October 7, 2016 by Darlene

Friday Five: Not Running Solo

It’s Friday so I am linking up with three DC area bloggers Mar at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC . Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!) They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!

My Friday Topic is Five Reasons Not To Run Alone

Safety

Obviously you are safer in numbers. Or at least with one other person.

Especially if you run in the dark – either early morning or late evening, you should not run alone (if you can help it.)

2. Forging Friendships

Running is what you have in common so it’s what brought you to together.

But while you are running, you wind up chatting about work, family and basically all your problems. Now you are not just running friends but friends.

Judy & I have even gone to the movies together in addition to planning race-ations.

3. Staying Focused

In order to run with other people, you have to plan. You have to agree on a time and a place. It’s takes a lot of coordination.

Alyssa works in Albany til 4:30, I work in Guilderland til 4 and Barbara is retired & lives in Delmar – we still manage to run together once a week

After all that planning, you wouldn’t think about skipping the run…even if it is 95 degrees or 10 below.

And if you pay to be part of a training group, you don’t want to waste money and your friends are there, so you show up and run even if it’s raining or you just ran 13 miles the day before.

4. Improving Your Running

I get very distracted when I run alone. I stop and take pictures. I walk when I am tired. When I run with others, I don’t want to slow them down so it forces me to run more consistently. In fact Alyssa always jokes that even though we don’t try, we always have negatives splits.

with Alyssa

And you are lucky enough to have a faster runner want to run with you, you will get better.

she left me in the dust in this race but we do run together.

5. It’s just plain more FUN.

The miles go by faster. The hills don’t seem as steep.

11 miles with Denise discovering that we were both French majors at the same college….

Happy Running! Do you prefer to run alone or with others?

September 2, 2016 by Darlene

Friday Five: Summer Highlights

I had my first Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte and I go back to working next Wednesday so it feels like summer is over.

My Friday Topic is Five Best Things About This Summer.

I won’t say “Not Working” because it is very stressful being unemployed with no idea when your next paycheck will arrive not to mention health care…

1. Rediscovering Tennis

Once I started running, I pretty much lost interest in tennis. I played only once a week and on tennis vacations. Well, this summer, I played outdoors a lot. My tennis improved. But the best thing was that I played in four different groups and met some awesome ladies.

near my house with Ellie and Stella

2. Discovering Hiking

I never really hiked before. I didn’t have the time nor the confidence to do so. But this summer I fought my fears and did a few solo hikes. The more hikes I did, the more confident I got and the more I enjoyed it.

Thomas Mountain

Stewart Mountain

Pinnacle Point

3. Finding a New Running Friend

I used to run mostly alone. Sometimes Judy & I could fit in a run together (but mostly in the winter) and occasionally I would run with Barbara. Well, I met Alyssa on FB and since she is new the area, she was glad to have a running partner. Since we met in June, we have run once a week together.

with Alyssa

4. Visiting NYC

Love love love NYC. I have been fortunate to find different people to help me feed my addiction.

Central Park with Judy

Food Tour with Eileen & Mary Pat

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Metropolitan Museum of Art with Catalina and Fran

My last summer trip will be on Tuesday to see Anna (from Russia.)

brunch at Gordon Ransey’s The Maze restaurant – May 2012

5. Running and Boating along and on Lake George

Said to be the “Queen” of all lakes. I love Lake George. I’ve run one race on either side of the lake and one in the village.

Adirondack 10 Miler

Firemen 5K

Camp Chingachgook 10K

I am also lucky enough to have a boat so I can hang out on the lake with my hubby and our boating friends.

in Shelving Rock Bay

Honorable Mention: Watching the Olympics

Image result for highlights of olympics 2016

Happy Running! What did you like best about this summer?

August 26, 2016 by Darlene

Friday Five – Surprises at the 2016 Olympics

Here are my top FIVE Surprising Olympic Moments:

New Zealand runner Nikki Hamblin stumbled and fell — and accidentally brought down American Abbey D’Agostino. D’Agostino helped Hamblin back to her feet but the American had injured her leg in the incident and she slumped to the track. Hamblin helped her up and stayed with her and both completed the race.

American Simone Manuel became the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold in an individual swimming event. She tied for gold in the 100m freestyle.

