So I did it! I not only did the Shamrock Run again, but it is my first official race since hurting my ankle last July. I did far better than I anticipated I would, though I don't have the official time yet I do feel it is quite possible that I either met my time from last year or did better. In the off chance that I didn't, that's ok, I'm just happy that I was able to run the race this year. My ankle held up pretty well, only started to feel it at the end and even then it wasn't as bad as I'd expected. I am currently icing it and hoping that tomorrow I won't be limping around, fingers crossed. The biggest challenge this year was running in the rain, thankfully it wasn't coming down hard, it was Portland rain, but it was still cold out and the rain didn't help much. My running partners, two amazingly awesome friends- Krystle S. and Ashley G., and I did our best to stay warm by moving around until it was time for us to line up and go. Oddly enough, once we got going on our race the rain felt delicious on my hot sweaty face- so I suppose a thank you is in order to mother nature. I think I could get use to running in the rain, light rain that is. The downfall to this whole event however, was how cold I felt afterwards, it wasn't until I got home and into a hot shower that I warmed up. Between the wetness from the rain and my sweat, cooling off in the cold air isn't pleasant. With all that said, if I had to do this all over again, I would in a heart beat. I don't think I will ever pass up running the Shamrock Run if I can help it! To all of the wonderful people I know that ran the Shamrock Run this year, many congratulations for accomplishing it!
Shout outs...
15k runners: Liesl H., Patricia C., and Micky B.
8k runners: Julie G.
5k runners: Krystle S., Ashley G., and Arran G.