November 20, 2013 by Darlene

Wordless Wednesday – Intersection of Seasons

Blue Skies of Summer
Fallen Leaves of Autumn
Christmas Lights of Winter

Washington Park – Albany, NY
Perfect Place to Run in All Seasons

Happy Running!

November 19, 2013 by Darlene

Tuesday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – REST, ~~mall walk~~
Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – ~~rest~~ 3 miles before work, yoga after work

brrr…first run in tights

Thursday – ~~4 miles after work~~, REST, mall walk
Friday – ~~rest,~~ 3 miles before work (in tights again), mah jongg after
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 6 8 miles (6 with friends & 2 solo), dinner out

mah jongg anniversary dinner

This Week:

Monday – tennis
Tuesday – 3 miles before work, mall walk with BFF
Wednesday – rest, yoga after work
Thursday – 3 miles before work
Friday – 3 miles before work, HOLIDAY PARTY at work, mah jongg after
Saturday – rest
Sunday – 7-8 miles

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

November 18, 2013 by Darlene

Sayonara to Foot Pain?

My foot was no better but no worse…just annoying and often painful. I tried to reduce my running and do everything the Internet recommends for bunions but…

RUNNING WITH PAIN IS NO FUN!

So I went to Dick’s last Thursday and tried on almost every running shoe in order to find the one with the widest toe box.

Yes, I just bought new running shoes and I loved them …

7 miles 🙂

until the foot problem.

ouch..ouch!

I have quite a few pairs of running shoes…all were comfortable at some point and most are pretty worn (but not worn out).

1- Mizuno, 4 -Brooks, 1- Saucony

Meet my new friend:

Mizuno Sayonara

I was a little nervous about buying a lighter shoe and a neutral shoe. (I liked my Newtons but they wore out quickly & I did break my foot while wearing them.)

So I looked up some info on them. (You have 90 days to return from Dick’s). Here’s what I found out:

It’s a “neutral runner that also provides exceptional support for slight over and underpronators.”

The Sayonara was created to be awesome for longer distance training and racing with responsive cushioning but also super light due to the new U4ic midsole foam that’s 30% lighter than the previously used material.

It has a wider toe box than the usually narrow Mizuno fit and the upper part of the shoe is nearly stitchless and made of breathable mesh to make it light and flexible.

I loosened the top laces and they weren’t too bad on my first 3 mile run. I would have worn them on my 6 mile run yesterday but it was rainy and I wanted to run some more with them before a long one.

I still plan to also wear my Brooks…especially for longer runs… and when my foot pain goes away completely.

But for now, I hope to say “Sayonara” to foot pain.

Happy Running! How do you choose your shoes? Are you as crazy as me?

November 17, 2013 by Darlene

Running & Eating with Friends

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am running a half marathon on March 30 with someone I met during a race. Thanks to Facebook, we remained in touch and I promised that I would run some of the long runs with her since this is her first half marathon.

I am a solo runner. I run alone. I run slow…walk often and feel more comfortable running by myself (except in races which I love.)

my last group run – May 2010

Heidi asks every weekend and I have yet to say yes. This weekend, I caved and I suggested Nisky Bike Path at 10:30 am. (I had planned to go there anyway & I planned to run 6.)

I got up and looked outside and it was raining… I grumbled to my husband “that is why I run alone. Yesterday it was sunny and 60 degrees and today it is rainy, cloudy, windy….blah blah blah.”

But I got dressed and since it was warm (50 degrees) decided on a tee shirt and running skirt. I also brought a windbreaker and cap.

like my new compression socks?

When I got to the bike path, it was only drizzling. Adrienne & Heidi were there already. Adrienne had said that she would only run 4 miles but she wound up doing the whole 6 and even faster than us.

We ran 3 miles out and then turned around and ran 3 miles back. We chatted the whole time which made it go by quickly.

Neither Heidi and Adrienne had run more than 6 miles and March 30 will be their first half…so exciting.

