When I first started running, this race was one of my favorite 5ks. I ran it in 2008, 2009, 2010.

It’s funny how things have changed. AJH was trying to convince me to run a longer race than a 5k. Since then I have completed over 60 half marathons.

My 5k time back in 2010 was 29:34.

After 5 years off (from this race), I ran it again in 2015. And my time was 28:41. So things hadn’t changed that much (but I started to wear running skirts instead of shorts).

I enjoyed this race so much that I re-added it to my summer racing list and ran it again in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019,  (28:27, 27:37, 27:28, 28:18)

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

Due to the Pandemic, they discontinued this races for 3 years.

This year, the organizers of the Firecracker 4 race took over this race and I decided to sign up.

Here is the map for the course that I ran in past years:

15 turns in this course!!

Here’s the 2023 course:

Race Day:

The race started at 8 am.

This being the opening weekend of the Saratoga Flat Track, believe it or not, there would already be a lot of traffic at that hour.

My running friends Deirdre and Kevin were running the race too so we planned to meet at Leah’s so we could have brunch there after the race (and maybe meet up with other friends.)

I got up at 5:15 am (after a sleepless night thanks to my cat….) and had my usual race breakfast of coffee and oatmeal.

Kevin drove us and we left at 6:40 in order to get there early enough to get parking and pick up our bibs.

We got the last spot in a nearby lot, picked up our bibs/shirts and then left the shirts in the car.

There were about 500 runners at this race (I think there had been more in previous years.). So I bumped into quite a few familiar faces.  This is one of things I enjoy most about racing…its social element.

The weather was warm … around 70 at the start and VERY humid, I just hung around and chatted with other runners that I recognized.

 

Soon it was time to line up.

I stood somewhere in the middle. This race attracts many speedy runners and I didn’t want to get run over…

Mile 1:

I always feel like I start out fast but it still seemed like everyone was passing me by…because they were. My legs felt dead.

But my biggest problem again was the humidity (and yes, I know that it’s like this in most places and worse in Florida)..

At least it was mostly cloudy because there was very little if any shade on the course.

Mile 2:

By the second mile, I was really wanting to walk… I was hoping to wait until the water stop which was about half way.

nothing exciting about the course…just around the neighborhood – pic from 2109’s Saratogian

Now that they changed the course by having an out and back on one street, I was able to cheer on Kevin (who was way ahead) and then Deirdre who was behind me.

I did appreciate those folks who put sprinklers out… I ran through each one!

I made it to the water stop and walked (for probably too long)… but I felt a lot better after.

Mile 3-3.1:

By mile 3, I was really fading but I continued to make sure to hit the tangents (there were 15 of them!!)

Finally we turned the last corner…

I tried to get up enough energy to sprint through the finish line. I had hoped to finish under 28 minutes… but nope..

I crossed at 28: XX.

Post Race Activities:

I felt very shaky and grabbed a bottle of water and sat down.

I was not even hungry (which is odd for me after a race). There were only donuts and cookies. I nibbled at a donut but threw most of it away.

They posted the results pretty quickly and I saw that I came in 2nd in my age group.

Kevin had already finished but went out to run more miles… Soon Deirdre finished.

We waited for the awards ceremony.  I got a nice medal. It always feels great when you win an award (even if you didn’t run well.)

Then we left to return to Leah’s for brunch (now I was starved) and met up with a friend who had walked there.

Additional Race Reflections:

Yes, it was an early morning and a long drive. And yes, it should have been a 7 mile long run as part of my marathon training.

But races challenge me and I think it’s important to challenge oneself.

Otherwise, my runs are slow and easy and I squeeze them in whenever I can. I also run with friends, some faster, some slower and always with run walk intervals.

So I don’t regret running this 5k.  Though it wasn’t a 5K PR or course PR, it actually was a faster finish than 2019! That makes me happy.

Positives:

• Well organized race
• Well marked course with many course marshals
• Flat course
• Lots of familiar faces.
• Immediate results
• 5 year age groups for awards

Negatives:

• No longer get free tickets to the race track
• Not sure it raised money for a charity (used to be for Special Olympics)
• Last minute course change and so it was not certified
• 15 turns!!
• Hot and Humid!
• Only cookies and donuts post race (no bagels or fruit)
• Unisex shirts

Would I recommend this race?

Maybe…

All in all, this was a fun race. Besides all the turns, the race course is pretty flat. It is well-organized.

Not sure if I would run it again because it is not nearby.

In past years, I added more miles after the race a nearby park (and so at least it counted as a long run.)

Final Stats:

Next Up:

Maybe another 5k or two.

Then:

Happy Running! Did you race this weekend? Do you have a big races coming up? Do you run short races even when you are training for a big long race? Please share.

 

 

 

 

 

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There is now a link-up organized by Zenaida and Kim (Kooky Runner).

Since today is Tuesday, I’m also linking up with these ladies.

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I’m also linking up here:

with co-hosts Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, Runs with Pugs, and Laura Norris