.
Here’s my drowned rat, death zombie, post-race stare. 24k+ steps and 41 flights of stairs according to my fitbit. I’ll take it!
The race shirt is a cute robin’s egg blue. Excellent quality. The medal is good, not great. They trumped up the 35th anniversary aspect of this so I expected better. Many were strewn around the finishing chute because the medal had come off the ribbon. Post-race food was parceled out in a nice reusable lunch tote and we were on our way. Given the weather, this was just fine by me. This race is well done. The course is pretty, undulating with one monster hill. Not the easiest, not the hardest either. Next up: Fleet Feet Women’s Half.
Sounds like a tough day! The first hot/humid day is never easy, especially coming off the days you had leading up to it. Cheers to you for sucking it up and getting through!
babies are injuries now? interesting. I think that comment would have pushed me to go faster to get away from that conversation! Way to go on finishing even when you did not want to start!
Congrats on the finish and chicking “Ponytailed Hawaiian Guy!” Strange that that runner considered babies (or childbirth) an injury!
I like the look of the medal!! I have heard of this race, its one I would love to run too:) I like the interesting carb loading, aka candy loading:)
First, I’m new to your blog. Are you based in Chicago?! I grew up in Chicago, but I live in FL now. My parents still live there 😀
Second, you’re speedy, despite the horrible conditions! Congratulations on pushing through and finishing!!
That race sounds miserable!! I mean, I guess, at least you finished? No?
When I ran Delaware, there were people out with this huge dog and they offered to let me “run him” for a while. I should have, maybe it would have given me more motivation or made me feel better about having such a terrible race.
It was such perfect weather for a race with the light drizzle and dropping temps! Funny how it started right with the 5K. I was not expecting the rain!
I am happy you were able to complete it all! And I know we went under the tower when I walked the half (NEVER AGAIN) in 2010!
I did the race too!! What was up with that weather– great working on getting it done! I’m also thinking about doing the Women’s 1/2!
Great job on finishing! It’s tough to run when you are sleep-deprived and dehydrated, way to go!
Ummm yea, babies are not injuries. You are just not running as much or at all, but definitely different than an injury!
Wow way to push yourself all the way through:) Especially in the rain, ugh! I love the outfit too, so cute!
your music turning off sounds exactly something that would happen to me during the race (something always seems to go wrong)
Huge kudos for actually getting up and running considering how busy / exhausting your days were leading up to race day!
You need to come to Missouri and run here! I had 57 flights of stairs after a 10K on Saturday. I thought I was going to die.
Congrats on pulling through! Your time is so incredible to me. I can’t imagine doing that. And with no sleep, hoped up on sugar.
See you next month!
I can’t believe you got up, either! I would not have survived on such little sleep, let alone everything else going on in your crazy week. Nice job hanging in there, and that’s a REALLY impressive time for the circumstances!
I’m pretty sure I enjoyed this recap more than you enjoyed the race! I admire you for pushing through and for not feeling great, your time was ROCKING.
I LOL’d at the garbage disposal thing.
Good job getting up (and getting soaked, and running anyway)!
wow! look at all that orange you were wearing! i love it!
nice job sticking with it..
I don’t think I have ever been in a race where it actually got colder as the race went on- except a night 5k. That would be unexpected. I LOVE your outfit though. Great combos!
You surprised yourself- And got in a solid race! All it takes is a little last minute motivation 😀
Great job on pushing through – and the fact that you did it after the crazy week you had?! Amazing!
I’m beyond impressed with you! The fact that you got up and went at all is a big deal and then to finish the race – you totally rock!!
I hope you got some good sleep after a hot shower and plenty of filling food!!!
Way to stick it out! Another deposit in the mental toughness account that you can draw on in the future.
Ooooh, I hate when music dies, but at the beginning of a race? That just spells disaster! Nothing like crawling into bed after a long hard race in the rain! Good job!
Uff dah! Way to persevere!!! Loving your visor!
I am exhausted reading this so.. I think you should be proud no matter what! 🙂
I missed this one! Sounds like a tough race! I love that part of you took a Roctane and decided you were doing it all. The shirt is pretty cute!