Rudolph Ramble 8K Race Report
Just like in 2012, in 2013, I ran my first and last race of the year* with Gina! And it looks like 2014 could be the same way, as we are signed up to do a half together in Dallas on February 2nd (eek! I better start training)! How awesome, that even though we live so far away from one another, we still get to race together!
I have never done the Rudolph Ramble 8K before, but I love holiday themed races, and it was an obvious DUH that I had to do a race with Gina when she came to visit! I loved how well organized Fleet Feet‘s Women’s Half Marathon was, and figured this race would be just as awesome (it was)! Also, race day packet pickup? THANK YOU! And my choice of a cool hat for schwag? Yes, please!
And the best part? Wait for it, wait for it… the race beneficiary was Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, and they were accepting donations of unwrapped toys to give to the kids in the hospital for Christmas. If you donated a toy, you got a $10 gift card to Fleet Feet!
We were planning on donating anyway, so this was a super cool bonus! And especially since I needed to pick up a few things for someone’s stocking. We went after the race and enjoyed spending our gift cards.
So, this was both of our first 8K races! Automatic PR! We were expecting to come in under 50 minutes, and I was thinking even 45, until on race morning we saw the course was like this:
Ha ha ha. We think at least 80% of the race was covered in an inch or more of snow! I had been running in snow most of the week, but like I said, was still getting my snow legs! And Gina has never run in the snow like this! And we both just wore our regular Asics Gel Cumuluses (so we could match, obviously), not trail shoes. When we got to a part of the path that wasn’t covered in snow, our legs were so tired from the snow we could barely pick up the speed! Heh heh. So we had a super slippery adventure! I just loved it. I love winter-ish weather, I love snow, I love running in it, and I LOVE running with my bestie! But… we did not hit our time goal (nor care)! Ha ha! We came in in 52:03, which I think is freaking awesome, for essentially running the equivalent of a trail race (and for it being somewhat crowded)!
And like I told Gina on the course… I typically don’t care how long it takes me to run a race when I am running with someone. The longer we are out there together, the more time we have to chat! Ha ha! I really was just so happy that we were able to race together. Well, really, BE together! I haven’t seen her since April which had been making me so bummed out! We used to see each other a lot more often when she lived in NYC, but flights between Dallas and Chicago are not very cheap, which is making us both crazy. Anyway. Yeah. What a treat that I get to see her for a few days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ha ha ha. Always funny to see what is going on in the background of your pictures.
Steven was so nice to come out and play in the snow and take pictures (and be chauffeur). It was about 15 degrees out. Not very windy, and mostly comfortable for the entire run, but not so great for spectating! It was great that so many volunteers and spectators still came out!
And we got to see Lindsay and Katie, too! I love running in to my buddies at races!
Hee hee, we got quite a few compliments on those pants! I picked them up last weekend at the JF&A jewelry show with my mom and grandma. They are one size fits all stretch pants! I am kind of wishing I would have bought more pairs – I love ridiculous bottoms and they are super comfy! Maybe I will just have to go to the next show in February and see if they have them again.
*I was looking at a 12/28 race to do with my BiL but I just can’t get behind the cause. I keep hoping I’ll find something else. Ha ha.
Themocracy
I’m glad you guys had such a fun time! I love Fleet Feet races! 🙂 I did this one last year, and it was a little warmer, but was raining/snowing/sleeting for the entire race, which was no fun at all. Glad you got to run in snow instead! But did they not have Santa and a reindeer at the race?
I strongly considered doing this race at the last minute, since I ended up being here, but it would have only been to beat my 8k time goal for the year, and that wouldn’t have happened in the snow. I couldn’t find my snow legs at all on Saturday!
I could do the snow but I think the sleet would have ruined the vibe a bit. Um… thankfully it’s colder this year? LOL.
Santa was there. I am not sure if real reindeer were though 🙂
Did you find your snow legs last night? 🙂
I think you would know. Note, real reindeer: http://annereallyblogs.blogspot.com/2012/12/2012-running-recap.html
Last night’s snow was thankfully a lot easier to run in than Saturday! It wasn’t packed down Sat, but since we ran after people had already been commuting, it wasn’t too bad.
Way to go ladies! I LOVE that they gave away hats instead of shirts- so fun! And I really have to visit this JF&A Jewelry Show..everyone gets such good stuff there! Where did you get the shirts?
I am surprised you have not been to that show yet! GO! 🙂
The shirts are from Amazon 🙂 They come in a multitude of colors and short sleeve was available too 🙂 http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Filthy-Animal-Sleeve-T-Shirt/dp/B009LLNHQ8
I’m so happy you gals had a blast running in the snow!! Steven takes some of the best race photos I’ve seen 🙂 an I LoVE the matchy matchy outfits!!
I’m so glad we found you guys after the race! I can definitely feel the effects of “racing” on snow today… even though I ran most of last week through snow. I’m sore in lots of weird places.
Great race and I’m glad you got a picture with rudolph before it came down ;).
I am so glad you did too! Thanks for waiting for us! 🙂 And congrats on your speedy race! Are you running through the snow more this week!
Hee hee! I would have been sad had I missed that photo op!
