February 28, 2020 by Darlene

Runfessions for February

It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

1. I runfess…

I still ran ALL month even though my foot pain was no better…

but it was no worse.

2. I runfess…

I ran another Half Marathon without completing ALL my long runs.

4 mile race instead of 12 LSD

3.I runfess…

Even though I was dealing with constant foot pain, I still registered for THREE more Half Marathons..

May – Steel Rail
September – Saratoga Palio
October – Smuttynose

Image result for smuttynose half marathon

Girls WEEKEND!! YEAH!

That’s now SEVEN for the year….

4. I runfess…

When I heard that ZOOMA Bermuda Half Marathon would run out of medals for the slower runners, I wanted to finish faster than I had originally planned.

luckily they did NOT run out of medals because I did not have a good finish time

5.I runfess…

I almost registered for the 2020 NYC Marathon…

Yeah, I said that I was ONE and DONE!

But it is the 50th anniversary of the race….

I DID NOT register (even though I qualified with a timed-entry) because the site went down and I was working at the time…PHEW! Relieved.

The race was cancelled after Hurricane Sandy so technically 2021 is the 50th running of the race.

So maybe next year… (If I can conquer that foot pain and get back to running at a decent pace…)

It’s Friday so I’m linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

Happy Running! Anything to runfess this month? Please share.

February 21, 2020 by Darlene

Reasons Not to Choose a Race

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

I have already run 41 half marathons. Many I have loved and would love to run again and then again, there were those that I wished I hadn’t.

I already posted about reasons to choose a race so my topic today is: Reasons Not to Choose A Half Marathon

1.A Poorly Marked or Inaccurate Course

No one likes a course that is short and long and even worse, one that you get lost on.

glad I was not running the full…many went the wrong way and ran a shortened course

2.A Boring or Ugly Course

Running in traffic or running loops and worse, just a route with nothing scenic to look at.

started & ended at a brewery…run in parking lots and along a busy highway

3.The Swag

An ugly medal or NO medal… or a uni-sex shirt (that doesn’t fit) or even a COTTON shirt.

half medal the size of a quarter and a cotton race shirt

4.The Logistics.

Poorly marked location, unorganized start/finish, not enough parking or not enough portapotties…

all of the above for this RNR race..

5.Food/Drink

Not enough water stops or water stops that run out of water. Unappetizing Post-race refreshments or lack of.

another dud of a RNR race

Other Reasons:

Cost – Too expensive

racing in Vegas is fun but not cheap!!

Deferral policies – none or too expensive
Crowd Support – none or very little
Size – too big or too small

25k of my new friends

Knowing No One – not fun to run a race all alone

running solo in Fla.

Happy Running! Any other reasons to offer on why you would avoid picking a race? Which of the above, have you chosen? Please share.

February 14, 2020 by Darlene

Four or Five Somethings for January-February

Thanks to Laurie from Meditations in Motion, I discovered a link up started by blogger Heather Gerwing. The fourth Saturday of each month, Heather invites other bloggers to share their “Four Somethings”: Something Loved, Something Said, Something Learned, Something Read. If you are a blogger, you may post your Four Somethings too!

Oops I’m late on January and early on February…

1. Something Loved.

Visiting NYC.

This may be repetitive but there will come a time when I don’t get to go here as often. So I feel fortunate that in January I went twice…

Once for work:

And once for a race:

: and Deborah

I always make sure that I take advantage of the opportunity…whether it be a meet-up with friends, trying a new restaurant, seeing a show or just going for a walk or run.

What is your favorite city to visit?

2. Something Said.

I read this on the Gaboronerrunner’s IG post and it seemed so appropriate as it was said by Kobe Bryant:

I have self doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure… We all have self doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate it. You embrace it.

This so applies to running… especially when tackling running challenges.

I think I feel this way at EVERY race starting line….

Do you?

3. Something Learned.

I have always said “Pain is temporary.”

But during my recent foot discomfort, I learned that maybe pain is not temporary…maybe it will persist. For days, weeks, months….

If running is important in your life, then you run with pain.

we both had foot pain during this tough half marathon

(Of course, not if the pain is something that will be made worse if you continue to run with it.)

Do you still run when you have pain?

4. Something Read.

I recently finished reading this book. In fact, I couldn’t put it down. I read the whole thing on the bus ride to and from NYC.

The story follows two timelines that slowly intertwine. The first timeline describes the life and adventures of a young girl named Kya as she grows up isolated in the marsh of North Carolina from 1952–1969. The second timeline follows a murder investigation of Chase Andrews, a local celebrity of Barkley Cove, a fictional coastal town of North Carolina.

I loved this book. It’s a story of survival, abuse, loneliness, love, prejudice, murder.

And yes, many have said that it didn’t seem realistic but if you can get beyond that, you will enjoy it.

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think?

4. Something New.

Chair Yoga. Who knew that this would add a smile to my boring day at work.

So relaxing. No equipment needed nor any clothes to change into.

Anyone else try chair yoga? If so, did you like it?

It’s Friday so I’m linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

Happy Running! What are your FOUR or Five somethings? Share at least ONE.

Girls Valentine’s Day for me this year!!

Since it is VALENTINE’S DAY, what or whom are you LOVING today?

February 7, 2020 by Darlene

How Do You Pick Your Half Marathons?

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

I have already run 40 half marathons (and 41st next Sunday)!! Crazy, huh?

So my topic today is: How Do You Pick Your Half Marathon?

1.For the BQ or PR Opportunity

Not that any 13.1 miles is easy but you deliberate;y pick a flat course or a downhill course.

Nothing wrong with wanting a good finish time (if that what matters and it does to many runners.)

2.For the Challenge.

This may be the reverse of #1 but you pick a race because of the elevations, the hills or you choose a trail or an Ultra race because you’ve never done one before.

3.Because Your Friends Are Running It.

Racing is always more fun when you do it with friends. There is also FOMO. So you sign up for a race only because others are running the same one.

4.Because Of Its Location.

You run a race only because of its location. 50 Staters, this is you. (Seems nuts to me but many runners do want to run in all 50 states!?)

Or you choose a race because you live nearby, you are vacationing there already or you are there for work or a conference.

5.For Its Scenic Views.

The difficulty of course does not matter at all. You run this race because of the mountain views or because you will be running along the ocean or over a famous bridge.

Other Reasons:

Cost – Everyone loves a bargain.
Bling – Who doesn’t love a cool medal?

Swag – Hoodie instead of a shirt…yes!

Food – Ice cream post-race…I’m there!

I’ve mostly picked my 40 half marathons because of reasons #3 (I rarely race alone) and #4 (most of them are local or where I know someone living nearby.)

Happy Running! How do you pick your big races? Please share.

January 31, 2020 by Darlene

Runfessions for January

It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

1. I runfess…

I diagnosed my own foot problem. Doesn’t Google know everything?

I was too impatient to wait for my doctor to come up with something.

Have you Googled your injury instead seeking a professional’s opinion?

2. I runfess…

I did go to a Doctor but I did not follow his advice. Again too impatient. I abstained from running for 3 weeks and I wasn’t getting better so I ran.

And my foot still hurt but it did not feel worse.

Have you ignored a doctor’s advice regarding resting an injury?

3.I runfess…

Once I started running, my foot felt slightly better (at least it did in my mind). So I continued running… cautiously with lots of rest days.

Has running ever made an injury feel less painful?

4. I runfess…

So my foot felt a little better while running that 6 miler so I ran a New Year’s Day race. Not sure if it was because I ran faster or the course was hillier but my foot hurt more!!!

smiling kinda but because it was over.

Anyone else impatient when injured?

5.I runfess…

Once I re-started my weekend long runs, I decided to run the Fred LeBow Half Marathon in NYC … even though I skipped the 7, 9, 11 and 12 milers. Yikes.

ignore that smile…HILLS + sore foot = 😦 BUT no DOMS + foot no worse = 🙂

Even run a half marathon under-trained or with only 1 double digit run?

It’s Friday so I’m linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

Happy Running! Anything to runfess this month? Please share.

January 24, 2020 by Darlene

2020 – What’s My Word?

Will You Take the One Word Challenge This Year?

Well, it’s that time of year. (Well, maybe a little late. Better late than never.)