Heidi and I ran at the same pace…though I am sure that she would have run faster if I weren’t there. Adrienne sped up for the last 1 mile since it was obvious that we were running too slow for her.

Adrienne and Heidi

For me, it was a boost. I never have run 6 miles without walking. They never walk when they run. It will be interesting to see if I can keep up. I should mention that Heidi is in her 40s and Adrienne in her 20s or 30s.

experimenting with a new app called fitsnap

I was nervous about my lack of speed (and my sore foot which didn’t hurt much at all) but I had fun.

We hope to do it again (probably every Sunday) at a different place and add more runners to the group.

After I left, I had to stop at work for something. Since I was already dressed for running, I decided to run some more. I ran 2 more slower miles. I guess I need a partner…

In the evening, I went to my Mah Jongg group’s 5th anniversary dinner. We tried a new restaurant this year called Ala Shanghai. We ordered lots of appetizers and shared, then we ordered many main dishes and shared and then ordered several desserts. Everything was so good. So glad I ran those extra miles!

the whole group minus 2

Happy Running! Do you run solo or with a partner?

November 15, 2013 by Darlene

Foto Friday

Running in PARKS:

Central Park in NYC

Central Park in Schenectady

The Crossings Park in Colonie

Washington Park in Albany

Colonie Town Park

Saratoga State Park

All these park are great places to run and of course, host races.

Happy Running! What is your favorite park to run or race in?

November 14, 2013 by Darlene

Back to 5ks

My next 3 races are 5Ks.

When all I did was race 5Ks, I used to love them.

Now I have a love/hate relationship with them.

I love them because there is no pressure to run lots of miles on the weekends.You don’t have to be out in the cold for a long time.

I hate them because there is pressure to run fast. I always want to PR.

November 28

November 30

December 14

So how do I cope?

I am going to try to run long on some weekends so I am ready for a 10 mile race on January 11. Then continue to train for my half marathon on March 30.

For now, I am going to try and relax and not stress out about how slow I am. My 5K times will not be where they were for these races in 2011.

Bethlehem Towne Turkey Trot – 27:58
Run Off That Turkey 5K – 28:11
Albany Last Run 5K – 30:47 (with a fall)

I want to be smiling like in this 5K (even though I finished in 39 minutes)

I will just try to get as close to 30 minutes as I can and stay HEALTHY.

Happy Running! Do you enjoy 5Ks?

November 13, 2013 by Darlene

What I’m Watching Wednesday

I’m still reading the same books as last post so I thought I’d switch it up.

I’m not a big TV watcher. I never seem to have the time. I watch the Today show while I eat breakfast and then after work, it’s either running, tennis, yoga, meet up with friends, etc.

So my TV watching is usually on my iPad when I’m home in the evening/weekends or while I’m on the treadmill (on rainy days.)

Here are the shows on my must-watch list every week:

“A fading country music star comes into conflict with a rising teen star.” Deacon is “hot” and Rayna’s 2 daughters are adorable. This is season 2. I’m addicted.

“The daughter of a framed executive makes it her mission to infiltrate upper Hamptons society and exact revenge on the people who set her father up”. Now in Season 3. What is cool is that the first episode is each season starts with the cliff hanger ending of that season (usually a murder.)

“A drama centered on the personal and professional lives of surgical interns and their supervisors.” Yeah, the ninth season and most of the main characters have died but McDreamy is still on… and I still watch.

“Alicia has been a good wife to her husband, a former state attorney. After a very humiliating sex and corruption scandal, he is behind bars. She must now provide for her family and returns to work as a litigator in a law firm.” Definitely my favorite show of the week. I have always enjoyed law dramas. I love all the characters in this show!! Each season gets better.

and when the new episodes start:

“The story is about a group of midwives based in East London in the 1950s.” Season 3 will be starting. If you start to watch it, you will really get drawn to main characters. I did.

“Beginning in the years leading up to World War I, the drama centers on the Crawley family and their servants.” I can’t wait for season 4 to begin. I resisted for a few years but then once I started watching, I knew why most people love the show.

