race report: hot dash 10 mile 2016

03/21/2016

Only in Minnesota do you wake up to two inches of fresh snow on race morning. I’d been stalking the weather all week, but nowhere did it say it would be measurable! 

For the second year, the Hot Dash 10 Mile has been my season opener. My race strategy – aside from having fun… no point if you’re not! – was to run, hard, to see where my fitness was at. When coach told me my target pace… yikes. It made me equally really excited and throw up a little bit. 

Nick and I arrived in northeast Minneapolis about an hour prior to the 9:12a start so I could pick up my bib and he could get his 10-mile run done (he’s running Grandma’s in June!) and still see me on the Stone Arch Bridge about a half-mile from the finish. After check-in, I ran into a few friends, checked my down jacket and did a quick warm-up. With about five minutes ’til go, I lined up at the 7:00 mile pace sign, ready to redline for 70 minutes. 

The horn sounded, and we were off. There weren’t too many people to weave around, but man, did folks take off fast. My first mile beeped in at 6:46, and while I told myself to keep it in check until mile five, I was pleasantly surprised at how great my legs felt (on zero rest going into this race). Around mile 2.5, I saw the glow of Nick’s neon yellow jacket running toward me, so I hollered at him to take my jacket… I knew I’d overdressed! 

hot-dash-1
trying to take off my jacket… 35F is warm when you’re working hard!
hot-dash-3
a little tour of northeast by Betty Danger’s ferris wheel.

The miles ticked by fairly quickly. I was pretty happy to hit the turnaround at mile four… because cold headwind. By mile six, I thought to myself: yep, working hard, less than four miles to go, you can do this. At mile eight, I checked in to see how I was feeling – unhappy hammies – and decided to see how far I could drop my pace. Because you can do anything for two miles, right?! When I reached the Stone Arch Bridge, there was no letting off the gas… there were two women in front of me to catch (case in point – the gal in flannel below!)! 

stone-arch-bridge
smiling through the suffering around mile 9.5 across the Stone Arch Bridge.

And, when I hit the last half-mile down Saint Anthony Main… hurry up, finish line! I fought back some puke here and focused on keeping up with two guys right in front me me – and, not tripping on the cobbles. The suffering in running races is second to none! Thank you, body and legs!  

hot-dash-medal

official results | 1:08:32, 6:52 pace, 2nd AG (35-39F), 11th OA woman

Garmin 920 splits: 6:46 / 6:53 / 6:49 / 6:49 / 6:46 / 6:43 / 6:46 / 6:50 / 6:37 / 6:31 

Kudos to Twin Cities in Motion for yet another fantastic event! And, big thanks to my tribe – my main man, Nick, coach Andy, Coeur Sports, Sound Probiotics and pure clean powder. I couldn’t make it to the start and finish line healthy + happy without you! 

hot-dash-finish
so lucky to have this guy by me every step of the way ♥

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33 Comments

  • Reply Kecia 03/21/2016 at 8:14 am

    Congratulations speedy!! Those are some super fast splits…so impressive 😉

    • Reply erin 03/21/2016 at 6:26 pm

      Thanks, Kecia!

  • Reply Michele 03/21/2016 at 8:21 am

    Wow! Great splits and fantastic run! Looks like your off to a great season. Can’t wait to watch you come October!

    • Reply erin 03/21/2016 at 6:27 pm

      Thank you, Michele! Was a super fun morning!

  • Reply Kerstin 03/21/2016 at 8:51 am

    Your are amazing! I just love you. 🙂 And noone looks better in neon pink then you.

    • Reply erin 03/21/2016 at 6:28 pm

      Ha! It is my favorite color 🙂 Thank you, Kerstin… love you, too 🙂 Coffee soon?!

  • Reply TCM Staff 03/21/2016 at 9:02 am

    Congratulations, Erin!! What a great start to your running season! Thanks for sharing your experience!

    • Reply erin 03/21/2016 at 6:29 pm

      Thanks so much, TCM! And, thank YOU for putting on such a fantastic event (as always) 🙂

  • Reply katielookingforward 03/21/2016 at 9:17 am

    Way to go!! I didn’t do the race this year, but am adding it to my list for next year!

    • Reply erin 03/21/2016 at 6:29 pm

      Yes, definitely add to your 2017 race calendar, Katie! It’s a great race! Thank you 🙂

  • Reply therightfits 03/21/2016 at 9:17 am

    Amazing work Erin! Congratulations!

    I’m surprised your average pace wasn’t faster than 6:52 (which is still crazy fast, don’t get me wrong) based on your Garmin splits?? Was the course long?

    Awesome work -2nd place 🙂 Looks like a fun race!

    • Reply erin 03/21/2016 at 9:53 am

      Thank you, Jessie! According to my Garmin, the race was 10.08 miles, with an average pace of 6:48/mi 🙂

      Fun race indeed! Hope you had a great weekend of training for London!

      • Reply therightfits 03/21/2016 at 11:36 am

        ha, well seeing splits in the 6:30’s is phenomenal!

        • Reply erin 03/21/2016 at 6:30 pm

          Digging deep for those 😉 Thanks, Jessie!

  • Reply hyedi 03/21/2016 at 9:23 am

    Awesome job, friend! Congrats on the AG finish!

    • Reply erin 03/21/2016 at 6:30 pm

      Thank you, dear! Miss you! Coffee soon?!

  • Reply michele 03/21/2016 at 11:21 am

    Holy Christmas! Wicked fast!

    • Reply erin 03/21/2016 at 6:31 pm

      Ha! Thanks, Michele!

  • Reply Laura 03/21/2016 at 12:34 pm

    Wowser, that is some speed! All that work is starting to pay off!!

    • Reply erin 03/21/2016 at 6:32 pm

      Thanks, Laura! Consistency and running a lot are key!

  • Reply Danielle @ Eat Primal, Run Hard 03/21/2016 at 4:48 pm

    Wow! So fast you are! That’s my sprinting pace….

    • Reply erin 03/21/2016 at 6:32 pm

      It’s taken a lot of running to get here! Thanks so much, my friend! Keep running… you’re making so many gains! xo.

  • Reply Kathy 03/21/2016 at 8:27 pm

    Holy splits!!! Man. Need some of those speedy vibes!! Nice jobs chica!

    • Reply erin 03/22/2016 at 5:56 pm

      You ARE speedy! Can’t wait to cheer you on this season! Thanks, lady!

  • Reply Leslie @ TriathleteTreats 03/22/2016 at 10:04 pm

    Awesome!! Totally killed it!! Congrats!!!

    • Reply erin 03/23/2016 at 8:52 am

      Thanks, Leslie!

  • Reply Caitlin 03/23/2016 at 3:22 pm

    Congratulations, Speedy Gonzalez!

    • Reply erin 03/23/2016 at 9:36 pm

      Thank you, Caitlin!

  • Reply Luv What You Do 03/23/2016 at 8:59 pm

    Awesome run! Way to go!

    • Reply erin 03/23/2016 at 9:37 pm

      Thanks so much, my friend!

  • Reply Kristina 03/26/2016 at 9:05 am

    That first race is always exciting and a great way to see where the fitness is. Sounds like a fantastic race for you – speedster!

    • Reply erin 04/09/2016 at 9:06 am

      Thank you, Kristina! Definitely a good benchmark to start the season 🙂

  • Reply currently // march 2016 - sweet sweat life 03/30/2016 at 5:10 pm

    […] I spent 90 minutes is the salty float tank at Awaken for Wellness in Saint Paul post Hot Dash 10 mile, and whoa… was it relaxing and restorative. I was a little tentative to even try it […]

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