Frosty Footrace 2014 5K Race Report
The Frosty Footrace is typically my only “goal” 5K race of the year. I typically train for it. Or, at least have taken off some weight so running fast doesn’t feel so freaking awful.
Ha! Not this year, though! I was in no way prepared to “race” a 5K. No way, at all. I was dreading the race most of the week, and feeling disappointed in myself, both of which are unusual for me. Note: it probably doesn’t help that a lot of work stress has been seeping in to my weeknights and weekends and I am very NOT chill lately.
But I gotta run it, right? It’s in my town, and the field is so small I usually place in my age group*. And I had signed up back in October or something silly. And Erin was coming from the city to run it, and a few people from Efit (and my running club) were there as well. It was nice to visit with everyone!
So, I tried to find the least painful way for me to “race” this 5K (read: maybe still have some hope of placing – because when this type of race is your only chance to place you feel like a putz if you didn’t “push it”), and decided intervals would be the way to go. I figured I would be faster, overall, if I gave myself little breaks from the speedier parts of the run. Plus, I hadn’t done intervals yet last week.
It sort of worked! I ran 8x400s with .15 mile recoveries. The intervals were all over the place (thanks, hills and diminished VO2 max capacity), but it got me to the finish line in 26:48, which surprisingly, was first place in the 25-29 age group. Ha! All the 30-34 age group placers finished in front of me, so if I want to place next year (I’ll be 30), I better run closer to what I did in 2013 – 23:27! But, cough, that would require training, cough cough. We shall see what state of mind I am in next year!
Enough with the whining! I am grateful I can run, at all, and it’s fun to get an age group award.
It’s time to throw this race some props. This is my sixth year running it, because I like it so much! It’s put on by the Round Lake Area Park District, and proceeds benefit programs for the area! The race is inexpensive ($20 pre registration, $25 day off), the set up is great, they do five year age groups with awards in 1st-3rd (along with overall), the serve warm soup after the race, volunteers are fab and… it’s less than a fifteen minute drive from my home. The race goes along a commercial drive, through a neighborhood, on a paved trail, and back on to the commercial drive. Even though there is potential for treacherous conditions with the race being in the end of February each year, they do a great job clearing snow, and putting salt and sand down.
And I love that in the last three years they have switched from giving out a long sleeved tee to a stocking hat. I don’t need any more race shirts. Funny though, I was complimenting them on the hat versus shirt thing yesterday and one of the volunteers was like “I wish we still got shirts!” Would you prefer a stocking cap or a long sleeved cotton shirt for a winter race?
Another cool thing they did this year, to celebrate the park district being around for 40 years was hand out an award to the runner in 40th place! Fun!
And! Super heroes were there to promote a race they are having in September. The kids really seemed to get a kick out of that (I am a bit bummed I missed a photo op with them before the race – they were gone when I finished).
There are only two “bad” things about this race. 1 – it starts really late. It used to start at 11:00 and they moved it back to 11:30 this year (there was supposed to be a youth race at 11:00 but they didn’t have it due to enrollment, I think). So close to lunch, and it kind of takes a chunk out of the middle of your day! But it’s close to home, so whatever. And 2 – there are hills on the course. Ha ha ha. Just makes the 5K race effort even harder. And even cooler, that it was a PR for me, when I ran it last year!
*And we all remember what happened last year… Ha! That is all I am going to say about that!
Themocracy
Congrats on the AG win!! And lol at the asterisk. That’s all I’ll say about that 😉
And yeah… I feel the “obligation” to race my local races too. I mean, they are in my back yard how could I not??? Gah
Sorry you didn’t feel good and wasn’t Into running this race. 🙁
I am curious to hear more about how you felt doing the intervals for the duration of the race. I’ve thought about trying that out in a 5k (or longer race) but haven’t been able to pull the trigger on it.
Thanks. And lol – I am still shaking my head over that. So weird.
I bet I will be more excited about my next race! (Not scheduled for anything until WI half!).
I felt good doing intervals in the sense that I knew I would do better overall than if I ran all out. And it didn’t bother me to slow down and have people pass me, then (sometimes) catch back up with them. But I wondered if it was annoying to them, and overall, I felt lame that my fitness has regressed so much (because of my own doing).
Congratulations on the AG win!!
I’m sorry you were dreading the race though, that’s no fun…I remember how excited you were last year.
An AG win is still an AG win. Congrats! I’ve never thought about doing intervals during a 5k but that’s super smart. I always just go out hard and hope to hang on!
Hee hee, I still went out too hard! But my intervals were up and down the whole time because of the hills, anyway. I hope for my next 5K I can try to run positive splits. I almost did at my PR 5K last year because I started out slower with a friend. That helped so much! Are you doing any 5Ks this year?
I’m probably doing The Race That’s Good for Life as part of a long run this spring and then hopefully, a few 5ks after the Illinois Marathon. I’m planning to focus on tris this summer so I’ll be working more on shorter distance speed and 5ks are perfect ways to fit in speed work.
Cool! I was telling Kelsey I was thinking about doing that one competitively in the Athena division but at this point… I probably won’t be trained. LOL!
That is awesome you will be back to tris this summer!!!!
Way to push it and get an AG award!!
