The first Al Goldstein Speed Series 5K of the year was held on May 26th. Not only was it the first race in the series of the year, but also the first Al Goldstein Speed Series 5K since 2019. Covid precautions were in place with three wave starts and social distancing in the corral. Bib pick-up was also socially distanced.

Mother nature decided to welcome us back to racing with a passing thunderstorm. The storm was perhaps scariest before it began to rain – the winds picked up and there was dirt, leaves, and flower petals everywhere! Had I remembered that I had a face mask in my pocket, it would have come in handy to protect me from the swirling dust. Despite Covid precautions and the weather (did I mention it also was warm and very muggy?), the race was great and held-up to the usual high quality races that we are used to from the Race Committee. But, you don’t have to take my word for it. Here are interviews with some of Wednesday’s racers and one of the many volunteers.

Irene Starygina - Runner

Is this your first Al Goldstein?
Yes

What did you think about the race?

It was amazing. I need to buy a red shirt next time.

When did you join?
A month ago.

How did you do today?
I PR-ed. Yeah!

Were you happy with the race conditions?
Yes, I actually like a little bit of rain.

What did you think about the Covid precautions?
It was fine. My mask ripped and you guys had an extra mask, which is good.

Are you going to run the next race in two weeks?
Yes.

Are you going to run all seven races in the series?
Yes. Unless I’m out of town, yes.

So, you PR-ed today. Do you think you’re going to PR every race?
No, not when it’s hot.

Did you come in running this with a goal?
Yes. I hit my 2021 goal of 24:30, so I’m happy.

Congratulations, Irene!
If you want to buy a PPTC singlet or any team apparel, you can order it through the our website.

Greg Shtyrkaio - Runner

You’re a new member? When did you join?
Yes, about a month ago.

Is this your first Al Goldstein?
First Al Goldstein.

What did you think about the race?
I thought it was great – really organized.

How did you do today?
Pretty good. I ran over here, so a total of 4.5 miles. I’m happy – sub-nine.

Were you afraid you’d get hit by lightning today?
Definitely. I wanted to turn around before I started.

Did that make you run faster?
It definitely did. I wanted to get it over with.

Are you going to run the next race in two weeks?
Already signed up for it. Yes.

Alright, that’s awesome, so am I. Are you going to run all seven races?
I’m going to try. I’m going to try. Why not?

Did you have a goal coming in today?
No, I just wanted to finish.

Are you going to set a goal for the next race to do better than today?
I definitely think so. I’d like to do a sub-eight. Keep it going.

Any requests for the race directors that they should know for the race in two weeks?
Keep it dry.

Congratulations, Greg!
And race directors, could you make it about 15 degrees cooler in addition to being rain-free?

Kristen Uhrich – Runner

Happy Birthday! Is this your first race in-person race since the pandemic began?
Thank you!
Yes this was my first in person race since February 2020, when I ran a 4 miler in Prospect Park.

How did you do?
I did so much better than I imagined. I really came into it thinking to just have fun, which I did, and kept myself in check, not going all out. I felt great on the course despite the heat and humidity, although the last 1/2 mile has always been a challenge, as it was last night. I ran slower than in the past, by a full min per mile, but much faster than I had expected.

Are you still experiencing Covid long-hauler symptoms?
I had long term symptoms from Covid, having caught it in March 2020. I experienced breathing issues at night and could not lay down. My doctor prescribed an inhaler to avoid going to the hospital, which did help. I experienced long term oxygen deprivation while running (I was only able to begin with one mile, the following May(2020), and body pains in my muscles and my lungs. By February of this year, I finally felt much more normal and started to run further, gaining endurance. I still suffer from joint pain throughout my body, but it’s mostly on one side, from my wrists to my ankles.

Did you have any goals coming into this race?
My only goal was to have fun, see all my PPTC mates again after over a year of not seeing many, and to find out what my new baseline looks like. All 3 occurred so it was a successful race!

Are you going to run the next race in two weeks? Do you think you'll run all the races in the series?
I do plan to run the series, again, I’m signed up for the women’s 10k so need to check the date to make sure it is not in the same week as the upcoming Al Goldstein. I would not be able run 2 races in a week.

Do you usually run the races in the Al Goldstein Speed Series?
Yes I usually run about 1/2 of them, then leaving for a month in summer to visit my dad in Montana.

What keeps you coming back to run the Al Goldstein Speed Series 5K?
The best thing about the Al Goldstein is being with so many PPTC mates. We are such a large and diverse community and so supportive of each other. We now have mates who live 1/2 way across the world but everyone still supports each other. It’s really an amazing club, the BEST. We are one huge family!!

Do you have any advice or racing tips for anyone who has yet to run an Al Goldstein Speed Series 5K, but is thinking about running it?
My only advice is to just have fun. Do your best and remember that it is usually very humid, so make sure you are hydrated well for the couple of days beforehand. The last bit is deceptively uphill as you come around the lake, so be on the watch for that!

Congratulations and Happy Birthday Kristen! Good luck at the Mini 10K. We look forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming AGSS!

Louise Carbery - Volunteer

Is this your first time at Al Goldstein?
Yes.

What did you do today?
I helped set up the starting line and tear stuff down.

Are you planning to run any of the Al Goldstein races?
I wasn’t, but now I want to.

What did you think about volunteering today?
It was so much fun. It was a great way to help out on a Wednesday night when I wouldn’t be doing anything else productive. It was loads of fun.

Do you encourage other people to volunteer?
Absolutely – so, so, so much fun.

Is there anything you found surprising about today?
The rain, even though I probably should have just looked at the forecast. And just how much goes into the race. I think the race directors did a killer job. They were super, super, super prepared.

Did you join Race Comm (Race Committee)?
Yes

Are you happy you joined Race Comm?
Yeh. I haven’t done much, but it’s been fun.

Thank you for volunteering, Louise! Run the next race. You can sign up here.
Members interested in volunteering should look for the upcoming call for volunteers.

PPTC is a diverse and supportive team. We want to celebrate the diversity of our club and membership. We welcome and encourage everyone to share their stories with us.

Introductory text by: Linda S. Chan (she/her)
Interviews conducted by: Linda S. Chan
Photos: Linda S. Chan, except as noted
Edited by: Rachael DePalma (she/her)
Produced by: Linda S. Chan

Back to Racing at the Al Goldstein Speed Series 5K

Irene Starygina - Runner

Greg Shtyrkaio - Runner

Kristen Uhrich – Runner

Louise Carbery - Volunteer