Jess Goes Running: 2017 Chicago Half Marathon

I just realized that I never wrote up a race recap for this year's Chicago Half Marathon back at the end of September!  I guess tapering for a marathon will do that for you, haha--to say I was a little preoccupied with other things is an understatement.

Well, if I could sum up the half in one word, it would be this: HOT!

This was my 3rd time running the event (2014 and 2015), and Tom's 2nd.  Last year, I signed up for it but was unable to run as I was dealing with all the issues with my foot.  Needless to say, I was really excited for the opportunity to get back at it!  I was planning on using it as a training run for marathon training; that week I was scheduled for 12 miles for the long run, so 13.1 didn't really seem like much of a stretch.  At that point, I had already done my longest outings of training and compared to the distances I'd gone in the previous few weeks, a half marathon seemed like nothing.

I wasn't planning on going for a PR, which was good because it wouldn't have happened anyway.  The days leading up to the race, we watched the weather forecast with dread--it was going to be a scorcher, with high temps and high humidity.  To say I was unhappy about the weather is an understatement, but there was nothing I could do about it except stay hydrated and slow down.  We ended up catching a ride down to Jackson Park with my mother-in-law, who was coming with as a spectator.  Right around sunrise it was comfortable but as the morning progressed, it only got warmer and warmer.

I knew the sun was going to be brutal so I made sure to apply ample sunscreen.  I also wore a hat, which I both appreciated and could have done without.  I loved having my own personal shade but it was really hot and I had to take it off more frequently than I would have liked.  The conditions were pretty rough, but I was still proud of how I was doing despite it.  I actually felt like I did a pretty good job of keeping it together during the first half of the race.  Then I got to mile 7, and it fell apart a little bit.  I was still optimistic but I was tired, and hot.  I was excited to make it to the turnaround point of the out and back, and I pushed my legs to keep going as I headed back down south towards Jackson Park again.

Truthfully, miles 8-13.1 were mostly about survival.  I figured as long as I maintained forward motion, I was in a good place.  During the second half of the race, I came across more runners than I was comfortable with being tended to by Race Guards or by paramedics.  The weather really was just brutal.  At this point the aid stations and medic tents were handing out bags/gloves of ice and I was more than happy to oblige them in their offerings (and, yes, may have shoved a glove full of ice down my sports bra, haha).  It was tough but I never quit, I kept going--doing a lot more walking than I normally would have wanted--and kept moving towards the finish line.

In past years participating in this race, rounding the corner and seeing the Statue of the Republic, the Golden Lady in all her glory, would have filled me with relief, happiness, pride, excitement, would have even moved me to tears.  This year, I was just happy to be done.  I still had a little bit of gas left in the tank and I gave it my all during those last few tenths of the race, crossing the finish line as strong as I could.  When all was said and done, I finished with an official time of 2:58:58.  Definitely not my fastest time, but given the extenuating circumstances I was just happy that I finished under three hours.

I got through the finisher chute, receiving sustenance and hydration and my medal (a beauty!) before trying to find Tom and his mom.  I was feeling a lot of emotions, most of them angry and annoyed, which actually kind of amused me combined with the runner's high I still had.  I was fired up!  Finally, I located them and made my way to the Evanston Running Club area, where I sat down and drank some Gatorade and reflected on the race.  I didn't, and don't, regret doing it, but I certainly wish the weather had been nicer.  Looking back on it now, I was in a position where my psyche and confidence regarding the marathon were still pretty shaky.  (I honestly don't even know if I really thought I would actually be doing it until I was standing in the starting chute on that sunny October day, but that is a post for another time).

Despite the conditions, the volunteers and race marshals were incredible!  I definitely would not have gotten through it without them.  I know it was probably a tough day for them too but they kept everything moving smoothly and everyone as hydrated as they could.  This has been my experience every year I've done this race and it's one of the the things that keeps me signing up every year.

At this point, I am planning on doing it again next year (as part of my marathon training, assuming I get in to Chicago again for 2018).  I am also thinking I might try to do a half marathon in the spring; Tom is running the Wisconsin Marathon in May, and there is also a half marathon the same day that I'm considering signing up for.  There is also the Chicago Spring Half Marathon (which is the other half of the Chicagoland Half Marathon Series).  Decisions!  In any case, I think signing up for a race will help me get back into the groove of motivations, and will also give me something to look forward to.  I love the half marathon distance, so I'll need something to tide me over until September 2018!

