Beginners and Beyond

12

Saratoga Palio Melanie Merola O'Donnell HM RR (Read 59 times)


on my way to badass

    Pictures of me

    This is a fundraising race for the Melanie Merola O’Donnell Foundation which gives grants to organizations that deal in mental health. This year’s highlighted organization is Saratoga War Horse, an organization that helps veterans with PTSD using equine therapies.

    The race is a sightseeing tour of the city of Saratoga Springs, NY- “The Summer Place to Be”, and home to the Saratoga Race Track, August home to the rich and famous. The race has just over 1500 registrants and there was a 5K that was supposed to start (in the opposite direction) 10 minutes before with about 500 registrants. Packet pick-up was at the Hampton Inn.

    The weather was in the 60’s and overcast for the start with a little humidity. The sun came out around mile 10 but there was lots of shade until the finish.

     

    The race starts on Broadway, the main drag. I said good-bye to my training partner on the road, because she was shooting for a sub 2:00. I was shooting to finish strong. I forgot to turn my Garmin on until just before the gun went off. By the time it had locked on I was about .02 into the start.

     

    We ran up Broadway, past mansions, towards Skidmore college (artsy liberal arts college). Just after we got on campus there was a water stop and the mile 1 marker. The campus was home to the largest hills on the course. We ran around the campus road on the rollers. I felt good the whole time. Mile 2 marker happened before we left the campus and there was another water stop on the way out. Back down Broadway.

     

    We hit the 5K marker and had a mat to cross soon after (3.2 miles).   4 miles, still on Broadway. We turned off Broadway and ran down The Avenue of the Pines in Saratoga Spa State Park. Just before mile 5 the course took us down a paved path along a golf course. Then another water stop at about 5.5. A little further and we got to run through the Saratoga Performing arts center (state of the art performance venue with indoor seating and lots of lawn seating). SPAC is the summer home of The Philadelphia Orchestra and the NYC Ballet. Mile 6. Crossed another mat at 10K. After mile 6 things got tougher. According to Garmin, mile 7 was slowed way down. There were a few hills. We passed another golf course during mile 8. Just before mile marker 9 there was water and then we turned down Gideon Putnam road and ran past the Gideon Putman hotel. Another mat at 15K.  At about 9.5 we exited the park. Running down this road was a little tough because the cones were set up to only give us the shoulder of the road and we were in little bunches and doing a fair amount of walking/running.

     

    After mile 10 the course turned on Nelson Avenue and we ran past the Saratoga Casino and Raceway (harness track) and the Saratoga race course (Thoroughbred racing). That covered the mile 11 marker. During mile 12 we were running through a residential neighborhood. One house had a radio out blasting “Eye of the Tiger” including the Rocky Balboa introduction. For no good reason I started crying. At about mile 12.3 or so we entered Congress Park. A beautiful city park with fountains and flowers et al. I saw a photographer there and managed to smile. I hope he caught a floater.

     

    Out of Congress Park back onto city streets. Mile 13 marker was at the turn to home and the finish line sure looked like it was far, far away. I managed to cross the line running. Gun time was 2:43:07. Chip time was 2:42:28. I got a medal and the thing I really ran for, a 13.1 sticker for my car (I am that person).

     

    Finish goodies included bagels, doughnuts, pizza, Gatorade, water, bananas, cookies and probably some other stuff I missed. According to another runner my bib would have gotten me a beer at Druthers (a watering hole I am not familiar with).

     

    This race was really well run with lots of hydration stops with both water and Gatorade. I only took Gatorade once. I had GU Chomps so I thought I was covered for electrolytes. I’m probably wrong about that. Only complaint was the lack of POPs. There were only 2. The first one had a line. The second I stopped at had no line so just a short wait (between mile marker 9 and 10).

     

    I had to have my training partner stop at a convenience store on the way home so I could get a Coke.  My stomach was not happy with me and was pretty well nauseated.  The Coke did help.  I guess I left everything out on the course

    Still waiting for the perfect race picture. 5K PR-33:52 , 10K PR 1:11:16, First HM 2:42:28

    JerryInIL


    Return To Racing

      Congrats on your debut, SF.  Looks like you are smiling in all the pix.  Hope the tummy is better.

       

      Now go sign up for another  

          

      PADRunner


        Congratulations SF! Nice race.

        tracilynn


          Congrats SF. So happy for you!  I LOVE the 2nd to the last pic of you!  Big smiles Big grin  how do you feel today??

