There’s a lot of history to this 5k…

As you may remember, this race takes place during my annual non-running tennis vacation in Naples, Florida. I play tennis every morning and then spend the afternoon on the beach.  Each evening I go out for drinks, dinner and dessert with my tennis friends. Eight days of pure relaxation and enjoyment… (every May since 2005)

I love it.  It’s usually my only vacation that doesn’t include a race.  You have to admit that racing during a vacation does add an element of stress.

Well, in 2017. we changed our dates and I happened upon a 5k race that took place on the Sunday during our stay. One of my friends offered to get up at the crack of dawn and drop me off and another offered to pick me up.

Despite the loops and warm temps, I had a blast and did fairly well.

I also unexpectedly bumped into a tennis friend, Rebecca, who had moved to Naples.

As a result, I signed up for the same 5k in 2018 and 2019. I won an age group award each time and met up with Rebecca.

Our vacation was cancelled due to COVID in 2020 and the race in 2021 did not occur during our time in Naples.

So I was pretty excited to run this race again in 2022. The downside was that Rebecca died suddenly in 2021 and I knew that the race would remind me of her sadly.

I decided to run the race anyway and each year, if I was able, in Rebecca’s honor.

and yes, again I won an age group award

However since I was still recovering from a broken foot, I decided to skip the race in 2023 but in 2024, I put it back on my racing schedule.

another age group award for a course PW

Last year, after I signed up for this race, I got an email saying that they had to change the course location.  I could have gotten a refund.  But what the hell. A new race!

and another AG award 🙂

This year, I knew in advance that AGAIN, they changed the course. And I still signed up. Vacation and a Race…

It was going to be held at Sugden Park. After some Googling, I discovered that in the fall, there was a 5k that was held in this park …

Race Description:

The 5K run will take place on the pathways of Sugden Regional Park. Athletes will have views of Lake Avalon throughout the course while winding through shaded wooded areas. The finish will be along the handset pavers between the cheering fans and the beach front by the lake.

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

The night before the race, we went out to an awesome seafood dinner. No pizza or pasta and I had a glass of wine… Oh well. only a 5k. Carb loading not a must.

Here is the NEW course map:

I hate 2 looped races.  I wasn’t surprised and I just had to suck it up and do it…

at least it was flat…

Race Day:

Saturday morning, I groggily ate my usual race breakfast at 5:30 am. As in previous years, a friend agreed to drop me off at the race start. The race started at 7:30 am and so we left at 6:30 am. I wasn’t familiar with the race location so I needed to arrive earlier than necessary.

If I had gotten there even earlier I would have seen the full moon:

There was no packet pick up before the race day (as in previous years).  So I got my bib on race day,,,

.The swag was a shirt.

purple = my favorite color

Since I was early, I walked around…. this was a really beautiful park… very conducive to running, walking, biking…

I was a little chilly so I put on my race shirt… Eventually I had to hide it under a tree since I did have a bag or a car.

hooray for bug spray – it was needed!

just setting up the finish line…

post race refreshments

1/2 way point & water stop

surprise sunrise

yes I am sunrise obsessed…

almost ready for the race…

This was not a big race.  There were about 225 runners – all ages and very friendly.

It was cloudy when I got there. At times, the sun did peak out. It was starting to get warm. I checked the weather app on my phone. Holy humidity!

I wore my usual race attire minus the compression socks:

3rd year wearing the same outfit LOL

As I was killing time and enjoying the sunrise views on the lake, I spotted a familiar face…

Yes. Jeannie Rice.  It was my 2nd 5k encounter with her.  I was very excited!! And she is so nice!  She was nursing an injury and was running this 5k to see if she could run a longer race next weekend. (She winters in Naples.)

Soon it was time to head to the start line.

As you can see from the map, the course winds the park and loops back toward the start.

I had no plan for the race – just finish and get back to my friends so we could continue with our plans for the day. (Gone are the days when I finished this race in 27:xx!!)

I also haven’t raced in weather this warm since last August. This made me a little nervous. Can I run well in the heat/humidity? Will I die? LOL

I had no idea what the course looked like until after the race.  Luckily, much of the course was through the park and shady.

Mile 1: 

From the get go, my legs felt like lead but my biggest problem was that I had a hard time breathing and I felt dizzy. Was it the heat?  Most likely it was not being acclimated to the humidity. I couldn’t wait to get to the water stop…

Actually I could not wait to walk…

Mile 2: 

It seemed like forever but I think it was during mile 2.  I stopped for water and walked for a short while.

I continued my running which was painful and seemed to be like a slog…

As I mentioned above, the course ran through the park and it was very pretty. It was a mixture of flat paths and wooden bridges and concrete sidewalks.

There were a few older ladies that I remembered from past years.  One in particular was in front of me.  I tried to keep up with her.

Mile 3 – 3.1: 

The race is kind of a blur.  I think I walked a few more times…

I tried to just get to the finish line without puking.

ugh!

Wish I looked like this. LOL

go Jeannie!

Eventually the arch appeared and I gave it my all.

I was shocked when I crossed at 31:xx. I felt so much slower.

I waited for another older runner to finish. She and I had chatted before the race..

Post Race Activities:

I grabbed some water and some refreshments which were cookies, bars, bananas and navel oranges.

I quickly checked the results to see if I won an award. And I did!!

1 out of 6

My friend was not coming to pick me up until after her tennis lesson so I had time to stay for the awards ceremony.

she won grand masters.

Additional Race Reflections:

Definitely a tough one and again one of my slower 5ks but hey, I did it.

And I will do it again!

Racing for me is always enjoyable (at least afterward.)

Positives:

• flatish course
• well organized
• ample parking
• nice shirt (gender-specific)
• Instant results emailed/texted to runners
• creative age group award (picture frame)
• important charity (scholarships to HS students)
• Nice park
• lake views
• Sunrise
• Meeting Jeannie Rice

Negatives:

• Rebecca was no longer there. 😦
• Warm temps and humidity

Would I recommend this race?

Yes! There was a lot of enthusiasm and runners of all ages.

Final Stats:

A new 10 miler:

May 17

Happy Running! Ever run a 5K race while on vacation? Do you find it hard to race in the hot weather? Please share.

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Since today is Tuesday, I’m linking up with Jenny (RunnersFly) and Jenn (Runs with Pugs)

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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

APRIL 25, 2026 9 AM

This race has been around for a long time.  The date was never convenient.

Truthfully I was not planning on running it.

I had just run a half marathon 2 weeks before and had a 5k planned in a week.

My friend Jenny pointed out that they offered a discounted race fee of $15 if you had never run the race.

So I figured Why Not?  And I needed to stay in shape for the 2 ten milers at the end of May.

DESCRIPTION:

The Hudson Mohawk Road Runners have held this 10k as its Masters (40+) Championship event since 1982. The race was named after one of the Club’s longtime members, Bill Robinson. He was, without question, one of the fastest and toughest runners in the capital region on both the road and on the track. Bill won this race in 1987 and 1989. Bill was a member of an HMRRC masters team that won a USATF National 10k title in 1989. However, while training the year after, he had a tragic accident that left him paralyzed.

The 10k race starts and finishes at the entrance to Guilderland High School. For the first mile the race heads out on Meadowdale Road and then bears left onto Frederick Rd. and onto Hawes Rd for about 1.5 miles of rolling hills. At this point the course bears right onto Weaver Rd., and the course’s main long downhill, to the 5k turnaround. At this point runners turn around and race back to Guilderland High School.

 not a flat spot on the course…

I had run several 5ks that started at the high school (2016-19) so I remember the hills. I am not opposed to walking up hills.

May 2019

Race Day:

The race started at 9 am so I left my house around 8 am (after having my standard breakfast of coffee and oatmeal.)

