Yay! I can add another state to this map!
And more importantly, I can say I did my first race (and sadly, run) of the year with Bobbi!
Back in November, I asked Bobbi if she wanted to do something together for the holidays instead of exchange gifts, and she loved the idea. A race and girls’ weekend away? Hells yeah!
We decided we should do something in Minnesota (Bobbi’s home state) and Bobbi quickly found this 10 Mile* race.
Image from here
The Hot Dash was accurately titled – it was in the mid 30s when we started and 40° when we finished – that’s hot to us! And so, so sunny! HEAT WAVE!!! We had a cold, strong wind from the northwest, but other than that, it was a beautiful day!
The race started at 9:00, which was awesome. I don’t dig a late start in the summer, but I can, in the winter – that meant we got to sleep in until 6:00! We had breakfast delivered to our room at 7:00 (both of us had oatmeal – and both of us decided it wasn’t enough pre-race food later, oops) and headed to the race around 7:30**. We easily found the parking garage and went to packet pickup (LOVE same day pickup!). I like the half zip they gave us, and really liked the orange race hat they were selling, so we both got them and wore them during the race!
The course started with an out and back on the east side of the Mississippi River, then crossed over to the west side of the river just before mile 7. There was a half mile out and back on the west side, then we ran south and crossed the Stone Arch Bridge (over the river again, back to the east side) before running north to the finish.
The first two miles were crowded, but it evened out quickly after that. Bobbi and I agreed that the first out and back was rather meh*** – some residential, but mostly industrial, with the turnaround in a park:
The most eventful part was a driver trying to exit their apartment complex on to race traffic during the second mile – they kept budging their car closer and closer to the runners as the course marshal yelled at them to stop. Yikes!
The course marshals were great (as were all the volunteers) – along with the ones protecting us from idiot drivers, there were many telling us where to turn, and warning us about icy spots.
We kept our splits fairly even in the first five miles – between 10:15-10:21 pace. Somehow we speed up to low 10:00s for miles 6 and 7 (surprising, since mile 6 included one of the only two hills – the other was in the park at the first turnaround). Oops.
Right before getting on a bridge to cross to the west side of the river
Shortly after that we both started to feel hungry and ate the gels we brought. The water stations were spread out unevenly – at miles 2.5, 4.5 and at 8 – it would have been nicer to have that last one closer to when we took our gels. I am sure if it was though, I would be saying it would have been nicer to have it closer to the end. Ha ha. And of course, I could have NOT been lazy and brought my own water – probably should have with the amount of sun we had! (I’ve been super lazy with hydration this winter and it’s time for that to end.)
I felt better after eating my Clif gel, and was digging the second part of the course. We were running next to the downtown Minneapolis area, and could actually SEE the river, which made it much more interesting for me.
We definitely slowed down, though! Our last three miles were our slowest, ha ha – 10:26, 11:02 and 11:21. Oops – started out too fast!
I enjoyed running across the Stone Arch Bridge in the last mile. I mentioned to Bobbi that I thought it would be a really cool place to train. You could see so much from it!
The black building jutting out of the light pole on the right is the Guthrie Theater – a place I went a few times as a kid.
Stone Arch Bridge from above
While we were running on the Stone Arch Bridge, I saw a building that looked partially torn down and realized it was a museum! I made a mental note to check it out later, if we felt like it.
They announced our names right before we crossed the finish line, which I always think is fun (our final time was 1:45:40). I was really looking forward to the finish line food. I had run 18 miles the day before and didn’t replenish correctly after that and… was feeling it! I scarfed down my banana, chips and cinnamon raisin bread.
After we picked up our checked bags we went to check out the post race celebration area. There was free beer, some hot dish (for sale), and a beard contest, lumberjack contest and lumberjill (not sure if that’s a word or not) contest.
We got there as the beard contest was underway, so we missed it. Darn! But! We did see some fine beards on course, as well as some funny lumberjack costumes! It’s always fun to see people get in to the spirit of the race! Ha ha, which writing this, I wonder if I really did! I didn’t take the race super seriously – running long the day before, not fueling properly, not really doing any research on the race… oops. I just wanted to run with Bobbi and have a good time, which we did! There’s something to be said for doing a race just for the fun of it (and as a way to explore an area you’ve never run in before!) – that’s what I prefer most of my races to be!
*The race was actually called something else (with a St Patrick’s Day theme) when Bobbi found it, then got re-branded as the “Hot Dash” before we signed up. It’s run by the same people who do the Twin Cities Marathon (and other races) and was very well done. There was a 5K option for this race, too.
**Bobbi’s mom set up a hotel for us, and it was a great location from the city – just a few miles away and easy to get to!
***The newly named race promoted a new course, too. I wonder if this is the course from the old race, and what people who had done it before thought of the new course.
I had so much fun! Even if I did poop out at the end – live and learn right 🙂
This morning I was looking at my bib and there was a little pull tab for food – I bet that would have gotten us our hot dish (had we wanted any). I am a little bummed that that photo booth thing at the post race party was the only course photography 🙁 womp womp. And we skipped it.
