5k

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Fasig Tipton 5K Race Report

This is my 2nd time at this race.  Last year, this race was a PR for me. Here I am:

 However since then I’ve lowered my PR.(to 28:42) My last race was here in Saratoga and I didn’t PR so I decided not to get my hopes up.

I planned to meet Mary at this race.  She is training for a half marathon but still wants to finish a 5k under 30 minutes.

One good thing about this race is that the Fasig-Tipton Pavillion (where people come bid on and  buy horses) is open,  There’s an art exhibit and REAL bathrooms.

The weather was absolutely perfect – 60’s and sunny.  There were only about 300 racers because this race conflicts with 3 other races.

The  race starts at the same spot as the Silks and Satins but has a completely different course. I ran into Mary right away.  She wanted me to be her pacer so she could finish under 30 minutes.  Imagine, someone thinking I run fast!!!

I like to start at the starting line but Mary wanted to start in the back.  We compromised and moved to the middle.

I should mention that tennis has taken over my life and I haven’t run since Tuesday when I only ran 3 miles.  So I definitely was rested but was I in shape to run fast???

I took off fast and Mary said she would follow me.  I felt like I had so much energy.  The course does have a long uphill road during the 2nd mile and when you think it’s over, you turn the corner, and you have a steeper hill.  At that point, there’s a water stop.  I stopped but it was difficult to get going again.

Mary caught up to me at the end of the 2nd mile but I still felt strong and she was losing steam.

At the 3 mile mark is when I felt tired. .1 miles seemed endless.  I thought still that I had run a good race until I saw 29 minutes in the distance.  I sped up because there was no way I was going to finish in over 30 minutes!!!

My official time was 29:51.

A first: I ran a race slower than the previous year!!!!

Mary finished in 30:03!! This was her fastest race but she was disappointed that she didn’t finish in under 30 minutes.  I said that next time, we have to start at the front!!!

She was so thankful that I was her pacer.  She called me her HERO and hugged me!!!

It made me forget my disappointment in not PRing!!

Stats:
Time -29:51
Pace – 9:37/mi
Finish 193/266 (8/11 in 50-59 age group, 2/3 in 55-59 age group)

They gave out awards to the top 3 in 10 year age groups (not 5) – DARN!! (I forgot my camera but pics are posted here)

This year's finish

Another busy week is coming up and another 5K next Saturday!

Happy Running and have a nice weekend!

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Fotos for Friday

OK.  I have a 5K tomorrow and I haven ‘t been running….Hopefully muscle memory takes over and I can do it.   My friend Mary wants to finish under 30 minutes. The problem is that I want a PR so that’s under 28:42!!!!!!!!  I hope one of the two happens!!!!

Now that’s out in the open…I’m going to have fun tomorrow and focus on getting some running in next week and get ready for the Jailhouse Rock (where I won my age group for the FIRST TIME and a pair of sock!) on Aug 14.

Here are some photos from last weekend.  Every year they auction chairs off to raise money.  Before the auction, they display them around Bolton Landing and I run past them every weekend. This year, I stopped to take photos…and I have 9 not 5…

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

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Three Things Thursday

  1. My morning run got rained out.  I was kinda glad.  I played tennis Tues. after work, Wed. before work and Wed after work, so with this heat and humidity, I was POOPED.
  2. I have another 5k race this Sat.  The Fasig-Tipton in Saratoga.  It’s the same starting point as my last race but a different course.  Last year, it was my PR race! My friend, Mary, was supposed to be in LA but she’s not and will be running with me 🙂 However, I have been playing tennis not running.  I’m debating whether I should run tomorrow or just be very rested???
  3. I’m still debating the 10k option.  I want to do it but tennis is very important now that we’re going on to Sectionals Aug 20-22. So if we lose, I’m going to try training for the Oct 23 10k.  And if we win, we go to Arizona Oct 15-17 and I’ll keeping doing 5ks til next year….

Happy Running!

