This same race in 2015

Once again the Hudson Mohawk Runners Club sponsored a FREE race for its members and this weekend, they offered distances of 3M, 15K and 30K.

Since I have a half marathon in 7 weeks, I chose to run the 15K since 9 miles was on my “schedule.”

I have run several 15Ks (including 4 on this same course):

2016 – 1:33:13, 2015 – 1:34:29, 2014 – 1:34:55 & 1:42:40  (At least I’ve gotten faster.)

My 15 PR on a harder course is actually 1:31:25.

But I was continuing with my “relaxing” and go with the flow race plan – run and enjoy.  Besides, this race was just part of my training for my March 5 Half Marathon.

These Winter Series races start at 10 am so you don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn. I always leave early to get parking since these races are often crowded and there may be other events going on at UAlbany at the same time.

I was surprised when I got there that the parking lot was empty. The weather was perfect for racing. Sunny for the first time in over a week, 30 degrees or so and a little breezy.

What I love about this local race is that you get to see a lot of people that you know.

last year meeting up with Judy & Barbara

And I immediately bumped into many different running friends.

My two age group competitors were there. Oh well.

Anyway I hung indoors until the last minute and then made out way outside.

basically a few loops around parking lots

This week I made sure that my Garmin was charged and got a signal.

All three distances started at the same location this week. As usual, I started pretty close to the front and let the speedy runners pass me by.

For most of the race, I felt overdressed. I unzipped my jacket and took off my gloves but my turtle neck was a mistake. (Of course, the wind picked up toward the end and I was happy to have worn the jacket.)

As in all my recent races, I tried to relax and run at an even pace. But as usual, my first mile was the fastest and I fizzled with each mile after.

I walked through the first water stop around mile 3.5 and took a Gu as well as the second water stop. I ran most of the rest of the race.

This was due to fact that Alyssa caught up to me around mile 5.5. We chatted the whole time. I’ve never run a race with someone before.

Did it slow me down? Probably. Alyssa is a faster runner for the early miles. In long races such as a half marathon I’ve finished 20 minutes faster.

Nevertheless it made the miles go by faster. I didn’t walk where I normally would. I just ran at an easier pace. But it certainly was a lot more fun having company.

Eventually as we neared the finish line, I took off and finished at 1:34:00 (25 seconds ahead of Alyssa.)

A happy runner

Alyssa left to run a few more miles and I waited around for Judy to finish.

After Judy finished, we went inside had some refreshments. There was vegetable chili, bread fruit and hot cocoa.  Free race..free good food. Win-win.

The awards were for 10 year age groups and just top 2.

I finished 128 out 174.

After the awards, I changed my clothes and Judy, Alyssa and I headed to the mall.

The Athleta store was holding a clothing drive for participants in the STEM program. It motivated me to clean out my closets and get rid of any running clothes that I no longer wear.

I was very happy with how I ran this 15k race as a training run – I pushed myself just enough but not too much. It wasn’t a PR 15K and not even a course PR (1 minute slower than last year.)

Race splits:

mile 1 – 9:09
mile 2 – 9:34
mile 3 – 9:42
mile 4 – 10:13 (water & Gu)
mile 5 – 10:15
mile 6 – 10:32
mile 7 – 10:38 (water)
mile 8 – 10:34
mile 9 – 10:42
.3 – 8:39

Finish Time – 1:34:00

So obviously the second half of the race was much slower than the first.  It always is for me so I won’t blame Alyssa.  But it is hard to run your own pace when you are running with another runner and you are talking.  However, it made the race more enjoyable and “relaxing.!!”

Next weekend, I signed up for a 4 mile race in Lake George. It should be fun. Fingers crossed for no ice or snow.

AJH (from VT) & I at this race in 2015. We try to do this one together every year.

I am sharing in the support love by linking up with a Sunday Fitness and Food Linkup hosted by

Ilka from Ilka’s Blog and Angela from Marathons & Motivation

Happy Running! How you are enduring the winter? Did you run this weekend?

As I have mentioned before, the Hudson Mohawk Runners Club sponsors FREE races throughout the winter for its members. The course is pretty boring but free is free.

