St. Malachi Race Recap (and a winner!)
This weekend I ran the annual St. Malachi 5 Mile race. It’s the first real race of the year and it’s also the one year anniversary of meeting Kimi!
I didn’t sleep very well Friday night due to my nerves, but knowing that I’d be representing Team Sparkle Skirt traveling skirts with Kimi put some fun into the race for me. It helped me not focus so much on the 5 miles of hills I’d soon be facing.
And as funny as it sounds, the massive crowds of people actually helped calm my nerves. There wasn’t a lot of time to wait around for the race to start once I got through the port-a-potty line. There was just enough time to snap a few photos and then head to the starting line.
Running (and real life!) friends, Christie and Kimi
Before I knew it the bell rang and we were off.
Whoever designed this course was not fooling around. Holy hella hills. Cleveland is a relatively flat city, but this race runs through hill after hill after hill.
- Mile 1 = 8:22 This isn’t so bad. I feel good! Wait, ouch, that guy just kicked my right ankle. Crap, not my ankle! Stupid guy. Get out of my way.
- Mile 2 = 8:07 Wow. Is my ankle ok? It seems fine. Stop focusing on it and just run. Are these guys mad that a girl in a sparkly skirt is passing them? I kinda hope so. Suck it, boys.
- Mile 3 = 8:47 Ok, this is starting to blow. Plus, I’m going to have to go back up that hill I just came down. Just hang on, Heather, hang on.
- Mile 4 = 8:48 Suck it up, Heather. Breathe, breathe, breathe. Don’t look at the upcoming hill. Don’t look.
- Mile 5 = 8:00 OMG, I.want.to.die. And who’s touching me? Oh, hey Andy. Don’t talk to me, I’m concentrating on not dying. Go ahead. How the hell is he running so fast up this hill right now? Showoff. But, wait, there’s the finish line. RUN!!!!!
Final time = 42:05 (8:25/mile pace). Shut up. The last time I ran Malachi I ran a 44:50! I can’t tell you the last time I PR’d at a race so this felt pretty damn good. It’s coming back, my friends, it’s coming back……… 
Congrats to everyone who ran Malachi (and to anyone who raced this weekend!), I hear there were a ton of PR parties happening. Love it.
Oh, the winner of the FREE LARABARs is:
Congrats, Jeni!!!! Email me your mailing address by tomorrow night and I’ll pass it on to the people from LARABAR!!
Hope everyone had a great weekend! Have you PR’d lately?
A job well done!
Mine was an automatic PR because it was my first 5M race.
You did awesome!
Those hills were nuts. The last 2 miles were awful! so glad you powered through it with a big PR!!!!!!!! Congrats!
I was trying to be funny to take your mind off the fun your legs were having. I do love me some hills, so of course, I was having a great time. Glad you performed so well, even though yours and J’s watches showed a *cough* (short course) *cough.* You can still count it, I won’t tell.
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you! I love your play by play that goes on in your head. You are a trip! Have a great week Heather!
Ahhhh!! Congrats. Your outfit was so darn cute and you did fabulous!! I feel i am pring as a mom
Wow, awesome job!!!! You killed it! And you look wicked cute too
awesome time, H!!! sad face i didn’t get to meet up with everyone.
congrats! thats an awesome time!
Congrats on your brand new PR, Heather!!! Love the sparkly skirts!
I PR’d on New Year’s Day in a 5K – 25:33! I was pleased as I didn’t plan on “racing” and hadn’t been speed training since early Oct.
get it girl!!!!
hahaha I love the comment about the guys possibly being upset because a girl in a sparkly skirt passed them! Rock on with that finish time lady! Nice work.
Awesome run!
It’s fun to recall the things you think about while running and how frustrated we can get with other runners, curses under our breath.
Not a Bad day for a PR PARTY!!!!!!!!! Sorry we couldnt meet up afterwards, went to run more after and then stopped at McCarthys
You are most certainly getting your runners glow back lady!!! I’m running the Charlottesville half this year, not Cleveland. But perhaps we can plan a race together sometime this summer!
First of all… love the sparkly skirt – That Rocks!! Secondly, congrats on PRing… that is awesome. Lastly, loved the mile by mile recap!
Holy shizz – you are a speed demon! Best line in your post “suck it boys!” I just ran 1.5 miles in 15:32 – which is fast for me!
Congratulations!! That is an awesome PR!