Month: November 2024

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TT: Why I’m Breaking Up with the Gym

My Topic for today is: Why I’m Breaking Up with the Gym

So far it’s only temporary (3 months)..

  • Time

Working full-time, travel, family, friends, training for a race…

It is so hard to fit it in….

  • Money.

It’s expensive. I can afford it but I think I’d rather spend that $$ on home improvements, social activities, races, etc.

  • Sleep.

I’m not a great sleeper and my preference for going to the gym is before work.

So I have to get up EARLY.

Sleep is more important right now!!

  • Stress.

Paying $$ and not going.

Going but not putting in the effort.

Missing sleep and training runs.

You get the picture.

Just one more layer of stress, I’d like to eliminate.

  • Lack of Interest.

I missed about a month due to sore ribs.

I didn’t miss it one bit.

I don’t have any friends that go.

I tend to use the same machines over and over so it gets boring.

  • Doubt.

Does it help?

Maybe if I did more there.

Or if I hired a trainer.

But I went consistently (3x a week) until Labor Day.

Then I stopped for a month.

My Aug 31 and Oct 12 half marathons had virtually the same finish time.

And I didn’t feel any different physically.

  • Not Worth the $.

I haven’t taken any classes there.

I haven’t used the pool or sauna or hot tub.

I just use the hip and arm machines…

  • Free or Cheaper Apps Available.

If I choose to do any strength training, there are so many options that cost less and that I can do without leaving my home.

I do not disagree that strength training is important but so are the things I listed above.

It’s not permanent.

I may go back.

I may wait until I retire.

Time will tell…

Happy Running! Do you belong to a gym? If so, why? Please share.

 

 

 

 

 

Since today is Tuesday, I’m linking up with Zenaida (The Running Teacher) and Jenn (Runs with Pugs).

and tomorrow:

I’m also linking up with: co-hosts Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, and Runs with Pugs

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Weekly Run Down for 10.27.24-11.3.24: Marathon Week!!

Suspense….

Stay tuned to hear how it went.

If you are tracking me, send me some good luck vibes!!

Last Week –

  • Sunday – I started the day at the gym, followed by errands and

first time that I’ve ever voted early…

and then a walk (before the fall foliage has completely disappeared.)

picture perfect day along the Normanskill Creek

  • Monday – DAY OFF – I went to the gym again this morning.

what was on my mind??

My hiking buddies are on the DL but I had to stay home anyway to get Ali on the Run live show tix before they sold out.

Nope.  Sold out in a millisecond? (I actually tix had in 2019 but it was at the same time as Meb and I chose Meb).

So I went out to lunch with my SIL.

And in the evening, I attended week 6 with the STEM group.

that was a pic of the law school lit up with purple lights.. I guess I was running too fast. LOL

  • Tuesday – Back WFH.

Resting the legs this week so just a walk with my BFF after work.

  • Wednesday – After work, I had a prehab appt. with my chiro and then went to a farewell dinner for a friend who is moving to Fla.

  • Thursday –

Guess what? I got an email saying that I did get tix to Ali’s live show!!

Just WFH day for me followed by my last run before the marathon.

75 degrees!!!

Last year we had so many trick or treaters that I ran out of candy… So I bought more candy this time.  And of course, very few this year (though they may have come when I was out running??).

The hubby and I will be eating lots of …

Maybe I will do what Des Linden does…

  • Friday – Just WFH again, packing and mah jongg in the evening
  • Saturday – I took an early train to NYC. As soon as I arrived, I checked my bag at the station and headed to the Ali on the Run live show.

It was fun… Keira D’Amato was her guest.

Keira had won our local 5k in June.

I was thrilled that I could also squeeze in time with Cari. We had lunch together after the show.

Russ & Daughters Cafe—NYC's Best Jewish Comfort Food

My next stop was the expo. As usual, it was so organized and I was in and out in no time.

New York City Marathon Expo – Heart Runner Girl

Orange race shirt? I guess to match the ponchos…

Finally, I retrieved my bag, took the subway downtown to my hotel (in the financial district near the ferry), checked in and then met my friends for my carb loading dinner.

