I was a little nervous about this race since I haven’t run 3 miles in a month and have been on the treadmill but only about 2 miles with no incline. I was also excited to be doing a 5k.

I arrived in Central Park early. I picked up my packet yesterday not to be rushed.  It was in the high 40’s and everyone was wearing tights and sweats.  Not me.  I was still determined to run in shorts and long sleeve tee shirt (with gloves).   I hung around the fireplaces in the pavilion sipping hot cocoa until the start of the race.

There were about 1500 people – not the 6500 that would be in the more popular Troy Turkey Trot.  I bumped into some familiar faces and one of my Mah Jongg friends.

This was my first time on this course (http://www.ellishospital.org/ellisfoundation/main/cardiacclassiccourse.pdf).  It was hilly but I’ve done worse.  I got caught up in the crowd and the beginning of the race.  There was someone calling times at each mile.  My first mile was too good – 9:02 but I slowed down to 19:02 at mile 2.  During the 3rd mile,  I was running out of steam.  Probably because I haven’t run more than 2 miles in a month or my first mile was faster than normal.

I struggled through the finish line – no sprinting this time and crossed around 30:10.  No PR!  No award! But my time was the usual and I am glad I did it. 

I feel great.  Now I can start cooking. 

Happy Thanksgiving fellow runners and bloggers!

I only ran this race because it was raining yesterday and I didn’t run the Saratoga race.  This race is very close to my house but it the first annual so I knew nothing about the course or how many runners there would be.

I got up and was glad to see the rain had stopped and the sun was out.  It looked like it was going to be a beautiful day.

my neighbor's tree this am

 That didn’t last, I mean the sun.  It was breezy, cloudy and cold by race time.  Again I wasn’t sure what to wear and decided to brave the cold and wear shorts, but wore 2 long sleeve shirts & gloves. I was even a little warm while running but cold when I stopped.

This was the course –http://www.capitalregionspecialsurgery.com/raceforhopealbany/PDFs/CRSS_R4H_5Kmap.pdf .

We ran around neighborhoods in Slingerlands with huge gorgeous houses but at every turn there was a hill. My first mile was 9:48 but I stopped during the 2nd mile for water and to fix my iPod and slowed down to 19:50 so so.  I figured that this hilly course would give me a slow time and was surprised when I saw 29… in the distance.  I was mad that I messed up mile 2  and there was not enough time to make it up.  I sprinted to the finish and crossed at 30:14.

I looked at the race times and saw a lot fast times for women my age so no award this time.  As usual I’m glad I did it and hope to improve next time.

I signed up for a 5k next Saturday at RPI – don’t know the course at all.  There is also another one called the Monster Madness 5K sponsored by the Troy YMCA.

lst place (F 50-59)

I was going to complain about this race until I won a medal… my first!  I won socks at the Jailhouse Rock 5k in the 55-59 category.  This was in the 50-59 age group and luckily all the fast women chose another race.

This is the first time I’ve run this course. There were  130 runners.  I found some nice women my age to hang with before the race.   It was a beautiful day and a very scenic area.

view from the bridge at the beg & end of race

The race started up a STEEP hill and then went down it.  I thought I was done but it continued to go up and down hills throughout the course.  I walked twice and said to myself:  NEVER AGAIN!! Too tough a course for me… I like a flat course!

I was able to sprint to the finish and was shocked to see 30:01!!  How was that possible unless I made up time on all the downhills.  I wish I didn’t walk at all.  Maybe I would have had a PR!

So I stuck around for the awards to hear my name called & get my medal.  An old friend (ex-husband of a friend) ran up to me after he heard my name.  He started running and was in this race.  Small world.

Next race is Annie’s Quest which I ran last year and thought was hilly.  I should be better prepared after this race.

 Beautiful weather for a race. I met some people I knew from work, from my former job and from running.  I started out with the pack and after I mile realized my pace was too fast.  As a result, by the last mile I was fading fast – no energy – I even stopped for water 3 times.  The good news, my feet felt great.  But I have raised my standards and I didn’t finish under 30 minutes. I finished at 30:10 which wasn’t bad but I was disappointed.

I looked at the times since they were giving out awards for top 3 finishers in each age group. I was 5th but even if I had a PR, it wouldn’t have made a difference.

All in all, it was fun and I’m looking forward to next weekend – with New Visons in Slingerlands or Helper’s Fund in Chestertown.

This week, I got up earlier and arrived at the race on time – found a great parking spot and had time to spare.  It was a cool sunny morning.  I met 2 nice people with the same philosophy of running as me – sign up for 5k races to motivate oneself to run in between.  I also met 2 people whom I work with.  I had no idea they ran and are beginners like me and love races. 

The race started at the top of a hill so the end was a steep decline.  There were no people timing the 1 or 2 miles pts so I had no idea my pace.  I was tired at half-way but finished strong.  Unlike the others, I was afraid to run fast down the hill, afraid I would fall on my face so I was holding myself back. 

My iPod said I finished at 30:49 but I started with a colleague and not as close to the starting line as I should have.  My official finish was 31:04. 

When I looked at the results page, I noticed that I came in FIRST in my age group!! A first for me and I didn’t even stay for the awards ceremony. 

My Prize

My next race is back in Saratoga next Saturday. Since I was in Bolton Landing today – I did my usual morning Sagamore 3 mile run.  I love it – wish I could always be on vacation and on my boat on Lake George!!

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.