Troy Turkey Trot....November 27th, 2008

I have made it full circle! My first official race and my first 5K was the Troy Turkey Trot one year ago. My 2007 time was 29:28. I have ran so much since that race that I was hoping to go out and run a 25: something. Ed suggested that I start up near the front to get a good start time so I did. Now let me tell you that I was so close to the start that I was toeing the line with 4300 people behind me. Not a good feeling!!! I did get right up front like he suggested..( I also thought it was a great idea) then they told everyone to move back alittle so they did...that ended it for me toeing the line with three rows of people be ahead of me. The official starters continued to tell people to push back which left me and others being totally squashed. I got a very nervous feeling. I could be trampled at any time. Finally the start! I went out strong and fast to get away from the crowd...(remember 4300 people or more) You really don't get away from that many people with those kind of numbers, but I felt more comfortable after a few minutes into the race. I really never got myself together enough that I felt good during running. I felt exhausted by the second mile - not a good run! I did finish with a personal best for the turkey trot with a time of 27:32, but definitely not what I wanted. I have decided that next year I will be running another 5k on Thanksgiving...way to many people at the turkey trot.

November 9, 2008 33rd Annual Stockade-athon

This was my first road 15K. I have completed two trail 15K's. The weekend started with an Expo on Saturday at Proctor's in Schenectady where Ed & I worked the HMRRC booth for an hour. Then we got a chance to check out all the booths at the Expo. Ed was the refreshment coordinator for the Stockade-athon so he had a lot on his shoulders. This race is very well known for having good food after the race and Ed kept that reputation going for another year. I ran again with my running buddy Mel. With a crowd close to 1200, I ended up losing her right before the start. I was excited running this race in Schenectady because of the route. I ran through the Stockade section of Schenectady which is just beautiful. Older row houses along the Mohawk River. Then, off through a very large hill on State Street that I was not looking forward to and then through Vail Cemetery which has alot of older, historical plots. I felt very good through most of the run, until, the last mile. I have no idea how I finished this race. I felt awful at the end and just wanted to start crying at the end. I really believe that if Melanie wasn't with me I would have walked into the finish line. After the race, all of the people that volunteered were invited to a party at Fireside on Eastern Ave. My time was 1:25:52.... I rock!!