Author: Darlene

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Three Years!!!

It’s my Blogoversary!!! Three years of Blogging = Three years of Running!

I started this blog to keep track of my running and to motivate myself to continue running until I ran my first 5k.  But I got hooked on blogging and  I got hooked on running…

So here are some photo highlights of my 3 years:

  • No Boundaries– This is me after my first Freihofer’s Run for Women.  To the right of me are MaryPat & Pat, my best tennis buds who talked me into joining No Boundaries. To the left is Rosella, my No Boundaries mentor. I am eternally grateful to this program for getting me started.

  • Vacation Runs – This is me running during my tennis vacation in Naples, Florida.  I used to play only tennis during my tennis vacations.  Now I have to run!!! I even give up tennis time to run.

  • Age Group Awards –  This is me after my Veterans Day lst place win in 55-59 age group.  It’s wasn’t a PR but it was last minute decision to skip work and run this race. I have won 2 pairs of socks, a soup bowl, a baseball cap and 2 medals.  I love bling.
  • New Running Friends  – This is me with Mary after the Arsenal City 5k.  We met last June at a race and have planned and  run many races together. We have a lot in common & am so glad she asked me to take her photo after the Valley Cats 5k  last June. 

  • Bloggy Meetups – This is me with AJH who came all the way from Vermont last summer for this Saratoga race.  We met up again last month for a race in Lake George. She is a great runner and great blogger.  I hope we met up again.

  • Running Groups – This was after our first group run at the Crossings.  I participated in the group runs held for the new runners that were training  for a 5K.  I also got to meet Felice, Suzy & Amanda, some local bloggers on these group runs.  I usually run alone because of my hectic schedule but I am fortunate to have met these “Running Mamas.”

  • Giveaway Wins –  This was one of my first of many blog giveaway wins.  I am not lucky in life but I am LUCKY in winning blog giveaways.  I have won tee shirts, jackets, socks, water bottle, gift cards, recovery socks, tote bag, towel, gu, ipod, bondiband, Timex watch, jewelry, sunglasses and more!!!

  • PRs – This is me trying to PR  a 4 mile race.  (I did!) It is always exciting to have a faster time.  I always say that “I just want to finish” and “Do my best.”  But that’s a lie.  I want a PR (except when I ‘m running a new distance, of course.)

 

  • My first Half Marathon – I still can’t believe I did it.  Crossing the finish line was the happiest moment of my life (other than the day I got married). Now I’m hooked and have signed up for 2 more. Who knew that after 51 5ks that I could run 13.1 miles!!

Happy Running! Happy Blogging!

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Marathon Completed

I finished my first Marathon!!! My goal was under 5 hours and I did it!!

My time was 4:48:45!!

So what if it took me 6 days.

Day 1: before work – at the gym on  the treadmill
Day 2: after work – outside around Albany – nice out, actually felt warm
Day 3 – after work – outside around Albany – another nice evening
Day 4 – after tennis & in the afternoon – outside around Albany – cool but sunny, beautiful day
Day 5 – before work – outside in my neighborhood in Delmar – nasty, drizzly, windy
Day 6 – before work – outside in my neighborhood in Delmar – cold, cloudy, windy, snow on the way?

Day 6

Miles Time
3 0:33:40
4.5 0:48:30
4 0:44:20
10.5 2:00:50
3 0:31:55
1.2 0:09:30
26.2 4:48:45

 

Done!!

Thanks to Jason from Cook Train Eat Race  for organizing this marathon. Now all I need is a CUPCAKE!!!!!!!!

Happy Running!

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One Month From Today

Is this when I start to wonder why I signed up?

Do I really want to do another?

My first one was such as great experience.  Shouldn’t I just savor it?

Who wants to run up and down the rolling hills of 9N?

Maybe I should work on my 5K speed? There are a lot of those races coming up!

Ok, enough whining!!!

I’ll do it…one month of training left until I run along Lake George! I will do it! I will have fun!!!

Lake George 3

Happy Running!

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Spring? and My Giveaway Winner

March 21, 2011

If you can’t tell from the photo, it is snowing hard!!! First day of Spring in the NE!! Not funny!!! More is predicted for Wed and then colder temps for the weekend…

So I guess it is appropriate to announce the winner of my Yak Trax giveaway… may be she can even use them this year 🙂

It’s Sarah from Read, Run, Conquer!!! Congrats!

Happy Running! Happy Spring!

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Goals for the Week and Brain Exchange #30

 

Finishing is Winning‘s Brain Exchange:

This Week’s Topic: Your First Kicks

This Week’s Question: All runners have a connection to their shoes.  Tell the story behind how you came to love the kicks you’re in- what were your first shoes?  What do you wear now?  Do you stick to one shoe or change it up?

I used to be a tennis shoe-aholic but now I am a running shoe-aholic. 

When I first started running 3 years ago, I went to FleetFeet and they recommended Sauconys.  I wore those until they wore out and then bought Sauconys again.

Since then I’ve worn Nikes because they hold the Nike+ chip.  I’ve also bought inexpensive Reebocks for the treadmill.

Then I switched to Mizunos which I loved until recently.  My feet started hurting!! I bought another pair a 1/2 size larger and my feet still hurt (anyone want a new pair  size 8.5??)

I switched to Asics for my half marathon and now I am sold on them.  I have 2 pairs. I wear one on my longer runs and the other that I am breaking in for my shorter runs.

I have come to realize that shoes are the most important running accessory!!!

Last week update:

 My goal was 21 miles and I ran 4 times for a total of   22  miles. YEA!
I played tennis 3 times. (a usta match & lost 😦  )

This was Week #7 of my 2nd Half Marathon training.  5 weeks to go!

Goals for this week:

This week’s schedule:

Mon – tennis after work
Tues – tennis after work
Wed – yoga
Thurs – FleetFeet workshop
Fri – mah jongg
Sat or Sun – boat show

This week’s running:

Tues – 3 miles before work
Wed – 3.5  miles before work
Thurs 3.5  miles before work
Sat  –  5k  mile Race + 8 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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Tennis & Running

Yes, both in one day!

I got up at 6 am in order to get to my first USTA tennis match.  I was acting captain so I had to set the lineup, collect the money, etc.  Our team is the defending champs but we lost our first match.  However, no one really wants to play at 8am on a Sunday (not even the captains) so we didn’t have our best players.  I paired myself up with someone I didn’t know (I’m too nice, I know).  The first thing she said to me was: “Did the captain tell you about me? I ‘m the weak link on the team.  I’m not very good.” Well, that wasn’t good way to start things off. Unfortunately although I tried to boost her confidence.  She was right.  She wasn’t very good and we lost.  I hate to lose!!!!!

After tennis, I went out to breakfast with some friends on the team.  I couldn’t wait to get home and go for a run to clear my head.

My hubby had other plans.  He wanted me to go to Lowes to help him pick out a new mailbox.  So I did.

Finally I got out there.  It was a gorgeous day.  In the 40s but felt warmer because of the sunshine. 

before my run

 I decided to just run straight for 5 miles or so and then run back to my car (that was parked at work).  I was fine for 4 miles until I hit a huge hill.  I could barely walk up it but it was fun running down it on the way back.  I ran my half marathon pace (11-12 min/mi) and was pleased that my first and last miles were the fastest. 10 miles in 1:48— I added on another 1/2 mile to get some coffee at Starbucks.

after my run

One thing I love about running is that you set your own goals.  You don’t have to depend on someone else to reach them.  I wanted to run 10 miles today.  I wanted to to do it in under 2 hours.  I wanted to finish it with a lot of energy and without any aches or pains.  So although at my tennis match I was a loser, at running, I won!!! (I decided to use today’s run for the 13K of the Shake Your Shamrock Virtual Race since I was wearing “Green.”)

On another note – I want to congratulate my best friend’s sister, Ellen who ran the LA Marathon today in the pouring rain!! (1000s were evaluated for hypothemia!!!)

Happy Running!

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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!