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!

What else?

The race…. maybe I’ll get lucky here too.

I ran this race 2 years ago and my time was 1:06:10. I was recovering from a broken foot and it is a hilly course.

still won 2nd in my AG

My 10K PR is 57:03 and my most recent 10K time (on a flat course) was 1:00:39.

So my hope is to finish under 60 minutes but my realistic goal is to finish around 1:02 and win a AG award.

And hopefully have enough left in the tank to finish my long run here in the Adirondacks:

photo from this weekend 2 years ago

Happy Running! What’s on your mind this Thursday?

September 23, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Comparison

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 COMPARISON

Comparison is a natural impulse, especially for women.

I wish I had thinner thighs like ….

I wish I had bigger boobs like…

I wish I had a flatter stomach like…

Yes, comparisons to others will make you crazy. There will always be something about our looks that we are unsatisfied with.

And what about runners? Do we compare?

Of course.

There’s the “I wish I could wear that when I run” to “if only I could run that far or that fast.”

We all try to run faster than the runner ahead of us.

We check the race results and compare ourselves to the other runners in our age group.

Yes, we want that award.

In the end, we can’t get carried away with the comparisons to other runners.

We are ALL RUNNERS and we are who we are.

Happy Running? Do you compare yourself to others?

September 22, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: I Won’t Run Without…

Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!

This week’s topic is I Won’t Run Without…

A Running Skirt

I don’t like the way I look in shorts or capris. A skirt is so much more comfortable. Of course, when it gets cold, I”ll wear a skirt over tights.

A Baseball Cap

My hair is very thick and unruly so I always wear a cap and in the winter a wool hat.

My Phone

It’s a safety thing. I got burned once when I got injured and didn’t have my phone. So now, I always carry it.

Comfortable Running Shoes

You can’t run when your feet hurt. I know that all too well.

Happy Running! What won’t you run without?

September 18, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite songs to pump up a workout

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, the theme is 5 Favorite songs to pump up a workout:

Here are my top 5 motivating songs to run to since I don’t work out:

1. Fight Song (Rachel Blatten)

I recently downloaded this one onto my phone. I love these lines:

Starting right now I’ll be strong
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care
If nobody else believes
Cause I’ve still got
A lot of fight left in me

Perfect for those tough miles.

2. Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey)

Any oldies but goodie. At my age, if you want to keep running and even run half marathons, you “gotta believe!”

3. Don’t Stop (Rolling Stone)

Another song to keep you going when those legs want to stop.

4. Running Down a Dream (Tom Petty)

Every race that I enter, I am “running down a dream.)

5. Best Day of my Life (American Authors)

Any day that I am healthy enough to get out there and run is “the best day.”

Happy Running! What are your favorite running or workout songs?

September 17, 2015 by Darlene

Think Out Loud Thursdays: Weekend Plans

Thursdays are for thinking… so I am linking up with Running With Spoons…

So here’s what I’m thinking…

How can I fit it all in this weekend?

My friends have scheduled a Mah Jongg weekend at a house on Schroon River.

Unexpectedly, we have summer weather in mid-September.

So boating season continues. It’s so short and the winter so long that I really want to be out on the lake one last time.

And then there’s half marathon training…3 weeks to go before my race.

I was planning to run 11-12 miles….

I even considered running a local half marathon on Sunday but quickly decided that it was stupid to spend $65 for the company of other runners (and there was also a chance of rain on Sunday.)

So what am I going to do?

All three!!!

Get up early on Saturday and do my long run.
Drive up to the lake and spend the day on our boat.
Afterwards, head up to Schroon River and join the ladies for mah jongg.
Spend Sunday with the mah jongg ladies.

Yup, it should be a busy, fun weekend!

last year’s Sunday group

Happy Running! What are you thinking about this Thursday?

September 16, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Cautious

This week’s Word is CAUTIOUS

According to the dictionary, cautious is someone who is “careful to avoid potential problems or dangers.”

That is not one of my strong points.

I usually do and then think later.

I don’t do crazy things like jump out of an airplane (…yet.) but I have run in ice and snow.

I have traveled to Europe alone several times.

I have taken many race-cations on my own.

in West Palm Beach, FL

In fact, I have 2 upcoming races where I am staying in Air-BNB apartments by myself – one in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan.

And yes, I have raced with a stress fracture – actually twice.

why am I smiling??? it hurts!!

I have completed a race with a broken foot.

post Freihofer 5k

I have run a 5k after being sidelined after ankle surgery and not having run at all for 5 months.

definitely not cautious

Do I stretch for or after a run?? Of course not. Do I use a foam roller or stick? Nope. And yes, at my age, I should be more cautious and think about preventing injuries…

But that’s not me.

I grew up with a cautious Jewish mother who worried about EVERYTHING. Maybe I am rebelling.

Happy Running! Are you “cautious?

September 15, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Fitness Trackers

Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!

This week’s topic is: Fitness/Running Trackers & Watches

I’ll categorize my use of trackers:

For Tracking Miles When Running

I use Daily Mile to keep track of my miles.

You can view them daily and

and weekly

and of course, monthly.

aug2014

You can link to FB or Twitter and comment other people’s posts but I do not.

