The Harmony, PA Shamrock Shuffle and the best cookies on Earth

Whoever invented snickerdoodles should be Czar of the world. There are few things in life I find better than perfectly baked snickerdoodles, especially after a particularly successful half marathon. I don’t know who invented them, but it’s possible the name has German origins, or just a meaningless made up name from New England. Anyway, before this becomes a post about the sweetness of cookies, I’ll move on, just know that if you bring snickerdoodles to a race, I’d like to be your friend.

This St. Patrick’s Day, Harmony, PA played host to a holiday road running event: The Shamrock Shuffle. Three races; a half marathon, 5k, and 1 miler, for a total of 17 miles if you wanted to elect to do all three. You see what they did there? Clever, and fun if you don’t mind brutalizing your legs on a 19 degree morning in March.  I like brutalizing my legs on 19 degree days in March so I signed up for all three and got to it.

 

The 10th annual Harmony, PA Shamrock Shuffle

7:30 AM and we got off to a quick start on the half marathon. The route took us on a few loops through the town before heading out to the country side. 

Half Marathon Route

We were warned about the hill at mile six, which was very nice. Thanks race director! We were not however, informed about the bigger hill at mile seven. Uncool race director. Actually the race director was awesome. I don't imagine planning, organizing, and keeping a race straight is easy to say nothing about three in one day. Thanks for putting on a great event.

Informed or not, we still had to run it

I’ve done crazier races on the trails, but clocking in at over 1000’ of gain, this half marathon could hold its own against some of them.

 

The Shamrock Shuffle can hold its own

It wasn’t all work though. The last aid station at the top of the hill, in addition to water and Gatorade, featured green beer, Jell-O shots, and keg stands. I didn’t seen many partaking, but that may have been due to the time and the cold. And speaking of that, every time I run a race in the cold, I can’t help but feel so grateful for those volunteers. I’m running, they are standing, freezing, and yet they are still there happy to greet me and take care of what I need to keep going. Luckily this time around, I didn’t need anything.

Me near the start of the race. Cold and wondering if they'll have snickerdoodles. Photo: Mike McNeil

If you follow my posts at all, you’ll remember my hydration/nutrition fiasco with my hydration pack during the Naked Bavarian (you can read about it here) . Well I got that solved. After thorough research I opted for the Osprey Duro 15 with 2.5 Liter hydration bladder. The pack is light weight, sports a handful of pockets that can store car keys, cell phones, extra water bottles, all those race medals you’re going to win, etc. It features a waste strap, and chest clips that cinch the pack down, and let me tell you it stays in place. No sloshing water, no bouncing around, no discomfort.

Check out that pack. Plenty of pockets for snickerdoodles too. Photo: Mike McNeil

With the backpack and bladder problem solved, I filled it with my go-to berry flavored Tailwind. I was properly hydrated and loaded up with the calories I needed to get through all three races. Tailwind was all I needed. 17 miles and I had the energy for each race and I didn't even come close to having leg cramps.

Me wondering if Tailwind will break into the snickerdoodle business. Photo: Mike McNeil

I was fortunate enough to finish the half with plenty of time to rest and get ready for the 10:00AM start of the 5K. In a similar fashion, the 5k took a couple loops around town before heading out the way of the half marathon.

5k route

I met a very nice girl who was also running all three races (she is a badass) and we busted out the miles in about 28 minutes. Not my fastest 5k, but I got the job done.

Me: Hey you like snickerdoodles? Badass: Yeah. Me: Cool. Badass: Cool. That didn't actually happen. Photo: Mike McNeil

After a bit of a wait it was time wrap things up with one final mile. A few loops around town, through the chute and the running would be done. 

1 miler route

I was talking with a couple I had met at the Frosty Feet 5k (read about it here) back in February before the start. I lost them in the pack when we lined up, but they both came blazing past me about a quarter mile into the race. I owe them, they kicked me into gear. “Last mile, fast mile” she said. Sounds good. It was a great way to end the morning. Only one thing could have made it better:

Not chocolate chip cookies

Hey! You're still here? That's cool, I mean, the story is over, but since you're here... 

I wanted to let you know I'm running to raise money for the Beaver County Humane Society! Dogs are awesome, cats are, well they exist and don't seem to really care if we do, but they still need help! You can donate HERE  if you feel up to the task.

dreaming of snickerdoodles