This race has been on again/off again right up to the night before. Miraculously I actually ran it! Well mostly. Eye roll.
First there was the issue of a conflicting skating competition, then a bris for a new baby in the family. Then my ornery salsa funk shoulder made training such a bitch I questioned the wisdom of running at all.
The day before, Thing 1 learned she’d qualified for the conference championships in hurdling, so again I ruled the race out. But that evening she found out it didn’t start til noon, so I could run the race, book it out of Dodge and make it to the track meet.
Me, Bobbi, Kim, Kim, Kayla, Sierra, Lauren
I was treated to a pink sunrise as I headed to Kenosha. Conditions were perfecto: 50’s, overcast, light breeze. I found a group of bloggers at the start then Kayla, Sierra and I headed to the corrals. This was Sierra’s first full. Squee!
I had no grand plans for this race: Fun run. Last year, this was half #3 for me. This year it’s my first. I did one 13 mile training run this year so my endurance isn’t what it could be. I’m ok with that. It’s the year of the 5k after all.
The first miles were effortless, except at mile 1.5 the salsa funk shoulder started hurting. I pressed on, hoping once some inflammation cropped up it wouldn’t be so bad. No such luck. By mile 5 I considered stopping. If I hadn’t gear checked my car keys I might have quit since the race went right past my car. Once we got out along the lakefront, there was no turning back. An agonizing jolt of shoulder pain with every step. I tried walk breaks to reposition it and take a breather from the pain. Boo. But too damn stubborn to stop. I gazed out to the water for distraction. Then along came a cow (ok a guy dressed as one) so I drafted behind him and enjoyed the ‘udder’ barnyard humor.
By mile 10 I thought my shoulder was a tad better, or maybe the rest of me was hurting to match it. There’s a turn at mile 11 where you go right. But if you go left you head right in for the finish. Oh how I longed to make a left! But I trudged on.
At last, just a minute from the finish line I saw Rachel and Kim, already finished and cheering. I finished, passed on the beer/brat tent and other festivities this year and high-tailed it home.
Pros: There’s so much to be said for a great race that is reasonably priced, has a great shirt, fun bling and plentiful free parking! The course is rolling and goes through town, cute residential neighborhoods and lakefront path so not boring. I would do this one again in a heartbeat.
Cons: The only con is the lakefront path is very chewed up in many places. One must be very careful to avoid tripping. Definitely in need of repair!
I beelined home for a quick shower and made it to the conference championships where Thing 1 rocked the hurdles and is moving on to sectionals. So very proud of her! I also ran into Dr. Miracle, my trusty Sports Chiro who, after some diagnostic tests, told me I had a torn rotator cuff. Sigh. I’m going to layoff running this week and reacquaint myself with my road bike after a long winter. I swear it’s always something.
Congrats on getting it done despite the pain. I’m always too stubborn to stop too! I’ve actually stayed in Kenosha once.
Torn rotator cuff! BOOOO! Heal quickly!
It was great to see you before the race…looked for you along the out and back but my eyes were going crossed from searching the crowd for people and I missed you. Great job finishing despite the bum shoulder…and YAY THING 1!!!
Can I just say that the best parts about your race recaps are your hilarious observations about the other runners? I love it!
That stinks about the shoulder pain, but way to push through!!
Well, hats off for finishing a race like that! A torn rotator cuff sounds very painful…hoping surgery isn’t something you’ll have to consider! And congrats to your girl for her hurdling skills!
I’m sorry about your shoulder.Are you going to have to have surgery. You’re pretty tough to stick to it when you were in pain for the whole race. Though I think that finisher’s medal may be worth it. I love it!
A torn rotator cuff? Ouch!! So sorry about that… but the race itself looks ideal. Congrats!!
Love that Bling. Sorry to hear it is a rotator cuff. Congrats for getting through the race while you were is much pain. Your amazing.
I ran the Wisconsin 1/2 in 2011 to cross WI off my list- still to this day it was one of my favorite races. Although I loved my bling then, they REALLY outdid themselves this year, so awesome. Glad you were able to get the race and your daughter’s hurdles all taken care of!
Owie, hopefully you can find out what to do about your shoulder 🙁 I bet the udder humor was fantastic!
Damn sorry about the shoulder 🙁 But glad you got to race Kenosha!
Man, you had a lot going on so there’s definitely reason for it to be a stressful start! congrats on your race finish for sure!
Great job on the race!
Boo to a torn rotator cuff – I can’t imagine how much that must have hurt while you were running!!
Kenosha is the one place I’ve been in Wisconsin – when I ran cross country in college (and later coached) – Nationals were there (NAIA). I always thought it was a stupid place for a late November cross country meet because it was always bitterly cold!!!
Another great job!
And I see they had another outstanding medal!! LOVE! 🙂
You ran with a torn rotator cuff? Ouch! I can’t even imagine how painful that must have been! I hope you are up and running again soon!
Racing with a torn rotator cuff? You’re tougher than most of the Bulls!
Torn rotator cuff? BOO! I am sorry that made the race more painful for you. But damn, I am happy you got to fit it in even though I missed you! Congrats to your daughter! 🙂
Way to push through the pain! I was the same at my last 1/2 where I passed right by my car and longed (!) to quit and go home since i didn’t feel good. Now relax and rehab that shoulder!
Congratulations to you and thing 1!! I hope your rotator cuff gets better soon!
Congratulations on the Half Marathon! Whooohoooooo! Us Runners tend to be so stubborn huh! Funny that the race passed your car and you kept on going. I hope that you get that healed up here. Enjoy your week of crosstraining. Congratulations to your Hurdler. Way to go,
UGH to the torn rotator cuff!!! that sucks! Hopefully it heals quickly! Great job on the race regardless! It was great seeing you and catching up in person a little bit!! Congrats to your daughter!!!
Thank goodness for bovine distractions. It may have been a less than pleasant race for you but it shows just how hard core you are. You’re a strong woman!
That’s quite a unique medal!
I’m still so impressed that your daughter is a hurdler! Guess she’s so tough because she has a mom who does things like run 13.1 miles with a torn shoulder. I hope that heals soon.
This was an excellent race! So good to see you and glad to hear that you survived the shoulder! And congratulations to your kiddo!
Congrats on the race
I had a torn rotator cuff once, it is not fun, I hope it doesnt need surgery
I love the medal! So cool! Sounds like a great race and you are one tough mama to push through that shoulder pain!
Congrats to you and Thing 1! What a pain a non leg-type injury can be when it affects running. Boo hiss! And right at the start of the season! I hope it heals super quick!
Congrats you stubborn one! 😉 NOW REST THAT BOD!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Yeah for Thing 1! The whole time I’m reading your recap I’m thinking you should get your shoulder checked, and there you go. I don’t know how that could possibly happen at Salsa Funk but I suppose stranger things have happened. Have a good week of rest and get that shoulder fixed.
The race sounded great. Especially the running cow. 🙂