Shamrock 5K
Green Day Gallop 5K
Chip time: 40:35
Well, I wish...but the temperature is finally warming back up and so I've been able to get outside again without my fingers turning black or white. Skiing was my primary fitness this winter but I don't think I did enough to make a difference so we are back to square one and starting to run again. I also spent a considerable amount of time on the ground! Spring Break was as good a time to start as any, and actually the first time I saw the roads again or could pick my way through the bare spots. It's also now light way into the evenings so the excuses need to start going down. Shamrock 5K I really hate driving in to Anchorage on the Glenn in the winter, so winter races are always a big question mark for me. I didn't make it in for the Love Run as I didn't want to risk the road and ice. The weather is improving this week and starting to thaw on the roads, in between the snow storms that is. It was very foggy and it took a lot of mental debate to do the hour long drive. I saw more moose than normal along the hay flat corridor. I had promised a friend that I would run this race since they couldn't make it. Another friend, had said she would meet me there. I drove in, parked, and braved the icey road to the race start. I did remember to wear my Kahtoola spikes over my shoes and I was certainly glad that I did. There was time to navigate and do packet pick up. I didn't go to the car after packet pick up because the race swag was a beanie which I wore during the race. I probably needed to take it off about half way through as it was "warm" for this time of year. The race started on pavement with a few icey parts and promptly ran by the Franz bread company who was handing out cookies. (I didn't stop as this was only about a 1/2 mile into the race). The race then descends down a street to the Westchester Lagoon trail. Here the day's fog was blatantly obvious and so was the snow pack. I ran consistent until I hit the snowpack. It quickly fatigued my legs. If you went off the path at all, you were up to your calf or knee in snow. After the loop around the lagoon the trail ascends up a pretty descent snow packed hill before returning to the icey road, and looping back by the cookie station. Upon finishing you receive a chocolate gold coin and a pint glass. There's a leprechaun that starts the race five minutes behind everyone One dollar is donated for charity for every person that the leprechaun catches. Chip time: Green Day Gallop 5K Because when I start things, I can't stop. I also signed up for the Green Day Gallop....much closer to home and in the middle of the day so no excuses here! I was also meeting a teacher friend who was running her first 5K. This race has three distance options 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon. Knowing that I am out of shape and just starting to run again I opted for the 5K. I took four minutes off of yesterday's time, mostly because the road conditions were much nicer. This is a very flat course, with scattered ice and puddles on the road. I didn't wear my cleats, however, there was one segment that they had us all run on the bike path. This segment was ice and slush and I slowed way down. I am scared of falling! Oddly enough that was still my fasted mile of the course. I had to encourage myself to keep running and ended up running the last bit with intervals of about 1:00 to 0:30. Even so, I was about 4 minutes faster than yesterday. #beatyesterday Swag was another glass mug with cookies and beer available. Chip time: 40:35 Next Up: Either Superhero Run 5K on April 7th or the Who Let the Girls Out 5K on April 20th. Weather dependent of course! Here's to warmer temps and clearing roads!
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JK McDowellLong time back of the pack runner, science lover, Christian, educator, and mom. Archives
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