This race is always a lot of fun. It sells out fast so I always sign up early. I have done it in 2010, 2011 and 2012.  2010 was my best attempt. In 2011, I fell near the end and in 2012, it was my first race back after my stress fracture. Nonetheless, you do this race for fun, not time.

Normally you get windbreakers (I have yellow, orange and blue ones).  This year, we got a long-sleeve G-Force wicking fabric shirt.

Also the course changed for the first time. The new course route starts on Washington Ave and proceeds through Capital Holiday Lights in Washington Park, and ends on State Street.

As in past years, the race starts with 15 minutes of fireworks and then you run through the lights in the park.

Photos from last year:

This year, the weather was the coldest it’s been.  Teens and single digits with the wind chill. Yikes!  To make matters worse, a snowstorm was predicted. Snow starting in the evening.  I kept my fingers crossed that it would not snow hard until I was done. (Remember I fell in this race on dry turf.)

My friend Mary Pat signed up for this race and we had decided to go together. But she lives in the hill towns and was afraid to drive in this awful weather.  So I begged my hubby to drive me.

Since I was afraid that the snow would prevent me from running on Saturday and on Sunday, I decided to run this morning before the snow.

Yes, it was freezing!!  And I only ran 4 miles rather than my usual weekend 8 in case, I was going to the race in the evening.  I knew my legs would be tired and then I wouldn’t be stupid enough to run fast and possibly fall. I could just walk and take photos and have fun.

And that’s what I planned.

I bundled up wearing 2 pairs of gloves, 2 pairs of socks, 3 layers and a hat.  I hoped that I would not freeze to death.  I also decided on wearing my YakTrax.  That way I wouldn’t worry about slipping and falling.

My hubby agreed to drive me to the race.  He always does for this race since he has a free parking pass from an old  job.  This time it didn’t work so we drove around looking for parking.  Eventually he just dropped me off at the Empire State Plaza since it was getting late. He would park the car underground and meet me after the race near the band & refreshments.

It was kinda late so I sprinted through the mall which wasn’t easy wearing YakTrax.  I found the start just as the fireworks were beginning.

They were really good this year because you had a better view with the new start.

Then headed to the start.  It was very crowded.  I thought I was at the back but I was facing the wrong way and I was in the front.  The race was crowded the whole time.  It was also snowing the whole race.

I didn’t wear my Garmin and I didn’t care at all about time.  I tried to run (yes run) at a steady pace and slow enough not to fall on the slippery ground.

There were clocks at miles 1, 2 and 3 so I knew that I was running at a slower pace but I was shocked that it wasn’t as slow as I thought.

The lights in the park are spectacular but it was more fun with runners dressed up in costumes and many seeing them for the first time this year. (I have run through this park several times already.)

I only walked once and I really didn’t need to. Even though I had run 4 miles earlier, I was not tired. My legs felt good.

Unfortunately, there were no fireworks while crossing the finish line like last year but I was very pleased with my time (33:16 ) considering the conditions.

I ran this race faster than last year and I was trying to run slow.

I went inside to find my hubby.  No ice cream this year.  Maybe it was too cold.  I didn’t win any raffle prizes or AG award so we left quickly and headed to Applebees – my hubby’s reward for driving me to the race in a blizzard.

So this was be my last race of 2013.  I signed up for a free one tomorrow.  I’ll see how much snow we get overnight.

Happy Running! Anyone one else running a holiday race?