Minneapolis Halloween 5K (3.15 miles)
Let's not talk about pace this time ...
Good lord. I just looked back in my blog history to try and figure out how to recap this race. Doing so has forced me to acknowledge a sad fact: I haven't run in a timed competition since this 5K back in 2017.
Ooof. Two years ago pretty much to the day. No wonder why running sucks so much for me right now. Which reminds me, I should state something before I get too far into this post: I'm not going to bother reporting my time or pace from this race.
Why? Because I'm not running right now for speed. I'm running for mental sanity.
In the last two years, I've dialed back my fitness routine WAAAYYY too much, and I've turned into a giant crab as a result.
No, not like the cute kind:
More like the stabby kind:
Yeah. It hasn't been good. And although there's other things making me generally crabby (issues at work, the stress of moving houses last year still wearing off, mom life, etc.) ... really, at the end of the day, working out less has contributed to my overall bad attitude quite a bit.
In an attempt to rectify my situation, back in August I decided to register for one of my all time favorite races with my sister. (Side note, that's a spoiler for a future post). While that registration did help me get back into a routine some - I am once again holding myself accountable for 2 body pump classes a week, plus teaching my Tuesday night strength/cardio class, and have done a bit of running - I will fully admit I slacked more on the running part that I ought to have in the last two months.
Instead of faulting myself for not training enough for a casual 5K, I'm going to be positive and say: at least I got back into a fitness routine of some sort. The rest I'll worry about improving on in the future, ok?!
In the meantime, let's talk costumes, because after all ... this IS a Halloween 5K.
Ok, yep - I skipped any kind of preamble and just spoiled it.
Let's face it. After years of running races in pretty much any kind of costume imaginable, I've become somewhat unable to top myself. I mean, think about it. Here's my list (and this isn't even 100% of what I've actually done):
unicorns (yes, two different kinds as evidence here and here)
skeleton and calevera
flight attendant
mariachi
robot
Hamburgler
Statue of Liberty (with torch)
giant winged butterfly
mermaid
Wonder Woman
two different versions of a ball of flames (this and this)
ninja turtle
a rainbow with a pot of gold
Seriously! What the hell is left BESIDES Mr. T, right?
I PITY THIS FOOL!
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Race day.
Since I already did (a very uneventful in-store) packet pickup the Thursday prior, my only job on race day was to show up.
Oh - side note, here's what the advertised race swag was:
FYI, that the shirt is actually more of a purple/gray space died tech t.
And being a Halloween fan, I couldn't skip out on the optional (for purchase) socks:
Anyway, on race morning ... since I am woefully OUT of practice on this, I hobbled together some sort of "what's supposed to be normal?!" routine of eating a smallish breakfast and trying to poop.
Yes, I said poop. This is a runner's recap, you shouldn't be surprised by that.
After a quick coffee and peanut butter toast (my bananas were over ripe and I was afraid to try other "untested" fruits), my partner in crime showed up and we took off.
Following the parking guidance, we ended up on the wrong side of the river for race start. Based on the course map below, somehow the organizers though having us park near where it says 5K (in black & white) was a good idea ... ??? I don't get that at all, because there are surface lots on the proper side of the river, within 2 blocks of the start line.
Oh well, whatever. Since the walk from the parking lot (I think it was 5th & Washington) wasn't terrible, and we had plenty of time, I didn't bother moving my car. And actually, it was an unexpected win, because I was only charged $3 upon exit. #NOTBAD!
My co-runner in this race had selected the option of having her bib mailed to her pre race, so that meant she needed to do shirt pickup on race morning. After grabbing her shirt, which was a painless process, we then headed over to bag drop. That was ... interesting, to say the least. Leaving your bag in a giant, unmonitored pile, in a public park's race pavilion downtown Minneapolis was a ... concept ... that's for sure. I still can't believe there was no kind of check in / check out process with the bags, and I wonder how many things got lost or stolen. So weird.
With all our pre race needs met, we dilly-dallied around for awhile, and even managed to talk some volunteers into letting us take pictures with the official finish tape:
While we killed time waiting to run, both my friend and I remarked how boring this year's costumes seemed to be. Less than 50% of runners were wearing anything even remotely festive - and once you factored out basic things like tutus and leggings, the amount of actual costumed runners was maybe 25%, if that.
BOO MINNEAPOLIS! YOU CAN DO BETTER!
Eventually, it was time to line up. Not going to lie, I had a lot of unnecessary dread building up at this point. Knowing I was in zero shape to run, I had no idea how this run would go. My friend and I both kept audibly telling each other that "this is just a 5K", and that it would "be just fine".
Then the announcer said go, and we were off!
Surprisingly, the first mile went better than I anticipated. Of course, running the two (smallish) hills, didn't help my endurance much, but I was happy to know I could manage. Even if I was at a fairly conservative pace.
Of course, people watching as we went helped. A few of the more remarkable costumes we picked out as we plodded along included various versions of Nintendo characters (Mario Kart, Classic Mario & Luigi, Yoshi), the typical Things 1&2, various character onesies or inflatable costumes and so forth.
Being passed by the tight pants guys on the second hill was entertaining:
And somewhere in the mix was a pretty good chicken & The Colonel (he was even carrying a real KFC bucket):
Speaking of carrying accessories, I had to give this duo credit (having run as Lady Liberty more than once, I know carrying something as you run is definitely a commitment):
Around the 1.25-1.35 mile mark or so, my running partner and I slowed for a walk break. This is where I was disappointed to discover that the 5K course had no water stop. In fact, after a bit of consideration, I realized there was basically no course support of any kind (aside from police at intersections). While technically a water stop on a 5K is unnecessary, since I forgot my pre-race routine of a large glass of water, I was a little desperate for a drink.
Of course, this grated on me a bit. I mean - I paid $35 to run this thing ... is a water stop too much to ask for?! LOL! #BitterOuttaShapeRunner
Trying to bury my unjustified resentment, I redirected my focus. Time to get moving again.
Prior to the 2 mile mark, it was time to run once more. Since I was afraid I wouldn't make another continuous mile plus stretch, and didn't want my partner to suffer because of it, I told her to not worry about my pace and just go. Mostly, we kept up with each other, though I was a bit behind and off to her right. However, the crowd got in between us enough that I eventually lost visual site of her until after the finish.
No matter, I had other things to look at as I carried on.
Side note - don't you hate the jerks that bid $1 more?! I do!
The final stretch of this race followed along the Stone Arch Bridge. Knowing the finish line couldn't be far, I decided to
Yes! At least one person appreciated the joke that was my costume.
Dang millennials not knowing 80's culture. Maybe if they got off their dang e-phones and i-kindles, they'd know a thing or two.
Despite the lack of on course amenities for the 5K, at the finish line all was redeemed. Picking up metals, water and post race snacks was a smooth process, and in fact better than most other races I've been too. So for that ... OK fine, maybe I'll run this race again some time. (wink)
But ... since it was the weekend before Halloween ... we didn't stay around much longer after finishing. With all the other Halloween events in the cities going on, how could we?!
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And ... that's the story of how race bib #84 joined my collection. Since it's been FAR too long since I've done this ... here's to another race soon!!
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