I had taken a break from this race and then a few years ago, I started running it again…

This year was actually the 8th time that I had run this race.

I ran it back in 2010!!

Yes, 16 years ago! I ran with Amanda, a running friend at that time.

This is the race where I met a new running BRF Mary. We ran many races together after that. When she eventually moved to Palm Springs, I visited her there twice.

Then I ran it again in 2016. I knew a lot of runners by then. And it was even more fun.

My time back in 2010 was 29:40 but improved to 28:47 in 2016.  Both years, I was 2nd in my age group (won a cap, then gloves).

2022? 6 years later. Anything could happen… no expectations.

A course PR! 28:43

The good news in 2023 was that Carolyn didn’t turn 70 until later in the year.

But my time was slower: 29:11 (GT).

In 2024, I had a course PW with a 31:10 (GT) finish!

And last year, I improved a little (30:10)….

As I mentioned in each race recap this year, I expect a PW.

It’s all good.

I’m thrilled when I am ABLE to race.

My friend Heidi said that she would be running it with me again. It is always fun to run a race with a friend.

Pre-Race Preparations and Activities:

Two weekends ago, I ran a 10k in NYC

and I really haven’t run at all since then.

My Achilles had been sore and my chiro recommended that I rest it.

I’ve walked a few trails and that’s it.

Obviously that’s not how I planned to prepare for this race and the races to come…

I was nervous about racing and making things worse but I decided I had would go and decide what to do that morning – cheer, walk, walk/run, run?

Race Day:

I dragged myself out of bed and had my usual race breakfast (coffee and oatmeal).

My friend Heidi again had signed up along with a few others that we knew.

And for once we had nice weather!!

The race was scheduled to start at 9 am and I got there around 8:30 to pick up my bib.

In addition to the shirt, each runner got 4 tickets to a baseball game.

I went back to my car to get rid of the shirts and tix and returned to the stadium to hang out and chat with runners that I knew. The conversation revolved around what should I do???

I decided that I would run slowly (ego in check) and see how things felt. I could always walk. And fingers crossed that I didn’t make it worse (since I had a big 15k in 3 weeks).

Below is the course map and elevation:

As I mentioned above, it had been 2 weeks since I ran a 10k. But the weeks before that I ran a 5k and a 10 miler. All with that sore Achilles.

I was hoping that my time off from running would bring good news and running this race was the right decision.

My only race goal was to finish … zero expectations of a fast finish time or an age group award.

As you can see from the pics above, this race began and ended at the home of the Valley Cats, a local baseball team that plays at Joe Bruno Stadium in Troy, NY, on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College.

There was no chip timing at the start line so I probably should have moved closer to the front (but I didn’t really think about it…)

Mile 1:

The race began in the parking lot and then we ran around the outside of the stadium before heading into the neighborhoods. (A different but similar start to last year.)

I had started with several friends but they quickly got ahead and kept gaining on me as the race went on. My goal became to just keep them in sight and cut as many tangents as possible.

I don’t remember much about the first mile other than I was dragging. My pace was much slower than usual… but I wasn’t in pain so I continued in that vein.

I think I willed myself to run and not walk… until a hill or a water stop.

Mile 2:

Finally there was a water stop around mile 1.5 so I walked a bit. The neighborhoods were rolling hills but nothing too bad until one steep one during the second mile.  I tried to run up it but the legs just weren’t having it. So I ran/walked it.

My legs weren’t tired but I found myself out of breath… pollen, lack of sleep, out of shape, sore Achilles? All of the above?

And was there a mile 2 marker or did I miss it?

Actually I don’t think there were ANY mile markers.

Mile 3-3.1:

A few more walks, I think. And then there was a welcome downhill during mile 3.

We finished the race inside the stadium and I gave it everything (which wasn’t much at this point).

I didn’t expect a course PR and finishing under 30 minutes is just an unrealistic dream..

As I approached the finish line, 34 turned to 35 minutes and then I crossed…

Post Race Activities:

I may have come to accept my lack of speed because I was not really disappointed in my time.

Unfortunately, now my Achilles really was sore and I was limping…

At that moment, it didn’t seem like a good idea to have run the race.

I waited for Heidi to finish and we took more pictures.

We headed for the food. There was a decent spread: bagels, popcorn,, bananas, apples, coffee, water. There was also a barbecue. I also had a hot dog and pasta salad.

Everyone whom I talked to before the race seemed to have a good race. Some finished ahead of me and some after.

I checked the results and I did win an award as did several of my friends.

So we waited around for the awards ceremony (which took place after the kids race.)

