August 30, 2016 by Darlene

TOTR: Fall Races

This week’s TOTR topic is Fall Race Schedule

Here’s what I have planned so far…

9-10-16 – Malta 5k

I’ve run this 5k several times. It’s pretty flat and I usually win an AG award.

malta5k

9-18-16 – Saratoga Palio Half Marathon

2008 Saratoga Palio Poster (Palio!) Tags: race poster memorial compassion run promotional legacy scholarship palio halfmarathon 5k fund mentalhealthcare melaniemerolaodonnell

This a first for me. I’ve heard good things about it so we’ll see. I am using it as a training run for my next half.

10-01-16 – Apple Run 5K

This is a fun local race with good swag.

10-09-16 – Ramblefest Half Marathon

facebook_event_236824593361349

Another new race. It follows the same course of the Steel Rail Half which had favorable reviews.

10-15-16 – Great Pumpkin Challenge 10K

I have run this race a few times. There will be many runners there that I know so it should be fun. Plus running around the park is beautiful this time of year.

11-05-16 – NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K (in NYC)

My second time running through the NYC Marathon finish line. What can I say? You know I love NYC.

11-13-16 – Stockade-athon 15K

There aren’t many 15ks so I like to run them. This one is a very popular and lots of fun.

11-19-16 – Girls on the Run 5k

This is the 2nd year for this race. Most likely I won’t be running the race for myself but volunteering and helping one of the STEM runners finish her first 5k.

11-24-16 – Troy Turkey Trot 10k

70th this year

I plan to participate in the training group for this race. It’s the most popular race in our area and a great way to start Thanksgiving Day.

11-24 -16 –Troy Turkey Trot 5k

This race happens right after the 10k. I’m dressed to run so why not do it too??

12-03-16 – Panama City Half Marathon (in FL)

the Half!

A race-cation!! Can’t wait!! In addition I get to meet my favorite fellow bloggers! This will just be a fun one!!

I’m linking up with

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

Happy Running! What fall races are you looking forward to?

August 27, 2016 by Darlene

Runfessions August

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

I runfess…

I have a running shoe problem. Maybe you already knew that.

My lower back started aching so I bought these (on sale.)

Nike Zoom Vomero 12s

Then I got an email with an even better sale on my first Zoom Vomero 11s. So I had to buy them too.

bought these a year ago – now I have a new pair

The problem is that I am still attached to my older shoes that are worn out or were never comfortable. Memories! My 5k Pr…my Half Marathon PR… I am having trouble parting with them.

I runfess...

I am bailing on my 11 miler tomorrow. It’s not the weather. I’m not sick or injured. I have the time. I just don’t feel like running it alone.

Instead I am going up to spend the weekend with friends.

annual mah jongg weekend on the river

I hope to get out on the road on Monday. Alone…gulp!

Happy Running! Do you have a hard time getting rid of running shoes? Do you often skip or re-schedule your long runs?

August 26, 2016 by Darlene

Friday Five – Surprises at the 2016 Olympics

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!

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 23, 2016 by Darlene

TOTR: Race Memorabilia

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

This week’s topic is Race Memorabilia

So I’ve run over 200 races. That’s a lot of stuff!!

Bibs:

I have them ALL shoved away somewhere – not on display cuz I have too many. My favorite ones are in a basket near my medals.

Medals:

this rack has 2 rows and holds 20 medals on each. The outer row has my half medals. Now what will I do with #21?

Again. I save them all. I have too many to display. I display ALL my half marathon medals and some others. Most again are in that basket.

Awards:

Some I’ve eaten (the food ones LOL). Some I wear (hats, socks gloves, etc.) Some I use (bottles, bowls, glasses, mugs, etc.) Most are on the desk below the rack above or in that basket.

Other Stuff:

I give away the shirts that don’t fit. I had some old ones made into a blanket. I usually just toss bags and heat sheets.

My Favorites:

a tough half and unexpected AG award – love this bridge too

This is a Rock and it is my 5k PR

Happy Running! What do you do with your race bling?

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 18, 2016 by Darlene

TOLT: Sunflowers

thinking out loud

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

Here’s what I’m thinking about today:

SUNFLOWERS

sunflower

Sunflowers are now in bloom and they are one of my favorite flowers.

Of course, they face the sun and I LOVE the sun!

at the train station before my Race the Train race

But I seem to see them every time I go out for a run. So it made me think about how these flowers relate to my running.

And then a friend posted these quotes on FB:

Remember that all flowers grow through dirt.

In order to experience the fruits of our training (the medal, the age group award, the PR or just the finish line), we run through painful injuries, nagging pains, heat, rain, hills, slow, sluggish paces (or the dirt). In fact, our bad runs may outnumber the good ones. But they help us grow (bloom) and become a better runner.

Keep your head towards the sun and you will never see the shadows.

In other words, focus on our goals and what we want to do with our running. Some of us just want to run. Others want to get faster. Even others want to run longer distances.

Look at the positives in our runs or races. You finished. You walked less. You had negative splits. You weren’t in pain. The scenery was awesome. The weather was perfect.

Your runs will be more enjoyable (or shadow-free)

Griswold. Conn – would love to run here!!

Happy Running! What’s on your mind today?

August 17, 2016 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Physical

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.

Today’s word is Physical.

Of course, the first thing I thought of with this word was this:

Wow, that was 35 years ago?

And that may have been my first time getting “physical.”

I did NOTHING athletic growing up. Just those nasty physical fitness tests in gym class.

In college, there was just drinking and dancing. (I took bowling and Israeli dance as my required PE classes.)

I was lucky to not have a weight problem so I never thought about getting involved in anything related to physical fitness.

When this song came out, my bff and I decided to take an Aerobics class at a local community center. It was fun. We moved and did steps & stretching to music.

I think at some point in my 30’s, I joined a gym. I went occasionally but that didn’t last.

Fast forward to my 40’s. A co-worker and I met every evening to go for a walk. This was our version of doing something “physical.” Then one day, we decided to take an adult ed class at a local high school – Intro. to Tennis.

We were just awful. But somehow, I got hooked. Not on the physical part but on meeting great people and being part of a community – the tennis community.

So I took lessons, got better, joined numerous tennis teams and played ALL THE TIME.

In fact, I met my current hubby in 1996 while playing tennis.

at Nationals in Palm Spring – 2002

Then came my 50’s. I was still playing tennis but it was starting to be more social than competitive.

One day my tennis friend suggested that we join No Boundaries and learn to run.

One of my first races

Almost immediately I signed up for races. As my one friend remarked this past weekend. You seemed to have found your niche with running.

Almost there!

As so I guess I have. It’s my physical. It has even motivated me to do other physical things such as yoga, the gym, walking, hiking so I can be a better runner.

And though I hated those physical fitness tests when I was young, I now realize how important it is to be physically fit.

Happy Running!

August 9, 2016 by Darlene

TOTR: Race Mishaps

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

This week’s topic is Race Mishaps

The more races you run, the more likely there will be mishaps.

That means I’ve had quire a few.

If you read my blog regularly, you’ve probably heard all about these:

There was the time that I thought it would be 60 degrees and sunny (like the day before the race) and it turned out to be 30 degrees and sleeting. Yes, I nearly froze to death.

Lake George Half – 2011

There was the time that we had a power failure so my alarm clock didn’t go off and I got up late. I drove 90 mile like a crazy lady and the race started late due to a traffic jam.

I felt like the lady next to me looked – Walkway Half 2015

There was the time that I postponed going to a doctor about a sore foot because I was visiting my best friend from high school/college and running a race. It turned out that I had a stress fracture in my foot.

Runners World 5K 2012 (smiling through the pain)

Of course, there was the time that I broke my foot at the mile 1 water stop but finished the race anyway.

post Freihofer’s 5k 2013

And then there was the time when I waited 3 hours to run the 2nd half of a marathon relay and it got cancelled due to the heat when I was only at mile 4.

heading (unoffically) to the finish line of the VCM Relay 2016

There was the one mile race where I thought it started in the same place as the 5k. It didn’t. So I had to sprint a mile to start and got there after it started (and still got an age group award.)

Moreau Mile -2015

I could go on and on. There were many rainy races, hot races, cold races, windy races, races too short, races too long, race where my chip was not recorded (and I would have gotten an age group award), race that had me in the wrong age group (and I would have gotten an award), etc etc etc.

Happy Running! What was your worst race mishap?

August 6, 2016 by Darlene

The Ultimate Coffee Date – August

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

Where did July go? I felt like I just wrote July’s UCD post.

Anyway…

Over coffee or tea…

I’d tell you that job hunting is more stressful than working itself. I’ll leave it at that since it is soooo depressing. (I have 2 interviews next week – fingers crossed!)

Over coffee or tea…

I’d tell you that the more time you have, the less you get done.

My big plan for the summer was to clean out and get rid of.

So far, I have de-cluttered table, dresser, counter tops and now I have many boxes in the basement full of junk.

I also have boxes of books to donate.

I brought clothes to a consignment shop and I have many bags still to give away.

It’s a start but my drawers and closets are still FULL!!

Over coffee or tea…

I’d tell you that I caved and bought 2 new skirts (gym girl ultras) from Skirt Sports. Love the new patterns. (If you want to buy one of these skirts, use this code SSMFK20 to get 20% off the regular price.)

Over coffee or tea…

I’d tell you that I cannot resist a bargain. Do I need another pair of UGG boots??? No, but these retail for $160 and they were never worn. They cost $28 and I had a $20 credit at the consignment shop.

I also may have found another bargain on my favorite running shoes – $35 off & free shipping coupon.

zv11

Over coffee or tea…

I’d tell you that I am trying to stay active during my weekday time off (just in case it ends). I’ve been to a show in the park, playing tennis, hiking, going to New York City and on Monday I am going to the Saratoga Race Track for breakfast and a little betting!!

view from the top of Stewart Mountain

we listened to the cast of several shows and then WALKED 40 blocks to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the Fashion Institute.

And yes, there has been some running in the mix.

Over coffee or tea…

I’d tell you that I’m coming up on my anniversary of no pain while running (well it’s October 8 – back pain during RNR Brooklyn).

Wouldn’t you know it that during my run on Wednesday with Alyssa, my lower back started to ache. So much so that I shortened my run.

It maybe due a muscle pull while carrying stuff on Saturday or too much sitting at workshops on Tuesday & Wed or maybe I need new shoes. (That justifies the purchase mentioned above, right?)

I wore more supportive sandals on Thursday in NYC and they only gave me blisters. OY!

Over coffee or tea…

I’d tell you that I love the Olympics! Can’t wait to watch all the events. Wasn’t the opening ceremony great?

Gymnastics are my favorite but I’ll be routing for Desi, Shaylane and Amy.

Desiree Linden, Shalene Flanagan and Amy Cragg celebrate after qualifing for the Women's Olympic Team in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon on February 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.

Over coffee or tea…

I’d tell you that I may have lost my mind signing up for today’s race.

rtt

I haven’t run more than 5 miles straight since June 26 and haven’t done any hills since then. And now there’s the back thing.

8.4 hilly miles.…What was I thinking?!

Happy Running! Anything to spill? Are you racing this weekend? What is your favorite Olympic event to watch? Are you a bargain hunter?

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?