I used to watch quite a few CW shows – OC, Gossip Girl, 90210, Emily Owens MD, Eastwood, One Tree Hill, Gilmore Girls. 7th Heaven. But they’re all off the air and I have not started watching any of the new ones.

I know there are a lot of other good shows on the air. I don’t have Showtime or HBO and not a lot of time.

Happy Running! Any TV show that you think I MUST add to my list?

November 12, 2013 by Darlene

Weekly Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – DAY OFF, movie, tennis

very enjoyable!

Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, yoga after work
Thursday – hair appt after work
Friday – 3 miles before work, mah jongg after
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 15K race, movie

disturbingly violent & sad but well done

This Week:

Monday – rest, mall walk with BFF
Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, yoga after work
Thursday – 4 miles after work
Friday – rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 6 miles
Sunday – rest, mah jongg anniversary dinner

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

November 10, 2013 by Darlene

The Stockade-athon 15k Race Report

15K
Nov 10, 2013

To save time, I picked up my bib yesterday.

we got a bag rather than a shirt

I was there early so I was able to take advantage of the sales.

last year’s long sleeve tech shirt for $5

Brooks jacket marked $55 for $25

As indicated in a previous post, this is a new course for me. It changed last year.

The race course starts in front of the Rose Garden and finishes at the Casino Restaurant overlooking Iroquois Lake in Central Park. Race participants follow park perimeter roadways for the first 1.5 miles of the course, and retrace this section of the course when they return to the park after their tour of the historic city. Runners follow a new course that proceeds through the historic GE Realty Plot neighborhood of 19th and 20th century homes laid out in a park like setting near the stately grounds of Union College prior to “Storming the Stockade”, an annual tradition for nearly 4 decades. After a brief half mile tour of downtown Schenectady, the course exits State Street at Clinton St. near Proctor’s Theater and head up Franklin Street to the newly constructed bike path in Vale Park. The Vale Park and Vale Cemetery corridor is part of an inner city greenway initiative between the city and the county to encourage safe recreational opportunities for walkers, runners and cyclists while highlight the city’s remarkable history.

This is my first fall-weather race. So it is always a challenge to be warm but not overdress. Plus, it looked like it might rain. I just wore layers and planned to leave them off. Hopefully, I would not be too cold for a skirt.

I left early. There were supposedly 2000 runners and not enough parking. I found a spot, used the rest room (real ones!) and then stayed warm near the fireplaces in the pavilion and chatted with some runners that I knew. There were some SRMs but we waited too long and didn’t get a photo.

It was cold…in the high 30’s and cloudy (no wind yet). I hesitated but left my jacket and pants behind. I kept my gloves. We had to walk quite a ways to get to the start and by the time we got there, they were already singing the anthem. It was very CROWDED. I was in the middle somewhere and even when the race began, it took a while to get moving.

photo by A. Bradley

I should mention that I had many stomach issues this morning. Not sure if it was something I ate yesterday or what. I was worried about needing a rest room during the race (there are NONE).

And the whole race I felt nauseous…ugh!

starting out in the park

The first 5 miles weren’t too bad. It was supposedly flat but there were at least 2 hills (what I would call hills.) I tried not to walk and to run at a constant pace. My annoying foot was annoying but it didn’t really hurt a lot until I started walking.

photo from last year

That was the water stop around 5 where I had a gel and then there was the HUGE hill around mile 5.5. After that there were rolling hills in the cemetery and on the bike trail.

running through the cemetery

I walked whenever I needed to. I ran for a while with a girl who recognized me from the Monster Scramble 10K.

someone I know posted this on FB…next to me is that girl from the Lake George race (This photo was late in the race…she got way ahead of me & I thought I never saw her again but I guess I did & passed her.

