Let's Do The Shuffle

Despite the fact that the Shamrock Shuffle is probably the most crowded race I run in annually, it’s also one of my favorites. I’ve run it now four times and I always seem to do well, although weather usually dictates whether there’s a shot at a PR. It’s usually my first race of the year, but because I’ve started running races earlier this year it’s actually my third of year and also third of the month of March.

It’s a little chilly on race day; about 43 degrees as I head out the door from my home in Naperville. I decided to wear a short sleeve compression shirt (I like it cool during the race) and threw on my Mizuno half-zippered jacket which I planned on leaving behind before I headed to the race. Once I arrived in downtown Chicago it was a different story. The temperature was about 38 degrees and there was a cold wind.

I parked in a lot across from my office building at Riverside Plaza and headed to the office to drop off my gear. My Shamrock Shuffle pre-race ritual is to drink a cup of hot chocolate and eat an energy bar…uh, OK make that a Snickers bar. That’s an energy bar isn’t it?

While at the office I run into an NFA co-worker from another department, Matt, who is also running in the race. He’s trying to get back into running but says he hasn’t run the entire 8K distance recently.

One of my other Shamrock Shuffle rituals is to jog around the office to warm up a bit. Our new office building is about a block long so I do a couple of laps. No strides though -too many curves and turns in the hallways. ;-)

Just shortly after 8:30 a.m. Matt and I start walking to our NFA co-worker meeting place at Buckingham Fountain. I meet up with Kelly, Brian, Janeth and some other NFA co-workers including Jim and Dave.

I’m pretty energized to run; see, the Snickers bar worked – or was it the caffeine in the hot chocolate? Kelly, Brian, Jim, Dave, Brian D. (who ran the first three miles with me last year) and I are all starting in Corral C amongst the first wave of runners. At about 9:15 a.m. we all make our way over to Corral C to prepare for the start of the race. Kelly and Brian are using this race as a recovery run from the Clinton Lake 30-mile race the day before. I figured that Jim would probably be running with me, since we’re about equal pace-wise, but he says just before the race that he’s going to take it easy. I’m not sure whether he’s sandbagging but I tell him that I’m going for a PR so I’ll be pushing the pace if he wants to run with me. Dave is usually a little faster than me when he’s running regularly but I’m not sure what kind of shape he’s in and whether he will be running with me (or in front of me). At that point I pretty much decide to run my own race since I had a specific pace goal in mind.

For this race, I’m using the KCPRPE method for establishing my race pace for the 8K. That would be the Kelly-Calculates-Paul’s-Race-Pace-Equation. I just feed her the time for my last race and she uses her mathletic talents to calculate my pace for the next race…even if I have no clue whether I can perform at that pace (which is just about every time).

For the Shamrock Shuffle KCPRPE (sounds like it’s spelled – caseypurpee or ksaypearpey if you’re French) churns out 41:00, this is about an 8:15 pace. As we wait for the start of the race I realize that I’ll have limited ability to monitor my race pace since I’ll lose the GPS functionality about a half mile from the start, after running under a couple of bridges. The tall buildings will pretty much whack the signal after that, so I shut off the auto lap feature on my Garmin and decide to register the splits manually. As far as my race pace is concerned I’ll have to do something I’m not very good at…and that would be…um…guess…although 8:15, I don’t really know what that feels like since I only run that pace during a 5K.

As the race starts there’s the usual several minute delay before we reach the starting line. Never can figure out why the faster runners in front always slow us down. Anyway, we start to trot a bit, then it backs up and we’re back to walking. This goes on for several minutes before we finally start running (slowly) at the starting line. Of course, in all the excitement to get going a brief lapse of memory results in my failure to note the clock time. But I start my Garmin and just figure I can just use that to monitor my splits at each mile marker to help calculate my pace. Sounds like a great plan, right?

