Race Flashback: 2012 Shamrock Shuffle

So, I almost did not post a recap on this race but I figured I need to remember the bad races as much as I need to remember the good. Sorry for the spoiler there but yeah… this race was not even that. It was really more of a leisurely stroll… So anyways, back to this morning when I was all excited for the race…

Yes, there were bag-pipe players where we picked up our race packets. Be jealous.

Well, I neglected to mention that I was not feeling very well ever since I had a dessert from our local co-op last night. I had that total gut rot feeling almost like I was hungover and I clearly was not… this feeling sort of went away about 7am when we were getting ready to leave but it still had me a little freaked out and unable to really eat anything. We headed out a little after 7 to give us time to drive to Madison, pick up our race packets and take pictures before the race time start, 10am.

Everything pre-race went fairly well but I was just not getting excited for this race. I was also sweating before we even started…We bought some cure St. Pat’s shirts from Target a few months ago that were long sleeve thinking that would be good for a mid March race but lo and behold… it was over 70 already before we even started running. Last week, it was about 30 degrees. I am relatively confident by body does not adjust to running in temp changes that intense that quickly. Weak, I know.

Once the race got started, I set off still hoping to do really well today but quickly realized I just was not in the game. Running felt miserable and I was not having any fun. I made it through two miles when I just quit. Gave up and moved to the side to wait for Sister to pass hoping together we could make it to the end. By this time I was SO HOT I felt like I was going to pass out. My stomach also started not to feel very good again…

Well, I managed to find Sister but once I met up with her, we both just kinda used the other to be an excuse to just be done for today and walk to the finish line. I also started having HORRIFIC side cramps, the likes of which I have never felt before when running (guessing it was dehydration). So after this point it was pretty laughable really. Sister and I were walking to the finish. I can honestly say I have never felt like such a quitter before. I also have never heard so many condescending comments in my life from the spectators. I realize they were trying to be nice and cheer us on but it felt like a stab in the back when they were saying “good job, keep going, you’re doing great!” when in reality I knew I was nothing but a whiny quitter…I wanted to yell out, I RAN 18 MILES A WEEK AGO, this is not a “good job”! (Did that 18 miler really happen???!!!)

Run for the camera! Half assing it at Half-Way!

While walking to the finish, we both decided to just scrap the rest of our Madison plans and drive home. Neither one of us was in a mood for being out and in our sweaty clothes longer nor were we interested in attempting to find somewhere to clean up and change clothes. So we just got back to the car and pouted the whole way home… well, I guess maybe just for about 30 minutes and then we just decided to take a few lessons from this morning:

1. 10ks are really no fun. Pretty much the worst distance for pacing.
2. Quitting sucks worse than the pain of running.
3. 10am start times are not a good idea for anything longer than a 5k.
4. Water is necessary for a 10k run when it’s 70+ degrees out for me.
5. Running dressed for the weather >;; running dressed for the holiday.
6. Having any sort of goal for a race means I will inevitably crash and burn.
7. Running needs to be fun and fun only. I don’t think I am the kind of runner that can push myself. I need to just do my best and be pleasantly surprised when I do well.
8. Not running double digits on a Saturday feels super weird but is probably a good thing for me right now. Clearly 2 miles was more than I could handle this morning.

So anyways… our finish time was 1:14:14. Certainly a far cry from my stupid goal of 52 minutes. What in the world was I thinking?! But I must say that Sister and I had a Smoking Hot finish! Yes, we were the bitches at the end sprinting like mad to pass the last few people standing between us and the finish line. We figured we might as well give it one last go. With a 6:45 pace I might add! lol! Yes, it was only 200m but it still felt good to raise the heart rate again!

The course WAS really nice. I think we might attempt the 5k next year as a redemption run.

Now that this is posted, I am putting this race behind me officially. I will not dwell on it. I will not doubt my running abilities based on this race. And I will not quit at a race again. Lesson Learned.

Bonus: worst race ever but best race picture ever still laughing…