It's been a long time since I posted about races or any kind of running. I still run "socially", meeting about 3 times a week with my regular running partners Monique and Gene, and sometimes another run during the week, usually on my own. I have not trained to race since spring of last year. But I have run in some races.
Last September I joined some friends in the Chambersburg YMCA sprint triathlon relay. I ran the 5k in an "okay for not training" time of 23:48. Our team was second in the masters coed division.
I also ran in two hilly trail races during November for social reasons. One was the Twisted Turkey Trail Run 15k because a co-worker and her husband were running. My time was 1:46:55. The following week I ran in the Hex Hollow Half because my nephew Jason was volunteering. My time was 2:46:37, good enough for 1st of 2 in my age group.
In May of this year I ran twice with my great niece Ada. We did the mile in the Hustle for Health and Ada finished first. Except for me, the other participants walked. A couple weeks later we ran in the Go Girls Go 5k. She participated in the after-school program which included some run training. We finished in 35:35. Ada likes to put on a late unannounced sprint to cross the finish line ahead her Uncle Chuck.
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| Before the Hustle for Health |
In early June I ran in the Race Against Poverty 5k at which I usually volunteer. I thought I was running at a training pace as opposed to race pace, but by halfway it was feeling like race pace. My 26:06 was third fastest of 10 or so in the 60+ age group, so now I have 1st, 2nd, 3rd place trophies from this race. Of 16 5ks in my log, only one was slower. That was 26:39 at my first race back in 2007 as a brand new runner.
I think I am ready to train again for goal races. I have not registered yet but my fall racing wishlist is below.
September 8 - Old Forge Marathon or Half near Watertown NY. The son of a church friend is doing his first marathon there.
October 14 - Mount Desert Island Marathon or Half at Bar Harbor Maine. I've been hearing how beautiful Maine is and this would make my first visit.
November 4 - D & L Half Marathon goes from Slatington to Northhampton PA on a rails to trails route. My run partners are considering this too.
November 10/11 - One Day 24 Hours at Sussex County Fairgrounds near Augusta NJ. My one other 24 hour race was at the same place about 2 years ago.
I might also repeat at the Y Tri relay 5k on September 29.
I have gotten soft in my training mentality, often resetting my alarm for more sleep on days I intended to run if I didn't have plans to meet someone. This will need to change for me to prepare properly for these races. However this turns out, I plan to run regularly somewhere.
