Race Recap: Rite Aid Cleveland 8K (2017)

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I ran the 8K portion of the Cleveland Marathon race series on Saturday, May 20 in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. I ran the race as a 2017 Cleveland Marathon Ambassador. This is my Rite Help Cleveland 8K full race recap.

Rite Assistance Cleveland 8K

The Results
Official Time: l:53
Age Group Placing (F 30-34): 32 / 66
Placing Among Women: 153 / 321
Overall Placing: 300 / 520
Overall Pace: 10:fourteen / mile

About the Race

This was my first time running the Rite Aid Cleveland 8K, which was added in 2016. Runners can select from the total marathon, one-half-marathon, 10K, 8K, 5K or the Challenge Series, which is a selection of ii of those races combined – one to be ran on Saturday and one on Sunday. The 8K altitude is 4.97 miles.

Race morning weather was perfect. While it was overcast, information technology wasn't too chilly. Information technology was about 55 degrees at race start with some mild winds coming off of Lake Erie.

I was going to article of clothing a sleeveless shirt, and switched last infinitesimal to a T-shirt. I think that was a good decision as I felt comfy during the race and the T-shirt helped me avoid another armpit chafing disaster.

Related blog posts:
• Official 2022 Cleveland Marathon Ambassador
• My Running Journeying: A Look Back
• Pacific Health Labs Review Accelerade Drink
• Race Epitomize: Celebrate Westlake 5-Miler (2017)

Pre-Race

On race twenty-four hours morning I got up at 6 a.m. and immediately drank twenty ounces of water. I changed into my race day outfit and ate one piece of toast with peanut butter. This has been a pre-race staple breakfast for me for many years. We left home around 6:40 a.m. and arrived in downtown Cleveland correct around seven a.m.

There was little traffic and we were able to park hands merely off of Euclid Avenue and E. sixth Street. This was a few blocks from the race get-go – which was near Public Square. In retrospect, nosotros were at that place a little early! We actually sat in the car for a bit. I wanted to save my legs for every bit long as possible – the less time standing effectually on pavement – the ameliorate.

I put my race shoes on by the machine and we began walking down to the race effectually 7:20 a.m. Once there nosotros saw many runners, the starting line and corral. The setup was easy to observe and in that location was a massive row of porto pots and no wait time.

Runners began entering the corral for the 5K. I stayed off to the side and did some light stretching. I went to the restroom around 7:45 a.one thousand. and however saw few Rite Aid Cleveland 8K runners entering the corral. I had read in the Runner'south Agenda that the 5K would start before the 8K, but both races ended upward starting at the same time.

This was a bit disruptive and had I realized they were starting at the same time I would have entered the corral sooner to obtain better positioning. Effectually this fourth dimension I also drank a five Hour Energy shot.

I have had these a few times before and they don't bother my system. Normally my pre-race routine would be to have an Espresso Dear GU. I wasn't able to get to Armada Fleet Sports to purchase any GU before race twenty-four hours.

Race Kickoff

I entered the corral shortly thereafter. I did meet Emily prior to the outset (she was running the 5K) and my husband's cousin who was also running the Rite Aid Cleveland 8K. When the race began, the offset was slow.

Once I reached the start line I was still stuck in the pack and began to panic. At that place were many walkers and strollers around me and I wanted to exist running – now!

Mile 1

I spent the first 0.25 mile or so trying to contrivance walkers and those running at a slower pace. This was definitely a chip frustrating and I constitute myself wishing I had lined upward closer to the front end of the pack. In betwixt the dodging I was delighted to see and hear Cleveland Indians drummer John Adams beating his large drum for the Cleveland Indians to cheer us on! The pack finally began to thin out every bit nosotros ran down the hill around FirstEnergy Stadium – Dwelling of the Cleveland Browns. My first mile was 11 minutes.

Mile ii

Presently after this downhill plow, of class, we had to run uphill. This was the most challenging part of the course in terms of terrain. I kept it slow and steady upwardly the hill. Many runners were already walking here only I knew information technology would be hard for me to make up time if I walked.

