I love this race because I love the area. My friend has a house in Chestertown and I have stayed there many times for running, swimming, mah jongg, tennis and hiking.

I usually drive up on Friday and I get my race packet, have dinner in town and then sleep in on race morning.

But this year I decided to stay home, play mah jongg and then get up super early on race day.

The weather was predicted to be summer-like (but not as humid as last weekend).  In fact, the marathon held the following day was even cancelled due to the heat.

I wore my Skirt Sports running skirt (of course) and a tank. (I remember two years ago, I was so chilly pre-race that I wore a jacket!!)

I parked in the Tops parking lot and walked across the street to get my race packet, use the restrooms and then wait until the race started.

The race was of part of the Adirondack Distance Festival. The half marathon (which I ran in 2011) and the marathon took place the next day in Schroon Lake.

the start on Main St in Chestertown

Today in nearby Chestertown, there was a 5k, 10k and 5k walk. These were small community races with about 125 in the 5K and less than 75 in the 10K.

Municipal Center – bib pick up and restrooms inside and post-race refreshments and awards behind the building

This was my 3rd time running this 10k race. I also ran the 5k back in 2012.

My time in the 10K in 2015 was 1:00:10 and in 2013 1:06:10 (recovering from a broken foot.)

My 2014 10K PR is 57:03.  I would have loved to finish under 60 minutes in this race but with the hot weather, I wasn’t expecting as much.

just waiting…no timing mat at the start

While waiting to start the race, I wound up talking with another runner, Tracy, who recognized me from the Race the Train race.  In fact, she was the organizer of that race and she would be running a half marathon next weekend like me. We both decided that this would be taper run and we would take it easy.

This year, I was running a little tired having run a half marathon last Sunday but also with a half marathon in ONE week and needing to stay HEALTHY.  Tracy ran 15 miles last weekend so I guess we were in the same boat.

I was glad to have her beside me to keep me on track (meaning slow down the first 3 miles!!)

We started together and chatted the WHOLE 6.2 miles except for the hills the last 2 miles when I walked and she didn’t and the end when I sprinted and she didn’t LOL.

As you can see, the course is hilly…real HILLY!!!

Both the 5k and 10K runners start together and then separate. Since there was no timing mat at the start, I tried to stand not too far back.

Once I started running, I was sweating.  I tried to learn from the previous week and not start out too fast. It helped that most of the course was shady and I just kept pace with Tracy. I NEVER looked at my watch the whole race.

The hills didn’t seem as bad as the last time I ran it. I didn’t even walk until the first water stop at around mile 2.5 (halfway for the 5kers). It was probably due the fact that Tracy and I were talking … about races, of course.

Besides the hills, this was a beautiful course. You ran through the back roads and it would have been awesome if the foliage was at peak. It was still very enjoyable.

Around mile 3, you ran into the 5k runners but actually it was the ones who were walking. Then you separated again.

There were many more water stops on the course than I remembered…maybe because it was so HOT!!

I stopped and walked at each one – mile 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, etc. – maybe even more times. I forget! Although I had a GU in my pocket, I never took it.

Mile 4 was the only boring part of the course – a LONG uphill on a main road. This was the hill that I met Heidi 4 years ago. (We became friends and trained for and ran the Love Run Half together in 2014.)

Believe it or not, the hill didn’t feel bad this year. (I must be improving or I should thank Tracy again for the company.)

The hardest part of the race was mile 4.5-5.5. Hill after hill after hill. I think I walked at least 3 times. Tracy said she was tiring but she refused to walk.  So each time, I walked, she got ahead but I was able to catch up.

Finally we approached Main Street in town and I got a second wind and felt great until close to the end.

I walked briefly before the turn into the finish line but I gathered my strength and finished strong. In fact, I surged ahead and passed Tracy and another (young) runner.

you can see Tracy in the pink behind the lady in green

I finished at: 58:17 which was not a PR but over 2 minutes faster than the last time I ran this race and much better than I expected.

My Splits:

• mile 1 – 9:09
• mile 2 – 9:27
  
• mile 3 – 9:46
• mile 4 – 9:45
• mile 5 – 9:59
• mile 6 – 9:21
• .2 – 7:01

Even with the hills, my splits were ALL under 10 minutes and there were NO 8s. It worked not racing the first 5k!!

pic from FB 4 years ago

I had some refreshments (home-made – cookies, fritters, breads, bagels, etc) which were delicious especially the watermelon (I had many many pieces.)

Tracy and I waited around for awards since there was a chance there would be NO ONE in my age group and I might win.

I won my age group!! And yes, I was the only one.

Hooray for AG awards. Another medal to my collection.

And small races make you feel fast.

9th Female – woo hoo!!

Again, I thoroughly enjoyed this race. I hope to be back next year.

I had planned to run a few more miles today after the race. The area is so scenic.

view of the Schroon River

Boy, did I NOT feel like it.  I was hot and sweaty. I called my friend who lived nearby and had invited me for lunch. But she hadn’t arrived yet. Darn!!

So I decided instead of running to go for a hike. I chose Stewart Mountain because it was only a mile up and not that difficult (I didn’t bring a stick since I wasn’t planning to hike.)