During the first mile I run down the middle of Columbus Dr. and try not to do any weaving to pass people. What’s different about this race is that I’m passing runners at the start of the race, which probably means my pace is faster than usual. Of course other runners are passing me as well. I sneak a peak at my Garmin and my pace is around 8 mpm. I realize that it’s about 30 seconds to a minute faster than what I have run before during the first mile but I’m going for a PR and will worry about the last couple of miles when I get to that point. Plus KCPRPE says I can (you know it’s almost like Simon Says but it’s really Kelly Says so I know it’s OK). It’s all about trust, although the most challenging part is about me trusting me.

We run under the overpasses on Columbus Dr. and at that point I know that I can no longer depend upon my Garmin for race pace and distance. However, that doesn’t seem to deter me from glancing at it on occasion (force of habit).

As we approach the grated bridge over the Chicago River I notice they have a section of carpet to run on. I thought this was kind of funny at first as I witnessed runners dart over into that direction (sissies). But then I realize that not everyone has size 13 running shoes so I begin to understand why the grated holes in the bridge could cause them problems. Running over the bascule (means ‘moveable’ with respect to bridges if you’re not French) leaf bridge still feels a bit strange, even for me, but I’ve got a wide open path with no one in front of me and I’m thinking to myself like Butthead (no not a butthead): “Hey this bridge has holes in it – makes me dizzy, cool.”

At the turn to head west on Grand Ave. I spot the one mile marker time clock. It registers 12 minutes and change. I hit the button on my Garmin and it registers an 8:27. Good, so there’s about a four minute difference between clock time and my chip time. I feel pretty good and maintain my pace (although I’m still running my pace by feel).

It’s still pretty crowded and I’m running just a little to the right of center on Grand Ave. as we turn left on State St. to head south. I maintain my position and most of the runners around me are running at about the same pace. It starts to get a little congested in the middle though so I make my way to the right hand side of the street where I can pass runners without weaving in and out. I’m also watching out for runners coming up from behind although the only runners behind me from the first wave started in the D Corral. No sign of any of my runner friends. I notice my hands are still cold though as I’m not wearing any gloves.

I still feel pretty good as we approach the completion of mile two. However, I’m distracted at the aid station, as I attempt to avoid it, and I can’t locate the two mile marker timing clock. Someone yells out that it’s mile two so I press a button on my Garmin…the wrong button.

Instead of pressing the Lap button I press the Start/Stop button. I realize my mistake and press the Start/Stop button again…and then again because the timer didn’t appear to start…but in all my confusement (yeah I made that word up) I fail to press the Lap button. But what I didn’t realize at the time was that I somehow pressed the Start/Stop button at mile 1 and my total time is out of whack by about eight minutes. I have no mile 2 split.

However, I’m pretty sure that I’m close to being on track pace-wise. Even if I slip a bit at the start I figure that I can pick up any lost time during the last couple miles of the race.

During mile three I’m starting to feel a bit unsure as to whether I can maintain my current pace. I’m also wondering if I’ll have anything left for my required “sprint to the finish”.

From State St. we turn right on to Jackson Blvd. heading west. Nothing very eventful happens here but I do pick up my pace just a little. Once again there’s carpet on the bridge over the Chicago River. Other runners head over in that direction but I avoid it.

As we approach Jefferson St. I see the mile three time clock and punch the Lap button on my Garmin. Third mile is completed in 8:14 so despite my Garmin issues I’m still on pace even though my total time is off. My Garmin is giving me ridiculous pace numbers so I ignore it.

We turn on to Jefferson St and head south for a few blocks to Harrison St. A number of runners cut across on to the sidewalks to avoid any back up as we turn left on to Harrison St. from Jefferson St. and head back east. There is someone on the northeast corner, maybe a course marshal but I’m not sure, who is telling runners to stay on the street, but to no avail. As a number of runners take the sidewalk shortcut he starts mocking them by yelling “Cheater!...Cheater!...Cheater!”

Although I know I’m close to my target pace for the first three miles I’m still a bit uncertain as to my real time pace. I feel OK but I definitely notice that I’ve been pushing it a bit harder than usual. Instead of passing slower runners I’m beginning to be a little more patient and waiting for the blockage to break up. At this point in the race many of the runners are running at about the same pace, which makes for a bit more congestion.