American Allyson Felix came in 2nd in the 400m as Jamaican Shaunae Miller dove across the finish line to beat her. My first thought was “Is that legal?” But it is!!

British Mo Farah falls during the 10K and still wins gold.

American Galen Rupp wins a bronze medal in the Marathon. It was only his SECOND marathon!!

Overall, I thought the Olympics were great – so many wonderful accomplishments – Phelps, Biles, Bolt, etc. I can’t wait until Tokyo!

Happy Running! Any other surprises? What did you enjoy the most?

August 19, 2016 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorites

Here are my CURRENT FAVORITES:

1. Tomatoes from the garden

They are almost good as dessert. I can eat them plain. YUM!!

2. Hiking

This is a new passion. And I can’t get enough.

3. Running with Friends

It sure beats running alone. And I run so much better. This week I ran a 10k race, a 4 miler one morning with Barbara and another 4 miler in the early evening with Alyssa. Still trying to coordinate a run with Judy.

4. New Running Gear

Don’t you run better when you look better? I do.

Two age group awards with my new Skirt Sports skirts.

Hope to do the same tomorrow in a 5k race with new running shoes.

5. Tennis

I had briefly lost interest in tennis but this week I played four times. All were with different groups of players. I enjoyed my matches and especially meeting new women on the courts.

**6. The Olympics

I will be going through withdrawal.

The athletes have been amazingly talented, gracious, entertaining, patriotic…

Bolt wannabees

Can you believe that I didn’t mention ice cream and boating.

They’re a given! LOL

Happy Running! What are some of your current favorite things?

August 5, 2016 by Darlene

Friday Five: Odd Sightings

Wendy from Taking the Long Way Home suggested that we post FIVE odd things that we have seen on our run.

Recently on my run to Brant Lake, NY, I noticed this decorated outhouse. I am not sure it was usable but it was pretty.

2. A few years back during a very slow run in Flagler Beach, Florida, I came across this turtle. Not so much odd but very appropriate considering how things were going that day

3. After one race in Delmar, NY, I continued my run with two friends on the nearby rail trail and we noticed people stopped and pointing. There were two eagles flying over head. Again not odd but so beautiful to watch.

4. I recently ran on the trail in Peebles State Park. Afterward, I ventured to Waterford, NY and discovered a new trail. There were so many geese on the path and they were not interested in moving out of my way. Not odd but very annoying.

5. I seem to have many animal sightings on the rail trail. I have seen a pack of foxes and many times it is a large doe. They are so used to humans that they don’t run away. They just stand there and stare. It’s a little unnerving.

One of my oddest sightings I do not have a picture of.

When I am up at our marina on Lake George, I love to run on the nature trail at the Sagamore Hotel.

On one side is the lake and the other, you are below some apartments. During one run a few years ago, I was running on the trail and I heard a women screaming. So I looked up and she was hanging over the balcony naked with a naked guy behind her…Well, you can guess what he was doing…. I was so embarrassed that I’ve never run so fast.

Can you beat that for an odd or X-rated sighting??

I’m also linking up with three DC area bloggers Mar at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC . Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!) They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!

Happy Running! What odd things have you seen during your runs?

July 29, 2016 by Darlene

Five Five: Take a Hike

My Friday Five topic this week is Why I Like To Hike.

By hiking, I don’t mean climbing mountains (though maybe someday and not alone). I mean doing walking trails especially ones with a view at the end.

No Pace or Distance To Worry About

You can go slow or fast. Run or Walk. You can go as far as you want and then go back to where you started. Pretty simple.

2. It’s Great Exercise.

Your legs are going up and down. Over rocks and trees. You also use your arms to help you climb or hold onto trees. It’s a workout!

3. You Get To See Nature At Its Finest.

Trees, flowers, birds, animals. Butterflies are my favorite.

4. It’s Peaceful.

I spent quite some time on my last hike just sitting and looking out.

5. It’s FREE.

Most hiking trails are well-marked, have parking and don’t cost a thing.

There are 11 trails near Lake George. I have done 2 (the easiest ones). I would only attempt some of the others with a partner.

About 15 miles north, there are 8 more trails. I plan to do the challenge above this summer. I already hiked four last Monday

Cougar Trail

Dynamite Hill

Stewart Mountain

Chester Creek

I’m linking up with three DC area bloggers Mar at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC . Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!) They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!