The trail was shady and there was a nice view from the top. Perfect choice!

Nearby was another mountain of similar difficulty but almost 2 miles up.  I felt energetic so drove there and climbed it.

I sat at the top for awhile and it was so peaceful.  I didn’t want to leave. Then a couple came by and asked to share my rock.  We chatted for along time.  It turns out that we live in the same town (1 1/2 hours away), play tennis and own the same car!!! So funny!!!

By this time, my friend had arrived so I went to her house and we had lunch and hung out.

I had planned two more hikes (Meade and Beckham Mountains) but my motivation had faded and I had ice cream instead.

I headed to the marina where I thought my friends were be there and I would hang and sleep on our boat.  But they had all decided to sleep at one of the islands so I drove home.

The next morning, the hubby and I drove back and spent the whole day on the lake (and IN the water).  Did I mention that it was over 90 degrees this past weekend!!!!!!!!

Sunday is the race – perfect weather!!!!!

As I have mentioned before, the Hudson Mohawk Runners Club sponsors FREE races throughout the winter for its members. The course is pretty boring but free is free.

This weekend, they offered distances of 3M, 10K and 25K. I haven’t really started training for my March 5 half yet but I am trying to keep a 6 mile weekend base distance.  So the 10K would be perfect.

For some reason, I didn’t run this race last year but I did in 2015 & 2013.

after the 2105 10K race

I have run a fair amount of 10ks and my PR is 57:03.  I haven’t been particularly successful on this course. In 2015, I finished in 1:00:24 and 1:08:18 in 2013.

As per my “relaxing” theme for the year, I wouldn’t be trying for a PR. I planned to just run and have fun.

I got lucky with the weather. It was sunny and a balmy 30 degrees. As usual on this campus, it was windy.

I left early to get parking since these races are often crowded and there could be other events going on at UAlbany. But there didn’t seen to be as many runners as in previous weeks.

What I love about this local race is that you get to see a lot of people that you know.

I immediately bumped into many familiar faces and even some runners that I haven’t seen in awhile. (I met 2 more runners who are doing the Shape Half in April 🙂 )

I wound up talking to Sherri as I did last race and we stayed indoors until the last minute and then made our way outside. However she was running the 3 miler and they lined up in a different location.

When I got to 10k start, I found Judy who was running the 10K also.

As I’ve mentioned in my previous race post, the Winter Series races are very informal – no bibs, no starting mat, no timing chips, etc. So I try to start not too far from the front.

As usual, when you start up front, you immediately get passed by by it seems everyone.  These races attract all the speedy local runners too.

I just told myself that this was simply a fun run and just take it at your own pace. Having not warmed up, my legs felt like lead and I couldn’t get moving.  Then I looked down at my Garmin and realized that it was dead. I had not charged it!! Duh!

It wouldn’t be so bad if there were mile markers at this race.  But there were none!!

So I just ran.  No idea what my pace was. That didn’t bother me as much as not knowing if I were at mile 3 or 4 or where I was in the race.

The weather was perfect (except for the last few miles where you were running into the wind).  I was a little over dressed. The sun made it feel much warmer than it was.  I was sweating.  I took off my gloves and unzipped my jacket but that was all I could do.

The course is very boring (zero scenery besides office buildings and highway) but it also has inclines. Nothing steep, just enough to keep it interesting.  I wanted to be better about hills and not walk up them. And I didn’t for the first three miles but after that I did walk several times.

There were 1 water stop but I wasn’t sure if it were mile 3 or 4 and decided not to bother stopping or even take the GU that I was carrying.

This race proved that I do need my Garmin!!!  I could tell that I was slowing down throughout the race by the runners that were passing me by. But I had no idea where I was in the race and what my pace was.

The good part was that I felt great during the whole race. No aches and pains. No blisters.

Eventually I did see the finish line and saw a time for the first time in the race.  It said 59:xx.  I sped up and managed to crossed around 59:58.  (Phew! At least it was under 1 hour!!)  There’s no timing chip.  You honestly write down your time on a piece of paper and hand it in. (Without my Garmin, I’m not even sure if I got my time correct.)

I was 120 out of about 175. This is a fast group, as usual.

I chatted with others at the finish line while waiting for Judy to cross.

Then I went inside to warm up and have some soup (red pepper & quinoa), bread, cookies, fruit, hot chocolate. Not a bad spread for a free race. I didn’t eat as much as normal since I would be having brunch later.

They gave awards for the top 2 in each 10 year age group. I think that I was 5th this week.

I was happy with the results. Though it was almost 3 minutes slower than my PR, it was actually a PR for this course.  Besides, I know that I would have been faster if I had my Garmin.

Race splits: NONE

As any runner would, I decided to add .8 miles so I could finish the day with 7 miles.

Then I rushed home to change out of my sweaty clothes.  Judy had invited me and 6 other runners to her house for brunch.  It was lovely.  I am told that the food was even healthy. We chatted about running mostly, of course. I think everyone had a nice time.

Today is Wednesday so I’m linking up with Coaches Corner–Debbie, Susie, Lora, and Rachel!

and Wild Workout Wednesday with Nicole, Annmarie, Jen, and Michelle.

Happy Running! How you are enduring the winter? Did you run this weekend?