It seems like I’ve been planning this race forever. As with all my big races, I impulsively sign up way in advance (and then often regret it LOL).

I ran the first annual one in 2019. Due to COVID, in 2020, I ran the race virtually and in 2021, however, I ran it on a completely different course (a hilly one). I ran it again on its current course in 2022 and then in 2023, I was recovering from a broken foot so I had to skip it and volunteered at the finish line instead. But then last year, I ran it one more time.

So I signed up for 2025 Helderberg to Hudson Half Marathon as my 73rd Half Marathon for several reasons:

• FOMO. Many of my racing/running friends were doing it.
• It’s local. I can sleep in my own bed.
• I am familiar with the course. I run on it often.
• It’s a downhill course. (470 ft. elevation loss)
• It was part 2 of a 3 race challenge.
• I ran one just a month ago (so sorta trained.)

Half Marathon Training:

If you follow my posts, you also know that I am not strict about following a training plan. I ran my last half marathon on March 15 in Washington DC.

On weekdays, I tried to run 3x a week…sometimes it happened, sometimes it didn’t (and usually only 3 miles). This past week, I only ran twice since I had raced on Sunday.

And then on the weekends, I schedule my long run. This training cycle, I didn’t get the 10, 11 and 12 milers done that I had planned to do in order to prepare for this race.  Work, weather, work, weather, illness, etc…

I was counting on some muscle memory from the 13.1 miles that I completed 4 weeks prior.

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

Deb picked up my bib (and Barbara’s) on Friday at the race finish.

As usual I ate pizza for dinner.

I checked the weather and it looked lousy!! Snow… then rain.. and cold!

So what do I wear?

Similar to what I wore to the March 10k with an added throw away and rain poncho since the weather hasn’t improved much.

Race goals?

Also the same as usual. Finish happy with no injuries.  I have realized that having a time goal is difficult at my age. Having any expectations of a PR or even a course PR is unrealistic, as well.

That being said, since this race did not have the hills of DC or the heat of Florida, I was hoping to have a faster finish time than my last two half marathons … but again, anything can happen on race day.

Race Day:

Since I had run this race before, I was familiar with the start and finish logistics. But they still were tricky. There was a bus from the finish to the start (and no parking at the start). However this year, I knew when to get there and where to find nearby parking.  Over 2,000 runners had signed up for this race!!!

Well, I woke up to 35 degrees and SNOW!!

I kept my original race outfit added a throwaway jacket, rain poncho, extra pair of gloves, umbrella and dry clothes for after. I decided against bag check since we planned to park near the finish.

I met Barbara and Deb at 6:15am to carpool, We arrived around 6:30 am, found parking in the lot near the finish and then we walked to the bus.

There were so many busses and as soon as one was filled, it left.

We arrived around 7:15 am and the race did not start until 8:30. (A long time to wait when it’s miserable outside!)

There were so many familiar faces.. from former running groups, training groups, other races, etc.. All arriving and seeking shelter from the weather.

It was snowing and we were freezing!!

So we waited in a dugout (trying to stay dry).

Eventually, it was time to enter the start area. I ditched my umbrella, poncho, a pair of wet gloves and my throwaway jacket.

We entered near the back and waited (in a pool of mud!!)

Here are some posted pictures of the beginning of the race:

Anyway, here’s how the race went:

Course Map:

Miles 1-5:

The course started in the park and then we ran just over 2 miles on the roads of Voorheesville so runners could spread out before they got on the rail trail.

There were a few steep downhill sections but it was very crowded and slippery in places so this helped me not start out too fast.

From there, the course headed east for about 9 miles into Albany on the rail trail. If you read my blog, you may remember that this is a trail near my home and that I run on often. It was nice to only have to run on it one way…going downhill.  It was not steep and I was able to run at a comfortable pace.

The problem was that my lower back ached (from sitting at the computer ALL week?), I am used to only running for 90 seconds at a time and the snow was blowing into my eyes.

As per my plan, I walked at each water stop.  I think there were 2 in the first 3 miles. And after the first mile, I walked for a few seconds whenever I was tired.

There were clocks at each 5k (but that showed the time based on when the first runners started). However, my Garmin did notify me of my splits.  So I knew that I was running slow and in the comfortable 11ish per mile range.

My breakfast was at 5:15 am so I was getting pretty hungry.  Eventually around mile 4, I ate my first GU.

Although it was snowing/ sleeting, I was getting warm so I tied my jacket around my waist (it wasn’t waterproof anyway) and took off my wet gloves.

The great thing about a local race was the crowd support and volunteers.  Many called my name (since it was on my bib) and it was so welcome. I was surprised how many showed up in this weather!

Here are a few pictures from previous runs on this same trail when the weather was obviously nicer than today):

Miles 6-9:

So the race continued on this same trail.  The elevation felt a little steeper on this portion and my legs felt more and more tired.  Or should I say my quads were complaining from running downhill. Finally around mile 6 or 7, there was the water stop. I walked even longer than at previous ones.

At the 10k clock, it was obvious that I slowed but not much (since I had been running slow from the start).

What was nice about this race was that I knew so many of the runners.  They kept passing me by. Some just waved, others slowed and ran with me for a while. I also recognized some former work colleagues and some running friends who were not running the race and they cheered me on.

I wish that I hadn’t taken off my gloves because it seemed to be getting colder and the snow had changed to rain. (My hands were numb by the end of the race.)

I walked (too long) at the next water stop around mile 8 and ate my second GU.

More pictures from previous runs:

Believe or not, no blisters from those wet socks/shoes but by the 15k point, my neuroma started to throb and that continued until the end of the race. (At least I had almost 10 pain-free miles on that foot. LOL)

Miles 10-13.1

The rail trail finally ended and we were heading into Albany. This was my least favorite apart of the course – not scenic at all – running through the city (and not the nice part) and then along a busy road.

I was toast at this point. I just wanted to be done.

A few more water stops and longer walks. One last GU.

The clock at the 20k mark indicated that surprisingly I was still having a decent race (not PR decent but faster than my last two).

The last few miles seemed endless. It was no longer downhill. In fact going to the finish line was slightly uphill.

I walked a few more times and tried as best as I could to sprint through the finish.

I saw the clock ahead and I hoped to finish under 2:30…and I did!!

Post Race Activities:

I got my medal and some water.

Barbara had finished before me but she waited. It was too cold to take any pictures.

Pictures from last year (nicer weather. sigh!):

There was FREE Ice Cream and free beer. And a band playing music, food trucks, other info booths with freebies but we were FREEZING!

We just proceeded to the refreshments…

There was the usual food box for this race and chocolate milk.

Barb and I headed back to her car where she turned on the heat, I changed into dry clothes and we waited for Deb to finish.

Then we met other running friends for a celebratory brunch.

Final Stats:

Additional Race Reflections:

Well, again when you’re my age, you just have to show up.

My finish time was way faster than my previous two half marathons this year but this course was downhill and many PRs were earned. (FL- 2:39:25, DC -3:01:03). And it was slower than last year on this same course (2:21:44)…

In 2019, I wanted a sub 2:12 finish so I would qualify for the 2020 NYC Half Marathon. And I did!!

This year, I had no glorious expectations. I just wanted to finish. And I did!

As you can see from the stats above, my lack of training caught up to me after Mile 10 (or maybe it was my foot.)

I have confirmed that downhill races aren’t as easy as you may think. Rolling hills are actually easier on the body. (We runners are never satisfied.)

My quads were sore for a day or two. No injuries. So very happy!

The Good:

• Lots of race info emailed and on website including runner guide and spectator guide.
• Easy packet pick-up. Neat race-related items.
• Registration options – cheaper without a shirt or hoodie.
• Part of a 3 race challenge
• Free bus from the finish to the start.
• Many porta potties at the start. Long lines but they moved quickly
• Bag Check. Well organized before and easy pick up at the end
• Downhill course (except for first and last 2 miles)
• Water and Nuun stops.
• Decent crowd support
• Well marked course for each mile
• Clocks at 5k, 10k, 15k, 20k
• Very cool medal.
• Great post race refreshments
• Immediate electronic race results
• PR and Finish bell
• Free photos
• Nearby – no transportation or hotel costs.
• Support from friends

The Bad:

• The weather.
• The boring, unscenic last 2 miles.

The Ugly:

• Too cold to enjoy post race activities.
• Too much time waiting in the cold before he race.

Would I recommend this race?

