race report: lululemon RUN: twin K 13k

10/02/2013
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IRONMAN Canada recovery has been coming along nicely – my recent runs have been around 8:30 pace – but I was still a little apprehensive about running hard during last Saturday’s lululemon RUN: twin K 13k.

All that apprehension went out the window, however, when the gun sounded. More on that in a minute…

As soon as I heard MSP’s lululemon athletica stores were sponsoring a complimentary 13k race just down the street in Saint Paul, I knew I had to run it, even though it was just four short weeks after ironman.

Race morning was super chill and started later than normal (6:30a) with our usual pre-race rituals: double shot espresso with full-fat coconut milk + honey and a couple pieces gluten-free toast with maple almond butter + honey. Nick and I left around 7:20a for the Summit + River Road starting line so we could find parking (it’s all on-street). Turned out, it wasn’t a problem; we were there plenty early to snag a spot about a block away. Gotta love races that are two miles from home! It was chilly – 48 degrees – so we stayed in the car until about 20 minutes before race start.

After our quick mile or so warm-up, we met up with friends Suraya + Eric and Sonia and chitchatted near the start. As we were standing there, friend and MOA store manager, Kara, ran over and asked Nick what pace he was planning to run. In a jiffy, he was in a neon yellow t-shirt and the 7:30 go-pher.

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I had zero expectations for this race other than to just run and enjoy the beautiful morning. And, given I’d been unknowingly gluten-ated at some point two days before – i.e. unhappy GI – I wasn’t planning to run hard. But, the gun sounded, and Sonia and I were off, the first mile beeping in 7:47. Alrighty then. Not quite sure where that came from, but I went with it. I felt surprisingly good and decided to try run the next seven miles sub-8. Sonia and I split around mile 1.5, and I kept Nick in sight, just 100 yards ahead.

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about a mile from the finish… the pack was pretty spread out.

Just after the turnaround point four miles down the path along River Road – a bit narrow for 500 runners – I caught Nick. As we ran together, my heart rate dropped back down to a bit more manageable low 160s. I debated hitting it the last two miles, but changed my mind when I teetered on the edge of bonking and my hammies + glutes started aching. The last mile was hard; there was a lot of uncomfortable, so I concentrated on Nick’s stride and reminded myself I could do anything for 7.5 minutes.

We crossed the finish line in just under an hour – me one second in front of Nick. Pretty certain that’s the first and only time I’ll ever beat him!

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And, as we crossed the finish line, we were each handed a black yoga un mat… um, seriously?! #betterthanamedal!

It was immediately put to good use during sunshiny post-race yoga in Shadow Falls Park. My hip flexors and hammies were crazy tight, so the chatarungas, down dogs, forward folds and happy baby… ahhhmazing.

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You’d never guess it was a first-time event – high tech bibs with built-in chips, solid support, a great turnout (about 500 runners) and no glitches. That said, the course was a smidge short (my Garmin read 7.93 miles) and for next year, let’s hope the road is closed; the paved path paralleling River Road was a bit narrow and in several places was pretty congested.

Nonetheless, lululemon had the music pumpin’ the entire race, and, per the usual, rocked the cheer and aid stations. So much positive energy, so many smiles, so much love red! These ladies and gents are at the heart of the yoga and run community… thank you for a fab race!

official results // 59:35, 7:23 pace, 9/398 OA female

Race stats from my Garmin 910XT:

  • Heart rate: average 165 / max HR 177
  • Splits: 7:47 / 7:49 / 7:21 / 7:16 / 7:24 / 7:30 / 7:32 / 7:29
  • Average pace: 7:31

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31 Comments

  • Reply Amy 10/02/2013 at 7:48 am

    Sounds like so much fun!

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:10 am

      It was, Amy! Beautiful morning for a run!

  • Reply Change of Pace 10/02/2013 at 8:49 am

    Wow- amazing run that close to the IM! Congratulations! A yoga mat would be awesome to get at the finish line; what a pleasant surprise!

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:11 am

      Thank you! Maybe not the smartest move so soon after IM, but it felt good. It was! Such a treat and more fun that a medal!