I am also curious to know what people who’ve run the other race before thought of the course change. I saw posts on fb from people who said they loved the course, but I guess I know what it COULD have been. Also, I guess that parking garage was a nightmare later, and the machines all got stupid, and they ended up (after mucho time) letting people out without paying. But then feeding the parking meters would not have been so easy for us later haha!
It sounds like I’m whining , but really I am not! Thanks for spending the weekend with me! I loved getting away with you!
I did too! Yes, live and learn. I feel that was partially my fault – I thought we were starting out at the right pace. Make sure if you write about it, that you act completely confused about why it happened 😉
I bet it would have! I looked and saw the people in line giving them cash and was like “eff that” but maybe they were buying a second plate or one for someone else!
I thought it was a bummer there was not one on course photog either, even just at the finish. If I want a race pic, I don’t want a staged one. I want an “action” shot. LOL.
Oh man! Good thing we got out of the garage when we did. And that we made out like bandits with all those schweet coins (with such a variety! Ha!).
Oh, I know you aren’t whining. Just thinking about what could have made it even better! 🙂
I loved getting away with you too! Maybe we can make it an annual thing? Iowa next?! 😉
Iowa would be awesome – I’ve never run there!
Be sure to check out MaryBeth’s recap (from a couple comments down) – she ran last year’s version and liked this course much better.
I will! That is good to hear she thought it was improved!
YOU MISSED THE BEARD CONTEST?!?! For shame! 🙂
I’m so glad you two had a nice getaway and that the race had good weather too! Those hats are really cute – I love the orange plaid.
Now you get to shade in MI next! YAHOO!
Sigh. I know. Can I no longer call myself a beard lover?!
You know the orange totally called out to me! I already used the hat again this am. It’s nice to have something lighter for those weird weather days (well, they’re all weird in the midwest, but, ya know).
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!! STOKED!!!! I feel like it’s cheating to shade the whole state since it’s separated. Ha ha.
Well, we do need to plan a UP race one of these days so you can claim you’ve run below and above the bridge. 🙂
Yesssssssssssss!
40 degrees in Minnesota? Heat wave! I lived in Wisconsin for 3 years and March was never spring.
Yeah! We’ll have to see if this warm weather sticks around!
Welcome to Minnesota! TCM does great events and I am glad you got to experience their new race. You also took great photos. Thanks for the recap & have a great running and race year!
MB
TCM does do a great job! Thanks for commenting! I will have to check out your recap!
This sounds like a good strong race (especially after 18 the day before – what?), great weather, and fun with your friend. A win all the way around. Reminds me at my last half, the UPS truck wove in and out of runners during the residential portion of the course. Dude – go AWAY.
Ha! Oh, UPS! I see them speeding around in my hood from time to time! They are on a tight schedule!
Love the race shirt – and the hat is a score!
Also, you haven’t raced in CA?! (Okay, I’ve only raced in 3 different states, okay, maybe 5, but not many). Well, I’m moving – maybe you should come to CO for a race there?!
I have never been to CA! I was going to try to go to CO for BolderBOULDER this year but I think that is a no go. When and where are you moving?!??!?!
what a great way to enjoy your friendship
I’m so happy you gals got to run together!! First time this year!?! I can barely believe that 🙂 that race looked really nice- and the hat and shirt were pretty snazzy! (Are you happy it got rebranded away from a st Patrick’s themed race?) I liked the photos of the course too- did you bring your go pro? Yay for running in a new state!!
I know! As Bobbi and I have discussed, our paces are so different at the beginning of the year – I am usually running a lot and training for something specific, and she isn’t. Our paces link up better in the summer (and she sometimes has more time then!).
I was kind of bummed it was no longer St Patty’s day. Ha ha. I think I was excited about the tumbler glass we were going to get (but my FIL gave me a ton for xmas so that all worked out).
Thanks! I didn’t bring my GoPro but thought about it! Those are from my phone! Do you have a running state and world map?
You ran 18 miles the day before the race! You did a great job 🙂 SO fun with a bud!!The course area looks interesting, I just like some new scenery to change things up.
I like the cute matching hats.
State map is awesome 🙂 I am not sure I will ever get to travel much for races, but maybe i should start one just in case…
Yes! After running in my neighborhood and the one in the next town it WAS nice to run somewhere new! Now that our snow is melting, I am excited to get back to more “explorative” runs!
Yes! Make one for fun! I used a google docs template to make this one!
I LOVE that shirt! Ahhh! Also jealous of all of the lumberjacks, because beards and flannel are hotttttt.
The Stone Arch Bridge is so pretty – a couple was getting engagement pictures taken when I was there. And if you ever are looking for a great fall marathon, Twin Cities is amazing!
That would be a fantastic place to take pics!!! 🙂
I have a few friends doing TCM! 🙂 You’ve only run that one, right? Not the one that is in the spring (or is there even one in the spring? LOL)?
I didn’t get the name of this race until I remembered that you had run it for your weekend in Minnesota. I’ve never had hot dish, it sounds good though…eh? I was excited that the race had 1) day-of packet pickup and 2) a bright orange hat for you! I mean, not just for you, but I’m glad you got some swag in a color you like!
It sounds good to me! I wonder what it was! We never even saw it! I was imagining something with potatoes in it, nom nom nom.
I really like that hat! LOL. I am so easy to please!