April 28, 2012 by Darlene

Change or No Change

I thought things had changed a lot since last April and then I went to the hairdresser.

Change:

Last April, I was getting excited to run my second half marathon (13.1 miles).
This April, I am excited to run 2 minutes on a treadmill and I look forward to biking on the weekends.

April 2011

April 2012

Last April, my hair was long (and then I cut it.)
This April, I have continued to keep it shorter.

April 2011

April 2012

No Change:

I got my hair cut before going on my annual Florida vacation.
I am wearing the SAME OUTFIT. (What are the odds of that??)

Happy Running! What has changed with you since last year?

April 23, 2012 by Darlene

The Path Not Taken…

The good thing about new bike paths is that when I can run I will have new running routes.

On Saturday, rain was forecasted but it held out until the afternoon. It was warm (70s) and I decided to ride on the Corning Trail. The fishermen were on the Hudson in abundance.

Well on Sunday it was 30 degrees colder but it wasn’t raining so I went for another bike ride.

This time I decided to park at the Colonie Town Park and take part of the Mohawk Trail that I had never done before. I headed toward Cohoes (an industrial city on the Hudson.)

looking back toward the park

It wasn’t very scenic. No view of the River. You go under several over passes. You see the city of Cohoes eventually on both sides of the path.

It is slightly downhill the whole way.

again looking upward toward Colonie

Yes, that means that it was uphill on the way back. Gotta build those quads & calf muscles back!!! (Maybe it will help my running….)

I think it was 4 miles down & 4 miles back.

When I got back to the parking lot, I figured that I might as well bike in the other direction since it hadn’t started raining yet.

I headed toward Niskayuna where I have ridden before. I only went a mile and then turned back. The sky was getting darker.

(With nicer weather & when my legs are in better shape, I’d like to ride from Niskayuna to Cohoes and back.)

Look what I passed on my way home:

rumored to have the best soft ice cream in the area

10 miles of biking deserves some ice cream, right?

But, I chose frozen yogurt – mint choco patty with sugar-free choco syrup…YUM!

I see a long run route in my future… and if I do it, then I will try the soft ice cream 🙂

Happy Running!

April 15, 2012 by Darlene

The Weekend of Almosts

I almost lost my wallet…I almost bought a new bike…I almost couldn’t file my taxes…I almost volunteered at a race…I almost got to see my mentee and her sons.

Saturday was a gorgeous day. My hubby & I decided to go for a bike ride on the Nisky Bike Path.

getting to ready ride

Almost immediately I spotted some running friends who had just finished running 20 miles – their last training run for their May 6 Marathon. We hugged and wished each other well – me to recover & them to complete their FIRST marathon.

Here they are before the Albany Last Run 5k

Then my hubby bumped into someone he plays tennis with and we rode the first half of our ride with someone who boats on Lake George like us — small world!

my hubby riding & chatting with our "new" boating friend

When we were done, we stopped off to get some lunch.

yum!

In my haste or absentmindedness, I left my wallet on the table. I realized it halfway home. We went back & someone had turned it in and everything was still in it – PHEW!!!

One problem I have with biking is that my butt hurts!! So I decided that I wanted to buy a new bike seat. We stopped off at a bike shop and I bought a cruiser seat (I saw some cool cruisers there which were tempting.) Then we heard that another shop was having a tent sale on bikes. I fell in love with a purple cruiser.

kinda looks like this but prettier

It was $349 – on sale for $319 & they said I could have it for $300…pretty tempting but I decided that biking is temporary until I can run.

My hubby was drooling over this in the parking lot:

an Italian-made motorcycle - Ducati...good thing it wasn't for sale

Finally on this April 14, it was time to file our income taxes. I’m not a procrastinator but since we have to pay a lot why give the IRS my money early.

I was done and hit e-file, and an error popped up about a missing payer id – Great, the banks arer closed Sunday & I have to work Monday & Tuesday.

It turns out that my stepson has an account in the same bank & had the payer ID so I was able to file today!! Yay!