Jess Goes Running: Champagne Wishes and Marathon Dreams

The 2017 Bank of America Chicago Marathon was this past Sunday and, spoiler alert...

We're marathoners!  We did it!! What an experience!  But to really get a feel for it we have to start from the beginning...

(Very long race report after the jump--thanks for reading!)

Jess Goes Running: Marathon Training--Week 5; Lincolnshire 4th of July 5K

The 4th of July weekend carried me into week 5 of marathon training.  The week prior, I had to adjust my schedule and shift around some of my runs to account for aches and pains.  Even though this was definitely the cause of a little anxiety for me, I got all of the mileage in and felt proud.  This week ended up being another one where my plan got shifted around--partially by choice, partially because of the weather.  I had a little more control over it this time around, but I honestly still felt a little weird getting off schedule.  The important thing is that I am learning how to be flexible, slowly but surely, and that I'm getting it done!

I shifted my Tuesday 3 mile run to Monday so that I could participate in the Lincolnshire 4th of July 5K with Tom.  It was my third time running (you can read about those experiences here and here) and his first.  This was probably the best weather I've ever experienced with this race; it was overcast and even, dare I say, a bit chilly, too!  As I have mentioned previously, this run goes right past Tom's childhood home so he was intrigued with the idea of doing it.  And, truth be told, the race t-shirt is pretty dang sweet, too!

We started together, but he quickly ran ahead.  I felt strong--and quick!  I was definitely challenging myself to keep it up; if you can run 9 miles and still be standing at the end, I kept telling myself, then you can push it and run fast for 3 miles.  I felt pretty great up until the last 3/4th of a mile...  a cramp in my leg came on fast and for a few seconds, I was fairly sure I was going to have to walk it the rest of the way.  After stretching it out, I started out slow and gradually increased my running pace.  That last little bit of the 5K was slower than I would have liked it to be, but I kept on towards the finish line.  And in that moment, I gained a new PR!  I finished in 32:17, considerably faster than last year's 35:38.  I felt much better than last year and am pleased to see definite progress in my abilities.  All in all, I'd say it was a great race!  Tom had a good run, too, finishing in 27:25.

Because of the 5K on Monday, I chose to make Tuesday a rest day for me.  That night, I set out my gear and prepped for my 5 mile Wednesday morning run. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans, and by the time it had cleared out, I had no time to run before I got ready to work.  This was a little annoying to me, to say the least.  Thursday, after work, I ran almost 4 miles instead of the 3 that were on the schedule (and it was a fantastic run, to say the least!).  Friday was a rest day.  Saturday, Tom and I ran over 5 miles, in effect making up for the run I missed on Wednesday that got squeezed out.

Which brings us to yesterday, Sunday.  Nothing planned for the day besides doing my 10 mile long run and stopping by work to say goodbye to a coworker who is moving home.  I had planned on possibly going up to the Skokie Lagoons and into the Chicago Botanic Garden for my run (something that I am definitely going to do at least once or twice over the course of training...it's a beautiful run with gorgeous scenery and awesome that you can get into the Garden for free!  Instead, I ended up sleeping way longer than I would have liked.  Tom went out for a ride with the Evanston Bike Club, so I had the morning to myself.

In a rather last minute decision, I decided to go to a yoga class at the gym!  This was actually my first yoga class; I have been wanting to try it for years now but have never been able to find the time or a location.  I'll be writing more about it later, but I think yoga will be very beneficial to my marathon training and I hope to make it a regular part of my routine.  I left the class feeling sore (and am still sore today!) but not unreasonably so.  I saw no reason why I couldn't go out for my 10 mile run later on in the evening.

I made dinner, relaxed a little bit afterwards, then went and got ready for my run.  Mentally, I was in the zone and ready to tackle 10 miles on my own (having ridden something like 85 miles, Tom was opting to sit this one out) and feeling good about the run.  From a fitness standpoint, I felt like I could run forever!  However, I found myself with a twinge in my right calf shortly after the first mile.  I thought that if I took it easy and stretched it out a little bit, it would go away.  Instead, the twinge got worse to the point that it was a full blown knot.  I stuck it out as best as I could, making it all the way down to Belmont Harbor, but shortly after my turn around point, I realized that there was no way I would be able to sustain the pace I was at the whole way home.  I found myself having to alternate walking and running and the pain in my leg was much more noticeable when I slowed down.  I called it at 6.02 miles and Tom came to pick me up.

