Silks & Satins 5K

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It started out poorly but ended pretty good.

I went to bed too late and couldn’t sleep.  I got up at 6:30 am instead of 6:00 am and had to drive about 95 mph to get to Saratoga on time.  When I got there, the parking lot was full  luckily I found a nearby spot on the street.  I dashed to registration to get my number and chip and then to the starting line – phew!

It was a beautiful day and I love the course.  I ran the lst mile at 8 something which was too fast, then the 2nd mile at 18 something so I was on pace to finish under 30 minutes – a PR!?  I ran out of gas at the end and crossed the finish line according to my iPod at 30:40 and I was pleased.  Not a PR but my fastest of the season  – http://bit.ly/1ZkoiU

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Run for Help: 5K Against Domestic Violence

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Well, I didn’t get my 3 practices runs in this week.  I only did one on Tuesday but decided to race anyway.

It was a beautiful sunny day.  But not perfect condition for a PR : ran the first mile too fast (about 9 min), hilly (not steep but persistent) course, didn’t get a drink of water at mile 2 and they ran out at mile 3.  As a result, I walked several times especially during the last mile and had no gas to finish strong.

So how did I finish it in 31 minutes?  It was my fastest this year.  Faster than the 3 races where I didn’t walk at all and felt strong throughout especially at the end of the race.  Go figure!

My next race is not until August 1.  I need to motivate myself to run.

My goal is to some day finish in the top 3 in my age group.  I think I was 5th in this race and 64th out of almost 200.

Freihofer’s Run For Women

 

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What a gorgeous day for a race!!! In the 60s and sunny with a breeze – 4028 women – all excited to be part of this event!!!.  I met Pat & Mary Pat, my tennis friends there and also bumped to 2 former AHN students and law prof.

We started the race  with 25 minute finishers group so it was several minutes before crossing the starting line and it took quite awhile with the crowd to get into a decent pace. 

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 I felt great the whole way – ran it all and when I crossed the finish line, the timer said 35:05 minutes.  I felt like I was running a lot faster than that, though.

Me at the 2009 Freihofer's Run

Me at the 2009 Freihofer's Run

After the race, we got our cookies, hung out for awhile and then headed to Panera’s for brunch where we bumped into several other Freihofer runners.

Looking forward to my next race!!

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Here are the results – http://www.coolrunning.com/results/09/ny/May30_31stFr_set1.shtml

Capital News 9 coverage – http://capitalnews9.com/content/sports/473361/run-for-women-in-albany/Default.aspx

Vascular Birthmark Foundation 5K

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I debated going to this race since my knee has been hurting for the last 2 days. But I did and as usual, it stopped hurting once I started running.  It was a warm, humid evening but I enjoyed the run.  I didn’t walk at all and finished strong.  My time according to my iPod was 33:09 – a little faster than Tim Moshier 5k and this course was hilly in spots. There were about 100 runners most of them were young and fast but though I finished in the back of the pack, I wasn’t last. (78 out of 88)

My running plans for this week are Sun, Tues & Thurs and then Tues & Thurs next week.  Gotta get ready  for the Freihofer!!

Mother’s Day 3.5 Race

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A very windy and cool but sunny day. 

I was sick yesterday (stomach flu) and didn’t feel my best best today but willed myself to complete the race. 

It was the first race that after the first mile, I walked on and off.  Amazingly my time for the 5K was 2 minutes better than last week (31:23) and my 3.5 mile time was better than last year. 

 If I felt better, this could have been a great race for me. 

Oh well, at least I finished.

Tim’s Race

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Capital News 9 coverage

A cool windy day with lots of sunshine -I started with my friends Pat and John.  I can’t say it was easy but I feel great about my first 5K of the season.  I ran the whole way.  I finished strong.  My time (according to my iPod) was 33:23 (the ARE page says 33:47)and I finished 320 out of about 600 participants.  This was about 4 minutes faster than last year in this race. and 5th in my age group (55-59)

Most importantly, my knee didn’t hurt. 

Next race is 3.5 miles on Mother’s Day. My racing season has begun…

Annie’s Quest

A cold morning for a race – it was 35 degrees when I arrived.  I had to run with my jacket on. The only thing that was cold, however, were my hands.  I need to find some gloves.

The race started at Shaker High School and we ran around Siena College and then back. What a tough course – one hill after another!! I don’t remember any flat parts and there were no mile markers, Definitely the hardest race for me. I finished at 31:40 and felt great so I was pretty pleased with my results. 

 I bumped into some familiar faces from other races and even a former student from AHN.

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

This is my first team experience – I ran as part of the Albany Law School team ( made up of 2 professors, the male rugby team and many students).  We had special tee shirts made. 

I went with my tennis friends Pat & Mary Pat (we have done several races together). After the start we went our separate ways but met at the end.

This was an emotional race.  I know several women personally who have died of breast cancer and currently have many close friends who have luckily survived this horrible disease.

This is a race I plan to run every year.

It was beautiful day – a little on the cold side but you quickly got warm once you started running – which was quite awhile.  At the beginning it was hard to move because of the number of racers and it probably had an effect on my time plus the fact that I tied my jacket around my waist and it kept coming loose.

So it wasn’t my best time but I had slacked off the last 3 weeks so I was happy with my 32:49 time.

Teal Ribbon Run

I didn’t have high hopes for my time in this race.  I went to a big party last night on Lake George and though I didn’t drink, I danced a lot and went too bed late.  I was exhausted when I woke up this morning.

It rained all night and was raining lightly when I left for the race.  It completely stopped by the start of the race.  There was a walk and a 5K.  All the money raised, which was over $100,000 went to research for ovarian cancer and most of the runners knew someone who died of the disease. Two people from where I work were volunteering at the the race.  This, of course, motivated me to run fast, at least when I passed them.

The course was twice around Washington Park (which had several small annoying hills).  I ran the first mile way too fast (9 minutes) and the last mile, for the first time in a race, I struggled and even considered walking.  I forced myself to finish… and came in under 31 minutes.  This was a PR for me.

Fox News Video: http://www.truveo.com/Teal-Ribbon-WalkRun/id/339637869

Bruegger’s Bagel Run

The hurricane is over and a beautiful sunny day for a race. I met the ladies from the last race afterwards.  I also met someone new.  Diane is 54 and recently started running.  I tried to run with her but she left me in the dust.  I did run my first mile faster than usual – about 10:09 but didn’t have my usual energy to sprint at the end.  So the result was a 31:59 (or as my iPod said 31:44) finish.   That was 376 out of almost 500 and 8th in my age group. (Results: http://www.albanyrunningexchange.org/results/searchResultsSQL.php?ID=920)

I am encouraged after meeting Diane about being able to run faster.  I signed up for 2 more races: