The main thing you have to know about Freihofer’s Run for Women: the atmosphere is just amazing. Think any race you’ve ever started in and take it up a few notches. It’s why we come back, year after year, despite the heat, the narrow streets, the never ending hill at the start, and the crowded conditions.
Packet Pickup
Parking is free, but it’s really, really crowded. The Race Director had really talked up the expo this year — I do think it was better than last year, and I actually made a couple of purchases.
They spread it out so you went one place to pick up your bib, another to pick up your race tee, and another to pick up your cookies and bread. Which of course sort of forced you to check out a lot of the vendors, but I wanted to anyway.
One unfortunate snafu was that there were supposed to be clear plastic bags for your gear check — except there weren’t. I regretted using one of my previous ones for that clothes swap earlier on, but I had another, thankfully. You have to use clear plastic bags for anything you bring into the race.
There was supposed to be more food and my friend & I had planned to eat there, but there was only burgers. We ended up stopping at a restaurant on the way home, which was thankfully open, and had a very pleasant al fresco lunch.
My Race Plan
Not much of one, again. Not a whole lot of running, and a lot of slow running with the mentees. I knew I wasn’t in PR shape, but I still wanted to do the best I could do, and I was hoping to keep it under an 11 mm the whole race — unfortunately that didn’t happen.
So how’d that work for me?
- Mile 1: 10:50. Last year my watch played tricks with the first mile — this year it was accurate. I wanted to be conservative, not go out too fast, and while I wished it was a bit faster, I was pleased with this mile. Especially as it seemed like we were climbing uphill the whole mile.
- Mile 2: 11:20. Almost a full minute slower than last year; this is why my overall time was slower than last year. I only took two walk breaks during this race. I actually didn’t feel it was quite as congested as years past, or at least I didn’t feel I was really held back by other runners.
- Mile 3: 10:36. Mile three seems like it’s completely downhill towards the finish. Which isn’t quite true, but it is definitely a nice downhill for most of the mile and that saved my finish time for this race!
- Last .16: 8:19. A downhill sprint to the finish line.
34:35 — Official Time
10:59 — Average Pace
111 out of 233 in my AG
1385 out of 2649 runners
2018: 32:57
2016: 36:02
2010: 40:58
Last year I’d run 3 5ks in the 6 weeks before this race. I was in the middle of training for a half. This year I’d spent the majority of the spring either sick or simply rebuilding my base.
So I guess it was a pretty good showing, considering; fairly solidly middle of the pack. I was just kind of disappointed in myself slowing down so much the second mile. I ended the race feeling good, not the least bit sore . . . and I knew I hadn’t really given it my all.
You can view a video of the finish line here. The cool thing is you actually get to see the elites finishing the race if you start at the beginning. I come along roughly at 18:30, although as usual, I’m obscured by other runners until I’m at the finish line.
The weather & dressing
The weather is one reason I love to hate this race. I swear it’s always hot. Often it’s suddenly hot, and that was the case this year — it was unseasonably cool both before and after the race, but race day was warm. In fact, the previous two Saturdays had been beautiful running weather. Thankfully it was not humid, and the cloud cover held for most of the race — it’s been worse.
Cool It Skirt was my go-to skirt for hot racing last year, but being a shorter race and not terribly hot, I went with my Hover Skirt and Racecation Tank (so happy Racecation came back this year — one of my fav tops for hot weather racing/running) from Skirt Sports. It was a great outfit (My Cool It Skirt with my Bonita Racecation Tank would have been a nice combo, too).
I learned from past mistakes, and took my cool it scarf along — and wore it — but I didn’t get it wet enough, so I’m not sure it really helped much but it didn’t harm either.
Was the race well run?
Freihofers is mostly a well oiled machine, but there are always a few little hiccups. Like the fact that the main ramp to where I park was closed (a surprise to both me & my friend) — luckily I had my friend (aka my human GPS) to navigate me to the parking and we still managed to get there in time for the photo of the training challenge.
I partook of the massages for the first time this year and it was awesome. For some reason my masseuse took her time with me. I started before my two friends, and they were waiting for me to finish.
Would I run this race again? My answer is always the same: if I’m here, I’ll do it.
Linking up with Zenaida Arroyo and Kim @ Kookyrunner
This week I am also joining up with Running on Happy, Suzlyfe, Crazy Running Girl, and Coach Debbie Runs each week for the Coaches’ Corner linkup
Chocolaterunsjudy 
Why I feel like I was there. Ha ha.
Had mostly the same experience except that you didn’t need a clear bag. I didn’t have one so they just searched my bag and let me in.
Don’t we always wish we ran faster after the fact. I was happy with my negative splits but if I really trained I could definitely have run faster.
But this race is always a fun time. I recognized so many runners on the course for a quick chat as they passed me by or I passed them which doesn’t happen in out of town races.
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I wonder if they didn’t enforce the clear bag because of the snafu? Because last year they strictly enforced it.
Once I started running, though, I don’t think I ran into anyone I knew.
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I was prepared with a free bag and to take out my shirt & jacket but they didn’t care. Just looked inside.
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Last year they really cracked down. They wouldn’t let Denise tale in her purse — which was clear.
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Right. Now I remember that.
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Free massages are definitely a nice touch! And I love that side by side photo showing the difference once you spotted the photographer 🙂 I always try to do that too but am not always successful at spotting the photographer in time.
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Still a solid race for you, especially considering the past month or so of your (limited) training. That’s a huge training group!
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The training group is split out all over the area during the week, so most of the time it’s not that many women. Saturday the whole group comes together, but it’s rarely everyone. It’s very popular, though, and people come back to it year after year.
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You hit your goal pace and considering all the ups and downs of your last few months, I would say it’s a win. I do like the all women’s races sometimes. They have a totally different feel to them
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Yes, it’s a really fun race!
It’s human nature to be a little disappointed when you know you can do better, right?
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I love both your recap and Darlene’s recap as well! This seems like such a fun race – I would do it if I lived close. Also those cookies look divine!
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C’mon up (if you don’t mind barky dogs & a futon, as I told Cari).
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Nice recap! Sounds like it was a really fun race. What a huge group of runners in the training group!
PS you still have the Tuesdays on the run badge on your blog–you know that link up went away a long time ago, right?
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Thanks for letting me know about the old linkup link — interestingly, I changed it to the correct thing in the tags, but forgot to change the actual link (because I used last year’s as a template). It’s all fixed.
I have to imagine that Chicago much have some pretty big training groups for the marathon! Oh, and the group does include us mentors, as well.
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I had read Darlene’s recap as well – sounds like a fun race! And that is quite the large training group!
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I can remember one day, before I was part of that training group, I happened to go for a long run at the same place where they do their Sat runs. They just kept coming and coming and coming . . .
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There are just some races that we keep going back to no matter what. I have a few like those too. Great job on your race! Don’t be so hard on yourself as 5Ks are hard. And you were sick so that definitely affected your pace.
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I think the lack of sleep for a couple of weeks before the race actually effected it a lot more than being sick.
If I felt I’d given it my all, I wouldn’t be bothered (and I’m not really that bothered by it either); I just felt that I could have pushed a little harder.
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Sleep is so important but unfortunately sometimes we don’t get enough of it.
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I’m quite good at prioritizing sleep, but sometimes still don’t sleep well. Most of the time I sleep ok, but not always.
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It’s great to have a fun race you can do again and again. That’s amazing how many friends and skirt sports ladies were there. The vibe for the Parkway Classic is similar — but they need to get in on those cookies!
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I actually prefer the small sample bags of the cookies to the whole box! I always love portion control.
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Sounds like a really fun race. I have a few that I like to do over and over, even though I usually opt to try new ones. Any race that gives away cookies is a good one! I am doing a race on Saturday called the Milkshake Mile (even though it’s a 10k). Hoping for milkshakes after the race!
I think the second mile of a 5K is the hardest. I always slow down too. Great time, considering how your spring training went. Congrats!
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Mmmmm, milkshakes! That sounds like a great post run treat.
I gotta ask, why is it called a mile when it’s a 10k?
Usually I’m fairly good at negative splits. But obviously, not always.
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A very good race considering your limited training. To finish in the middle of the pack is a wonderful result.
In both the pics you look very fast.
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Middle of the pack is always great for me, because when I started running I was always back of the pack — and still often am, depending on who turns up to race. I’m always happy when I see that!
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This sounds like such a great race. The free cookies are always a plus! I’m glad you had a great time. I wish I had a crew like that to enjoy a race!
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Knowing so many people at the race is part of what makes it so fun.
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I’d say you did well there, right in the middle and after your difficult spring. Love your smile once you saw the photographer, I’ve got one of me from the last race smiling at a different photographer, not having seen this one!
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I know, the photos when I don’t see the photographer I look like I’m dying — always!
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Look at all the Skirt Sisters! Most in Temper Tantrum (or Tantrum)! Nice job, especially considering the heat.
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There is quite a few ambassadors here. And then we get our friends hooked. 🙂
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Congrats on a great race!
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Thank you!
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That cookie photo is the best!
Do you need clear bags? I have a ton as we get them for every single NYRR race and I use but one or two a year when I actually check a bag. Happy to bring with when I’m next up or mail if you need sooner. Just text me your address
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Thanks for the offer! I still have one, so I think I’m ok. It’s not a normal requirement here (joys of living in small city).
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Plus I imagine you normally just store whatever in the car and need to carry only your car key in addition to water, gels, etc. I only check a bag when I have transportation to/from. I nee something to read most of all
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Most of the time I don’t read anything, since yeah, I’m driving to & thro. Although sometimes I’ll stick a magazine in the car. Just in case. 🙂
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