The 5th year for this race.  A downhill course.  A familiar route!! Only several miles from my home.

How could I not sign up again??

If I parked at the start, I could run back to my car after the race to get in some extra miles so it could count as my weekly long run. (No big race on the horizon until a 15k on Nov 9.)

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

Not much preparation for this 5k…

I ran a 10k last weekend

I did get in a few short runs during the work week:

Here is the description of the race from the website:

The race extends from the Hilton Barn area of New Scotland to the finish line across the bridge in Slingerlands. The race kicks off the Fall Fest at the Slingerlands trailhead that will feature live musical performances, food trucks and vendors, as well as fun games and activities as participants come down the home stretch. Shuttle service will be available. T-shirts and one free meal ticket for all participants. Awards for top 3 overall Male/Female. 

 

Race Day:

I had my standard breakfast of oatmeal and coffee. I guess I’m a creature of habit.

Since the race didn’t start until 11 am, my plan was park at the start, run the 5k race, hang out with friends and then run back to my car… that would be my long run.

Perfect, right?

Since I ran this race four times already, I was familiar with the course (as pictured below)

Race Course (according the web site)

There was no elevation chart but now I have one from my Garmin:

With an 11 am start, you would think I’d have plenty of time to get there early to get parking…

Last minute snafu was that I had decided to rehome my newest kitty and I had to deliver her to her new home that morning…

So it was a rush to get to the start…

The parking lot was full and I had to drive around the neighborhoods to eventually find a spot.

Luckily I had asked my friend Heidi in advance to get my bib.

Phew.

I bumped into many friends. We chatted and took a few pics. With the “new” barn, there were also real restrooms 🙂

The weather was beautiful like 2022, 2024 and 2025…

Unlike three years ago when it RAINED!!

There’s not much to tell with only 3.1 miles but here’s what I remember.

Can it be called a “race” recap if I didn’t race? LOL.

Mile 1: 

This race was chip timed so it didn’t matter where I started.  And there were not going to be any age group awards for me.

So I stood just somewhere in the middle of the pack.

Although it was advertised as starting at the barn and going downhill from there on the rail trail, you actually had to run around the nearby neighborhood (in order to get to 3.1 miles by the parking lot).

At first, my feet felt like I was running in cement boots and my pace was very slow…

And running through the neighborhood, it was not down hill yet…It didn’t seem to bother the leaders.  Many were running at a 5 minute pace and some UNDER!

The only positive part about circling the neighborhood was that I could run the tangents…

Eventually you did enter the rail trail and yes, it was oh so slightly downhill but at least there were no uphills.

Soon my legs loosened up and I was able to up my pace…

As you know I always use the Run/Walk/Run method. I was hoping to just run it all… but nope by the end of mile 1, I had to walk…

Mile 2: 

I believe the first year, there were no water stops but this year there was one around mile 2.

It started to feel very summer-like.  I was thirsty and so I stopped for a drink.

I think I walked again too by the end of this mile.

Mile 3 – 3.1: 

I started to tire during the last mile and my pace slowed even more…

Eventually you could hear the crowd cheering (there was little crowd support on the course at all due to being on the rail trail.  I walked one more time as we approached the bridge.

I could see the finish line ahead and sprinted through it as Josh (the RD) called my name. I saw 31:XX on the clock… (wish I was faster but pretty good considering my training.)

Post Race Activities:

I was reunited at the finish line by Barb & Laurie. We stayed to cheer Heidi in.

Next we entered the park to get water and our race shirts.

We also bumped into Karen (whom I hadn’t seen in ages.)

This race was also part of a Fall Festival put on by the county.

There were information tables (they even gave out many freebies.)

My running friends went to get some food from the food trucks…and so I joined them.  The wait was much shorter than previous years (I think they had more food trucks.)

As part of our $10 race entry fees, we got an entree, side and a drink.  I chose a cheeseburger and fries and ate while listening to the live music.

I also got to hang out a bit with my college BFF.

Soon they announced the awards: top 3 overall (with amazing under 5 min/mi times) and top 3 in each age group: 0-17, 18-25, 36-55, 56-100. Yup, weird groups.  But my friend Laurie did win in the last group.