Yes, it’s spring but the temp when I got up was 35 degrees. As a result, I brought several options: cap, beanie, jacket, gloves, pants, etc.

I knew that you could wait inside the high school before the race and I could decide what to leave  on and what to leave behind.

This race had a small crowd.. but I immediately ran into runners that I knew.

Sue, my racing travel companion

Another advantage  of waiting indoors was the real restrooms.

I got my bib and shirt and chatted until it was time to head outside.

As you can see from the above pic, I took off my pants, jacket, wore a cap inside of a beanie (but left on my gloves.)

I was very cold at first but I knew that I would warm up (and I was correct.)

There was no electronic start line so we just started running.

I started with my friends Carolyn and Anne,

I tried to stay with them.  First I lost Carolyn and then Anne and being no fast and not slow, it was pretty lonely out there.

Mile 1-3:

I was very cold at first but I knew that I would warm up (and I was correct.)

There was no electronic start line so we just ran.

I started with my friends Carolyn and Anne,

I tried to stay with them.  Fist I lost Carolyn and then Anne and being not fast and not slow, it was pretty lonely out there.

The course turned out to be pretty straightforward, with a few mild turns and undulating hills. Up, up, up and and a slight down.

Where I live, there are no hills. When I run on the bike paths, the terrain is flat.

I knew that this race had hills and yes, I could have prepared for them.

But I did not!!

Not wanting to wreck my body, I just ran/walked up them.  It seemed that the better runners ran the whole race at a consistent pace.

There was a water stop around mile 2.  I wasn’t thirsty yet but I stopped as an excuse to walk.

Mile 3-6.2::

The third mile was great, as you find yourself flying down Hawes and then Weaver Road…

but then there’ was the turnaround and the fourth mile has you climbing back up.

There was a clock at the 5k point and it said 32-33 minutes.  Not bad I thought with all that walking…

But the hills seemed longer and harder.  Or maybe my legs were getting tired. I tried to run/walk up the hills. But I may have been walking longer than the first half the race.

Another water stop around mile 4, this time I was thirsty.. I actually felt warm. I had taken off my gloves  (and a short sleeved shirt would have been fine.)

As I mentioned above, I was running alone… At least the course marshals were supportive and cheered runners on. (Being on country roads, there were no spectators.)

Eventually we turned into the school parking lot and I gave it all that I had as I crossed the finish line (at around 1:05:xx).

As soon as you crossed the finish line, they handed you a raffle ticket.

Post Race Activities:

I was actually please with my time.  It wasn’t the old me but not even a PW.

Since this was my first time running this race, it was a course PR.

I grabbed some water and went inside.

Many of the runners were already finished and so they started calling out raffle numbers.  If you won, you got to pick out some running clothes (shirt, jackets, hats, shorts, etc.)

I didn’t win….

For refreshments, there was homemade soup, bread, pastries, food and coffee. (I sampled it all.)

Due to the size of the race (56 runners!), the age group awards were for 10 year age groups.

Anne won in her AG.

Carolyn and I won in ours.

What’s worse than getting a generic medal?

a ribbon

Additional Race Reflections:

The race was on country roads with practically no traffic.  It was well organized and I would recommend it you enjoy a challenge.

Positives:

• Well organized race
• Well marked scenic course
• Some familiar faces
• Free photos
• Only $15 for newbies
• real restrooms
• indoor place to wait before the race and hang out after
• raffle prizes (race apparel)
• perfect running weather

Negatives:

• Hills, hills, hills
• No local running friends
• 10 year age group awards
• no spectators
• low attendance

Would I recommend this race?

All in all, this was a fun race. The hills were a challenge but I’ve seen and experienced worse.

Final Stats:

Next Up:

May 2.

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? Please share.

Since today is Tuesday, I’m linking up with Zenaida (The Running Teacher) and Jenn (Runs with Pugs).

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