This is the only race that I’ve run every year! This was my 19th time!!!!! (In 2020, it went virtual so actually my 18th in-person FRW race.)

It has always been held the Saturday after Memorial Day except in 2021, when due to COVID, the race was moved to September. In 2022, it again returned to its regular date.

My first FRW was in 2008 (my first year of running). At the time, it was the farthest I’d ever run:

I mentored a beginning running group of moms in 2010 which was very rewarding:

In 2012, it was my first run after serious ankle surgery:

I even ran it in 2013 after breaking my foot at mile 1:

And in 2019, it was the last race for my VT friend Andrea (who died of cancer).

As you can tell, there is a lot of history attached to this race for me.

In 2020, I was named an Ambassador. That honor continued through 2022.

Believe it not, I even chose to skip my high school reunion in 2022 in order to run this race!!

Then two years ago, they changed the name of the race!!

It’s now called the Sara Lee Delightful Run for Women.

Nevertheless, I knew that I would do this race (no matter what they called it).  I’m pretty sure I will always do this race!!

Unfortunately, in 2024, I had food poisoning the night before the race but I showed up and walked it with my friends.  And actually I had the most fun ever.

Last year, it poured and many of my friends did not go…

I did, of course.

Pre-Race Preparations and Activities:

As with this race every year, I never know what will happen… I could break my foot again (as I did in 2013) or could have a course PR as I did in 2018. Even have to walk the whole race. Most likely, it will just be a fun run with lots of women.

And this was also my tenth year participating in the Freihofer Training Challenge (TC).

This year, I decided again to become a Mentor.  I wanted to support all the runners who would be finishing their FIRST 5k. And connect with my “past TC” buddies, as well.

I volunteered on Wednesday evenings on the rail trail near where I live.

Many years ago, the day before I would walk to the Empire State Plaza concourse at lunch to go to the expo and pick up my race packet. They used to have a really big expo with vendors and health-related exhibits. But the past few years, they have held it at a local college.

As I did the past few years, I signed up to volunteer on Thursday evening at packet pick-up (and picked up my & Deb’s bib, shirt, cookies and bread)

and then I rushed off to my trail run.

The day before the race, I walked all day around the NY Botanical Gardens.  No rest for the weary.

Race Day:

I used to love to walk down Madison Avenue and see the race banners and see the giant poster on the bridge.

They changed the course nine years ago. This course is supposedly faster…less congested and has a less steep hill at the start and finish.

course map

I did run the newer course the past nine years and I also liked it better than the original..

Now this year, they decided to change it again but only slightly.

As I mentioned above, this was my 19th year for the race and I really wanted to continue my streak.

Most of my local running friends were not running the race this year. But Deb and I carpooled and parked in the parking garage. And for the second week in a row it was RAINING.

Being part of the Training Challenge group, I could hang out and stay dry and warm in their tent.

We all complained about the weather but knew that we would run the race no matter what.

Soon it was time to leave the tent for the Training Challenge group photo.

Though, I didn’t enjoy mentoring as much as I used to, I was happy to be part of this amazing group of women.

Then we returned to the tent and waited until the last moment to head out into the rain…

I was scheduled to start in the red corral and squeezed into the crowd. I had taken off my jacket and initially regretted it as I shivered waiting for the race to start.

The good news was that the rain had stopped but it was quite windy and chilly.

Mile 1:

The race began with a long steep uphill. And of course, it was super windy. With the new course, the hill was shorter. It was crowded but it was the wind that was the issue.

But I did run most of the hill… it was slow but I did it.

Mile 1 continued as we turned left and entered the park (and the hill ended).

There were rolling hills throughout the park. They were not bad and even I could run them without walking (but barely).

The worst part were all the potholes and cracks in the roads…And the puddles.  You had to weaving back and forth to avoid them and you had to keep your eyes peeled to the ground to make sure you didn’t trip.

Mile 2:

There was a water stop around mile 1.25. I wasn’t thirsty but I used it as an excuse to walk for a bit.

More rolling hills during this mile as you went around the park circling the lake. Only one of the hills was steep but it was very short.

I tried to pick up the pace for the second mile. I told myself that I would not walk until the next water stop but I did several times.

Soon we were getting toward exiting the park.

Mile 3-3.1:

There was a second water stop around mile 2.5. Again, I stopped for a drink (even though I didn’t need one) and walked longer than before.

Finally, we left the park and headed toward the street we started on.

It was a downhill (but unfortunately not as long as the previous course) and I had to remember not to start sprinting too soon. I’ve made that mistake in past years. Besides it was slippery from the rain.

Eventually I saw the 3-mile sign and I started to run as fast as I could while posing for the photographers and running though the finish line…

I crossed at 33:xx, a big PW…

I was surrounded by so many smiling faces.  It was hard to be disappointed.

Post Race Activities:

I got my medal and then headed toward the refreshments.  I grabbed a bagel, choclate milk and some pastries.

Then I returned to the tent to wait for Deb.

Our tent was next to the “elites'” tent but they were not there so they told us to grab some food – roast beef sandwich and potato salad 🙂

I checked my phone for the results.  5th in my age group. No award thisyear.

Additional Race Reflections:

Many runners were excited about their PR or their first 5k.. I may not have run a PR or even close. In fact, it was a course PW but I still really enjoyed myself.

Since I can never remember my finish times. I looked up my recent ones after the race.

• • 2014 – 28:51
  • 2015 – 29:22
  • 2016 -28:50
  • 2017 – 27:48
  • 2018 – 27:37 (PR)
  • 2019 – 27:47
  • 2021 – 28:16
  • 2022 – 28:24
  • 2023 – 29:41
  • 2024 – walked
  • 2025 – 31:28

I am pretty used to the fact that as I get older, I will be slower.  So my expectation for each race that I repeat is to have a course PW.

So this race did not disappoint and I had fun.

I guess I just enjoy racing.

When I checked the age group awards, I discovered that in my 70-74 age group, there were 50 runners!!! (So 5th out of 50 ain’t bad.) In the 75-79 group, 25 runners!! This makes me so happy!  One of many things I love about this all-women’s race!

I plan to keep on running it and walking it when I am not able to run.

Positives:

• Ample parking.
• Well marked course.
• Lots of familiar faces.
• Interesting course (through a beautiful park).
• Downhill finish.
• Friendly and abundant number of volunteers.
• Two water stops (for a 5k)
• The electric atmosphere.
• Virtual option.
• Free photos
• Immediate results
• Nice Swag for a 5k (tech shirt, medal, cookies, bread)
• Cool medal
• All women – all ages, all paces…

Negatives:

• Uphill first mile.
• Uneven pavement in the park
• Slow pace.
• Long line for the refreshments
• Name change (it will forever be called the Freihofer race)
• WEATHER!!!

Would I recommend this race?

Yes. Yes. It’s a great local race. And having it be ALL WOMEN makes it even more special.

Final Stats:

So FRW #19 is in the books!

The tradition is still alive! It was again a great local race with many women running or walking it. Can’t wait to do it again next year. I hope I can talk more of my local running friends into running it again too.

Next Up:

Happy Running! How was your weekend? Did you race? If so, how did it go? Do you have a favorite race that you run every year? Do you prefer 5ks or longer races?  Haveyou ever run an all-women’s race? Please share.

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and tomorrow:

I’m also linking up with: co-hosts Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, and Runs with Pugs