Race: 2020 Hangover Half Marathon & Bill Hogan 3.5-Miler
January 1st, 2020 marked my first ever club race with the Hudson-Mohawk Road Runners Club! I had never participated in a club race before and didn’t know what to expect and was thoroughly pleased with the experience. If you are not part of a local running club, I’d urge you to join. There were two things that stuck out for me.
First, the food and snacks were way better than what is normally provided at the bigger, organized races. I know, it’s not always about the snacks, but it was a wonderful bonus. They had 3 bean soup (which was amazing after a cold run), cookies, coffee, PB&J, fruit and Gatorade. These were available both prior and after the race.
Second, and most importantly for me, the vibe was more personal and laid back than a typical organized race. While I by no means let myself run a slow race, it felt like those who ran were there to have a great time, burn off some New Years Day steam and run well.
My only gripe was that the course is slightly confusing, BUT there were lots of volunteers along the critical parts to keep me informed on where to go. My biggest fear was that I’d take a turn for the 3.5 mile loop, but I had nothing worry about.
With almost 400 runners total between the 3.5-miler and half-marathon it felt like a pretty decent sized race and I’m looking forward to adding this race to my yearly race traditions!
Total Time: 1:46:01 (course) / 1:44:01 (app)
Pace: 8’05” (course) / 7’56” (app) min/mi (PR)
Place: 63 / 197
Division Place: N/A
Bib #: N/A
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From the Website
Since its first running in 1977, the Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club’s Hangover Half Marathon & Bill Hogan 3.5-Miler have become a New Year’s Day tradition for runners in Albany, boasting a field of some 200 runners each year for this usually cold-weather race.
The half-marathon has a later starting time of 12:00 noon, to take advantage of what is likely to be the best weather of the day, and is part of the club’s Grand Prix Series of race events that take place throughout the year.
The course for both races, which unfolds along the roadways of the University at Albany (part of the State University of New York system) and the nearby campuses of the state government office buildings, is made up of entirely paved surfaces and is largely flat, though with a few hilly stretches thrown in along the way.