Women Rock Weekend

Last weekend was the Women Rock Starlett Challenge in Chicago.  It was supposed to be a 3 races, 1 day event where I run a 10k, 5k, and 2.5k.  We received an email 2 days prior to the run saying the race course had to be closed by 9am.  Next, I sat back and watched as all hell broke loose on the FB page.  This time change meant anyone signed up to run the half marathon had to run it in 2.5 hours max.  A lot of people hadn't trained for those times.  So, unfortunately, the disorganization and last minute chaos resulted in a lot of unhappy runners.  I was kind of "meh" about the changes.  I figured I could run at least two of the three races and I would make the best of it. 

At packet pick up they explained that the runners doing the Starlet Challenge would still receive all 4 medals (1 per race plus 1 for competing the challenge) after running the 10k and expected to run the other 2 races virtually.  Ok by me.  I wanted to just get everything my very expensive entry fee had bought me.  I still wanted to earn it of course.  At packet pick up they also handed over a $20 gift certificate for the trouble.  They were apologetic about the mess at least.  They were also giving refunds to anyone who preferred a refund.  It was obvious on race day that there was a lot less of a crowd there than were signed up.

The morning of the race was cold and windy...18mph winds.  The course was still beautiful though.  Running along the lake is always a good run.  This was my first 10k run.  I've done 5ks or half marathons but never a 10k.  It just has never seemed like an appealing distance.  For some reason it's appealing to run further than that but 6.2 miles just always sounded like...well, two 5ks.  I figure I can train for speed for a 5k or endurance for a half marathon but 6.2 miles is somewhere in between those two lines so I've just skipped over those races.  I was running into the wind for a good half of the race or more and I know it really impacted my time.  I was looking forward to turning the corner and having the wind at my back.  Amazingly enough the moment I did it was like the wind completely stopped.  Why wouldn't it die down now that I'm not running into it. 


My knees always ache after doing a half marathon.  Mostly just my right knee.  During this run my knee started to ache at mile 2.  It was then that I decided I was very glad the races worked out like they did because I knew it would be tough to make it 10.85 miles when I was hurting during the second mile.  I think it was from running on grass to pass people at the beginning.  I was frustrated with my knee because I felt awesome otherwise.  My breathing was on point and the rest of my body was cooperating just fine.  It didn't really kick into full pain mode complete with the "pain face" until mile 4-5ish.  (pain face-when you look at someone and say wow they look like they are in pain) But I kept on running.  I know from past experience stopping would make it impossible to start up again once my leg started to stiffen up.  So I kept running and was sort of glad there were 3 different signs up for mileage (for the half marathon, 10k and 5k) so I couldn't ever REALLY tell how many miles in I was.  I had a good idea from crossing the 5k timing mat on the way but the signs were pretty confusing. 

The finish line was a cluster as there were 5k runners coming around a corner and the 10k runners needed to cross in front of them to turn into the finish area.  It was here I got smacked in the face.  Yes.  Smacked in the face by the two girls that decided to high five each other across the sidewalk. One of which was obviously facing me but didn't seem to notice the person running straight into her hand.  If it hadn't been me it would've been one of the other hundred or so people behind me so maybe high fiving across a crowded sidewalk was a bad idea.  6.1 miles into this run with a throbbing knee and now a smack in the face and I was not real pleased and their giggling "oops sorry" did nothing for me except maybe gave me a little boost to sprint to the finish line in annoyance as I wanted to get out of the crowded cluster of runners.   

The wind is back after the race and in this photo I'm actually trying to hold the sign in place so it a. doesn't fall over or b. doesn't smack me in the face since I've already checked that off my list for the day.

When I did the Women Rock half marathon in 2013 there were several handsome, shirtless men at the finish line.  This time there were three.  Shirtless at least.  I didn't really see their face because I was just happy to be done and looking for some water.  There were definitely no handsome, shirtless men at the post-race party like there was in 2013.  So that part was a bit of  let down but in the cold wind with a sore knee and hungry stomach I got over it fast. 

I have to give them some credit on the race swag...it was a hefty entry fee but I walked away with a Vera Bradley weekender bag, a t-shirt, a tank top (courtesy of the gift certificate), a necklace, a champagne flute, and my four medals.  Plus several bags of chips because that was the post-race snack.  That was a first to see.  I'm used to seeing bananas and granola bars but this time was Cheetos and Doritos.  I brought them all home for the kid.  I was about to eat plenty in Chicago...

Starting with beignets at Grand Lux.  So.  Good.  I tried to eat some blueberry pancakes as well but the beignets were the star of the show.  We proceeded to walk and shop and along the way hit up Garret's for some popcorn as well as Magnolia Bakery for Banana Pudding to take back to the room for after dinner.  Dinner was at Bub City BBQ.  No doubt I made up for any calories burned running. 

In all my trips to Chicago I've never seen the bridge raised.  We were walking along and heard a warning bell going off and stopped to the side to watch it.  We proceeded to watch as pedestrians took their time walking along the bridge.  If I was on a bridge that had warning bells going off....my butt would be race walking that sucker at the least.  Sore knee or not. 

One sailboat crossed under the bridge.  Can you imagine "We're going to need you to stop traffic and raise the bridge for our boat to come through.  Thanks."  No biggie, just sailing my boat. 

My fitbit had registered over 12 miles by about 8pm and then it reset itself because it was set to the wrong time.  So technically I guess I earned all my medals that day.  I completed more than the 10.85 miles.  And while anything after the 6.2 was walking around the city, I am certain I would've been walking most of the 5k and 2.5k with my knee acting up.  It didn't go quite as planned, but that's life for ya.  It all worked out in the end.