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!

The Halloween party was fun (I’m the Parrothead in the dress) but I hate bailing on races. I checked the results for the Time to Remember and the Monster Madness 5k and if I ‘d run my usual 5k  times, I would have been 2nd in the Monster Madness (50-59) and 3rd in Time to Remember (46-59).  Darn! I love winning prizes.

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.