I knew from my Garmin that this would not be a PR so I just tried to enjoy it (which was tough with an upset stomach & foot pain.)

view of the pond after the race

Finally you come back into the park. At least here I got a second wind. You run around the duck pond and it seemed to take forever to get to the finish line (according to my watch it was 9.4 not 9.3) and I was able to sprint through it.

Here are some race photos taken as I was approaching the finish line:

finish line after

There was a long line to get back into the pavilion. I wasn’t that hungry but I needed to get my clothes. While on line I chatted with a nice older runner who took my pic.

happy to be done!! (my skirt was a hit…got at least 20 compliments from spectators!!

There was lots of food – bagels, fruit, candy, pudding, bars, soup, pizza, chocolate milk….

I took a little but I was freezing and anxious to leave and get into a hot shower.

Race Stats:

2013 Garmin time: 1:42:23 (2011 time: 1:35:31)

mile 1 – 10:18
mile 2 – 10:16
mile 3 – 10:25
mike 4 – 10:18
mile 5 – 11:00 – gel/water stop
mile 6 – 11:01 – hills begin
mile 7 – 11:48 – more hills & water stop
mile 8 – 11:58 – dying
mile 9 – 11:12
.4 – 10:09

(Official time:1:42:22)

Race Goals:

A: under 1:37
B: under 1:40
C: finish happy and healthy

So I didn’t meet my goals 😦 but I am glad that pushed through it and finished in spite of not feeling my best. This is a well-organized race with lots of enthusiastic spectators. The course is difficult but interesting. I will definitely try it again.

pretty park in the fall (photo by A. Bradley)

Realistically, I am not the runner I was 2 years ago. I am not sure I ever will be. I am running. I am racing. And that makes me happy.

Happy Running! How was your weekend?

PS.

I wasn’t aware at the time but there was a bomb scare. Apparently there was an unattended backpack at the start/finish line with wires. They considered cancelling the race. But they didn’t. It turned out to be nothing.

police pondering the situation (photo by A. Bradley)

November 8, 2013 by Darlene

My 2nd 15K

15K
Nov 10, 2013

I did this race 2 years ago. Then I was in peak running shape – before broken ankle, stress fracture and broken foot. I had run 5 half marathons that year. And it was a week after I had run my 5th.

Stockade-athon 2011

My Official Time: 1:36:11 (5k time = 32;40, 10K time = 1:03:32, 10:20 pace). My pace was in the 9s the first half and 10’s the second half (and that was with a blister.)

Who knows what will happen this year but I doubt it will be a PR. The course is hilly and I am just not strong enough to run that fast (mentally & physically.)

The Stockade-athon is popularly recognized as the oldest “major” 15K road race in the USA. Starting in 1976 this classic 9.3 miler has become the highlight event on the fall racing season in upstate New York. New England Runner selected the Stockade-athon as its 2005 “Race of the Year.”

The course starts and finishes in beautiful Central Park, Schenectady NY. The course leaves the park at 1.5 miles and follows city streets until reaching the historic Stockade district near the half-way point. The loop course returns to the park after touring Schenectady’s revitalized downtown arts and entertainment district then taking a brief detour through Vale Cemetery before re-entering Central Park for a dramatic finish around Iroquois Lake.

Vale Cemetery

Last year:

The Stockade-thon made significant changes to its traditional course by moving off major city streets where possible while continuing to highlight Schenectady’s historic neighborhoods, parks and inner city greenways.

city streets

A record turnout for the 7th consecutive year also saw runners introduced to changes at the start, as men and women lined up separately for the first time on the divided roadway. “Women have fueled the growth within the sport for several years now, and the talent level at the top has also increased so we decided to seed runners and have them line up according to gender. Women deserve their own space” says director Vince Juliano.

The revised 9.3 mile course passes through two historic neighborhoods before a brief tour of the downtown arts district. The loop course then enters a newly constructed bike path through Vale Park and the historic cemetery before returning to Central Park.

Post race reviews of the course change were positive as 6-time champion Tom Dalton, 53 commented “I liked it, it’s a good solid course. Yeah, there are more turns, but that’s fine”.