It was a beautiful morning for a race – cool & sunny. My hubby had a cold all week and yesterday I started to get it & had a lousy night’s sleep. I woke up feeling crappy but knew that a race would make me feel better (and it did!)
I kinda wished the race started earlier than 10 am. My hubby was annoyed that I would be getting to the lake so late.
I got to the race early and just relaxed. The race is in its 5th year and had a record of about 600 participants; I didn’t know anyone which was odd but lining up, I met 2 ladies around my age and we chatted (about compression socks & running skirts.)
The race began running up a long hill. I had a hard time getting moving. Then the course continued through the neighborhoods of rolling hills (but not as bad as the beginning.) There were a lot of volunteers along the course at every turn cheering runners on, That was nice.
I felt better as the race went on and didn’t walk at all except for halfway at the water stop.
Finally the race ended going down the first hill.
heading to the finish line
As I crossed the finish line, I saw that I wouldn’t break 30 minutes. I was a little disappointed.
I finished at 30:10.
Then I realized that before any of my injuries, my time in 2009 was 30:14 and in 2010, it was 30:11. So my time today was a course PR.
and another Age Group award – 1st – getting old isn’t so bad.
Unfortunately, I rushed off after the race to drive up to Lake George and didn’t get my award.
My goals for the race were: remain uninjured, finish under 31 minutes, win a AG award,and most of all, have fun and I met them ALL!
I think I made the right decision about the race. The rest of the day was perfect and it was nice relaxing with friends and not have to worry about getting ready to run a night race (although I did hear it was fun – next year…)
(BTW: This also counts as participating in the Worldwide WP 5k – just a day early.)
I have 3 choices AGAIN this Saturday. (Sunday I am going to Schroon River with the mah jongg ladies.)
1. The first is a 5K race on Saturday morning. I have done it twice before (2010 & 2009). There is a big hill at the beginning & small ones throughout. The race course is NOT scenic (around the neighborhood & a main road.) It is only a 5K so I would have to do my long run on Monday. but it is nearby and I would have time to go up to the lake afterward to go boating.
Sept. 28, 2013 – 10 am
2. The second one is a 5K race on Saturday evening. It is in Lake George and the first time for this race. Lake George is VERY HILLY. It is only a 5K so I would have to do my long run on Monday. But I could go boating during the day and do the race after. It sounds like a really cool fun race & it is followed by fireworks. It is scenic (but it will be dark). However, this race would be more fun if I ran it with someone else or had spectators (not sure if my hubby & friends would come watch.)
3. The third choice is to just get my 12 mile long run out of the way and not do a race. After the run, I could head up to the lake. On Monday the forecast is for rain so I could stay over in Schroon River and run a scenic short one there.
12 miles on the FLAT Nisky bike trail
So which one will I choose???
Most likely #1. Hopefully next year, I will do the Flashlight 5K.
I love racing. I am hoping that the rain will hold off until the afternoon on Monday for my long run. I plan to run the 5K quickly and head up to the lake for my LAST boating outing of the year.
My goals for the race are: remain uninjured, finish under 31 minutes, win a AG award,and most of all, have fun.
at the Race for Hope in 2010 ( a skinnier me)
Happy Running! Do you race when you are training for a half marathon?
1. The first is on Friday night. I have done it twice before (2010 & 2009) and it is flat. The race course is NOT scenic (highway and rundown apts.) It is only a 5K so I would have to do my long run on Sunday.
Sept. 20, 2013
2. The second one is on Saturday morning. It is in Chestertown (1.5 hrs away) and I did the 5K last year. It is VERY HILLY. It is a 5K or a 10K so I could add miles to the 10K and get in my long run. it is scenic and I could go to nearby Schroon Lake to go to the expo for the Adirondack marathon. I would have Friday night for mah jongg and Sunday free to go boating. (The weather forecast is iffy too 😦 )
3. The third one is on Sunday morning. It is nearby and flat. I did the 5K several years ago. I could do the 10K and add miles to get in a long run. The course of the 10k is 2 loops of the 5k and not too interesting.
Sept 22, 2013
So which one will I choose???
Most likely #2. Why do something something close & flat where the weather is nice??
I love a challenge. I am hoping that the rain will hold off until the afternoon. I plan to run a nice slow race and add additional scenic miles to complete 11 miles for the day.
a goofy picture from last year’s race
My goals for the race are: to finish, walk up the hills, remain uninjured and of course, have fun.
Happy Running! What factors do you consider when picking a race?
Wednesday – 3 miles after work, yoga, 2 – 1mile walks during work
Thursday – 42.75 miles on the track after work, 1 mile walk during work
Friday – walk rest
Saturday –5K race + 7 miles
after the Malta 5K
walk/run on the Mohawk Towpath
Sunday – boating + 4.5 mile hike
Black Mountain Pt on Lake George
I have a Love-Hate relationship with tennis. I love.love my tennis friends. When I am on the court I enjoy the exercise, competition, social aspect of it but I HATE having to take time away from running and I HATE that since I don’t put any priority into it, my skills are lacking. I HATE that it is expensive.
