5k

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Back to 5Ks


Since last October, I have been training for 2 half marathons.  That means distance not speed.  I never thought I’d like it but I do. This comes from someone who has run about 50 5k races and said she would never run farther.

Since last October, I have only run five 5ks:

  • 11-11 -Valatie Veteran’s Run – 28:59
  • 11-25 -Bethlehem Towne Turkey Trot – 27:30 PR
  • 12-4 -Jungle Bell Run – 29:31
  • 12-18 -Albany Last Run 5K – 29:15
  • 3-26 -Run 4 Your Life 5k – 29:22

Look what’s coming:

  • 5-1 – Sean’s Run 5k – TOMORROW!!!
  • 5-8 -Mother’s Day 5K
  • 5-19 -CDPHP Workforce Challenge 3.5 m
  • 5-22 -SPAC Rock & Run 5K
  • 6-4 -Freihofers Run for Women 5k
  • 6-11 -Kinderhook OK 5K
  • 7-23 -Silks & Satins 5K*
  • 8-13 -Jailhouse Rock 5K*
  • Fasig Tipton 5K*
  • 9-10 –CRSS 5K*
  • 9-15 Schenectady ARC 5K*

*Then it’s back to half marathon training for my third on 9/25 and fourth on 11/6.

So how do I adjust?  How do I not succumb to PR pressure?

Happy Running! Good Luck to all those racing this weekend!

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Two (races) for Tuesday

1.


Finally my job has decided to enter this race. It is 3.5 miler and the course is similar to the Freihofers and Susan Komen races.  It’s on Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 6:25 pm. (The day after I come back from my 8 day tennis vacation in Florida!!) There were 8,654 runners and 449 participating companies/organizations in the 2010 race!! Wow!

2.

There are so many 5k races this weekend – 4 on Sat and 3 on Sun, at least.  It was hard to choose. But I’ve registered for Sean’s Run that takes place this Sunday at 1:00 pm.  It’s a great cause, a big race numbers-wise (close to 2000) and my friend Mary may walk it.  (It has hills so this is good practice for me.) And I’m hoping for sunshine.

Happy Running!

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Jelly Bean Virtual Race

I signed up for the 5K which was perfect because my taper runs this week were scheduled to be 3 miles.

I am glad I am not a teacher because it is school break week and the weather has been horrible…cloudy, cold, rainy everyday!!!!!!!

Today was no different. It was nasty and raining on and off all day. 

I wore my usual capris, long sleeve shirt, windbreaker, cap and ran my after work loop.

Splits:

Mile 1- 11:08
Mile 2 -10:55
Mile 3 -10:28
.1 – 8:49

Time – 32:33

This was LAST taper run before my Half Marathon on Saturday so I tried to run at the same pace as I hope to during that race.

I was happy that my splits were negative and I didn’t get too wet.

Then off to yoga class I went.  I ❤ Yoga!!!!!!!!!

Happy Running! Still praying for good weather on Saturday!

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Virtual and Non-Virtual Races – Gotta Love Em!

Virtual Races

I love to compete in Virtual Races.  They are FREE!  It is motivating because once you sign up, you feel like you are accountable to run that distance. There is no pressure.  It doesn’t matter what your finishing time is.  You can fit it in whenever you have time. You discover NEW blogs.  And sometimes you can win a random prize just for entering. Below are two Virtual Races coming up:

 

CantaffordVM

Non – Virtual Races

I love to compete in Non Virtual Races even more.  They are not free but most of the entrance fees do go to charity and you get a teeshirt.  It is motivating because once you sign up, you feel like you have to TRAIN to run that distance. There is  pressure.  But that’s a good thing.   Under pressure is when I do my best running. They are scheduled so you have to organize your life and rearrange things. You meet other runners. You feel like you are part of a community that shares the same interest – racing.  And sometimes you can  even win some bling.  Below are some of the Non Virtual Races that I may run (the purple ones are definites):

  • 4-10-11 Delmar Dash 5mi
  • 4-23-11 Lake George  Half Marathon
  • 4-30-11 Great Mom’s 5-K Fun Run or YMCA 5k or St. John’s/St. Ann’s Center Spring Run-Off 5k/10k or Brink 5k  or 5-01-11 Sean’s Run 5k or Literacy 5k ??
  • 5-08-11 Mother’s Day Race (3.5 mi)
  • 5-19-11  CDPHP Workforce Challenge 3.5
  •  5-22-11 SPAC 5K Rock & Run
  •  6-4-11 Freihofer’s Run for Women
  •  6-11-11 Kinderhook Bank OK 5K
  •  6-27-11 35th Annual Adirondack Distance run (10Mi)???
  • 7-23-11 Silks & Satins 5k
  •  Fasig Tipton 5k –
  • 8-13-11  Jailhouse Rock 5K
  • 8-20-11 – New Visions 5K
  • 9-10-11 Capital Region Special Surgery Race for Hope 5K
  • 9-15-11 -Schenectady Arc 5k or Get Your Rear in Gear 5k
  • 9-23-11 Arensal City 5K   ??
  • 9-25-11 Adirondack Half Marathon
  • 10-01-11 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 
  • Falling Leaves 5K
  • 10-22-11 Great Pumpkin Challenge 10k
  • 11-11-11 Valatie Veteran’s Run
  • 11-24-11 Bethlehem Towne Turkey Trot 
  • 12-03-11 Jingle Bell Run
  • 12-17-11  Albany Last Run

    • Happy Running! Sign up for some races!!!

