I got eager for Spring and accidentally booked two distance races this weekend, Maple Madness 5K and Chenango Forks XV. The 5K is a hilly trail race and Forks is a hilly 15K road race. I booked Maple Madness first cause it’s one of my daughter’s favorite races. It’s on the Dewy Meadows Maple Syrup farm with a bonfire and a pancake breakfast with fresh Maple syrup afterwards. Sometimes there are cows mooing nearby. And it’s by a rock quarry so there’s “Danger: Explosives” signs all over. Plus snow, cold and mud. All the ingredients for an awesomely uncomfortable time.
A month ago, I was asked to sponsor again the Chenango Forks XV, a 15K around hilly Chenango Forks. It’s a classic in the Binghamton running community and been around for 50 some years. I started sponsoring races as a way to give back without actually having to volunteer my time. It’s hard to volunteer at a race when you’re running it. Then one year all the division winners of the Chenango Forks XV race got an awesome race hoodie with my name embroidered into the left sleeve as part of the sponsorship. As the sponsor, I also got one even and was giddy that I finally got swag with my name on it even though I’m an almost last type of runner. Plus, sponsoring it gets me a free entry. Except this year i didn’t realize both races were on the same weekend.
And now it’s this weekend. I was thinking of giving my free entry to a friend but I figured this will be what kick’s my ass into training mode to do a marathon or ultra this year. I haven’t done either since 2023 so it’s time to do one again.
Last year, my Maple Madness 5K time was 45 minutes 42 seconds.
I doubt I’ll be able to beat that since I’ll have to conserve some energy for the 15K the next day.
The last time I did Chenango Forks XV in 2023 my time was 1 hour 49 minutes.
Sure as heck won’t be beating that 3 years later and the day after a trail race.
BTW, I’ve been in my winter running slump. Last week I ran 4.5 miles. So I’ll be suffering this weekend. But on Sunday night, at least I can say my mileage this week was at least 12.4 miles!