Time to pick ONE WORD to focus on for the entire year. (If you’ve never heard about the My One Word approach, here is a summary:

Lose the long the list of changes you want to make this year and instead pick one word. This process forces clarity by taking all of your big plans for life change and narrowing them down into a single thing. Your one word focuses on your character and creates a vision for your future.)

I started this in 2014 and have continued the tradition every year after:

Word Relax handwritten on sandy beach - Royalty-free Handwriting Stock Photo

2018:

And 2019:

refocus

So in 2019, this is how I said I would RE-FOCUS:

This is the first thing that I will change. It applies to running as well as life. Less STRESS in 2019. In other words, some runs won’t happen, some races will suck, PRs may be elusive. My job is just a job. It is what it is.
So this one has to do with priorities. Trying to do it all means not doing some things well. The hard part will be deciding what is important. In the past year, I was trying to keep up with tennis, maintain decent speed on short races and complete a few half marathons. In the mix was traveling as part of my job, vacations, family events and seeing my friends, etc. There were days that I was just going through the motions. In 2019, I may just have to let some things go and concentrate on those things that matter most.
I admit that this past year, I may have been in a running rut. I got complacent with my training because I was still successful …enough. I feel like I need a change. I want to do something different and something that involves effort. Once I decide, there will be no excuses. It may be joining a gym or signing up for yoga classes or trying spinning or even playing on a tennis team. I may even start to quilt again. I could even start a new job.

So how did I do?

I’ve ACCEPTED my job for what it is and instead, focused on its benefits. I felt less stressed about race finish times and PRs and enjoyed my runs and races more than in the past. CHECK – change
I made the decision NOT to play tennis. I instead concentrated on family, friendships and racing. CHECK – priorities
I ran my first MARATHON!! CHECK – effort

Re-Focusing in 2019 was a success in my opinion!

And now on to 2020…

What is my word? Should I pick one this year?

1.My first thought was skip the whole “word” thing. I tend to forget about it until it’s time to pick another word.

2. On the other hand, it’s a good way to look back on the past year and also look ahead to the coming year.

3. What word should I pick?

many ideas for this year and future years…

4. So my word for this year is:

Image result for patience

So what does it mean?

the will or ability to wait or endure without complaint
steadiness, endurance, or perseverance in the performance of a task

5. So how will PATIENCE fit into my running in 2020?

On the whole, I am not a patient person. In fact, I am pretty impulsive. So this will be a BIG challenge.

If I cannot run, find another activity rather than whining about not running.

Related image

When I was healthy, I signed up for a lot of races..and then things changed. So I need to hold off on clicking that “Register” button from time to time so I can properly train for a race rather than just “do” it.

AND PATIENCE

PRs may happen. PRs may not happen but you often can’t predict when they will happen.

Image result for patience"

I have to start out races slower so I can negatively split a few. I must remember that it should feel easy at the start of a race and that I need to keep my energy under control so I don’t fade in the latter parts of a race.

Image result for patience"

Here are some links related to running and patience:

So how am I am doing so far with relation to PATIENCE:

Several times a week, I am using the stationary bike at the gym in order to avoid running too many weekly miles (until my foot is pain-free.)
Although I could have qualified or registered for the Brooklyn Half Marathon in May, I decided to wait and sign up for a local May half (if I am healthy).
I did run the Fred Lebow Half Marathon but very cautiously with zero expectations of a good finish time.

It’s Friday so I’m linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

Happy Running! If you were to choose ONE word for your focus throughout this year, what word would you choose? Are you PATIENT when it comes to running?

January 17, 2020 by Darlene

What I Learned From My First Marathon

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

Enough time has passed since Nov 3, 2019 that I can be objective about my first marathon experience.

I had no idea what to expect ….

Here’s what I learned:

1.The Marathon is More than a Race.

There are training runs…lots of them and hopefully supported by your friends.

There’s the expo and pre-race activities.

Of course, there’s the race itself which is obvious. 26.2 miles…

Finally, there’s also the post race experience.

I am happy that I chose to go big…

NYC rocked all aspects of the race!!

The finish line was not the only important thing that happened that weekend. Who knew?