Unfortunately I needed to get back to my car… a LONG 3 miles away and now uphill.  Heidi was nice enough to carry my bag of freebies/shirt.

I had to rush home to get to a fundraiser:

Additional Race Reflections:

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this race. If I am around, I will probably run it again next year.

The past few years, I’ve mostly focused on half marathons but maybe next year, I will try to work on my 5k speed. (Hey, I think I say that every year. LOL)

I doubt I’ll ever PR again. But I’d like to go back to sub-30 finish times.  But I need to either train to get faster or pace myself better so I don’t die during the last mile.

However, I am happy to be healthy, to be running regularly and interacting with others.

If my race times slow down, so be it.

Positives:

• Well organized
• Participant guide provided beforehand
• Inexpensive ($10)
• I had a $10 off coupon from a age group award (race was totally free for me!)
• Well marked course
• Shuttle to the start from the finish and vice versa.
• Cute race shirts
• Lots of familiar faces.
• Downhill course
• Immediate results
• One free meal/drink ticket for all participants.
• Many freebies including flavored vodka tasting
• Entertainment after.

Negatives:

• I could run here for FREE!
• Late start (11 am)
• Weird age group award categories
• No photos

Would I recommend this race?

Yes!!  A fun one, for sure

A good race to try for a 5K PR.

Final Stats:

 

 

 

 

 

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Since today is Tuesday, I’m linking up with Jenny (RunnersFly) and Jenn (Runs with Pugs).

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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

There’s an interesting story behind this race.

Early in my running life, in 2010, I mentored a group of women who wanted to run a 5k. I had already run several 5ks at that point.

After their 5k, they signed up for a 10k. I had never run that far nor did I intend to but they begged me to run it with them. It was the Great Pumpkin Challenge 10k.

Right before the race, I had a terrible migraine (and never had one since) and wound up in the ER with scary high blood pressure.

I was so disappointed (and pissed) that the next day, I signed up for my first half marathon.  (My motto was “Life is too short. Just do it!”)

And I ran it in January of 2011 (I told no one but my hubby that I was doing it since I was afraid that I would fail). Says the runner who has since run almost 80 of them. LOL)

So I guess this race was a turning point for me.  I realized that you are capable of more than you think.

I went back to eventually run the Pumpkin Challenge 10k.  In fact, I ran it 4 times from 2014-2017.

In fact, many of my local running friends used to do this race with me. They did not last or this year:(

I remembered that each time that I ran the 10k, I had wished that I could stop after the 5k.  The 5k was rather flat and the 10k was all hills.

So in 2022, I returned to the race but decided to run the 5k and even won an age group award.

Due to marathon training, I skipped the race in 2023 and 2024 but I signed up again last year.

I wanted to run a longer distance than the 5k and the 10k was the same price as the 5k. So I chose the 10k.

My 10K PR is 57:03 and as you can see above, I was in the ballpark in those early years but last and this year, no way!

My 2026 10k times are now pretty slow! (Jan- 1:02:24, March – 1:09:11, April – 1:05:44, June – 1:15:21, August – 1:18:12).

My hope for the race was enjoy it, to finish uninjured.

But you never know.  If the other old ladies didn’t show up, I could maybe win an AG award.

The weather, hopefully, will not be a factor as with my March, June and August 10ks.

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

Surprisingly I had time to run several short runs during week.

My legs felt pretty good even though I had run a half marathon two weeks before.

Race Day:

The race takes place in Saratoga State Park which is a beautiful place to run especially in the fall.

The weather in the fall is very unpredictable. It could be warm and then it could be cold.

Not knowing what the weather will do makes it hard to dress. I’m not ready to dress for winter. (I am wearing that skirt as long as I can stand it.)

I planned to wear that same orange race shirt, a skirt and compression socks and then wear a jacket to leave behind and put on after the race.

You probably heard about the Nor’easter. First there was hard rain and wind predicted for race day. Then it changed to that the storm would miss us and finally rain looked like a definite possibility.

But when I got up it was almost 60 so I changed to a tank.

Of course, on the 45 minute drive, it was raining!!! Ugh.

This is a very popular race. They usually get almost 1000 runners. So I left for the race early in case I had to park where I needed to get a shuttle to the start. The race was to start at 9:30 and I left at 8:00 am.

I had plans to meet a friend later to go to MA to go shopping and have dinner. I was worried about getting stuck in the parking lot (I usually park in) until the 10k was over.  As a result, I wasn’t paying attention and missed my turn into the park.

I wasn’t worried because in the next parking lot, there was shuttle and the shuttle left right after the 5k. And the rain had stopped!!!

Wait! Why were there so many people?? And they all had their bibs already. (I had planned as usual to get my bib that morning…)

Well, the shuttle filled up and it took forever for another one to come. That one filled up too and runners had to squeeze and stand.

And it didn’t leave until 9:00 am.

The race started at 9:30. Bib pick up was to end at 9:00. I still wasn’t worried. I knew I could still get my bib.

But they closed the road into the park at 9:00.

Now I was worried. They had to drop us off… and it was almost a mile (but felt like 2) to get to bib pick up.

The runners were all lined up at the start as I had to push my way through them… and sprint to get my bib.

I picked up my race bib and shirt… left the shirt, my umbrella and jacket nearby and I had to sprint to the start..

If I had gotten there earlier, I could have voted for my favorite pumpkin…

and  chat with the other runners. There were many runners that I knew there.

Some runners dressed up costumes though not as many as past years. The two below were my favorites:

I sprinted past the finish line

The start was not close!! (below are pics from last year):

Both the 5k runners and 10k runners started together.

I arrived at 9:30 just as they were preparing to start. Phew! I made it but I was already tired. LOL.

This race for me can be divided into two parts: The first 5K and the second 5k.

Course:

The start of the race is between the Columbia and Ferndell pavilions on the North-South road. Runners will run north past the toll building and will make a left onto the Roosevelt Bath Drive for several hundred feet and then  make a right onto the stone path that rectangles the entire grassy mall area. The path goes by the Administrative building with the reflecting pools in the center, to the far end by the Avenue of the Pines and around the path past the Hall of Springs, ending by the Roosevelt Bath’s. A right is then taken at the end of the path onto the road continuing to the end of the parking lot and through a gate leading into SPAC. Runners will continue on the paved path bearing left and will cross over the bridge (2-way traffic) and through the gates that leads around the right side of the SPAC Box office, you will then head south along the edge of the SPAC parking lot. Approximately 2/3 way down the lot, the runners will make a right, left, left (see map below) around the edge of the lot as preparing to funnel into a relatively tight area on the course. The runners will enter the paved path going up and around the Coesa Pavilion and will circle around on the pavement which will connect on the park road taking a left with Hawthorn Pavilion to your right. Runners will re-enter the bottom of the SPAC parking lot and will stay on the paved path heading back to the SPAC box office (staying to the right), through the entrance gates and over the Bridge (2-way traffic) on the road and will bear to the right and leave the SPAC grounds, heading back on Roosevelt Bath Drive and taking a right onto North-South Road and back to the Columbia Pavilion to the finish for the 5k’ers.

The 10k’ers will continue on the North-South Road and take a left onto East-West road heading east past the toll building to the turnaround (where large park map is located- near the entrance to Route 9). From the turnaround, runners will continue going the opposite direction going west on East-West Road past the Peerless Pool and Carlsbad Pavilion. They will make a right at the top of the hill heading down past the Hawthorn Pavilion continuing down the hill and around the loop passing Geyser Area and will reenter the East-West Road taking a left. Runners will go up the hill and take a left onto North-South Road and will finish the 10k at the Columbia Pavilion.

Map:

Miles 1-3:

The 5k had a few inclines but was basically flat.

I wanted to take it slow so I wouldn’t die the second (and hiller) half.  My legs were already tired so that wasn’t a problem.  I bumped into al old friend, Elisa, who was recovering from a hip stress fracture.  We chatted while we ran until the mile 2 water stop. I let her go ahead as I knew that I couldn’t  keep up with her.

The park is pretty especially along the tree-lined paths.

The 5k ended and my time was around 34 minutes. Slow compared to the past but where I am currently so I was happy.

Due to humidity and my pre-race running , it still exhausted me and we hadn’t hit the hills yet.

Miles 4-6.2

At this point, I was sweating, and wished that it might rain  a little and the rest of the course was filled with hills. I tried to run up them but was pretty unsuccessful. So I walked many times during the second half of the race … during every hill.

I also stopped and walked at the water stops.

Well, by the end, I had no energy… at all… and the biggest hill was 1/2 mile before the finish line…GRRR!!!

I really wasn’t paying attention to the time on my watch and I walked one last time on the last turn and saw that the clock said 1:12:xx which was faster than I expected.

Yes, a BIG course PW.  But faster than my previous two 10ks.  Grateful for small victories!!

Post Race Activities:

As soon as I finished, a runner (named Lauren) came up to me and told me how much she loved my blog (someone reads it? lol)

Then I headed to get food. The line was long but moved quickly. There was fruit, bagels, lots of delicious homemade goodies (cookies, apple, pumpkin, zucchini breads, etc.) and hot chocolate. Everything was so good!

It was getting late but I bumped into a few friends and decided to stick around for the awards.

Yup, I won my age group (as I was the only one!!)

My next challenge was locating the shuttle.

Of course, it was the same walk as to the start and I just missed one.  Eventually I arrived back at my car..

Still no rain!!

Additional Race Reflections:

The weather was warmer than usual for this time of year but could have been worse. We could have had that Nor’easter that hit NYC.

I always enjoy the race atmosphere.  This one did not disappoint.

My finish time was slower than my past times on this course but that was not unexpected. I’d love to be back finishing sub 60 minute 10ks.

Not thinking that will happen but it may if I could run negative splits. (however that never seems to happen as well).

Just happy to be to out there. and healthy enough to run.

I am glad that I didn’t settle for a 5k and took the challenge.

There are many 5ks but not many 10ks around here.

Next time I will NOT take the shuttle!

Positives:

• Ample parking.
• Well marked course.
• Varied park scenery.
• Both 5k and 10 options.
• Virtual option offered.
• Indoor restrooms nearby
• Flatish 5k course.
• Immediate results.
• Great age groups award swag
• Lots of homemade baked goods
• Hot coffee pre race
• Fireplace to stay warm (if needed)
• Lots of familiar races.
• Costume option

Negatives:

• Late start (9:30)
• Hills if you choose the 10k
• My shuttle experience

Would I recommend this race?

Yes. Great organization. You may be able to PR for the 5k but the 10k would be a challenge.

I will probably sign up again for the 10k next year.

Final Stats:

Next Up:

A local 5k:

Happy Running!! Have you run any fall-themed races?  Do you prefer 5ks or 10ks?  Ever almost miss a race start?   Please share.

 

 

 

 

 

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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 almost 80 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, 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2025 (in a thunderstorm)  (28:27, 27:37, 27:28, 28:18, 28:05, 30:03, 31:42)

Notice that due to the Pandemic, they discontinued this race for 3 years (2020, 2021, 2022).

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

I shocked myself with a decent pace so again I thought why not and my running friends were busy that weekend so it was a good excuse to skip my long run.

Last year, there was a thunderstorm but I still ran it.

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

This year, it was not on my radar as I had a half scheduled for the week after.

I had considered running the Run 4 the River half marathon as a training run but my DIL scheduled a birthday party for my granddaughter at 11 am.

Nope, not enough time to finish 13.1 miles so I registered for this 5k instead.

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

15 turns in this course!!

Here’s the 2023 course:

I didn’t get much running done during the week – rain, work… etc.  I thought about some speed drill son the track but that never happened.

Race Day:

The race started at 8 am. This being the last weekend of the Saratoga Flat Track, believe it or not, there would already be a lot of traffic at that hour.

I got up at 5:30 am and had my usual race breakfast of coffee and oatmeal.

I left at 6:30 in order to get there early enough to get parking and pick up my bib. I wound up getting stuck for about 10 minutes while horses were crossing the road.

Last year there were no available parking lots so you had to park on the street. I did find a spot in a nearby parking lot this year and then I went to get my bib and shirt.

