Saturday, March 14, 2009

100% Irish for a Day 10 Mile

My first race of the year. I ran the Irish for a Day 10 Mile...they have a 5K as well and I knew I wasn't up to racing a 5K and doing well, so 10 mile it was. I like this race. Ran it the first year, 3 years ago and missed it last year for a dumb reason...so today I got to run it again and realized how much I like it. I know the route cause I run it, the shirts are nice (tech shirts) and it's a local race. All the race sponsors and such are from the local area so it's nice to support the small local businesses. It included, being Irish and all, Finnegan's beer at the end. Which is brewed locally, by a woman owner, which I think is pretty cool.

So yes, ran the race...it wasn't great, but it wasn't awful. On a good day, I think I can run 10 miles in 75 minutes. Probably even faster. But today wasn't going to be that day. I haven't done speedwork much at all. But, the good thing about running a race distance you haven't run before...automatic PR! I managed just slightly over 84 minutes. Which my trainer said I should run (after he said 75, and then 80 which I said neither was feasible really). First mile was slow due to icy spots on the course and then slow runners who lined up badly...but I was sub 9 for it. Then the next 4 were under 8:30, but then I slowed. 5 miles all pretty consistent though from 8:27-8:31.

At the end of the race there was a beer tent. I stopped to have a beer with some friends but they had had to leave so weren't there anymore, but I ended up talking to some other people that are starting an unofficial run club and today was their first run. So I hung with them and now have joined up with the group. There are people in the group looking to BQ, girls and guys, and some do tris too, including Ironman 2010 in FL...so I think I met some new cool people. Heck, one might have a bike for me to buy too!!

Anyway, about to head out for an evening. After a buzz from the beer, I came home, took a nap and now ready for an evening of beer!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice job on race. Happy St. Patty's Day early.

Jean said...

Nice job on the race, Danielle! I love these March races, as they always mark the start of a new season. Good luck and continued success with your training!

teacherwoman said...

Nic job on the 10-miler! :)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good race! It is hard to be speedy when you're training for distance, but you did great! Sounds like you met some good connections. Nice! :)

RunToTheFinish said...

A PR however it comes is good! Way to go on meeting some new peeps, that is always so fun to have people to talk to about running

Runner Leana said...

Nice job on your race! Gotta love those races with beer at the end. Sounds like you met some great new folks too!

Dori said...

Ten miles is a pretty good distance for March in Minnesota! I've never run that race. My friends did the first year, but I was pretty stuck on the Human Race 8K. Nice job. :-)

MNFirefly said...

Nice!