A longtime local runner revisits the Saratoga State Park 10k where she once pushed her limits, describing the race-day logistics, weather, course layout, and how this year’s plan unfolded after shuttle delays and rain.
Race day was complicated by changing weather and shuttle/parking delays that forced a last-minute sprint to bib pickup and the start.
Recent 10k performances before this race were slower than earlier PRs, and the author adjusted expectations accordingly.
She planned short runs during the week and felt reasonably recovered despite running a half marathon two weeks earlier. Clothing plans changed as the forecast shifted: what started as a jacket-and-skirt plan ended up with a tank top because the morning temperature was near 60°F. She wears the same orange race shirt each year and planned to drop a jacket before the start and put it back on after finishing.
The author divides the race mentally into two halves: the first 5K and the second 5K. The start sits between the Columbia and Ferndell pavilions on the North–South road. The route runs north past the toll building, turns left onto Roosevelt Bath Drive for several hundred feet, then turns right onto a stone path. Habitually, the 5k portion feels relatively flat while the 10k's second half includes more hills.
The author entered the race seeking enjoyment and to finish healthy rather than pursue a fast time. Given the recent slower race times and the logistical stress of the morning, she focused on completing the course and avoiding injury. The recap emphasizes the race's role in her running story and how practical race-day details—parking, shuttles, and weather—shaped the experience.
When I first started running, this race was one of my favorite 5ks. I ran it in 2008, 2009, 2010. It’s funny how things have changed. AJH was trying to convince me to run a longer race than a 5k. Since then I have completed almost 80 half marathons. My 5k time back in 2010 […]
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