Oh yeah, the race

I ran in the Run for the Roses 5K at Grafton Lakes State Park on Sunday.  We had perfect weather.  I was shocked.  Despite  having record levels of rain fall for the last two months, the sun was out and not a drop of rain the whole day.  Temps were around 60 or so in the morning.  I’d be happier with 50, but I’ll take 60 over 70 any day.  I just melt in hot weather.

I met up with my friend Kelley (who totally outed me while searching for the race website) at the park around 8 and we had time to get our bibs and chat for a while before the race.  This was a small race with about 120 people I think.  The goody bags were this funky little carry bag thing with stings for your shoulders and a drawstring top.  Someone said it was perfect for the beach.  We got lip balm, sunscreen, new york state maps and tourist guides, and a coupon for Mary Kay.  No snacks.  :(

The race started in the parking lot and left the park and heading up the highway into town.  Start was on an uphill (which sucked), then it was a fairly steep downhill into town, then a very steep uphill to the town park.  Around the park and a steep down and incredibly steep uphill into the parking lot behind the park office and back to the main parking lot finish line.

Did I mention the hills?  This was as hilly as a trail race.  Egads.

I did ok.  I was about a minute slower than Silks and Satins, and that was flat like a pancake, so I’m reasonably pleased.  I passed a couple 8 year-olds which made me happy because they usually run faster than I do.  On the big uphill in town, there was a tall guy ahead of me who kept doing the sprint-walk thing, and who would sprint as soon as I caught him.  He lasted about halfway up the hill before giving up.  I had done this hill twice already on training runs.

At the finish we got a rose.  Snacks were so-so.  Oranges, banas, a box of cookies, and a ton of Stewarts drinks (orange juice, fruit juice, etc).  And water.  I had plenty but if you know me, you know I live for the snacks at the end. :)

My friend Kelley did wonderful.  She is just picking up running again (ran track in high school, has running genes, we hate her) and is doing a 5K every month.  I have the feeling she will be increasing her speed at a very rapid pace.  She’ll be waiting for me at the finish line soon enough.

We hung around long enough to see out times, which I have promptly forgotten.  And since its a small race, I don’t know if they post them anywhere.  Oh well.  I know I was about halfway overall, which is typical for me, but I would like to do better.  I was a little over an 8:00 pace, which is disappointing.

I’d like to break the 8:00 mark and move closer to 7:30.  I think dumping 20 pounds would help that alot.  I’m not having a lot of luck in that area.  I dropped a couple pounds but it goes back on again.  The running makes it hard to cut back the calories.  If I eat less, I am wasted for running.  Eat more and I can’t lose weight.  Sigh.  Working on it.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 at 7:31 am and is filed under Races. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.