January 30, 2011 by Darlene

I’m 44 & it’s not my age

Guess what? My blog made Brokenhearted Runner’s list of top running blogs for the 2nd year in a row.! He has put together a comprehensive list of some of the best in the business and I’m honored to have been included.

#44 – My First 5K Blog: She writes, she listens to her readers and keeps me interested.

I may not have many followers but someone thinks my blog is worth a read.

Last year I was listed 2nd:

My First 5K Blog– A great blog from a woman who’s not afraid to share her running experiences.

Anyway, I recommend that you go check it out!!! You’ll see plenty of familiar names there and maybe even find some new ones to add to your Blogroll.

Happy Running! Happy Blogging!

January 29, 2011 by Darlene

Tagged Again

The Happy Runner has tagged me for the Stylish Blogger Award! Thanks so much!!

You should check out her blog. She is training for a Half Marathon (after just having a baby in Oct.)! On her blog, she is tracking her training and offering helpful tips for others who are also doing so.

There are 4 duties to perform to accept this award:

1. Make a post + Link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 5 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them they’ve won!

About ME: (Since this is my 2nd tagging, I’ll add 7 more tidbits to the original 7):

I am an avid Mets fan (even when they are losing). I listen to their games whenever I can.
I have been mentoring a teenage unwed mom for the past 2 1/2 years. Her 4 year old son Richard is a joy! I love Amanda like a daughter. (She is pregnant again and due Aug 20.)
I have NEVER eaten peanut butter. (That means I’ve never had a P & J sandwich. I don’t even eat Reese’s.)
I love to play tennis although I don’t play it as much since I started running almost 3 yrs ago. I used to play everyday now it’s only a once or twice a week. I may even enjoy running more!? But some of my best friends are ones that I met through playing tennis. (And I met my hubby playing tennis.)
I spent my junior year of college in Nice, France and taught French for many many years (until I discovered the world of technology – now I’m a geek). I still love anything French and would move to Paris in a heart beat.
I am addicted to Mah Jongg. I have played it for over 2 years on Friday evenings. It’s a game my mother used to play & no one wants to be like their mother but it’s a lot of fun and it keeps your mind young (I hope).
I have seen Les Miserables (the show) at least 12 times and would see it again if it came to town. I have also read the book & seen the movies but it’s the music that I love!
I am a certified “cat lady.” I have 5 cats: Jerry, Slater, Spooky, Billy, Honey. Honey is the only female. Jerry is my fav but my hubby adores Slater.
I am obsessed with photos. I take my camera almost everywhere I go. I post them all in Kodak Photo Gallery and a selected number on Facebook.
I love desserts. I would skip dinner and just have dessert. Once I even went to the Mariott’s (in NYC) all you can eat dessert buffet instead of having dinner. Apple pie and creme brulee are among my favorites.
I hardly ever watch TV…I am never am home. I detest reality shows, too. I do Tivo Grey’s Anatomy and Brothers & Sisters (but struggle to find the time to watch.) However, my hubby would do nothing else but watch TV if he could.
I hate the cold…why do I live in the NE, you may wonder. Sunshine and heat make me happy – (I’ve been known to go lie on a tanning bed). No vitamin D shortage here!
I love having everything in my house clean and in the right place BUT I hate to clean (& I have a messy hubby & 5 cats). What’s a girl to do? I have a cleaning lady! When my stepsons were living at home, she came 2x a month but now I feel guilty & I have her come once a month. (The crazy thing is that I clean up for the cleaning lady because I don’t want her to think we’re messy.)
I love to read before going to bed. In fact, I have to to relax. I read People magazine weekly, Runner’s Word monthly and am always in the middle of a good novel. Just finished Little Bee (highly recommend it).

If you are reading this, consider yourself tagged.

Happy Running!

January 13, 2011 by Darlene

I’m “Stylish”

The blogger know as Thirteen Point One Miles has awarded me the Stylish Blogger Award! Thanks so much!! I love getting awards almost as much as winning giveaways!

You should check out her blog. Stacie is training for a Half Marathon like me!! Her blog is so much fun to read!

There are 4 duties to perform to accept this award:

1. Make a post + Link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 5 recently discovered great bloggers (or 15 or as many as you’d like)
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them they’ve won!

About ME: (If you are a long time follower of my blog, you may already know these things about me.)

I am an avid Mets fan (even when they are losing). I listen to their games whenever I can.
I have been mentoring a teenage unwed mom for the past 2 1/2 years. Her 4 year old son Richard is a joy! I love Amanda like a daughter. (She is pregnant again 😦 and due Aug 20.)
I have NEVER eaten peanut butter. (That means I’ve never had a P & J sandwich. I don’t even eat Reese’s.)
I love to play tennis although I don’t play it as much since I started running almost 3 yrs ago. I used to play everyday now it’s only a once or twice a week. I may even enjoy running more!? But some of my best friends are ones that I met through playing tennis.
I spent my junior year of college in Nice, France and taught French for many many years (until I discovered the world of technology – now I’m a geek). I still love anything French and would move to Paris in a heart beat.
I am addicted to Mah Jongg. I have played it for over 2 years on Friday evenings. It’s a game my mother used to play & no one wants to be like their mother but it’s a lot of fun and it keeps your mind young (I hope).
I have seen Les Miserables (the show) at least 12 times and would see it again if it came to town. I have also read the book & seen the movies but it’s the music that I love!

I read a lot of running blogs. Here are the ones I’ve chosen:

They are all inspirational and have something in common…Guess what!

