Boy, there were a lot of races to choose from this weekend (about 15 including Sean’s Run, Kiwanis Classic, Lake George) but I have been trying to run new races. (If Mary were not in CA, she would have talked me into Sean’s.)

So this is another new race for me.  And an important cause.  I worked with someone for years who died of ALS.

Not sure if there would be cherry blossoms.  We have had a cold spring. The races advertised Sport Tek shirts for for runners, a raffle, and medals for top male and female finishers in the following age groups: 14 & under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 and up.  60 and up!! Boy do I feel old!

Afterwards, there would also be a craft fair and a barbecue.

I wasn’t sure if the course was hilly or flat but guessed it would be a combination.

So of course, I was hoping to break 30 minutes and maybe win an AG award. But my week day runs have been so slow, I never know what race day will bring. Of course, I stalked previous years’ results and if there were only one or two winners at 60-99, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

Yesterday, I was in the area so I stopped by to pick up my race packet.

Again, the weather was cooler than I would have liked.  But it wasn’t raining (like it did all day yesterday) when I left so I am not complaining. I wanted to wear a short sleeved top, skirt & compression socks but had to add another layer to stay warm.

The 1.5 mile walk started at 9 am and the 5K race started at 10:15.  In a email, it warned runners that this would be a record crowd and that parking would be a problem so I tried to get there early.

I drove the same way as I did to pick up my bib and planned on parking at the tennis courts in the park.  But although I was early for the race, the parking lot was blocked off. So I drove around the park and back out the other way trying to figure out where to go. (Good thing I left early.)

I wound up parking closer and on a street which was not part of the race route.

As soon as I got there, it started to drizzle and get colder. I put on a jacket and pants under my skirt and walked over to the race area.

As the start of the race got closer, I ditched my jacket, gloves & pants.

I headed to the start and bumped into someone that I met last November at a 5k.  We are in the same age group and we started talking about local races.

Then all of a sudden, everyone started moving.  Oops!  We weren’t near the front of over 500 racers & I forgot to start my Garmin.

I quickly started it and it took forever to find a signal,  I actually had to stop to turn it off and on.  (Great for my race time, right?  Oh, I forgot, this was a FUN race.)

It was pretty cool out.  My hands were cold but the rest of me was fine once I got moving.  The course had tons of twists and turns.  It made it interesting as you weaved through the neighborhood and then back around.

There were NO mile markers or timers.  Even so, I never looked at my watch.  The course was pretty flat except for mile 3 being mostly uphill. I didn’t walk nor did I stop for water.  I just tried to run a constant pace.

As I approached the finish line, I was shocked to see that I was UNDER 28 minutes!! I wish I had more energy to run faster at the end (or didn’t blow the beginning of the race.)

This could have been a PR!! (Oh right, it doesn’t matter!)

I did finish under 28 minutes – 27:51 (missed a PR by 22 seconds.)  But I was very happy.  There was the fastest that I’ve run a 5K since May 2011. So it’s a post surgically repaired ankle PR 🙂

I celebrated with some post-race refreshments:

And then walked around the craft fair.  I didn’t have any money which was good.

Then I looked at the results.  2nd in my Age Group!   What a surprise!

While I was waiting for the award ceremony, I recognized one of my former French students, Tricia.  She ran it with her son and is going to be running her first half marathon in the fall.

Race Splits: (2.93 miles – 27:05)

mile 1- 9:13
mile 2 – 9:21
mile 3 – 9:09

My Race Goals:

• run the whole thing without stopping –YES!
• finish under 30 minutes –YES!
• keep each mile’s pace under 10 minutes – YES!
• have fun! (do not have to win a AG award or have a PR) YES! and won an award!
• stay healthy! YES!

As I mentioned earlier in this post, I taught with someone who died from ALS, a terrible disease. At this race, there were 160 people running/walking to support a local news photographer, Gene, who was recently diagnosed with ALS. (I used to play on the same tennis team as his daughter.)

Afterwards, I had planned on stopping at the Nisky bike path for as many more miles as my legs could handle.

It started to rain but as I arrived in the parking lot it stopped.  It was colder than during the race so I put on my jacket and some capris.

So I ran 2 miles out and 2 back.  The first mile was great, the 2nd ok but the last 2 were crappy slow.

How did I finish the afternoon? A trip to Target. Nothing exciting..just groceries and then a nice home cooked dinner.

 Happy Running! How was your weekend? Did you run or race?