Yes. Yes. Yes. ARE did a fantastic job attending to every detail.  I may even do it again next year. The weather has to be better, right?

Next Up:

A few shorter races.

• Bacon Hill Bonanza 5k – April 26
• Tropicool 5k – May 4
• CDPHP Workforce Challenge (3.5 m) – May 15

Happy Running!  Did you race this weekend? Do you have a big race coming up? Have yu ever run a race in such weather as this? Please share.

 

 

 

 

 

Race-cations have been an annual tradition with my running friends since 2017. We started in Corning, NY and then traveled to Montreal, and Brooklyn, NY. We’ve also rented houses in New Hampshire (2x), Maine, Finger Lakes, Cape Cod and this October, it will be in Lake Placid.

However, this race-cation came about by accident. I was having a beer with a former co-worker and a runner that I recognized was seated at the next table.  She asked me what race I was training for and I replied: “NYC Marathon.”  She said that she wanted to get into the lottery for the NYC Half in March but if she didn’t she was considering the Rock ‘n’ Roll DC Half.  I replied: “Let me know because I’d never run in DC.”

To make a long story short, she didn’t get in and texted me that she (Gail) and two other runners (Val & Ginny) were going to run the DC race and asked if I would want to join them.  I, of course, said: “Sure” without even thinking.

A few weeks later, I mentioned this race to a friend (while volunteering for STEM) and she (Sue) said that her brother and sister lived there and she liked to go.  The more, the merrier I thought. And a local running buddy, Jenn, who had moved to the DC area, said that she planned to run it, as well.

Val, Ginny & Gail planned to take the train to DC & back.  That didn’t appeal to me at all since most of the weekend would be riding in the train. I mentioned this to Sue and she agreed with me and we booked airline tickets to DC.

So I signed up for the Rock ‘n’ Roll DC Half Marathon for several reasons:

• A race-cation.
• “New” friends would be racing with me.
• A New Race.
• A New City
• After the Feb. 15 HM in Florida, I’d be mostly trained already.
• Carpe Diem

Half Marathon Training:

If you follow my posts, you also know that I am not strict about following a training plan. But I do run shorter distances several times during the work week. My weekday runs are often solo but lately I’ve convinced Deb to join me.

And on the weekends, I try to do my Long Run. Usually most of my miles are with one or more of my running friends.

For this race, however, I felt like I was just on recovery mode from my last half marathon due to the cold temps and winds.

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

I may have spent more time thinking and planning meet-ups than training. LOL.

Yes, I wanted to meet Coco for the first time and also see Deborah again as well. as, catch up with local friend Jenn.

Sue and I took an early fight on Friday and arrived without any snafus at DCA around 7:30 am.

We ubered to Georgetown and had breakfast with Coco. It was still early so we walked around the area.

Then we took the metro to the expo, got our bib/shirt and walked to our nearby hotel to check in. Of course, we had to start carb loading so we had pizza for lunch.

What does a runner do the day before a half marathon… walk 12 miles!!

Yup, since the weather forecast was iffy, we decided to see as much as the city as we could fit in.

We ended the day at a Mexican restaurant with my Sue’s nephews. I would have preferred Italian but I didn’t choose the restaurant.

Race Day:

As usual, I didn’t sleep well but had my standard race breakfast of oatmeal and coffee in my hotel room.

It was chilly but looked like it would warm up so I wore my usual race outfit and added a throw away.

We met the other three local runners in the lobby and we all walked to the race start (just following all the other runners…).

With about 15,000 runners, it was crowded but very organized.  We found bag check and I checked a jacket for Sue & I.

Sorry to be a broken record about not having a time goal. But my goal for races these days is to FINISH happy (that is not injured and ready to do another.)

So if I had to guestimate my time, it would have been between 2:30 and 2:45 but hey, it could be in 3 hours if my foot hurt or the hill killed me or I decided to walk it.

Miles 1-3: 

Though I was scheduled to start in corral 12 and Sue in 18, we all squeezed into Corral 15 and started running together.

It took us about 30 minutes to get to the start line.

It was crowded but Sue & I tried to stay with the others and run slow and enjoy the sights. We started on Constitution Ave passing the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.

Then we ran over the Arlington Memorial Bridge and back along the Potomac.

