This was an impromptu sign up.  Many of my races are.  I have not been motivated to run lately so I figured a race would get my running mojo going.

I also had a birthday party to go in Saratoga so I figured that I could run more, hang out and then change my clothes for the party.

Anyway, I did run the inaugural Saratoga Springs Half Marathon two years.  I hated the loop and didn’t even consider running that race again (even though my friend Alyssa was running it.)

The course is the same as the beginning of the half:

The 5K course starts in with a lap around the Peerless Pool Parking Lot, turns right on East West Road, and then right onto Geyser Loop Road. The course then turns left to run a lap around the SPAC Parking Lot and returning to Geyser Loop Road. The course finishes by turning right onto East West Road and finishing with a lap of the Peerless Pool Parking Lot.

Most of the runners were racing the half marathon which started at 7:30 am.  There was a very small 5k field. But I still needed to get there early in order to get parking even though the 5k didn’t start until 8 am.

Rain was predicted but when I got there, it wasn’t raining.  It was very humid and it looked like the rain may hold off.

I bumped into my friend Tom and we took our same goofy picture.

We watched the half marathoners take off.  (I did see Alyssa and hugged her for good luck.)

And then the rains came…in full force.

We all huddled under shelter and didn’t want to leave.

Eventually, we had to move to the start line.

And so we started in the pouring rain and ran around the grass (not fun and very shaky footing) and then through the finish line before we exited and ran around the Peerless Pool Parking Lot.

This part of the course was not the least bit interesting but with all the twists and turns, I at least tried to run the tangents to save time.

Next we ran on the park’s roads which were pretty and encountered the first hill.  I actually ran up most of it and didn’t walk until the first water stop around mile 1 1/4.

The we ran a lap around the SPAC Parking Lot which was again pretty boring.

Soon we were back on the scenic roads and I again walked at the second water stop around mile 2.

Mile 3 had the biggest hill.  My legs were tired so I walked, then ran a little and finished the hill walking. I wasn’t paying attention to my Garmin and was pretty sure that I was going to have a pretty rotten finish time but really didn’t care.

It was still raining but not as hard.

The course finally finished with another lap of the Peerless Pool Parking Lot before running on the grass to cross the finish line.

I looked at the clock. But all I saw was the half marathon time.

I got my medal (the same one the half marathoners get) and walked to see the results.  They print them out and you know right away if you won your age group and you pick up your award there.

Believe or not, I won my age group.  (Well, not shocking really since this was a small race and many locals were running the Boilermaker or this half.) And my finish time was decent.  In fact, if I hadn’t walked 4 times, I may have PRed. (My current 5k PR is 27:11)

Tom won, as well.

At this point, it was raining harder than ever.  So I grabbed some food and my umbrella and headed back to my car.

There was no way that I was running anymore in the rain or waiting around. So I drove and by time I got home, it was sunny.  I tried to get in some more miles but it was so humid that I quit after 3 sluggish miles.

I showered and changed my clothes and drove back to Saratoga to a miniature golf party – lots of food and lots of fun. I even won second lowest score.

So another race has come and gone.  For some reason, I need to walk several times even during a 5k.  I never used to. Am I running too fast?  Am I just not fit enough?  Or is my age catching up with me?

Whatever the reason, I still enjoy the 5K race challenge. Besides, I don’t do any speed workouts so I should be happy with my not so speedy race results.

Splits:

mile 1 – 9:14
mile 2 – 9:22
mile 3 or so- 8:54 ( I ran the tangents & didn’t stop my watch right away)

Happy Running! Any races lately?  Do  you feel guilty if you walk during a race?