Unfortunately, you can’t just go out and play (which is why I haven’t made the effort to play since my Naples vacation in May.)
So if I want to keep it up at all, you have to join a club and pay to be part of 35 week contracts.
So I did. I will be playing in a half contract on Mondays and a half contract on Tuesdays. (Ideally only once a week not 2x and then 0x.) I don’t plan to join any teams. (Gone are the days when I played 6x a week and on 3-4 teams.)
at least I’ll get some use out of my tennis clothes and new sneakers
Next Week:
Monday – tennis
Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles
Thursday – 4 miles
Friday – rest
Saturday – long run of ???
Sunday – boating
Happy Running! How is your running going? Any upcoming races?
I ran this race last year so I registered again on a whim.
However last summer, I had run 4 5K races and a 10K. This summer – zippo. I was hoping that a race would light a firecracker to my running.
Luckily it was beautiful weather for a race. Sunny and cool (50’s) and little humidity. I opted to wear a summer outfit with compression socks and brought my DIY arm sleeves and a windbreaker.
I left nice and early but decided to use my iPhone rather than my Garmin GPS to locate the race. BIG MISTAKE!! It told me to get off the highway an exit earlier than I thought (I shouldn’t have listened.) and then took me on back roads to who knows where. When it finally told me to turn into my destination, there was no road. I think the Google maps had not been updated since Global Foundries was built. So I wandered around and found an entrance to Global Foundries. But then I encountered a road block for the race. They told me to go out and back to the next exit and go in the other entrance. GREAT! So instead of arriving nice and early, I rushed to get my race packet and put all the stuff they gave us back in my car and got to the start with 5 minutes to spare. Phew! No time to even use the rest room (yes, there were real bathrooms!).
heading toward the start/finish line (photo from last year)
There were a lot more runners than last year. Especially those running for the sponsor, Global Foundries (where coincidentally my stepson works.) probably about 600 or so. The race was chip timed so no need to start in the front. I started with my sleeves on but quickly got warm from the sun and rolled them down.
the course: 2 loops around the campus
The course is very boring…you are running around chip plants but the loops let you see the fast runners and all those runners that are behind you twice during the race.
My goal for the race was to run as much of it as I could. There were some inclines but not what you call hills. At mile 1.5, I succumbed to walking at the water stop. Then I walked even longer at the same water stop which was at mile 2.5. In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t but who knows maybe I finished faster because of it.
I knew from the clocks and my Garmin that I could unbelievably finish under 30 minutes.
And I did… gun time 29:56, chip time 29:49
I was very happy.
I grabbed some food ..the usual food, bagels, etc and hung around talking to a nice lady who just started running a year ago and another familiar face from many races.
Did I win an award?
nope – 4th- those darn water stops!
The lady that I crossed the finish line with was in my AG but she started 6 sec. after me.
Oh well. Maybe next time.
Split times:
mile 1: 9:29
mile 2: 9:56
mile 3: 9:54
.10: 7:45
(all under 10 min. woo hoo!!)
I am happy and I met ALL my goals for the race.
Have fun – YES!
Finish uninjured – YES!
Finish faster than my last 5k run walk (39:xx) – Yes, by 10 min.!
Finish under 35 minutes – YES, under 30 min.
Run most of the race – Yes, just walked at both water stops
nice swag (and there was even more junk)
This race was just what I needed.
I was on a runner’s high so I stopped on my way home to run some more. More about that in my next post.
Last Saturday, I had wanted to run a 5K race. I printed out the registration form & filled it out. I picked out my outfit, set my alarm and…… chickened out.
Why? Because my running sucks. I mean my 3 mile times have been almost 40 minutes!!, Yeah, seriously sucky!
I didn’t run this 5k in Saratoga
I did what ever runner would do, checked the race results. And guess what? The winner in my age group ran it in 37:xx!! Even with my sucky running, I think in a race, I would have beat that. (I ran a 5k with a broken foot in 29:xx) I could have won an AG award.
On Monday, my 3 mile run was a sweat fest but I did it in 35 minutes. I plan to run again today and tomorrow and if I am lucky it will be less humid and I will run faster. (Actually it’s just walk less often and I will have a faster time.)
Sept 7, 2013
Yep, this time I paid for the race and I plan to run it even if I suck.
Last year, I ran this race while recovering from a broken ankle and it was my first 5k under 30 minutes since the injury. I don’t plan to repeat that feat…yet.
GOALS:
Have fun
Finish uninjured
Finish faster than my last 5k run walk (39:xx)
Finish under 35 minutes
Run most of the race
I don’t plan to go all out since I want to stop on the way home and add some more miles.
My First 5K and More... 