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End of Month Recap & Monday Goals

Recap of July:

July Goal = 55 miles –  I did 54 miles (close).
Yearly Goal = 300 miles.  I’ve done 344. (over)
a 5K race – no PR but under 30 min
My tennis team won both rounds of playoffs and then Regionals

August Goals:
55 miles
5 k race and a PR
a tennis win at Sectionals

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 16 miles. I did 12. (a lot of tennis)
I won my doubles match at Regionals – YAY!!

This week’s schedule:
Monday – boating on the lake
Tuesday – tennis after work
Wed –   tennis before & after work
Thurs –  haircut & party after work
Fri -mah jong after work
Saturday/Sunday – boating on the lake

This week’s running :
Mon  – 4 miles while docked at the marina
Tues –  3.5  miles  before work
Thursday – 3.5  miles  before work
Sat – 5K RACE!!

Weekly Running Goal = 14 miles
Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it!!)

Happy Running and enjoy your summer!!

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Tennis, Running Partnership Postponed & 5 Foto Friday

me & Georgette

 

Tomorrow, my tennis team is playing in the Regional Championships against a team from Cooperstown, NY. I’m playing with Georgette (whom I played with in Fla in April).  If our team wins, we go to States and play in Syracuse in August.  I’M NERVOUS!!!!! 

And now for Five Foto Friday, RunningLaur-style. I have 5 cats.  Here they are: 

Jerry

Spooky

Slater

Honey

Billy

As for running…I ran 3.5 miles Tuesday after work and 4 miles yesterday after work.  Tuesday it was very HUMID. Yesterday, the weather was perfect.  Neither run was.  As much as I try, I stop and walk when I get tired. I can’t get motivated to push myself if I am by myself.  I’m debating the 10k option but I’m going to wait til the last minute to sign up for the Great Pumpkin Challenge on Oct 23. It’s a 5k and a 10K. I’m to start training after Aug 22 (unless my tennis team loses tomorrow) & I’ll see if I am capable of running 6.2 miles! 

me & Mary

After my last race, Mary & I decided to be running partners.  We made plans to run today at the Crossings and then race on Aug. 7 together.  She wants to run a half in October.  Unfortunately, she had to go to LA for a funeral and won’t be back til Aug. 14 😦

Happy Running!

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To Run Faster or Longer…That is the Question

This is my 3rd summer running.  I’m still doing 5Ks!!!! I’m done 37 5k races  and 3 3.5 mile races. The farthest I’ve run  is 5 miles and that was with A LOT of walk breaks!!

Even those who just started are working toward 10ks and even 1/2 Marathons!!!

Should I run longer?

Pros:

  • It’s cool.
  • More prestige
  • finisher medals
  • others are doing it
  • I can use my giveaway prizes (Nathan handheld, GU…)
  • harder as you get older so do it now
  • it would be exciting
  • it would be a CHALLENGE

Cons:

  • there are more 5ks locally
  • I know I can run 5K
  • I can win an age group from time to time in 5k
  • I still want to improve my 5k pace
  • need to have a new training plan
  • need more time to train to run a longer distance
  • more chance of injury
  • don’t have a running partner to motivate me
  • need to carry stuff (water, energy gels, etc)
  • will I have stomach issues?
  • hard to schedule longer training runs (I work, I play tennis, I go boating on the weekend…)
  • 5k is nothing to be ashamed of…better than staying in bed

Any advice would be appreciated…

Happy Running!

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Silks & Satins 5K Race Report

This was my 3rd year running in this race so I knew where the race was and that it was a flat course. I was pretty excited since I usually run alone but this race I was meeting 2 women — one who I met at my last race and one who I’ve only met online – both started running in their 50’s so we have a connection!!!

It had rained all night and when I left my house it was  very HUMID.  I was surprised that at 6:45 am it was already 72 degrees – Oh No!!

This 5k coincides with the opening of the Saratoga Racetrack which draws people from all over the world. I got there early enough to find parking.  Last year there were about 1200 people but this year only 800 or so…the weather??

I looked for AJH and luckily for cell phones, we found each other before the start.


Then I found Mary, as well.

AJH & I started near the front.  Since the clock starts when the first runners leaves, I don’t like to hang back.  Mary, however, headed toward the back.

I quickly lost AJH.  I knew that I couldn’t keep her pace. My first mile, however, was faster than it should have been in this weather (under 9 min).  I think I continued to get slower each mile, as a result. This is a flat course so I was hoping to PR.  As I approached the finish line, I saw 29… and  I was disappointed.  I wished I had kept my mile 1 pace & didn’t walk at the water stop.  My final time was 29:34.  At least I was under 30 minutes and faster than last year 🙂

There was a lot of food at this race but I was too hot to eat much. I found AJH who had a SUPER race. (26 minutes os so) Her fastest 5k this year!! She is amazing!!!

We hung around for the awards.  There were a lot of  FAST runners at this race (esp. in our age group).  AJH came in 6th and I came in 10th so no awards for us…  I never found Mary but I spoke to her on the phone later.  (She felt sick and was disappointed at her 31 minute time so left right away.)

AJH & I hung around for awhile watching the horses warm up and chatting about running. 

She may even have convinced me to run a longer race some day… Hopefully, we will connect again for another race in NY or VT…(Check out her blog for her race report.)

Mary & I made plans to run together this Friday and she signed up to do the Fasig Tipton 5k with me on Aug. 7.  She wants to do a 5k in under 30 min and I want to run a longer race..so I hope we can help each other.

Happy Running and Have a great Weekend!

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Rest Day & 5 Foto Friday

No running…No tennis…I slept til 7a.  It was raining so no lunchtime walk.   I’m playing Mah Jongg tonight and going to bed early.  Tomorrow is RACE DAY!

And now for Five Foto Friday, RunningLaur-style. I love flowers.  Here are some I took Monday in my friend’s garden:

Happy Running and Good Luck to all Those Racing this Weekend!

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3 Things Thursday

 

  1. We had a big storm last night and the rain cooled things down.  I was sick yesterday (headache, nauscea, etc) but I wasn’t going to waste this running weather.  I went out for an easy 3.5 mile run before work.
  2. Tennis is picking up.  My team won both rounds of playoffs and now we play the winner of the Oneonta division in the Regionals on July 31.  If we win, we go to Syracuse to play in the NYS Sectionals Aug 20-22.) Last year our team came in close to last place so the season ended early & I was able to focus on running. )
  3. My next 5k is Saturday. I’m excited because I’ll be meeting 2 other runners before the race and I’ve run this race 2x before. I’m not in peak condition so we’ll see how I’ll do.  Anyway, it should be fun!!

Happy Running and good luck on your weekend races!

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I played…I Lost…We Won…I Ran

From my captain’s email: Aces Wild were victorious tonight!!!

 We beat the number one team, Alley Cats 3-2 in a fierce competition!!  Darlene was really the unsung heroine who played first singles for our team and although losing, put up a great battle against the toughest player on the 3.0 league.  Thanks Darlene for being such a team player and really getting our team to victory!!

Julia held her ground at 2nd singles and blew away her opponent!! Donna and Nancy crushed the 1st doubles team in 2 sets. Karen and Catalina were the lobbing queens and really met their match at 2nd doubles, although losing they played great!!Annie and I had a tough 2 setter against the captains.. Karen Paratta and Deb Lawson, but won in 2 sets and took a definitive lead in the second set at 5–1- ultimately winning at 7-6, 6-3.

Thanks so much to everyone who brought us to this point.  We are all winners!!!!!!

It’s hard to go out and play knowing that the competition is so much better (My opponent even plays at the 3.5 level also).  I am so glad that the strategy worked and our team won!!! (I’m trying not to feel discouraged in not winning myself.)

This morning I got up and ran 3.5 miles before work.  I was actually running to get the frustation from tennis out of my system.  The weather was beautiful (just a little too humid).  I think it worked…

More tennis after work today, tennis tomorrow before & after work.  (Can I master 2 sports????)

Thursday will be my last training run for my 5K race on Saturday.

Happy Running!