June 11, 2019 7 pm

Another trip to NYC for work and a 5k in Brooklyn. This was my first one this year. Usually I run the cheap ones organized but the Prospect Park Track Club (Al Goldstein Summer Speed Series).

But this week, NYCRuns offered a 5k on a similar course and you know how I feel about racing.

Ice Cream Social 5k

This race was the first annual Building Brooklyn 5K. I raced their first annual Ice Cream Social 5k here last June.  The course map seemed to indicate that this race was on the SAME course.

Again I had to work all day in Queens (getting up at 5:30 am and being on my feet until 4 pm). I would have to rush to take the subway, then the LIRR, walk to my hotel and change my clothes and then take a LONG subway ride (standing) to Brooklyn.

I was familiar with the route and knew that I would make the race on time (unless there were snafus with the transportation.) So I got off at the same subway stop in Brooklyn as usual (which was not the closest one but one that I knew) and made my way through the park looking for signs indicating a race.

No signs but I bumped into a fellow runner from SC and we chatted about our work travel and racing obsession.

We asked volunteers and found the gathering area and bib pick up.  It was a different location than the Al Goldstein 5ks. There were port-a-potties instead of real restrooms (but actually real ones were not too far away, if needed.)

I got my bib and race shirt and hung out at one of the many picnic tables.

It was warm – in the 70s and humid. I checked a bag with a jacket (not sure why?) and the race shirt at bag check.

It was still fairly early. As in my other Brooklyn races, I did not know a single person. So I ate a banana and some cookies and chatted with my hubby on my phone.

Then they had a yoga session. It was pretty fun.

Soon it was time for everyone to walk down to the start. There were corrals set up according to pace. I lined up in the 8-8:59 min group. But it didn’t really matter since this race was also chip-timed.  There were serious runners as in the PPTC-sponsored 5ks but there seemed to be many more “regular” runners in this “team” race. About 500 in total.

This race was like a mini Workforce Challenge. The goal being having teams from Brooklyn and NYC businesses out there running or walking together. I just love this idea. I bet they will have even more participants next year. And all the proceeds go to charity.

Since I had run the course before, I knew about the big LONG hill during mile 1.  In fact, I ran up that hill THREE times during the Hot Chocolate 15k in April.

I was beat from a long day’s work on my feet. Otherwise I felt fine, was not hungry and the weather was warm and humid but I’ve run in much worse conditions. So I decided that I would try to RUN up the whole hill. In fact, if possible RUN the whole race.  I know it is only a 5k, but I often walk even during my shorter races.  I find that often finish faster if I do than when I don’t walk at all.

So how did that work???

Mile 1 was hard.  My legs felt like lead.  (Probably should have warmed up before the race.) I tried to not walk. But that stupid hill won. I caved and walked/ran up it.

Mile 2 was better and I wanted to skip the water stop. But I was really thirsty and decided I’d better stop. This walk was briefer than the first. I then tried to make the time lost during mile 1. And I did.

As a result, I was crashing during mile 3. I willed myself not to walk until the mile 3 marker. Then I decided to just finish…

I tried to sprint and finish under 28 minutes. I did NOT!! But I was close and was actually winded when I finished. So I promptly grabbed some water. Pretty rare since I never put it all out there unless I am trying for a PR.

I walked back to bag check to get my jacket and race shirt (which I put on). On the way, I grabbed some refreshments (banana and Chex mix) and then headed immediately to get my free ice cream.

Delish! Perfect on a a warm night.

They don’t post the results. But I did get an email with my time and it indicated that I won my age group (see above).  I was not surprised this time since I did not see many older racers.

As in all NYCRUNS races, there is no awards ceremony. They just mail you your award in about six weeks.

This is what they normally look like — pretty sweet?

So runners just hung out eating food from the food trucks and listening to the DJ.

I left and followed runners to subway. A long ride back to Manhattan but still glad I chose to run this 5k.

I was exhausted when I arrived at the race but energized after. Which is what I love about racing.

If I am around during this race next year, I plan to run it again.

Race Splits
mile 1- 9:29
mile 2 – 8:39
mile 3 – 9:06
.14 – 8:10

28:05

My negative split streak has been broken.

And it was slower than my previous race on the same course (27:30) Exactly a year ago.

I’ll have another opportunity in August to try and conquer that hill with one of the Al Goldstein 5ks.

I was still happy with how the race turned out. I love these mid-week races. It’s a great way to pass the evening in NYC.

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Since it’s Tuesday, I’m linking up with these wonderful ladies:

 Zenaida and Kim (Kooky Runner).

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I’m linking also up with Coaches Corner–Debbie and Marc.

Happy Running! Ever run a race while traveling for work? Do you ever run mid-week races?