Irish for a Day 5K -- Full Report

Start -- Crowd was much larger than I anticipated; guess I did not think things through very well. I was well towards the back and no chance to hear any instructions. All of a sudden, people started moving and I guessed we had started. It took me two minutes to reach the starting line (walking). I walked more than I ran in the first quarter mile. An older gentleman said it was like the first five miles of the Chicago marathon. I replied that its not the first five miles that count. At this point, I gave up all hope of a PR.

Middle -- Got to the one mile mark and some "young-in" next to me complained that he thought we were a lot farther than "only 1 mile. . . " I was felling pretty good. I was still dodging around "walkers" and letting the frustration of their lining up in front of me get to me, but I was also relaxing and running smooth and within myself. In hindsight, this was the first of my few races I did not go out too quick so maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

There was a group of three ladies running near me; seemed to be in their forties. The one in the middle could not stop talking. I spent the next 1.5 miles changing speed in an effort (failed) to get far enough away that I could not hear her. . .

Two mile mark -- Realized that I would PR and if I speed up, could turn in a time I would be proud of. . . Poured it on and pounded up the hills towards the finish. I also turned more inside myself and stopped pay attention to anyone around me.

Finish -- I felt like I had a bit left in the tank, but I was happy when I crossed the line that I had run a good race and lowered my PR by almost a minute and a half. Felt good. Started looking for my wife Paige and I could not find her. Walked a block down the hill to where I had last seen her; no Paige. Walked back up towards the finish line and finally found her. She had missed me when I crossed the line! I am beginning to get concerned for the Fargo Marathon that I may collapse at the line and she will miss it. . . ;)

Post race -- got a cup of water, and then walked back to the car with Paige. She climbed inside to read, I changed one shirt and headed out on a cool-down run that was a second lap around the lake, with a slight detour to the porta-potties in the first 1/2 mile. I had put my iPod on and started my "5K playlist". It starts with Springsteen's "Born to Run" and picks up tempo from there. The first 1 to 2 miles of the cool-down was at too fast a pace (music plus muscle memory). My legs felt a little sore before I started the cool down and I didn't want a pace that fast. Oh well, I did slow down, although I could feel tired legs at the end of the 3.32 mile run.

Then back to the car and back to the hotel for a shower. We grabbed a light meal and were off to the spa for a "couples-massage." I explained that I had run hard in the morning and my therapist spent extra time on my legs. The "hot-towel" foot wrap was fantastic and I felt great when I left.

Today, I am a bit sore in the shins, but I think the massage really helped with any after effects of the run.

Footnote: I really liked the facilities in Minneapolis. The routes around the lake were well measured and, based on the traffic during my cool-down run, well used. It was a nice community feeling and a place I would enjoy working out at again.

Carpe Viam!