Groundhog Run

   Over the river and to the caves! Second 10k race in the books. Running in caves is fun...  The Groundhog Race tends to be one of my favorites because it's so unique. I had only done the 5K before, and today I did it twice! I basically tied my PR for a 10K distance in a race (my first 6 miles of the half marathon was about the same), so I feel good and I'm happy with the results: 55:40 chip time, 8:57/mile.

   I also beat my Plaza 10k time by a whopping 23 seconds per mile… Wow! How far I've come since September! After two consecutive years of injuries (ankle surgery and fractured arm), I'm finally getting my mojo back. :)

Proof that I am (at least slightly) taller than a groundhog

   Superduper glad that Rich was alongside me to keep me running hard (my muscles are still tight and sore from the cold swimming pool yesterday). It seemed when I started to get tired, Rich was getting his second wind, and vice versa. He's a great partner.

   New since the last time I ran this race: shuttle buses from Ameristar Casino, gear check, and finishers medals. Wonder what will be in store for next year?

Make Like a Groundhog

    This morning was the annual Groundhog Race at Hunt Midwest Subtropolis in North KC. It's an office park in underground caves, which nature keeps at a constant 55 degrees—so it's guaranteed to be a good run, regardless of what the weather may be doing outside. (Two years ago was icy & snowy; today was 35 degrees, on its way to 50!)
   I met Lexie off I-35 and Johnson drive early, and we carpooled up to the site, which made the day a lot more fun! In the caves, we met up with a bunch of the Hallmark crew: Tom & Bess, Aaron, Brett & Mary, Danielle, David Eaton, and more! (Which was good, because I never saw any of the other 13 Meetup folks.)

me, Brett & Danielle

An hour before the race, the caves were still fairly empty...

But with a max of 3500 runners, they fill up quickly!

   I ran a not-very-fast-but-still-respectable 28:25 (562nd place), pacing ~9:30/mile. Considering that my last week has been focused on snowboarding rather than running, and that I've generally fallen off the wagon the last few weeks, I'll take it. (But this was 2:30 slower than my time in 2010... ouch! At least I have a goal to strive for...)

And between the 5k & 10k races, TONS of people milling around!

Danielle, Lexie & me, post-race

Back in the game?

   Tonight I came home from work and from my appointment with an attorney to discuss my will and estate plans (though we spent much of the time discussing Scuba diving and snowboarding... go figure!) and it was still light enough that I thought I'd take the dogs for a walk. The thing is, they have SO much energy that walks can be very frustrating for me. In their excitement, they forget their manners and drag me in different directions, darting around almost uncontrollably. It's amazing how strong two 25-pound dogs can be!

   So I decided we'd run. I haven't run in weeks and have been trying to take it easy so that my hips can heal. And I've been feeling great, despite the circuit training, yoga, boot camp, hiking and snowboarding. I didn't plan to run very far. But we got out there in the brisk air (it was 50 degrees today, apparently, but was cooling off quickly) and started on our way. 50% of the sidewalks were clear and the rest were caked with thick ice, snow, and slush. It was a sloppy, slippery mess. And we treated it like an obstacle course: going up, leaping over, running around or crashing through them. The dogs had their collar lights from Madel and were smilling the whole time. And we ran 4 miles, according to my handy-dandy iPod nano with Nike iFit (♥ YOU, MOM!)

   When we got home we were all chilly and wet and slushy and happy. I gave the dogs a much-needed bath and fed them. And then my thoughts turned to Sunday's race. I shouldn't... I shouldn't... I shouldn't... Hell! I haven't even been training! But I want to run!!! I checked the site, though, and the event is already full with 3500 entrants. Bummer. But maybe a bummer with a silver lining. I'll keep resting and hopefully be able to participate in my other favorite race, the Trolley Run, in April. And next year, Groundhog, you are mine.

Groundhog Run @ Hunt Midwest Subtropolis

This morning I got up early, braved the freezing temperatures & headed up north to an underground office park/warehouse to run the 28th annual Children's TLC "Groundhog Run." Here are some views of the lovely industrial area just north of downtown KC:

Walking into the cave (which was a balmy 68 degrees inside...

once you got away from the entrance!)

I arrived about an hour early & had time to explore a bit.

(They even have trains down here!) Apparently this place is the largest

underground warehouse space in the world: 5 MILLION square feet!

It made for a very unique run.

That "no idling" goes for the runners too, BTW...

I'm somewhere in the middle of this mass of people:

Oh, there I am!

(Previous 2 photos by Action Sports Images)

The mass of people wandering around after the 5k:

The site listed my official time as 26:02 (8:23 per mile), but according to my watch & the friend who ran with me, I finished in under 26 minutes; and placed 17th in my age group (out of 155)!
Photos from the KC Star

Logo by John Wagner, of Maxine fame.