 

No free tickets to the race track this year.  Instead they offered a free ticket to the racing museum after the race.

I went back to my car to drop off my shirt.

It is usually a very popular race but I didn’t see many runners that I knew (but there was a conflict with that big local half and a few other area 5ks.)

Of course, I needed a pre-race photo.

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… but I forgot that there was NO timing mat at the start line..

Miles 1-3.1:

No reason to recap this race mile by mile.

I started out at a decent pace because I wanted to get done. It was sunny but not too hot or humid (for a change.)

But I felt my gait was slightly off and my ankle or Achilles (can’t figure out which) was still tight. So I walked several times during each mile and stopped at the water stop midway..

I managed to sprint across the finish line around 31:xx (those sub 30 minutes seem to be gone!).

Post Race Activities:

I grabbed a water and banana.

The were miniature cows and some retired horses…

I checked the results

and I came in 2nd so I grabbed my medal and raced home.

Additional Race Reflections:

Yes, it was an early morning and a long drive.

At least it was not extremely hot or raining.

And yes, it should have been a 8 mile long run as part of training for next week’s big race…

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 was almost a course PW, it was expected.

Positives:

• Well organized race.
• Well marked course with many course marshals.
• Flat course.
• Immediate results.
• 5 year age groups for awards.
• Free ticket to the racing museum (though it didn’t really interest me.)
• Charity: Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga
• Parking lots and on street parking

Negatives:

• Unisex (cotton) shirts.
• Date change so no free tickets to the track.
• New date conflicted with Run 4 the River HM.
• Long drive for me.
• No time to hang out after.
• Not enough miles  to count as a taper.

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.)

No time today…

Final Stats:

Still queen of the positive splits:

With an increasing number of walks with each mile…

Next Up:

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? How do you feel about  5ks? 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

Obviously I signed up for this race because there was ice cream.

Well, only partly true.

• I had a free hotel room.
• I convinced my running friend Heidi to do it with me.
• I wanted a re-do from my last attempt in 2024.
• I like Governor’s Island.
• It offered a 10k option and there are not many 10ks.
• Yes, ice cream.

Here is the description of the race and the course map:

Treat yourself to two laps around Governors Island, and we’ll treat you to a well-deserved post-finish ice cream. Talk about a perfect summer day.

Entry to the NYCRUNS Manhattan Ice Cream Social 10K includes a ferry ride, your race entry, a tech shirt, and post-race eats (the aforementioned ice cream!)

I’ve actually run a race before on Governor’s Island. Back in 2018.

This also was not my first NYC Ice Cream Social race.. Another 5k but this one took place in Brooklyn (also in 2018).

Just last month, I ran a 5k which offered ice cream as a post race treat.

So ice cream plus a race. What could be better? (Spoiler alert: cooler weather!)

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

I must have race amnesia because I think I told Cari that I would not do a race on Governor’s Island in AUGUST again.  Hot! Humid! No shade!

I’m pretty sure that I enjoyed this course much more during a 10k in September last year.

Nevertheless, Heidi and I signed up for this race. A mini race-cation. I was excited to share this crazy idea with a running friend… I knew we’d have fun.

My Achilles had been feeling better and I was gearing up for a half marathon in 6 weeks.

The week leading up to race, I tried to ignore the humidity and get in a few runs: 8m, 3m, 4m.

The day before the race, Heidi and I boarded an early train to Manhattan and then we took the subway to our hotel in the Financial District. I chose this hotel because it was near the ferry to Governor’s Island.

We tried not to do too much walking the day before a race.  But you know, it’s NYC!

We had our NYC bagel lunch, took a bus to a sculpture garden /park then a ferry uptown…

from there we walked to a Titanic VR exhibit, then walked to have rooftop drinks, pizza dinner (quick meet up in the rain w/Cari) and a Broadway show.

I got ready my #flatme and tried unsuccessfully to get a good night’s sleep.

Race Day:

I got up before I needed to and had coffee and oatmeal in my hotel room. Although the race did not start until 9 am, they suggested that you take the 7 am or 7:30 am ferry.

We left the hotel around 7:15 am and arrived to a long line at the ferry.