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    Run 4 Your Life 5k Race Report

    Another new race but in a location where I have run a 5k before (Cardiac Classic on Thanksgiving 2009). I haven’t run a 5K since December and I have had problems running with any speed. (Longer distances do that to you!!) I was lazy about my runs this past week. (I cut my 3.5 mi  to 1.5 and my 3 mi  to 2) So I had no idea how this would come off.  Unfortunately it was colder than it should have been this time of year too.


    I had the same dilemma as my last race.  Do I try to PR or do I save some energy to run 8 more miles after the race????????????

    So I did the same thing as my last race – run my fastest but be realistic about the results…

    It was 23 degrees when I left the house. I tried not to over dress because it was sunny.  I left behind my thermal gloves & hat and wore thin gloves, baseball cap, tights, shorts, a turtleneck, vest and a red fleece .   Red because this race was to raise money for heart disease.

    I got to the race about a 1/2 hour early. It was freezing!!!! It felt a lot colder because of the WIND! Luckily the pavilion in Central Park had 4 fireplaces where everyone was huddling to keep warm.

    Then we had to walk almost a mile (at least it seemed that way) to get to the start of the race and wait in the freezing cold.  There were  almost 600 runners in the race – a lot of firemen and a lot of young runners.

    I started out fast.  The first mile wasn’t as hilly as the 2nd & 3rd.  The course is pretty scenic but the hills weren’t fun and the WIND was a killer.  My hands didn’t thaw out til the 3rd mile.

    I wanted to run a good race but also I wished that I could PR.  However, I ran out of steam at the end. When I saw 29 minutes on the clock, I was disappointed but I ran as fast as I could — I did  not want to finish over 30 minutes!!

    Official time: 29:22  Pace – 9:27
    Place – 270
    2nd in AG (55-59)
    6th in AG (50-59)

    Splits (according to my Garmin):
    mile 1 – 9:16
    mile 2 – 9:54
    mile 3 – 9:33
    .1 – 6:48

    Not even close to a PR but on this same course in 2009, I finished in 30:12.

    I hung around for a little while.  There was soup, pizza, bagels, fruits, etc. They only gave awards (trophies) to first place in each 10 year age group. No hope there!

    after the race

     I was debating on where or not to add more miles to make today my long run day but I was too COLD!!!  It was still 23 degrees when I left.

    I called my hubby and we decided to go take pics of his plane (the one that was destroyed when the hangar collapsed from the snow).

    before

    Now

     To cheer ourselves up, we went to a boat show and then to Lake George and out to dinner.

    Tomorrow am I am subbing in a USTA tennis match. I hope to win this time.

    Then I am going to do my long run.  I haven’t decided if I am going to run 11 miles or just 8 (since I ran 3 today).  Maybe  it will be warmer and less windy!! One can hope!!!

    Where is spring???

    Happy Running!

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    Happy Anniversary “Running Mamas”

    Janis, Jen M, Felice, Jen F, Bridget, Lisa & me

    A year ago (actually March 14, 2010) Felice (The Happy Runner) organized a group of young mothers who had NEVER run before.  She asked me and several local bloggers to help out.

    I participated in the group training runs and got to follow them from the “wondering  if they could run 2 minutes without stopping” stage to finally running a 5K race.

    at the Freihofers Run for Women 5K

    Well, they didn’t stop there!! They ran more 5ks and got faster!!! They ran a 10k!! Then they signed up to run a Half Marathon –  in their first year of running!!!!!

    Whoa!

    I was so proud of them!! But at the same time, a little jealous… This is my 3rd year of running and I’m still entering 5ks!! (51 of them….) And I am happy when I break 30 minutes.

    These ladies made me realize that I could push myself.  So I did!!

     I finished the Turkey Trot 5k well under 28 minutes!! 

     Then believe it or not, I ran a HALF MARATHON.

    So thanks “Running Mamas” for lighting a fire under my feet! 

    Let me know when you sign up for a Marathon. I have no plans for running one…but you never know…

    Happy Running!

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    Just Felt Like Running Virtual 5k

    I signed up for Detroit Runner’s Virtual 5k which was supposed to be run on Saturday, March 5.  Saturday I did my long run and then Monday I ran 4 miles on the treadmill.

    So yesterday I ran my 5K race.