  • Reply Kerstin 10/02/2013 at 9:11 am

    oh fun!! I SO wish I had known about this! I would have done it in a heartbeat. So glad you had a good time (and that you beat Nick!). 🙂

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:13 am

      Thanks, Kerstin! First and likely only time I’ll beat him 🙂 Pretty sure they’ll have it again next year, so watch for it!

  • Reply amikoch 10/02/2013 at 9:13 am

    Love the pic of nick holding the sign before the race. 🙂

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:13 am

      Hehe… me, too 🙂

  • Reply ktfit 10/02/2013 at 10:25 am

    so fun!!! I swear after Ironman, a running race just seems like a fun thing to do on the weekend. No training, just hop and go! love it!

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:40 am

      It definitely is! The logistics are so much easier, and you’re done in a flash 🙂 Hope training for IMAZ is going well!

  • Reply Danielle @ I Eat Therefore I Run 10/02/2013 at 2:03 pm

    Wow, incredible time!!! And such a cool race! I wish there was a Lululemon closer to me than London…. maybe not 😉

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:41 am

      Thanks, Danielle! Ha! Some days I wish lulu wasn’t just six blocks away 🙂

  • Reply Kristen L 10/02/2013 at 2:10 pm

    Congrats on a fantastic run! Sounds like a really great event put on by lululemon. Would love to do some yoga right after a race! 🙂

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:44 am

      Thanks, Kristen! lulu knows how to host a race! I need to remember to do some yoga after every race… it really helps!

  • Reply vardotrichic 10/02/2013 at 4:55 pm

    AWESOME run Erin!! This is a good run to know about for the future!! We may have to make the drive up next year as our post Ironman run 🙂

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:44 am

      Thanks much! Yes, definitely come to Saint Paul for it next year! It would be a blast to run together!

  • Reply Corey 10/02/2013 at 9:38 pm

    You killed it! That is a super solid race for just being 4 weeks out from Ironman!!

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:45 am

      Thank you, Corey!

  • Reply Luv What You Do 10/02/2013 at 9:46 pm

    What an awesome event. You look adorable in your lulu gear!

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:46 am

      Awww… thank you, Jen! 🙂

  • Reply Carrisa 10/03/2013 at 6:53 am

    Sad I missed this race! Looks like fun and great job with that pace 4 weeks post Ironman and in general!!

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:47 am

      Mark your calendar for next year! Thank you, Carrisa!

  • Reply Candice 10/03/2013 at 5:53 pm

    you two look so happy together! great run girly!

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:50 am

      We are 🙂 Thanks, friend!

  • Reply Emily Dingmann (@nutritionisteat) 10/03/2013 at 9:24 pm

    9th place?! And that pace!? Wow, every single post is so inspiring to me. I’ve been running (prepping for a half) but honestly can’t imagine a 7:30 pace! I’m going to see if LA has a lulu event, sounds perfect!

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:51 am

      You’re so sweet, Emily! Thank you! It’s taken me a long time to get here (and running that pace so soon after IM probably wasn’t the brightest), so keep at it! When’s your race?! I’m sure lulu hosts some great events in Cali!

  • Reply andrea1626 10/04/2013 at 11:01 pm

    Didn’t know about this race but saw people running it and heard good things after. It’s one I’d like to keep an eye out for next year!

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:52 am

      Pretty sure they’ll host it again next year, so watch the facebook pages!

  • Reply meghan @ little girl in the big world 10/11/2013 at 6:24 pm

    What an awesome prize post-race. I love races that don’t do medals and do something else instead. Congrats on a great race! Sounds like recovery is going so well!

    • Reply erin 10/21/2013 at 3:53 am

      Thank you, Meghan! Agreed… so fun to get a yoga mat – and, love that it’s a travel one that folds up to fit in a suitcase!

  • Reply a six-week running hiatus – sweet sweat life 11/03/2015 at 7:09 am

    […] either plantar fasciitis or a stress fracture – but most likely running two races (the twin K 13k and the TC 10 Mile) way too hard too soon after Ironman Canada contributed. If it’s still […]

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