Back to Racing!
After more than fifteen months, I was able to compete in a road race on March 21. If you’ve been following along, you know that in November of 2024, after completing a half-marathon I started having pain at the top of hamstring where it connects by my glute muscle. I took several months off from running and did lots of physical therapy and even did some acupuncture sessions to help get more blood flow to the area to help reduce the pain. Then near the end of 2025 I started a slow build up of miles and have been happy that I’ve only experienced mild soreness in that area but no pain.
Hanson’s Running Stores sponsored a small-ish 5k race in Utica so I registered for it as a way to get back into a race. I had not done any speedwork to train for the race. I really just wanted to get back into the race experience and was not concerned with how fast I ran or where I placed.
It was a cool morning (mid-20’s temperature) but clear and dry. The field was just over 200 people and the course wound through a neighborhood behind the Hanson’s Utica store. I started out at the easy pace I have been using to build my base miles and then slowly increased it in the second and third miles, finishing with a strong kick the final 75-100 yards.
I must admit that a part of me hoped there were only three guys in the M65-69 age group so I could medal but I was not unhappy with my finishing time even though I was 5th in my age group. For no speed training and my first race in over a year I was pleased. And the best part was no pain in the butt.
Now I need to find another race for early summer and see if I can improve my pace.
Here’s to a good 2026 race season!