There were only 2 in my age group so even if I walked, I would have won. LOL

Additional Race Reflections:

When I dragged myself out of bed that morning, I was nervous about running this race.

As usually happens, I connected with some awesome people, finished the race and don’t regret it one bit. (I iced my foot, soaked in the hot tub and as the day went on it felt better and better.  Time will tell… And PT.)

You may question why I ran it…

Mentally I needed to…

And if I walked it, I would still be wondering if I COULD run and how much pain I would be in after.

Positives:

• Ample parking.
• Well marked course.
• Lots of familiar faces.
• 4 free tickets to a game as swag
• Interesting course (through the neighborhoods and finish in a baseball stadium)
• Friendly and abundant number of volunteers.
• Free photos
• Decent post-race food
• Creative age group award

Negatives:

• Gun time (not chip timed)
• Hills (but don’t most races)
• Unisex tee shirts
• No mile markers
• Lack of preparation and sore Achilles

Would I recommend this race?

Yes. Yes. It’s a nice local race. And very well organized. Maybe someone will twist my arm to run it again next year. LOL.

Final Stats:

Gun Time = 35:18
Garmin Time = 34:xx (I didn’t stop my watch right away)

Yes, a course PW (maybe a 5K PW) but a happy one.

Next Up:

Happy Running!  How did you celebrate Father’s Day Weekend? Running any summer 5ks? Please share.

I signed up for the Mastercard NYC Mini 10k for several reasons:

• I love NYC.
• I love running in Central Park.
• I ran this race last year and enjoyed it.
• All woman’s race – so inspiring.
• Elite runners do it! (Last year Fiona O’Keeffe, Emily Sisson, Dakotah Lindwurm, Sara Hall, Molly Huddle, Jessica McLain, Nell Rojas and others ran it.)
• 10k is one of my favorite distances.
• No Harlem Hill for this race (just Cat Hill & 3 sisters).
• I convinced 4 local running friends to do it and we all got in!!!!

Training:

If you follow my posts, you also know that I am not strict about following a training plan. But I do try to do those 3 weekday short runs.  Unfortunately this year, my Achilles had been troublesome so I went to the chiro and only ran a few miles on Thursday…

but did get in some longer runs on the weekend (although the weekend before this race, it was only a 5k race): 5k- 10m – 10m

I knew about the HILLS that would taunt me during the race. I have run in this park and I ran the Shape Half Marathon, Fred LeBow Half twice, Central Park Half and many other shorter races (see pics below).

I even ran this race last year but I don’t remember much about it.

I had always wanted to run this race. However, it often conflicted with the Run for Women 5k or work. I finally got in in 2020 and then it was cancelled due to COVID. I logged on and crossed my fingers and got in last year.

This year, I convinced four of my local running friends to do the same.

And we ALL got in!

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

We all took an early train to Manhattan, dropped our bags at our hotel, grabbed lunch

and headed to NYRR Run Center to pick up our bibs and race shirts.

It’s hard to rest your legs when in NYC.

It was brutally warm so we spent the rest of the afternoon at the Arte Museum (which was amazing).

Then returned to check into our hotel to check in and change clothes.

I was intend on enjoying myself and even had a drink before dinner…

and during (A race no no for me usually.) Though I did carb load with pizza.

Back at the hotel , I prepared for the next day and tried to get some sleep.

Race Day:

With many tourists partying before, during and after the Knicks game (and other NYC noise), I got very little if any sleep.

So around 5:00 am, I groggily ate my usual race breakfast of oatmeal and coffee that I had brought with me.

The perks of repeating a race was that I was relaxed regarding all the logistics.

Our hotel was on West 39th and 8th Avenue. We decided to do what I did last year and leave super early (6:30 am) and take the subway from 35th St & 8th Ave.

And it was crowded with runners!

We got off at 86th and followed all the runners to the start at 90th.

It was already warm. No need to worry about bag check or throw-aways.

I was in corral I and my friends in J, K, L. We joked that we had a mile shake out before reaching the start line.

We got there early but the time passed quickly.

Eventually we separated and entered our own corrals but made plans to meet somewhere near the finish line after the race.

Everyone was so friendly and excited about the race (though very worried about how hot it was already.)

My Race Plan:

Do not get injured!!  (Hopefully my Achilles will cooperate.) And most importantly, have fun!!

I would most likely do a lot of walking… because there would be hills!!

I planned to stop and walk briefly at every water stop (so I wouldn’t get dehydrated) and to stop and walk longer to eat a gel around mile 4.

I was worried about the heat so I brought salt chews and took 2 before the race and planned take 2 more at the halfway point.