Take a Peek Inside the New Eataly at the Westfield World Trade Center | Viewing NYC

pizza, of course!!

#flatme

and throwaways organized for an early wake up (and sleepless night).

weather prediction…

  • Sunday – TCS NYC Marathon!!!!!

I don’t start until close to 11:00 am…

My running friends Sherry and Stan, who had decided to defer, came for the weekend to cheer me on. My friends Heidi and Deb came in for the day.

This year for the first time I took the ferry/bus to the start and it worked out fine.

Check out FB and IG for pics and to see how I did.

This Coming Week on the Run – 

  • Monday – recovering in NYC, Kelly Clarkson Show, HSS Recovery Zone in CP, lunch, train home
  • Tuesday – gym, train to NYC (for work)
  • Wednesday – train home
  • Thursday – run
  • Friday- gym, mah jongg
  • Saturday – Long Run (and Brunch) – Just 6 miles in preparation for two 10ks coming up.
  • Sunday – gym, walk/hike, Troy Glow

This Coming Week on the Blog – 

  • Tuesday – Breaking Up With the Gym
  • Friday –  Reasons to Run a Turkey Trot

Happy Running! Training for any big or small races this fall? Are the temps cooling down where you live? Did you get a lot of treat or treaters? Are you tracking the NYC marathon? 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.

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Ultimate Coffee Date for November 2024

It’s that time of the month…

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

This weekend I will run my third NYC marathon.  So I’m got a “New York state of mind.”

1.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that although I ran the NYC Marathon in 2019 AND 2023, I am still a little stressed about the logistics.

In 2019, I started at 10:30 am and chose the 7:00 am bus (and still had a long wait in the cold.)

Last year I had to choose the 6:15 am mid-town bus and I did not start until after 10:55 am. Luckily it wasn’t as cold.

This year, I decided to stay in the Financial District so I could walk to the Staten Island Ferry.  I chose the 8:00 am ferry. Then you have to take a bus to the start village.  My start this year is still 10:55 am.

We’ll see if this was a smarter choice.

2. Over coffee… 

I’d tell you that last year I was in the Orange Wave which started at the top of the bridge.

  • Pink has the least climb and it has four 90 degree turns.
  • Blue has about 30 feet / 9 meters more climb than Pink. It has two 90 degree turns.
  • Orange has about 50 feet / 15 meters more climb than Pink. It has four 90 degree turns.

Blue, Orange, Pink start

In 2019, I started in the Green wave (which is now Pink) so I was on the bottom.

Truthfully, I don’t remember much after the big cannon went off and the playing “New York, New York” with Frank Sinatra… I was so excited, I just ran over that big bridge…

So now, I’ve started both ways and I’ll tell you that I don’t remember a difference between starting at the top or the bottom of the bridge. It’s exciting either way.

So this year it’s pink. Bottom. A full circle.

3.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that in 2019, I was in a similar wave as last year and this year (due to a fast NYRR 10k time). IOW all the runners around me were much faster.

My projected finish time was 4:30 and I finished in 5:29. I was totally happy with that!

I had a similar projected finish time last year and I finished in 6:00 (while walking with a calf cramp for 16 miles). I was thrilled with that time. I thought it would be much slower.

This year? I couldn’t care less about my finish time.  I have no clue how it will go.

4.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that last year I followed Hal Higdon Novice plan very closely. And much more closely than 2019 (when I had to travel more for work).

It didn’t seem to matter… I trained better and it went a lot worse.

So this year, I didn’t stress about my training. I minimally ran during the week and completed as many long runs as I could…

I just want to finish and hopefully I will…

and without pain would be ideal.

5.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I couldn’t have trained for this race without the support of my running friends.

That includes my “virtual” friends too.

2023 TCS New York City Marathon App

Feel free to track me. My Bib # = 53817 (but remember I don’t start until 10:55ish)

Happy Running! What’s new with you?  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 the Running Teacher!

So Join in!

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

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