Two years ago I volunteered at a 15K race & really enjoyed it. Last year, I got selfish. I ran all the races that I was able t and didn’t volunteer at all.

I also ran THIS race for the first time last year. I loved it…it was nearby and flat and my first and only 5 mile race.

April 10, 2011

Truthfully, if I weren’t injured, I wouldn’t be volunteering. I would be racing.

I had planned on helping with packet pickup at 7am. But that greasy cheese burger & fries that went down so good, kept me up all night so volunteering this morning didn’t happen.

By 11 am, I felt better and I had planned on going to the park with Amanda & her sons. My cell phone rang and Amanda said that she & her sons were sick 😦

park play re-scheduled for next weekend

My hubby was out playing tennis so plan B – test out my new bike seat and go for a ride. I decided to go to the Corning Bike trail.

headed south this time - toward the city & the port

tulips close up

It was a cloudy warm day but there were plenty of bikers and boats on the Hudson – mostly fishing.

this view is looking north

This time, I took the path as far north as you could go. It ends and then you have go into town and eventually can pick up the other bike trail. (I think)

my bike is resting - like my new seat?

I finished my ride before the rain and headed to Target!

Happy Running! Anyone have a cruiser? Should I get one?

April 10, 2012 by Darlene

Tuesday Update and the Ladder

The weekend was filled with LOTS OF EATING!!! Passover Seders and Easter dinner at my MIL.

Italian pastries, my downfall (obviously not observing the Passover no flour rule)

In the past, I could justify the extra food (and desserts) by my running mileage!

Not this year….

I did walk on the treadmill and I did go for a bike ride (solo on the Corning trail). Here are some of the things I witnessed on my ride:

green grass & a runner

Hudson River & a fisherman

a goose crossing the road

The calories burned are not the same.

Oh well…I’m not stressing. I think I have gained some weight but not a lot (cuz I can still fit into my clothes.)

This is week 8 of PT.

Usually at the end of my PT sessions, a local HS track team uses the facilities. The kids do these ladder drills that make me drool. I always joke about wanting to be able to do them.

So yesterday PT guy J took out the ladder. I said “Are you serious? I’m not ready to do that!”

Well, he had me do a variety of drills and it was hard at first but little by little I was able to get faster and pick my feet up higher.

That was follwed by the ellipical (with resistance for the first time) and then the treadmill.

It’s not running but it sure felt good.

Happy Running! Are you working off Easter eating?

April 6, 2012 by Darlene

Happy Passover & Happy Easter!!

I was raised Jewish. My husband is Catholic.

Although I am not very religious, I love to celebrate Chanukah and Passover. My Mah Jongg group who are for the most part Jewish with Catholic husbands host an annual seder. Everyone brings a dish as part of the meal. (I always bring charoset & wine.) It is a lot of fun.

MJ Seder 2010

Prior to playing Maj Jongg, I used to go to PA to celebrate with my BFF from high school & her family.

Passover 2008

Coincidentally, both holidays this year occur on the same weekend…lot’s of eating predicted!!

My hubby & I may go out to dinner on Easter & then to my mother-in-law’s for dessert.

I hope to squeeze some biking during the weekend.

Happy Running! Happy Holidays!

April 4, 2012 by Darlene

Goals

March Goals:

Continue PT. CHECK! 2x/wk
Do exercises on my own, as well. CHECK! 2x/day
Start using exercise bike at work. CHECK! 1x/day
Walk with less of a limp. CHECK!
Lose that darn BOOT! CHECK! (didn’t really lose it, just don’t wear it!)
Burn those crutches! CHECK! (didn’t really burn them, just don’t need them!)

I am used to setting running goals – run faster, run longer, run more often…

So I set goals for March and never even looked at them. I was just depressed about not running. But the good news is that I met ALL my March goals!

That means that I should set goals for April (and even look at them after I post them.)

April Goals:

Continue PT 1-2x per week.
Do exercises on my own, as well 1-2x per day.
Use exercise bike and/or treadmill at work everyday
Go biking outdoors 1-2x per week.
Lose that limp.
Run (on the treadmill) at least a few steps.
of running again

Happy Running! Do you set goals?

April 3, 2012 by Darlene

Status Quo and a New Month

Wow — it’s April already? Where did March go?

So here’s my March update:

no running hence no races.
no tennis so no tennis matches.
PT 2x a week so there a bi-weekly treadmill walks & elliptical use 2x a week.
stationary biking everyday and even some real biking.

This is fun but it is depressing seeing
ALL the runners on the trail…

limping less I think but still limited ROM and pain & swelling nightly.

Yes, PT guy R confirmed my plateauing.

February was filled with big gains – weight-bearing, then bootless & crutchless events.

March is status quo.

I am hoping April brings improvement because something is wrong with my life and:

My next ortho appt is April 23 and after that, PT guy J says I may be able to start running on the treadmill.

My New Compression Socks are anxiously waiting…

Happy Running!

March 26, 2012 by Darlene

Winter’s Back?

We got very spoiled here with the 80 degree weather. This is actually normal March weather. Too windy and cold today for anything.

Weekend update:

Friday after work, my hubby and I went biking on the Corning Trail in Albany. (It was still fairly warm.)

college students practicing crew.

my hubby clowning around.

Saturday we went to the bike trail on the Mohawk (temps had dropped considerably.)

cloudy & cool

reading a sign after his pedal fell off...

Afterwards we went to a bike store and we found a used pedal for $4 that fit. Whew!

Sunday, the forecast was for rain but it was actually sunny. Unfortunately, I had some indoor stuff planned but the highlight of the weekend was seeing HUNGER GAMES last night!!

I was pleasantly surprised. I don’t usually like a movie made from a book but this one was good. I enjoyed it a lot! I took my hubby. Big mistake! He hadn’t read the book (and the movie left out a lot of important details). He thought that it was stupid! I ignored him. All my friends (who had read the book) loved it!! Next time, I’ll go with them.

Tonight, I go to PT. I am impatiently waiting for marked improvement in my ankle’s range of motion and the ability to walk pain-free. (And eventually run….)

Happy Running! Did you see Hunger Games yet?

March 23, 2012 by Darlene

Friday Ramblings

12 week report – still painful walking but PT guy thinks I’m progressing and he keeps upping my training – Wed I did 30 min on the treadmill at 3 mph 12% incline and 10 min on the elliptical (I thought I was going to die!)
I do 45 minutes on the exercise bike at work everyday during lunch (This way I get exercise & catch up on my iPad TV viewing.)
The weather has been incredible and unfortunately it looks like today is the last day before it returns to normal March weather. After work today, I plan on going on my 3rd real bike ride. (I bought a gel seat coverfor my aching butt.)
same trail as Tues.

Yesterday I went for my 5 week hair appt – there’s always someone that comments on my injury & has a horror story – like “my mother didn’t get the hardware taken out right away & she has crippling arthritis” – I hate that!
I’ve been doing my grocery shopping at Target lately (they don’t everything but their sale prices are great and I find things that I can’t anywhere else). My latest fav is:

I tried the pumpkin spice so far and it is delish and cheaper than Starbucks.

I just tried FaceTime for the first time (Skype for macs/ iphone/iPad users). I used it with my friend who just moved to Florida. It was great (almost like being together in the flesh.)
I am looking forward to going to the movies hopefully this weekend:
Katniss in Hunger Games

Happy Running! Are you a Hunger Games fan?

March 20, 2012 by Darlene

Two on Tuesday

I started the day by buying not ONE but TWO pairs of compressions socks. The were 50% off with free shipping at Swaggle.

already have black & white ones, love PINK!

couldn't resist these cool ones

Sounds strange since I am not running but I was told to wear support socks on the left foot to keep the swelling down. And I will be running someday and I am sure I will need (want) these.

I also went on TWO Bike rides. First 40 minutes during lunch on the stationary bike at work and then after work, my hubby (who bought a bike rack yesterday) & I went for a ride on the Corning trail. (Had to do something outside – it was almost 80 degrees!!!!!)