January 2, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Blogging or Fitness Resolutions/Goals

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 Blogging or Fitness Resolutions/Goals.

I will post in a few days all my 2015 goals but here are FIVE:

1. Walk Everyday

I used to be really good about this. A co-worker and I walked everyday at 11 am. Then it got cold. It’s not as much fun to walk indoors. Then it got busy at work. My co-worker still walked but I slacked off.

2. Exercise

I am good at getting out to run at least 3 times each week and playing tennis once a week. But that’s it. I have weights and a free gym where I can use the machines. I also can do yoga at home. There are so many video programs. My upper body needs help!

3. Eat Fewer Sweets

It’s no secret that I have a sweet tooth and prefer desserts to a meal.

I need to get more of this when I am hungry:

and less of these:

christmas cookie exchange at work

4. Do Speed Drills or Hill Repeats

When I was part of a running group, I had no choice but to do the drills. I plan to join again in March but on my own. They don’t happen.

5. Be more positive and confident.

In work, life and running, I do not always believe in myself. In 2015,I will try to be more optimistic. I will accept my flaws but not dwell on them. In other words, a happier 2015. Of course, let the PRs keep coming!!

Runners World 5K

Happy Running! What are some of your resolutions?

December 12, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite Winter Activities

This week, the theme is Favorite Winter Activities:

I’ll say it up front. I hate the cold!!

If I didn’t run, I would never go outside.

I don’t ski, snowboard, ice skate, sled, snow shoe…nada!

Keeping that in mind, here are my favorites:

1. Running (only cuz I sign up for races & winter half marathons to make me get out there)

Polar Cap - February

2. Tennis (Indoors) – I play doubles once a week.

3. Knitting – I am not very experienced but I have made socks, hats & scarfs.

IMG_4256-0

sock1

4. Cooking (on the weekends) – I love to make soups & chili.

5. Reading – I always read every night before I go to sleep.

I think this one is her best – I read it in one day!

loved this one – can’t wait to see the movie!

Happy Running! What are some of your favorite winter activities?

December 5, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five – Favorites

This week, the theme is Friday Favorites:

Here are my five of my running-related favorites – the cold weather version: (the last time I did this theme was in July)

1. Favorite Race(s) –

Stockade-athon – this a is a very popular local 15k race. I liked it a lot but now that it changed its course, I like it even more. The course is varied… running through a park, cemetery, bike path, historic parts of town. It is challenging but you don’t have to train as much as for a half marathon.

Troy Turkey Trot 10K – this is also a very popular local race. I’ve only run it once but it is already one of my favorites. I liked participating in a training group for the race. It is well-organized with a lot of support from the town.

10K - 57:03 - PR

2. Favorite Apparel –

Compression Socks – Still. I wear them to insure that my legs don’t get tired but now that it’s colder, I have worn them with skirts on shorter runs to keep warm and with capris so I can hold off wearing tights as long as possible.

Stockadeathon - November

Hats – in the warmer months, I wear baseball caps to keep my unruly hair off my neck and the sun off my face. Now I wear them to keep warm. And I have already had to switch to beanie hats.

ttt2

3. Favorite Shoes – it’s no secret that I am fickle when it comes to shoe brands. I have worn them all. Currently my New Balance are second to my Mizuno Wave Rider 18s. It helps that I have recently run several PRs in them.

4. Favorite Fuel –

Gu – still my favorite for before and during – peanut butter, salted caramel or root beer. It doesn’t mess with my stomach so why change.

Chocolate Milk – for after. I bring some with me to have after a long run or a race.

5. Favorite Place(s) to Run –

Nisky Bike Path is my new favorite place to run on the weekend. It is scenic with river views, flat and you usually see many walkers, bikers and runners on it.

Washington Park is my go to place after work. It has hills and scenic views of the lake. I love the gardens in the spring and the Christmas Lights right now.

960090_10152426928399428_2134523640_n

Happy Running! What are some of your favorites?

November 28, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Gratitude

This week’s theme is: Gratitude

I am thankful for…

1. My hubby – he allows me the freedom to be me. That means patiently waiting for me to run or race before we go boating during the summer months and scheduling our activities around my running. I am grateful that he is there to support me.

lh5k

2. My Health – of course that means being healthy enough to do the activities I enjoy — RUNNING, tennis, walking/hiking, occasional yoga class. I don’t take it for granted. I have been NOT able to do it too many times. I am so grateful to be healthy all of 2014!!

first race after breaking my foot (July 2013)

This was taken in the courtyard below our room (on the 3rd fl).

first run after foot stress fracture (Dec 2012)

first race after ankle surgery (June 2012)

first race after strained achilles (walked half of it) – Sept. 2011

3. My Friends – I am still in contact with a few friends from high school and college. It is great to connect with them and reminisce (about the good old days.) I have also made a bunch of GREAT friends as an older adult from the activities that I do…tennis friends, boating friends, quilting friends, mah jongg friends, running friends, etc. And I also have several from work (all 3 of my careers.) All of these people are precious to me and I am grateful to have them in my life.

my friends from my junior year of college in France

my friend from my teaching job

my mah jongg friends

we always take a picture outside this restaurant each year

my tennis friends

my boating friends

me, Linda, Don, Sue, Joyce & Nancy 20 years later

my friends from high school

my work buddy who motivates me to walk every day

4. Social Networking – Facebook, Instagram, Blogs, etc. The people I connect with are my virtual friends. I have met new people and can connect with ones that live too far away to see. I have learned a lot from Facebook and from my fellow Bloggers. Sometimes I have been lucky enough to meet them in the flesh. So I guess I am grateful for the Internet and those smart folks who have invented software that can connect people.