Mile 3

During this stretch I ran downward Lakeside Avenue and and so down Hamilton Artery. The form was flat from here on out. There wasn't much for scenery but that was fine past me. This was still the kickoff half of the run. I felt good and kept a steady pace.

Mile 4

I was now running downwards St. Clair Avenue and back toward where the race started. The second half of the course was encouraging to me considering I knew was was now more than halfway washed. At that place was a second water end here and I did get a cup of water. I merely took a sip to wet my mouth and walked a few steps. I still struggle with drinking while running without spilling water all over myself. I was able to go dorsum on pace pretty easily.

Mile 4 to 4.97

I notwithstanding had no idea where I was at on the grade in terms of miles. I wore my Timex Ironman Sleek 50 Sentry (non a Garmin GPS) but based on my fourth dimension I knew I was nearing the finish. In one case I reached W. tertiary Street I could hear spectators cheering at the finish. I knew I was close to the finish but I was hesitant to pick upwardly the step too soon.

Race Finish

As I rounded the corner of W. ninth Street I ran faster and and so when I reached Superior Avenue I kicked information technology into full gear. Here I heard John playing his pulsate over again and I saw a race photographer.

Presently later I spotted my husband and daughter along the sideline. At this point I was a running mama on the loose I sprinted to the finish line just earlier the clock time hit 53:00, and received my finisher'south medal shortly thereafter.

I had a five Hour Free energy shot fueling me, but more than than that, I had four months of training and a three-yr comeback in the making fueling me. I was a mother running with reckless abandon for myself. This was MY race!

Here's a video of me crossing the cease line:

Rite Aid Cleveland 8K

In Summary

Equally a participant in the Rite Help Cleveland 8K race I received a hefty medal and a cotton race T-shirt. I would have really liked to have received a tech T-shirt. Many local 5Ks offer tech shirts and the registration fees are comparable, or fifty-fifty less.

Mail-race refreshments included Quest Cereal Protein Bars, bananas, pretzels and bottled water. My merely major concern on race 24-hour interval was the corral at the start. In the future it would be helpful to take walkers at the back of the pack and/or have runners lined up based on expected terminate time.

There were two water stops on the class. I saw a mile marker for Mile 1 but never saw any mile markers beyond that. However, another runner told me the course was indeed marked.

Grade turns were clear and Cleveland police officers and/or volunteers were at all simply one intersection that I ran though. Cheers Cleveland Police and race volunteers!

Overall I enjoyed the race and the atmosphere was laid back and fun. The Saturday events also include a 5K and Kids Run – making information technology a family-friendly consequence.

Parking was a breeze, as was finding the race start and we encountered no road closures upon arrival or departure making attending this event easy. The grade itself was enjoyable and offered squeamish views of downtown Cleveland.

On a personal note, the entire feel of running my first road race in three years, and my first road race post-baby was incredible. I'm even so in daze over my performance, which pretty much blew my goal time of "nether ane hour" out of the water!

There was a lot of time and commitment involved with training "from the bottom up" but in the stop the preparation was worth information technology. I'chiliad happy to take made a render to running and to have made that return with the race that is pure Cleveland.

Links to recaps written by my swain Cleveland Marathon Ambassadors:

8K & Total Marathon (Claiming Series): Andrew, Stephanie
8K & Half-Marathon (Claiming Series): Melissa, Debi, Sara
Full Marathon: Stephani, Brian, Pam
Half-Marathon: Melissa, Christine, Joe, Jessica, Rachel
10K: Jill
5K: Emily
Spectating: Jamie

Next year's Cleveland Marathon weekend is set for May 19 – 20. Thank you again to race organizers for allowing me the honor to serve every bit a 2022 Cleveland Marathon Ambassador!

Disclosure: As a 2022 Cleveland Marathon Ambassador, I received complimentary entry into the Rite Aid Cleveland 8K, an administrator shirt, forth with special admission to pre and post-race events, in exchange for writing most my grooming for the Rite Aid Cleveland 8K.

stoughtonintrotill.blogspot.com

Source: https://blog.hollyhammersmith.com/rite-aid-cleveland-8k-2017/

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