The Halloween Run, hosted by the Syracuse Track Club, is a well-established event in the Syracuse area. The race, held at scenic Green Lakes Park, is something of a cross between a trail run and a road race. Green Lakes boasts a number of trails; the Halloween Run followed the main trails down the east side of Green Lake, around Round Lake, then back up the east trail. The Lakeside trails are mostly flat, and though they are unpaved, the packed gravel and clay surfaces have an almost asphalt-like firmness.
That worked to our benefit to some extent. There were close to 200 people preregistered for the race, but the day of the race was sodden and dreary; this unfortunately thinned the field considerably, but we weren’t faced with the prospect of having a mudfest. Predictably, wet leaves on the trail posed some challenges for the runners.
I opted not to wear a rain jacket out of fear of overheating. I almost regretted that decision as the rain returned during the race, but there were just enough trees to keep us from getting soaked.
The field broke up quickly. Wide enough for walking, the trails are nevertheless tight for packs of runners. Portions of the course are tight enough to make passing a challenge, but most of us held our places as we progressed around the lakes.
Portions of the course were covered with wet leaves that, while not slippery, taxed us as we passed over them. The leaves also covered the occasional treat route, prompting us to be just a bit more aware of our surroundings than usual.
I hadn’t had enough to drink before the race because I was a bonehead and left my bottle at home, and I sorely missed having a water stop. The rain cruelly reminded me of my growing thirst.
A wet and thirsty finish. Photo by the Syracuse Track Club.
I distracted myself by chasing down a runner ahead of me for the bulk of the second half of the race. I hoped to pick up the pace in the final kilometer, by my legs just weren’t there. I settled for 40th place, 8 seconds behind my erstwhile target.
He picked up a nice trophy for winning third place in our age group. Drat.
There were a number of factors leading to my subpar results, but the reality is that other than improper hydration, every other runner and walker faced the same conditions.
Eight consecutive weekends of racing and a ten mile run earlier that week didn’t help. My legs felt dead, and I was happy to be entering the taper to the Syracuse Half.
There was plenty of water waiting for me at the finish, though.
Location: Green Lakes Park
Cost: $22
Swag: Shirt, post race food
Events: 5K, Kids run
Field: 119
Result: 40/119@27:56; 9:00; 4/6
