Races

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Pace or Time?

Awards at races are given out based on the TIME that you cross the finish line.

Personally if you want to improve your running speed, shouldn’t you be looking at PACE not time. After all, some 5ks are calculated at 3.03 miles and others at 3.15 miles.  The same goes for 10Ks, 15ks and Half Marathons.

Naples Half

Santa Clarita Half

Obviously, the longer the course, the slower your finish time will be.

So I thought that I ran faster for my 5K  on Nov. 24 than for my 5K on Nov, 26.  I finished in 27:58 on Nov 24 and in 28:11 on Nov. 26.

As you can see my PACE was faster on Nov 26 (8:57/mi) even though my time was slower.  The 5K course was longer!

So maybe I should re-calculate my PRs and revise my future racing goals!!

Happy Running!  What’s more important to you – time or pace?

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Run Off That Turkey 5K Race Report

Another new race for me.  I knew nothing about this race except that it was a 5K. I knew I would eat a lot on Thanksgiving and running would be a good idea.  A race would motivate me to run at least 3 miles!

It turned out to be a perfect morning for a race…sunny & in the 50s. I got there early because I wasn’t sure where I was going.  No signs but eventually I located the church where it started & parked across the street in the school parking lot.

I was pleased to find out that they gave out gloves instead of shirts (I have enough race shirts!!!) But it was a small race so no chip timing again.

I waited in my car until the start…it was chilly and this time I didn’t overdress.  I left my jacket in the car.

As usual I had positive splits.  But I didn’t care.  I knew I was running fast and I said to myself “So what!”  My first 2 miles were under 9 min pace.  This is a first for me…even in my 5K PR, this didn’t happen.  But the last 1/2 mile was uphill and I slowed down a lot.  Also according to my Garmin, the race was 3.14 and Thanksgiving’s was 3.03. 

So I finished at 28:11.  I’m happy with that.  I knew it wasn’t as flat as Delmar so I didn’t expect a PR (but secretly hoped for one.)

after the race

Though I didn’t know anyone running this race, I did bump into nice people:  a DMer and someone who reads my blog (someone reads my blog?)  I hung around with 3 women that I’ve met at many races and who run even more 5k races than me.

It took forever to have the awards ceremony…like almost 2 hrs.   So we chatted about racing.  They are older than me and they all won AG awards.  Me, I came in 4th.  If I were older or young, I would have gotten an award.

I feel like I have gotten most of my speed back.  I don’t think about my injury anymore.  I am starting to like 5Ks again!

Happy Running!  Did you run off that turkey?

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Our Towne Bethlehem Turkey Trot 5K Race Report

Nov 24, 2011

This is the 2nd year for this race. Last year, it was pretty unorganized and many more runners signed up than expected. There are several turkey trots in the area with the big one being in Troy. Most of the elites run that one.

Things have changed a lot in one year.  Last year, I was only running 5ks and my goal was to get faster.  This race was and still is my fastest 5K at 27:30.

This year,  after an achilles injury, 5 Half Marathons and a 15K under my belt, fast I am not. But that’s ok.

This race also is being run on a different course.  (It may be the same 5k course as my first race!!)

Knowing many runners who were signed up for this race and it being so close to home, I was excited to run this race!!

It was pretty chilly…in the 30s!! I decided to wear some layers and as much orange as I could find.

I was wrong about this year being more organized.  They had ONE line to pick up your bib and it took forever.  I was glad I was there early. I bumped into running friends Janis & Bridget and then I found my good friend MaryPat.

me & MaryPat

 
When it was finally time to start, we tried to squeeze into the crowd.  Unfortunately, this race was not chip timed.  When the gun went off, it took awhile to get to the start (at which point I started my Garmin) and then it was really hard to weave through the crowd.
 
Delmar is pretty flat so my mind said “PR” but my body had something else in mind.  I was fine during the first mile but then I slowed and slowed. (Yes, this seems to be a pattern.)
 
