TOLT: My Favorite 5K

Since it is Thursday, I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

Here’s what I’m thinking about today:

My Favorite Local 5K

This is an easy one for me. It’s the only race that I’ve run every year since I started running. This year will my 10th time!!!!

FRW – 2008

FRW – 2009

FRW – 2011

FRW – 2012

FRW 2012

FRW – 2014

FRW – 2015

FRW – 2016

Here are some of the reasons why I love this race and why I run it every year:

• It is ALL women – all ages – all sizes – veterans – newbies – elites – walkers
• It is a real USATF race with elite runners in it. (Joan Benoit Samuelson runs it most years.)

• It feels so good to be a part of all the excitement.

• The results are printed in the local newspaper and even though I finish around 2000, I am happy if I finish in the top half.
• I always meet someone I know and someone new. Last year, I even met the mayor.

• Running it in 2008 made realize that I actually was a runner.
• Being part of other runners’ first 5k in 2010 made me so proud.
• 2011 was my FRW PR year. Maybe I’ll PR again?
• Finishing it in 2012 (after serious ankle surgery) helped me believe that I could be a runner again.
• I broke my foot at the beginning of the race in 2013 and still gutted out a finish under 30 minutes!
• In 2014, I ran as part of a team to raise money for a former student who was diagnosed with breast cancer. It made the race even more meaningful.
• In 2015 & 2016, I participated in the Freihofer Training Challenge Group. (And I did again this year.) It is fun being part of a running group.

• You run around Washington Park. Love this park.

• There is a lot of crowd support along the whole course.
• It ends with a downhill 🙂
• Everyone finishes with a smile.

• They give you a free box of Freihofer chocolate chip cookies and a loaf of bread

• Maybe I’ll make the newspapers again.. (I have several times!)

I’m the 2nd one on the bottom left

This 5k race is held on the first Saturday in June. So if you live near Albany, NY, come run it with me and 4,000 other awesome women runners! (Too late for this year?  Think about signing up for next year.)

Happy Running! Do you have a favorite local race?