September 4, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Fall Races to Run

Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mary at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC to host the Friday Five linkup. 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!

This week, the theme is Five Fall Races to Run:

Here are my top 5:

Oct 10, 2015

1. Brooklyn Rock N Roll Half Marathon – This will be my first Rock n Roll race and my 15th half marathon.

Oct. 31, 2105

2. NYRR Dash to the Finish Line – I am really excited about this one. Finally I will be running a race in NYC. It starts near the UN and ends in Central Park. I will get to cross the finish line of the NYC Marathon (which is the next day.)

November 8, 2015

3. Stockade-athon – This a very popular local 15K. I have run it 3 times. They changed the course last year and I enjoyed it even more.

November 26, 2015

4. Troy Turkey Trot – Last year I ran this 10K for the first time and I plan to do it again. Lots of runners and loads of fun.

October 17, 2015

5. Great Pumpkin Challenge – I ran this 10k for the first time last year. I may just do the 5k this year. We’ll see. I enjoyed running in Saratoga State Park.

Happy Running! What’s on your fall racing schedule? Anyone running any of the above races?

August 21, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: 5 Years from Now

This week, the theme is 5 Years From Now

This may be kinda boring because hopefully there will not be any changes in my life in 5 years (as long as I remain healthy).

Working at the same job – I am too old to change careers. I would like to afford to be retired but I doubt I will be able be.

2. Tennis – I love my friends and enjoy playing this sport on a limited basis. I won’t be playing seriously on a team but I plan to plan socially with my friends at least once a week.

and continue our annual tennis vacations.

3. Weekly mah jongg games

I play with a great bunch of women and I love the game.

4. Boating in the summer on the weekends

hanging out in the bays or on the islands.

5. Running and racing

I hope to be still running the occasional half marathon.

I hope to continue winning awards in my new age group.

If I lose my mind and someone trains with me, I may have run a full marathon…but that’s not in the plan!!

I don’t think I have any of these …

Happy Running? What about you? Any changes planned in the next 5 years?

August 7, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: A Day in the Life

This week, the theme is A Day in the Life.

Here’s 5 things that happen in my life on a typical Friday:

Social Networking on my iPad

I start every day with the Today show, breakfast and reading e-mail, Facebook, Instagram and Bloglovin on my iPad. I get up extra early to fit it in.

2. One Minute Plank

I sometimes (when I remember) do my plank on the bathroom floor when I am waiting for my shower to heat up.

3. Work

Not the highlight of my day but it is essential – it pays the bills and pays for my races. I work in IT at a law school and help staff and faculty with technology. In other words, I spend a lot of time on the computer.

4. Walking & Running

Yes, I am sitting most of the day. When the weather is nice, I try to force myself to go for a walk…usually to the park.

Usually three times a week, I run after work. If at all possible, I run outside.

5. Mah Jongg & Reading

Every Friday night from 7-11 pm, I play Mah Jongg with a great bunch of women. If everyone showed, we’d have 12 – 3 tables but usually we have only 8 and during the winter, sometimes it’s only 4.

our 6th anniversary dinner

We play, eat, drink and chat… so much fun and “brain” exercise, too.

I cannot fall asleep at night without reading. No matter how late, I go to bed, I read. Sometimes it’s just a few pages and sometimes I read for hours.

So that’s my typical Friday.

Happy Running! What do you do on a typical day?

July 31, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Race Day Surprises

This week, the theme is Race Day Surprises

Unfortunately I can only think of bad ones…

1. Power goes out and your alarm clock doesn’t go off

that happened for the Walkway Half

2. You put the wrong address in your GPS and go to the wrong location

at the Betar Byway 5k last year – I put in Glens Falls not South Glens Falls

3. Unexpected pain

my left foot mysteriously hurt for the whole 13.1 miles of the Asbury Half

4. Gastric Distress

severe cramps the last 3 miles of the VCM Relay

5. Bad Weather

sunny and 60s the day before

30s, sleet and freezing rain the day of

Happy Running! What surprises have you encountered on race day?

