I wasn’t planning on running a race today.

Yesterday was a beautiful day…cold but beautiful. So on my rest day, I couldn’t keep myself indoors.  The problem was where to run.

The streets and sidewalks were slippery and snow-covered.

So I drove to a bike path hoping it would be clear.

It wasn’t.  Just part of it was so I couldn’t run very far and had to head out onto the streets.  But it was so nice out…

I came home wondering about whether or not I should go to my last Turkey Trot Group run this morning.  It is at the RPI campus and it is very hilly.  Would it be safe to run there?

So I did what any race-addicted runner would do, I signed up for a 5K.   I assumed that for a race, the course would be clear and I could get in a good run. (The group run started at 8:30 am and the race at 10 am…. it would be warmer, as well.)

I ran this race back in 2011 and finished at 28:11.

After running 9 miles in 2 days, I just wanted to get a good run in. I had no idea what my legs would be able to do.

And it was FREEZING!!! In the single digits when I got up and it warmed up to the teens when I left but the sun went in.

The race started at 10 am and I knew where it was so I left around 9:00 am. (I was glad that I decided not to run at 8:30 and got to sleep in and wait for it to “warm” up.)

I dressed similar to what I wore for the Turkey Trot except that I wore tights instead of capris & compression socks and a warmer hat plus a fleece vest as an extra layer.

Once I arrived, I realized that it started at the elementary school not at the church as it did last time.  I was hoping that the course was the same.

I remember that it was an out & back course on village and country roads and that it ended running uphill.

I hung out with some familiar faces….the 2 older women that run every weekend.  We chatted since I hadn’t seen them in a while.

we got gloves instead of a shirt

I also met a 40ish women who was running her second race.  She ran her first 5k with no training and finished in 27 minutes.  She was wondering about the course and how she could run fast.  I had a hard time relating to someone who thought 27 minutes was slow but I humored her.

Eventually we headed to the start.  There were close 200 runners. And we were all freezing while waiting to start.  I moved close to the front since there were no chips.

The course was pretty with the snow on the trees and the mountains (Helderbergs) in the distance.  It was cold!!! I had a hard time breathing or maybe it was the weariness in my legs but I didn’t feel like I could run fast.  My new “young” friend sprinted ahead but I could see her the whole time.

The course seem flatter than last time. (Maybe I am in better shape from all those hills in Troy.)  The problem was that you had to keep an eye out for icy spots and you couldn’t run the tangents since the turns were covered with ice.

I couldn’t wait to finish since my face was frozen & I couldn’t feel my fingers. I ran the whole thing.  I was too cold to stop for water. (There weren’t any volunteers. You had to pour your own.)

And as I suspected, this was one of my slower races of recent.  I crossed at 28:16. Not too shabby.  Things considered.

I went inside to warm up…there was only cookies, bananas & water.  The problem with non-chipped races is that it takes forever to figure out the awards.

In the meantime, they had raffles prizes. (I was one of the few who didn’t win.)

But I did win 1st in my age group! Yay!

Race Splits:

mile 1 – 8:54
mile 2 – 9:16
mile 3 – 9:19
.14 – 8:33

Being that I didn’t register until yesterday, I didn’t have any goals other than run a good race and have fun.

Despite the cold, I enjoyed the race and I am glad that I “ran off that turkey.”

I made these when I got home

Happy Running!  Did you run off that turkey?

It was nice that the race photographer captured my loss:

Yes I did lose to the cocky kid but finished in 29:49 and I won FIRST PLACE in my age group. (He only got 3rd.)

Happy Running!  Did you ever race anyone to the finish line?

I always like to race on Mother’s Day. It usually falls around my birthday so I feel I am celebrating that as well.

This is the first year that I was not running in the HMRRC’s Mother’s Day race. I liked it when it was close by and then it moved to Schenectady.

2011 in Delmar

Mary Pat & I at last year’s race in Schenectady

This race has great swag – bag, rose, chocolate fountain, etc.  I would have done it again if there wasn’t a closer race and beside, this is the year of running NEW races.

So today I ran a familiar course (same as last weekend’s) but a new race.

I convinced my friend, Mary Pat to run with me again this year. (She has been injured so wasn’t that enthusiastic.) Coincidentally, we both pulled into the parking lot at the same time so we walked over to get our bibs.  And I was still debating on whether or not to do the 5k or the 10K.

look at our bib numbers

The weather was picture perfect.  Blue skies and sunshine. A little warmer than I would have liked but I am not complaining. The sunshine was delightful. There was quite a breeze so that kept you cool.

I finally decided on the 5K.  It looked like there were very few running the 10K so I didn’t feel like running alone and it was warm. Also I left my Gu home and I don’t like to run over 5 miles without fuel. So I stuck with my original registration.

I bumped into Valerie again (a runner in my age group who runs many of the same races).  She said her goal is to someday “beat me.”  Great! Now I feel pressure!.

This race was low key. No chips and timing devices. A line on the sidewalk where you started and finished.

The race also started about 15 minutes late while they were marking the course.

Getting ready & starting my watch

As usual, I started off fast and waited to peter out.

beautiful day on the river…lots of fisherman

It was warmer than I was used to.  This was my first summer-like temp race.  It was exactly the same course as last weekend.

I was very very thirsty and held out until the turn around to stop for water and walk for awhile.  Ugh! I hate when I do that.

Then I continued slower than before.  On the way back, we were running into the wind.  But it felt good.  I am not sure if it was the heat or that I was running too fast, but I found it hard to breathe.  I stopped and walked at least two more times. And this is only a 5K!!

Finally the finish line was in sight.  I sprinted and tried to finish under 28 minutes but could not muster up enough energy.

heading to the finish line

Final time was 28:14 (23 out of 134)

Splits: (Garmin time – 28:10)

mile 1 – 8:59
mile 2 – 9:16
mile 3 – 9:23
.14 –  8:05

Done!

Positive splits! No surprise there.  Not a bad time considering the walking.

The food was just banana halfs and apples.  I missed the HMRRC race’s chocolate fountain, pizza, soup and delicious pastries, etc.

We waited around for awhile but my friend Mary Pat had to leave.  So I hung out with Valerie and some others waiting for the awards. There  were some older women that finished ahead of me but it turned out that they were younger than me. Yay!

I won first in 60+. (I hate that age group. Feel ancient!)

I dropped off my swag in my car and continued to run some more.

Unfortunately it was getting late so I only had time for 2 more miles.  Better than nothing. (My hubby was home waiting to leave.)

The course was nice but I think next year I will return the HMRRC Mother’s Day race in Central Park. (Good food & tech shirts are important.)

the marina where we keep our boat..many of our friends were out on their boats

I continued my Mother’s Day/Birthday celebration with dinner with my hubby at one of my bucket list restaurants. It’s in the town where we keep our boat in the summer so it’s on the lake (but pretty pricey.)

view from the restaurant – Chateau on the Lake

Our friends stopped by on their boat and snapped our pic:

The meal was great and so was the day!

Happy Running! Did you run or race today?  If not, how did you celebrate?