Steven and I ran the Highland Park Strong 5K on Sunday!
Getting back to racing wasn’t a goal of mine this year – I just wanted to get back to running – but when Steven told me he and a friend were talking about doing a race together, I was hoping I would be invited! And I was! (Aww.)
They picked this race because it’s on a Sunday, the day Steven’s friend has off work. His friend went all in and was going to do the half marathon, but then he got injured, so he didn’t end up racing at all. I hope he’s healing and back to running soon.
We were already signed up for the 5K and dedicated to completing it, so we went ahead with training, and really enjoyed running together again. Steven and I ran our first ever 5K (2007)* and half marathon (2008) together, but Steven mostly stopped running in 2009. I was glad to have him back!
I mentioned we picked this race because it was on a Sunday, but I’m glad it ended up being this one. This race used to be called the North Shore (Classic?) race, but they rebranded it this year as Highland Park Strong – to honor the community and victims of the 2022 Fourth of July shooting. At the beginning they said it was the 45th year of the race, and that $5 million (I’m not sure if that’s in total since last July or from this race alone) was raised for the victims (and their families) of the shooting. It was very impactful to hear that, and I was glad I was wearing sunglasses when the brass band played the national anthem, because I was a bit teary about it all.
But let’s rewind a bit…
I was happy we were doing this race but a little frustrated it was so far away and started at 7:00 am. We had an early wakeup call on Sunday to get there. And being me, we got there early – around 6:10, but got a great parking spot before it got hectic, and had time to walk to warm up and relax a bit (and realize I didn’t bring a rock of my own to hide but remembering I had one of Caitlin’s in the car and going back and grabbing that one to hide – thanks Caitlin!). So it all worked out well.
It had been on the warm side this week – days getting into the 80s, and I was wondering if we’d have a swampy race, but some cool air came in the night before and it was pleasant – in the low 60s!
Our one goal for the race was to run the entire thing, including this nasty hill we suspected would be in it. And we were successful – we did exactly that! We ran the 5K in 36:05, and I thought we would negative split it until we got to the third mile and went down and up that monster hill.
The course starts downtown and becomes all residential. I forget how hard it is to start a race with a lot of people and bumped into Steven a few times at the beginning but then it thinned out. We both commented on how our bodies were like “what are you doing?” at the beginning, then they got used to it.
The neighborhood we ran through is gorgeous and I enjoyed seeing all the fancy houses. We ended up running around someone playing Taylor Swift out loud on their phone for most of the race so that was fun – I liked hearing the music and thanked her for bringing the party. (Steven said to me “Does anyone know who Taylor Swift is?” and I laughed so hard.)
We ran down that huge hill and saw the lake for a few seconds then went back up the other side. I said to Steven “I don’t need to run down that hill just to see the lake, I live here – I can see the lake whenever!” and another runner laughed. Ha.
I was excited there were free race photos and hoped I’d get one of us running on the course together, but saw the photogs too late on the course, and only got finish line photos (which I still appreciate!).
When we finished the race they gave us a medal and had water, Gatorade, bananas, and coconut covered dates (I am excited to try those!).
One of our fave places, Deerfields Bakery (they made our wedding cake!), was a sponsor (as was one of Steven’s fave cookie places – Matt’s Cookies) and I was super pumped for Steven that they had donuts (and those cookies) in the post race picnic area.
After we got those, we walked back to the car.
We decided to go to The Chunky Scone, a vegan bakery in town where Steven has one of the Fake Meats jerky racks. I got a peach scone that had just come out of the oven and was delicious. I was feeling a bit jealous of Steven’s donut and was excited I could get something too.
And the great thing about the race being so early is we were back home by 9:00 with the whole day ahead of us!
Oh, and random, I like the shirt design, but accidentally ordered a women’s L. Ha. I wonder if it will ever fit. I can get it on, but it’s skin tight. Oops. What was I thinking? Women’s sizing is so odd.
*It’s funny to me what a big stinking deal I made out of our first 5K. Like, my parents came from Iowa to spectate (which I appreciate so much!). We had a big spaghetti dinner the night before. Now it’s like, whatever, it’s a 5K, and I could run it on an empty stomach if I want. Ha.
Congratulations to both of you on your return to running!!! I love that you trained and ran the race together 🙂 I know you’re going to keep running, but what about Steven? And I don’t think it’s silly that your first 5k was a big deal to you at the time. Mine was too!
Highland Park is such a cute little town, I bet it would be a nice setting for a 5k. I used to love walking around downtown when I had time to kill before my train came. And I’m super jealous of both Deerfield’s and Matt’s, yum!
Thank you so much! I loved that too. The training was a really nice time for us to connect and listen to each other without distractions!
Good question! I think Steven wants to keep running. We are going to run tomorrow (for National Running Day, lol) and we might do the Antioch Fourth of July 5K!
And thanks for saying that about my first 5K 🙂
It is such a cute town! I need to spend some more time exploring it!
Nice job!! Did your return to racing give you the racing bug or do the opposite?
Was the North Shore race the half marathon where Jason and Steven rode their bikes to spectate and you walked with a friend? I remember that race being hilly!
Thank you! Good question – maybe a little of the opposite? I was so burned out on racing well before the pandemic, that it’s not something I’ve really missed, if that makes sense. I like the feeling of achievement after doing one, but the early wakeups, and driving and finding parking, and being around so many people makes me anxious.
It is! Good memory! Steven kept talking about riding his bike on the course and I could not recall. I do remember walking it with Tori – that was right after my three stress fractures diagnosis in June 2010. Ahh, memories.
Yay! I’m glad you had a good experience.
I’m over here chuckling because I was visiting friends last weekend and one of them literally asked “what’s up with this Taylor Swift?” to the general astonishment of everyone else in the room. He has teenage daughters! How did he miss her general ubiquity in culture?!
Ha! I love that they asked that!!! What did everyone say to him?! LOL
Awww, I love this so much. I am currently trying to get my husband to sign up for a race with me (well, more a 5k power walk for him, but…) and I am going to tell him that there are other couples who run together LOL
Amazing, amazing accomplishment and it sounds like a really fun race. The finisher photos are great, too!
Ooo I hope he agrees! Would you train together too?
Thank you!
So cool you guys are getting back into running together! Even if you don’t sign up for a bunch of races like you used to, I feel like doing a local race here and there with family is a fun thing to do.
And yes, my first 5K was also a huge deal 🙂
It is! It was a fun morning for us!
When was your first one?
It must be around the same time you started running – 2007.
Cool!
I think I remember that nasty hill from the North Shore Half which I ran there ~10 years ago. 7am start? Wow, that’s early, but probably good for keeping race conditions cool(er). Congrats on the finish!
Yes! It’s still on course!
It is good for cooler weather. The half started after us. Odd, right? Let’s give them the cooler weather LOL.
Thanks!
Woohoo! Congratulations on running such a strong race! What a fun experience to do with Steven.
I love that your first 5K was such a big deal. It was your first race! You deserved to make it a big deal!
Thank you! And thanks for saying that about our first race – you’re right – it was a big deal!!!!
Congratulations to both of you! You did an amazing job. Gold stars all around!
And, of COURSE you were so excited about your first race. EVERYONE is excited about their first race (well, if they’re into running, ha).
I never got into racing, mostly due to issues with having to drive, and navigate the system for each race, and people and.. yeah. I just generally have issues. HA!
Thank you! And thanks for validating those feelings about our first time, ha!
It’s a lot!!! I get it!