Get Lucky 7K, a recap

After that 10 day break from running, I knew I had to kick it up a bit or I wouldn't make it running across the finish line at the get lucky. So that's exactly what I did. I made it outside for a run 3 times between Thursday 3/10 and race day, including 2 back to back 3.3 mile runs. I concluded my prep with a Thursday 3/17 early morning run. We did about 3.3 miles again. I hadn't run over 4, so I was still nervous about the race. 

Saturday morning, my friend came over and we left on our way to Minneapolis. I engaged in what is becoming my race day tradition: oatmeal and coffee from Caribou. We reached downtown with over an hour to spare. The air was extremely crisp.... 26 degrees outside. 

Races in the spring, as with the fall, are difficult to dress for. The really cool mornings quickly burn off and before you know it the sun rises higher in the sky and the clothes that kept you comfortable at 26 have you yearning to drop your clothes off alongside the road just an hour later. March 19th was no exception to that. I had been forewarned and knew that as comfy as my super awesome Get Lucky sweatshirt was, I would not be needing it on the run, so I bundled it in my checked gear and thought warm thoughts as I stood there in my underlayer, t-shirt, shorts and purple tights waiting anxiously for the race to start. 

We moved ourselves over to the middle of the 10min mile pace crowd and I felt like a caged animal. My body was just ready to run, to loosen up the crowd and find my stride. The sun was shining, the energy of 5100 of my fellow runners was in the air!

Finally the race started. I have to admit, I've never run a race that big and I found it difficult to figure out my pace. Running felt... dare I say... easy?!? More so than it had felt in a long time.Too easy that I wondered about if I'd fade out, not have enough steam to make it past 2 miles.  About 1.5-2 miles (I think) we came across a long slow incline and I was getting warm. My friend decided to hang back so I took off up the hill on my own, continuing to get warmer. Amongst my fellow running friends, its our race day rule that if one person needs to stop and the other feels fine, its ok  to split up. After all, each of us is paying to be there and owe it to ourselves to give it all we got. 


 I had already stashed my gloves and found myself wondering how to best go about shedding my underlayer. Should I just say "screw it" and take off both shirts then put one back on? I'm not in great shape, but maybe for a moment I could get away with it??? I decided against subjecting anyone to the blinding glare of sunlight reflecting off my white flabby belly I believe, blinding your fellow runners and causing a domino effect of an accident is looked upon as poor racing ettiquette.... . Instead I opted, successfully -- now this took talent-- to take my underlayer off while still leaving on my t-shirt (not a very baggy one either) all whilst running up this cobblestone-esque hill. I was stuck hanging onto my underlayer then for the whole run, but I was happy for the freedom of just a t-shirt. 

3K came and passed quickly and I still felt good. I was passing quite a few people. We turned and I saw the hill as we went over a bridge. Its a good thing I love hills and I felt my posture change as I pushed myself up it. Next up the 6K marker. Still feeling strong. I talked to a couple guys for a bit about how good that free beer was going to taste. I could hear the finish line crowd and I started picking up the pace. Enough to cross somewhere between a sprint and run. Then something weird: I kind of wanted to keep going. 

Running has become addictive to me because I love the post run high. Especially after a race. This one was no exception. I felt like I could just keep running. This indicates to me that I probably could have run faster. I've missed running 4+ miles. Missed it more than I realize and this exhilarates me for future races and the half marathon I will do this year. I went to work today with the "post race swagger". That little extra confidence of finishing the race, beating my goal and feeling great in the process. 

oh yeah... my time! It wound up being 44:41! My goal had been 46:15. All in all, I'm pretty happy with this race. Team Ortho is well organized and they make the races worth the high entry fees. I'll carry that swagger with me all week!