I signed up for this race because:

• I had a free hotel room.
• I could combine this NYC trip with a college reunion that day.
• I like Governor’s Island.
• It offered a 10k option and there are not many 10ks.
• I ran this route in August 2024 and needed a re-do (with cooler temps).

Here’s cool fun fact:

The race is called the “Squirrel Stampede” because Governors Island was originally called Nutten Island by the Dutch way back in the 1600s for it’s abundance of nut trees. (Squirrels love nuts, right?)

I’ve run two races before on Governor’s Island.

A 5k back in 2018.

Then in August last year, I ran a 10k on GI on a very hot day..

So I was familiar with the logistics and the ferry.

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

The day before the race, I arrived by train in Manhattan and filled the day with many sights: 911 Memorial, Little Italy, Battery City Park, Metropolitan Museum of Art, meetup with Cari…

Don’t ask me how many miles I put on my legs .. LOL.

I carb loaded with pasta at lunch and for dinner Cari and I had gelato.

Eventually I took the subway back to my hotel, got my stuff ready for the next day and tried unsuccessfully to get a good night’s sleep..

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

Enjoy a picturesque tour of Governors Island with amazing views of New York Harbor and the greatest city in the world! The 10K is two loops of the island.

Entry to the NYCRUNS Squirrel Stampede 10K includes ferry rides for you and your family/friends, your race-entry, an official race shirt and some tasty post-race eats (no nuts)!

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.

I left my hotel around 6:30 am, hopped on the subway.

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

I just missed getting on the 7 am ferry (it only holds 290 persons) but that was fine since I was planning on the 7:30 one.

The line got longer and longer (we joked that it may have stretched to the Brooklyn Bridge since there were about 700 runners for this race not counting families and spectators).

It was a nice quick ride.

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

Then I followed signs toward the race start.

It wasn’t a short walk but lots to view (old buildings, forts, Manhattan skyline).

Eventually I arrived at the starting area.

I picked up my shirt (You could wait until after but doubtful to get your size).

Bag check was very organized so I left my shirt there…

Then I walked around checking out the logistics. I ate some pretzels since it had been a while since my breakfast.

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

Eventually it was time to enter my corral…

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.

I am not going to give a mile by mile recap of the race (as I normally do).

I was determined to run the early miles slower than usual (no 9 min. miles) and not die for the second half of the race.

And I did for the most part but still it was warm and humid and the 2nd half of the race was hard.

I only walked at the mile markers and the water stops at the beginning.

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 I just walked when I felt I needed to…

But obviously I did and so I walked A LOT.

The views were great and island scenery varied.

And I seesawed with a younger couple as we egged each other on during the last mile (You can see below that it helped.)

And I finished!!! And not a course PW!!

This was the only squirrel that I saw… LOL

Post Race Activities:

I was soooo sweaty.  I headed to bag check and immediately changed into a dry shirt (the race shirt).

Then I grabbed a bagel, pretzels and an apple and beeline to the ferry.

And we waited and waited and waited… In the sun.  I was dying.  At least I had a bagel to eat.

Eventually the ferry arrived, emptied, loaded and we arrived back in Manhattan.

I ran to the subway.  I had to rush back to my hotel, shower, change, check out and meet my friends for a quick lunch before seeing a Broadway show and dinner.

A very long day (as I arrived home by bus around midnight) but worth it.

Additional Race Reflections:

Definitely a tough one but hey, I did it. And it wasn’t as challenging as the last time I ran this course.

Last year I finished this course (but it was hotter) 8 minutes slower!!!

I ran the Mini 10k this year about the same (though that race was HILLY).

No matter what, racing for me is always enjoyable (at least a few hours afterward.)

Positives:

• Bibs mailed (if you are a NYCRUNS member).
• Free ferry.
• Shirts distributed before and after the race.
• Real restrooms,
• Organized bag check.
• Nuun at the water stops.
• 4 Water Stops (2 that you pass twice)
• Well marked course.
• Scenic views.
• Bagels (and cream cheese) after the race.
• Free Massages after and before.
• Free MarathonFoto pics.

Negatives:

• 10 year age group awards (and none after 70)
• Little shade
• Warm & humid temps
• Arriving too early
• Having to rush back to my hotel
• Long waits for the ferry.

Would I recommend this race?

Yes. And if I lived in NYC, I would run this course again as it is offered by NYCRUNS several times a year..

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

I would recommend hanging out on the island after the race and exploring.

Final Stats:

 

 

 

I signed up for the Mastercard NYC Mini 10k for several reasons:

• I love NYC.
• I love running in Central Park.
• I hadn’t run a race there since Dec. 2022.
• I had enough pts for a free hotel room.
• I thought my NYC BRF Cari may be running it too or at least we could meet up during the weekend.
• All woman’s race – so inspiring.
• Elite runners do it! (Last year Fiona O’Keeffe, Emily Sisson, Dakotah Lindwurm, Sara Hall, Molly Huddle, Jessica McLain, Nell Rojas and others ran it.)
• 10k is one of my favorite distances.
• No Harlem Hill for this race (just 3 sisters).

Training:

If you follow my posts, you also know that I am not strict about following a training plan. But I do try to do those weekday short runs (Mon, Tues, Wed this week).

and get in some longer runs on the weekend (although the weekend before this race, it was only a 5k race): 10m, 8m 6m

I knew about the HILLS that would taunt me during the race. I have run in this park and I ran the Shape Half Marathon, Fred LeBow Half twice, Central Park Half and many other shorter races.

I’ve always wanted to run this race. However, it often conflicted with the Freihofer Run for Women or work. I finally got in in 2020 and then it was cancelled due to COVID.

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

Believe or not, my friends picked June 5 to visit the NY Botanical Gardens.