Happy Running!

November 11, 2010 by Darlene

Valatie Veterans 5K Race Report

I’ve been going through withdrawal – no 5k races in over a month. I’ve been doing longer runs on the weekend in preparation for the 10k that didn’t happen. But this race fit right in because it was on a Thursday when I usually run 3 miles anyway. The problem was that I work and we don’t have Veteran’s Day off like most offices.

So I asked for the morning off and contacted my runner friend Mary and asked her to run with me (& taper for her half/recover from her 15k). She was skeptical about the idea but finally agreed.

Another new race and a new course:

The Course: Run will begin at Glynn Square and proceed up Church St. and north onto Route 203. A right onto Garrigan Rd. and a right on County Route 28A brings the runners onto Main St. with a final right up Church St. (the only hill on the course) to the finish line.

I had decided not to have a goal for new races but just go out and enjoy the experience (even if the race ends going up a hill!)

This race also counts for
Average Adventure Virtual Race Logo

I hadn’t run since Saturday. I can’t remember the last time I had 4 days off. But my quads hurt so much, I thought it was best to rest them.

They felt so better this morning but not 100% and I decided I would run cautiously.

Unfortunately, my friend Mary pulled a calf muscle running on the treadmill and is out for 2 weeks. Her friend Kelly would be there, though.

The weather was beautiful!!!! Sunny and cool (37 degrees when I left). I wasn’t sure what to wear but decided that the sun would keep me warm and wore a running skirt and a long sleeve cool max shirt.

Although my GPS got me to the right street in the wrong town, I managed to still arrive early. I immediately bumped into Kelly and we took a photo before the race.

This was a small race – probably about 100 racers.

Getting ready to start the race

And we're off...

I was cold at first but other than my hands (which I tucked into my sleeves), my rest of me was fine after the race started.

I said that I would run the race cautiously and not try for a PR – That’s a lie! Though Kelly immediately left me in the dust as well as did other runners, at mile 1, they called out: 8:35! That’s fast for a 10 minute mile girl! I tried to slow down but there were no water stops or any other timing available so I just ran.

The course was supposed to be flat but it always seemed that we were running up hill (not steep ones) until the last mile. The last mile we had 3 real hills and then the steepest one was the END.

I yelled: “What race ends with a hill?” They replied: “This one!”

I was struggling but refused to walk and figured that my time would be slow. I was shocked when I saw that it was under 29 minutes. I am sometimes under 30 minutes but only once before under 29 minutes!!!

I don’t know my official time but it seemed to be around 28:53 or so. Not a PR but close and it could have been. (At my 1 mile pace, I would have finished at 26:40)

(The official time is 28:59)

I was supposed to be working today. Only a real runner, takes time off from work for a race!

Since my time was decent, I hung around. There were Veteran’s Day ceremonies followed by the awards and raffle prizes.

waiting for the results

I WON FIRST PRIZE IN MY AGE GROUP!!! I got a ribbon – not a medal but it still made me feel good.

I love races!

Happy Running and Happy Veterans Day!

August 31, 2010 by Darlene

August Recap

Recap of August:

August Goal = 55 miles – I did 45.5 miles – My lowest total since the winter – it was not a running month but a tennis month!
Yearly Goal = 300 miles. I’ve done 389.5. (over)
a 5K race – I ran two 5K races, no PR but both under 30 min, 2nd place in my age group, won a RoadID
My tennis team came in last place at Sectionals ( I lost 3x.) 😦 but had fun ;).

September Goals:
55 miles
5 k race and a PR

Happy Running!

August 16, 2010 by Darlene

I’m a Runner (of the Week)

Thanks Courtney for the feature – http://www.runcourtrun.com/2010/08/runner-of-week_16.html

July 1, 2010 by Darlene

June is Over!!

2010 totals so far

June Update:

55 miles (highest monthly total so far)
3 5k races (Freihofer’s, OK, Valley Cats)
2 new races (OK, Valley Cats)
3 giveaway wins (Nathan water bottle, bag, Ryders sunglasses)
5k PR (OK – 28:42)
2nd place in age group award (Valley Cats)

June (-3.5 for May)

Happy Running and Welcome July!

June 26, 2010 by Darlene

Valley Cats Home Run 5K

Take me out to the ball park! Take me out to the crowd … This race began and ended at the home of the ValleyCats, a local baseball team that plays at Joe Bruno Stadium in Troy, NY, on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College.

: Joe Bruno Stadium

I’ve never done this race before but I had heard that it was hilly, but fun. Amanda was doing it too. We agreed to meet before the race.

Again I had a sleepless headachey night and woke up nauseous and exhausted. I felt better after coffee and headed off early to the race. Amanda wasn’t there when I arrived. I found some new friends & we took each other’s pictures.

: new running friends – Kelly & Mary

me before the race

I found Amanda right before the start. The race began with a steep hill. I was tired after that. Amanda had a great pace and I soon lost her. The course continued to be one hill after another. I finally relented around mile 2 and walked a bit.

My mile 1 time was 9:30 so I knew I was not on a PR pace on this course. I felt better after my walking stint. The race ended by running around the inside of the ball park. The finish was shown on the marquee screen in the outfield if anyone was watching.

I was surprised that I could finish under 30 minutes so I sprinted as fast as I could. I did it – not a PR but under 30 minutes!! 29:40!

I went back to my car to get my camera & bumped into my 2 new friends and an ICE CREAM truck – They gave out free ice cream and 4 tickets toThursday’s Valley Cats game.