I was disappointed, for sure, that I wasn't able to go the entire distance.  I am not, however, discouraged.  I know that I am capable of 10 miles; I also know that it is important to listen to my body.  Though I probably could have pushed through the last 4 miles I am glad that I stopped because especially this early on, it's not worth it to risk injury because of my pride and stubbornness.  And already, today, it is feeling better.  I feel as though I am on track and ready to go for tomorrow afternoon's 3 mile run.  Here we are, week 6.  Patience and flexibility are the name of the game, and I am learning.  I am 1/3 through this marathon training plan and feeling strong!

Jess Goes Running: Marathon Training--Week 2; Race Against Hate

2 weeks down, 16 to go!  This second week of training was tough but good.  Though I am not running particularly early in the morning before work, I am still trying to adjust to running shortly after waking up.  It takes a while for my body to get in the groove and realize what's going on.  On Wednesday, my second run for the week, I was hit with a pretty serious cramp in my right side.  It took me about half the run to shake it but I was able to finish on a stronger note.  Thursday's run was much more pleasant; I felt a lot stronger and the weather was cooler which definitely helped.

Then this morning, for my long run, I headed up to Evanston for the Ricky Byrdsong Memorial 10K Race Against Hate.  T. ran it as well and we met his friend J. when we got to the start.  This was our first time participating in the race and I was looking forward to it.  It was definitely on the smaller side (the 10K had less than 700 people participating) and the start was quick!  T. and J. immediately took off; I almost simultaneously to crossing the start line felt a sharp tightness in my right hip.  I knew that I wasn't going to be able to push it so I started off slowly.  By the time I got to the end of the first mile, my hip was feeling better.

Before!

I'm not going to lie... this race was tough.  The course is gorgeous--an out and back through Northwestern University and along Lake Michigan--and it supports a very important cause.  I, however, grossly underestimated the humidity and the heat.  It was already so warm at the race start and the temperature only rose higher.  One other factor?  There was absolutely no wind.  It was so lovely to run right next to the Lake on the peninsula, and it would have been the perfect spot for a breeze except there wasn't one.  Needless to say, I struggled a bit.  I saw J. and then T. a little further back during the first part of the course on the trail, and I was very grateful for the first water station.

Right around mile 3 I found myself struggling with a pounding headache, and I slowed my pace only slightly and pushed through it.  I was listening to my body, but I was feeling pretty miserable.  I knew it was probably due to the humidity and feeling quite dehydrated.  I kept it up, even though by mile 4 I was pretty much ready to be done.

Miles 5 and 6 felt like the longest ever, and at that point, the 10K had joined with the 5K run so especially during the last 1.5 miles, I had to do a lot of dodging of walking and slower runners.  I was incredibly relieved to cross the finish line, and ended up with a time of 01:09:33, which I was pretty dang happy with considering how bad I felt for most of the race.  I did a little bit of research, and my finish for the Race Against Hate is 4 minutes faster than my last timed 10K, the Chicago 10K last August.  Pretty pleased with that progress!

...and after.  We were hot.  And tired.

We went out for coffee after the race, and then later, once T. and I showered, we went out to lunch and did a couple miles' worth of walking.  I consider this to more than fulfill the requirements of my training for the day.  I will definitely sign up for this race again; it is great that something positive has come out of such a terrible event and I am glad to help impact the community in this way.  Plus, it was a nice course and it was well organized.  Week 3 of marathon training includes a step back in the long run, with 5 miles on the calendar.  So far, so good!

Jess Goes Running: 2015 Chicago Half Marathon

On the race day, the alarm went off but I was already awake--I had been staring at the ceiling and listening to the steady sounds of my husband still asleep next to me.  The day had arrived--the Chicago Half Marathon.  As I lay there, allowing myself to hit the snooze button, I mentally went over my preparation for the day.

I would never forget the pain of my first half marathon and the huge sense of accomplishment and pride that accompanied the finish.  Even as I had the medal around my neck, I still couldn't believe that I had finished a half marathon, that I had conquered 13.1 miles.  A while ago, Nike came out with an ad about running and persevering and it makes me cry every time I see it because in 2014, I was there.  I was not a half marathon runner, but then I was and it was the greatest feeling in the world.  Even though I had struggled so very much during the race, I had finished--and I wanted to do it again.

