Coogan’s Salsa, Blues and Shamrocks 5K

Such a fun race! I only did it last year, but I suppose I can update again this year on March 4^th. It was a little rainy last year… not ideal. Also, since I planned to run home after the race, I was silly and was underdressed and didn’t bring a bag. Bollocks. The race itself seemed pretty crowded for the streets of Washington Heights, and man it was hilly! I was getting ready to blaze it since I am not used to 5ks anymore; this is 1 of 2 that NYRR holds every year. Regardless, it went by pretty quickly I suppose (just over 22 minutes). It’s so nice to race outside of Central Park and in a real neighborhood! Fort Tryon Park is lovely, even if I don’t love the elevation changes…
After the race, I passed on the green bagels and ran home. Not recommended: running the 11.5 miles from Wash. Heights to the East Village after a race when you are way underdressed and it was raining and without an ipod. Misery.

Ok maybe I’m not totally out of shape but I definitely felt slightly underperforming after today’s 5K at Coogan, Salsa, & Shamrocks race. Unfortunately, it was raining too. So I was huffing and puffing by mile 2 and kept telling myself «Row, it’s only 3 miles. You did 13 miles in 13 degrees. This is nothing.» I eventually did finish it in 26 minutes, which is probably the fastest 5K I ran. So when I say «underperforming», I really meant mentally. I was not pumped as I normally would have been on race day. I almost didn’t want to run anymore and wanted to walk it. But my runner vibe forbids me and I fought to keep up to my standards.
Anyhow, the race itself was unlike any other NYRR races I’ve been too. It was nice to hear some live music along the way, which meant I wasn’t being IPod dependent. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it wasn’t raining. The starting area was kind of narrow so it felt quite like a stampede in the beginning. I get annoyed when other runners try to cut me real close or elbow me. but there’s nothing more annoying than some of the volunteers on the road who were yelling right into my ear. Understanding that the fast runners need to pass as they make their way to the finish line, but why couldn’t they just put up some kind of divider on the road instead of having the volunteers yelling at the «slower» runners to «MOVE TO THE RIGHT!!!» I give all road race volunteers all respect because it’s a pain to stay out in the rain and cold (I’ve been there) but there are just some whom are not fit for that position.