2013 Shamrock Shuffle 8K

Posted on April 8, 2013 by tootallfritz

It wouldn’t be fair to title this a “race review” since I’m clearly in love with the race. I do understand that it’s not for everyone; however, it is definitely a tradition for me! I love everything from the family friendly expo to the fast paced race thru the streets of Chicago. Add in the green sparkle skirts, green men, and the amazing atmosphere and it would be hard to keep me away. The Shamrock is really a weekend event for me, not just a race. I have friends who come from out of town and locals who go with to the expo for a full day of downtown shopping. The expo was good this year with lots of stuff for the kids: a magician, balloons, noise makers, sunglasses, candy and snacks galore! There were a few things for the parents too from great deals on gear/shoes to naked men models from the Women Rock Chicago calendars. (L to R: Me, Pam, Mr. April, Amy, Mr. July & Nicki)

Aby even made a shoe painting with Nike Free’s!

And we came home with lots of loot.

Sunday was race day. The expo & downtown walking/shopping, plus my marathon training took its toll and my legs were definitely tired. I knew this. What I didn’t know was how that, plus my lack of speed training, plus my extra 6 lbs would effect my race time. I can honestly say that this is the first event in a long time where I toed the line having no idea what to expect. So I ran by feel. Can’t trust the GPS watches downtown anyhow because one minute they say your running a 3:50 pace (right, I wish!!!) and the next it reads a 16:50 pace. Total confusion. If you “need” your watch, then go with a foot pod. The course was particularly crowded this year, possibly because I was running slower. I did lots of weaving around. The course had a detour, due to a jumper on one of the bridges over the Chicago River, but the course change was imperceptible and seamless. As always, the Shamrock organizers did a fantastic job of running us thru the city streets as fast as possible. I loved every minute of it and although I never ran particularly fast, I felt good, had zero foot pain and just enjoyed the moment. Last year I run just under 39 minutes even with a bit of a wardrobe issue. I should have been faster. So yesterday, as I was entering the 3rd mile, I flipped over to my time view in an effort to get under 39 minutes again this year. I didn’t make it. I finished in 39:23, officially a 7:56 pace although my weaving gave me a lot more real estate than the normal 8K distance so my Garmin pace recorded a 7:35. Does it matter? NO! However, I was unofficially shooting for a 7:30ish average and to be honest, the race felt a lot more controlled that last year so I’ll take it as a win. Smile My official goal for the 2013 Shamrock was to have fun and get a photo with the green me. Guess who I saw as soon as I crossed the finish?

Hell, yeah! Mission accomplished! Let’s go grab some of that free beer now! Thanks ladies for hanging downtown with me and sharing those beer tickets! I had a blast. My fellow lushes Shufflers from L to R (back): Meg, Dawn, Michelle, Nicki, & Kerry. Front: April & Me.

Apparently we looked like we were having an amazing time because fellow Shufflers were giving us their unused beer tickets as they were leaving the Green Men found us again and took another photo with us.

And they gave us their card. Find the Green “Guys” on Facebook and “like” them cuz I know you already LOVE them. Fun times!!!

Until next year, keep on Shuffling! ** ShamROCK Chicago ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Other Shamrock Shuffle posts & photos hosted by the MagMileRunner blog hop:

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Shamrock, ShamROCK, SHAMROCK Shuffle Time!!!

Posted on April 6, 2013 by tootallfritz

The time has finally arrived and even though its April and we should be looking for spring flowers, we are instead still hung up on Saint Patrick’s Day as we await the annual Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago. Thanks, Bank of America for trying to get us a day with great weather ~~even if we are already looking forward to Cinco de Mayo~~!

If you haven’t ran the Shamrock Shuffle 8K, your missing out. Everyone says so. Just ask Kelly at Running Kellometers! The Shamrock Shuffle is “officially” THE.BEST.RACE.EVER ~~at least in our opinion~~! Even the chick on the promo page thinks so, look how happy she is to be wearing green and ShamROCKing Chicago!

