I need to run long.

I love to race.

I shouldn’t spend the money.

Races make me run better.

I could sleep late.

I won’t have to run alone.

These are the thoughts that run through my brain every weekend.

So I had decided that since I raced 3 Sundays in a row and I have a race next Sunday that I would skip this one.

Then someone posted in Fb asking if anyone was running this race.

And you can guess the rest of the story.

I ran this race 3 years but don’t remember much about it other than it was a little hilly (and a very hot, humid day) and I finished in 30:45 (despite walking many times).

My goal for this race was to reverse this trend:

• 28:49
• 29:17
• 30:31

That means I hope to finish faster than 30:31 and then maybe run some more miles after on the bike trail.

The weather was perfect …warm and sunny.  I didn’t have any Mexican looking outfit but I wore what I could find with red, white & green (the shirt from my Santa Clarita Half in Calif.)

The race started at 10 am but I arrived early to get parking and my bib.  I was also hoping to see someone I knew. None of my friends were there but I did see a few familiar faces. It was a little chilly but I knew I would warm up as soon as the race began (and I was right.)

There were about 200 runners and the course was quite winding – in and out of the cul-de-sacs of the Rensselaer Tech Park. It started with a downhill but after that it seemed that you were running up hill – not steep hills – just long ones.

There was one water stop but though tempting I passed it by.  I barely glanced at my Garmin but I knew that my first mile was too fast and that I was slowing down.

I finally looked at my watch when it beeped for mile 3 and saw that my time was really good… so I sped up.

The problem was that it took longer than I thought to cross the finish line.  I am sure the clock said 29:58 when I crossed and I stopped my Garmin which said 29:59.

But the course was long – 3.22 miles.  Everyone agreed.  Most of the runners were complaining. My time was posted as 30:01.

I was still pleased and felt I ran a good race.

After the race, they gave out those ugly cotton tee-shirts and the only refreshments were orange slices.

Although I am still 4 days away from the next age group, that’s where I was put and this time I did better in this group.  I came in 2nd (missed first by 1 second.)

They, however, only gave out awards for 1st in each AG.

Oh well, at least I met my goal of finishing faster than my last race and at the correct distance I did finish under 30 minutes.

Race Stats:

finished 80 out 195
2nd in AG (6th in correct AG)

Splits:

mile 1: 9:01
mile 2: 9:56
mile 3: 9:33
.2: 8:30

As always, I love to race and am glad I did but I don’t think I’ll do this one again.

I had hoped to run more miles afterward but I was tired and I had plans to spend the rest of the rest with my mentee and her sons.

Happy Running!  Do you have the Run vs Race dilemma?

race report aka racing with a bloody nose

There are easier and closer races than this but I do this race for Mary and for ice cream.

I ran it in 2011 and I was in great shape coming off 2 half marathons but still only finished at 29:24.

Mary  & me  2011

Last year, I went to watch her run (I was injured ;( ).

me & Mary 2012…she was running, I was watching… we both ate ice cream

This year, I was excited to be healthy again and running. I hoped to finish under 30 minutes but you never know how things will go. (I should mention that yesterday my sinuses were bothering me all day…either a cold coming on or more likely allergies.  I had a bloody nose in the morning and another one at night…this is a prelude to race day...)

The forecast was for sunshine and warm temps but you never know.).

forecast

The race started at noon. So you don’t have to get up early but it kinda kills the day and it’s hard to fuel properly. And it was warmer than last week’s race. (I kept changing my mind on an outfit…eventually I opted for a tank top & skirt.)

MaryPat & me before the Delmar Dash

This year, my tennis friend, MaryPat, decided that she wanted to run this race too. (However, at the last minute, she cancelled…due to a sore knee.)

It’s about 45 minutes from my house but I left extra early in order to get parking, get my bib, and locate Mary.

After I picked up my race packet, I watched Meghan’s Mile and the amazing fast kids!! Then Mary texted me and we met up and headed to the start.

this was the race shirt – very thin breathable cotton)

The race was dedicated to the Boston Marathon. They asked how many racers ran it, watched it, qualified etc.  I was surprised at how many BQers were in this race.

the finish line (to the left of the start)

After an emotional “Sweet Caroline” and national anthem, the 5k started.

There is a big hill at the start which I managed to run up (slowly).  Actually the whole race was rolling hills and of course, you have to go up a hill toward the end.

It was warm & I was very thirsty but choose not to stop at the 1st water stop.

Then the race took a turn for the worse.  My nose started running but I quickly realized that it was another nose bleed…ugh and no tissues (yes, STUPID).  What’s a runner to do?  Yup, wipe with one hand and then the other.  It was gross.  I thought about quitting but I am too stubborn.  I just hoped that the photographer did not catch how disgusting I looked.  Only one guy stopped me to ask if I was ok (probably there was blood all over my face) and told me that I should go the EMT in the nearby ambulance.  I said that it was only a nose bleed and I was fine.

Of course, it was hard to run and wipe my the blood dripping from my nose but I did manage to finish.  I crossed at 30:26 (Garmin time) and 30:31 official time.

I immediately went to get napkins and water to clean up and by that time, Mary had finished too (and my nose had stopped bleeding.)

Unlike my last 5k, there was a lot of food – bagels, Greek yogurt, cookies, donuts, fruit, chocolate milk, Propel water, etc.

But we headed to the Stewart’s ice cream stand:

best cone ever!

We looked at the results since they were giving out medals to the top 3 in  each AG.  I think I was 13th out of 89 in the 10 yr AG. (but this time 3rd in the next AG)

checking out the results board (photo by David Lee/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers )

Race Stats:

finished 384 out of 964

Splits:

Mile 1: 9:16 (pre-nose bleed)
Mile 2: 10:06
Mile 3: 10:06
.12: 8:17

Sean’s Run is a very fun race.  Lots of community support.  (Read the story here.) But not an easy course…hills.  (I hate hills!)

check out this hill at the beginning…. there’s a hill at the end too

On the way home, I stopped at the Corning Bike Trail to run more but I was too hot and tired … walked/ran another 2 miles.

Happy Running! How was your weekend?  Any running?