Monday, April 4, 2016

Shamrock Shuffle 2016 Recap

Fastest race of my life

That statement summarizes my 2016 Shamrock Shuffle, but it's not something I expected to be writing here. That's because I've been training for so long at slow marathon mile paces and also because I was running this race just for fun. It's also strange that I did so well, because I'm at the age when I should just be kicking back and reminiscing about my speedy PRs from bygone years, not running faster than ever before. Anyway, I am still trying to accept the fact that I seem to have been underestimating the upper-limits of my running abilities.

Pre Race
I woke up at 5:45am and went for a two mile shakeout run around my neighborhood. After changing and eating a bagel, I drove down to the race, used the porta potties and made it just in time for the 7:45 Mikkeller group picture with Xaarlin and crew on Columbus Drive. I chatted with a few people including Lauren. Then we all walked over to bag check.

After checking my bag and crossing the security gate for the "A" and "B" corrals, I ran another 1/2 mile to warm up. The temps were hovering around 35 degrees with a slight wind, so it felt good to keep moving. After finishing the warm-up it was off to the "A" corral where I bumped into Efraim and Janessa who I had met in the corral of my previous race. I could also see 2012 and 2016 Olympian Desiree Linden warming up just ahead in the elite area. I knew that Lynton K had flown into Chicago for the Shuffle, but I did not see him among the masses. I also chatted briefly with Xaarlin and Eric. Then the national anthem was sung and I flung my disposable clothes over the fence and we were off!

The Race:
Mile 1: Last year, I ran this mile in 6:40, but my aim this year was to be a little more aggressive and run it in 6:20. I had started a little too far back and had to weave around quite a few slower runners who had for some reason positioned themselves near the front of the pack. I spotted Lynton up ahead and made it a point to try and get near him so I could say hi. However it was so thick with runners at this point in the race that it was not an easy task. I crossed the mile 1 marker at 6:10 but the race results say 6:05. Either way it was faster than plan, but I felt really good. 6:10/Mile

Mile 2:  I was finally able to catch up to Lynton and we chatted about his half marathon PR a couple of weeks ago. One of his friends joined us and we all discussed a goal of trying to break 30:00 for the race. However, our pack dissolved shortly thereafter because as we ran down State Street I saw a huge opening in the crowd and darted ahead of them. Jenny P cheered me on and I waved to her. 5:58/Mile

Mile 3: We wound our way through the loop and I picked off quite a few runners and was making my way up to the packs of club team runners. 5:53/Mile

Mile 4: I stepped on the 5k timing mat at 18:30 which is only 20 seconds from my 5k PR! Stunned by this development, a flood of thoughts went through my head:

  • "Could I really be running this fast?"
  • "Am I going to blow up in the last mile?"
  • "Do I belong up here with all of these young fast club team runners? I certainly shouldn't be passing them, they are faster runners than I am!"
To answer these questions, I took a mental inventory of how all my "systems" were doing to determine if I had 1.87 fast miles left in me. I knew that I did, and gave myself a confidence boost by telling myself that I belonged with the club runners. I still thought that at top speed I would only be flirting with a 29:59 finish, so I resolved to not look at my watch and just run. A headwind was blowing against me and I thought it would be a good idea to tuck behind other runners, but as soon I'd tuck behind someone, I would notice they were fading and all I wanted was to run behind someone who was getting faster.  Since seemingly everyone was fading, I quickly gave up on the "tuck idea" and just ran straight into the wind solo - picking off other runners left and right. 5:45/Mile.

Mile 4.97: I kept waiting for one of the fast club members to throw down and challenge me as I passed them, but not one of them did. I was looking for a footrace to help push me faster, but did not find anyone who would do one with me. So instead, I sped past handfuls of runners down Michigan Avenue and easily crested the hill at Roosevelt Road. I made the turn onto Columbus Drive and spotted the clock in the distance and it was nearing 29:00! I then started my descent towards the finish line and it was a mad dash down the final 200 yards. 5:36/Mile.

Finished!


Analysis: This was my fastest race ever and I crushed my old 8k PR by almost a minute and a half. The final 5k would have been a 5k PR by itself! I got 6th in my age group, which for a race this size isn't too bad!

Post Race: 
I walked down the finishers' chute stunned by my result, and suddenly standing right in front of me was Desiree Linden and her husband. It was surreal to know I'd just finished a race a couple of minutes behind a legendary runner and we were in the same chute. In a couple of months she'll be running the Olympic marathon in Rio! Anyway, I could not work up the nerve to high-five her and besides, isn't it cooler just to let her hang out and chill? After my brush with fame, I turned around and waited for Lynton, but did not see him. Instead I met up with Efraim and then Annabelle.
Hanging with Efriam post-race
We walked back over to the gear tent got our bags and proceeded to put on lots of layers. When Lynton spotted me he asked me my time and he started saying: "Dude you were running freaking 5 minute miles"! That made me feel good. Then a group of us went over to the Buckingham Fountain post-race party. We scored some beer (duh). I chatted with lots of friends including Mo, Eric and Zoe. I also met a few of my neighbors and chatted with them. I had invitations to three awesome post-race brunches, but was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to take a hot shower and a nap - which I did once I got home. Later that day, I tweeted about seeing Desiree Linden and she liked my tweets!