I crossed the finish line a little over 28 minutes but according to my Garmin I finished in 27:58.  (I didn’t stop it immediately so maybe a few seconds less.)
 
 
I hung around waiting for MaryPat to finish.  I bumped into 2 more tennis acquaintances also while I was waiting.
 
 

Here comes MaryPat!

  

They were only giving out awards for the top finishers and the refreshments were water & Freihofer’s cookies so we left and went to Dunkin Donuts.   It seemed that everyone there had come from the race.  We chatted for awhile over a latte & a bagel before heading home.

I was cooking a turkey dinner for my hubby & myself and then going to a friend’s for dessert.

I love starting Thanksgiving Day with a race.  I am happy with my time.  It was faster than the last 5K I did! There’s always room for improvement!! (Tomorrow is another 5K race.)

Hope you had a

Happy Running! Did you race yesterday?

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Good News and Bad News

This past weekend was the Philly Marathon. My running friend Mary was running it as HER FIRST MARATHON!!  We have a lot in common & have run many races together.  She ran the Stockade-athon the week before & had a terrible run.  So I was a little worried.  But…she did it!!! And she did great!!! I met her for coffee yesterday to hear all about it.  Her excitement almost makes me want to do one…I said almost!!!

 

 

Now the not so good news: 2 runners died during this race. One was from my area. Read the story here.

He was only 40.  He was an experienced marathon runner.  He even had completed 3 Ironman races (including the one in Lake Placid this past July). I know they said he died doing something he loved but it is still so sad esp for his family and friends…

 

Happy Running! Do you ever worry that running is dangerous?

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The Former 5K Racer

 

My first year of running, I ran about 13 5K races, my second year, 17 and my third over 20!!  I went from finishing in 37 minutes to finishing in 27 minutes!!

Year Four: two 4 mile races, a 5 mile race, a 15K race and 5 Half Marathons!

Since June, I have run only one 5k and I struggled to finish under 30 minutes!!!

I feel like I am no longer a 5K racer!!!

That being said, I have signed up for three 5K races before the end of the year! Nov 24, Nov 26 and Dec 17.

So what is my goal for my 5Ks?

  • Have fun!
  • Finish under 30 minutes!
  • Get faster with each one…

Happy Running!  How do you choose between distance and speed? Can you do both?

 

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Tentative Races for 2012

Some oldies but goodies and some new ones on the horizon:

*HMRRC Winter Series Run – 1/?
Polar Cap 4m – 2/2
Runnin of the Green 4m – 3/17
Delmar Dash 5m – 4/8


*Spring Run Off 10K – 4/28

*NY-VT Champlain Bridge Race 5K – 5/20
Freihofer’s Run for Women (5k) – 6/2


*New Paltz Challenge Half Marathon – 6/17 (REVIEW)

*Adirondack Distance Run 10m – 6/24
Silks & Satins 5K – 7/?
*Jingle Bell Run (5k) in Lake George – 7/28
Camp Chingagook 10K in Lake George – 8/?
Jailhouse Rock 5K – 8/?

*Helper’s Fund 10K – 9/21
Komen Race for the Cure (5K) – 9/29


*Divas Half Marathon on LI – 10/7
Falling Leaves 5K – 10/14
*Great Pumpkin 5k or 10K – 10/21


*Frun Run 10K -11/3
Stockadeathon 15K – 11/11
Our Towne Turkey Trot – 11/22
Run Off That Turkey 5K – 11/24
Albany Last Run – 12/15

* = NEW races
in RED = pretty definite
in black = tentative (could be deleted or substituted for another)

Happy Running! Do you have 2012 racing planned yet?

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Wordless Wednesday: Stockade-athon in Pictures

Me heading to the finish line of my 1st 15K

Like my outfit?  The spectators did!!

taken by suns along the Mohawk

My favorite sign:

taken by suns along the Mohawk

taken by suns along the Mohawk

 

Beautiful fall day:

taken by suns along the Mohawk

Happy Running!