Miles 3-6:

By mile 3, Sue and I were tiring and decided to let the others go ahead. Water stops were frequent enough and even if I wasn’t thirsty, I always stopped for water.  I had my first Gu around mile 4.

I took off my throw away and was going to toss it but I like it so I just tied it around my waist. My arm sleeves didn’t last long either. And I think I held my gloves in my hands the whole race. The temps was actually perfect. I never felt hot or cold throughout the race.

Sue & I continued together chatting and taking in the scenery.

She often told me to run ahead but I said that I wanted to run the whole race with her.

Miles 6-9:

Around this point, we running along Rock Creek and Potomac Pkwy. I found it hard to run at Sue’s pace so when I got ahead, I just stopped and waited for her at the next water stop.

I realized that since I was walking with Sue, I could for the first time ever take photos during a race.

Around mile 8 came to BIG hill.  I ate another Gu and we walked up it.

We were run/walking with a lot of the same runners.  Many were walking as we were.

Although there was one lady walking that kept walking faster than us.  We read the back of her shirt: 3x & a map of all 50 states.  It turns out that she was on her 3rd round of a half marathon in every state.  We chatted with her asking her about her favorite races.

She walked the whole race (at a pretty fast pace).  I told Sue that I wanted to beat her. LOL. (We did!!)

Miles  9-13.1:

We left Georgetown and passed by Howard University and headed back toward the National Mall….

Around mile 11, I lost Sue. So I just ran the rest of the race by myself.  I felt GREAT!!

It was amazing how much energy you could have at the end of a race if you run slowly (or walk a lot.)

 I ate my last Gu (I never ate any salt chews.)

You knew that you were getting close to the finish line when you saw the Capitol building in the distance.

Eventually we turned and ran toward it.

I tried to run as fast as I could!

Post Race Activities:

As soon as I crossed the finish line, I grabbed my medal and waited for Sue.

I grabbed some snacks but didn’t eat anything since we would be going out to lunch and then headed to bag check to get our jackets.

Our local friends had left since they were cold and my friend Jenn (and her fiancé) were waiting for us on our hotel.

After a quick shower, we enjoyed a delicious lunch with them.

One good thing about taking it slow in a race is that nothing is sore and you still have plenty of energy for the rest of the day’s activities. I think we walked about 10 more miles.

We finally caught up with our local friends for dinner and gelato.

Additional Race Reflections:

It was so fun to be out there and soaking up the racing atmosphere. It was even more fun to run a race with friends.

Of course, initially I may have wanted a faster finish time…

I am competitive but I realized quickly that it was much more important enjoy this time with my friends and also not to be in pain.

I felt great during and after the race.

Positives:

• Part of a 3 day race-cation with friends.
• Well-marked course.
• Easy packet pick-up.
• Tech shirts (gender specific)
• Lots of volunteers and crowd support
• Instant race results
• Nice medal provided to all runners.
• Adequate number of water stops.
• Lots of good music (heard American Pie twice)
• Age group awards
• Free beer and music after.
• Perfect weather
• Friends to share the race experience.
• A varied course…

Negatives:

• That hill in Rock Creek Park
• No pacers (at least I didn’t see any.)
• Disappointing expo.
• Expensive photos.
• Garbage truck blocked the view of the Capitol at the finish.

Would I recommend this race?

Yes. yes. For all the reasons mentioned above.

But truthfully, I probably will not run any more Rock ‘n’ Roll races as they are overpriced IMO and there are many other races in the same city to choose from.

Final Stats:

All in all, I was happy with my results. Yes, it was the slowest half marathon I’ve ever done (by a lot). I think it was slower than my marathon pace.

My expectations have dropped significantly and I ain’t getting any younger.

It was my decision to stay with Sue and I don’t regret it.

And when I checked the age group results:

3rd place!?  They mail you your award. Cool.

Next Up:

Half Marathon #3 of 2025 and #73 lifetime. #6 for this one (but #4 on this course).

Happy Running! Have you run a 2025 big race yet? If so, how did go? Are you planning to run one? Any race-cations planned? Been to DC? Do you like Rock ‘n’ Roll races? Please share.

 

 

 

 

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Since today is Tuesday, I’m linking up with Zenaida (The Running Teacher) and Jenn (Runs with Pugs).

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and tomorrow:

I’m also linking up with: co-hosts Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, and Runs with Pugs