I am back to give you a update on my races.
October 16th; Oyster Bay 5k
I had taken a little down time with the running - had completely stopped running for a week, I had so much time after work I didn't know what to do with myself! But that was short lived and I was soon back into the swing of things. This raced popped up and had a prize purse of $500 all for the winner. So I had to race it.
I headed up to the hilly town of Oyster Bay on a cold and windy day, the course 1.5miles uphill, 1.5miles downhill!
Since I had taken the break I wasn't sure of my fitness levels and this was the first work out and would be the longest run in a while.
I headed out and had a girl sit on my shoulder, now Long Island running community is large, but you know most of the runners up front, this one I had no idea who she was, so the battle was on. It was ok in the end I ended with the win in a time of 17.14
October 31st; Sleepy Hollow 5k
Another race was put on with a little bit of prize money, $100 for the win and then another $100 for the record. Unfortunately last year I ran to fast and put a pretty quick time on the course. So I am still getting back into shape after the time off and not that fast just yet, but I figure $100 is still not a bad day at the office. So I head to Massapequa to run around the little lake, half the run is on smooth trails, the other half paved footpath.
I win the race in 17.09, running solo most of the way, the guy winner was too far in front.
November 25th; Manchester Road Race
Turkey Day. You could be anywhere in the country and find a race nearby to do on this day and then go home and stuff yourself like a turkey. I go and find one that is not on the Island, one Mike and I have to travel for, but its not just any Turkey Trot, this is one of the oldest race in the USA. This was the 74th running of the event, held in Manchester, CT. With the year selling out at the Max 15,000 people, it was going to be a good year. The Elite fields for the men and women were looking fast.
Mike and I headed up to Manchester on Wednesday 24th to the hotel in which we were being put up in, with a little confusion with the check in we final got our room and headed out on the course for a run over it. slight downhill 1st mile, uphill 2nd mile, downhill 3rd mile flat 4th and flat and downhill till the end for a 4.748 miles, starting and ending at the same place.
The elite athletes and VIP (Mike) along with alot of the volunteers then had a nice pasta dinner put on for us, then it was back to the hotel for a good night rest before the start in the morning.
Thursday 25th my driver Mike (Big Thanks) got me to the start of the course and we had our elite quarters to hang out in while we watched the thousands of others make their way in the cold to the start. It was a cold, crisp morning, but it was warming up a little.
I lined up and got ready to see how the training had been going, against a tough field. I headed out at a quick pace and I was still behind at the first mile, but all those hills in NZ were good for something, as I made my way up to the leaders, the downhill they got a little gap and then I was chasing them without closing on them for the rest of the race.
With the last straight coming I was in 5th, but the girl in front was fading, could I get her? I was trying, but she saw me and she kicked, only to stop 10mtrs in front of the finish, I had my chance for an extra $500 I was still moving forward and I passed her before she realised the mistake she had made. - Lesson to you all out there, always run through the finishing line!
I was very pleased how the race had gone against some tough athletes and first major race since my break.
Here is a Video of the race, courtesy of Mike P
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