          ~~~~~~~

          Traci

           


          on my way to badass

            I've been feeling like I'm coming down with the flu. Achy and oogy stomach. I just had some mint cookie crumble ice cream and that helped. It is pretty salty. I think my electrolytes are still a little off. Aches are just part of running. Tomorrow ought to be a serious ibuprophen day.

            Still waiting for the perfect race picture. 5K PR-33:52 , 10K PR 1:11:16, First HM 2:42:28

            tracilynn


              Yes, ice cream solves most everything.

              ~~~~~~~

              Traci

               

              GinnyinPA


                Congratulations on finishing your first HM.  Nice race report.  Thank you. It sounds like a good race through some pretty areas. Lots of good smiling pictures of you.

                happylily


                  One house had a radio out blasting “Eye of the Tiger” including the Rocky Balboa introduction. For no good reason I started crying

                   

                  My feeling is that you started crying because deep down, you knew you were doing something really hard and would not give up. You are a champion, like Rocky. You won't admit to yourself, but it's the truth.

                   

                  Congratulations on your first HM! It sounds like a lovely town with a lovely course. A place I would enjoy visiting someday.

                   

                  P.S. My computer could not zoom in on your pictures, unfortunately. But they seem pretty good from the little I could see!

                  PRs: Boston Marathon, 3:27, April 15th 2013

                          Cornwall Half-Marathon, 1:35, April 27th 2013

                  18 marathons, 18 BQs since 2010

                  LRB


                    One house had a radio out blasting “Eye of the Tiger” including the Rocky Balboa introduction. For no good reason I started crying.

                     

                    As cheesy as it may be, that song rates really high as an inspirational tune so I could see that.  Being there when it was released, it's hard to believe it's been over 30 years since it came out!

                     

                    Great job on holding it together there at the end, you should be most proud of yourself for that!

                     

                    I do not have a magnet on my car anymore, but remember fondly how proud I was to come home and order it after my first half.  Whenever I see them I smile because I know that feeling and will never forget it no matter how many half marathons or marathons I run.

                     

                    Good luck with the tummy, there is always wine you know. 

                    Docket_Rocket


                      Congrats!

                      Damaris

                       

                      As part of the 2024 London Marathon, I am fundraising for VICTA, a charity that helps blind and visually impaired children. My mentor while in law school, Jim K (a blind attorney), has been a huge inspiration and an example of courage and perseverance. Please consider donating.

                      Fundraising Page

                      Zelanie


                        You worked hard for that 13.1 sticker, sport it with pride!

                         

                        Sounds like a really lovely course with a ton of different things to see.  No matter how you slice it, though, 13.1 miles IS a long way to run.  Congratulations to you!

                         

                        Sometimes after a really hard race I spend the next day or so feeling incredible thirsty, but water doesn't help at all.  Maybe that's the electrolytes thing you're talking about.  I don't know whether it's that, or if that's just the feeling you get when you really run your muscles into the ground and they need to recover.

                         

                        In any case, great job!  I will have to check the photos again later because the zoom isn't working for me either. Sad

                        scottydawg


                        Barking Mad To Run

                           

                          As cheesy as it may be, that song rates really high as an inspirational tune so I could see that.  Being there when it was released, it's hard to believe it's been over 30 years since it came out!

                           

                          Great job on holding it together there at the end, you should be most proud of yourself for that!

                           

                          I do not have a magnet on my car anymore, but remember fondly how proud I was to come home and order it after my first half.  Whenever I see them I smile because I know that feeling and will never forget it no matter how many half marathons or marathons I run.

                           

                          Good luck with the tummy, there is always wine you know. 

                           

                          Gee, LRB, you must've been all of about 2 years old.    I was already heading toward 30 when that song came out.

                          "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt

                          scottydawg


                          Barking Mad To Run

                            Congrats on your half, StoneFence.  You look very strong in all your photos.   Put that sticker on your car and display it proudly, you done good!       Relax the body for a while now...and remember to walk backwards for a while when you go down any stairs.

                            "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt

                              Congrats on your first half. Take that sticker with you everywhere. And after any all out effort, your stomach can get temporarily messed up.

                              Dave


                              on my way to badass

                                I took ibuprophen before bed last night an I am feeling much better today. My training partner texted me this morning that she got 3.2miles in. She is C-R-A-Z-Y.

                                Still waiting for the perfect race picture. 5K PR-33:52 , 10K PR 1:11:16, First HM 2:42:28

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