Short Run Long Day 5K | TooTallFritz

I am not one to run evening races. I have the kids. I have “things” that need to be done. I have fatigue from a long day at work, plus my commute. I don’t go out for just anything and it’s kind of a big deal if I get in a nighttime event or workout. However, for the second year in a row, I attended the Frankfort Park District’s Short Run Long Day 5K event which is always at night, on or around the longest day of the year. Why do I go? Because of these people:

The Frankfort New Lenox Running Club. These people (plus about 500 more from our FB page) are my friends, my run “family” and reason why I keep showing up. The Short Run Long Day 5K is on our home turf and one of the races with the best turnout for our club members. We had runners who ran 18 minute 5Ks then spaced all the way down to the end with our run/walk crew. So proud of all of these people for continuing to show up and keep working on their fitness regardless of their ultimate goals.

The Short Run Long Day event brings out all the local run clubs too with a large contingency of Yankee Runners and Tinley Track & Trail fasties. This “short run” is competitive and fast with a course that is flat and mostly shaded. But the race is growing fast and “the word” is that next year, we will be running the course in reverse to accommodate the increasing field and to relieve congestion in that first mile. Win, Win!!

The race is a family event with pizza, family games and activities. Runners, walkers and families with strollers are all welcome here. The event is chip timed but with a “gun” start so that first mile is a bit congested as everyone tries to jostle for the best position due to the gun start. Half of the course is ran on Old Plank Trail while the other half is on the streets of Frankfort. One water stop. Bathrooms at the start/finish and at the Grainery area on Old Plank Trail. Course is mostly shaded. Lots of volunteers. Nice goodie bag with a cute cotton tee, a $10 off coupon from Running Excels, coupon for a free ice cream cone at the Creamery, chapstick, pen & toothbrush:

Great race. Great crowd. Great event for the competitive age grouper as well as mom/grandma who may need to push a stroller in order to participate. I’m super pleased with this race and the growing popularity. We had 420 finishers this year for a small town 5K on a Wednesday night. Yay!

Join Aby and I and our F’N friends next year in the 14th Annual Short Run Long Day 5K in Frankfort!

2012 Race Review HERE.

** Come Run With Us ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

The time is here. The time is now. It is officially the time which Abby S. and I used to talk of and wonder about years ago when my baby girl wanted to start running “K-5s” with us. Back then, my little Aby was probably 4 or 5 and I told her that she couldn’t run a 5K until she could actually say it correctly. Big Abby and I laughed and wondered how long it would take before little Aby would be faster than her mom. I’m pretty sure we won’t need to be wondering for much longer.

While I was off rehabbing my foot this summer, my baby girl, who just turned 11 came into her own in the running realm. She keeps asking, “Mom, am I faster than you now?” I keep saying, “Yes”. She says, “Because your hurt?” I say, “Yes, because I’m hurt but you would be faster even if I were healthy”.

Aby and I’s running journey started “together” in April 2011 at the Ringing In Spring 5K when she ran her first 5K. She took 1st in her age group with a time of 33.03. She was 9.

We’ve ran a lot of races since that day but one thing always holds true. I always finish before her. I don’t wait for her. I have never ran a race “with” her and we don’t train together. I run my race, she runs hers. Some people think this is cruel but I think its real. I can’t hold her hand when she races in school, so I don’t do it on the 5K course. I always tell her to follow the crowd and she won’t get lost. I finish, then go back for her.

Fast forward to this year. She has gotten much stronger and faster. I let her race the 5Ks that I pre-registered us for even though I had to sit them out due to injury. She ran the Courthouse Classic (with Adella & her Hubby) with a good but not necessarily impressive time of 30:37, then the Short Run Long Day 5K (with the F’N Running Club) in 29:46. Decent times but still in the “fun” zone.

Courthouse Classic Aby_Adella_Austin_2012 Aby & Michael_Frankfort 5K

Then Cross Country season started and she decided that she was no longer running “for fun”. She turned on the jets and became a 7:00 min/mile runner overnight. JUST.LIKE.THAT.

She now floats when she runs. Her best time for the 2 mile this year was a 13:54. That’s a 6:57 pace. Yep, sub 7. Yep, she just turned 11. Yep, faster than mom.

So this weekend we will run our first 5K together (Fallen Firefighters 5K Run in Bourbonnais, IL) under Aby’s new reign as the fastest runner in the house. She asked me if she was going to beat me. I said, yes. Then I said, “but know that if you are in front of me, you better not slow down because I will be RUNNING.YOU.DOWN. every step of the way. And I expect the same from you. If I’m ahead, I will be running my ass off trying to keep you from catching me.” I mean, that’s how everyone treats their 11 year old, right?

Now who’s the cat and who’s the mouse? I’m not even sure at this point but it sure is a game and it’s officially starting this weekend. Let the fun begin!

What I do know is that Aby will most definitely beat me on Sunday. I know that I am still recovering so not up to a realistic speed as of yet. I know that my speed has a cap, even in a healthy state and hers does not. I probably need to get used to looking at her back but I will always keep pressing and letting her know that I’ll be there if she waivers. I can’t wait to see how this fall racing season shapes up. Yesterday, a lady on the trail ran a PR for her 5K ~~because we were trying to keep Aby in sight~~. She was super excited. Aby asks me on the way home, “What’s my 5K PR?”. I said, “I’ll tell you on Sunday”.

Feel free to come out and watch the showdown between Aby and I. Or come run so that I have a shoulder to cry on when she totally kicks my ass. Better yet, bring the cooler. I like Corona Light.