Annie and I had our game faces ON.
Grrrr….
After running a 5k and an 8k together, we were ready to tackle the Lincoln Park Run for the Zoo 10k race yesterday. Yes we were. Sure, we were both a little nervous. Me being semi-undertrained and Annie was doing her first 10k ever. But that’s ok. We had our cheer squad with us:
Mon actually got up in the early 5:00 hour and joined the caravan to the race!
She also makes a great bag holder.
Even though we were more happy to have her along for the moral support. Not just to hold our bags.
I swear…
Anyway, it couldn’t have been a more perfect day in Chicago yesterday. At about race time (8:20), it was warm, but not disgustingly humid. A win in my book.
Annie and I are different paces, so we separated pretty much right away. I was on my own in the dreaded first mile:
A look of concentration as I swerved back and forth trying not to tackle anyone. And to also get around my biggest pet peeve- a line of 5 or 6 people jogging it together. Really? Can’t you pair off? Because this isn’t a road race- I can’t get by you. The 1,000ish people behind you can’t either. Be considerate. And don’t get mad when I accidentally hit you (and apologize) as I try to slink through a small opening you somehow let happen.
This is why the first mile is one of the miles I hate the most. And the reason the first mile ended up taking me over 9 minutes to complete.
What??? I gotta pick this up! And I did. The second mile (as guesstimated according to the clocks at the mile markers) took me less than 8 minutes.
What??? I gotta slow down my roll.
And I did. My pacing was awful. My splits were pretty much back and forth the entire time. Granted, some of this had to do with the conditions of the race itself. I love that part of the race ends up winding through the zoo. It’s cool. However, I wish they’d wind us on the narrow trails past the animals in the second half of the race- not the first half. Because, by making it the first half, the pack has very little time to thin out. So it’s a cluster of madness. Annie also mentioned that she felt like she was practically jogging in place at various points because there really wasn’t anywhere to go.
Other than that, and the fact that a few stray vehicles somehow made it through the closed streets and were threatening to run some runners over at street crossings, I don’t have too many complaints. Quite a few of my races have been in Lincoln Park and I really like the trails and scenery there.
But back to the end of my race…
Somehow, after two steep inclines in the last mile and a half (which were an unexpected surprise to me being as how I’ve never encountered them in a race here before), I was ready to be done. But once the mile 6 marker was in sight with only .2 miles to go, I just started to haul azz.
As in, my legs were working faster than the rest of my body was mentally prepared for. Had it been any more than .2 miles left, an accident may have occurred. I can see it now- ”RUNNER FLIES OVER FINISH LINE- falls and gets trampled by hundreds behind her…”
My final time was 53:45- an 8:41 pace. Clearly this was 3 minutes slower than my PR, but whatev- I was thrilled!
That put me 372/1505 overall and 47/290 in my division.
I hurried through the lines to find Mon and set ourselves up to watch Annie finish:
Someone totally photo bombed. But do ya see her? Weeee!
As she ran by, she had the energy to look at me and shout “I’m never doing this again”.
Fair enough. 6.2 miles is no joke.
However… 20 minutes after that? “Yeah… I think I’d do it again.”
That’s my girl. ;)
It goes without saying how lucky I am. Not only do I have someone to share my love of running with, but I also have someone who just loves to come along for the crazy antics:
Seriously… Mon was everywhere- camera ready.
She was where’s waldo in yellow shorts:
Because we had plans for a birthday dinner later that night, it was decided to pass up the traditional breakfast after a race (I know- crazy!). However, when I got home, the thought of dinner still didn’t keep me from eating my weight in cereal.
Some things never change…
Filed under: Race Randomness Tagged: | 10k, Chicago, fitness, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Park Zoo, Run for the Zoo 2011, running
I love your friendship with Mon – y’all are so cute!!! Great job on the race – go Amy!
Great job!
I can’t stand when people run 4-5 abreast like that, and I’ve said something before. But I just got blank stares. Better to do what you did and just push your way through!
Agreed. I always apologize… as I leave them in a trail of dust…
Great job!
I’d be on the side of the road after mile for screaming “Just go without me, leave me here to die!!!”
*four
ahahahahaha!
Nice race! I’d like to run through a zoo, I bet it’d be fun, yet somewhat smelly? Haha I love the pics of Mon creepin.
You’d think it would smell… but doesn’t. Maybe it’s the breeze off the lakefront?
So they let you out of your cage to do the run? nice!
I kid I kid! <3 run girl run!!!! mwah!
Hahaha I love the creeper pictures of Mon. Those are awesome.
Awesome job on the race. Finishing so fast when you’re under trained is amazing.
Nice race! Im with you on the random inclunes where the heck did those come from!
Seriously- they were killer!
nice work! I heard it was crazy hot and humid around those parts yesterday! And seriously, I absolutely can’t stand the folks that start out ahead of me but are slower and insist on running 4 or 5 abreast. drives me bonkers.
It sounds like you ladies had a good time. I do that too – “I’m never doing that again!” to “Well… that felt pretty good. Maybe in a few months…”
Have a great week!
Nice job! I couldn’t do 6.2mi in 53 min if my life depended on it. And good job to Annie too!
Wow, I’m surprised that they had the course set up like that! I thought for sure the part through the zoo would be in the 2nd half- I mean, that’s how I run that route, sooo…
All things considered, I think that’s a really really good finish time. And Mon is a total creeper, btw.
Woohoo, I totally think I saw you–but you were sprinting by so fast, I couldn’t be sure, and then I lost you to the crowd–JW was racing that day- the weather was great for a race!
You did?!?!?! That’s awesome!
I hope JW did well, too! Why weren’t you running it, too???
Good question- I don’t know why I didn’t do it- but in the end, I had to go to a GD wedding dress fitting which I suppose you cannot show up to sweaty
True. I’d hate for you to have pit stains on the dress even before your wedding day… horrific!
Congrats on the race and also to your friend! I love how happy she looks even though the chick in front of her looks like she is going to DIE. Was it me?
And your hair is so cute.
Awesome job! You guys both did great. Mon sounds like an amazing friend. For real.
And really, when is one bowl of cereal ever enough??
I need at least 2 or 3 to satisfy. Ridic.
Great job!! I <3 Lincoln Park Zoo!!
Yay, looks like a fun run! Except for that first mile, crowded races are exhausting, so much hopping around and dodging people! What are you doing in that first pic though, spelling something? Making your best cat impression?
We were posing in front of the Lion House. Clearly that didn’t translate well… ha
Ugh! Those runner groups during races are THE worst. Yeah it’s supposed to be fun, but socialize afterward, right?!
Nice job on the time, Amy!!
Mon is hilarious. You did a great job ! You’re so freaking fast!
Girl yous a hottttie with a body! I am so glad you had a rockin time:)
OMG I love the creeper pics of Mon!!! That pic of Annie rocks as well.
I think next race you should wear your pink wig with a sailor hat….
AHAHAHAHA! I’d have to bobby pin both on REALLY well… but it could be done!
I cried when I read your comment on melissa’s page, it is a very prostitute look. Or stripper look!
Congrats! A run through a zoo sounds like so much fun!
Creeper photographer friends are the best! Great race!
You guys are way too much fun!
OMG, Mon is too cute. Love her!
And awesome job in that heat! DAMN you rock! I was wondering about you yesterday. Happy to see you kicked butt. A bummer that it is so crowded though. I hate that running in place feeling!
Woohoo! Nice job on the race!
The creeper pictures definitely have me giggling.
Nice job! And cute hair. Magnificent that it stayed in place that long. Also, upon first seeing the Annie finishing picture, I was like, “Whoa?! That race turned her Asian!” But then I got it.
AHAHAHA! I seriously just died reading this. The heat can do crazy things… right?
yay you! the photo antics are too funny
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