So I stayed in a hotel in the Bronx that night

and then the next morning, I took a subway into Manhattan and immediately got busy with all my scheduled activities.

First I headed to NYRR Run Center to pick up my bib and race shirt and also attend a panel discussion.

I walked back to my hotel but my room still wasn’t ready. So I took the subway downtown to visit the Anne Frank exhibit.

Afterward, I walked back to my hotel stopping on the way for a late lunch (pizza). I finally checked into my room and then headed uptown to the newly renovated Frick museum.

Cari met me there and accompanied me to my next activity, a Broadway show. But first a gelato stop.

I walked back to my hotel and called it a day. Don’t ask how many miles I walked the day before this race…

Race Day:

I brought my usual race breakfast of oatmeal and coffee with me and got up around 5:30 am. My hotel was on West 36th and 6th Avenue. I have in the past taken an Uber but I decided to leave super early (6:30 am) and take the subway from 34th St & 8th Ave.

And it was super crowded with runners!  I chatted with one who was running her first race ever.

I got off at 86th and followed all the runners to the start at 90th.

The rain in the forecast disappeared and insane humidity replaced it.

It was already warm and I had decided not to do bag check (besides it was a mile from the start). I was originally worried that I would get soaked from the rain.  I changed my mind. A little rain would have felt good.

It was still early but the time passed quickly.

My Race Plan:

Do not get injured!! And most importantly, have fun!!

I would most likely do a lot of walking… because there would be hills!!

I planned to stop and walk briefly at every water stop (so I wouldn’t get dehydrated) and to stop and walk longer to eat a gel around mile 4.

I was worried about the humidity so I brought salt chews and took 2 before the race and planned take 2 more at the halfway point.

My estimated finish time would be around 1:15 (far from my 57:xx PR at this distance).

Anyway, here’s how the race went:

Course Map:

Elevation  according to Strava:

Miles 1-3:

I started in Corral F:

It only took 5-10 minutes to get to the start line.

We started running on Central Park West (W90th St) and eventually entered the park at 72nd.

I was feeling good but tried to keep it slow due to the weather conditions. Although I thought I had started my Garmin, somehow I did not.  I realized it about a half mile into the race.  No big deal except for not knowing what mile I was at. At least there were clocks at each mile.

Once in the park, we ran south. I think I ran until the first water stop about 1.5m in before I walked… I was sweating (and I rarely sweat) so I grabbed some Gatorade.

Eventually we turned and ran up the east side of the park.

It was crowded but I didn’t really need to weave in and out. I was not running that fast and for my pace, many runners walked intermittently.

As the race went on, the humidity made me feel weaker and so I paced myself by walking up the hills and sprinting whenever I had enough energy.

There was a 2nd water stop around the 5k point… More Gatorade!

Miles 4-6.2:

Once we reached 102nd St, we looped around and headed back on the west side of the park toward 72nd where the race would finish.

I finally ate my Gu at the next water stop (around mile 4.5).

Still no rain.  Even the sun peaked out. So humid!!!!!

And now came more hills.

I am pretty sure I walked more the 2nd half of the race.

I didn’t care. I just wanted to finish upright.

I did give it my all on any straight away and/or downhills.

And somehow, my Garmin stopped and I lost my stats for the last .5 miles (?).

I think there was one more water stop (around mile 5.5) but I skipped it as I just wanted to be done…

I did feel good enough to sprint across the finish and was pleasantly surprised at the time on the clock.

I saw many runners with flowers but I guess they had run out by the time I finished.

Post Race Activities:

I immediately got my medal, grabbed a heavy bag of food (water, Gatorade, apple, pretzels, bar…)

and posed for a quick pic. or two!

While I was waiting for Cari to finish, I met two lovely runners who would be running their first NYCM in November. We became instant friends.

Soon Cari arrived…

with her friends. Another photo op.

So two Cari meet-ups in one weekend.  Always a pleasure and hopefully, we’ll meet up again soon.

As I exited the park, it was so inspiring to see all the runners happily finishing their race.

The rain finally arrived but not until around 1:30 pm.

And luckily I had indoor plans (the Morgan Library and Museum) for the rest of the day:

Additional Race Reflections:

Running in the heat/humidity may not have been exactly fun. But at least without the rain, I could enjoy the pre and post-race experience.

I was happy with my finish time. Yes, it was almost 9 minutes slower than a 10k that I had run in this park

but it was not a PW and faster than I expected on this course and in these weather conditions.

Enough whining…I am so grateful to be able to visit NYC and run a race. And a race that included only women was just icing on the cake.

I am unbelievably happy that after the race, my legs/feet felt fine.. no pain anywhere (always a good thing at my age.)

All in all, I thought this was a fun race.

The Good:

• Easy packet pick-up at Run Center and also race morning near the start).
• NYRR sponsored events before race dy.
• Cool purple tank
• Bag Check if needed.
• Water at almost EVERY mile. Gatorade at most.
• Many porta-potties along the course in addition to real CP bathrooms
• Well marked course.
• Timing Clock at every mile.
• No Harlem Hill.
• Great crowd support!
• Los of volunteers as course marshals and at water stops
• Very cool medal.
• Immediate results.
• Blogger meet-up with Cari
• No Blisters. No pain.

The Bad:

• Humidity.
• Hills in Central Park. I did not do any training on hills (my bad)
• Post-race food – just pretzels and apples but I guess I missed the bagels and cookies
• They ran out of flowers.
• Photos?

Would I recommend this race?

Yes.

Do it if you can.  You won’t regret it (unless you hate hills lol).

No, it’s not an easy course. Only a little over 10,000 women runners usually participate so not a big race by NYC standards. And not an expensive one.

Final Stats:

No age group award but 8 out of 64 ain’t bad.

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