This weekend, they offered distances of 3M, 10K and 25K. I haven’t really started training for my March 5 half yet but I am trying to keep a 6 mile weekend base distance.  So the 10K would be perfect.

For some reason, I didn’t run this race last year but I did in 2015 & 2013.

after the 2105 10K race

I have run a fair amount of 10ks and my PR is 57:03.  I haven’t been particularly successful on this course. In 2015, I finished in 1:00:24 and 1:08:18 in 2013.

As per my “relaxing” theme for the year, I wouldn’t be trying for a PR. I planned to just run and have fun.

I got lucky with the weather. It was sunny and a balmy 30 degrees. As usual on this campus, it was windy.

I left early to get parking since these races are often crowded and there could be other events going on at UAlbany. But there didn’t seen to be as many runners as in previous weeks.

What I love about this local race is that you get to see a lot of people that you know.

I immediately bumped into many familiar faces and even some runners that I haven’t seen in awhile. (I met 2 more runners who are doing the Shape Half in April 🙂 )

I wound up talking to Sherri as I did last race and we stayed indoors until the last minute and then made our way outside. However she was running the 3 miler and they lined up in a different location.

When I got to 10k start, I found Judy who was running the 10K also.

As I’ve mentioned in my previous race post, the Winter Series races are very informal – no bibs, no starting mat, no timing chips, etc. So I try to start not too far from the front.

As usual, when you start up front, you immediately get passed by by it seems everyone.  These races attract all the speedy local runners too.

I just told myself that this was simply a fun run and just take it at your own pace. Having not warmed up, my legs felt like lead and I couldn’t get moving.  Then I looked down at my Garmin and realized that it was dead. I had not charged it!! Duh!

It wouldn’t be so bad if there were mile markers at this race.  But there were none!!

So I just ran.  No idea what my pace was. That didn’t bother me as much as not knowing if I were at mile 3 or 4 or where I was in the race.

The weather was perfect (except for the last few miles where you were running into the wind).  I was a little over dressed. The sun made it feel much warmer than it was.  I was sweating.  I took off my gloves and unzipped my jacket but that was all I could do.

The course is very boring (zero scenery besides office buildings and highway) but it also has inclines. Nothing steep, just enough to keep it interesting.  I wanted to be better about hills and not walk up them. And I didn’t for the first three miles but after that I did walk several times.

There were 1 water stop but I wasn’t sure if it were mile 3 or 4 and decided not to bother stopping or even take the GU that I was carrying.

This race proved that I do need my Garmin!!!  I could tell that I was slowing down throughout the race by the runners that were passing me by. But I had no idea where I was in the race and what my pace was.

The good part was that I felt great during the whole race. No aches and pains. No blisters.

Eventually I did see the finish line and saw a time for the first time in the race.  It said 59:xx.  I sped up and managed to crossed around 59:58.  (Phew! At least it was under 1 hour!!)  There’s no timing chip.  You honestly write down your time on a piece of paper and hand it in. (Without my Garmin, I’m not even sure if I got my time correct.)

I was 120 out of about 175. This is a fast group, as usual.

I chatted with others at the finish line while waiting for Judy to cross.

Then I went inside to warm up and have some soup (red pepper & quinoa), bread, cookies, fruit, hot chocolate. Not a bad spread for a free race. I didn’t eat as much as normal since I would be having brunch later.

They gave awards for the top 2 in each 10 year age group. I think that I was 5th this week.

I was happy with the results. Though it was almost 3 minutes slower than my PR, it was actually a PR for this course.  Besides, I know that I would have been faster if I had my Garmin.

Race splits: NONE

As any runner would, I decided to add .8 miles so I could finish the day with 7 miles.

Then I rushed home to change out of my sweaty clothes.  Judy had invited me and 6 other runners to her house for brunch.  It was lovely.  I am told that the food was even healthy. We chatted about running mostly, of course. I think everyone had a nice time.

Today is Wednesday so I’m linking up with Coaches Corner–Debbie, Susie, Lora, and Rachel!

and Wild Workout Wednesday with Nicole, Annmarie, Jen, and Michelle.

Happy Running! How you are enduring the winter? Did you run this weekend?