Jess Goes Running: Chicago 10K

Back in August of last year, T. and I were lucky to have over a week off for vacation.  This was our first true vacation (longer than just a weekend getaway) since we went to Costa Rica in 2012, because as we all know, I do not count the debacle that ensued after our attempted trip to Colorado as a vacation.  Our destination was Las Vegas, to spend almost a week together in the desert.  It was a fantastic trip, one that we both thoroughly enjoyed.  Earlier on in the summer, I came across a 10K race online: the Chicago 10K, scheduled for the day before our vacation.  I signed up for it almost immediately and made that one of my summer running goals in preparation for the Chicago Half Marathon.

The morning of the race, it was humid and breezy, with a threat of rain.  I was hoping it would hold off until after the race, though--I had been so lucky to have not had any races postponed or cancelled due to rain, and I didn't want to start then!  I woke up, got dressed and ready, and took the Red Line downtown.  T. came too and brought his bike, though ultimately ended up locking his bike to a rack due to some mechanical issues.  I chatted with my dad on Facebook a little before the race and after some hydrating and stretching, said goodbye to T. and made my way to the corral.

I was excited about the race and had a good energy flowing for the start.  Part of what intrigued me about the 10K was that it was located on the Lakefront Trail, heading south by the Museum Campus, an area I had never explored.  It was also my first race on the trail, which I had (and have) mixed feelings about.  Especially in the earlier part of the race, there were a lot of cyclists that were sharing the trail with the race, and some of them were not especially kind about it.  I was able to mostly tune out that negativity and maintain a good pace throughout the first part of the race.

Eventually I started feeling like the humidity was slowing me down.  I made sure to get water at each of the stations and found that after we turned around at the halfway point, the wind off the lake made it much more tolerable.  I started moving a little more quickly, feeling stronger.  The views on that part of the Lakefront Trail are incredible, especially looking north towards the Chicago skyline.  

Part of why I love running in this city (especially in races that take me downtown amongst the skyscrapers and there, on the Lakefront Trail, running right next to Lake Michigan with the Adler ahead and the Loop behind me) is that there are always so many beautiful and incredible things to look at and explore.  Man, I have never loved running more than I do now, as a citizen of the Windy City.  This race definitely inspired me to keep looking up, and I felt a wave of adrenaline coming up to the finish.  I was incredibly proud to have ended as strong as I felt, happy to have had the opportunity to participate, and pleased with my time.  No sooner had I gotten the medal placed around my neck that rain became imminent; still, we stopped by Buckingham Fountain for a photo before heading home.

I would definitely participate in this race again!  The scenic vistas alone were worth it, but I felt like it was well organized and a really reasonable size: not too overwhelmingly big or too small.  Packet pickup was painless enough, too.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any information on a 2016 Chicago 10K, but I guess we'll see.  With the completion of this race, T. and I headed off on an amazing adventure in the desert--and I was on my way to my next running goal, the Chicago Half Marathon at the end of September.

Jess Goes Running: Lincolnshire 4th of July 5K

A few summers ago, during my first season of races, I participated in the Lincolnshire 4th of July 5K.  I ended up with the 4th of July off from work this year, so I decided that I needed to sign up for it.  It's a beautiful race that leads runners through the beautiful, tree-lined village streets.  This race also happens to go right past my mother-in-law's house, a fun little perk.  We drove there early in the morning, I picked up my packet, and went back to the house for a little bit before heading down to Spring Lake Park.

Going into the race, I was feeling strong.  I had the advantage of knowing the course and I felt comfortable with my surroundings.  The weather was also fairly decent that morning, not nearly as hot and humid as the first time I ran it.  I got a steady start, trying to pace myself and not run too fast.  I settled into a rhythm relatively quickly and got in the zone.  I knew the only person I was really up against, competing against, was myself, and that helped me to keep a consistent speed and not run too fast.

My mother-in-law's house is after the halfway point, and both she and my sweet husband were waiting outside on the corner, cheering me on.  I had passed the water station at the previous corner, so seeing them helped give me an extra boost of energy for the last mile or so.  Though I was starting to feel a little tired near the end, I pushed myself to keep the energy up.  It felt so much different, so much better, than the first time I ran the 5K.  Having slightly milder weather helped, for sure, but I knew that I could also attribute the difference to the strength and endurance that I had gained in the few years between my first 4th of July 5K and the one I was currently running.

