October 28, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Perspective

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 PERSPECTIVE

or according the dictionary, “a sensible way of judging how good, bad, important, etc. something is in comparison with other things.”

We stress about weather forecasts.

We get anxious about running hills.

We worry about our paces, our PRs, our split times…

We compare ourselves to other runners.

So how do we keep our running in perspective?

Don’t take running for granted.

Just think back to the last time you were injured. Think about those who cannot run.

this is vivid in my mind

Forget about the current weather conditions.

When you’re cold, think back to when it was too hot and humid to run.

a cold and wet one, for sure

When you’re sweating out there, think back to when you couldn’t run because of the ice and snow.

the opposite – hot & humid

Run for fun.

Leave the Garmin home. Run without thinking about your pace. Just enjoy the scenery or your thoughts.

Garmin was dead…oh well!

Accept things that you cannot control.

Accept that if you are aging, you will get slower.

this may be my half PR. the 4 after have been much slower

There will be days that your runs suck and then there will be runs that are great.

ugh…done!

Some runners are just naturally faster (even without trying.)

Get someone to start running.

Inspiring someone else to run, seeing someone cross the finish line for the first time will change how you feel about running.

It’s only a training plan.

Plans are meant to be broken. There is no cookie cutter solution to running your best race. Adjust the plan to meet your needs. This may mean skipping runs or shortening distances.

There will always be another race.

As soon as a disappointing race is over, sign up for another.

You can learn from your mistakes but you shouldn’t dwell on them. We always do our best but sometimes our best isn’t enough.

Happy Running! How do you keep your running in perspective?

October 27, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Tips for Night Races

Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with Marcia @ Marcia’s Healthy Slice and Patty @ My no-guilt life!

This week’s topic is Tips for Night Races

I am definitely not an expert since I only run one night race a year…

Albany’s Last Run

Wear bright colors

at least I wore a white hat & shoes & lights around my neck

Carry a flashlight or wear a headlamp if there aren’t lights

This shouldn’t be a problem because most races should be on roads that are well lit.

Be prepared for a slower finish time

You have to look out for cracks, potholes and things in the road that you can’t see when it is dark. No doubt, this will make you run slower. I didn’t one year and I fell.

Shift your meals.

You don’t want to run on a full stomach (dinner) and you don’t want to run on an empty stomach. I usually eat my breakfast 2 hours before the race.

Happy Running! Do you run night races? Any other tips?

October 16, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite Fall Foods

Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mar 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’s theme is Favorite Fall Foods

1. Pumpkin anything

Here are some of my recent purchases:

And I’ve lost count of how many of these, I’ve drunk:

I’ve even cooked with pumpkin:

pumpkin chili

Recipe

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

Recipe

2. Sweet Potatoes

Recipe

4. Butternut Squash Soup

Recipe

5. Cider Donuts – warmed

Happy Running! What are your favorite Fall foods?

October 14, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Adjust

This week’s Word is ADJUST

I wasn’t going to post today because I already did but this word just is so appropriate.

As runners, we have to ADJUST.

Adjust our running because of family, friend or work commitments.

Sometimes I’ve had to change the time of a run or miss a run. It’s not the end of the world. Other things can be more important than running.

had to cut short my run to go to my mil’s 90th birthday party

Adjust our running because of the weather.

It’s snowing or raining so we run slowly or indoors.

have to run slower when it is sleeting

And then there’s the clothes. You thought it would be warmer. Or you thought it would be colder.

One day’s it’s 80 and then it’s 40! I was cold!

Adjust our running to run with a group or another runner.

Sometimes, in a group, I struggle to run faster.

speedy turkey trot running partners

And then you run with a friend who is much slower. But you adjust because it is more important to have their company.

love running wth Judy!

Adjust our running because of race conditions (ice, snow, hills, etc.)

lots of hills at the beginning of this race

monsoon rain – an adjustment, for sure,

Adjust our running due to injuries.

We all get injured. Sometimes we run while recovering and have to adjust. Sometimes those injuries pop up in the middle of a race.

foot pain slowed me down in this race

stress fracture in my foot is making me adjust my pace

Adjust our goals due to any of the above.

We may have a goal to PR but the course is hilly or the weather is lousy. Or even worse, we are injured!

just happen to finish (post broken foot)

Happy Running! How have you had to adjust your running?

October 13, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Balancing Running/Training with Work/Life/Family

Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with Marcia @ Marcia’s Healthy Slice and Patty @ My no-guilt life!

This week’s topic is Balancing Running/Training with Work/Life/Family

I struggle with this …a lot.

I work full-time. I don’t have a big family but I do have a lot of friends.

How do you create a balance?

Be Flexible.

There have been times that I have wanted and preferred to run but things got in the way. I’ve had to run before work

or run during work

or sometimes not run at all.

12038287_10154200672714428_4679287681227959390_n

at a family event

missed a race for this concert with my hubby

I’ve had to split my long runs into 2 parts or even 2 days.

day 2 of the long run

Prioritize.

If you are training for a big race, then you may have to miss events with your family and/or friends. Of even take a day off from work. (I have.)

there were many times that I wanted to be on our boat, but stayed home to run instead

I did not play tennis with them. I ran instead.

Be organized.

Schedule every run. Think ahead about all events and appointments that you cannot miss. If you have a busy life, runs are never last minute or on the fly.

Happy Running! How you create a balance between running and the rest of your life?

October 7, 2015 by Darlene

Wedneday Word: Tenacious

This week’s Word is TENACIOUS.

What is “Tenacious?”

According to the dictionary:

not readily relinquishing a position, principle, or course of action; determined.

In other words: persevering, persistent, determined, dogged, strong-willed, tireless,indefatigable, resolute, patient, unflagging, staunch, steadfast, untiring,unwavering, unswerving, unshakable, unyielding, insistent; stubborn,intransigent, obstinate, obdurate, stiff-necked; rock-ribbed; pertinacious

Isn’t every runner tenacious?

We set goals.

YES! Half Marathon PR!!

We run in uncomfortable conditions.

Lake George Half Marathon

We run even when we shouldn’t.

2nd metatarsal stress fracture

TENACITY:

Happy Running! How are you tenacious?

October 2, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite Fitness Bloggers

This week, the theme is 5 Favorite Fitness Bloggers:

How can I pick five???

1. Shut Up and Run.

suar

Beth’s blog always makes me laugh. She is open and honest and discusses EVERYTHING related to her running. She is also an incredible athlete who completes in Ironman competitions and runs faster than women half her age. You should definitely subscribe to her blog if you don’t already.

2. Taking the Long Way Home

ttlwh

As Wendy says, hers is “a running blog written by someone who doesn’t want to act her age.” I totally get that and can relate. Her posts are fun and interesting as she always comes up with creative images to illustrate her point. She has endless energy and is quite fast. I love her devotion to yoga. She is quite inspiring and I hope her speed and yoga routine rub off on me!

3. Miss Zippy

Amanda offers a lot of insight on running, training, health and nutrition. She now even has her own podcast.

4. Run to the Finish

run2tf

I especially enjoy reading about Amanda’s travel adventures but also enjoy her clean eating recipes, workout ideas, running tips, motivation, expert interviews and much more.

5. These 3 young bloggers show contagious energy that make me wish that I were young again.

Ali on the Run

Even though suffering from Crohn’s disease, Ali has a healthy attitude on running, yoga, NYC and giraffes. Her blog posts always make me smile.

Sweat Once A Day

Emily started running because her mother did (AJH) but then quickly progressed to marathons, Ironman Triathlons and now is obsessed with ultras. I am in awe of her energy and enthusiasm for life and “sweating.”

Run This Apple

Like me, she loves NYC and running. Her writing style is so poetic and besides, years ago, she was a student in my French class. How could her blog not be ones of my faves?

Happy Running! Which blogs do you like to read?

September 26, 2015 by Darlene

Runfessions September – a day late

This month I’m linking up again with Marcia’s Healthy Slice for Runfessions.

I runfess.

I haven’t put a new battery in my scale. That means I haven’t weighed myself since early May. I have upped my mileage as I train for my Oct 10 half marathon. And I wear dresses to work and anywhere else and running skirts to run.

So I am in weight lala land.

I runfess.

My FitBit is making me poor.

I get depressed if I don’t hit 10,000 steps each day. It’s easy if I run or play tennis but on those other days, when I sit at my computer work, it’s tough.

So I try to go for a walk every day. Unfortunately, I pass a Starbucks on the way to the park and I have no willpower.

An iced grande vanilla chai tea latte with soy is almost 6 bucks! Ouch!

but I do get to see beautiful flowers…

I runfess.

I love Fall food especially apple or pumpkin anything – the more calories the better.

pumpkin donuts

apple cider donut

I have eaten several of the above and fall started started on Wednesday. (Maybe I better buy a battery for that scale.)

I runfess.

I invited a college friend up for the weekend to go to a concert on Saturday and boating on Sunday. The concert starts at noon and I have a race in the morning. I would have to miss my last long run (12 miles) before my half in 2 weeks,

That means that I am definitely racing for fun not time.

I runfess.

I have not gone to the gym or a yoga class since …since I can’t remember.

this was taken in July

No surprise here. I am just not into strength or cross training.

Happy Running! Any Runfessions?

September 24, 2015 by Darlene

Thining Out Loud Thursday: All’s well that ends well

So I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

Sometimes things happen for a reason.

Yesterday was supposed to be my first run mentoring the STEM group (a Couch25k program for women who are victims of domestic violence). I volunteered last fall and it was a very inspiring experience. It’s amazing how you bond with these women after only 9 weeks.

I said I that I would help again on Wednesdays but they changed the location and time. I tried but with the traffic, I arrived too late and the group was gone.

I was bummed so I drove home and then on a whim, I stopped at Stewarts to get bread and got the run urge (or maybe it was that my FitBit hadn’t buzzed yet.)

That’s where I usually park for my runs on the rail trail. I always run toward Voorheesville which is 1.9 miles. The other direction has been under construction for years.

Guess what? It’s done. It’s a beautifully paved path that goes all the way to Albany. That should add another 3 miles.

So I wouldn’t have discovered this new route (near where I live) if I ran with STEM.

This morning, I was about to apologize for missing the run when I got a message that they needed someone to run with the Albany STEM group. I said that I would do Wednesdays and it is closer so it should work out better.

And another thing…

There are two 10ks that I considered signing up for this weekend.

There’s a local one that my tennis friend is doing. I actually owe her since she got me started running. But it’s a boring 5k loop done twice.

Then there’s a scenic one in Chestertown along the Schroon River. My friend has a house there where I could stay the night before and it is 10 minutes away from our boat.

I choose the scenic one. However, my friend got the dates mixed up and offered her house to someone else.

Darn! I had already taken Friday off from work but I could drive up that morning or do the local race.

But it was another lucky day for me. My friend called to tell me that her friend changed his mind and won’t be staying in her riverhouse. I can stay there!