I wrote a song for you – to the tune of “Shoop” by Salt n Pepa:
Here she goes here she goes here she goes again
Kim, what’s her weakness? (Stride!)
Ok then, chillin’ chillin’ runnin’ a 5k
Spectators looked around and they couldn’t believe this
I swear they stared, her feet in distress
This runner had it goin’ on with somethin’ kinda…uh
Wicked, wicked (oooo) – when she kicks it
I’m not shy so I asked for her race bib
A ho? No, her feet are janky
You see her slip slide to it swifty
Feel it in her hips or her back? Still she’s pretty quick
Her shoes flip when she trips, her feet do tricks for us
Runnin’ like a runner shouldn’t step
Made it to the finish and she chilled for a bit
Don’t know how Kim do the voodoo that she do
So well it’s a spell, hell, makes me wanna supe, supe, supe…
Supe, supe-in-ate
Supe-in-ate
Supe-in-ate, in-ate, in-ate
Supe, supe-in-ate
Supe-in-ate
Supe-in-ate, in-ate, in-ate
OMG. I am dying. Please tell me you wrote that all from memory?! I watched the vid in the background when I read this comment so I would have some music. Now it’ll be stuck in my head all day 😉
BEST COMMENT EVER!!!! 🙂 Thanks 🙂
I admit I had to look up some of it, but for the most part it was from memory! Glad you liked it!
Congrats on the AG win! Sounds like a nice race! Does Round Lake offer any other races during the year? I feel like I saw one for owners and their pets, but that could be a death trap for me with Izzy…
They did offer that dog friendly race in Sept for the past few years. Now it seems that is being rebranded as the super hero race. They do these two races each year. 🙂
We can’t skip this race! It’s tradition! But, yeah, like you I would be a bit bummed if I didn’t get a medal. That’s tradition, too!!
So, what happened with the kid’s race? The page you linked to was blank when I looked at it.
Thanks for letting me know the link was blank! It just said they canceled, I think there was not enough enrollment? We are hoping that means they move the start time back next year 🙂
It would be one thing not to get a medal because there is actual competition! 🙂 I just didn’t like feeling like I should push it so that I will get a medal… but I knew I would be upset if I didn’t try. LOL. Whatever, it’s over now. No 5Ks on the schedule.
I have to ask…What happened last year?
Congrats! on the AG win! That’s awesome and even more cool since you weren’t that into it.
I’ll send you an email 😉
I’d rather place at a race that I am actually in to 😉
OMG – I would LOVE an 11:30 race!! I hate how early races are all the time (I’m not a good morning exerciser) – 11:30 would be perfect for me!
And congrats on the AG win – you’re a speedy one (especially without training)!
Great time nonetheless! And 11:30 would be weird for me. Like should I skip breakfast and eat late, do I need a snack?
Woot for the win no matter how you did compared to last year! I keep wanting to run this race but forget about it every freaking year. I’d be happy if I never saw another race shirt. So over them as I never wear them, unless they’re cotton I use as pj’s but still. A stocking cap sounds like so much fun!
Mark your calendar – it’s the last Sunday of February, each year!
I don’t use the technical race shirts, much either. I just have my fave stuff (usually FILA for Kohl’s) that I use, and… that is that. I bet we are not in the common demographic for this one – I know a lot of people who still want shirts and other crap.
OK, I am obviously reading your posts backwards since I just commented on the last one and was so interested in your intervals, which you clearly lay out here. I love this approach to a 5K! I say this mainly because I am too terrified to register for a 5K. And I hear the work stress stuff-that totally makes a difference. Anyway, CONGRATS on your age group win! Woot!
That is okay! I am always reading backwards, and catching up! 🙂
If 5Ks scare you, maybe this would help! I wonder if a lot of people would not like the slowing down part for recoveries, though. What do you think you would prefer?
Ugh! I hope work is not super nutso for you!
Thanks!
Congrats on the ag!!
And you look really bad ass in the first pic!!! cool!
Thanks 🙂
wow congrats! You are amazing!
I love your racing attitude. That is all. 🙂
Ha ha ha! My “I don’t want to do this” attitude? LOL, or the “I will try to figure out a way to make this work” one? 😉
I’ll never be able to top Rachel’s comment, so I don’t even know if I should try.
I do love the idea of getting your intervals in at a race! I walk for recovery, so my pace ends up being awash (meaning I’d run the same overall pace doing speed intervals/walking as I do just running an easier, consistent pace). But it’s probably good to get one last AG win in before you enter the next, super competitive age group!
That is why I did it – I knew the intervals would give me the same overall pace if I did mile repeats. I think I am doing 800s tomorrow. Yay….
Yeah, no more ag placing in my 30s! 🙂 Unless I find teeny tiny races 😉
I’d prefer a hat over a cotton long sleeve. Also, the race in my parents’ hometown gave out a goofy award … I think it was to the person who finished in the exact middle of the field. And maybe also last place? I don’t remember.
Wow, awesome job girl!! That is a really late start for a race though. Congrats on the AG!
Congrats on the AG! Would love to try this race someday.
It’s the last Sunday of each Feb! Check it out! 🙂
Congrats!!
Congrats on the win! I guess having it be an unexpected success made it better? (I think it would for me!) It sounds like a really cool community event. I wish we had more things like that out here, but I guess that’s the trade-off when living in a large city.