After the 2014 Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon, Shalane Flanagan liked one of my tweets, so I now only need a "like" from Amy Cragg, to have one from all three 2016 U.S. female Olympic marathoners!

About to go home...
The Future:
I'm looking forward to the Carmel Marathon in 12 days. That is the day when I'll see if I can finally put to rest my long time quest for a new marathon PR. Although there is a world of difference between running 4.97 miles vs. 26.2 miles - I'm hopeful for a marathon breakthrough! 

34 comments:

  1. Oh come on, aren't you getting speedier with age? :) Congrats though, that is a really awesome race! If you can knock out your fastest race EVER when you're running just for fun, you are in great shape for Carmel!

    I was bummed that no one was at the post-race party once I finished, but that's how it goes for us second wave types. It would have been nice to catch up with you though! (chatting at least, since you run more than twice as fast as me)

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    1. Thanks! Yes, I am getting speedier with age (believe it or not)! Maybe I should run Carmel "just for fun"? Too bad about the post-race party, oh well, next time. Look at it this way: You got twice the enjoyment out of the course, hence twice the bang for your buck than I did!

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  2. Holy shit, those splits! AMAZING! And well under 30! Congrats!!!! I love hearing that you are getting faster with age - and don't second guess it (that you have been under performing) - you must be doing something right with those slow MP miles and it shows, here!

    Man, I wish you would have high fived Desi though! LOL. At lest she liked your tweet :)

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    1. Thanks. I am still trying to comprehend how I could have run such spilts! I should have high fived her. Oh well, next time! :)

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  3. Ha, I saw that from Desi yesterday and smiled. How cool! Huge enormous hearty congrats on such a killer race. So excited for you!!!!!!!

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    1. Yes. Desi liked our exchange! Very cool! Thanks man!

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  4. WAY TO GO, PETE!!!!! Did I not say that I KNEW you were going to tear it up this weekend? You are a speed demon! HUGE CONGRATULATIONS on smashing your PR and setting what would be a PR during the final 5K!!! We must celebrate!!!

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    1. Thanks. Yes, you were the one forecasting a huge race for me! Thanks for your pre-race confidence! Yes, we should definitely celebrate soon. Are you running the Ravenswood Run?

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  5. Congrats! I keep waiting to get slower with my age - but I seem to have a little speed left in me (not your type of speed, but I'll take what I can get)

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    1. Thanks! Yes, it's nice to be getting faster as we're getting older. Makes it all not seem so bad! :)

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  6. You are a bada$$ runner!!! Amazing!!! 5 minute miles. Wow! At least I know that I can get faster too as I get older. :-) That must have been cool to see Desi. I don't know if I would have worked up the nerve to go up to her and ask her to take a picture with me. But maybe I would because I adore her.

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    1. Thanks Zenaida! I wish I had my camera, maybe I would have had the nerve to get a selfie! :)

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  7. Duuuuuude you slayed that course yesterday! It is amazing the amount of time you cut from your PR and that your last 5k was basically a PR for you!! Ahhhh I'm so excited for you in Carmel!!

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    1. Thanks man! That last 5k was so cool! I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in Carmel for both of us. You are going to crush it there!

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  8. Awesome job!!!!! So excited to see what Carmel has in store for you!!!

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  9. And to think, we said before the race that it was not a PR day... lol

    From Jakre: "Holy crap, that is amazing."

    Congrats again! Way to CRUSH it! I hope this leads to good things at Carmel!

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    1. Yes, I was thinking about our "not a PR day" conversation after the race! Thanks to you and Jakre!

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  10. AMAZING JOB! You are super fast!

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  11. Dang Pete this is amazing! You were on fire and I suspect you had even MORE in the tank. Congrats on a fantastic outing and huge confidence booster going in to Carmel. I had idea Desi was running this. How cool!

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    1. Yes, I did not admit it here - but I think I had more in the tank and could have gone even faster if I had done things differently. Thanks!

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  12. Ho-ly cow! You are amazing! Great job and way to push!

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  13. I think you are primed for a marathon breakthrough! Did you have smoke coming out of your running shoes? Because you were burning up the course! A-ma-zing!

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    1. I hope you're right! The Shamrock was great, but a marathon PR may even be sweeter! Thanks! :)

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  14. Congrats on a MASSIVE PR! You do deserve to be up there with the fast club runners! Duh!

    I like hearing that you are getting faster with age. Although i haven't been racing super long, I do think that I race better now than I did 5 years ago. I think I have more patience! Now I just need to work on running slower in training (but my ego gets in the way sometimes).

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    1. Thanks! Yes, patience is key for racing well. Knowing the right moment to step up the pace is something we all need to figure out on our own after racing many times. Lots of slow training - with a few super fast miles thrown in here and there - is very beneficial. :)

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  15. OMG congrats, Pete!!!! You are amazing. Good luck running the Carmel marathon!

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  16. DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE!!!!! Congrats on your amazing race!

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  17. Congrats on your PR! I guess this really shows that strength = speed (for races of 5 miles or more). Good luck in the marathon: taper well, run smart, finish strong!

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    1. Thanks. Yes, it's good to be strong in those types of races. Thanks again!

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