Author: Darlene

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Monday’s Goals

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 14 miles. I did 9.5. (My running is slacking off but played tennis 3x)
I ran a 5k race. (did not PR but finished under 30 minutes.)

This week’s schedule:
Monday – dmv befor work, tennis team practice after work
Tuesday – tennis after work
Wed –   movie or mah jongg after work
Thurs –  tennis before work, mentors mtg after work
Fri -mah jong after work
Saturday/Sunday – boating on the lake

This week’s running :
Tues –  3.5  miles  before work
Wed – 3.5  miles  before work
Fri – 3 miles before work
Sat – 5K RACE!!

Weekly Running Goal = 13 miles
Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it!!)

Happy Running and enjoy your summer!!

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Fasig Tipton 5K Race Report

This is my 2nd time at this race.  Last year, this race was a PR for me. Here I am:

 However since then I’ve lowered my PR.(to 28:42) My last race was here in Saratoga and I didn’t PR so I decided not to get my hopes up.

I planned to meet Mary at this race.  She is training for a half marathon but still wants to finish a 5k under 30 minutes.

One good thing about this race is that the Fasig-Tipton Pavillion (where people come bid on and  buy horses) is open,  There’s an art exhibit and REAL bathrooms.

The weather was absolutely perfect – 60’s and sunny.  There were only about 300 racers because this race conflicts with 3 other races.

The  race starts at the same spot as the Silks and Satins but has a completely different course. I ran into Mary right away.  She wanted me to be her pacer so she could finish under 30 minutes.  Imagine, someone thinking I run fast!!!

I like to start at the starting line but Mary wanted to start in the back.  We compromised and moved to the middle.

I should mention that tennis has taken over my life and I haven’t run since Tuesday when I only ran 3 miles.  So I definitely was rested but was I in shape to run fast???

I took off fast and Mary said she would follow me.  I felt like I had so much energy.  The course does have a long uphill road during the 2nd mile and when you think it’s over, you turn the corner, and you have a steeper hill.  At that point, there’s a water stop.  I stopped but it was difficult to get going again.

Mary caught up to me at the end of the 2nd mile but I still felt strong and she was losing steam.

At the 3 mile mark is when I felt tired. .1 miles seemed endless.  I thought still that I had run a good race until I saw 29 minutes in the distance.  I sped up because there was no way I was going to finish in over 30 minutes!!!

My official time was 29:51.

A first: I ran a race slower than the previous year!!!!

Mary finished in 30:03!! This was her fastest race but she was disappointed that she didn’t finish in under 30 minutes.  I said that next time, we have to start at the front!!!

She was so thankful that I was her pacer.  She called me her HERO and hugged me!!!

It made me forget my disappointment in not PRing!!

Stats:
Time -29:51
Pace – 9:37/mi
Finish 193/266 (8/11 in 50-59 age group, 2/3 in 55-59 age group)

They gave out awards to the top 3 in 10 year age groups (not 5) – DARN!! (I forgot my camera but pics are posted here)

This year's finish

Another busy week is coming up and another 5K next Saturday!

Happy Running and have a nice weekend!

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Fotos for Friday

OK.  I have a 5K tomorrow and I haven ‘t been running….Hopefully muscle memory takes over and I can do it.   My friend Mary wants to finish under 30 minutes. The problem is that I want a PR so that’s under 28:42!!!!!!!!  I hope one of the two happens!!!!

Now that’s out in the open…I’m going to have fun tomorrow and focus on getting some running in next week and get ready for the Jailhouse Rock (where I won my age group for the FIRST TIME and a pair of sock!) on Aug 14.

Here are some photos from last weekend.  Every year they auction chairs off to raise money.  Before the auction, they display them around Bolton Landing and I run past them every weekend. This year, I stopped to take photos…and I have 9 not 5…

Happy Running and Good Luck to all those racing this weekend!!

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Three Things Thursday

  1. My morning run got rained out.  I was kinda glad.  I played tennis Tues. after work, Wed. before work and Wed after work, so with this heat and humidity, I was POOPED.
  2. I have another 5k race this Sat.  The Fasig-Tipton in Saratoga.  It’s the same starting point as my last race but a different course.  Last year, it was my PR race! My friend, Mary, was supposed to be in LA but she’s not and will be running with me 🙂 However, I have been playing tennis not running.  I’m debating whether I should run tomorrow or just be very rested???
  3. I’m still debating the 10k option.  I want to do it but tennis is very important now that we’re going on to Sectionals Aug 20-22. So if we lose, I’m going to try training for the Oct 23 10k.  And if we win, we go to Arizona Oct 15-17 and I’ll keeping doing 5ks til next year….

Happy Running!

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Photos of My Vacation Running Route

Almost every weekend, I go on our boat on Lake George.  I insist that we stay at Bolton Landing marina (rather than on one of the islands) so I can run!!! I usually do the same 3.5-4.5 mile route.  I leave BL marina, turn right and run down Lakeshore Dr to Veteran’s Memorial Park, turn around and head back, turn onto Sagamore Rd and cross the bridge and run around the Sagamore grounds, twice on the Nature Trail, down to the marina and then back across the bridge to Lakeshore Dr, past BL marina and down to Bixby Rd to the beach, turn around and run back stopping at the Conservancy before ending at BL marina.

This weekend I decided to bring my camera…

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I did this route on Sunday and Monday…can’t wait to go back!

Happy Running!

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End of Month Recap & Monday Goals

Recap of July:

July Goal = 55 miles –  I did 54 miles (close).
Yearly Goal = 300 miles.  I’ve done 344. (over)
a 5K race – no PR but under 30 min
My tennis team won both rounds of playoffs and then Regionals

August Goals:
55 miles
5 k race and a PR
a tennis win at Sectionals

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 16 miles. I did 12. (a lot of tennis)
I won my doubles match at Regionals – YAY!!

This week’s schedule:
Monday – boating on the lake
Tuesday – tennis after work
Wed –   tennis before & after work
Thurs –  haircut & party after work
Fri -mah jong after work
Saturday/Sunday – boating on the lake

This week’s running :
Mon  – 4 miles while docked at the marina
Tues –  3.5  miles  before work
Thursday – 3.5  miles  before work
Sat – 5K RACE!!

Weekly Running Goal = 14 miles
Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it!!)

Happy Running and enjoy your summer!!

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A Tennis Victory

WE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3-2 and we thought it would be easier! 

I played doubles and we won the first set easily.  But I was not comfortable and couldn’t find a rhythm. In the 2nd set, I was serving for the match 5-3.  I won ALL my service games…but not this one so then it was 5-4, then 5-5.  We led 6-5, then it was 6-6 and we played a tie-breaker and LOST!! PRESSURE!!!!!!! We had to play a 10 pt tie-breaker and luckily we won 10-6 Phew!!! Everyone was cheering at every winning point.  Little did we know, it was because the 2 teams were tied 2-2 and our match was the clincher.   If we had lost, our team would have lost.  I’m glad that I had no idea!!

I called all my friends and my husband who was waiting for me on a Lake George Island with friends. I then headed for Bolton Landing where my husband picked me up with our boat…

It seemed that he told everyone about my match and that I had won…he was happy because he knew that I would be in a terrible mood for the rest of the weekend if I had lost.

When we arrived on the Island, everyone cheered and then they toasted me with champagne!!!

What a great day…

Next my team plays in Sectionals in Syracuse (Aug 20-22)…and then maybe at Nationals in Tucson (who knows??)

 

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Tennis, Running Partnership Postponed & 5 Foto Friday

me & Georgette

 

Tomorrow, my tennis team is playing in the Regional Championships against a team from Cooperstown, NY. I’m playing with Georgette (whom I played with in Fla in April).  If our team wins, we go to States and play in Syracuse in August.  I’M NERVOUS!!!!! 

And now for Five Foto Friday, RunningLaur-style. I have 5 cats.  Here they are: 

Jerry

Spooky

Slater

Honey

Billy

As for running…I ran 3.5 miles Tuesday after work and 4 miles yesterday after work.  Tuesday it was very HUMID. Yesterday, the weather was perfect.  Neither run was.  As much as I try, I stop and walk when I get tired. I can’t get motivated to push myself if I am by myself.  I’m debating the 10k option but I’m going to wait til the last minute to sign up for the Great Pumpkin Challenge on Oct 23. It’s a 5k and a 10K. I’m to start training after Aug 22 (unless my tennis team loses tomorrow) & I’ll see if I am capable of running 6.2 miles! 

me & Mary

After my last race, Mary & I decided to be running partners.  We made plans to run today at the Crossings and then race on Aug. 7 together.  She wants to run a half in October.  Unfortunately, she had to go to LA for a funeral and won’t be back til Aug. 14 😦

Happy Running!

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To Run Faster or Longer…That is the Question

This is my 3rd summer running.  I’m still doing 5Ks!!!! I’m done 37 5k races  and 3 3.5 mile races. The farthest I’ve run  is 5 miles and that was with A LOT of walk breaks!!

Even those who just started are working toward 10ks and even 1/2 Marathons!!!

Should I run longer?

Pros:

  • It’s cool.
  • More prestige
  • finisher medals
  • others are doing it
  • I can use my giveaway prizes (Nathan handheld, GU…)
  • harder as you get older so do it now
  • it would be exciting
  • it would be a CHALLENGE

Cons:

  • there are more 5ks locally
  • I know I can run 5K
  • I can win an age group from time to time in 5k
  • I still want to improve my 5k pace
  • need to have a new training plan
  • need more time to train to run a longer distance
  • more chance of injury
  • don’t have a running partner to motivate me
  • need to carry stuff (water, energy gels, etc)
  • will I have stomach issues?
  • hard to schedule longer training runs (I work, I play tennis, I go boating on the weekend…)
  • 5k is nothing to be ashamed of…better than staying in bed

Any advice would be appreciated…

Happy Running!

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Monday…Monday…Goals for the Week

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 10 miles. I did 10. (slow running week)
I ran a 5K race!!!
I lost my USTA singles match but MY TEAM WON!!! We go on to play a team from Cooperstown in Regionals on Sat.

This week’s schedule:
Monday – tennis team practice after work (Tech support at Bar exam 7am-5:30 pm)
Tuesday – Tech support at Bar exam
Wed –   tennis after work
Thurs – tennis before work
Fri – DAY OFF
Saturday – USTA tennis Regionals
Sunday – boating on the lake

This week’s running :
 Tues  – 3.5 miles  after work
 Thursday – 3.5  miles  after work
Friday – 5 miles (end of the month)
Sunday – 4 miles while docked at the marina

Weekly Running Goal = 16 miles
Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it!!)

Happy Running and enjoy your summer!!