October 18, 2016 by Darlene

TOTR: 2016 Goals

Since today is Tuesday, I’m linking up with these wonderful ladies:

Erika @ MCM Mama Runs, Marcia @ Marcia’s Healthy Slice and Patty @ My no-guilt life for

Today’s Topic is: Remaining Goals for 2016

Well, for the first time in my running career, I didn’t set any goals.

I just listed some hopes (and dreams) for 2016:

To improve my running

I believe that I am a stronger and more confident runner. I have run a lot of races both long and short. And I have even attempted new ones and some hilly ones. Plus, I achieved a half marathon PR (bear with me if I keep repeating this…)

the hilliest course I’ve ever run

What is left is to have more quality training runs. Fewer garbage miles – you know the ones where you just walk/run/take photos and get it done. And to continue running well in races – not necessarily PRs but just decent finish times.

10k PR??

To run with others

I have improved in this department too. I ran with the Freihofer Training group in the spring and signed up with the Turkey Trot group recently. With my schedule, it is easier to run solo. But running with others is more fun. Alyssa has become my new weekly partner. I am lucky that Barbara has continued to accept my invitations.

In the future, when there are no training groups, I should look for other opportunities to run with others such as Fleet Feet, ARE, etc.

To volunteer and give back

I volunteered with GOTR last spring and again, it failed to offer any satisfaction. But running with the STEM clients is one that is so rewarding that I plan to volunteer with them each season.

I get to do this again on Nov 19.

My special needs buddy is still awesome. I need to post more often on FB to connect with him more. And to make time to see my mentee Amanda & her kids more often. I’ve been delinquent there.

I haven’t seen them since May but I am planning a day together this Sat. It’s tough because she works on Sundays and some Saturdays.

To eat healthier

I am still addicted to carbs and sweets. I can justify the carbs for running but I need to substitute more fruits and veggies into my diet. I do eat a banana almost every day and an apple for an evening snack. But the problem is when I am out of the house NO SELF CONTROL!

And I rarely drink any water. I use the water bottle on my desk to water my plants My Bad!!

To get physically on track

I still do not weigh myself but I know for a fact that the excess pounds have moved to an ugly place (my waist & butt). My excuses have been that it is an age thing (Sorry, the meni pot is a fact.) But I think it is important for me to exercise (not just run and play tennis). Sit less, walk more? Gym time? Planks? Yoga? Whatever it takes to look better.

the last time I went to the gym was in July

I walked more during my last job because I had more time and a walking buddy. I also had started going to the gym but I need to resume that.

To spend quality time with family and friends

Rather than skipping a run, I have been squeezing them in but there will be skipping involved soon. And I realize that it’s ok. Running is important but not more important than those I care about.

a run before cocktails

Happy Running! Any more goals for 2016 that you are still working on?

October 14, 2016 by Darlene

Friday Five: New Employee = New Runner

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! AND THIS IS THE LAST ONE! So do it today!

You may remember that a few weeks ago, I compared Unemployment to being an Injured Runner.

Today I am posting about the Five Ways that having a New Job is like being a New Runner:

You have NO FRIENDS.

You walk into work and you know no one. No one greets you. You have no one to eat lunch with, etc. You feel pretty lonely.

Remember that first race. Everyone seemed to know people but you knew no one. You just stood on the sidelines and felt isolated.

The good news is that it changes…slowly.

I have one friend now at work. We eat lunch together everyday and we even went to dinner and lecture together last weekend. I am still, however, looking for a fellow runner.

It is rare that when I run a race now that I don’t know a few runners. We chat and the time before a race passes by very quickly. Some whom I’ve met at races have even become my good friends.

1404409_10152532012779428_1568131196_o

2. You are unfamiliar with LOGISTICS.

You don’t know where to eat, where to make coffee, where anything is located, who to ask even for the things that you need, etc. You may wander around aimlessly trying to look like you know where you are going.

A new runner feels the same thing. You do your best but you often make mistakes because you don’t know the answers to these questions:

What do you wear? How do you avoid chafing? Where do you shop for running stuff? How do you fuel for longer races? How early do you arrive for a race? Where do you park? Where do pick up your bib?

mothersdayrace3

I used to wear shorts and pin my bib to my shirt Times have changed.

vcm3

3. EXPECTATIONS are unclear.

In a new job, you may have no idea which tasks you will be asked to perform. You will probably be unaware of how well you will be able to perform them and how long it will take to perform them well. You may compare yourself to other experienced workers and feel inadequate.

