February 17, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – tennis
Tuesday – 4 miles on the treadmill

this week I watched Downton Abbey

Wednesday – 3 4 miles

got it done before dark – the days are getting longer

Thursday – ~~4 miles –~~ another SNOWSTORM (work closed early)
Friday – rest , ~~mah jongg,~~ 4 miles, SNOW DAY!

in my neighborhood

Saturday – ~~10 miles~~ rest, lunch out
Sunday – ~~rest~~ 10 miles

2 loops on the Nisky bike path

week 6- 22 miles

This Week:

Monday -DAY OFF, 3 miles, tennis
Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 4 miles
Thursday – haircut
Friday – 4 miles, mah jongg
Saturday – rest
Sunday – 11 miles

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ? How are you surviving this winter?

February 16, 2014 by Darlene

When Does It Get Easy?

Today I ran 10 miles for the third time.

Each time, it seems harder! WHY??

Jan 11 – 1:49
Feb 9 – 1:55
Feb 16 – 1:59

I am not hurt. I always have a rest day the day before. I fuel before and during. What gives??

Anyway, it was cold today but very sunny. It looked like a great day to do my long run.

I was tired of running on the Corning Bike Path so I decided to go to the Nisky Bike Path for a change.

As I said, it was cold in the teens but lately that seems ok & I know exactly what to wear.

The plan was to run 2 miles west (toward Schenectady) and turn around and then go 3 in the other direction and turn around.

Well, though for the most part the path was clear, I wasn’t prepared for how WINDY it was. At least the way back I would have the wind at my back.

Right from the beginning my legs felt heavy. I didn’t want to walk but I did when I felt I could no longer pick them up. (With no running partner, there was no one to shame me into not stopping to walk.)

Then there were spots on the path that were completely snow-covered which made it hard to maintain any running pace. But I continued on until the end which was the lock.

That was where 2 large dogs (one being a pit bull) came running toward me UNLEASHED. It was pretty scary. I just froze and let the dogs jump on me. The pit bull bit my hand but I thankfully was wearing heavy gloves. The couple who owned the dogs eventually got them under control and apologized profusely.

I then continued some more on a road near the lock before I turned around I headed back.

Now the sun was pretty warm and the wind at my back but my legs wanted to quit.

I was at 5.5 miles when I was ready to head in the other direction.

No…. they did not clear the path!!! I remember that this happened last winter too. I guess it is for snowshoers and skiiers.

I was ready to call it a day. Repeating the same path was not appealing nor was heading into that wind.

But I knew that I would be disappointed in myself if I quit.

So I kept going. The wind seemed even stronger and my legs even more tired. I walked more and more but I finished.

And yes, I was glad to have done it.

Next week I plan on 11 miles.

Will it be easier?

To reward myself, I stopped at Target on the way home. I had a Starbucks Latte and bought groceries & jeans. I saved lots on the sale items & the discounts on my Cartwell app.

I may have even forgotten about my “bad” run.

Happy Running! Do you have bad runs?

February 15, 2014 by Darlene

A Snowy Valentine’s Day

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I sent this to my running buddy, John Anthony.

We’ve had another snowstorm…this time a BIG one.

Thursday my work closed at 1:30. I had planned to run on the treadmill after work so this foiled my plan.

this is my driveway

Then yesterday, we were closed again. I don’t own a treadmill or belong to a gym. What’s a runner to do??

I tried to keep busy and not think about it.

I did some laundry. I started packing for my Feb 26 trip to Florida. (Optimistically I packed shorts & a bathing suit.)

Then I went online. Both Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Buffet concert tix went on sale yesterday. I love The Boss but Jimmy Buffet just reminds me of summer so I waited online for an hour and I GOT TICKETS!!!

I went on at 10am (when they opened for sale) and still only got open air seats (and they weren’t cheap!!)

Happy Valentine’s Day to me and my hubby (who really loves Jimmy Buffet.)

Then I read on FB that my hardcore blogger buddy AJH was going out to run in the snowstorm.

I waited a bit until it looked like the wind has calmed down and out I went.

It was tough going in my neighborhood…slushy slushy. My feet got very wet immediately and then numb from the cold.

Out on the main road, it was clearer but the wind picked up. So much so that it was hard to move forward. I kept turning around and changing my route.

The running was interesting. Trying not to get sprayed with salt as cars flew by and not get run over by big snow plows (when the road was narrow.)

The sun did come out and it warmed up. I realized that I am not a fan of ice and slush. Maybe I should have ran the day before during the snowstorm.

Anyway, it was a…

Glad I got some miles done so I could enjoy the rest of my day off… reading..knitting…Olympics on TV.

Happy Running! Did you get snow yesterday? Did you run?

February 14, 2014 by Darlene

February Fitness Survey

I saw this over on Zaneta’s blog (Runner’s Luck) and thought it would be fun… since I’m tired of talking about the weather (Yes, we are having ANOTHER snowstorm!!).

1. Do you have a Fitness board on Pinterest? Share it.

I have a RUNNING Pinterest board with pins on it but I’m not good about keeping it up-to-date.

http://www.pinterest.com/dsc59/running/

2. What is your go to place for fitness questions? (friend, blog, website)

I usually asking questions on my blog AND also the Sweat Pink, Philly Love and Strong Running Mamas Communities on Facebook!

3. What do you do to workout when the weather outside is too cold, snowy or icy?

The cold doesn’t bother me anymore. I just dress appropriately and go out and run. If it is snowy, I’ll wear my YakTrax. But if it is icy that’s when I stay inside and use the treadmill at work.

4. Latest song(s) added to your playlist?

Best Day of My Life by American Authors

Timber by Pitbull

5. Share a link to your favorite healthy recipe.

Not exactly healthy but it has butternut squash in it and it tastes great. Click here for the recipe or

6. What’s your favorite fitness app?

I have downloaded a lot of fitness apps but lately I have been using Nike Plus for my runs. It’s not as accurate as my Garmin but it’s just an alternative to FitSnap for sharing pics on Fb and Instagram.

Share a picture of a recent workout.

This is my long run on Sunday.

Happy Running! What’s your favorite fitness app? What’s the latest song added to your playlist?

February 11, 2014 by Darlene

Inspiring

Other runners are always inspiring me.

I never thought that I would inspire someone else.

But I have, I think.

I have been playing Mah Jongg for 5 years. I am the only runner in the group. (There are 8-12 of us… many do play tennis.)

We play on Friday nights. Usually on Saturday, I either have a long run or a race. That means I don’t drink and sometimes I even leave early.

My Mah Jongg friends always pretend to be interested in my running and races. But I know they think I am crazy.

Then last week, Natalie, says during Mah Jongg game: “I think I want to start running.”

Natalie is in the middle in both pictures:

I am thrilled and tell her about No Boundaries and how I started running. I offer to help her train and/or run with her.

at the Freihofer’s in 2008 – my NoBo mentor is on the left

Then on Facebook, there was a post from FleetFeet about signing up for the spring No Boundaries program. So I told Natalie about it.

Look at the email I just got:

=============
Darlene,

I signed up for FleetFeet yesterday….very excited.

Natalie

I’m excited too.

She starts the program April 7 and her first 5K is June 21. (I’ll keep you posted on her progress.)

So maybe I inspired her.

It will be fun to have another runner in our mah jongg group.

Happy Running! Have you even inspired someone to start running.

February 10, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – tennis
Tuesday – 4 miles, mall walk & dinner out with bff

last outdoor run before the storm

Wednesday – rest, ~~mall walk with bff~~ SNOW DAY
Thursday – 4 miles on the tm

an episode of “Nashville” got me through it

Friday – 3 4 miles, ~~mah jongg~~

around Washington park

Saturday – rest, proctor LSATs
Sunday – 9 10 miles

on the Corning Bike Path

week 5- 22 miles

This Week:

Monday – tennis
Tuesday – 4 miles on the TM
Wednesday – 3 miles
Thursday – 4 miles
Friday – rest mah jongg
Saturday – 10 miles
Sunday – rest

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ?

February 9, 2014 by Darlene

What I am Enjoying Now

1. SUNSHINE

Yes, it was cold… I waited until it warmed up to the 20s and the sun was shining.

I headed to the Corning Bike Path because I heard that it was clear.

And it was except for a few icy patches.