We cross the Chicago River bridge on Harrison St. and once again I avoid the carpet. I keep wondering whether I will be able to finish well although there are no signs of an impending bonk. I know I’m in pretty good shape at this point but I’m not sure how hard to push, so I just try to maintain a steady pace. Either other runners are slowing down or I’m speeding up because I seem to be passing a number of them.

Just before mile four there is an aid station. Actually at the time I didn’t really know where mile four was. I run down the middle of Harrison St. to avoid slowing runners, although few are stopping at the aid station. No aid station stops for me today as I’m on a mission. But once again I’m somewhat distracted. People are yelling out that there’s one mile to go but I can’t spot the mile marker as I pass the aid station.

So I basically say to myself, “screw it” and I punch the button on my Garmin to record my split. But the dufus (that would be me) once again pushes the Start/Stop button instead of the Lap button. I wouldn’t realize my mistake until after the race. I have no idea what my fourth mile split was.

With one mile to go I’m pretty sure I can PR. I just don’t know by how much or whether I’m on my pace target. Spectators keep yelling out that there’s one mile to go, although I’d rather they be yelling that there’s *less than* one mile to go.

I pick up the pace just a little as we approach S. Michigan Ave. A few others are speeding up as well as they pass me. As I turn the corner to head south on Michigan Ave. a young women darts out in front of me from behind a slower runner. I really wasn’t prepared to slow down so I bumped into ever so slightly. I said, “Whoah” and she replied “Sorry”. I acknowledge her and reply “That’s OK” as she picked up speed and increased the distance between us.

As we navigate down S. Michigan I’m a little bit adrenalized and I feel that the overall pace has picked up amongst the runners. I can see runners several blocks away on Roosevelt Rd. running east towards Columbus for the final turn to the finish. But I hold back because I’m still a few blocks away and I want to save something for the hill and sprint to the finish.

Finally at Roosevelt Rd. I make a left turn and head up the hill heading east. Runners are slowing and struggling to get up the hill as I run past a number of them. I’m pushing pretty hard but I’m ready for the race to be over – but this is my favorite part.

As I turn left on to Columbus heading north for the last tenth of a mile I turn on the jets. While I don’t have much energy left, there’s enough left for my final kick. Other runners almost seem to be in slow motion as I pass them. Fortunately there’s enough room between runners to pick open lanes to run through.

I cross the finish line, punch the Start/Stop button on my Garmin and glance up at the time clock. It read 45 minutes and some change although I didn’t make note of the exact number. I knew my chip time was about four minutes or so less than that. I looked at my Garmin and the total time read 26 minutes. Damn! I ran faster than I thought. ;-)

Of course, my total time was totally screwed up because of my misadventures and I didn’t even realize that I had actually re-started the timer at the finish – not until I shut the unit off on my trip back to the office.

As I bent over to remove my time chip a runner I passed just before the finish stopped by and patted me on the back and said “Nice kick there at the finish”. I though that was kind of a nice gesture and said “Thanks!”

Jim finished exactly a minute behind me (which I determined later) and asked me what I ran. Of course I didn’t know at that point.

We walked over to a meeting place and Jim headed over to gear check to pick up his stuff. Kelly and Brian finished and stopped by several minutes later. Janeth’s husband Andy was there but Janeth was running her post race cool-down so I didn’t see her. But I found out she finished 7th in the women’s division and completed the race in 30 minutes. WOW! She’s was beating up on the youngsters again!

My chip time for the race, which I determined after the results were posted, was 41:22. That’s an 8:20 mpm pace, only five seconds off the number generated by the KCPRPE. If I had been able to monitor my pace a little bit better I would have nailed it. Still that’s a pretty darn good result, while being mostly Garmin-less, and I managed to slash a little over a minute off my 8K PR.

Looks like my next race will be the Kingdom 5K in Naperville on April 26th, where Janeth is going to pace me and help me try and break my 5K PR (I think). ;-)