Hot Chocolate 15K

I don't know if you heard, but Chicago got COLD FAST this year! Of course I expect to be a little chilly when I'm running around on Halloween, but freezing temperatures with icy winds had me shivering during this years parade. Now, it's possible that it was just as cold last year and that alcohol consumption kept me from feeling the chill. This year however, a Hot Toddy wasn't an option because I had a 15K to run the next morning. 

When I signed up for the Hot Chocolate 15K, I knew it would probably be cold. But I didn't consider how I would dress for the cold. In fact, I didn't consider what I would wear until 6:30 the morning of the race. That's when it dawned on me that I have no winter running clothes. It was 35 deg outside, but I've read that the amount of heat that you produce running increases the perceived temperature by 20 deg. So I just needed to dress for 55 deg temps, no problem. I grabbed my shorts, a quick dry t-shirt (for wicking), a long-sleeve cotton t (for warmth), a cotton head band (to cover my ears) and a running hat (to hold in some warmth.)

As we waited with 5,000 other 15K runners to start the race, we could see the first of the 5,000 5K runners finishing their run. Why didn't I sign up for the 5K? It was $10 cheaper and they got the same garb. But when I signed up a month ago, 5K seemed too short and 15K was one of my short training runs. Aaaahhhh Training! That was the x-factor. Since returning from Hawaii I'd only been running once a week. This meant that the short 15K that would have been easier one month prior, seemed a little more difficult now. 

The original race plan was 5K at 2:2 run/walk ratio, the 5K at 3:1 run/walk ratio, then run the last 5K. Then we heard where the water stops were along the way and decided to change the plan. Run to the first water stop, 3:1 to the next, run to the next, 3:1 to the next, run to the finish. Then reality set in. We ran to the first water stop, then did a steady 3:1 run/walk till about the 8 mile mark. That's when I looked at my watch and thought - I can finish this in under 2 hours! So I began to pick up my run pace... and I peaked a little too soon. At the 9 mile mark I ran the last .3 in at a strong steady pace, and finished with a time of 2:02:22. Ugh! Just over 2 hours. I'm still learning. 

The final results: #4072 out of 4,172 runners, a new hoodie, a new running cap, and hot chocolate and chocolate fondue at the finish. Best of all, I had the running itch renewed again. What started out as a cold morning with me asking why didn't I sign up for the 5K, ended with me feeling fantastic that I had once again run further than I ever would have imagined a year ago.