And if you know the chick above, I’d LOVE to meet her. In fact, Kelly would too cuz we know a Shamrock lover when we see one! Tell her to look for the green sparkle skirts, the ones chasing down the green men for another photo. The photo below, maybe just be the best photo that I’ve ever gotten at a race and I didn’t even “get” it. This was courtesy of Nicole F, first from left. Ms. Fastie can run AND carry her camera simultaneously! Win!! So myself, Maggie & Kelly were able to score big on her talent! No fear, I’ll have my FlipBelt this year so I WILL have a camera on me at all time. Watch out!

If the amazing chick from the Shamrock Shuffle promo still can’t pick us out of the crowd since there will be so many fab women in green Team Sparkle skirts, then she should come to the ~~beer tent~~ after party and look for the crazy lady holding the green dye. I mean really, what kind of St Patrick’s Day party can we have without green beer?

And yes, Brian J, I did steal your photo of this green beer. Don’t sue me, okay? I did put the die in that beer for you so it makes it half mine, right? If not, I’ve already been punished enough by having to steal it from your mobile uploads. Dude, you have some scary shit in that folder!

Yes, I’m looking forward to the Shamrock. This will be the first of a billion posts about it. The best part of the event, besides the fact that it’s the BEST.RACE.EVER., is that the whole weekend is about my run friends/family, even the Emendorfer’s come to town each year to whooooop it up with me!

So look for my green sparkly crew! We will be here, there and EVERYWHERE!

** Happy ShamROCKing ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

2012 …… In Review

Posted on December 18, 2012 by tootallfritz

Seven days out from Christmas and I’m in disbelief that the year is almost gone. Most of the time at year end, as I’m sitting in this position looking back, I’m able to take pride in the goals set and attained. Not so much this year. I struggled to build back up after some time off at the end of 2011 (a failed attempt to clear the plantar fasciitis). Then I tore the tendon in my foot at the beginning of summer. I will not run 1000 miles this year. I did not run a 1:50 half marathon ~~which I thought was an absolute no brainer~~. I did not break 6:30 for a half iron event ~~which I also thought was a no brainer~~. I did not complete even one triathlon. I did not run a marathon. I did not maintain my weight. I did not do a lot of things that I had thought were so very possible at the beginning of 2012. But alas, it wasn’t a bad year.

Occasionally, we just need to “let go” of our goals and go with the flow. Some things are absolutely beyond our control. You know the difference between being lazy and not making it happen verses life/injury got in the way and derailed the plans. So if your life, or God’s plan for your life, got in the way this year and you DID NOT #MakeItHappen, then please take a minute, right now, and let it go. Next year is another year. The point of making goals is to constantly challenge oneself and be the best person that you can be at any given time. Sometimes, the best we have at a given moment is sitting in the rocker ….. rocking our sick child. Or icing an injured foot ~~over a cold Corona Light~~.

So as I look back, I do not see failure but instead I look at the positive things that I did accomplish.

I got a photo with THE Green Men at the Shamrock Shuffle this year! Major accomplishment! Expect to see this photo several times a year from now til eternity. I’m VERY proud! (Nicole F, me, Green Man #1, Maggie, Green Man #2, & Kelly)

I raced my first relay event with my “baby” girl, Aby. Tinley Park Duathlon where my “baby” OFFERED to run for me so that I could still participate even though I was still very early in the injury stage and couldn’t even walk without a limp.

I watched that same baby girl become not just her own person but a really FAST runner.

I managed to keep my crazy lil man safe “enough” to make it through 2012.

I’m still married. (This will be the only time that you will see me in a bikini…..only photo I have of hubs & I from 2012 and I may delete this section before I actually publish).

So 2012 was not only a good year but a great one! I encourage you to focus on the positive and do your damndest to make 2013 EVEN better. We only live once. Make it count.

** Cheers to Making It Count ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

TooTallFritz

Running Toward: Health, Wellness & PEACE …………………………………….. Running From: Insanity, Screaming Children, Housework & a Big Ass

Tag Archives: Shamrock Shuffle Green Men

2013 Shamrock Shuffle 8K

Shamrock, ShamROCK, SHAMROCK Shuffle Time!!!

2012 …… In Review

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