September 5, 2026
When I first started running, this race was one of my favorite 5ks. I ran it in 2008, 2009, 2010.
in 2008 – my first year of running
in 2010, this is where I met AJH for the first time (I was wearing shorts back then.)
It’s funny how things have changed. AJH was trying to convince me to run a longer race than a 5k. Since then I have completed almost 80 half marathons.
My 5k time back in 2010 was 29:34.
After 5 years off (from this race), I ran it again in 2015. And my time was 28:41. So things hadn’t changed that much (but I started to wear running skirts instead of shorts).
I enjoyed this race so much that I re-added it to my summer racing list and ran it again in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2025 (in a thunderstorm) (28:27, 27:37, 27:28, 28:18, 28:05, 30:03, 31:42)
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- 2016
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- 2017
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- 2018
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- 2019
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- 2023
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- 2024
Notice that due to the Pandemic, they discontinued this race for 3 years (2020, 2021, 2022).
Then, the organizers of the Firecracker 4 race took over this race and I decided to sign up.
I shocked myself with a decent pace so again I thought why not and my running friends were busy that weekend so it was a good excuse to skip my long run.
Last year, there was a thunderstorm but I still ran it.
Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:
This year, it was not on my radar as I had a half scheduled for the week after.
I had considered running the Run 4 the River half marathon as a training run but my DIL scheduled a birthday party for my granddaughter at 11 am.
Nope, not enough time to finish 13.1 miles so I registered for this 5k instead.
Here is the map for the course that I ran in past years:
15 turns in this course!!
Here’s the 2023 course:
pretty similar… they have kept this course … I think.
I didn’t get much running done during the week – rain, work… etc. I thought about some speed drill son the track but that never happened.
Race Day:
The race started at 8 am. This being the last weekend of the Saratoga Flat Track, believe it or not, there would already be a lot of traffic at that hour.
I got up at 5:30 am and had my usual race breakfast of coffee and oatmeal.
I left at 6:30 in order to get there early enough to get parking and pick up my bib. I wound up getting stuck for about 10 minutes while horses were crossing the road.
Last year there were no available parking lots so you had to park on the street. I did find a spot in a nearby parking lot this year and then I went to get my bib and shirt.
No free tickets to the race track this year. Instead they offered a free ticket to the racing museum after the race.
I went back to my car to drop off my shirt.
It is usually a very popular race but I didn’t see many runners that I knew (but there was a conflict with that big local half and a few other area 5ks.)
Of course, I needed a pre-race photo.
Soon it was time to line up.
I stood somewhere in the middle. This race attracts many speedy runners and I didn’t want to get run over… but I forgot that there was NO timing mat at the start line..
Miles 1-3.1:
No reason to recap this race mile by mile.
I started out at a decent pace because I wanted to get done. It was sunny but not too hot or humid (for a change.)
But I felt my gait was slightly off and my ankle or Achilles (can’t figure out which) was still tight. So I walked several times during each mile and stopped at the water stop midway..
I managed to sprint across the finish line around 31:xx (those sub 30 minutes seem to be gone!).
Post Race Activities:
I grabbed a water and banana.
The were miniature cows and some retired horses…
I checked the results
and I came in 2nd so I grabbed my medal and raced home.
Additional Race Reflections:
Yes, it was an early morning and a long drive.
At least it was not extremely hot or raining.
And yes, it should have been a 8 mile long run as part of training for next week’s big race…
But races challenge me and I think it’s important to challenge oneself.
Otherwise, my runs are slow and easy and I squeeze them in whenever I can. I also run with friends, some faster, some slower and always with run walk intervals.
So I don’t regret running this 5k. Though it was almost a course PW, it was expected.
Positives:
- Well organized race.
- Well marked course with many course marshals.
- Flat course.
- Immediate results.
- 5 year age groups for awards.
- Free ticket to the racing museum (though it didn’t really interest me.)
- Charity: Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga
- Parking lots and on street parking
Negatives:
- Unisex (cotton) shirts.
- Date change so no free tickets to the track.
- New date conflicted with Run 4 the River HM.
- Long drive for me.
- No time to hang out after.
- Not enough miles to count as a taper.
Would I recommend this race?
Maybe…
All in all, this was a fun race. Besides all the turns, the race course is pretty flat. It is well-organized.
Not sure if I would run it again because it is not nearby.
In past years, I added more miles after the race a nearby park (and so at least it counted as a long run.)
No time today…
Final Stats:
Still queen of the positive splits:
With an increasing number of walks with each mile…
Next Up:
Sept. 12, 2026
Happy Running! Did you race this weekend? Do you have a big races coming up? Do you run short races even when you are training for a big long race? How do you feel about 5ks? Please share.
and tomorrow:
I’m also linking up with: co-hosts Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, and Runs with Pugs
Crazy, right?
My First 5K and More... 