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TT: A Race I Run Every Year


This week’s topic is: Is there a race that you run every year? Tell us about it.
Um, yes.  I’ve run this 5k every year since I started running.  This year will be #17!!
FRW – 2008
FRW – 2009
FRW – 2011
FRW – 2012
FRW 2012
FRW – 2014
FRW – 2015
FRW – 2016
FRW – 2017
FRW- 2018
FRW 2019
FRW 2020 (virtual)
FRW 2021
FRW 2022
FRW 2023

Here are some of the reasons why I love this race and why I run it every year:

  • It is ALL women – all ages – all sizes – veterans  – newbies – elites – walkers

start

  • It is a real USATF race with Olympic runners in it. Joan Benoit Samuelson runs it most years. In 2017, Sara Hall also ran it and WON.

  • It feels so good to be a part of all the excitement. (There’s so much publicity and support in town.)
  • The results are printed in the local newspaper and even though I finish around 2000, I am happy if I finish in the top half.
  • I always meet someone I know and someone new. I have even met the mayor and another year, a blogger friend from VT.

with the mayor

  • Running it in 2008 (my first year running) made realize that I actually was a runner.
  • Being part of other runners’ first 5k in 2010 made me so proud. (I had mentored them.)
  • 2011 was my first FRW PR year. Then there was a drought and surprisingly I course PR’d in 2018.

  • Finishing it in 2012 (after serious ankle surgery) helped me believe that I could be a runner again. (My surgeon said I wouldn’t.)
  • I broke my foot at the beginning of the race in 2013 and still gutted out a finish under 30 minutes! (I guess “Pain is indeed temporary.”

  • In 2014, I ran as part of a team to raise money for a former student who was diagnosed with breast cancer. It made the race even more meaningful.
  • In 2015-2022,  I participated in the Freihofer Training Challenge Group. It was fun being part of a group.

  • Then in 2023 and 2024, I decided, instead, to become a mentor for the Training Challenge.

  • You run around Washington Park (a beautiful place to run.)

  • There is a lot of crowd support along the whole course.
  • It ends with a downhill! (love this!!!)

  • Everyone finishes with a smile.

3 generations

  • They give you a free box of Freihofer chocolate chip cookies and a loaf of bread (and chocolate milk)

  • Maybe I’ll make the newspapers again.. (I have several times!)
I’m the 2nd one on the bottom left

This 5k race is held on the first Saturday in June. So if you live near Albany, NY, come run it with me and 3,000 other awesome women runners!

This year, however, they have changed the sponsor.  It’s now called the Sara Lee Delightful RUN FOR WOMEN.  They tell me there still will be cookies. LOL.

Delightful Run for Women - Sat. June 1, 2024 at 9am

Happy Running! Is there a race that you run every year? Please share.

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Since today is Tuesday, I’m linking up with Zenaida (The Running Teacher) and Jenn (Runs with Pugs).

and tomorrow:

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

14 thoughts on “TT: A Race I Run Every Year”

  1. Ah, so this is the race you ran on a broken foot! Amazing!

    It looks like a great race, so much fun and excitement.

    I wonder why Freihofer exited such a good race? Let’s hope that the race will be just as successful as under the old sponsor. And that there are indeed cookies at the end!

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  2. Wow! 17 years! It sounds like an amazing race- I can see why you want to do it every year. i know you’ve had some disappointments and canceled races over the past couple years, but the timing always seems to be right for this one. And I’m sure there will still be cookies if Sara Lee is sponsoring it : )

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  3. I’ll be running my favorite race (DAM to DSM) for the 17th time that same weekend:-) I’ll be thinking of you & sending a virtual high-5 your way!

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  7. Sounds like a great race! There are a few that I’ve done several times, like a local 10 miler, 12 miler, and the Baltimore running festival which has a bunch of different distances. It’s nice to be familiar with the event!

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