Author: Darlene

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Why Not Have Some FrUN?

Today is the Albany Running Exchange’s second annual Group FRUN Day! In 2010, members of the ARE held 64 events that day! In fact,  the city of Albany passed a resolution marking a date as “FRUN DAY” in the city of Albany.

I really wanted to do this!! There was even a group running at the Crossings at my speed.

But sometimes life gets in the way.

I had played tennis or ran 13 days in a row!!!

I needed a REST day!!!!

So I did laundry, cleaned out some more closets, went out to breakfast with my hubby.

Then I spent the afternoon with Amanda, my mentee, and her 4 yr old son Richard.  We went to the Crossings so he could play on the playground.

It was cool but sunny. I had to go to the mall and buy Richard a toy in order to get him to leave the park.  Then we went to Kurver for ice cream.

When I got home, I immediately left with my hubby to go see Lord of the Dance 3D.

Michael Flatley is amazing.  He is almost 53 years old!!!! Hooray for us”older” folks still in good shape and keeping up with the kids!!  We’ve seen the show many times and it is still better to see the performance live on the stage than in a movie.

Afterwards we went out to eat – PIZZA!!!!!!! I had fig, goat cheese & broccoli pizza.  My hubby had pepperoni!! This explains perfectly our eating preferences…

That was my REST day – no tennis, no running– just family time!!

Tomorrow is my first USTA tennis match and at least a 10 mile run!!

Happy Running! Good Luck Ellen!

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Look What I Won…

Congratulations, Darlene!!

As the independent judging organization for the Ford Training Team Reward Program Challenge, we are pleased to inform you that your entry has been randomly selected as a Holiday Mixer Random Prize winner:


Timex IRONMAN Sleek 150 Lap Tap Screen Full Size Watch

Do I remember entering this?? NO!

But I looked it up on DailyMile.com:

Combine your favorite cardio exercises (running walking, biking, aerobics) to amass the most time you can from December 15 to January 15. The most time accumulated will win a Timex watch!

I didn’t accumulate the most but won in the random drawing…

Hope I’m as lucky in Mah Jongg tonite and in my 1st USTA tennis match on Sunday. But now I’m off for a short run.  The weather is still nice in Albany!!

Don’t forget to enter my Yak Trax giveaway!  (You can use them next winter.)

Happy Running! TGIF!!

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Shake Your Shamrock Virtual 7k Run (for Ice Cream)

Thanks to My Running Bucket and Beyond Destination 26.2 for sponsoring this race.

What a beautiful day in the NE!!! Finally…

Albany, NY

I wish I had the day off but I had to wait until 5 pm to run my race.

Here’s my bib:

The only green shirt I could find my the race shirt from last Saturday’s race (which was much too big):
 

I took my usual out and back 2 mile route from work with a little extra to make it 4.35 miles or 7K. I can’t remember the last time I ran and there was no ice or snow on the sidewalks or street. I had to push up my sleeves because I was warm. I could have even worn shorts instead of capris.

So I had no excuses for running slow and stopping and walking except that it wasn’t a real race just a virtual one. My time was 48:36.  (A far cry from last week’s race).  I ran a little more to make it an even 4.5 miles.

It was totally enjoyable.  I’m glad that My Running Bucket and Beyond Destination 26.2 got me out there.

Afterwards I headed to FleetFeet where I bought my Mizunos a few months back.  That was the period when my feet really hurt so I bought them in a size larger.  They still hurt and I never wore them.  Instead I bought a pairs of Asics that I wore to run my half marathon and every run since. Well, FleetFeet refunded my money (over $100).  I love FleetFeet!! (Thanks Mary for telling me to go back there.) While I was in the store, I stocked up on some more Gu.

Today was also the opening of Kurver Kreme, my favorite soft ice cream place (not far from FleetFeet) – you know where I’m going with this…

You wouldn’t believe how long the line was for ice cream…Instead I went to Stewarts – 50 cents for a cone if you are wearing green.

My 7K cone!!

Happy Running and Happy St Patty’s Day!!

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Happy Anniversary “Running Mamas”

Janis, Jen M, Felice, Jen F, Bridget, Lisa & me

A year ago (actually March 14, 2010) Felice (The Happy Runner) organized a group of young mothers who had NEVER run before.  She asked me and several local bloggers to help out.

I participated in the group training runs and got to follow them from the “wondering  if they could run 2 minutes without stopping” stage to finally running a 5K race.

at the Freihofers Run for Women 5K

Well, they didn’t stop there!! They ran more 5ks and got faster!!! They ran a 10k!! Then they signed up to run a Half Marathon –  in their first year of running!!!!!

Whoa!