I ended up crossing the finish line back down by the park in 35:38.  Though I wished I could have finished a few seconds faster, I was also pretty satisfied with my time.  Overall, I was (and am) faster than in the past, and that alone was reason to be proud!  I grabbed a few bottles of water and made my way over where my husband and mother-in-law were waiting.  I am always so grateful to have such a willing cheering squad in my husband and family, and this race was no exception.  The Lincolnshire 4th of July 5K is a fun, well-organized race in a beautiful area, and I look forward to hopefully running it again next year!

Jess Goes Running: Deerfield Deer Dash 10K

After the Shamrock Shuffle 8K at the end of March, I didn't have any other races scheduled.  I knew I wanted to do another--needed to do another, so that I could get motivated to keep running and training.  April was a slow month for me, running wise.  So when I ended up with a Sunday off (which would soon become one of my regular weekend days) at the beginning of May, I decided I needed to get back out there and find a race.

As it turned out, the Deerfield Deer Dash 10K was on that very day.  I had never done a 10K before (6.2 miles) but I was up for the challenge and feeling confident despite the fact that I hadn't done much running over the previous few weeks.  T. and I drove in from the city and I had him drop me off at the start of the course.  Deerfield is a lovely, picturesque suburb in Lake County, and the course was going to be on blocked off roads.  It was also tiny.  There were approximately 65 participants in the 10K, making it the smallest race I had, and have, ever run.  There were a few spectators here and there at the beginning and the end of the course, but not much in between.  I was doing this more for myself than for anyone else, and T. had a few errands to run, so I sent him off and told him I would text when I was done.

There was a 5K course in addition to the 10K course, but the race was pretty small--approximately 60-65 participants.  Most definitely the smallest race that I had ever done.  It was timed by 5 or 6 men with stopwatches; no fancy chip technology here!  The race took runners through beautiful suburban Deerfield, down stunning tree lined streets with big houses and stunning landscaping.  With the burst of an airhorn, 

the race left Jaycee Memorial Park and continued onto Wilmot.

It was a pretty humid morning and it hit me relatively early on.  Truthfully, I hadn't done much running during the month of April, so to go right into a 6.2 mile race was kind of a potentially questionable decision.  I was feeling healthy, though, and I knew that if I could do almost 5 miles (with the Shamrock Shuffle 8K back in March) and that I had done 13.1 miles, 6.2 shouldn't be that bad.  It was a tough run.  The heat and humidity, the sun in my eyes, the loneliness of the race...  there were stretches where I couldn't see anyone ahead of me or behind me.  This was a very unique experience and I tried to appreciate it, even if I struggled a little bit.

I was able to pick up the pace a little bit near the end.  There were practically no spectators present for the vast majority of the race, but near the end of the race, as it got closer to the park (probably within the last half mile/mile, I'd say) there were more people cheering us on.  And even though I was tired and felt like I had been so slow, I still crossed the finish line with a smile on my face.  I used MapMyRun to track my run, and I was pleasantly surprised and happy with my finish time.  (I should note that the actual course did measure 6.2 miles, but I had some issues getting the app started so it only tracked 6.02.  Oh well.)

I grabbed a bottled water and sat down in the slightly dewy grass, stretching out my legs.  T. got back to the park not long after I finished, and after giving myself a few minutes to recover, I got up and walked over to the parking lot, where he was waiting.  Though I was still trying to hydrate and recover from the race, I felt encouraged that I had been able to keep up a good pace even though I didn't necessarily feel like I was ready for it.  It was an interesting experience and I was happy that I signed up for it.

This race was the encouragement that I needed to kick my running into gear for the summer--I was definitely planning on doing the Lincolnshire 4th of July 5K again (like I had a few years earlier) and I was also going to run the Chicago Half Marathon again at the end of September.  I did both of those races, and also ended up running in the Chicago 10K, as well, in August.