2.Preparation and Recovery are Different for Each Runner.

I chose the Hal Higdon plan but quickly realized that I could not do the longish mid-week runs due to long work days and lots of work travel. (I traveled for 8 weeks during peak marathon training.)

So I stuck to my normal short runs 3 times a week and then added a long run on the weekend. However, I did worry that I was not as prepared as I should have been. And I had not run as many miles as other marathoners.

After the race, many runners cautioned me about recovery. One even said that she took off a month after her first marathon.

But I felt great. I ran a 15k race a week later.

Just like pace, preparation and recovery are individual things.

3.Your Mind Really Does Control Your Legs.

During the second 13 miles of the race, I was convinced that I was injured…my lower back, my left quad, my right ankle. They all ached.

As a result, I just could not move my legs fast. I was not tired. I wanted to get to the finish line. But my mind said “Slow Down! Don’t risk your future races.”

But I was not injured. I felt perfectly fine the next day…as if I had not run 26.2 miles.

I do not regret my finish time at all.

enjoying the early miles with a friend

I only regret that my mind did not let me enjoy the second half of the race.

4.The Pain is Worth It.

Yes, it hurt. It hurt more than I thought it would.

the painful slog near the end in Central Park

The pain quickly faded from my mind. I mostly remember the crowds, the excitement, the energy, the music, the sights, etc.

If it weren’t for my darn foot, I may have considered running this marathon again.

5.I am One and Done.

For an millisecond, I thought about registering for NYCM 2020.

It’s not that I think my foot pain was caused by all the miles.

It’s that I feel so grateful that in 2019, I was able to run 6 half marathons, three 15k races and a FULL Marathon…without any foot pain.

What if this pain occurred during my marathon training and even worse, during the race??

Don’t want to take the chance!

Heading to the finish line and doing the happy dance

I’m linking also up with Coaches Corner–Debbie and Marc.

Happy Running! If you ran a big race, what did you learn that was unexpected? Please share.

January 10, 2020 by Darlene

Looking Ahead

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

My Topic this week is: Looking Ahead to 2020

I’m not into goals but last January, I posted about my plans for 2019 and last week, I reflected on them.

I didn’t do so well but that did not discourage me from setting in motion some plans for the coming year.

(Warning: I wrote this post before my sore foot woes and I decided not to delete it cuz you never know…)

1. Run 1000 miles.

It’s a number that I strive to meet each year. I may or may not reach it but I should come close if I have been running consistently all year and I have not gotten injured.

See the source image

2. Add another physical activity to my life besides running.

I’d prefer it to be tennis but that will probably not happen until I retire or get a different job.

So I’d like to take a yoga class now and then, go for lunchtime walks or even hit the gym.

this instructor is my favorite – she has monthly 2 hour sessions on different parts of the body – geared toward runners

3. Participate often in local running group runs.

This was an unexpected activity from last year. I ran in many of the ARE summer trail runs. I started late because I hesitated on joining this group. I plan go to ALL of them this year even if my friends are not going.

Huyck Preserve

I also started attending some other group runs such as SOAR and Ice Cream Runs. If they are scheduled again, I plan to participate.

4. Set a PR or Course PR at any distance.

Realistically I think PRs may be out of reach as I age or my foot continues to be a problem.. But since I often run the same races, possibly I can improve at one race.

maybe at Race to the Lakes 15k?

And first time races or distances do not count lol.

5. And finally…. Run a ~~Half Marathon~~ 15K or Half Marathon Every Month.

Yes, you heard that right. Twelve Distance races in Twelve Months.

(Ok maybe I jinxed myself when I came up with the Half Marathon goal in November – right afterward, my foot started to hurt… so I edited the goal to include 15ks as well)

So it may not happen but it will be fun trying (virtual ones count.)

January – Fred LeBow Half Marathion in NYC or Winter Series #4 15k
February – ZOOMA Bermuda Half Marathon
March – NYC Half Marathon
April – Helderberg 2 Hudson Half Marathon
May – Sacandaga or Steel Rail Half Marathon
June – Race to the Lakes 15k
July – Boilermaker 15k?
August – a virtual 15k
September – Adirondack or Palio Half Marathon
October – Finger Lakes or Smuttynose Half Marathon
November – Stockadeathon 15K
December – Ted Corbitt 15K or Palm Beach Half Marathon?

