Hudson Mohawk Runners Club sponsors FREE races throughout the winter for its members. The course is pretty boring but free is free and this 10K distance fit right in with my Half Marathon training schedule.

So I signed up and hoped the conditions would be ok for running.

We are having a kinda heat wave – in the 40s for January is warm. I debated about what to wear for awhile.  I decided on tights, long sleeve shirt, windbreaker, baseball cap & light gloves.

The race started at 10 am (I got to sleep in 2 days in a row.)  I thought I left early enough but I forgot that there is never enough parking.  I drove around 2  lots that were full before parking in a lot where you had to walk a bit (yeah, I know I am a runner.  Why would I park close?)

I still arrived in time.  I took a gu & some water & signed in (I had pre-registered so no line 🙂 )

I bumped into several people that I knew – 2 SRMs, someone (John S.) that I used to work with & someone (Colleen) that I currently work with.)

dreary & foggy

I chatted until it was time to go outside.

I’m in yellow heading down the stairs (JBerkley photo)

Then we walked to the start & I pushed into the crowd – there were probably at least 300 total runners. (for the 3m, 10k & 25K)

Melissa, Elisa & friend ready to run!

I was chilly at first.  I always forget how windy it is on this campus.   But eventually I got warm and then when it got windy, I felt chilled.

Doesn’t Melissa look cold? (JBerkley photo)

I also forgot how many hills there are.  They’re not bad but they’re annoying when the wind is blowing in your face.

I definitely felt out  of shape – winded from my lack of running & my cold.  My ankle ached off and on but it was bearable.  As I got tired, my lower back ached as well.

You can see my arm – I am running with the 25kers – I work with Colleen in pink (JBerkley photo)

There were no mile markers so I was glad I wore my Garmin.  It kept me on track.  I wanted to keep a steady pace & not run too fast or too slow.

I wanted to walk but held out until the water stop at the beginning of mile 4 and then again during the end of mile 5.

I was pretty proud that I did.  Races are definitely motivators for me.  I know I would have walked a lot more & quit after 5 if I weren’t running a race.

It seemed that everyone passed me by (and they did.) but I repeated to myself – “Run smart.  Don’t overdo.”

On the last turn of this boring course, I asked if I was going the right way for the 10k, and the volunteer said “yes, you’re it.”  I took that to mean that I was last and I took off (and even passed some old guy.)

So I did sprint through the finish line of the my second 10K & crossed at 1:08:18.

I finished 215 out of 224. Phew, I wasn’t last.

And believe it or not, it was a PR.  I finished my first 10k at 1:09 (in between injuries.)

I went inside and found a familiar face.

sweaty hair post race photo

Then I had some soup, hot chocolate, cranberry bread & cookies.  Not bad for a free race.

As for my goals –

A.  Run the whole thing.
B.  PR (under 1:09)
C.  Not finish last.
D. Finish upright

All except A achieved!!

My splits:

mile 1 – 10:43
mile 2 – 11:04
mile 3 – 11:06
mile 4 – 11:34 (water stop & walked)
mile 5 – 11:17 (walked)
mile 6 – 11:04
.2         – 8:19

So I am happy.  I got my work cut out for me but it’s  a start. Week 3 is over. Now onto WEEK 4.

Happy Running! Did you run or race this weekend?