As a new runner, you may not know

how often to run
how long a distance to run
the best time of day to run
which races to run
to run alone or with a partner
whether to join a running group
what and when to eat

But even more confusing is to know how fast should you be running and how long it will take to get faster.

I remember when I first started running, I instantly wanted to run a sub 30 minute 5k. It didn’t come instantly but it did come.

Fasig Tipton '10

However, after that, it got harder and harder to get faster. Years later, I sometimes still struggle to run a sub 30 minute 5k.

4. You may feel like QUITTING.

Maybe the job is not what you thought it would be. You don’t like your boss. You don’t get along with your co-workers. You are bored or maybe you are over-worked and stressed.

The thought of “take this job and shove it” enters your brain from time to time.

New runners have similar thoughts.

You feel those aches and pains and wonder whether running is destroying your body. Your work or family obligations may interfere with getting in your runs. The weather may prevent you from running. You work hard and you are not getting any faster. More importantly, running doesn’t feel enjoyable. It feels like a chore.

5. Things IMPROVE with time.

So you make friends at work. You realize that your boss is not so bad. You are successful in managing your stress. And you are happy that you have accepted this job. You look forward to coming to work everyday.

I have to admit that this was the case in my previous jobs. So far, in my current job, I’m not there yet. Hopefully it will improve and if not, I’ll look for a new job next summer.

With running, after a few awful runs or races or missed runs, you may consider giving up and maybe even switching to another activity like yoga, biking, swimming, etc.

We’ve all been there.

But then you have a good run or a good race, or a PR, or an age group award and now you love running again.

I’d like to thank our Friday Five hosts (Mar at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC). I’ve really enjoyed posting to this link-up for the past three years!

I have posted at least 90 times and almost every week since June 2014. (My first: http://wp.me/pel7R-4Eh).

Happy Running! Any other new runner feelings that you’ve experienced? Will you miss the Friday Five link-up?

October 13, 2016 by Darlene

TOLT: Runner’s High and What’s Next

Since it is Thursday, I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

Here’s what I’m thinking about today:

Runner’s High

I don’t get it while I’m running. Running always seems hard.

But when you get a PR when you didn’t expect it and probably didn’t deserve it, that is a Runner’s High!!

Why did it happen?

I was thrilled with my last half finish time and wasn’t stressed about having a good race. In other words, I was very relaxed!!
The course was flat. This is a biggie.
The temps were cool. This helped too however, it was humid.
It was raining and I wanted to be done. But it was never raining that hard to get soaked.

How could I have done even better?

Walk less. Yep, I walked 7 times and twice for a rather long time. (Can you drink, eat Gu & run at the same time?)
Push harder. I was never out of breath. I was able to chat with other runners. My legs never felt tired.
Warm up before. It was cold and damp. My ankle was stiff and painful for the first half of the race. Taking Tylenol would have helped. Sitting in my warm car until the race started probably didn’t help.
Follow a training plan. I never increased my mileage during the week. Just 3-4 miles of easy runs (except for one group speed drill. I did most of long runs as add-ons to my 5k races)

If you read my blog, you know that I was doubtful that I would ever run a half marathon PR again. I wondered if my January 2015 finish time was just a fluke.

Now I think, I that I am capable of running an even faster 13.1 miles.

It may never happen because as we know there are so many factors involved… but until then I am basking in my PR glory.

What’s Next?

Another half marathon in 7 weeks!!!

I think it’s flat but it could be warm and humid. It could be windy & cool. Time will tell…

I’d be lying if I said that I am going to train differently for this race.

Hey, look at this racing schedule (in red is the long run distance that I should complete):

10-15-16 – Great Pumpkin Challenge 10K (7 m – 6.2 is close enough)
10-22-16 – L.L. Bean Bright Night 5K (8 m – not happening)
10-29-16 – Monster Scramble 10K (possibly but not registered yet) (9 m)
11-05-16 – NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K in NYC (10 m – not happening)
11-11-16 – Veteran’s Dash 5k
11-13-16 – Stockade-athon 15K (11 m – 9.3 is close, right?)
11-19-16 – Girls on the Run 5k (volunteering with STEM) (12 m)
11-24-16 – Troy Turkey Trot 10k and 5k (10 m – 9.3 is close)

I, of course, want to run a good race on December 3. But my goal is to run well enough and have a fun vacation with some super women!!

Margaritaville, here I come…

Happy Running! What’s going on in your life?

October 12, 2016 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Irritable

Deb Runs

Every Wednesday, the Deb from Deb Runs will be providing a word about which to blog. Kind of like a nice little blog prompt. Posts can be fitness or health related, but don’t have to be, so really anyone can play along. Just be sure to link up with InLinkz on Deb’s main post, and share the love by reading and commenting on other’s participant’s posts.

This week’s word is: Irritable.

As a runner, what may make you IRRITABLE??

Here is the list of things that get me annoyed:

Being injured

Image result for injured runner ecard

There are those injuries where you CANNOT run such as a broken bone.

Image result for injured runner ecard
Then there are those injuries that you can run with but there is pain and you probably shouldn’t run. The trick is knowing when you can and when you shouldn’t.

Over or Under Dressed.

We have all been there. It is colder than we thought or than the weatherman predicted. But even worse for me is being overdressed. We are sweating and want to rip our clothes off!!

Image result for ecards running clothes weather

Bathroom Issues

No explanation needed.

That includes long port-a-potty lines before a race and not enough port-a-potties during a long race.

GPS watch problems

That means not finding a signal or the battery dying.

We get so dependent on our timing devices. Even when some of my best races are when I don’t look at it.

Races that are inaccurately marked.

I’ve run races that are short. Grrr…

I also don’t want to look at my finish time for race and have to add “But the course was long…”

It happens but it is irritating.

Being hungry during a run or race.

I am that runner that needs carbs before and during a run or race.

It sucks when I start running and realize that I forgot my fuel.

Or I start a run and didn’t have enough to eat before I set out.

Not pushing hard enough during a race.

This actually makes me the most irritable. I am competitive and I get disappointed when I don’t put forth my best effort.

These are the thoughts that go through my brain after a race:

Why did I start out so fast?

Why did I walk through all those water stops?

Did I have to walk so long while eating that GU?

Should I have walked (or run so slowly) up that hill?

Why did you give up on that race?

Is this the fastest I can run this course??

Don’t get me wrong. For the most part, I love running or racing. Even when occasionally some the things listed above do happen.

Hey, I run about 40 races a year!!

Happy Running! What things make you irritable (as a runner)?

October 7, 2016 by Darlene

Friday Five: Not Running Solo

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?

October 5, 2016 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Fulfill

Deb Runs

This week’s word is: Fulfill.

Do I feel fulfilled when I win a tennis match or complete a half marathon or achieve a PR?

Not really…

Of course, I am happy. I am proud. I am over the moon.

Maybe it’s the teacher in me, but I don’t feel fulfilled unless I share something with someone.

First it was my knowledge and appreciation of the French language and its culture.

Then it was my computer expertise and experience in using technology tools to further learning.

But how does running fulfill me?

It’s when someone becomes a runner because I am one.

my Russian friend Anna

Also two co-workers where I used work started running (because of me they said) and my friend Natalie who I play Mah Jongg with.

It’s when someone crosses the finish line because I helped them train.

my STEM mentee. Kelly

I think that I also helped those early SRM runners. in their first 5k attempt. (They have since surpassed me in distance and speed.)

Back: Melissa, Amanda, me, Felice, Jen, Janis, Jen, Lisa; front: Bridget, Suzy (Bridget's FB photo)

Janis, Jen, Bridget and others

It’s when someone gets faster because I ran with them.

my current running partner Alyssa – I’m not sure it is true but she says I make her faster

Happy Running! What makes you feel fulfilled?

October 2, 2016 by Darlene

September Recap

Image result for september

So Fall has finally arrived!! And very recently, we’ve even experienced some cooler temps.

So here’s how September went…

Weekday Runs:

Like the summer, the beginning of the month was still warm and humid and we had very little rain. I was able to run at least 3-4 times outdoors each week which is great because I do not have a treadmill at home.

Since I finally started working after 12 weeks off, I was limited to where I could run. I ran mostly at UAlbany (near work) or the Delmar rail trail (near home).

I ran with Alyssa several times. Like Barbara I met her through FB. These were, no doubt, besides my 5k races my faster runs. I struggle when I run with her but she gets me to run faster. She says that I make her faster . Win-Win. I also ran with Barbara a few times and she is even faster than Alyssa. In addition, I shared a run with Natalie (my mah jongg buddy) who is a beginning runner.

It’s definitely more fun running with friends.

Long Runs:

There were three of these!!!. One was a half marathon and one was just added miles to a 5k race.

: Sept 3

: Sept 10

: Sept 18

Total Mileage:

I ran 83 miles this month – 6 miles less than last month even though I ran a half marathon and am training for another this coming Sunday!! I guess I was slacking off. (I’ll blame it on work and my social life LOL)

sep16

Races:

I ran four races this month – a half marathon and three 5ks.

: Sept. 5 – 1st AG – 28:35

: Sept 10 – 2nd AG – 27:30

: Sept 18 – 3rd AG – 2:11:56

: Sept 25 – 1st AG – 28:39

I was generally happy with how they went. I did not have PR goals and of course, I would have been thrilled if I got one. I won age group awards in all three. I guess that’s an achievement.

For a change, none of the races were super hilly. I knew runners at all of them and they were all super fun. As you can guess I LOVE RACING!!

Cross Training:

The tennis season has moved indoors and that means that I have be a member of a club and join a contract. $$$$$ So I don’t play as often as I did in the summer (when it was free and I was unemployed.) I am scheduled to play two Tuesdays a month but do get called to sub on the other weeks.

I DID NOT go to a single yoga class!! Someday I will do, I think.

Miss you, Maria!

I did NOT workout at the gym at all. Total slacking here!!

I did not go hiking. I hope to do some this month. It is so beautiful around here in the fall. But fitting it in (now that I work) is very challenging.

I did walk every day at lunch for 30 minutes – Either around the outdoor shopping mall to get a Starbucks coffee or around a short nature trail.

Other News:

My favorite running groups started up again. The Troy Turkey Trot Challenge group meets on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings. I only go on Mondays. I am running with my friends in the 10k group. It will be the one day of the week where I may have to do speed drills.

The STEM group meets on M, W, F and I volunteer on Wednesday evenings. We are doing the Couch to 5K program with some new and returning runners (who are domestic violence survivors). We are training them for a 5k race on Nov. 19.

I took a day trip to NYC to meet up with my Russian friend, Anna, who stopped off there on the way back from Maine. We had lunch on a lobster boat, walked the High Line and then had drinks on the top of the Standard Hotel. What a full but exciting day!!

I took one last visit to the Saratoga Race Track with a former co-worker. This time, we only went for the last few races (and I won at each one), headed to the Casino and then out to dinner.

I spent a lot of time (maybe too much) going out to dinner and meeting up with friends and family.

: out with a former co-worker

: MIL’s 91st b-day

: monthly tennis friends meet-up

Boating season continued and the weather was great. I love it at the lake. It’s my “happy place.” I am sad that it will be ending very soon.

Feeling healthy so Life Is Good.

I am now employed so I guess I have $$ to sign up for more races!!

Looking Ahead:

My next half marathon is October 9 and I am (slightly) excited. Is the thrill gone???

I do have a lot of races coming up. Fall is my favorite time to race. This is my list so far for the next 2 months:

10-01-16 – Apple Run 5K
10-09-16 – Ramblefest Half Marathon
10-15-16 – Great Pumpkin Challenge 10K
10-22-16 – L.L.Bean Bright Night 5K
10-29-16 – Monster Dash 10K???? (not signed up yet since I am out of town for work Oct 24-28
11-05-16 – NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K (in NYC)
11-11-16 – Veteran’s Dash 5K
11-13-16 – Stockade-athon 15K
11-19-16 – Girls on the Run 5k (STEM volunteer which is good because I’m out of town for work Nov 14-18)
11-24-16 – Troy Turkey Trot 10k and then the 5k

I may have a racing addiction!!!

No monthly goals.

my motto for 2016

I am linking up with a Sunday Fitness and Food Linkup hosted by Ilka from Ilka’s Blog and Angela from Marathons & Motivation

Happy Running! How did your September turn out? Anything exciting planned for October?

October 1, 2016 by Darlene

Ultimate Coffee Date – October Edition

Confessions of a Mother Runner

Since today is the first Saturday in October, I am joining up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

And since it’s late evening, it would probably be more appropriate to be having a glass of wine…but maybe you’re having some decaf coffee or herbal tea: