Irish for a day 10 milers [03/12/2011]
Well, it has been six months since my last race report. I think I have run 6 marathons since then and a couple half marathons. I’ve been super lazy but I’ll try to be better about the reports.
Shelley and I headed to Minneapolis last weekend to visit one of her best friends (Alyn!) and to meet her new beau. This would be the first trip we’ve taken not involving a marathon or work in a long time, so of course I decided to see if there was a race we could pick up while in Minnesota. I found the Irish for a Day 10 miler and 5k. This seemed perfect. I could get a good ten miles in and Shelley and crew could do the 5k and we’d finish around the same time (the 10 miler started 15 minutes before the 5k).
We waited too long for online registration and so would have to go into the store. Friday afternoon I reasked if everyone still wanted to do it. I could have gone either way as it was supposed to be hella-cold on Saturday, but everyone begrudgingly enthusiastically said they were still in. We picked up the packets, which came with headband, tech socks and long sleeved green tech T. Not too bad.
We are a little late leaving the hotel and it takes us a little longer than we had hope to get to the race start. The road we were expecting to be able to drive along is closed and so they drop me off with about 8 minutes before the gun goes off and I take off towards the start. This is when I first notice how cold it is, the wind is blowing all the snow still on the ground up into your face and it is blowing across a frozen lake which was not awesome. I think with windchill it was about -5. I was super glad I was wearing my green calf sleeves (go Irish!).
I get to the start about 2.5 minutes after the gun had gone off so I am starting the back of the back and already winded from trying (unsuccessfully) to get to the start on time. I start running as fast as the conditions will allow, the first mile is mostly clear of deep snow and I hug the side and try to dodge the multitudes of people (pretending I am in the TIR I start counting roadkills, but quickly give up).
0-1: 6:32
That mile was faster than expected, but now I have caught up to the huge pack of people and the snow is much looser. Step, Step, Slip, Slip, Step, Step, rinse, lather and repeat. We go a up a slight uphill but get away from the lake for a little while.
1-2: 6:58
2-3: 6:43
The wind is back like mad and I can feel the skin peeling from my face. I start worrying about Shelley and know she has to be freezing by now and probably cursing my name.
3-4: 6:49
4-5: 6:54
Traction still sucks and can’t really open it up, I’m just trying to keep all the miles under 7 mins and come in under 1:10.
5-6: 6:48
We turn a corner and the wind stops. What the hell? Where did it go? All of a sudden I am running faster again. Woo hoo!
6-7: 6:38
Ahh, dammit, that’s where the wind went. It is back again. So cold, so cold. Too much snow on the ground.
7-8: 6:56
Back on the first part of the course, two miles to go, should be easy to break 1:10, now I start looking for Shelley. Not sure if she is done or not, and I can’t feel my face or my thumbs.
8-9: 6:44
Last mile, time to end this, I pick up the pace again, but my feet are still slipping almost every step. Snow is stupid. I don’t see Shelley and she asks me to come back for her when I’m done.
9-10: 6:31
========
1:07:34
I finished with a 6:46 pace, which is below marathon goal pace, so that is good. I got 7th in my age group (and was nowhere near 1st-3rd) and 31st out of 679 runners. Not bad considering I started late and had to dodge everyone. I grabbed an Irish cookie, hit the John and then went back to get Shelley.
Poor Shelley was freezing, we finish the race and then start the trek back to the car. Alyn and Brendan had left ahead of us, but we weren’t clear on where we were meeting exactly, and Shelley didn’t remember where they had parked. We struggle across the frozen tundra with icy wind whipping in our face and giving us wind burn through our clothes. My poor sweetie was not happy at all, but she soldiered on. We get near where I think we are supposed to meet, just two Popsicles standing on the side of the road. I see a girl sitting in her car and I knock on her window, smoothly convince her to let Shelley and I wait for Alyn to come back with the car. Her heater wasn’t really working but at least there was no wind, so we gladly camped out in her car for 10 minutes until we were rescued by Alyn!
I don’t think Shelley will be doing any more races in the winter with me. After this and the Snowshoe race, I’m not sure I will be either 
Next up is a trail marathon for me this weekend.
Popularity: 31% [?]
brrrrrrrrrr……………..
Way to tough it out.
You’ll look back on this someday and laugh…maybe.
Cool! You and Shelly are freezin’, I mean freekin’, awesome for even attempting.
Great job, Shelley!
(Frank, seriously? Getting Shelley to run in the snow and driving wind with a -5 wind chill? Way to coach, Al!)
I’m still giggling that mine is all DEATH & ICY DOOM and yours is “it was a little cold. Here are my times. ”
Way to grind it out.. below marathon pace but still a nice finish out of 600+ people you were in the top 5%. I really like your marathon map.. keep going rock star! You are inspiring.
Gotta Run,
Mike
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What? Ran six marathons withpout a race report?? Do yourself a favor and document it
:) Imagine when you are 75 yrs old sharing with your family and being able to drop right into the feeling at mile 23, with a clear picture of the race. Good stuff and I am sure you inspire many!!
Gotta Run,
Mike
Gotta Run,
Mike
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I loved your post.Thanks for sharing this.