ShamRock 'N Roll 10K Recap

Today I tackled the Junior League of Atlanta's 8th annual ShamRock 'N Roll 10K at Atlantic Station. I signed up for it just a few weeks ago with the thought that it would be a great way to "practice" for the Public Half next weekend and to get one more long run in. The last race I did was the Atlanta 13.1 in October so I thought a 10K would be good thing to do this weekend.

They had a tot trot, a 5K, and a 10K at the race this morning. The 10K didn't start until 9 so I luckily didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn. I got up, got ready, and hit the road to Atlanta about 7:15. Once I got down there, I parked and went to join the crowd waiting for the races to start. It was very c-o-l-d and when the wind blew, it was down right bone chilling cold. They called all the 5K participants to the start line and once they were all lined up, I swear it looked like there were only 12 of us left to do the 10K. Once the 5K started, I went back to the bathroom (for the 2nd time) and then went back to watch for the top 5K finishers to come in. About that time they started calling all the 10K people to the start line and while we waited we were able to see a few more of the 5K finishers come in. 

On the race website, they had said this race would be chip timed so I was looking for the mat to run across that is usually what reads your chip when you run across it. I didn't see one or anything for that matter that looked like it would read the chips on the back of the bibs. They got us all corralled at the start line (and there were more than 12 of us....more like 500) and we were off. There did not look to be an "official" start line...a guy just yelled start and we were off. I started the run keeper app on my phone and on my heart rate monitor when I felt like I crossed where the guy was standing. The 10K course was just 2 laps of the 5K course. I didn't use my interval timer; instead, I gauged when I should run and walk based on my heart rate. The course was actually really good with a few small hills and one bigger hill on Northside Drive. I ran a decent amount of the first 3.1 miles and felt pretty good. When I looked at my phone to see how I was doing, I had an average pace of 14:45 which is really great for me....especially for being on the road and not on the treadmill. 

The 2nd half of the race seemed to go by a little faster although I slowed down a bit. The cold and wind were starting to get to me and my quad muscles were very tight. I walked more and changed my stride a bit, but still managed to get some bouts of running thrown in. I knew I wanted to run the last part and run across the finish line so I had to save a bit of energy for that. I was pretty sure I was one of the last people on the 10K course, but from the website, they made it seem like there would be this grand party/celebration/carnival going on at the finish line. When I finished (with a clock time of 1:38:06, "chip" time...meaning what my phone said...of 1:35:22), everything was pretty much packed up and everyone was leaving. I did run across the finish line and then kept running straight on to the port-a-potties....I had had to go to the bathroom since about mile 1 and there were NO bathrooms along the way. I think I might have been a bit faster if I hadn't had to go to the bathroom so bad most of the race!

Overall, it was a good race...great course...and for a pretty good cause. I do have 3 complaints about the race though (did you really think I wouldn't?)....I feel like I have done enough races to compare them. I guess since most of my races have been the Peachtree Road Race...which sets the bar really high...I have high standards. First, they needed to have bathrooms along the route. Second, the said the race was chip timed, but in actuality, it was just your clock time. They didn't record what time you actually crossed the start line...your time started when they said go and stopped when you ran across the finish line, where they were actually recording your chip #. So, I feel like I was robbed a bit. This is a Peachtree qualifier, meaning you can use your time to get into a faster starting group, and I could definitely use that 2 and a half minute advantage between the clock time and chip time. Oh well...I know what my time was even if the official time is a 2:30 more. And my last complaint is about the finish area...when I finished, there was one, count it...1...person from the Junior League cheering for us. When I finished the first loop of the course (and the fast people were finishing the whole race), there were TONS of Junior League members cheering people on. Also, there was no water, snacks, Gatorade...nothing. Like I said earlier, everything was pretty much packed up. I just wish races would not make those of us penguins in the back of the pack feel like we don't count or matter because we don't finish first, or second. I know I am slow. But I also paid just as much as the fast people paid to run the race and I feel like those of us who will never win a race also deserve to be treated with respect at the end of races. Ok...vent over.

So- it was a great day for running for me...I shaved 5:28 off my previous 10K time and when I finished, I felt really good! Now it's time for last minute mental and physical preparations for the Publix Half next weekend!!

Finished...feeling great...and looking like a hot mess!!