I want those leggings. GAH!
Nice job working those snow legs. I’m glad you had a good time with your pal.
Love the captions on those three finish line pictures! 🙂
I’m such a dope that when I saw the first picture, I thought “oh how nice, they trucked in some snow for photo ops” – durrr.
Super love those race hats. And your gloves – love them, too! OK, your entire outfit just made me smile. Glad you had such a fun time at the race, and woohoo for running in snow!
Thanks! The gloves were a surprise from Gina and I think they totally completed the outfit!
^^^^ LOL at Shelley’s response! We don’t have to truck it in this year! lol.
Did you know the girl in red behind you?? how funny!!
I didn’t know her, but thought her expressions were funny! 🙂
Sounds like a really fun race! I love your outfits and those gloves! I’ve never done a race through snow before. Sounds like an interesting challenge.
Speaking of snow, have you worn your snow shoes yet this winter?
Thanks! It’s fun to run in the snow!
I haven’t worn my snow shoes since we’ve had snow yet. 🙂 I will do the snowshoe 5K in January if we have snow.
Haha, love your shirts!!! Glad you two had fun.
What cute pants!! Omg, love them!
And that lady behind you? Hysterical. lol.
I woke up, saw that it felt like 3F and went back to bed. Hah!
Coming from up north and taking public transportation would have made the cold really bad.
Love the third picture of the race…your hand just completely covers up the lady’s face behind you. 🙂
Yeah, we were lucky we had the warm car to sit in! Where do you live? 🙂
LOL! Good thing those aren’t official race photos. It would be annoying to have your face covered!
I’m at Foster and Marine, which would have meant about a 30 min bus ride at least to get there and hopefully timed well with not having to wait long but not rushing either.
I can tell you had a total blast! All the things you love in one race?
Although, the course does look crowded. But if you don’t care about getting a PR or anything that doesn’t matter. Totally just a good ol’ festive time.
It was so fun!! The snow made it much more festive!
And yeah, typical crowded city race. But I usually do just race for fun so nbd! 😀
This looks like a fun race. I’ve never done a Christmas race. The free stuff and the gift card that you got are great! I love when races do something besides a t-shirt. I’ve had enough of those by now. Congrats on such a great finishers time when it was so cold and snowy! That’s awesome!
Could you girls be any cuter? I think not! Sounds like a REALLY well done race despite the conditions. Kudos to Fleet Feet. Lurie Children’s is very near and dear to us as well.
how awesome, we were super lazy until we went sledding and moved snow 😉
Y’ALL ARE SO CUTE!!! I LOVE THE MATCHING OUTFITS!!! It’s really exciting that y’all got to race together- and that it was a first for both of y’all!! Very exciting!! Personally, the only “mistake” I can see was not picking the hat on the very left-you know, the white, orange, and navy one!! 😉 I think it’s pretty exciting that you got to run in the snow!!! The first pic with the reindeer in the background is AWESOME!!! And I am so impressed- neither one of you look cold at all!!!
=^..^=
Ha ha ha! Courtney! When I registered I totally thought how you would want THAT hat!!! hee hee hee 🙂 Are you going to come do a race with us next year?! Or should I come down there? 🙂
bahahahah! Courtney I thought of you, too! But what would we need with a winter hat in Texas, lol. Har har.
Awesome way to earn a gift card! I could do so much with just $10 at a running store. And you feel good by donating, as well!
I had to laugh when you mentioned your last and first race of the year because I was sure you were going to have some New Years race in there, since you seem to have done 3 turkey trots and 3 Holiday races in the past few weeks (I may be exaggerating? Maybe not…) and I was sure your next race was going to be just around the corner. Feb 2 is so far away!
The Chicago NY race was my first “official” race in 2007, but there aren’t any down here and going to the city by myself is such a pita. Ha ha. I am thinking about a snowshoe race in January, though 🙂
Looks like a super fun race! The snow looks awesome. I love running in snow actually, but not sure about going a whole 8k in it! That is one of my favorite distances, by the way.
How fun! I don’t think that I’ve ever run in the snow, not even visiting Colorado. Do you think that you’ll get in some good snowshoeing this year?
Yes! I think if the snow keeps going like it has been, that I will! 🙂
woohoo PR!
I love events that help the Children’s Hospital! As a pretty frequent customer, seeing all the children with much greater needs and I can only imagine costs, all the help they can get is great!
My friend & I just did the Jingle Bell Run/Walk (we walked) on Sunday. It is pretty much the same race, antlers and everything. Except no reindeer in Texas! We had a great time and are going to do it next year, but next year we want to go in costume.
Note my gravatar – from 2 years ago.
Ha ha ha! That is funny that it’s your gravatar! Are you going to update it? Congrats on the walk!
I loved that we got to do another holiday themed winter race together! How lucky are we! Now, it’s tradition so I’ll see you in December next year, mmmk. And my reindeer antlers are like the gift that keeps on giving. I got two $10 gift cards because of those babies.
Yes! Let’s plan out next year’s December race! Maybe we should do a A/S family vacation somewhere! 🙂
Cute pants and congrats on a great race despite the snow.