July 7, 2023 by Darlene

FFF: Ultimate Coffee Date for July 2023

It’s that time of the month…

time to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

1.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that 4 of my running friends had been worrying about registering for the Virtual NYC Marathon so that they could get a guaranteed entry into the 2024 NYC Marathon.

Last year, the link to the Virtual was posted on June 8 and it sold out immediately.

We waited and waited and finally they opened the link on June 21 at noon.

Well, I may ALSO be running the 2024 NYC Marathon because Sherry and Deirdre got in. Stan is running it for Team for Kids …

my 2024 training buddies…

and Kevin will hopefully time qualify.

He BQed here and then also qualified for Chicago

2. Over coffee…

I’d tell you that Marathon Training has begun…

however, my rest day will be Tuesday not Monday

Fortunately, in June, I had been running 6-7 miles on most weekends.

7 miles with the help of friends

And so it doesn’t get scary until September.

3.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I’m on the fence about two things in September.

First instead of a 13 mile training run, signing up for the Run 4 the River Half Marathon (IOW switch 13 and 10 miles).

ran it last year

Second, change my Finger Lakes Half Marathon to the 18 miler option?

4.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that my gym membership really did end on July 1.

Drum roll….

Yes, I joined!!! (My health insurance does reimburse me for up to $400/yr)

5.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I was at the supermarket buying some alcoholic canned beverages (to bring on our boat) and the cashier remarked: “Those are my grandma’s favorites too!”

Ok, should I be insulted that she meant that I look old? Am I being too sensitive?

Happy Running! What’s new with you? Would it bother you to be called “grandma”? Please share.

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with bloggers, Me (My First 5K and More), Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida!

So Join in!

And don’t forget to link back to your hostesses and visit some other bloggers.

July 4, 2023 by Darlene

TT: Mid-Year Review

(Today’s topic is the same as I posted on 6/23. So if you read it already, sorry for the re-posting…)

Here’s what happened the first 6 months of 2023:

One Broken Bone

5th metatarsal of the left foot and it healed in 4-5 weeks

Two Florida vacations

East coast in February and the west coast in May

Three Months of Gym Membership

free due to my participation in the Freihofer Training Challenge

Four In Person Races

Brooklyn Half Marathon, Miles on the Mohawk (10M), Freihofer Run for Women (5k), Valley Cats Father’s Day Home Run Race (5k)

Five Days of Tennis (in Florida)

I used to play several times a week but now it’s only during my Florida May vacation

Six + Hikes

Several Monday hikes in MA with friends and other solo hikes on Sundays

Seven Months Pregnant for my DIL

Hopefully I will have a granddaughter in early September

Eight Movies/Shows

Broadway is my favorite activity when I am in NYC

Nine Visits to NYC

Mostly for work but there were few times there for races and friend meet-ups

Ten + (Non-Running) Books Read

I love to read and do it every night but often do not keep track of the books I read 😦

Stone cold fox / Rachel Koller Croft
Sam : a novel / Allegra Goodman
Becoming Duchess Goldblatt / Anonymous.
Horse / Geraldine Brooks.
Trust / Hernan Diaz
This time tomorrow / Emma Straub
The housekeeper : a novel / Joy Fielding
Dreamland : a novel / Nicholas Sparks
Our missing hearts : a novel / Celeste Ng
The love story of Missy Carmichael / Beth Morrey

Eleven New Running-Related Items

Yes, I may be a run shoes-a-holic but I’ve cut down on buying running apparel…

Shoes -4
Skirts – 2
Tops – 2
Sunglasses – 3
Socks – 0

Twelve More Races Planned

06-24-23 – Adirondack 7M Race to the Lakes
07-04-23 – Firecracker 4
07-15-23 – Silks & Satins 5k
08-14-23 – Run for the Roses 5k
09-02-23 – Run 4 the River Half Marathon
09-09-23 – Malta 5k
09-23-23 – Finger Lakes Half Marathon
09-30-23 – Great Pumpkin Challenge 5k or Barn to Bridge Fall Fest 5k
11-05-23 –NYC Marathon
11-12-23 – Stockade-athon 15K
11-19-23 – Upstate Classic Half Marathon
11-23-23 – Troy Turkey Trot 10k

Happy Running! How has the first half of 2023 gone for you? Please share.

