Shamrock Shuffle

I have been trying to finsih this post since Sunday evening!  I was exhausted all week - recovering from vacation and I was super busy at work - so I didn't feel like looking at a computer screen all week.

We arrived home from Key West at 3:30 pm on Saturday.  Unpacked - did some laundry - went to bed early - got up Sunday morning and ran in the local Shamrock Shuffle 10k.

I met up with some local running bloggers,  Jamie - HERE, Chelsea - HERE and Kerri - HERE, before the race.  Here is a great shot of the four of us.

We hooked up - chatted - took a few pictures and finally decided it was time to head outside.

Jamie - left to meet up with someone
Chelsea - headed to the start line to try and get "close" to the front - I am sure I would have been that fast if I had started running when I was her age!  LOL!
Kerri and I headed out to the starting line.

There were quite a few people waiting.  We found a little opening and stood there for a couple of minutes. I then "looked" around and made the observation that I didn't think that the people we were standing around were going to be running in the 10k - my guess was that they were either running the 5k or walking the 2 miles.  I asked if they were 5k or 10k and they said 5k . . . we moved up . . . I pushed through asking as I went - 5k or 10k?  until we got to the 10k folks.  By that time there were probably 2 minutes left - There was an Irish prayer and then we were off.

The course is an out and back and includes a run up and down Observatory Hill on the UW campus twice.  WOW oh WOW - that is tough.  I am use to running up the hill heading west - that is often part of local runs - but I have never run up the hill heading east!  Wozer!  I didn't stop - kept my head down and said  . . . just keep running.

It was a great run - I felt pretty strong the whole way!

Finished in 59:15 for a 9:33 pace.
Garmin -
1   9:55
2   9:35
3   9:31
4   9:33
5   9:30
6   9:37
.2  8:26

Pretty consistent!

Tomorrow 10 miles - and temps near 50 - Oh ya!
Peace