The sun was now out and it was starting to get warm. UGH!

We just missed getting on the 7:30 am ferry (it only held 290 persons) but that was ok since the 8:00 am would be fine. We chatted with a super nice young runner, Christian.  In addition to being super nice, he had a coach and was very serious about his finish time.

The line got longer and longer (we joked that it may have stretched to the Brooklyn Bridge since there were about 1700 runners for this race not counting families and spectators).

It was a nice quick ride.

As soon as we arrived, we noticed that there were real restrooms.  Always a great race perk.

Then we followed signs toward the race start. It wasn’t a short walk but lots to view (old buildings, forts, Manhattan skyline).

Eventually we arrived at the starting area.

We first picked up our bibs.

then we picked up our shirts (You could wait until after but doubtful to get your size).

Bag check was very organized so we left our shirts there…

Then we walked around checking out the logistics…

and eventually taking a seat and chatting while waiting for the race to begin.

I was in corral D and Heidi in corral F so we separated but planned to meet after the race.

I had loved the course in the past and was excited to do this race…

As you can see from the map, the course winds around the island.. TWICE.  There were rolling hills throughout but nothing steep.

Yes, it was HOT… HUMID… SUNNY and NO SHADE!!!

I knew that it would be hard and I would suffer but it was worse than I thought!!

I am not going to give a mile by mile recap of the race (as I normally do). Suffice it to say, that I felt defeated by the heat but tried to enjoy the race as best as I could.

From the get go, I was sweaty…

but so was everyone else…

My neuroma hurt!! Yes, every step of the way (ugh!)

But my Achilles felt fine. (Yay!!)

I ran the first 3 miles (what I thought was slowly).

I think there were 2 water stops for each loop so 4 total (I could have used more!).  Each had Gatorade in addition to water (though I only drank the water and poured some down my back to cool off.)

I ate a Gu halfway and even had two salt chews before and during… still I felt like the sun and heat was sucking the life out of me. O wasn’t alone. Most of the runners at my pace were groaning and walking…

The hills as I said were not steep but annoying because it was so sunny and the trees provided zero shade.

As a result, I ran slower each mile and really thought of quitting after 3.1 miles. The humidity bothered Heidi even more than me and she wisely decided to quit after the halfway point.

But obviously I did not and I just walked A LOT.

The views were great and island scenery varied.

And I finished!!!

Another race/course PW!  But I didn’t care one bit!

Here are some of the 90 photos they took (which I did not buy):

I definitely didn’t look as bad as I felt.

Post Race Activities:

As soon as I finished, I saw Heidi. I knew that meant that she had DNSed.

We both felt pretty lousy.  I was dizzy and nauseous. I grabbed some water and pretzels and sat for a while.

There was  Haagen Dazs ice cream cups.  I ran this race for ice cream but it was the last thing I wanted to eat at that point. Luckily there was also rainbow Italian ice.  The best thing ever!! It saved me…

I quickly checked the results to see if I won an award. And I did!!  2nd! (They usually mail the award several weeks after.)

We had lunch reservations but not for awhile. Nearby they sold food.  Guess what I bought. A banana! For $2.  We laughed about that later.

As soon as we felt strong enough, we headed back to the ferry.

Believe it or not, Heidi said she had fun but wanted a re-do on the race.

Additional Race Reflections:

Definitely a tough one but hey, I did it.

Racing for me is always enjoyable (at least a few hours afterward.)

Positives:

• Free ferry.
• Shirts distributed before and after the race.
• Real restrooms.
• Organized bag check.
• Gatorade at the water stops.
• 4 Water Stops
• Well marked course.
• Scenic views.
• Ice Cream/Italian ice after the race.
• A friend to share the experience.
• No Achilles pain.

Negatives:

• 10 year age group awards
• Little shade
• Warm temps (but hey, it’s August!)
• Sore foot (neuroma)
• $$ MarathonFoto pics.

Would I recommend this race?

Yes. And if I lived in NYC, I would run it again in the FALL or SPRING.

There was a lot of enthusiasm and runners of all ages.

Final Stats:

Heat/Humidity is not my racing friend!!!