    I was tired of the treadmill at the gym so I braved the 14 degree temps at 7 am in the morning. I dressed in my usual winter layers and hoped that the roads wouldn’t be too icy.

    They weren’t  – just here and there you had to slow down and walk over the icy patches.

    Ever since October when I started training for my first half marathon, my pace has slowed to a crawl – sometimes over 12 min/mile. Always over 11 min.  That’s OK for long runs but not for a 5K.

    Even when I was training for 5ks, my runs were slower than my actual race pace. I can’t seem to motivate myself to not stop when I get tired. In a race, I can push myself because I am very competitive.

    So on this cold morning, with teary eyes and runny nose, I finished at 32:19. Not even close to my 27:20 PR but under 11 min/mi is a good run for me these days.  (The last mile was 10:15)

    Today it was raining!! I stayed after work and used the treadmill.  For the first time!! Yes, we have 2 treadmills at work.  They are on the stage in the gym.  Lucky the curtain is closed.  It is dark and there are no TVS and no people.  Kinda creepy.  I watched an episode on “The Good Wife” on my iPod and ran my usual SLOOOOOW 3 miles.

    Tomorrow is a REST DAY!  I have a race on Saturday — Runnin of the Green – 4 miles. A new race for me!! I’m excited!

    Happy Running!

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    Three Things Thursday

    1. Boy, this has been a really long week!  At least it has seemed that way. Maybe because there have been no snowstorms and I’ve had to work everyday! I played tennis Mon & Tues evenings and bailed on my morning runs!!! I did return to the treadmill yesterday & today 🙂
    2. I’ve also had some bad news.  A good friend’s father died and another good friend’s younger sister was diagnosed with a rare rapidly spreading form of breast cancer (3-5 yrs to live even with mastectomy, chem & radiation). So I’m NOT going to complain about my left foot (last time it was the right one) that started hurting Sat and hurt Sun & Mon. The pain is gone now and it seems pretty trivial. It also reinforces my decision to go from running a 5K race to completing a Half Marathon.  You never know what life will bring. CARPE DIEM!!
    3. My credit card was burning a hole in my pocket so I registered for some races.

    Mar 12 – Runnin of the Green 4 mi Run – Green Island, NY
    Mar 26 – Firefighters Run 4 Life 5K – Schenectady, NY
    Apr 10 – Delmar Dash 5 mi – Delmar, NY
    May 8  – Mother’s Day 3.5 – Delmar, NY
    Jun 4 – Freihofer’s Run for Women (5K) – Albany, NY

     I haven’t registered for my second Half Marathon yet – Apr 23 in Lake George. I want to run it but it’s hilly and I’m chicken.  I’m training for it. 

    I like to run races & those long runs don’t seem to fit in (for example, my 12 mile run is scheduled for Apr 10!) .  I work so I can’t do them during the week.  I know I can add miles on after or the next day but it doesn’t feel the same as a non-stop long run.  I also like to rest the day before a long run.  I like to do my best in a race (I’m competitive!) so it’s hard to have it just be a training run at half marathon pace.  DILEMMAS!  I guess it was easy when I just ran 5ks!!  But I really enjoyed that Half Marathon experience!

    I’ll figure it out… What’s more important is staying healthy and enjoying life!

    Happy Running!

     

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    February is Almost Here! Will the Snow Ever End?

    January Recap:

    My goal was to run 50 miles and a Half Marathon. I ran 72 miles and a Half Marathon!!!!! WooHoo!
     

    February Goals:

     

    • 60 miles (combo of outside & treadmill)
    • 4 mi race
    • Follow Half Marathon training schedule

     

    Please warm up and stop snowing!! I can’t run in this!!!!!!!!!

     Happy Runnng!

     

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    Virtual 5K

    Another balmy 32 degree day in Upstate, NY!! Just in case, this was my last run of the month, I decided that my after work run would be my participation in Baby Weight My Fat Ass’ Virtual 5k.

    I lugged all my running gear to work again:  Turtleneck, fleece, windbreaker, gloves, tights, shorts, headband, socks, sneakers, ipod, headphones, Garmin, water bottle, banana….(Did I miss anything?)

    I think it took me 15 minutes to change and get the show on the road.

    It was dark as it usually is when I run after work so I wore a bright white windbreaker over my fleece.  Luckily, the streets around where I work are pretty lit up.

     I was prepared after yesterday for a slow run.  Some of the sidewalks are shoveled, others are icy & slushy.  I have to weave in and out. When I have to run in the road, the snowbanks are high and I sometimes have to stop when a car goes by because there is not enough room to run.

    Nevertheless, I felt that I ran at a faster pace than yesterday.  Even my splits were negative.  Final time according to my Garmin – 33:53

    Still running at my half marathon pace – that’s OK because I start training again on Monday for my 2ND HALF MARATHON!! (April 23, 2011 in Lake George).

    Happy Running!