2013 Shamrock 10K - Re-Cap

"What the hell was I thinking?" is the question I asked myself at 6am this morning when I awoke dehydrated and sluggish at 6am.  Shamrock 10K is in a couple hours and just 12 hours ago I was drinking Budweiser like THAT was the race I was preparing for! (Damn Michigan game)

I got up and dragged my ass to the bathroom to shave off what little facial hair I can grow.  This is a priority this morning, how else am I going to get my mustache to stick!

Packed the rest of my costume, made a protein shake and headed out.  Maura wasn't joining, she had a run of her own with a friend.  I was going after this pot o' gold on my own!

It's always kind of weird running a race alone.  Usually I'm with Maura or at least a few other people I know from running, but today it seemed I was alone.  I love this race because I have two pretigious goals in mind: 1) Run a good race 2) Win the costume contest.  Doing well in both to me is the greatest honor any runner can achieve.  You're a running mullet.....both busines and party.....nothing sacraficed.  Today I felt like I could probably do well in the "party" but due last nights decisions I was skeptical on my business practices. 

This race is heavily school weighted so there's a "fun run" along with the 5k/10k.  The fun run is about a quarter mile and is mostly kids between 5-8? (have no idea how to guess a kids age)   Either way, it was the most adorable thing ever.  A heard of 2-3ft tall kids sprinting as fast as they can, oversized race shirts flapping behind them.  Each one with a smile and arms doing whatever they want.  Pretty sure there weren't as many smile on the way back.  I don't think I've ever really paid attention to a race like this, but it's kind of refreshing.  Seeing so many kids that are pushing themselves, they haven't been introduced to "pacing"....they're just running.  Natural, free, it was cool to watch them.  It reminded me that this is the feeling that I need to keep in mind when I run.  Keep it fun. 

I guess I was keeping it as fun as I could.  I was dressed in green suspenders, a green mustache, neon sunglasses, a necktie and a green/white striped "cat in the hat".....hat. 

The first mile was fairly down hill but I could already tell it was gonna be a tough day.  I had cotton mouth from being dehydrated (I assume) and I didn't feel that comfortable.  I reminded myself that today's goal was simply "Have fun, run solid, don't kill yourself" So that's what I did.  I got passed by a couple guys on the downhill, but I wasn't concerned about it.  I was surprised at how far out Lincoln was from me, but I didn't sweat it too much.  I wasn't supposed to care anyway :)  Once the 5k'ers turned the uphill section began.  And it felt like it lasted for ever.  The good news was, I am stronger on the uphills, but the downs, not so much.  I dropped two of the guys that passed me earlier and I was making good progress.  I was in a bit of pain in my shin area from the pace but I just ignored it best I could until it went away, which I trusted it would.  I suddenly noticed that Lincoln, who seemed FOREVER away earlier, was suddenly only 50 yds away.  We were still climbing and I was making up ground.  I wanted to tease and yell out to him, but I was worried he'd step it up.  I wanted to be a running ninja of sorts. I got within 40 yds, when on one of the switch backs I saw him turn back and see me. Damn! The downhill section was just ahead and he started to pull away.  I hate downhills. Hate them. And it was killing my legs.  After about .5 miles of steep/painful running and Lincoln now 100yds ahead, I decided to just relax and bring it in.  I joked with some of the crowd I was tring to be "first mustache" and catch him.  He had a real 'stache so it seemed like a good goal at the time, but out of reach.

I powered up hill for the last 100yds and finished in 42.10.  A pretty good time.  Watched showed 6.03mi, so I have to take that into consideration.  I found Lincoln after and we joked about the race.  I congratulated a few of the other guys I had seen around me while running.  I always like this part of the race environment.  You might say just a few words within a few miles with someone while running... maybe nothing, you just know they are there, and after the race it's like you've known each other for a while.  Talking openly and joking around.  It's good stuff and gets better the more runners I get to know and the more races I run. 

In the end I was 4th out of ~150, only 13 seconds from Lincoln and a 3rd place finish, something I've never had in a race over 100.  Last nights beers might have cost me, maybe not.  Either way I had a good time, I finished 1st in my age group, and my mustache was still on......today I am a MULLETT!