Shamrock Shuffle Race Recap

Sometimes, on race day, the stars, moons and planets (and any extra powers that be) will all align.

And, sometimes they don't.

The weather may be undesirable. The course may be unexpectedly tough. Your body may feel fatigued or your energy level is in the negative. Or, all of these factors could show up at the start line, give your mojo a run for its money, and wreak havoc on your race.  

Such was the case for me on my most recent race day. 

The race was the Shamrock Shuffle; the day was this past Saturday.

Let me start with runfessing that this was a rather spontaneous race (hey, I'm a sucker for a St. Patrick's Day-themed race). I only just registered a couple weeks ago, and while I have a solid base, I definitely have not done any "fast" running or training. Normally, that's a non-issue. For this race, though, a little bit of speedwork may have been beneficial in setting my mind right (more on that in a bit).

With a start time of 8:30, Allison and I departed around 6:45. We arrived in Iowa City about an hour later, giving us ample time to get our race bibs, hit the portapotty, and do a short 1.5ish-mile warm-up run. We had ample sunshine, but Holy Bum Freezer, it was a cold and windy morning.

This was a new-to-us race, so while that adds to the excitement, it also adds an element of apprehension. The race course took place in Scott Park (and surrounding neighborhood), and participants had the option of a 3.17K (just under two miles) or a 6.34K (just under four miles). Basically, it was similar to a figure-8 layout, with the option to run it once or twice.

image from Corridor Running

After a beautiful acapella rendition of the National Anthem, sung by one of the registered runners, we were off and on our way. Well, after a couple seconds of "fat-gloved-finger-fumbling" with my watch, I was off and running with the rest of the runners. 

image from Corridor Running

I am no stranger to running in the extreme cold. I know how to layer (usually) and I know how tricky the wind can be...it feels bone-chilling in your face, but (often times) it's barely noticeable when it's at your back. But, for some reason, my 16 years of Iowa winter running were not working in my favor on this particular morning. 

The first part of the route had the wind behind us, giving me a false sense of security in my pace. Even though the terrain had us on a slight incline, that tailwind made the first 1/2-mile feel deceptively easy (though it kept blowing my left ponytail across my mouth).  Also, the puffer vest was feeling a bit much in terms of warmth and bulk. Shortly after the 1-mile mark, though, we turned left (heading north, and then due west), which threw the wind into our faces...and I was suddenly cold and hating life. 

Side note - for the past several days leading up to the race, I had been Pi Streaking (running 3.14 miles, everyday, as part of my annual Week of Pi Challenge). While I had not run any of those runs fast or hard (there had been four of them, prior to race day), I had not had any rest days. That was my own doing, and my legs were tired. The fact that this course was on an almost constant incline made for an unforeseen challenge in fighting gravity. There was a short reprieve (near the 1.75-mile mark), where we had a sharp descent...but it was over almost as fast as it began, LOL.

A short while later, we were back to where we'd started. Some runners veered off path (those who were finishing the 3.17K), while the rest of us continued on for our second loop.

 My struggles continued through the second loop, both physically and mentally. Yes, I was still feeling bulky in the puffer vest, and still fighting the wayward ponytail. I think we've all been there...it can be really tough to keep your head in the game on a good day, but it's especially challenging on a cold and windy day, on a (somewhat) hilly course. I was feeling pretty defeated, though I didn't want to quit...but I did wave the white flag and walked a couple times.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, I crossed the timing mat for the second (and final) time. And, let me just say, I felt quite relieved to be finished!

How did I fare?

I was surprised to see that I'd placed first (out of two, LOL) in my age bracket. My pace surprised me, too, considering I took those walk breaks and the wind made me feel like I was moving in slow-motion.

Stats:

overall - 33rd out of 60

females - 12th out of 33

age group - 1st of two (10-year age brackets)

Official time - 35:23; pace 8:59

Now, in all fairness, my struggles on this particular day (under those particular conditions) had nothing to do with the event itself. There were numerous volunteers on the course, and everything seemed well-organized. Running two loops of a race course is not ideal, but I've done it before without  consequence. Running two loops, on a wickedly cold day with an evil wind at play, is a buzzkill no matter how you slice it. Add in my already fatigued body, and it was a (possible) recipe for disaster. I'm just thankful we had ample sunshine and no precipitation to worry about. Had the weather been better, I think this race would have been much more desirable.

For swag, participants received a glass pint, with the Shamrock Shuffle logo. Personally, I don't need any more shirts, so the glass pint is perfect! I have not heard if I got anything for my age group win (we left before the awards presentation), and I'm not losing any sleep over it. They also had some door prizes they were giving away.

 

Anyways, that's my story. I've had some good races, and I've had some great ones. And, every now and then, a tough one filters in. Oh well, I'm grateful for the sport of running, and all it has brought to me: fitness, friends, and fun (most days).

Have you ever run a race that felt much harder than it should have? What are the coldest temps you've faced on race day? Any St. Patrick's Day races you've done?

  I'm linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up

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