April 9, 2016 – Start: 10 am

I signed up for 10K instead of the 5k.  They were both the same price and I needed to run 12 miles before my half marathon in 2 weeks.

10 K

Then I remembered the hills of the second half of the 10K and that the 5k was an out and back and would be mostly flat.

5k – not as flat as it looks

So I changed my mind and switched to the 5k and then planned to run 9 miles after.

I ran this race for the past two years and loved it. They had great food – the usual food but also chili and homemade muffins & cookies (including gluten free ones).

And there was chocolate milk, fresh from the dairy.

Plus, I won a homemade apple pie as first in my age group for the past two years. (28:01, 28:56…not sure I would run this fast this year?)

The race started at 10 am which was good since it would be an hour minute drive from my house.

Again the weather was tricky. What to wear? I was brave the last 2 years and wore a skirt, a baseball cap and no gloves.

This year I wimped out. … It was cold in the morning. Winter has returned to our region.  So I opted for a long sleeve shirt, jacket, skirt attached to capris, compression socks, gloves & a winter hat. I am so tired of winter running clothes but it is still cold out…

I got to the race early and found a parking spot in a field next to the church.  The race started at the church  in the town of Bacon Hill, a small farming town with awesome scenery. (It reminded me of Vermont.)

these pics are from last year & the year before …everything still looked the same)

It was chillier than I thought.  It was in the 30s and 20s with the windchill. Brrrr!! At least, it was sunny!

nice shirt with NO advertising and a pasta scoop?

I didn’t think that I would know anyone at this run since two years ago, I hung out with Holly who was in the Turkey Trot training group and now the FRW training group but she had to work this year and couldn’t race.

But I did bump into someone who recognized me from another race.  We chatted about racing, of course.

At the last minute, I decided to shred my jacket. I didn’t bring a windbreaker and it seemed too heavy.

Soon it was time for the race to start. The pastor read a prayer, the church bells rang and we were off.

The 5k was an out and back.  The 10k veered to the right and supposed had hills and breath taking views.

I decided to go out fast.  I always have positive splits so why try not to.  It isn’t as flat as the map shows.  The hills are rolling throughout but not that bad. Even I could run up them.

I loved all the signs along the route.

This one as my favorite:

The wind was a killer.  I was freezing. There were volunteers on the course calling out times. I occasionally glanced down at my Garmin to make sure I was running in the low 9’s. Eventually we turned around and headed back… The wind had calmed down and I was actually very comfortable.

I stopped for water and walked for a little bit.  Not because I was thirsty but because I was was out of breath.  I never seemed to get into my groove. I guess I need to do some speed drills.

I thought I had gotten a second wind but then again, I was winded.

I knew at this point, there would be no PR.  That was fine because I wasn’t expecting one.

As I approached the finish line, I realized that I could still finish under 28 minutes, Unfortunately I had no gas left and I barely made it.  My Gamin said: 27:54!!  And I was pleased.

I immediately made a bee line for the chocolate milk.  Boy, was it good.  I had at least 2 cups.

They had the same great food (chili, muffins, cookies, fruit) as last year plus a vegetarian dish and pizza.. I sampled it all! YUM!

While everyone was waiting for the results and all the 10k runners to be done, I went out to run another 3 miles.

I ran a mile and then saw that they posted the results…Mine was listed as 27:56 and I was first my age group.

Since it was so cold, they said that they wouldn’t be handing out awards and to just pick yours up.

And I won a pie again!!!

I checked out the 10k results, as well. I would have won there too.

Splits:  

mile 1- 8:44
mile 2 – 9:22
mile 3 – 9:04
.1 – 7:44
_________________

          27:54

All in all, I loved this race.  I will definitely do it again…maybe even the 10K someday. I was happy with my time.  I didn’t go all out but I did beat my time for this course from both the last two years.

I put the pie in my car and headed out to run more miles. I ran one more.

Then I returned to hear the results of the raffle.  I didn’t win so I left to run one more mile.

6 mile down and it was finally time to leave to to meet Judy and her friend, Denise at the Zim Smith Trail to run another 6 miles.

It was a half hour away but I still got there early and had to wait until they had finished their 4 miles. Then we all headed out together. We ran in a different direction from my last time there. I thought it was a lot more scenic – a bridge, a few waterfalls, etc.

I was very happy to have the company. We ran together for most of the miles until I got impatient and ran ahead at the end.

