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?

The tee shirt (I didn’t get one cuz they ran out)

(Note to self: don’t eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s the night before a race.  It kept me up most of the night with an upset stomach.)

Anyway, I got up at 6am hoping not to see rain.  It was overcast, 70 degrees with 97% humidity but at least it wasn’t raining.

I ate my usual breakfast (coffee & oatmeal) and headed out.  It was about 1 hour 15 minute ride up to Lake George.  The Camp Chingachgook Challenge was held on the eastern side of the lake.  My boat is on the western side so this was a new view of the lake for me.  The Half Marathon starts in town and ends at the camp.  The 10k is an out and back route starting and ending at the camp.

the 10K route

I arrived early (and it still wasn’t raining but it looked like it had rained) and immediately bumped into Christine, a law professor whom I work with.  It’s nice to see a familiar face at a race. 

The course is beautiful (nice views of the lake) but it is HILLY… rolling hills and at some points they resembled mountains.  This was definitely the hardest course I have ever run.

No flat parts!

I started running up the hills during mile 1.  Then I got worried that I would die so I walked up several of the steeps during the first half.  There were 2 water stops each way & I walked through those as well.

Though it wasn’t a big race, you got to see the fast half marathoners go by and run along side the slower ones. 

hills and more hills

The second half, I walked up 2 of the hills but tried to run more.  My ankle didn’t really start to hurt until mile 5 and I didn’t feel as tired as I thought I would (considering my injury and my lack of long runs).

It never rained (though everyone looked drenched from the humidity). The sun never came out either.

I crossed the finish line at 1:09:07.  A PR!! (Of course, it was my first 10K.)

everyone got a medal.

Christine was waiting for me and we headed to the food line…a barbecue with hotdogs, chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, pasta salad, watermelon.  YUM!!

We waited for the awards.  We both came in 2nd in our age group (but they only gave out prizes for 1st).

My hubby was on our boat.  I debated going up but it looked like rain so I stopped at the outlets instead.  I was right because the skies opened up and it rained on and off for the rest of the afternoon and then the sun came out.

I never posted my goals because I wasn’t even sure that I would run this race.  But here they are:

• Not finish last
• Beat my practice 10k time (1:16:00)
• Beat half my PR half marathon time (1:11:18)
• Finish wanting to do another 10K

Woo Hoo!  I met all my goals. I’m pretty pleased! (I left my camera home…hopefully the photographer got a picture of me.)

splits

Happy Running!  Did you race this weekend?