9/13/25 (only a 10k now)

I signed up for this race because:

• I had a free hotel room.
• I could combine this NYC trip with a college reunion that day.
• I like Governor’s Island.
• It offered a 10k option and there are not many 10ks.
• I ran this route in August 2024 and needed a re-do (with cooler temps).

Here’s cool fun fact:

The race is called the “Squirrel Stampede” because Governors Island was originally called Nutten Island by the Dutch way back in the 1600s for it’s abundance of nut trees. (Squirrels love nuts, right?)

I’ve run two races before on Governor’s Island.

A 5k back in 2018.

my first unsuccessful attempt (with my friend from Russia) due to a thunderstorm

rescheduled a month later and it is still my 5k PR. I also won my age group at that race.

Then in August last year, I ran a 10k on GI on a very hot day..

So I was familiar with the logistics and the ferry.

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

The day before the race, I arrived by train in Manhattan and filled the day with many sights: 911 Memorial, Little Italy, Battery City Park, Metropolitan Museum of Art, meetup with Cari…

Don’t ask me how many miles I put on my legs .. LOL.

I carb loaded with pasta at lunch and for dinner Cari and I had gelato.

Eventually I took the subway back to my hotel, got my stuff ready for the next day and tried unsuccessfully to get a good night’s sleep..

Here is the description of the race and the course map:

Enjoy a picturesque tour of Governors Island with amazing views of New York Harbor and the greatest city in the world! The 10K is two loops of the island.

Entry to the NYCRUNS Squirrel Stampede 10K includes ferry rides for you and your family/friends, your race-entry, an official race shirt and some tasty post-race eats (no nuts)!

Race Day:

I got up before I needed to and had coffee and oatmeal in my hotel room. Although the race did not start until 9 am, they suggested that you take the 7 am or 7:30 am ferry.

I left my hotel around 6:30 am, hopped on the subway.

The sun was now out and it was starting to get warm. UGH!

I just missed getting on the 7 am ferry (it only holds 290 persons) but that was fine since I was planning on the 7:30 one.

The line got longer and longer (we joked that it may have stretched to the Brooklyn Bridge since there were about 700 runners for this race not counting families and spectators).

It was a nice quick ride.

As soon as we arrived, we remembered that there were real restrooms.  Always a great race perk.

Then I followed signs toward the race start.

It wasn’t a short walk but lots to view (old buildings, forts, Manhattan skyline).

Eventually I arrived at the starting area.

I picked up my shirt (You could wait until after but doubtful to get your size).

yes, most runners were wearing the race shirt…

Bag check was very organized so I left my shirt there…

Then I walked around checking out the logistics. I ate some pretzels since it had been a while since my breakfast.

around mile 2 and 4

so many interesting things to see…

and eventually taking a seat and chatting with other runners while waiting for the race to begin.

Eventually it was time to enter my corral…

I had loved the course in the past and was excited to do this race…

As you can see from the map, the course winds around the island.. TWICE.  There were rolling hills throughout but nothing steep.

I am not going to give a mile by mile recap of the race (as I normally do).

I was determined to run the early miles slower than usual (no 9 min. miles) and not die for the second half of the race.

And I did for the most part but still it was warm and humid and the 2nd half of the race was hard.

I only walked at the mile markers and the water stops at the beginning.

The hills as I said were not steep but annoying because it was so sunny and the trees provided zero shade.

not me obviously but a view of the last mile

As a result, I ran slower each mile and I just walked when I felt I needed to…

But obviously I did and so I walked A LOT.

The views were great and island scenery varied.

And I seesawed with a younger couple as we egged each other on during the last mile (You can see below that it helped.)

And I finished!!! And not a course PW!!

This was the only squirrel that I saw… LOL

Post Race Activities:

I was soooo sweaty.  I headed to bag check and immediately changed into a dry shirt (the race shirt).

Then I grabbed a bagel, pretzels and an apple and beeline to the ferry.

And we waited and waited and waited… In the sun.  I was dying.  At least I had a bagel to eat.

Eventually the ferry arrived, emptied, loaded and we arrived back in Manhattan.

I ran to the subway.  I had to rush back to my hotel, shower, change, check out and meet my friends for a quick lunch before seeing a Broadway show and dinner.

A very long day (as I arrived home by bus around midnight) but worth it.

Additional Race Reflections:

Definitely a tough one but hey, I did it. And it wasn’t as challenging as the last time I ran this course.

Last year I finished this course (but it was hotter) 8 minutes slower!!!

I ran the Mini 10k this year about the same (though that race was HILLY).

No matter what, racing for me is always enjoyable (at least a few hours afterward.)

Positives:

• Bibs mailed (if you are a NYCRUNS member).
• Free ferry.
• Shirts distributed before and after the race.
• Real restrooms,
• Organized bag check.
• Nuun at the water stops.
• 4 Water Stops (2 that you pass twice)
• Well marked course.
• Scenic views.
• Bagels (and cream cheese) after the race.
• Free Massages after and before.
• Free MarathonFoto pics.

Negatives:

• 10 year age group awards (and none after 70)
• Little shade
• Warm & humid temps
• Arriving too early
• Having to rush back to my hotel
• Long waits for the ferry.

Would I recommend this race?

Yes. And if I lived in NYC, I would run this course again as it is offered by NYCRUNS several times a year..

There was a lot of enthusiasm and runners of all ages.

I would recommend hanging out on the island after the race and exploring.

Final Stats:

And I did win my age group and they mail the award to you in a few weeks.

Next Up:

another 10k

(flat 5k and very hilly 5k = 10k)

Happy Running! Ever run on or visit Governor’s Island? Ever race on an island?  Do you run a lot of 10ks? Please share.