Happy Running! Do you like to hike?

July 22, 2016 by Darlene

Friday Five: NYC

My Friday Five topic this week is My Favorite Things To Do in NYC

It’s no secret that I love NYC and I try to visit as often as I can. When I go, I like to be active. So here are my 5 favorites:

Run In Central Park

You can either take a City Running Tour where you have a guide who tells the history of what you are seeing while you run….

our tour guide

or you can get a map and run around the park on your own. You do have to go back many times. The park is HUGE!!!

Jackie O Reservoir

Either way, you must do it.

2. Take a Food Tour

There are quite a few that your can take. I have done Greenwich Village and Little Italy with Best Tours (2 hour tours) and NoHo/Nolita with Foods of New York (3 hour tours). All were excellent. You walk, learn about the history and culture of the area and EAT!! I can’t wait to do another.

Italian pastries – yum!

bagels 🙂

best pizza ever

sorry no pic of the black out cupcake but it was delish!!

3. Run a Race

There are so many to choose from. Check out NYCRuns.org or NYRR.org for the schedule.

after the Dash to the Finish 5k

4. Visit a Museum

Don’t worry, the museums are large and you will get a lot of walking in.

My favorites are:

MOMA

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

NY Botanical Gardens

Here is a complete list of ALL the NYC museums – https://www.ny.com/museums/all.museums.html

5. Take a Boat Ride

Okay, you don’t get a lot of exercise on the boat but you can walk around when you get off.

The most popular one is the Circle Line Cruise to see the Statue of Liberty and or Ellis Island.

I love taking the Staten Island Ferry (and it’s FREE).

There are also boats that you can eat on such as the North River Lobster Company.

I could keep on going and going but I’ll just add one more:

6. Walk the streets or the High Line and people watch.

You never know who you will see on the street. Anyone recognize him?

my BFF on The High Line

I even made my hubby walk it

Happy Running! Have you done any of the above in NYC? Anything else to add as your favorite?

July 8, 2016 by Darlene

Friday Five: Summer Food

Since it’s Friday, I’m linking up with three DC area bloggers Mar at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC . Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!) They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!

My Friday Five topic is Favorite Summer Eats

Keep in mind that I don’t cook or bake much.

Salads

Just buy a bag of lettuce, a cooked chicken, dressing and some fruit and voila.

2. Fruit

Love summer fruit – cherries, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries. etc.

3. Smoothies.

I used to buy these at Starbucks but now I make them – cocoa, banana, protein powder, almond milk…

4. Barbecues

I only seem to enjoy hamburgers and hot dogs when they are on the grill. Also love steaks, sausage, chicken. NOT A VEGETARIAN.

5. Ice Cream

This improves any summer day.

Happy Running! What food do you enjoy in the summer?

June 10, 2016 by Darlene

Friday Five: Healthy Starbucks

My Friday Five topic is Five Ways to Make Starbucks Healthier

Since I rarely cook or bake anything healthy or exciting, I decided to write about Starbucks. I’m experienced in this area..

Healthy Starbucks sounds like an oxymoron but believe it is not, you can get your daily fix and not go out on a limb calorie-wise.

1. Order online using the App.

When you order using the app, besides not having to wait online, you can more easily customize what exactly you want. There are customizations that you wouldn’t even know exist. Less caffeine, less ice, sugar-free options, milk options, etc.

2. Skip the Whipped Cream.

I know that frappuccinos and lattes look and taste better but you can save 100 calories. Instead add some cinnamon, chocolate or cinnamon powder on top.

foam, no whip

3. Skip the Sugar.

You can easily add the calorie-free syrups or artificial sweeteners. I like to carry my own Truvia or Stevia with me.

light mocha

4. Substitute Soy or Coconut Milk.

iced chai tea latte with coconut milk

5. Add Protein Powder.

I love the chocolate banana smoothies. I often have them before or after a run. But you can add protein powder to any Starbucks drink. You can also add a banana.

I’m addicted to these.

Okay, you may be saying that that it is costly and everything you add costs extra. True.

But keep your eye out for afternoon half price specials and days when you get double stars, etc. Eventually you will earn a FREE drink. (That’s when I go for the Venti size!!)

FYI: