This is the 2nd year of the race and the second year for me.  I planned to meet my running friend Mary at the race.  I have met her at 2  previous 5ks but in the meantime, she has been running long distances (She even did a 1/2 marathon).

I remember this race as being hilly but my time last year was pretty good at 30:14. Again, my goal was to PR or at least come close.

The weather for this race couldn’t have been more perfect – sunny, high 50’s. Mary & I met in the parking lot and took some photos.  I also bumped into the tennis friend who introduced me to running but she was walking the race.

The race wasn’t chipped timed so Mary & I started near the beginning.  We were both hoping to finish under 30 minutes. 

The race started with a BIG HILL!!! I was out of breath at the end and it took me the next mile to get my breathing in sync.  I am usually several minutes ahead of Mary but she has more stamina now that she is running longer distances.  Every time I looked she was on my right.  I was struggling to stay ahead.

The rest of the race was hilly as well as we winded around the Slingerlands neighborhoods.  At mile 1, the electronic timer said: 10:03. That was slow but the first hill slowed me down. 

I tried to pick up the pace but at mile 2: the electronic timer said: 20:05 – not much improvement.

Now I was determined to run faster.  At mile 3: there was no timer, but a volunteer yelled: 28:45 which made me happy though I had picked up speed but I knew it would not be a PR.

The last .15 mile was finally downhill.  I saw the finish line in the distance read :29:5.. so I ran as fast as I could and crossed at 30:11 (at least that’s what the results said..I think I was faster!)  Mary crossed 5 seconds after me.

Again I was disappointed because I felt great throughout the race and wasn’t tired at all at the end. 

Mary & I took some post race photos. They had a band but were only giving award for the lst place in each age group so we took off.

My next 5k race is Friday after work.  I remember it being flat so Mary has agreed to join me again on our quest to PR.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Happy Running and Enjoy the Weekend!

This was a new race for me but I love races in Saratoga – It’s my 4th of the season. It was also the first year of this race.

I haven’t been running as much as I should so this race was in a sense just training and I wanted to have fun (At least, that’s what I told myself.)

The race was supposed to be starting at the Race Track but at the last minute, they changed to the Warming Hut in Saratoga State Park.

I left early and thought if I entered the park, I could find the Warming Hut.  Well I went in the first entrance and I saw lots of runners, I could not find the race start.  I ended up leaving and going in the 2nd entrance & found it right away.

There were about 125 racers. They only expected 100 since this was the first year and they ran out of tee-shirts.

The weather was absolutely perfect!!! High 60’s, sunny and breezy!!

Though the race was small, there were a lot of fast runners that I recognized from previous races.  The race left the Warming Hut and went down Ave of the Pines (uphill but not steep) and then down to the Gideon Putnam hotel and back .

As usual, the runners passed me by.  I tried to keep an even pace.  When we turned at the hotel, I happily saw a lot of women behind me.

Unlike the last race, I felt good the whole race and did not stop.

When I approached the finish line,  I heard them say “You can  finish under 31 minutes!” 

I was upset – that’s TOO Slow!!! Too late now.  I guess that’s why I felt so good.  I wasn’t running fast enough.

I finished in 30:24. I haven’t run that slow since last summer!!!!!

Oh I forgot, this was supposed to be fun and it was.  They gave out prizes in 10 year age groups and I was 6th! (see below).

Next race is in 2 weeks!!  I better get out there and train!!!

Happy Running!

1. I ran 4 miles after work on Wednesday and 3 miles tonight….Feels good to be back!!! I still feel out of sorts!
2. I’m planning on running regularly but I’m not racing this Saturday.  I didn’t race last Saturday.  I’m a race addict and I’m going through withdrawal.
3. 5Ks planned are Sept 4, Sept 18, Sept 24, Oct 2, Oct 9, Oct 17…

Happy Running!