January 15, 2013 by Darlene

Age is a State of Mind

Jim & Terry at Disney 1/13/13

These two people who are MY AGE* just completed the Goofy Challenge!! That is 13.1 miles followed by 26.2 miles.

This is Terry’s motto:

There may come a day when we can’t do this anymore. Today is not that day.

They both have struggled with physical problems but have never given in to them and seem to get better with age!

Way to go, Terry & Jim!!

(*I know that Terry is 59 & her hubby is even older & has MS. It seems to run in the family. Her son completed the Lake Placid Ironman with a broken collarbone!!)

I guess I have no excuse – At least the “I am too old” excuse:

I am too old to run that far.
I am too old to run that fast.
I am too old to run that often.
I am too old to run.

Yes, there will come a day when I can’t do this and today is not that day!!

Bring it on!!

Happy Running! Do have a role model or someone who inspires you?

January 14, 2013 by Darlene

Bring On Week 4

This has to be a good week. Why?

my hubby with MaryAnn

I’m going with my hubby to visit friends, MaryAnn and Bob, in Daytona Beach, Fla next Saturday though Wednesday. So this week will be short as well as next week.

Week 1 – 3, 3, 5 =11 miles
Week 2 – 3, 3, 0, 0 =6 miles
Week 3 – 4, 4, 6 =14 miles
Week 4 –
- Monday – tennis (only have played once since Oct 1.)
- Tuesday – run 4 miles
- Wednesday – rest (dinner with a friend)
- Thursday – run 6 or 7 miles ???
- Friday – pack, go to bed early
Week 5 –
- Thursday – run 4 miles
- Sat or Sun – run 7 or 8 miles??

I am a little nervous that I am only running 3x a week when I used to run 4x. But I am more nervous about getting injured again. I am also worried about training in the winter with snow/ice!! Treadmills don’t work for me on long runs.

The reality is that I will be in Florida with 3 non-running adults … it will be hard to run and not piss people off.

Happy Running! Do you keep up your training when on vacation?

January 13, 2013 by Darlene

HMRRC Winter Series #3 10K Race Report

Hudson Mohawk Runners Club sponsors FREE races throughout the winter for its members. The course is pretty boring but free is free and this 10K distance fit right in with my Half Marathon training schedule.

So I signed up and hoped the conditions would be ok for running.

We are having a kinda heat wave – in the 40s for January is warm. I debated about what to wear for awhile. I decided on tights, long sleeve shirt, windbreaker, baseball cap & light gloves.

The race started at 10 am (I got to sleep in 2 days in a row.) I thought I left early enough but I forgot that there is never enough parking. I drove around 2 lots that were full before parking in a lot where you had to walk a bit (yeah, I know I am a runner. Why would I park close?)

I still arrived in time. I took a gu & some water & signed in (I had pre-registered so no line 🙂 )

I bumped into several people that I knew – 2 SRMs, someone (John S.) that I used to work with & someone (Colleen) that I currently work with.)

dreary & foggy

I chatted until it was time to go outside.

I’m in yellow heading down the stairs (JBerkley photo)

Then we walked to the start & I pushed into the crowd – there were probably at least 300 total runners. (for the 3m, 10k & 25K)

Melissa, Elisa & friend ready to run!

I was chilly at first. I always forget how windy it is on this campus. But eventually I got warm and then when it got windy, I felt chilled.

Doesn’t Melissa look cold? (JBerkley photo)

I also forgot how many hills there are. They’re not bad but they’re annoying when the wind is blowing in your face.

I definitely felt out of shape – winded from my lack of running & my cold. My ankle ached off and on but it was bearable. As I got tired, my lower back ached as well.

You can see my arm – I am running with the 25kers – I work with Colleen in pink (JBerkley photo)

There were no mile markers so I was glad I wore my Garmin. It kept me on track. I wanted to keep a steady pace & not run too fast or too slow.

I wanted to walk but held out until the water stop at the beginning of mile 4 and then again during the end of mile 5.

I was pretty proud that I did. Races are definitely motivators for me. I know I would have walked a lot more & quit after 5 if I weren’t running a race.

It seemed that everyone passed me by (and they did.) but I repeated to myself – “Run smart. Don’t overdo.”

On the last turn of this boring course, I asked if I was going the right way for the 10k, and the volunteer said “yes, you’re it.” I took that to mean that I was last and I took off (and even passed some old guy.)

So I did sprint through the finish line of the my second 10K & crossed at 1:08:18.

I finished 215 out of 224. Phew, I wasn’t last.

And believe it or not, it was a PR. I finished my first 10k at 1:09 (in between injuries.)

I went inside and found a familiar face.

sweaty hair post race photo

Then I had some soup, hot chocolate, cranberry bread & cookies. Not bad for a free race.

As for my goals –

A. Run the whole thing.
B. PR (under 1:09)
C. Not finish last.
D. Finish upright

All except A achieved!!

My splits:

mile 1 – 10:43
mile 2 – 11:04
mile 3 – 11:06
mile 4 – 11:34 (water stop & walked)
mile 5 – 11:17 (walked)
mile 6 – 11:04
.2 – 8:19

So I am happy. I got my work cut out for me but it’s a start. Week 3 is over. Now onto WEEK 4.

Happy Running! Did you run or race this weekend?

January 12, 2013 by Darlene

A Productive Saturday

Sometimes life takes precedence over running.

I really wanted to run with the SRMs in their Virtual 5K for Sandy Hook. I haven’t seen those runners in a long time!!

I was there in spirit – Thanks Felice for organizing!

Today is also my long run (according to my training schedule.)

But with last weekend being spent in bed, today I needed to:

sleep late (working all week & being sick has taken its toll)
go grocery shopping (the fridge is empty)
do laundry (my hubby has no undewear)
clean up the house (clutter, clutter everywhere)
get my nails done (about a month overdue)
return books to the library
return a Christmas present
buy stuff for my foodie penpal
take down the Christmas decorations (finally)
cook dinner (haven’t done that all week)

Believe it or not, I DID IT ALL!

I even went on a purging rampage – got rid of old cookbooks, old computer books, about 20 coffee mugs, old medecines, old expired food and more.

Now I can relax and plan my next run

Tomorrow I am going to do the HMRRC Winter Series Race – the 10k and it’s at 10am, close by and FREE!

I missed my 5 mile run last weekend but I am going to try to run 6.2 miles anyway to stay on schedule.

I know it’s just a training run but if I said I just wanted to finish I’d be lying.

So here are my goals:

A. Run the whole thing.
B. PR (under 1:09)
C. Not finish last.
D. Finish upright.

Happy Running! Do you ever put running second? Do you have goals for every race?

January 11, 2013 by Darlene

Bad Runs Happen

I felt like this but I was on the road…

Sometimes a run just sucks. Sometimes life just sucks. But we all have to move on right? Yesterday after work, I had a no good, very bad, awful run.

I was still very congested from my cold, I hadn’t been sleeping and I had eaten a large late lunch.

I tried to get myself in the mood to go for a run but that was just not happening. I just wanted to go home and crawl into bed with a book.

But I had missed 2 runs while being sick so I just wasn’t going to let it happen again. On my way to the neighborhood where I have been running lately, I decided that I was going to run at least 3 miles (if it killed me) but I really wanted to run 4 or 5.

Once I actually got on the road though, I realized this run was going to be tough, mentally and physically.

My legs felt like lead. My chest hurt. My stomach was too full. I wanted to quit after 2 miles. I dragged myself to 3 miles and then I willed myself to do 4.

Yeah, I walked some but got it done.

Usually I get down on myself and question my running ability. I wonder how I am ever going to 13.1 miles if I can’t run 3. My pace is 12-13 min/mile. How embarrassing is that? I’m not fast but I could run 9-10 min/miles. Maybe I should give it up. Wah wah wah…

Instead, the type A me analyzed the situation:

You’ve had 2 injuries. The 2nd one before you totally recovered from the first.
You’ve been sick. It’s hard to run when you can’t breathe.
Running on a full stomach — stupid!
You always run better in the morning. Gotta do an AM run soon.
Even when you raced well, you had BAD training runs. You need to run a race!
What about music…gotta charge that iPod and listen to some tunes!
4 crappy miles are better than zero miles
Get over it… bad runs happen!

Thanks Ryan. I don’t mind if you do!

So today is a rest day (and it is raining/sleeting)!

I haven’t decided about the weekend. I signed up for a virtual 5K tomorrow with friends and a 10K on Sunday.

I will either do the 5k & add 3 miles afterwards or the race but not both.

I know both will be fine — running with others is always motivating.

Happy Running! How do you deal with bad runs?

January 10, 2013 by Darlene

Finally Some Good Things in 2013

1. Got this email yesterday:

Hi Darlene,

I noticed one of your posts whilst I was researching an article, and had to have a peek at your site! I really like the personal take you have on running and exercise, and had to add you to my bookmarked list!

Several months later, and I have to say that your journey really is an inspiration to all people who have a goal, but suffer set backs and obstacles along the way. You have a ton of great advice, especially for unwilling runners [like me], of which there are many!

Mike and I have put together a list of our favorite 100 Top Health and Fitness blogs to watch in 2013, and you were an obvious choice! For a bit of fun, we’ve asked for the public to vote for the winners! You can see the contest page here http://www.leapfitness.com/top100.

We’ve also created a voting button that you can add to your site to ask your readers to cast their vote! So please feel free to add the attached button to your site and send your readers to vote for you here: http://www.leapfitness.com/top100

There are so many fantastic fitness blogs out there that we’re hoping this will help spread the word, help people with their motivation… and send you new visitors!

Good luck

Christy

Christy Hansen
LeapFitness.com

2. My cold is on its way out and Tuesday I ran 4 miles!!! WooHoo!! I hacked up a gallon of phlegm but it felt good to be out there. We are having a mini heat wave (40 degrees or higher) and I plan to run again today & this weekend. There may be hope for this half marathon in March.

3. I had dinner last night with an old friend (whom I taught French with year ago)…lot’s catching up…so much fun!

4. A fellow runner just had twins!! Another is pregnant.

5. Many bloggers have returned after a hiatus. So many have lofty goals for 2013. I love reading them. It certainly motivates me to get out there so matter what.

6. All of a sudden, I am addicted to vampire books (particularly the Charlaine Harris series). Who knew?? They’re light and fun. (My knitted sock may never get done.)

So there you have it, a post that isn’t depressing!!!

Happy Running! Vote for me (http://www.leapfitness.com/top100) if you want.

January 9, 2013 by Darlene

And Then There Were Four

my last photo of Spooky

If you read my blog, you know that I have 5 cats.

Last night, Spooky died.

He was a strange one. He drank his water by dipping his paw in the bowl. He ate like that too. He ruled the roost and the neighborhood. (My hubby found him at an airport abandoned by his mother & only several weeks old.)

Out of the 5, he was my least favorite, the least friendly and unliked by the other 4 cats.

But today, I feel like a piece of me is missing.

We get so attached to our pets. Don’t we?

Last night he was fine and then he wasn’t. He started crying and wouldn’t stop. He started limping and couldn’t get comfortable lying down. He cried and cried and cried louder.

Eventually, in the middle of night, my hubby took him to the vet. We couldn’t stand to see him suffer.

Apparently he was experiencing congestive heart failure and because of it, his lungs has filled with fluid and he had a blood clot in his leg.

We put him to sleep so he would not suffer any longer.

RIP Spooky. I will miss you!

Happy Running! Thanks for reading!

January 6, 2013 by Darlene

2013 So Far..So Bad

The one thing about blogging is that I can keep track of things.

So I know that since March 2008, I had a cold in Sept 2009 and in July 2011. That’t it. Until now…

I started feeling a sore throat on New Year’s Eve. Then Thursday evening, it started appearing…A COLD! It was in full force at work on Friday. No one wanted to be near me. So I skipped my run and Mah Jongg Friday eve and went to bed early. Saturday I was supposed to go to NYC with 2 friends to spend the day with a girl I met in Russia.

I woke up Saturday am feeling even worse & knew I couldn’t go (I did have to drive to the train station at 7 am cuz I had all the tix.)

Sunday was supposed to be my long run – 5 miles. My mega cold had progressed to adding a headache and nausea…Great! No running for me!!!

As I write this, I am on the road to recovery and will go to work tomorrow. Tomorrow nite, I go back to playing tennis and hopefully I can go back to running on Tuesday!!!

So this Half Marathon training thing is not off to a good start:

Week 1 – 3, 3, 5 – 11 miles
Week 2 – 3, 3, 0, 0 – 6 miles

I will try not to stress about it.

What ever happens, happens.

I had planned not to run 2 days in a row so I don’t get injured but we’ll see. I also want to increase my long runs gradually so that means 6 miles this Sat or Sun.

That’s enough of being a Debbie Downer. My injuries and illnesses are over for 2013!!!!

Happy Running! Any advice for injury-free training for a Half Marathon?

January 4, 2013 by Darlene

More Goals for 2013

Believe it or not, there is more to life than running…

My hubby & friends think that’s all I care about…and it’s not true (well, maybe kinda….)

But after a year when running just didn’t work out, you have to be prepared to be healthy & happy in other ways.

So here are my

not related to running

Eat better – that means eating 3 meals a day and not skipping meals, eating more fruits and vegetables, eating less processed food, cooking more…
Take a lunch break – that means that even if I eat at my desk, leave for one hour and read, knit, watch TV, take a walk, use stationary bike, etc.
De-clutter – that means getting rid of stuff that is useless such as books, clothes, papers…
Finish projects – that means those already begun quilts, knitted socks, use fabric & wool already bought
Economize – that means only buy what you really need, fewer trips to Starbucks, use coupons, etc.
Be more flexible with running schedules – that means not skipping a social event, mah jongg, tennis because “I have to run” or “I have a race early tomorrow”
Spend more time at home – that means inviting people over rather than going out, renting movies rather than going to them…
Do something you love each day (besides running) -that means enjoy tennis, boating, reading, mah jongg, knitting, cooking, TV, spending time with family & friends, etc. for what they offer and not be thinking about miles, paces…

Happy New Year!

Happy Running! What non-running goal(s) do you have?

January 3, 2013 by Darlene

2013 Running Goals

This may be cheating but I had some great goals for 2012 but with two injuries, I didn’t get a chance to see if I could accomplish them.

So here they are again:

Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside)
Continue fitting in tennis and yoga at least once a week (as cross-training)
Finish my 5K races under 30 minutes and not stress about a PR (though getting one would be super!)
Get an Age Group award (in May I will be entering a new AG!!)
PR in a 10K race (I have only one injured 10K under my belt.)
Run a 10 mile race (the one from Lake George to Bolton Landing is on my bucket List)
Run at least one half marathon (a spring and a fall one)
Run at least 12 races (one per month, if possible)
Run a race in another state
Run a NEW race (hopefully one in NYC)
Listen to my body and slow down when necessary (In other words, do not get injured…)
Continue blogging regularly (to keep track of miles, as a motivator, to meet new runners…)