There were several different race options for today. Some I had run before and some I had not.

I decided on Whipple City in Greenwich because I had heard good things about the race and it was north so I could possibly continue up to the lake afterward. Also two of my running group friends usually run the 5k.

There was also a hillier 10k option but I decided to run the 5k and then add more miles after (if my legs and the weather cooperated.)

As I may have mentioned many times, I recently PR’d for the half marathon but my 5ks have stagnated for years… Most of 5ks times have been 27:XX and in cool weather on flatish courses.  If I didn’t have those conditions (like today), my times would be slower but hopefully faster than 30 minutes.

So today, I planned to run at a consistent pace and enjoy the course. I hadn’t done any speed drills in about month so no PR goals for this race. Depending on who showed up, I may have even been able to snag an age group award.

I probably wasn’t thinking clearly because going to this race, which started at 8:30 am, meant that I had to leave my house at no later than 6:45 am.  According to Google, it was going to take 1h 9min.  There were local races that started later and only 15 minutes away. (Crazy lady I am!)

So I got up earlier on a Saturday than I do on a normal work day (Oh, the things we runners do…) and found the location with no problem.

The weather was cloudy, warm and very humid with showers/thunderstorms forecast for later in the day. I wore my normal summer running outfit of a skirt and a tank. We got a gender-specific tech shirt which I went back to store in my car.

In no time at all, I spotted my two running group friends, Holly and Jackie. They wanted to do a warm up run but I declined.  (Gotta save my legs for the race and after, right?.)

So I hung around the school and chatted with a few other women that I knew.  It was a fairly small crowd. About 100 running the 5k and only about 15, I think, in the 10k.

The race was described as “a scenic course past village homes and beautiful countryside in Greenwich, NY” and the course (see map below) as out & back, mixed flat & hills, roads.

 

Both Holly and Jackie, who have run it, before confirmed that the 5k started out uphill and then there were rolling hills but a pretty course.

We started near the front since it was not chip timed and soon after the rifles (above) were fired, we were off.

Whenever I run with Holly, I know not to try to keep up.  She always starts out fast and she beat me by 3 seconds in the Freihofer;s 5k but I have beaten her in the past.

And true to form, out ahead she went.  My legs felt like I was running in cement.  Maybe I should warm-up??  Uphill I dragged myself and tried to keep Holly in view.

Then I realized I never started my watch.  Oh, well. Another naked race!

It seems to bother me more not knowing my pace in a short race for some reason.  There’s not a lot of time and I don’t know if I should slow down or speed up.

The worst part of the race was the humidity…UGH!!

There was water around mile 1.25 and I took a quick drink.  But when I passed it the water again on the way back, I stopped and walked for a while.

I wasn’t far behind Holly until that walk. But I knew that she usually loses some steam toward the end (which she did).

I caught up to her but didn’t have enough left to pass her.

She beat me by 3 seconds!  Again!!

My time was 27:30. (No split times to share 😦 )

I was pleased.  It was faster than I thought I would run this race. And I thank Holly for pacing me.

We hung around waiting for the 10kers to finish and then watched the kids run the 1K.

Of course, I treated myself to two cups of chocolate milk and two donuts.

Holly and I are in the same age group. She got first and I got second.

All in all, it was an enjoyable race.  I’m not sure I will run it again because of the driving distance (and the awards are only a ribbon) but maybe.

My hubby decided to not go boating until the next day so I had all the time in the world to do more running. Besides,  I did have a 10 mile race in a week (and lots of rain forecast for the coming week.)

So I drove to Saratoga Spa State Park and planned on running at least 6 miles.

Unfortunately, my legs did not agree with the plan.   They were soooo tired. That is very unlike me.  I don’t even feel that way after a half marathon.

I’m not sure why…humidity? lack of sleep? stress at work?  fast 5k???

Anyway, I tried to run.  But I had to walk…a lot and quit after 5 miles.  I guess it was better than driving home and taking a nap.

Isn’t the park beautiful?  Mineral springs, waterfalls, trails, etc.

Happy Running! Anyone race this weekend?