Unexpected 5k.
Today's race could've been called many things...
Winter Warriors are Stupid
The Reindeer Icecapades
Running on a Skating Rink
Just Try And Stay Vertical
This is Snow Fun
But no. It was called the Rudolph Ramble. And yes. By the end of it I did have a shiny red nose.
To post a halfway respectable time you pretty much needed to be Michelle Kwan...and since I am neither of asian descent, nor am I a rockstar figure skater...I was pretty much screwed from the get go.
Hmm...I should probably give you some background. I was planning to run this race bandit (yay! first bandit race EVER!). Mike had registered for it a while ago...and since we're pretty much broke, I figured as long as one of us was a valid runner, we'd be okay. But when we woke up this morning, after hitting the snooze button for the upteenth time...Mike wasn't feeling so hot...dragging ass, and still questionably hungover from the Friday night debachary. So rather than waste the entry fee, I ran as him.
Now. This race was intended to be an 8k. And I was pretty amped to try and break the PR I set at the Turkey Trot a few weeks ago. But with all this super craptastic weather we've been having and because of construction on the running path, they rerouted it to a 5k. Greeeeeeeat. And of course, last night's freezing rain could only mean one thing...
TRAGICALLY! AWESOME! RUNNING! DAY!
I'm proud to say that I didn't fall down once. And that I was able to run the entire time with the exception of the bottleneck at the Fullerton underpass, and for about 10 yards around 2.5 miles because I needed to do some lunges to bring relief to my ever-aching hip flexors. You had a choice...try to brave it on the path and risk sliding around in ice...or opt for the slushy mush that got your feet wet...or run in ankle-deep snow. I tried all three...nearly killed myself and those around me in the process...but finally decided that the ankle-deep snow was the way to go (which so happened to be the most brutal on your thighs as well). A handful of runners fell and I saw a young gal being helped by the med staff--hopefully she was alright as it looked like a nasty fall.
But shit, man. Running in snow and ice sucks. And it's ridonkulously tough. My hips are SCREAMING at me right now. And despite my best efforts to post a halfway solid time, I barely broke 40 minutes. Uhmm...what the heck (that's my slowest 5k time). I had a 12:38 pace for a 39:14 finish (hah!). I can't sweat it too much though...since it's not technically my time...sorry Mike!
When I think about it, this was definitely on the list of the top 3 hardest races I ran this year (3rd behind the Chicago 26.2 and Lakefront 50/50).
Okay...it's time to warm up with a few cookies from yesterday's extravaganza and a nice afternoon nap...someone wake me up when it's April...I'm over this crap.
Winter Warriors are Stupid
The Reindeer Icecapades
Running on a Skating Rink
Just Try And Stay Vertical
This is Snow Fun
But no. It was called the Rudolph Ramble. And yes. By the end of it I did have a shiny red nose.
To post a halfway respectable time you pretty much needed to be Michelle Kwan...and since I am neither of asian descent, nor am I a rockstar figure skater...I was pretty much screwed from the get go.
Hmm...I should probably give you some background. I was planning to run this race bandit (yay! first bandit race EVER!). Mike had registered for it a while ago...and since we're pretty much broke, I figured as long as one of us was a valid runner, we'd be okay. But when we woke up this morning, after hitting the snooze button for the upteenth time...Mike wasn't feeling so hot...dragging ass, and still questionably hungover from the Friday night debachary. So rather than waste the entry fee, I ran as him.
Now. This race was intended to be an 8k. And I was pretty amped to try and break the PR I set at the Turkey Trot a few weeks ago. But with all this super craptastic weather we've been having and because of construction on the running path, they rerouted it to a 5k. Greeeeeeeat. And of course, last night's freezing rain could only mean one thing...
TRAGICALLY! AWESOME! RUNNING! DAY!
I'm proud to say that I didn't fall down once. And that I was able to run the entire time with the exception of the bottleneck at the Fullerton underpass, and for about 10 yards around 2.5 miles because I needed to do some lunges to bring relief to my ever-aching hip flexors. You had a choice...try to brave it on the path and risk sliding around in ice...or opt for the slushy mush that got your feet wet...or run in ankle-deep snow. I tried all three...nearly killed myself and those around me in the process...but finally decided that the ankle-deep snow was the way to go (which so happened to be the most brutal on your thighs as well). A handful of runners fell and I saw a young gal being helped by the med staff--hopefully she was alright as it looked like a nasty fall.
But shit, man. Running in snow and ice sucks. And it's ridonkulously tough. My hips are SCREAMING at me right now. And despite my best efforts to post a halfway solid time, I barely broke 40 minutes. Uhmm...what the heck (that's my slowest 5k time). I had a 12:38 pace for a 39:14 finish (hah!). I can't sweat it too much though...since it's not technically my time...sorry Mike!
When I think about it, this was definitely on the list of the top 3 hardest races I ran this year (3rd behind the Chicago 26.2 and Lakefront 50/50).
Okay...it's time to warm up with a few cookies from yesterday's extravaganza and a nice afternoon nap...someone wake me up when it's April...I'm over this crap.
Labels: Rudolph Ramble
posted by Iron Jayhawk at 12:11 PM
12 Camper Comments:
Congrats on the finish! I saw Mike - wished I could have talked to him but my friend was probably the girl you saw being taken away by the medic. I didn't finish as we went to the hospital - she fractured her pelvis! Hope you enjoy your cookies!
Happy holidays and we should try to get together sometime.
Dude, snow running TOTALLY works dif muscles!!! Feel the burn!!
Um, okay, I just read nicole's comment. EEEEEEck. :( That's serious stuff.
Way to go, Mike, I mean Barb. Tee hee...
A little ankle deep snow? It's so slick people are falling down and breaking a pelvis? (ouch, hope she heals soon). And you didn't PR? What's the deal? Actually, Jayhawk, considering the conditions, once again you have proven your absolutely indomitable spirit. Way to go.
That's why God invented Yak-Traks. It's for this type of conditions. I am glad that you ran great!t
I think sub-40:00 is a great 5K time for running in icy conditions.
I'm glad you weren't hurt.
Wow. Great job! I'm going to remember this post for whenever I think I want to leave the warm Houston weather and move to Chicago or Missouri.
Sounds like it was a rough run, but at least you made it through it!
Way to get out there and run in those crappy conditions. Thank goodness you didn't hurt yourself!
I'm so ready for April too.
HA! So I was looking back at some old posts and I found this. Great stuff. I need to really learn more about my bike...It is not getting the use it should be...Here is your comment...on my bike's pic
"Now THAT's hott.
Yes. Hott.
With two t's.
Not much in life can warrant the second t."
Sounds like a really tough run but also a lot of fun! I guess I can say that because there's only about 1 day a year here that is even remotely slippy!
Post a Comment
<< Home