Shamrock Run 15K Recap!

Saturday: 10 miles with TnT + 3.5 miles with Mike = 13.5 total miles
Sunday: 15k Shamrock Run = 9.35 miles

Sunday was a ton of fun with a lot of friends! This is the third year in a row that I have run the Shamrock Run and it never fails to bring a lot of energy oozing from 35,000+ runners and great times with it. I love that virtually every person who lives in the Portland Metro area runs some distance (15k, 8k or 5k) this day so you run into a million people you know.

The first year I was pretty new to running and racing and was excited to push hard. Austin ran with me and it was the first time that I had beat him in anything athletic. It might have had a lot to do with the fact that he didn't train for it and just ran - but I'll still take it as a win.

Last year Austin and I ran it just for fun with our friend Trysta and had a blast in the rain. Again Austin didn't train so we took it easy and cruised up and over the infamous Terwilliger hill.

Lotsa Uphill!

The Shamrock Run 15k have become a tradition in our house now really.  Austin doesn't train but we run it with some friends.

This year being connected with Team in Training I knew even more people who we could celebrate the "race season opener" with. Not only were there a ton of fun people to run with and cheer on - but for once the weather cooperated. The Shamrock Run is known for its big hill in the 15k and for the bad weather - but today we had experience to kick the hill and the good weather came out to support us!

We started out as a large group but as time went on people started to separate and run their own paces. I went ahead with Mike to support him in his efforts and then Austin and Carl caught up with us after we began the climb up Terwilliger.  The first 2 miles of this race are flat with the rest uphill until a decline from 7 on. We took those first flat miles really easy and started super conservatively up the hill.  My goal was to just run this race for fun and to support the other runners. I didn't care at all about time and just wanted to take it easy (I have a half next weekend I want to crush) and have fun.

Miles 1-4

9'46"

8'51"

8'50"

9'02"

After those first easy miles Austin passed by us and muttered something about taking the hill like wimps (censored version). That put a little fire under our rears and got us going. Soon Carl and I were pulling away and Mike and Austin were somewhere behind us. We got excited when we saw that we were still climbing the hill but hit a sub-8 pace while feeling totally fine. So we decided to keep up the effort. 

Miles 5-8

8'38"

7'56"

6'49"

6'54"

NEVER in my life have I seen mile times below 7s in any race I have ever run. I haven't had my watch for a year yet but I've run quite a few races with it and it has never reported a sub-7 mile... especially not on a low effort! I was stoked - yes it was downhill - but I am going to take those mile times and love them - lots. 

We decided that even as it was flattening out for the last mile.3 that we were going to keep up the effort and just take it on in. 

Mile 9 + .35

6'42"

last .35 = 6'09" pace!

Carl was coming back off of an injury and was surprised with his finishing times. I told him that it was just like all of our runs together with the team - practicing our mental abilities at the end. Everyone finished elated - and beating their goal times! The sunshine made for an even better finish and celebration!

Our little group and quite a few Team in Training peeps headed over to Carls for lots of pizza and some homemade brew to celebrate. It was such a great time! After the party we went home and I added my newest 15k medal with my other two. I can't wait to continue this super fun tradition next year!

I totally need this confidence boost after having a low mileage week after my "accident."

How did you spend your St. Patrick's Day? 

Do you have a large race in your area that everyone seems to run? 

What about an infamously large hill?