Run with the Trojans 4-miler race report.

In true non-committal style, I had been more-or-less planning to run the Run with the Trojans race but had not signed up. I figured I would run it if the weather was nice, my legs were feeling good, the pollen count was low, my favorite racing gear was clean and I was able to wake up on time. Alas, all of those things happened so I found myself in the middle of the road across from an apartment complex and the vocational-technical school in Troy, NY at 9-something yesterday morning.

There were a few dozen of us gathered at the scenic asphalt-all-around spot, although I later learned that only 25 or so were racing in the 4-miler. See, the Run with the Trojans is a bit of a racing festival -- with an 800-meter kids run, and both a 2-mile and a 4-mile race. Three-in-one! You can't beat it . . .

Anyway, I headed to the registration table to sign up, get my bib (#186 -- how many people were in the race?), t-shirt and goody bag. Highlighter -- yes! I strolled around, waiting for the crowd of runners to appear but they never did. I warmed up. I chatted with some fellow runners and then, when the race director yelled that the race was going to start in a few minutes so we should head to the starting line, I lined up.

Now, when I was driving to the race, I noticed that there was a monster hill in what would turn out to be the second and fourth miles (the course was a 2-mile loop). A 3/4 of a mile hill, to be exact. A steep, monster hill (said, by the girl who loves hills). This, combined with the lack of racers, made me think I should adjust my expectations (not that they were high). I decided I'd shoot for 8-minute miles, and run the race as a tempo run.

Good idea.

You see, here's the thing about small races when you're a mid-packer: You end up running alone. For most of the race, I couldn't see anyone in front of me or behind me. Weird. In my last race, there were 3700 runners so I was never out of a crowd. This race was entirely different.

The course was fine. The hill was tough and long and having to run it twice just made it tougher. I managed to keep my pace around 8:30 on the uphill, which felt strong so I was pleased.

I ended up finishing in 32:42, a little over my tempo pace goal of 32. But, I'm OK with that. It felt like a really good workout. The official results haven't been posted but when the times were listed on the cardboard box-turned-tabletop-display after the race, it looked like I finished right in the middle.

Wow . . . what a long report for a not very interesting race!

* * *

Two other things: I used my Garmin in the race and LOVED IT. Done. I am officially a gadgety runner.

And, the hot water heater. There was no salvaging it so we had to get a new one. Luckily, my dad volunteered to help Owen install it so we only had to shell out for the heater itself. The difference between having it installed and not was about $1000. Crazy.

Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend!

~ Felice