After we were done with our run, we all had some dessert at the bakery where we parked our cars.

delicious bread pudding

After a long soak in the hot tub, I was revived enough to go out to dinner with my hubby.

So I completed my longest training run – 12 miles! It was actually – 3.1 + 1+ 1+1 +6.  Still counts, right?

Happy Running! Are you running or racing this weekend?

The Ice Breaker Challenge is a one of a kind Capital District running/walking road race challenging runners and walkers against rowers from the Albany Rowing Center. Runners/walkers will travel along the Corning Preserve Bicycle Path while rowers from the Albany Rowing Center will race along side in shells on the Hudson River.

This was my second time running this race. I ran it in 2013 and I do my long runs here often so I am very familiar with the course.

There were many races to choose from this weekend, but I choose this one based on its location (close to home) and I could easily add more miles on after the race.

In some ways a 5K is harder than a half marathon. It’s only 3.1 miles and you have no reason not to run fast. That’s pressure. But I tried not to succumb it. Besides, I planned to run another 7 miles afterward to complete my 10 mile long run.

I was dragging my feet (a late night playing mah jongg with a lot of junk food consumed) but perked up when I arrived at the race. I tried not to overdress (but it is hard when you are cold at the start & afterwards). I wore capris attached to a skirt, a long sleeved tech shirt, and a baseball cap.

That’s because the weathermen had predicted a nice day – 50’s and sunny. So I thought.  I should have checked before I left the house. Because it was overcast, very windy and in the 30’s (20’s with the windchill.)

So I was frozen.  I found a windbreaker in my car and light gloves.  Thank God. But my ears and legs were very cold.

from 3 years ago – it was too cold to take pictures

I grabbed my bib and sat in my car with the heat until it was time to line up.

rowers getting ready to race (again from 3 years ago when it wass unny)

I went back out about 15 minutes before the start & bumped into Ingrid, from my running group.  We chatted and then the race started.  She took off and left me in the dust.  (She is super fast.)

I tried to focus on the scenery…the river…the rowers and not worry about my pace.  I hardly glanced at my Garmin (just a few times & was pleasantly surprised.)

The first half of the race was running into the wind.  At least today, my hat stayed on but it was tough going.

There was a water stop at the turn around.  I wasn’t really thirsty but was tired so I stopped and walked.

don’t get fooled by the sunshine. I took this on my way back from my post race run.

At least on the way back, the wind wasn’t a problem.  Although, it din’t appear to be at our back either.

Shockingly I crossed the finish line at 27:55.

No chips.  You tore off the bottom of your bib.  There were two lines, who knows how they kept things straight.

(I got a text with 27:55 and it was posted with that time.  However, now it is listed as 28:03. My Garmin has the faster time so I’m sticking with that.)

Splits: 

mile 1:  8:59
mile 2:  9:31
mile 3:  8:58
.14:      7:20

I had some food – There were cookies, bagels, fruit, etc.

two of my former students – so cool to see them here

Then I walked back to my car to put away my race belt, etc. They also gave away boxes of Freihofer cookies

I was hoping to have company for the rest of my miles.  I got used to having a buddy along on my long runs.  Both Judy and Barbara were unavailable.  Thanks to FB, someone responded to my plea and agreed to run with me. All I knew about her was her name, Alyssa. We agreed to meet at 10:00 am.

Then I checked my phone and it turns out that her son was sick and she had cancelled.

I was disappointed but it gave me time to hang around and see if I won an age group award.

And I did!! First in the 60-99 category.  Gee, that made me feel old. And they only gave out first place (no 2nd & 3rd – so lucky me!)

another pretty picture from 3 years ago

I didn’t feel like it but I had to continue running.  I was freezing so  I added another skirt under my jacket and off I went. I ran 1.5 miles toward downtown Albany and back.

Suddenly, the sun came out and I wasn’t so cold.  I stopped back at my car and grabbed some Gu chomps and shed my jacket.

Then I ran 2 miles in the other direction and back. My legs were dragging. I tried to get distracted by my surroundings.

Yes, NOW it is sunny!

Brrrr! Fishing!?

this annoying goose actually chased me

a hawk in the tree

I misjudged my turn around so I wound up with 7.4 miles instead of 7.

I’m not sure how long I sat on this bench…it was a while LOL

10.5 miles done for the day and tomorrow I can enjoy a relaxing Easter. My mother-in-law is cooking!!

My daffodils have bloomed too. Spring is here???

Happy Running! Did you run or race this weekend? What did you on Easter Sunday?