on Sept 8, 2012 at 8:30 am

Well, I signed up for this race to feel better about my running. That is was my goal.  (We know also that to feel better would be to run well and improve my speed.)

I knew nothing about the course except that they changed it back to the first year’s course (the one with the hill.)

At least it started early so the day wasn’t shot.

The weather was far from perfect.  It was VERY humid, in the 70’s and VERY VERY windy.  It felt like a hurricane was on the way.

I got there about 20 minutes early…just enough time to get a parking spot and put my swag bag back  in my car. I bumped into the same 2 ladies from last week’s race. (They do 5ks every week.) Otherwise I didn’t know anyone else.  (Most of my running friends are  running  long runs while training for half or full marathons.)

heading toward the start/finish line

As I said in a previous post, I didn’t really have any written goals.  In the back of my mind was the wish to finish under 30 minutes but with the wind and the fact that I only ran 2 lackluster training runs this week, I would be just glad to finish strong.

The course meandered around the campus (which they said before the race started was worth $4 billion!!!).  There were some uphills but nothing really steep.

I tried not to look at my Garmin but they called out times at every mile so I knew that I was running under 10 minute miles.  I was surprised at that since it was hard running into the wind. I felt at times like I wasn’t even moving.

There were 2 water stops.  I stopped at the first one and walked a bit and then ignored the 2nd one (I did think about it, though.)

When I came toward the finish line, I heard the announcer say “If you run faster, you can still finish under 30 minutes.”

And so I did – 29:53!! Another post-injury PR.

The refreshments were very nice: bagels, cider donuts, whole oranges, bananas, chocolate milk, orange juice.

I hung around with those 2 ladies who always win because they are in the next age group.  And sure enough, they did and I did not.  I came in 7th in 50-59 and would have come in 2nd in the next age group.

 They gave the winners $25 gift certificates to a local diner and they randomly gave huge gift baskets to runners who finished 100. 115, 200, 350, etc.

race swag – lst time I’ve gotten a towel

So 5K #6 is done and at each one I am a little faster.  I guess that’s progress. And I left the race feeling better than before I started (mentally, that is.)

my splits – all under 10 min 🙂

after the race in the windy parking lot

As I did last week, I stopped at the Mohawk Towpath to run some more.

It was very windy but I decided to just grin and bear it – take it slow and walk if necessary.

I headed west and ran along the trail along the Mohawk River.

 When the  trail ended, instead of running along the road, I took a path which turned out to be great since the trees shielded  me from the wind.

I turned back at 1.5 miles and ran the same way back to my car (including a brief stop at a garage sale.)

running on a new path

On my way home, I stopped at Target…love Target!  (needed only a few things and spent almost $200)

Now I am watching the US Open on TV and waiting for the storm to arrive.

Happy Running!  Did you get any rain or did you race or both?

on Sept 1, 2012 in Saratoga

I didn’t have high hopes for this race since my run on Thursday was the worst ever.

Nevertheless, I love racing and I was determined to do my best and have fun.

The weather was more summer-like than September and the race didn’t start  until 10am.

I headed up to Saratoga and arrived there around 9:30.  Already near 80 degrees (& humid.)

before the race

There were real bathrooms – love that! I bumped in to 2 ladies (in their 60’s) who like me ran a race every weekend.

cotton tee shirt – ick!

view from the warming hut facing the start

The course began on the trail and then went out to route 9.  We were running on sidewalk (which made my ankle hurt)  Then we went back into the park and ran on asphalt or trails.

I can’t say that I felt strong during this race cuz I didn’t.  I was determined to just plod along as fast as I could.  I knew without looking at my Garmin that I was getting slower and slower and slower.

I paced myself with a lady around my age and I am proud to say that she was ahead the whole race until mile 3 and then I finished way ahead.

I was hoping to run the whole thing but the water stop half way was too tempting and I walked.

Unfortunately the race ended on the trail and I find it very hard to run fast on trails.

I finished in 30:55.  Not near a PR but a post injury PR by 3 seconds.

There was lots to eat after the race: water, gatorade, bananas, apples, donuts, bagels, crumb cake, granola bars & brownies (I ate 3!)

I hung around for awhile.  I came in 8th in my age group (50-59) but I was one year away from 1st in the next age group.  The also raffled away some great gifts but I didn’t win.

So what about my race goals:

1. Have fun. Of course.
2. Finish. Yes.
3. Feel good during the race. Not too bad.
4. Run the whole thing.  Walked once.
5. Only walk at water stop(s). Yes and good thing, there was only one.
6. Run faster than my previous 5Ks this year (beat 30:58 ). Yes, 30:55
7. Run faster than my RFTH 5k time (beat 30:40) . Nope.

After the race, I didn’t drive up to Lake George as I usually do.  It is a 3 day weekend so I decided to go up later and spend Sunday & Monday there.

On the way home, I felt like running more so I stopped in Crescent along the Mohawk River.  I always wondered if it was a nice trail.

It was definitely scenic but my legs didn’t agree with my brain.  They wre shot.  So I ran/walked them only 2 miles.

Mohawk River

the bridge that I run by on the Nisky trail (in the distance)

I will defintely try this run again. The river views are nice and you are running on soft ground.

Happy Running! Any exciting plans for the Labor Day weekend?