This race used to be one of my favorites. Not because the director, Paul Loomis, reads my blog or that my stepson works at Global Foundries, one of the sponsors of the race. But because of the easy parking, indoor restrooms, post race chocolate milk, generous age group awards, lots of familiar faces to run with and its flawless organization.  For these reasons and more, I kept coming back.

This was my 8th time running the 5k. So you can say that I was familiar with this course. I skipped 2017-2020 but I did run it in 2022 and 2022 and now again. At one time, they even added a 10k.

according to my Garmin

The course itself is not very exciting…you are running around chip plants not once but but twice during the race. The loops let you see the fast runners and all those runners that are behind you. And though there are a few uphills and downhills, it’s basically flat so no complaints.

For my first two years of running this race, I was recovering from injuries (a broken ankle and then a broken foot.) I finished in 29:53 and 29:49 and was thrilled with a sub-30 minute time. In 2014 and 2015, I was healthy and so I improved my time to 28:47 and 28:56. Finally I got a course PR in 2016 and finished in 27:30. As I mentioned, I took a break and in 2021 when I ran it, I finished in 28:04 and in 2022 28:46 .

However, my hope for the race this year was to finish uninjured and have enough in the tank to run more miles after the race. (My next half marathon is 5 weeks away!  )

Based on my recent 5k efforts (all around 31-32  minutes), I had no PR dreams as old age has set in. LOL. But if the other old ladies didn’t show up, I could maybe win an AG award.

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

Due to my sleep and rash issues, there was not running during the week.

My legs felt pretty good even though it was only a week after running 13.1 miles.

Packet pick-up was on Thursday and Friday at the local Fleet feet store but it wasn’t worth the long drive so I decided to arrive early and pick it up on race day.

Race Day:

The forecast was for cooler weather and sunshine. Perfect running weather for the second weekend in a row. Hope this is a trend.

I got there early to get parking and did get a spot in the parking lot right near the exit.  I’m glad I got there when I did because the lots really filled up quickly. There seemed to be more runners this year.

As I’ve mentioned, it is very well-organized – signs for the race, indoor and outdoor bathrooms.

indoor bathrooms!!!

Race day packet pick-up was between 7-8 am. If you paid an extra $10, you a long sleeved shirt. I opted not to buy a shirt.

The 5k race started at 8:30 am. So I walked around to shake out the legs.

There was food, drinks and freebies set up. I grabbed a bag and filled it with some useful stuff.

This was a welcome sight:

I bumped into quite a few runners that I knew:

Skirt Sports!!

Finally I headed to the start line.

I remembered that although it was chip-timed, awards were given according to gun time.  So I moved up but of course, not too close to the starting line.

Mile 1:

As usual, I tried to start out slow but didn’t.  It again was my fastest mile and the only one where I didn’t have to walk during.

I was able to run until the mile 1 sign and then I walked.

Mile 2:

The course goes straight for about 1.5 miles and then loops back.  There was a water stop during this mile that you passed twice.

Halfway through this mile we turned right and ran uphill. Not a steep hill but they always feel hard to me. I tried not to walk until the mile 2 sign but I’m pretty sure that I had to stop. I think it was at the water stop.

This part of the course is nice because you get to see the faster runners and then you loop back and see the slower runners.

this pic was from last year

It was downhill for a bit until we turned.

Mile 3-3.1:

As usual, I was petering out. And since rain was predicted for later, it was quite humid.

So I walked at the 2nd water stop. Then I got back my energy for a while until I neared the finish line.

I was dragging but did my best to sprint through the finish line (as the timing director called out my name.)

I was surprised to see 30:xx as I hit the finish line.. I had expected much worse.

After you crossed the finish line, they gave you a sticker.

Post Race:

The refreshments were outside again this year. I grabbed some chocolate milk and fruit and chatted while waiting for the results to be posted.  If I didn’t win, I wanted to take off so I could get in some more miles before meeting friends for brunch..

When I ran this race (in 2016), everyone got a small bottle of champagne and a gift card to a restaurant. For 2nd place, it was to the Recovery Room restaurant and for $50. In 2021, there was no awards ceremony and if you won an award, you had to pick it up at the local Fleet Feet store. It was gift card but I never picked it up. In 2022, I won 3rd place that year and received a Starbucks metal water bottle, a bottle of champagne and a medal.. (I think I got my $ worth!)

I won my age group this year and the prize was a medal and a gift card to a wine/liquor store.

1st and 3rd place – Benita is a local TV newscaster

After I got my award, I left and drove to the Zim Smith bike path. (It was close to the race so my friends picked it as their running meet-up.)

Unfortunately the awards ceremony took longer than expected and I was only had time for 3 miles before our brunch meeting time. (I had hoped for 6…)

Additional Race Reflections:

The weather was lovely.  I always enjoy the race atmosphere.  This one did not disappoint.

My finish time was slower than previous years but that was not unexpected. Another course PW. BUT it was my fastest 5k  of 2025!!!

I’d love to be back finishing 5ks in 27-28 minutes.

Not thinking that will happen but it may if I could run negative splits or a more even pace.

Oh well, there will be more 5k races. Just happy to be to out there and healthy enough to run.

Positives:

• Ample parking.
• Well marked course.
• A no shirt option (at a lower cost)
• Discounted price if you are over 70.
• Participant manual provided several days before the race.
• Indoor restrooms
• Flatish course.
• Immediate results.
• Chocolate milk.
• Free swag
• Great age groups award swag
• Great cause (1st responders – $40K)

Negatives:

• None except that the course was a little boring…

Would I recommend this race?

Yes. Great organization.

Final Stats:

what an uneven pace!!!

Next Up:

A 10k on Sept 13:

Happy Running! Did you run or race this past weekend? Any Fall races on your schedule yet? Do you enjoy 5ks?

Please share.

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

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