This was a busy week:

Monday I had dinner with a running friend that I haven’t seen the infamous heel injury.  Tuesday was my last tennis with my Tuesday tennis group so we went out to dinner after.  Wednesday, I spent the day at the US Open.

with my friend Catalina at the Open

We watched some amazing tennis matches – some veterans, some up and coming players, some upsets, some predictables- all in all, it was a long HOT day (got up at 4:15 am and went to bed at 11:00 pm).

Since I hadn’t run since Monday, I forced myself to do 4.5 miles after work on Thursday- it wasn’t pretty and I finished & got  in my car seconds before the rain came down.

Saturday for the 2nd time this summer, I stayed home from the lake to do my LONG run.  I ran 6 miles which was my longest distance since April 23 (my half marathon). It was tough – it took me 1:11 to do it with  2 water stops & some walking. (My friends kept texting me: we miss you…what are you dong home on such as nice day?…They are NOT runners!!)

Then I rewarded myself with a movie – I saw Sarah’s Key.  I read the book and I must admit, it was very true to the book.  A sad story but I highly recommend it.

Sunday am, I headed up to the lake with my friend Cheryl.  My hubby & other friends were already there waiting. It was the annual Christmas in September on Log Bay.  Everyone hangs out on the lake.  There’s a band, a parade & fireworks at night.

with Cheryl & Kathi

going for a ride

Unfortunately, it started to rain in the evening and the parade & fireworks were canceled. We headed home.

This morning, I decided to enter my own 5K – Darlene’s Virtual 5k.

I finished in 33:38.  No water stops.  I ran straight through for the first time since my last 5k on June 11 (which I finished in 27:45!!!!!).   I placed 1st in my age group.  In fact, I came in first overall. It was incredibly humid.  I was drenched in sweat (I am not a sweater) when I was done.  It started to rain as soon as I finished too.

I can’t tell you how hard this was.  I felt that I needed to run without stopping & stretching & worrying about my heel.  The pace was slow but I couldn’t do it any faster.  I felt so out of shape, so tired… I wanted to stop a hundred times but I wouldn’t let myself.

Now I know I can do it.  I think that in a real 5K race I will have more adrenaline &  will eat better the day before so hopefully my time will get back to where it was before the injury.

Afterwards, my hubby & I headed back to Lake George for a great lunch with friends at a restaurant overlooking the lake.

Happy Running! Happy Labor Day!