Although my long run was crappy (I walked a lot, my on and off bunion pain came back), I extended my planned 8 mile run to 10 miles.

It is supposed to cloud up and snow a little, then get colder. What else is new?

2. The OLYMPICS

I love the Olympics. I am not a TV watcher but for the next 2 weeks, I will be glued to the TV.

Sage Kotsenburg winning Gold

It’s not that I ski or snowboard or ice skate. I don’t do any winter sports.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White helping US win bronze

Figure skating is my favorite. But I enjoy watching everything.

And finally, I’ve traveled to Russia 3 times and I love the culture and its people.

with Anna, my favorite Russian

Happy Running! Are you following the Olympics?

February 8, 2014 by Darlene

Rotate Your Shoes!

I used to think I had a problem:

Brooks Adrenaline – broke my ankle wearing these 2 years ago, wear them to walk & bike now

Mizuno Wave Inspire – sometimes feels to narrow in the toe box – used to like them

Brooks Ghost – comfy but neutral not enough support??

Brooks Adrenalines – they’re ok & I wear now in bad weather

Saucony – ran my half in these, also ok

Brooks Glycerine – kinda heavy -sometimes weigh me down

used to LOVE these but I turned my foot and broke it the last time I wore them… not enough support?

my newest Brooks Adrenaline – I wear them for long runs & races

running in the dark with my new "white" shoes

my newest Mizuno Sayonaras – they’re light & I wear them for shorter runs

(and in the past I have also worn Asics, Nike, Reebok & New Balance too!!)

What shoes do I wear??

Right now…I wear them all (except the Newtons.)

Back to the fact that I used to think I had a problem wearing so many different running shoes.

Not anymore, a new study suggests that runners who rotate among more than one pair of running shoes are significantly less likely to get injured than those who wear the same model of shoe on every run.

Yay me!

The study also showed that participation in other sports activity also reduced the risk of injury.

so I guess I’ll keep up with the tennis!

(If you don’t have access to the full text, you can read both Craig Payne at Running Research Junkie and Scott Douglas at Runner’s World who have covered it in some depth.)

Happy Running! Do you rotate your running shoes?

February 7, 2014 by Darlene

Foto Friday

Don’t these pics make you feel cold? Doesn’t it make you want to stay inside??

Runners, Be tough!

Happy Running! Stay warm!

February 6, 2014 by Darlene

Butternut Squash and Sage Lasagna

Attention: This is a non-running post. It’s an eating post.

I recently went to a Chinese New Year’s Party and tasted the most awesome lasagna.

I love Butternut Squash and I love Lasagna. This was really tasty and light.

I’m not a big cook but I asked for the recipe anyway.

Here it is:

Ingredients:

3 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 pound whole-milk ricotta cheese
1/2 cup heavy cream (The one I tasted substituted half n half)
2 large egg yolks
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, coarsely grated (2 cups)
Freshly grated nutmeg
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup loosely packed fresh sage leaves, coarsely chopped
1 1/4 cups homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
Fresh Lasagna Noodles, cut into 4-by-13-inch strips and cooked, or store-bought dried noodles, cooked
4 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese (1 1/4 cups)

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss squash, oil, and 1 teaspoon salt on a baking sheet. Season with pepper. Bake until light gold and tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool.
Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees. Combine ricotta, cream, yolks, mozzarella, and a pinch of nutmeg in a medium bowl. Season with salt.
Melt butter in a small saute pan over medium-high heat. As soon as it starts to sizzle, add sage, and cook until light gold and slightly crisp at edges, 3 to 4 minutes.
Place squash in a medium bowl, and mash 1/2 of it with the back of a wooden spoon, leaving the other 1/2 in whole pieces. Gently stir in sage-butter mixture and stock. Season with salt and pepper. (The one I tasted had all the squash pureed.)
Spread 3/4 cup of ricotta mixture in a 9-cup baking dish. Top with a layer of noodles. Spread 1/2 of the butternut squash mixture over noodles. Top with a layer of noodles. Spread 1 cup of ricotta mixture over noodles. Repeat layering once more (noodles, squash, noodles, ricotta). Sprinkle Parmesan over ricotta mixture.
Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until cheese is golden and bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.