Frontier Days 10k Stampede

My chill Saturday night at the movies really paid off for me when I got up a little after 6:00 on Sunday morning.  Even though it was my first 10k of this month (I’m pretty sure I’m doing another one in two weeks), I wasn’t really nervous at all.  Honestly, I really didn’t think about it too much until the night before.  No idea why.  Maybe I just didn’t see a point in stressing out about it?  I’m far enough in training that it wasn’t going to be a problem to actually run it- I was just wondering how well I’d do with pacing myself.

Did anyone else do a holiday run this weekend?

Mon went with me as emotional support and took over photographer duties.  She was sitting there waiting with her coffee when I walked out of my apartment.  She’s awesome like that.   

I knew of the Frontier Days festival last year when I moved to the area, but didn’t go.  So we were both quite surprised in how big this race was (for a smaller suburb race).  A lot of it had to do with the fact that they started the 5 and 10k’s at the same time.  Here I am all chipper and ready to go.  Or slightly delirious for being up this early on a holiday morning?  Either/or.We all packed into one of the neighborhood streets.  The gunshot went off.  Weeee!

The first two miles were pretty crowded.  I tend to enjoy finding someone to pace with and just go.  This was hard for me because I couldn’t differentiate who was running the 5k and who was running the 10k.  So I waited to do that after the third mile when the two groups of racers split.  After mile 3, I followed a girl and kept a solid pace around 8:20.  This was working out well, but with a mile and a half to go, I wanted to kick it up.  A guy passed me who seemed to be going a decent speed.  So I took it up a notch and decided to follow him for a bit.  It was a challenge at that point, but I kept an 8:10 pace the rest of the way.

The last 20 seconds were a blur.  And quite stressful because I was serious disheveled.  All the sudden, there’s Mon to my right.  The finish line.  Then someone to my left ripping off my bib number.  Seriously- chip timers.  It’s what all the cool kids are doing… Let’s get with the times!I guess this was taken before I noticed Mon standing there.  Or at least I like to think it was- so that I would have smiled instead of snarled.  Oops…

I finished the 10k in 51:21- or an average pace of 8:17.  I was cool with this.  But I know I have a little more work to do in order to get that goal time I’ve got in the back of my head for the Rock n’ Roll half that is LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY!  Eek!

Let’s see if I can shave some time off in a couple weeks on my next 10k?

Afterwards, I got in line for the goods…I’m now stocked up for my pre-workout snacks next week.  Thanks Park District of Arlington Heights! 

All in all, I had a good time.  So did Mon.  She was apparently in people and pet-watching heaven.Apparently ALL the neighbors came out to watch…   I did really enjoy that- people were all up that early, sitting out on lawn chairs cheering everyone on.  Every few blocks, people would have their sprinklers on and directed towards the streets for our benefit.  On the first mile I was kind of annoyed.  By the last I was running straight for the H20 whenever I saw it.  Little kids also had hoses in their hands, eager to spray you down if you indicated it.  I was smart enough to stay away from that situation- there was fire in their eyes that made me slightly uncomfortable…

Afterwards, it was time for the mandatory post-race breakfast.  Rough morning, right?  ha ha  I was hungry pretty much immediately, and so was Mon, but as we were walking back to my car, I asked if could swing by my apartment so I could change.

Mon:  Well it doesn’t make a bit of difference to me, Amy.  You just ran.  It’s ok to be a little sweaty.  I don’t care.

I contemplated what I had on.  My running shorts and a soaked sports bra top.

Me:  Well, I should probably have on underwear and not be nipping out in the restaurant.  I’m sure the church crowd will be joining us soon.

It was a good call.

Another good call?  Sausage and mushroom omelet with rye toast at Walker Brothers.  Oh buddy…

And so that was my race experience from yesterday.  I’m going to let you go now- I have my day off of work to go enjoy.  Do you have the day off from work?  How are you spending it?

Have a good one! 

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