July 17, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite Race Swag

This week, the theme is Favorite Race Swag

I personally like things that are useful. Here are my 5 favorites:

1. I still use this lunch bag that I won as an Age Group award

2. I love socks.

3. Glasses are cool. It came with a green tooth brush.

4. Wind breakers are practical. I have them in green, blue, yellow and orange. (Unfortunately they stopped giving them out.)

5. And gloves are handy.

Happy Running! What is your favorite race swag?

July 10, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Fitness Trends I’ll Never Try

This week, the theme is Fitness Trends I’ll Never Try

Here are my 5:

1. Paleo, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian or any other restricted food Diet

I like carbs. I like meat. I like sweets. I like to eat what I want to eat.

That doesn’t mean that I won’t eat healthy. I will when I want to.

2. Boxing.

I have no hand eye coordination. And I don’t like bruises. Nope, count me out.

3. Lifting Weights

I have no upper body strength. Yes, I would like to have more. And I do want toned upper arms but no muscles, please.

4. Juice Cleanses

I can’t imagine not having solid food for several days.

5. Triathlons

Running is great. Biking is ok when I can’t run but I don’t love it. Swimming – definitely NOT. I don’t like to swim and I am not a strong swimmer. Drowning might happen if I had to swim under pressure.

Actually I do admire those who do tris. It just won’t be me.

Happy Running! What fitness trend won’t you ever try?

July 3, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: July 4th

This week, the theme is: July 4th/Independence

If the weather cooperates, my holiday includes these 5 things each year:

1. Boating on the Lake

2. Barbecues with Friends

eating at our site

3. Getting Patriotic

4. Fireworks

5. Squeezing in a morning run

Happy Running! How do you celebrate July 4th?

June 26, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: What I was doing 10 Years Ago

This week, the theme is What I was doing 10 Years Ago.

So the year was 2005.

No running.

No boating.

No knitting.

No mah jongg.

What was I doing in 2005?

1. I played a lot of tennis.

I played in contracts, took lessons, played on several teams, etc.

2. I worked as a Technology Director for 40 Catholic Schools.

This was my favorite job…so rewarding…so varied…wish I could have afforded to stay there forever.

3. I got to travel and go to conferences around the country.

If only I ran back then…

in San Diego

4. I was into quilting.

I belonged to quilt guild and went to monthly meetings. I went on weekend retreats.

5. My annual trip with the tennis ladies was to Las Vegas.

We didn’t gamble but we liked to go to shows and restaurants and hike on the weekend.

Happy Running! What were you doing 10 years ago?

June 19, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: What Makes Me Happy

This week, the theme is Five Things That Make Me Happy

1. Being on my boat with my hubby on Lake George

It is so beautiful, peaceful, relaxing. It’s my weekend place to be.

2. Hanging out with my friends

Whether it is playing tennis, knitting, going to a movie or the most likely, eating out. I them love!!

3. Running in scenic places

I love running along the water or on a trail.

Lake George

Peebles State Park

Corning Bike Path

Washington Park

4. Racing

There are more races now that any time of year. So there are so many choices. You can choose by location, bling, course, etc.

5. Playing tennis outdoors.

It’s free. It’s close to home. Love being outdoors in the fresh air.

Happy Running! What makes you happy?

June 12, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite Summer Activities

This week, the theme is Favorite Summer Activities.

Here are my 5:

1. Racing on the Weekends

I know I could just run for free but I only get that “Runner’s High” from races. I am lucky to have many choices. I can choose by location, course, distance, bling, etc. I pretty much race every weekend.

2. Playing Tennis Outdoors

This I can do for free. I usually play every Tuesday. If I didn’t go boating, I could also play on Saturdays and Sundays. I’ve given up playing in USTA and WTT league matches so that I can run more.

3. Boating on Lake George

This is one thing that the hubby & I do together. We both love it on the lake…whether it be docking on the islands, tying up with other boats in a bay or just hanging out at the marina.

4.Weekend getaways with friends

Schroon River

NYC

We go on day trips to museums and plays. We also go up to my friend’s who has a house on Schroon River. We love to swim, hike, play tennis, shop, eat out, play games, etc.

5.Barbecues