Feel free to recommend some…

Happy Running! Any goals or plans for 2020? When you get injured, do you re-write your goals? Please share.

January 3, 2020 by Darlene

Looking Back and Having Coffee

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

My Topic this week is: Looking Back on 2019

I’m not really into goals but last January, I posted about my plans for 2019.

Here’s what I wrote:

1. Run 1000 miles.

It’s just a number. But that number means two things to me. I have been running consistently all year and that I have not been injured.

2. Take some yoga classes.

I’m not good at yoga. I have zero flexibility. But it is relaxing and my life is not. So I think it will help me both mentally and physically.

3. Do some strength or cross training.

I hope to play more tennis starting in June but I do have access to a local free gym. I’d like to get there on some of my rest days.

4. Train seriously for One Race.

Not sure which one but I have already registered for five half marathons so maybe the local one. Or maybe a 5k.

5. And finally…. Finish a 26.2 mile race.

Yes, you heard that right. I haven’t registered yet (next week) but it seems crazy not to take advantage of qualifying for this year’s NYC Marathon.

So how did I do??

1 . Run 1000 miles.

Nope. 947. If not for my calf injury in February and sore foot in December, I may have reached that number. As I said, “It’s only a number.” I am NOT disappointed in my 2019 mileage.

2. Take some yoga classes.

Not until November. I blame it on work travel which was often insane and marathon training.

So better late than never. I have taken a few classes in the last two months of the year. Maybe that will be a sign of the future.

3. Do some strength or cross training.

No on this one, as well. I decided to not join a tennis club and play weekly. As a result, I played during my May tennis vacation in May and not again since then.

As far as the gym, just an occasional trip to use the arm machines or the treadmill or recently the bike. Nothing to write home about for same reason as not going to yoga classes.

4. Train seriously for One Race.

A big No on this one too. Due to work travel, I didn’t participate in the Freihofer or Troy Turkey Trot training groups.

No drills. I just showed up for a race now and then and did my best.

5. And finally…. Finish a 26.2 mile race.

Yes, Yes, Yes.

My success story of the year. I ran my first full marathon.

The funny thing about posting these plans/goals is that I don’t remember writing them. So I didn’t think about them all year.

I’m not disappointed at all in how my year turned out (even though 4 out 5 of my plans didn’t materialize.)

2019 was still a good year in my book. (I am trying not to focus on the month of December and how the year ended.)

It’s also that time of the month…

ultimate coffee date

…to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

Happy Running! Any goals or plans for 2019? If so, did you meet them? Please share.

December 27, 2019 by Darlene

Runfessions for December

It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

Can they be called RUNfessions if I didn’t run??

Anyway….

1. I runfess…

When I was working in NYC, I did not RUN due to a sore foot, but I did WALK…

I mean it was NYC during the holidays… I wanted to see the decorations…. Did I interfere with the healing of my foot???

Should I have just stayed in my hotel?

2. I runfess…

I did not run one of my favorite (fun) races but I went anyway. I dressed up as if to race and even kept the race shirt.

And yes, I admit, I had serious FOMO.

Anyone else not race but go to cheer on their friends anyway?

3.I runfess…

I was hoping that the podiatrist would see a stress fracture on the xray.

At least then, you rest, it heals and you run again.

But seeing nothing and recommending rest does not make you feel satisfied.

Anyone else ever have one of those frustrating undiagnosed injuries?

4. I runfess…

Even though I was not running and didn’t know when I would run again, I still shopped for running-related items? Not sure why?

Anyone else buy running gear while they were injured?

5.I runfess…

My 2020 goal was 12 half marathons in 12 months. Well, that will not happen…but I’m having a hard time planning my running comeback. (Yes, there will be one).

I may DNS the January Half in NYC but should I also downgrade the February one (in Bermuda) to a 10k or just slog it.

Image result for zooma bermuda"

Anyone else impatient when coming back from an injury?

It’s Friday so I’m linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

Happy Running! Anything to runfess this month? Please share.