I was so proud of them!! But at the same time, a little jealous… This is my 3rd year of running and I’m still entering 5ks!! (51 of them….) And I am happy when I break 30 minutes.

These ladies made me realize that I could push myself.  So I did!!

 I finished the Turkey Trot 5k well under 28 minutes!! 

 Then believe it or not, I ran a HALF MARATHON.

So thanks “Running Mamas” for lighting a fire under my feet! 

Let me know when you sign up for a Marathon. I have no plans for running one…but you never know…

Happy Running!

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My First Marathon

small_Cupcake-Marathon.png

Gotcha!

It’s Virtual and I have from March 14-March 26, 2011 to run 26.2 miles. I think I can do that….

After 3 days off (but 3 days of playing tennis), I ran today.  The Daylight Savings Time is killing me because when I have after work commitments, it is too dark in the morning to  run outside.  Today it was raining, too.

So off to the gym to run 3 miles on the treadmill (23.2 to go).  The Good Wife is on hiatus so my new favorite show is Fairly Legal.

Happy Running!

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Two (Half Marathons) for Tuesday

  1. I finally registered for the Lake George Half Marathon yesterday that I have been training for for the past 6 weeks…(it’s on April 23)
  2. I haven’t run my 2nd half yet and I signed up for a 3rd Half Marathon (Adirondack Half Marathon)- it’s on September 25, 2011 and it goes half way around Schroon Lake. (The Half Marathon will begin at the 13.1 mile marker and will end at the Full Marathon Finish Line. The runners will run on the easier section of the marathon course.  The first five to six miles are flat; then there are long, gentle hills on Route 9. Time to complete this race will be 5 hours.)

Am I nuts? Have I been possessed by the Ides of March?

At least I will have 2 months off before training for my 3rd half marathon. I will have to change my long runs to Thursdays after work to accommodate the boating season of July & August and I will be able still fit in my Sat 5k races. Yay!!!

(On another note – I haven’t run in 3 days!!! I am recovering from Daylight Savings Time and playing tennis 3 days in a row. Running begins tomorrow or else!!!)

Happy Running!

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Monday Monday & Another Half!

Last week update:

My goal was 21 miles and I ran 4 times for a total of 20 miles.
I ran a 4 mile race! a PR of 38:02 – YAY!
I played tennis twice and did yoga once.

I also won this magnet:

This was Week #6 of my 2nd Half Marathon training.  6 weeks to go!

In honor of my friend Mary, I registered for my 2nd Half Marathon today!!!!!!!!!!!! (I hope to run it with her…)

Goals for this week —

This week’s schedule:

Mon – tennis after work
Tues – tennis after work
Wed – Mentors meeting
Thurs – St Pat’s dinner
Fri – mah jongg
Sun – USTA tennis match

This week’s running:

Wed – 3 miles before work
Thurs – 4  miles before or after work
Fri – 4 miles before or  after work
Sun – 10 miles


Weekly Running Goal = 21 miles 
March  Monthly Running Goal = 70 miles, a race, hm training

Yearly Running Goal = 1011 miles

Happy Running!

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Sunday, My Day of Rest

Yesterday, I ran a 4 mile race and then 6 more miles, watched a tennis match, went grocery shopping, did laundry and went out to dinner.

I deserve a day to just relax.

So today I got up at 6:30 am (which was really 5:30am) and played tennis for an hour and a 1/2 with 3 guys.  My hubby has a tennis match today and he begged me to sub for him.  I thought I would be intimidated but the guys were nice and I had fun.

I went home & changed and then went to Paneras to have brunch with Mary, my running friend.  I haven’t seen her since Nov.  She has had a pulled calf muscle, hip problem, and now a stress fracture in her leg.  She is so depressed but vows to run the half with me in Lake George on Apr 23.

After I got home, my mah jongg friend called to remind me that I promised to go to a new intro yoga class with her. So I changed my clothes again.  The yoga class was just OK.  Too much emphasis on breathing and not enough stretching.  I’m going back to my Wed nite class.

I went home and changed my clothes for the 4th time to go watch my hubby’s tennis match.  He won in a 3rd set tie breaker.  YAY!! (He’s not a good loser!)

I can’t wait to go to work tomorrow.  This rest is exhausting!!

Happy Running!

 

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Runnin’ of the Green Race Report and More

Another new race for me.  Not a new distance because I already ran a 4 mile race last month.  So I was hoping to have a better time.

That is the course map – but had no idea if it would be hilly or flat.  This is a very popular race.  Around 800 registered which was a record.

The forecast was: Cloudy periods with scattered wet snow and/or rain showers. Nothing heavy. Highs 43-48

I was hoping for an hour of dry weather. (I’m a wimp about rain!!)