I had signed up for a 5K at Rosehill Cemetery last night, but had to sit out at the last minute--currently dealing with an inflamed left knee after stepping wrong yesterday morning (at the time that it happened, I didn't really think anything of it, but a few hours later it was swollen and sore).  It's disappointing, but I am trying to stay encouraged by seeing my progress as a runner and thinking about future races.  I am also keeping my knee up and icing it every so often.  As much as I wanted to run that race last night, I also know that it would not have been a good experience for me.  I have learned how to listen to my body and with a little bit of patience, I'll be out there again soon enough, running and enjoying the best of what running in Chicago Fall has to offer.  More race reports and running posts to come!

2015 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K

As you may recall, in 2014 I did my first Shamrock Shuffle 8K downtown.  And I loved it!  At the time, that was the longest distance I had run in a race and it was an almost ideal day in Chicago for late March--a little brisk, but not too terrible, and sunny with only a few clouds overhead.  The race was fun, the post-race party was fun, and I knew that I would definitely have to sign up again in 2015.

I crossed my fingers hoping for similar weather as race day got closer and at first it seemed like it was going to be a possibility... but then the forecast got worse, and worse, until it was high 30s/early 40s, overcast, chance of rain.  And windy.  Not necessarily the best conditions.  I am totally capable of running in cold weather (I went out a few times when it was less than 20 degrees out over the winter) but it was the wind that really intensified the experience.  I had to make a last minute wardrobe change after realizing that my wind breaker was not going to be warm enough and I was glad that I brought gloves--it was good to have them in the beginning when my hands were frozen, but I put them on a newspaper box once I finally warmed up.

(More after the jump--thanks for reading!)

Jess Goes Running: 2014 Chicago Half Marathon

Well...  I did it.

Last Sunday, I completed the Chicago Half Marathon!

(Full race report after the jump... thank you for reading!  It means the world to me.)

Jess Goes Running: The Color Run, Milwaukee--August 2013

I figured that it was finally time for another race report!  I still have a few more 5Ks to write about from 2013, so hopefully I can catch up on those sooner rather than later.  I think it's really important for me to document these events, for posterity's sake, and so I can see how I have improved from one experience to the next.

So in 2013, I ran The Color Run in Chicago as my first organized race.  I ran with two of my longtime friends and we had a great time!  I wasn't able to run as much as I would have liked, due to a slight injury I obtained a week and a half before the race, but it was an invigorating experience, one I was looking forward to finding again in the future.  On July 4, I ran in the Lincolnshire 4th of July 5K, which was my second 5K and my first timed race.  I finished in a time of 35:10 and even though it was a tough race (it was hot and humid and I had a slightly difficult time finding a good pace), I was proud of myself and my performance.

This brings us to August, and another race.  This time, I was doing The Color Run again, but in Milwaukee with my family!  My sister, parents, and aunt all joined me for the race at Miller Park.  I was so very excited to both be running another race AND sharing a passion of mine with my family.  My sister and I listened to dance party tunes to pump ourselves up as we took foggy Interstate 43 up to the lakeshore.  Once we got there, we parked and walked quite a way to the As I experienced with the first race, the atmosphere was electric.  We watched the Zumba party going on, did some stretching, and finally got to line up for the race.

My sister and I were planning on running ahead, while my parents and aunt were going to walk the course.  We were all incredibly excited!  There were storm clouds on the horizon, which added an extra layer of urgency to our waiting period, but soon enough we had all gathered right at the front of the starting lot.  The course was all around the exterior of Miller Park, and it had a few unexpected sharp inclines and declines!  Wrigley Field will always be my favorite ball park, but I can definitely appreciate the functionality and modernity of Miller Park, too!

My sister and I ran half and walked the other half.  It was so fun to go through all of the color zones with her, and run together, too!  We also had ample time to catch up with one another (we live hundreds of miles apart so we have to take advantage of the time we do have together!) and we enjoyed the course together.  My favorite part came near the end, though--we decided to wait for our mom, dad, and aunt, so we could all go through the last color zone together.  Definitely a highlight of the race for me.

We made it through the finish line and headed to the post-race party.  We weren't able to stay too long, due to the rain that had finally started, but we had enough time to recover from the 5K and rest our muscles before getting in the car and heading to lunch.  It was such a fantastic experience, and I'm so happy that I was able to share it with some of my favorite people.  It means a lot to me that they were there doing something I love with me.  I'll always call this one of my favorite races.

Now, the best part... photos!

Sister and I, before the race!

Mom, Sister, me, Aunt.

(All photos thanks to my sister and dad--so happy to have them to remember one of my favorite days!)