My estimated finish time would be around 1:15 (far from my 57:xx PR at this distance) and most likely slower than last year (1:07:18.)

Yup, expecting a PW but always hoping for better.

Anyway, here’s how the race went:

Course Map:

Elevation  according to Strava:

Miles 1-3:

As I mentioned above, I started in Corral I.

After the National Anthem, the wheelchair racers started, then the elites.

It only me took 5-10 minutes to get to the start line (though it felt longer.).

We started running on Central Park West (W90th St) and eventually entered the park at 72nd.

I was feeling good but tried to keep it slow due to the weather conditions. I also tried not to worry about my sore Achilles. It wasn’t painful but I felt like my gait was off and that I was running slower as a result.

Once in the park, we ran south. I think I ran until the first water stop about 1.5m in before I walked… I was sweating (and I rarely sweat). There were misting stations at each water stop. Boy, were they a welcome sight.

Eventually we turned and ran up the east side of the park.

It was crowded but I didn’t really need to weave in and out. I was not running that fast and for my pace, many runners walked intermittently.

As the race went on, the heat/humidity made me feel weaker and so I paced myself by walking up the hills and sprinting whenever I had enough energy.

There was a 2nd water stop around the 5k point… Two cups this time (one to drink and the other to pour on me) plus the misting station.

Miles 4-6.2:

Once we reached 102nd St, we looped around and headed back on the west side of the park toward 72nd where the race would finish.

I finally ate my Gu at the next water stop (around mile 4.5).

And now came more hills.

I am pretty sure I walked more the 2nd half of the race.

I didn’t care. I just wanted to finish upright.

I did give it my all on any straight away and/or downhills.

I decided I’d better eat 2 more salt chews.

I think there was one more water stop (around mile 5.5) and I lingered even longer than the previous ones.

It wasn’t just me. With this heat, it seemed by the crowds at the station stop that every runner was stopping and drinking.

I did feel good enough to sprint across the finish…

I didn’t check my time until much later.  It didn’t matter.

Post Race Activities:

I immediately got my medal, grabbed a heavy bag of food (water, Gatorade, apple, pretzels, bar…)

It was insanely crowded. Since I was finished before my friends, I waited in a long line and got some flowers

and posed for a quick pic.

I then moved to the stage area and texted my friends to meet me there.

There were lots to do if you wanted to fight the crowds and wait in lines: get autographs for the elites, get your medal signed, get an ice pop, go in the recovery tent, etc.

Once everyone had finished, we took a pic and headed out of the park.

As we exited the park, it was so inspiring to see all the runners happily finishing their race.

As we were waiting outside Starbucks, I spotted Elizabeth Clor.  I follow her on IG and so I fangirled and asked for a photo.

We took a crowded subway back to our hotel, showered, changed, checked out of the hotel but left our bags there.

We had reservations for a celebratory  lunch…

and then headed to the theatre.

We had enough time before our train to enjoy a delicious dessert.

Additional Race Reflections:

Running in the heat/humidity may not have been exactly fun. But at least without the rain this year, I could enjoy the pre and post-race experience. It was so much more fun sharing it with friends.

I was happy with my finish time. Yes, it was a 10K PW and more than 8 minutes slower on the same course last year.

but it was exactly what I expected on this course, with a sore Achilles and in these weather conditions.

Enough whining…I am so grateful to be able to visit NYC and run a race. And a race that included only women was just icing on the cake.

I am unbelievably happy that after the race, although my Achilles was sore, it wasn’t more sore than after previous races…

All in all, I thought this was a fun race.

The Good:

• Easy packet pick-up at Run Center and also race morning in the park).
• NYRR sponsored events before race day.
• Cool neon tank
• Bag Check if needed.
• Water at almost EVERY mile.
• Misting stations at each water stop
• Many porta-potties along the course in addition to real CP bathrooms
• Well marked course.
• Timing Clock at every mile.
• No Harlem Hill.
• Great crowd support!
• Los of volunteers as course marshals and at water stops
• Very cool medal.
• Immediate results.
• Flowers and other post-race perks.
• No Blisters.
• Racing with friends!!
• NYC activities before and after.

The Bad:

• HEAT!.
• Hills in Central Park. I did not do any training on hills (my bad).
• 6.3 miles (not 6.2)
• Not 100%  physically (sad Achilles)

Would I recommend this race?

Yes.

Do it if you can.  You won’t regret it (unless you hate hills lol).

No, it’s not an easy course. Only a little over 10,000 women runners usually participate so not a big race by NYC standards. And not an expensive one.

Final Stats:

Next Up: