Actually here are the tales of trot 1 and trot 2 if you missed them.
I’ve done the Schaumburg Half here before, but never the 5k. This is the cheaper, less crowded sister race to the hometown one I’ve been complaining about.
It was supposed to be a warmer day, and it was. However at gun time, we were still shivering with 32 degrees and an icy wind. Glad I went with a slightly heavier half zip, although I did wear capris. I was planning to put it all out on the course here, since this was my last race of the year, but feeling profoundly exhausted after Thanksgiving, not to mention not the greatest from over indulging, made me doubt I was capable of anything terribly impressive.
Thing 1 and I pre-race. Can you tell how thrilled she was to be there?
Thing 1 and I lined up at the 8 min. pace marker. I didn’t plan on going that fast but I remembered how poorly people lined up at the last trot. It was freezing so we hid behind a group of fast looking girls in super-pretty neon Nike Flyknits.
My goal: Even pacing. For once in my life maybe the final mile could be my strongest? Thing 1 wanted nothing to do with me so I wasn’t planning to run with her.
We were off and Thing 1 bolted out ahead while I hung back behind the Flyknit posse. The wind was hard in my face and the roads were icy! WTH? I ran comfy. Many spots were so icy I slowed and stepped carefully. At some points I went off-road and tromped in the snow. It was that icy. This was not a PR kind of day.
Shortly after mile 1, I passed Thing 1 and the race went from parking lot to bike path. A good 100 yd. stretch of the path was completely snow drift/iced over. Then we started the long, winding incline leading to the bridge. I passed the Flyknit posse flying down the other side. But not for long. They regained their lead soon after. The final half mile featured one last, ornery incline where many struggled. I drafted off the Flyknits, telling myself this was good enough. Until it wasn’t. I made my move. Since they were running 2 rows of 3-across with 2 stragglers in back, I veered off the path into the snow to pass, expecting them to answer and flatten me. But no. That was the last time I’d see them.
We veered off the path and onto snow-covered grass for the final couple hundred yards. If slippery snow over grass isn’t a final-kick killer, I don’t know what is. I managed to stay upright and not break a hip, so all good.
Final Words: This was a fun race, despite dicey course conditions. I could’ve done without the finish on snow too. Fleece half zip is nice and we even got a finisher’s medal for the 5k, which was nice, but IMO unnecessary.
Finish time: 26:33. AG2/55. According to my Garmin the course was long: 3:19 miles . I’m a good tangent runner so I doubt that much extra was my bad.
The best part? Pacing. I likely owe it to the ice, but this all felt pretty comfy. More of a tempo than race pace.
Mile 1: 8:27 started slow
Mile 2: 8:30 got slower, but mega icy bridge is here so ok
Mile 3: 8:22 yay!
Final .19: 7:48 double yay!
On another note: I survived Thanksgiving with Hurricane MIL (who was barely a tropical storm) and lived to tell about it. More on that tomorrow.
Did you turkey trot? Are you a good pacer in races?
Nice job on the AG2! But wait…you got a finisher’s medal for the 5k? Help me to understand this…we paid more for the other race….never mind…it was fun!!!
You are a brave woman running 3 trots in a week! Great job, my friend!!! Now let’s pick a race to do in the spring…
I actually picked this race because of the finisher medal!
Man, I saw you and didn’t know it was “you” – I lined up back by the 10 minute miles too.
The ice was scary, saw a lot of people end up with some rather impressive wipe outs.
I was not impressed by ending on an incline or in the snow, I didn’t get to have a finishing kick either! I liked the race though. And my BIA measured the course at 3.11.
Great job – 2nd in age group is awesome!!!
Way to pass that group of runners at the end.
Hope Thing #1 was OK with you passing her:)
Kim I don’t think she cared, thankfully. She hasn’t been training at all and I told her to just have fun with it. I’m sure she’ll be kicking my behind on the racecourse soon enough!
Heather! I had no idea you’d be there! So funny you saw me! Hopefully we’ll meet up soon.
Wow! Great job on your pacing!! Running in slippery conditions is scary.
Kicking some serious turkey butt this weekend, Louise! Way to go! Laughing about Thing 1 :).
I did a 4-mile Turkey Trot – managed to positive split all those miles by about 15 sec each. Obviously pacing well isn’t my thing either!
Email me about your weekend…miss chatting!
xo
Nice job, especially in not-ideal conditions! I have the hardest time pacing 5ks. I either go out way too slow or way too fast!
Yeah – the half was really nice weather wise (esp. the latter part) but I was surprised how dicey the course was the first 2 miles and then miles 8 – 10 and the end. Nice work on pacing. I am proud to say that I ran the first 4 with the (overly chatty) 1:40 pace group and then I went ahead and finished in 1:37.58 – yup – I did not start too fast and then I ran an even paced last nine for a strong (on the grass in the snow finish!) The race was nice and cheap and so was that sweatshirt (LOL!)
I LOVE that top…very nice for a 5k! And love that you did 3 TTs. My daughter and I did one on Thanksgiving in Ohio and it was also freezing/snowy. The race started 30 min. late so we stood outside freezing while we waited. No good!
Nice job keeping pace! I ran a turkey trot that was super snowy and icy too. I guess that’s what you get up in New England!
well I SHUFFLED but I did it 🙂
our trot was so crowded it was a slow shuffle.
xo
Yay Carla! When they’re crowded like that, I’m just happy to come away with no broken hips!
Erica you’re a star! Wish I could’ve hung around to see you. I like the styling of the fleece better than last year’s hoodie but the same crapola fabric.
congrats — and wow on the weird weather
WOW 8:27 is not slow by any stretch! Way to rock your 5K!
My hubby, older daughter and my sister all did the local turkey trot here and had such a great time! My daughter was so proud of her medal! :)-Ashley
Way to rock out these turkey trots!
Yes that slippery snow at the finish was a “final-kick killer”! Way to pass that pack of runners. I have to learn not to judge a book by it’s cover. I end up passing lots of runners who on first blush look like they are faster, but they end up fading in the later stages. Congrats on #2 in your AG! 🙂
Woo hoo! Nice job on the AG placement! Too bad they have the finish in the snow/grass – I wonder if they can modify that for the future! Seems risky for Nov!
Kim I’ve done the half here a couple of times and the finish has always been on the grass although this is the first time there’s been snow (once it was a mud pit, maybe worse? I agree a pavement finish would be much better.
Super speedy lady! Nice job– Congratulations! I am curious about the tropical storm– I will definitely being tuning in tomorrow. xoxo
So amazing Marcia! Way to go- I did the Schamburg 1/2 back in May and enjoyed it! Looking forward to your Thanksgiving update
Cute outfit and great job! You are a super hero in my book with the conditions you run in. I am very glad to hear there were no slippery spills on the grass. Great way to undo the overdoing of Thanksgiving.
2nd in your age group? oh my! that’s awesome! i would probably fall on those conditions. haha.
Not falling over and breaking a hip is a triumph. Coming second in your age group is pretty good too. Congratulations.
Great race, specially in tricky conditions! 2/55 in your age group is impressive! Nice way to end the racing year.
combining comments: so glad you survived the hurricane! 🙂 i did turkey trot, i did some thanksgiving night shopping (which i swore i wouldn’t do bc i felt bad for the employees but did it anyway bc we were bored), and yes,I love to pace people!!