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Two (Races) for Tuesday

Ok, I got my racing mojo back after Sunday’s 15K so I signed up for TWO more (in addition to the 2 I had already signed up for).

November 20 – HMRRC Turkey RafFAL Run:

Runners run about a mile loop for an hour. Every time they go through ‘finish’ line, they are given a raffle ticket. Admission to run is a baked item. Items are raffled off.

November 24 – Our Towne Bethlehem Turkey Trot 5K

November 26 – Run Off That Turkey 5K

Benefit Event for ALTAMONT COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY Please bring an unexpired dry good food item or paper product. Running gloves to the 1st 175 registrants, limited to 300 entrants, door prizes, refreshments and more.

December 17  – Albany Last Run 5K

Happy Running! Do you sign up for more races after you have a good one?

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Last Week in Review & an Unplanned 15K

Monday – 5 miles walking in Van Nuys, Ca
Tuesday – many miles walking in Santa Monica, Ca
Wednesday – REST
Thursday – 4 mile run (day off from work)
Friday – 3 mile run after work
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 9.4 miles – Stockeade-athon 15K

Happy Running!

 

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Oops I did it again! An Impromtu Race!!

I was planning on volunteering at this race as I did last year. But the weather forecast looked good and many of my friends were running in it.  I’ve never run a 15K so there would be no pressure to PR because it would of course be a PR.

So I went to the expo yesterday and registered!!

It was chilly (in the 40s) when I left my house.  I planned as usual to dress in layers and take them off before the start of the race. I have been disappointed in my pace since I came back from my injury so I decided to wear my old running shoes — the ones I wore last January for my 1st half.  They’re not too light and not too heavy (but they are worn!)

I arrived pretty early and found Amanda & Tami by the fireplace.

trying to stay warm

 
Then I bumped into Bev, my mah jongg friend who nervously was waiting to run her 1st 15K.
 

 As it got close to race time, some of the “Strong Running Mamas” posed for a photo.

me, Suzy, Amanda, Tami, Janis, Bridget (Elisa taking the pic)

 I decided to take off my sweats & jacket but to leave on my gloves.  I was wearing a long sleeve shirt and capris under my running skirt (which got so many compliments!!).  I’m glad I did because when the sun came out I was fine — even rolled up my sleeves and took off my gloves.

This was the first race that energy-wise I felt good the whole race.  I’m not sure why.  I was running at a faster pace tha usual and was waiting to crash and burn but did not.

The 1st 5 miles were easy but I was warned about the hills.  Compared to Rhinebeck, they were nothing.  I did walk during all 3 hills to conserve energy but in hindsight, I think I could have run up them.

My skirt got a lot of attention (I wish it hadn’t shrunk in the dryer).  Someone yelled my name during the race.  It turned out to be a former student of mine.

Laura, race cheerleader

I stopped to tie my shoe around mile 2.5,  took one GU at mile 5 & had water during several of the later miles, but still I was surprised at my pace.

This was so much faster than my last 3 halfs.

My biggest problem was my feet (as usual).  I got MY FIRST BLISTER!!! Ouch! So miles 6-9 were painful!

According to my Garmin, this 15K was 9.4 miles!!! My time registered as 1:35:31. 

Official Time – 1:36:08 (10K time = 1:03:32)

I really liked the course.  It was quite varied – you started in the park, ran through city and the Stockade-athon district, up State St past Proctors Theatre, through the cemetary and then back through the park.

It was pretty crowded getting refreshments after the race.  But it was worth the line – besides the usual cookies, bagels, fruit, there was hot cider, hot chocolate, coffee, choc milk, soup, pizza, pudding, candy and more…

love the pink tech shirt

So I’ve got my racing mojo back!! WooHoo!

Happy Running!  Did you race this weekend?