It was a challenge to decide what to wear and not be over dressed. I decided to wear tights, shorts, a turtle neck under my lime green half marathon shirt and bring a green sweatshirt, hat, gloves, just in case.

 I received an e-mail that the parking would be difficult so I left extra early.  I got a spot in the closest lot and hung out in the legion hall till the start of the race. I bumped into several runners that I knew.

I took some pics before the race and didn’t have a pocket to carry my camera during the race.

You can see that you don’t run this race for the scenery.  Green Island is an old factory town.

The weather seemed colder than I had thought – it was damp and cloudy.  I decided to wear my green sweatshirt, cap & gloves  for the race.  I was fine – just a little warm toward the end.

The course, though not scenic, was pretty flat.  I thought that I would not race since I had planned to run 10 miles today.  But as soon as the race started, I wanted to do well. I also wanted to do better than my last and 1st 4 mile race.  So I just ran!!!

When you finished, there was a screen with the LIVE results – mine said: 37:56.

My splits according to my Garmin were:

mile 1 9:06
mile 2 9:46
mile 3 9:40
mile 4 9:24

I got nervous after the 1st mile than I would run out of gas so I slowed down.  Then I wanted to PR so I sped up during the last mile.

My Garmin time was 37:56 but the clock time was 38:02.  I’ll take it.  It’s a PR by 2 minutes 9 sec.!!

You can watch me cross the finish line on video (at 2:35):

I grabbed some food and water and left to complete my long run.

I parked my car at work and ran into Albany and ran around Washington Park and through the streets for 6 more miles.

The St Patrick’s Day parade had ended and there were a lot of drunk people and people wearing funny green outfits & accessories! Pretty entertaining.

I didn’t continue at my race pace, of course. (The 6 miles were all over 11 min/mi) But it is my best long run ever.  I didn’t need to walk much.  I think the 4 mile race was just what I needed.

Last week I ran 9 miles in 1:54.  Today I ran 10 miles in 1:45!!

To celebrate, I stopped at Starbucks.  A cocoa cappuccino and a tiramisu cake pop – YUM YUM!!!

On the way home, I stopped to watch my USTA tennis team play its first match of the season.  We lost 3-2 (in a tie breaker). I play next Sunday.

Now it’s time to spend time with the hubby – restaurant and maybe a movie.

Happy Running!

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Yak Trax Review and Giveaway

It hasn’t been the snowiest winter on record but it has been the snowiest of my running career. (I’ve been running for 3 years but this is the first winter I’ve attempted to run outdoors.)

This is what the website says about Yak Trax Pro:

Features:

  • Easy On/Off
  • Walk Naturally
  • Spikeless/Ultralight
  • Helps reduce the Risk of Falls & Injuries

Yaktrax have a unique, spikeless, patented coil design, unlike other products on the market.

The Yaktrax Pro will instantly give you better traction, confidence and safety on packed snow or ice. Move about naturally with the same solid grip that you are accustomerd to on dry surfaces. Walk or run as you normally would and experience stability on ice and snow like you have never felt before.

Made with high strength, abrasion resistant 1.4mm steel coils and heavy duty natural rubber material, the Yaktrax Pro easily conforms to the shape of your boot or shoe. With its patented SkidLock coil design, the Yaktrax Pro provides 360 degrees of traction on packed snow and ice and can be worn in temperatures as low as -41° Fahrenheit.

We’ve recently had a lot of ice and snow where I live. The streets are clear but behind my house is the “water line” which is a trail for walking. running & snowmobiling.  Perfect for testing the Yak Trax!!

I had a little difficulty getting them on but if I read the directions, I wouldn’t have.

I expected them to feel clunky but they didn’t at all.  I quickly ran just as normally as without them. The best part was that I was able to run through the snow, slush and ice and I didn’t slip and fall!!!

So if you hate the treadmill but are afraid to run on the slippery roads, Yak Trax are for you!!!

Spring should be here soon!! But I will be using Yak Trax Pros next winter.

Note: I was sent these  free of charge to review. However, the opinion is solely mine.

To win  a pair of Yak Trax Pro (S), here’s what to do:

Mandatory-

  • Subscribe by Email or Follow the Feed to my My First 5K  Blog (+1 comment)
  • Tell me why you want to win this giveaway. (+1 comment)

Extra Credit –

  • Like  My First 5K in FaceBook (+1 comment)
  • List my blog on your Blogroll (+1 comment)
  • Share this giveaway on your blog, Twitter and/or FaceBook (+1 comment for each)

Deadline is March 20, 2011. The winner will be announced on March 21, 2011. 

Happy Running! Good Luck!