I met Judy through FB

I met Andrea through blogging

I met Elisa through FB

I met Jen & Felice through FB & blogging

5. Running! Running has changed me. I discovered it late in life (at age 55). It has made me more confident, independent and I feel healthier and younger than ever. I am most grateful to this sport and what it has given me.

2014

2012

2010

2008

Happy Running! What are you grateful for?

November 21, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite Fall Food

This week’s theme is Favorite Fall Food

1. Apple Pie – especially when it is homemade with local apples (warm with vanilla ice cream is the best)

Recipe

2. Sweet Potatoes

Recipe

3. Pumpkin anything

this is pumpkin chili

Recipe

4. Butternut Squash Soup

Recipe

5. Cider Donuts – right from the oven

Happy Running! What are your favorite fall foods?

November 14, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Cold Weather Running Tips

This week, the theme is Cold Weather Running Tips.

It’s starting to get cold. (In fact, there was a dusting of snow on the ground when I got up today.) I know it’s going to get worse. So there are decisions to be made:

that’s a fake smile. I hate cold weather!

1. Run in the morning. It is may be colder in the morning but it is lighter outside. I try to drag myself out of bed and run in my neighborhood before I go to work. You will definitely wake up when there’s a chill in the air.

there are lights in the park this time of year

2. If you run in the evening, run where there is light. That being said, it is warmer after work but it is already dark when I leave. So I always run where there are lights. That’s means that my neighborhood, the bike trails and the rail trail are OUT 😦 I don’t have a head lamp and even if I did, I prefer to run where there are street lights. So I choose to run near work or in the town where I live when I run after work.

iPad & water are my 2 necessities on the mill.

3. When conditions are bad, use the treadmill. When it is raining, snowing or too icy, I run on the treadmill (even though I hate it.) I use the one at work or at my “free” gym.

4. Invest in winter running clothes.

Layers are important – coolmax breathable shirt, fleece vest, windbreaker (I try to wear light, bright colors in the evening)
Tights (I usually wear a skirt or shorts over them – I am self-conscious about my thighs & I feel warmer)
Gloves (I wear cheap light ones until it gets very cold, then I wear thermal ones.)
Smartwool socks
Hat or headband

HMRRC 7K

HMRRC 15K - January

You don’t have to spend a lot of money. I buy most of mine at Target.

5. Wear YakTrax if there is snow on the ground. You won’t slip or slide.

they really work on the snow.

No matter what the weather, you still have to go out there and RUN!

Happy Running! Any other tips for running in the colder weather?

October 31, 2014 by Darlene

Five Foto Friday x3

I decided to bring back Foto Friday because I want to share just SOME of the statues that I saw last weekend in Trenton, NJ at Grounds for Sculpture. Seward Johnson is the sculptor of most of them and bases many of his works on French Impressionist paintings. (My favorite as a former French teacher.)

: Confrontational Vulnerability (based on Manet’s Olympia)

: joining this man reading

: Sailing the Seine (based on Manet’s Argenteuil)

: Were You Invited? (based on Renoir’s The Luncheon of the Boating Party)

: Forever Marilyn – I saw her when I was in Palm Springs last year

: my friends Andrea and her husband Steve at a lakeside table

: Return Visit (Lincoln)

: Unconditional Surrender

: If it were time (based on Monet’s Terrace at Sainte-Adresse)

: Dejeuner Deja Vu (based on Manet’s Dejeuner sur l’herbe)

: there were many peacocks around

: the Nature of Obsession (based on Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring)

: God Bless America (based on Grant Wood’s American Gothic)

: Daydream (based on Matisse’s Dance)

: Crossing Paths (me feeling small)

Happy Halloween!

This week’s theme is Halloween, of course!

Happy Running! Have a nice weekend! Believe it or not, I do not have a race! Do you?

October 24, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Reasons to race

This week, the theme is Five Reasons to Race.

running even while on a tennis vacation in Fla.

1. Racing keeps me running. I know that I cannot slack off. If I do, then the race will be painful (physically and mentally).

before the start of a half marathon

2. I usually run alone and when I run a race, I see and meet other runners. So much more enjoyable.

my first 5k under 30 min after being injured

3. I am competitive so when I run a race, I don’t stop and walk as much and I run faster.

smiling even though running with a stress fracture

4. I only get that runner’s high when I cross a finish line in a race.

got to see Palm Springs. CA and my friend Mary

5. Racing gives me the excuse to see new places and visit old friends.

Speaking of races, 2 days until…

Bib#: 1697

Happy Running! Why do you race?

October 17, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite Fitness Tunes

This week, the theme is Five Favorite Fitness Tunes!

Ok, I just picked ones that motivate me to RUN:

Stronger by Brittney Spears
Don’t Stop by the The Rolling Stones
Stronger by Kelly Clarkson
Best Day of My Life by the American Authors
Run Run Run by Michelle Lewis

and if you haven’t, watch this video:

Addicted to Running

Happy Running! What is your favorite running song?

October 10, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite fuel/foods

This week, the theme is Five Favorite Fuel/Foods for Fitness/Running/Training

1. Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat

This is what I eat for breakfast before every race. Sometimes I make instant and sometimes I make the real stuff. My favorite flavor is maple or brown sugar cinnamon.

2. Protein Bars