Run Ros Run by drakethecat

 I read about this event just a few days ago and it sounded cool: a "day of the dead" race down in Pilsen, Chicago's Mexican neighborhood (aka mile 19 of the Chg mara course). The event benefited a number of charter schools in the area. 

 

The clincher was this: "...runners who finish in the top 3 of their respective age division will be awarded the official Carrera de los Muertos Champions Skull ... a life-size replica of a human skull." Each of the skulls was to be hand-painted by local school-kids as part of an art project.

I'm not anywhere close to a contender for AG awards in bigger races, but looking at last year's results (the first running) there were relatively few fast, older runners. There's a big 15k/5k in Chicago tomorrow and a 50K/50M ultra today, and a lot of runners are taking some time off. So I thought I might have a chance.

I also hoped to test my 5K PR from August, which was 26:16. Today seemed like a good day: a flat course and great weather in the low 50s. I was amazed how bundled up a lot of the runners were.

Made a big tactical mistake in not starting right near the very front, because the start was pretty chaotic. A lot of school-kids, walkers, people with baby strollers, etc., started toward the front. My bad. The first several hundred yards were messy; the first half-mile was pretty congested. I got body-checked by some guy who really wasn't going fast enough to want to make up time. B/itched him out.

I felt like I was running pretty strongly but didn't see a 1-mile marker so wasn't sure if I was remotely on pace. The course had relatively few turns -- went through Pilsen and up into an area called University Village. The main obstacle was the odd pot-hole, and we also briefly ran on cobblestones.

A guy was yelling out 2-mile splits. 18:26. Hmmm. That sounded a bit slow relative to the effort I seemed to be making.

I tried to kick it up in the final, long straightaway, and thought as always about the various people who are in their own, much harder battles. Maybe I started kicking too early and got passed by a couple of women just before the end.

My final time was 26:58. I felt a little disappointed but perhaps the crowded start set me back a little too much.

I waited endlessly for the awards ceremony through local dance troops, sponsor shout-outs, luchadores shout-outs, etc. Finally the F45-49 group is read out and I came third! I was so excited to pick up my bronze skull!

(Edit to add: I was minutes behind #1 and 2 but a fairly slim 14 seconds ahead of #4.)

My new BFF!

Thanks for reading!!