2014 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K

As I wrote about previously, this last weekend, I headed into the city with my husband and one of my dearest friends to participate in the Shamrock Shuffle.  It was an absolutely fantastic few days, but Sunday morning was definitely one of the highlights.

We got up early, got some breakfast, and made our way to Solidarity Drive for one of the most beautiful sunrises I've ever seen.  Seriously!  T. and J. wandered about and shot some photos and I took it all in, enjoying the light and the shadows and the reflection of the sun off the lake.  It was still a bit chilly, but nothing that we couldn't handle!  When we were getting ready to leave Solidarity Drive and head over to our parking garage of choice near Washington and Wells, we saw a guy playing with a tiny little drone plane (who also happened to drive a Tesla).  It was pretty neat to watch!  We later saw him again, taking a detour due to roads already closed for the race, getting ready to fly his tiny plane along the Chicago River.

After T. navigated us to the parking garage and we gathered all of our things, we headed for the streets below.  The starting point for the race was Grant Park, and so we headed off in that general direction via Millennium Park.  The three of us wandered around and explored, getting our bearings.  I, personally, was most concerned with finding where my corral started, and where all of the amenities were located.  Stretching and drinking water, I prepared myself for the start of the race.

There were three different waves; the first one left at 8:30.  Mine, the third one, was set to leave at 9:15.  I decided to part ways with T. and J. to get to my corral early.  Much like the Hot Chocolate 5K back in November, the race started off on Columbus, right near Grant Park.  We said a quick goodbye, made plans to get in contact after the race, and parted ways.

While I waited in the corral, I did a little more stretching to keep myself limber and browsed the music choices on my phone.  I ended up making a last minute change to Girl Talk's All Day and it proved to be a fantastic choice, the perfect upbeat album to run to.  During that time in the corral, before the start of the race, I took a few moments to focus and psych myself up.  I was feeling good and really excited for another chance to run the streets of one the most beautiful cities in the world.

My trusty running shoes.

The three remaining corrals moved up to the starting line and, just a few minutes later, the race began.  I started off at a steady pace, hoping to keep it through the entirety of the 8K, 4.97 miles.  I was energized by the crowds that had gathered on the sidewalks along the route and found a rhythm with the music (turned down low), my breathing, and my footfalls.  It was a positively beautiful morning for a run and I was dressed almost perfectly.  I was slightly distracted during the first mile by the fact that my running capris were slipping off of my hips, but I tucked in my shirt and was able to enjoy the remainder of the run.

You guys, my goal was to complete the course in under an hour and I crossed the finish line in 58:26.  My 5K time was 35:59--right around my Hot Chocolate 5K time of 35:54--and had an average pace of 11:46, which isn't too bad for me!  More importantly than all that, though, is the fact that I was able to consistently run the entire time.  I did walk for less than a minute around each of the two water/aid stations throughout the course, and I walked for a few moments on Franklin Street to stretch my knee out a bit, but otherwise I was able to keep it going through the whole race.  This is a huge accomplishment for me, and makes me feel confident for half marathon training.  This race, at practically 5 miles, was also the furthest distance I have run so far, and it wasn't really that bad at all!

The end was a little tough but I kept going, kept pushing myself, until I came around the corner, from Michigan back onto Columbus and saw the finish line.  At that point, nothing could keep the smile off my face.  I held my speed and ran on until I passed through that inflatable bright red gate, and only then did I slow down to a walk and catch my breath.

From there, all of the runner's passed through a "runner refreshment" area, where there was water and bananas and other healthy snacks.  I thought it was really neat!  At that point, I started getting in touch with T., trying to figure out where I was going to meet up with them.  The race post party was located in Grant Park, right near Buckingham Fountain, and I greeted them enthusiastically when I finally found them.  After that?  It was time to drink some beer!

(T. took the first photo and the last photo--love it!)

Studies suggest that drinking beer after a run can be beneficial for your health, and what can I say, it was nice to have a reward of sorts waiting for me at the end!  It was a beautiful morning in Chicago and we spent the rest of the morning hanging out, drinking beer, and celebrating.  All in all, I am so very pleased with my very first Shamrock Shuffle adventure.  The entire experience was incredibly well organized, and a ton of fun!  It was a great physical and mental challenge, and I am happy that I was able to achieve the goals I set for myself.  Can't wait to sign up again next year!