It’s Tuesday so don’t forget to link up with these wonderful ladies: Zenaida and Kim (Kooky Runner).

I’m also linking up here:

with co-hosts Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, Runs with Pugs, and Laura Norris Running.

July 1, 2023 by Darlene

Weekly Run Down for 6.25.23-7.2.23: Fitting it all in…

Crazy week!!!

Instead of my usual WFH, I had to teach in person… 8-4 pm Wed-Fri.

So when do I run or work out???

In addition, to my job, there was also dealing with the weather. When I WFH, I can squeeze in my runs or workouts between the raindrops. Not this week!

And it was my turn to host mah jongg. OY! (cleaning my house…)

Plus, I had car problems and needed to use my hubby’s truck and get mine to the dealer = $$$$

Last Week —

Sunday – The forecast called for cloudy and showers…

I started the day at the gym while the hubby went to play tennis..

But it didn’t look like rain at all so we headed to the lake… blue skies, sunshine and very warm temps.

perfect day and the water was even warm enough to go in… a little rain came after we got home that evening.

Monday – Day off from work so the plan was to go on a hiking adventure with 3 of my running friends. Again rain was predicted.

First we drove to Field Farm in Williamstown, MA and had a lovely 3 mile hike.

It rained during lunch but then it stopped so we drove to the Clark Campus Trails and walked 2.5 more miles.

It rained a little on our way to get ice cream but the skies opened up when we got home and it poured all evening.

Phew… lucky us!

Tuesday – The weather was too unpredictable to plan an early morning run with a friend.

Of course, I woke up early and it wasn’t raining. Too late to call my friend so I drove the rail trail and ran solo.

95% humidity!! But glad to have it done… my whole day starts better when I do my run before work. And there will be lots of distraction since a scavenger hunt is going on on the trail.

Wednesday – In person work!! That meant getting up early, looking good and driving to work (plus packing my running clothes, a lunch and snacks)…

My only run time would be after work… without rain, hopefully.

It rained on and off all day but stopped by the time I was done with work. But as I mentioned above, my car was acting up so I drove straight home and ran in my neighborhood.

lots of flowers (and a podcast) to keep me entertained (and a beer after to re-fuel.)

Thursday – Same schedule as Wednesday except that it was Trail Run night.

I quickly changed into running clothes after work and ~~drive to UAlbany to get in my 3 miles. Afterward, I met the others at the trail (which was nearby)~~ ran to meet my friends Barbara and Deb who agreed to drive to the trail (due to my car issues).

As usual, I enjoyed walking the trails while my friends ran and of course, it was followed by ice cream.

Friday – Same old, same old… but finally a rest day.

Rest?

Work, shop for snacks, clean, set up and host mah jongg.

Saturday – Long Run Saturday.

I met my friend Debbie and she drove to Zim Smith Trail where we ran 8 7 miles with Sherry, Stan and then joined Heidi for brunch.

several in our group didn’t come due to the poor air quality… it was the humidity, however, that bothered me not the smoke.

On the way home, I stopped off to pickup our bibs/shirts for the July 4th race.

Sunday – TBD depending on the weather

This Coming Week on the Run (18 weeks until NYCM) –

Monday – rest day, full moon party
Tuesday – DAY OFF – Firecracker 4 Race
Wednesday – DAY OFF – Hike-athon, boating
Thursday – run, trail run/walk
Friday – rest day, mah jongg
Saturday – Long Run!
Sunday – rest day, boating?

This Coming Week on the Blog –

Tuesday – Mid-Year Review
Friday – Ultimate Coffee Date

Happy Running! How is your year of running so far? Training for any big or small races? How’s the air quality where you live? Has it prevented you from getting outside? Please share.

I am linking up with Kim and Deborah for

I encourage you to do the same. Grab the graphic, drop your link on the host blogs and play along! Please be sure to always comment on the HOST’s blogs, as well as visit and comment on as many other blogs as you can.