Shamrock Shuffle 5K

Just before the race, waiting for the race to start

We had a GORGEOUS day here in the Northeast!  I raced in shorts and I would have worn short sleeves but I didn't have a shirt that was green!  Last year there were 300+ at this race and this year almost 600.  It was a charity race for kids at camp so that was great but the organization suffered due to the large turnout.  It started late, ran short on food and water - nothing too terrible but more on this later.

Just started, in the blue hat, green shirt

We got there in plenty of time.  We - being my husband and myself.  The race was about 90 minutes away and he chose to spend his Saturday coming with me to cheer me on!  I didn't mind waiting as it was a pleasant town center and sooo soooo soooo nice out!  I ran this race last year but really didn't remember much about the course.

We started out and it wasn't long before there was a slight uphill.  Overall there were a few small hills and one fairly large one.  I was surprised at the amount of traffic in what is a relatively small town. There was great traffic control and cones everywhere so it never felt unsafe. The cars parked on the side of the road were more annoying.  I felt like I was going along at a good pace.  I tend to have a "fast' first mile, slow down a lot in the second mile and speed up somewhat in the third when I run a 5K.  My first mile was 8:51 which worried me a little. I am fine with that pace but I like to stay in the 8s and was worried I would slow down and be in the 9s for my overall pace.  My second mile was 8:55!  Yeah!  I really worked on keeping my speed up in that last mile. There was a hill to head up but it was not as bad as I thought it would be when I was going down it.

 I had to laugh (in my imagination, I was really saving all my breath for running) because I came upon an "older" man with no shirt who just didn't look good at all with NO SHIRT ON! :( I had had a discussion on the way to the race with my husband about this and about "some older men who tend to mow their lawns with no shirts on and shouldn't there be a law?  This all started from a discussion about a newspaper article about a woman who gardens in Colorado in a yellow thong and pink gloves.)

Anyways back to the race. I decided to use him to pass so I wouldn't have to look at him. Well, I did pass him but darned if he didn't pass me back, stooped over running style and all and I COULD NOT quite keep up with him! Oh well!  My shirt was weighing me down and keeping me slower I guess!  But my last mile was 8:48!  Woo Hoo! How is that for not only not slowing down but speeding up a bit!  I was thrilled!

Stopped BEFORE the finish!

At the end of the race was when the organization of the race was an issue again. I couldn't quite get TO THE FINISH because they were stopping you to keep track of the order you were coming in.  Yes I get that but let us finish!  It wasn't too bad for me but as I was leaving there was a huge crowd of people stopped way before the finish!  I would not have been happy at all.  I got my shirt and we left rather than wait to see if any random prizes had my name on them. We did a quick stop at the LL Bean store and then ate lunch at Panera Bread which I love but we don't have any in Vermont.  The ride home was fine, the frost heaves were not bad and the back dirt roads could have been oh so much worse!  Spring in Vermont!

Through the finish, waiting in line for placement before waiting in another line for shirt, before waiting in another line for food

My stats were:                                6/24 age group

255/588 overall

27:12

8:47 pace

This was my best 5K (only my second) and my best pace of the year out of four races.  I am happy!

The shirt