For Tracking Distance When Running

I used to use Nike+ on my phone when I ran.

This app is easy to use and keeps track of distance, time and pace. But I only care about distance.

It also shows you a map of where you have run.

You can even add pictures.

even on the track

I recently deleted it and its the data because it took up a lot of space and switched to Runkeeper.

Runkeeper is easy to use, as well. It calls out your distance and pace. You can set walk/run intervals. You can also set goals and you can save a route. I only use it for distance and then delete the run. (So it doesn’t take up space on my phone.)

For Racing

I use my Garmin 205.

I know that it’s big and clunky but it tells me distance, time, pace…everything I need to know on one screen during a race.

I love it and I hope it never dies!!!

For Tracking my Steps Daily

I just joined the world of tracking my steps. I bought a Fitbit Flex.

The jury is still out on it since I’ve only used it for one day.

work + 3.5 mile run + walk in the mall

Ideally I would have liked one that showed the steps without syncing to my phone but I didn’t want to spend the extra money until I decided if it was useful.

It can also track my sleep but that would be very depressing.

Right now, I am hoping that it will motivate me to be more active when not running.

Happy Running! Do you use any trackers? Which ones?

September 9, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Carefree

This week’s Word is CAREFREE

Don’t I wish…

In life, I am definitely not carefree.

I plan my days and I plan my nights and I plan my weekends. My hubby, on the other hand, is a go with the flow kind of guy. It drives me nuts. But because he doesn’t care, I make the plans and I am in control.

1508071_10153802254859428_8318378114823220880_n

love him and he is “carefree”

My friends are the same way. Nothing would happen if it weren’t for me. I plan our trips to NYC, our dinners out, our annual Florida vacations, etc. Again, I ask for ideas, but they always respond “What ever you choose is fine.” Again, I am in control which is nice but it is also exhausting.

on one of my planned trips to NYC

Another problem about not being carefree is that I have trouble sleeping. I just can’t turn off my problems even if they are minor.

relaxing in the sun at Boca Grande beach

I could be carefree here, I think

But running is a different story.

I run when I can, where I choose, the distance that fits into the time I have and I never care about my pace. I use an app for distance and as soon as I am done, I click “delete.”

running carefree

Yes, I am a “carefree” runner. No tempos, intervals, hill repeats, speed drills …too much to worry about.

Not so much for racing…

I wear always wear my Garmin for a race. I check my pace frequently and then I post my splits in my race reports on my blog. I care about my times for a race because I want to do well and improve. And I am competitive.

Happy Running! Are you Carefree?

September 8, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Racing Pet Peeves

Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!

This week’s topic is Racing Pet Peeves.

I ran over 30 races last year and have run 25 so far this year so I am entitled to a lot of pet peeves.

Gun times not Chip times.

I don’t like to push to the front and start with the speedsters but I don’t want my time influenced by the fact that I don’t start near the front.

So I think all races should have chips that record the start time and the finish times. I know this happens for most big races but I have even run half marathons where this wasn’t the case. And with a lot of runners lining up for a race, this can add several minutes to your finish time.

Cotton Tee Shirts.

Who wears these? At this point, I don’t even care if I get a tee shirt. If the race organizers can’t afford tech shirts, they shouldn’t give out any. Or they could charge extra for those who want a tech shirt.

No Age Group Awards.

Yes, there are some races with no awards or just 1st place. I’ve even been at a race where they were posted but not announced. And please no a group for 60-100. There are many runners over 70 these days and they deserve their own group. At my age, age group awards are my main motivator to run well.

Not enough Porta-Potties.

I think it’s great to host a race with a facility that has regular bathrooms. But if they do, they should make sure they are open. There should always be porta-potties as a back up and if there are no regular bathroom, there should be enough porta-potties for the number of runners registered for the race. Long lines are very annoying, to say the least.

Poor parking.

Parking for races should be marked. It shouldn’t be far away. If it is, there should be a shuttle. There should be enough parking for the number of runners registered for the race. No one wants to be late for a race because they can’t find a place to park.

Unhealthy or little food.

No candy or cookies please. We are athletes and it would be nice to try to offer something healthy. Fruit is good but we are hungry too. So there should be bagels and protein bars. And if you ask me, there should be chocolate milk.

Not enough Water stops.

Believe it or not, I was at a recent race where there was no water after mile 1 for a 10k. And it was hot! And there should be enough water for the slower runners. They paid the same amount to run as the fast runners. And they’ve been out there longer so are probably thirstier.

Expensive race photos.

In this day and age, everything is digital. So all photos should be free and downloadable. Races are expensive enough. Most of the time, the photos are not that great anyway.

No day of race bib pick up.

I recently ran a half where there was none. I contacted them saying that I couldn’t drive 3 hours just to pick up my bib. They said that I had to find someone then. Luckily I did but the next day, they had day of race pick up anyway. Made me so mad. Another half that I am considering charges $25 extra for day of race bib pick up. Really?? Isn’t the race expensive enough? This discourages runners from running out of town races.

Enough whining for now.

I have a 5k this Saturday and I hope it’s a good one.

Happy Running! Any racing pet peeves that I haven’t mentioned?