July 2, 2015 by Darlene

Thinking Our Loud Thursday: Becoming a Morning Runner

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

A Morning Runner???

Who me?

I like to run in the morning but I just can’t get motivated to get out of bed early enough.

I like read at night instead of going to bed early. Then morning is my watch the Today show, read blogs, and relax time of day before having to go to work. Yup, work gets in the way of everything!!

Here are some tips:

Schedule it. Put it on the calendar. Make it a priority.

Set your running clothes out the night before. It will save you time (and you can sleep longer.)

Don’t hit the snooze button. (or the next thing you know, it will be too late to run.)

Vary your route. Make it interesting.

Find a friend to run with. It will keep you accountable.

I don’t live near any runners but Barbara lives the closest so maybe I coax her into running with me.

Why run in the morning?

You will feel better for the rest of the day.

You may even get to see some interesting morning creatures.

In the summer, it is much cooler and in the winter, it is lighter outside.

Happy Running! Are you a early morning runner or do you prefer to sleep in and run later?

June 26, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: What I was doing 10 Years Ago

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 What I was doing 10 Years Ago.

So the year was 2005.

No running.

No boating.

No knitting.

No mah jongg.

What was I doing in 2005?

1. I played a lot of tennis.

I played in contracts, took lessons, played on several teams, etc.

2. I worked as a Technology Director for 40 Catholic Schools.

This was my favorite job…so rewarding…so varied…wish I could have afforded to stay there forever.

3. I got to travel and go to conferences around the country.

If only I ran back then…

in San Diego

4. I was into quilting.

I belonged to quilt guild and went to monthly meetings. I went on weekend retreats.

5. My annual trip with the tennis ladies was to Las Vegas.

We didn’t gamble but we liked to go to shows and restaurants and hike on the weekend.

Happy Running! What were you doing 10 years ago?

June 25, 2015 by Darlene

Thining Out Loud Thursday: Racing, Confidence & Walking

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

Until recently I have felt that I had been racing more than running. In fact, I know I have.
- 3-14-15 – Runnin of the Green 4 m
- 3-22-15 – Shamrock Shuffle 5m
- 3-29-15 – Delmar Dash 5m
- 4-11-15 – Bacon Hill Bonanza 5k
- 4-18-15 – Asbury Park Half Marathon (in NJ)
- 4-26-15 – Cherry Blossom 5k
- 5-02-15 – Spring Run Off 10K
- 5-07-15 – Albany Law Day 5K against DV
- 5-09-15 – Mastodon 5k
- 5-10-15 – Mother’s Day 5K (for GOTR)
- 5-25-15 – Vermont City Marathon Relay
- 5-30-15 – Freihofer’s Run for Women
- 6-07-15 – Betar Byway 5K & Morea u M ile
- 6-13-15 – Walkway Half Marathon
- ~~6-21-15 –~~ ~~Adirondack Distance 10m~~ ~~(my flight got cancelled so I missed it)~~

That’s 14 (almost 15) races in 4 months.

When I first started running, I would sign up for races as a motivator to get out there and run during the week. I knew that my race performance would suffer if I didn’t.

Once I started running half marathons, I followed a plan so I would run during the week to train for the race.

I ran in order to race.

Many runners don’t race much at all. They just run. And that’s perfectly fine.

But I need to race. I enjoy it. I am not sure that I would run if I didn’t race.

I think that I have lost my confidence! From September to March, this is what happened:

5K PR– 27:11 (Run for the Roc -9/28/14)
10 mi PR – 1:38:45 (Perfect 10 Miler – 10/26/14)
15K PR – 1:33:23 (Stockade-athon – 11/09/14)
10K PR– 57:03 (Troy Turkey Trot- 11/27/14)
Half Marathon PR – 2:09:40 (West Palm Beach Half – 1/17/15)
7K PR – 44:24 (HMRRC Winter Series #5 – 2/2/14)
4 mi PR – 37:27 (Runnin’ of the Green – 3/14/15)
5 mi PR – 45:26 (Delmar Dash – 3/29/15)

Yup, that’s a PR at every distance!! Even after several serious injuries and being OLD! What a confidence booster!

Since April, things have slowed down. I have still been racing a lot but my times have been slow! (That is slow for me. Others would complain if they ran a mile in over 8 minutes. Some would be thrilled run one in 10 minutes. We’re all different.)

I feel like I have gone backwards…to the time when I struggled to finish a 5k under 30 minutes and a half marathon under 2 1/2 hours.

Being the analytical person that I am, I have searched for the reasons…

–my feet started hurting during my April half (which was annoying to say the least)
— I have cut back on my mileage (skipped runs)
–I have been running solo (no group runs)
–It is warmer (and humid)

All are very valid reasons. I don’t expect PRs. But I would like to have a good race to bring my confidence back.

Galloway may have a point. Lately I have been reading his tips on several blogs. His most recent is about walking. If you have read any of my race recaps, you know that I DO WALK.

According to Galloway:

Compared to running constantly, the 1-minute walk break still results in runners feeling better, staying healthier, and going faster, but it can get even better! Limiting walk breaks to 30 seconds, or in some cases even less, while cutting the run time accordingly, gives all the same benefits, with even less fatigue and even faster times.

Why?

The greatest benefit of the walk break comes in the first 30 sec. Our heart rates come down, the running muscles relax, we catch our breaths, and the fatigue melts away. After 30 seconds of walking, we tend to slow down.
As fatigue sets in, that walk gets slower… This means faster running is needed to stay on pace, which creates more fatigue at the end of each running segment, so the walk will get slower, and so goes the downward spiral at the end of the race.

I do not officially use the RUN/WALK method. But I do walk.

When I first started running, my goal was to run a race without walking. I was thrilled when I could. However, I didn’t get faster until I allowed myself to walk.

Not one of my PR times above were accomplished without walking.

Of course, I wish I was strong enough to run fast and not have to walk. But unfortunately I am not.

Happy Running! Any thoughts today? What do you think about racing, PRs and/or walking?

June 19, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: What Makes Me Happy

This week, the theme is Five Things That Make Me Happy

1. Being on my boat with my hubby on Lake George

It is so beautiful, peaceful, relaxing. It’s my weekend place to be.

2. Hanging out with my friends

Whether it is playing tennis, knitting, going to a movie or the most likely, eating out. I them love!!

3. Running in scenic places

I love running along the water or on a trail.

Lake George

Peebles State Park

Corning Bike Path

Washington Park

4. Racing

There are more races now that any time of year. So there are so many choices. You can choose by location, bling, course, etc.

5. Playing tennis outdoors.

It’s free. It’s close to home. Love being outdoors in the fresh air.

Happy Running! What makes you happy?

June 18, 2015 by Darlene

Racing with Doubts

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

I subscribe to Runner’s World magazine and finally sat to read it last week before my half marathon. I flipped right to “No Pity: It Takes a Lot of Courage to Run a Sucky Race,” by Lauren Fleshman. (I guess I thought that my upcoming half may be sucky…)

The title drew me in and I love Lauren Fleshman. I began to read Lauren’s article and proceeded to get teary-eyed.

She described pushing through doubt, facing failure head on in the wake of big goals, and embracing how important it is to try anyway during the Olympic Trials in 2012. The article led me to think about on my own personal courage.

I haven’t been feeling the “running” lately. I have skipped weekday runs. The ones I have done have been filled with walking and a pace of over 12 minutes. My longs runs since April have been non-existent other than the VCM relay. (That one was unplanned and so my goal was just to have fun.)

I doubted my ability to run another half marathon well. Yes, I could finish it. But I was embarrassed to just finish again. I am not injured and I have finished a half marathon this year in 2:09. So why attempt one when I knew the results in advance. I did not train well enough to do well. Should I still try?

On the fear of failing in a very public way and feeling sorry for herself well in advance of any failure, Lauren wrote:

“I would think, This is the very thing that holds people back from trying things. From having experiences. This fear that failing makes you a failure. In our core, we want to believe that trying matters, regardless of the outcome. That having the courage to see things through to their mysterious ends is worthwhile. That fighting well with what you have is enough.”

I realized after reading this article, that my race was more than just a finish time. It was an experience. Running 13.1 miles. Meeting new people. Seeing new places. Challenging myself.

If I didn’t try, I would miss all this.

So I ran the Walkway Half Marathon and gave it my best shot. And I didn’t have a PR. My time was even slower than my last half marathon (that I just ran for fun.) But that was okay and expected.

Trying is enough. Seeing things through to that mysterious end is worth it. Fighting with what I have is enough.

“…the reason we set big goals is not to achieve them, but to set ourselves on a road trip toward them, and that trip is where all the good loving is.”

Happy Running! Do you agree? Did you get a chance to read the article?

June 16, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Running Solo Vs. With A Group

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: Running Solo Vs. With A Group

I mostly run solo so I’ll start here:

Advantages of Running Solo

You choose your pace.

You can run slow or push the pace. You can walk when you feel like it or just stop and take photographs. No pressure.

You can be flexible with regard to time and distance.

You can wait for the rain to stop or change your mind and run in the evening rather than the morning, You can cut short your run or if you feel like it, you can extend it.

3 mile planned run before boating

You choose the location.

You can leave for a run right from your house or from your work. No driving to a scheduled location is necessary.

right near work

You can be spontaneous.

You can decide to go for a run on a new route.

You can listen to music.

Just put on your headphones and zone out to your favorite tunes.

You can just be alone with your thoughts.

or just plan your day or figure out a solution to a problem.

Advantages of Running With a Group

It’s fun.

You’re never alone. There’s always someone faster and slower than you.

You will be motivated to run faster.

my long runs with these 2 ladies were faster than when I ran alone

You are less likely to cancel.

Especially if you’ve paid for the training. Or people are waiting for you.

You make new friends.

You will then bump into them at races or make plans to race together.

we met at the Turkey Trot Group runs

fellow Freihofer Challenge groupies

You may run at a location that you normally wouldn’t choose.

I’ve run at parks and in neighborhoods that I had never been to before.

path near Knickerbocker Area

It prepares for better for race conditions.

Yes, no one ever runs races solo.

Chatting with others make the miles go faster.

You may learn something new.

You’ll learn about new races or new gear and get running tips.

Happy Running! Do you run solo or with a group?

June 12, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite Summer Activities

This week, the theme is Favorite Summer Activities.

Here are my 5:

1. Racing on the Weekends

I know I could just run for free but I only get that “Runner’s High” from races. I am lucky to have many choices. I can choose by location, course, distance, bling, etc. I pretty much race every weekend.

2. Playing Tennis Outdoors

This I can do for free. I usually play every Tuesday. If I didn’t go boating, I could also play on Saturdays and Sundays. I’ve given up playing in USTA and WTT league matches so that I can run more.

3. Boating on Lake George

This is one thing that the hubby & I do together. We both love it on the lake…whether it be docking on the islands, tying up with other boats in a bay or just hanging out at the marina.

4.Weekend getaways with friends

Schroon River

NYC

We go on day trips to museums and plays. We also go up to my friend’s who has a house on Schroon River. We love to swim, hike, play tennis, shop, eat out, play games, etc.

5.Barbecues

Nothing beats a hamburger or hot dog on a grill. Usually I do this on the lake or at a friend’s house.

Happy Running! What are your favorite things to do in the summer?

June 9, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Hot Weather Running Tips

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: Hot Weather Running Tips

What to wear:

Skirts, of course. You stay cooler in them than capris or shorts and they just look good.

Especially SkirtSports skirts!

Tank tops or tech tee shirts

lighthouse 5k mother-147

Baseball caps – they keep the hair off my neck and the sun off my face

biggest-loser-5k

Cool Max socks – I am blister prone so this is important for me.

Sunglasses – I wear contacts so my eyes are really sensitive. I wear sunglasses all the time (even if it is not sunny) except when it is dark out.

sshm2

Other essentials:

Nathan Hand-held water bottle – I don’t usually carry water (I just loop my runs) but when I do, I love this.

Don’t forget that if you chafe, in the summer when you sweat, you chafe even more.

And the sunscreen and bug spray (especially if you run in areas where there are ticks)

Where to run:

Shady areas like bike paths or parks

Trails

Where there is a breeze off the water

On the treadmill where there is air-conditioning

not my favorite place

When to run:

In the morning before it gets warm

before work

In the evening when it cools down

after work

Of course, remember, you will run SLOWER when it is hot.

I think I was hot here LOL

And don’t forget those warm weather rewards!!!!

Happy Running! Any additions that you can add to my hot weather running tips?

June 5, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: National Running Day

This week, the theme is National Running Day.

National Running Day, held annually on the first Wednesday in June, is a day when runners everywhere declare their passion for running.

Here are my 5 reasons to run:

1. JA is my running buddy. He cannot run, cannot walk, cannot go to school, cannot digest his food but he is my BIGGEST SUPPORTER.

2. There were times that I couldn’t – broken ankle, stress fracture, broken foot. There may be times in the future when I cannot. So when I CAN, I RUN. I will never take this gift for granted.

3. I am a goal-driven person. I want to get better. I also know if I don’t run often, then it will not happen. So I keep running and hope that my finish times reflect my efforts.

4. It’s no secret that I love ice cream. I would eat it every day especially soft ice cream in the summer. As I get older, my metabolism must be slowing down because I have to watch what I eat for the first time. If I run, I hope that I can watch it less.

5. I actually feel younger now than before I started running. People say that “I don’t look my age.” (I love those people.) But I respond that I don’t feel my age. I credit running for that. (I am 62 btw.)

Happy Running! How did you celebrate National Running Day?

June 2, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Running Breaks

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: Running Breaks

There are many reasons to take a break from running.

Injuries

This is the worst. Injuries suck. There is nothing you can do about them. You just can’t run. And you always wonder if you will again.

I have had a few. Broken foot in 2013…

Stress fracture in late 2012…

Ankle surgery for 2 broken bones in early 2012…

Weather

When I first started running, I stopped in October and began again in April. Then I realized that I could run in the cold weather, even in the snow. Running in the rain and ice. Not for me!!

Living in the Northeast, there were many days like below when I did not run.

The same can be true if you live in a warm, humid climate. It is hard to run in those conditions.

doesn’t this look inviting?

Life

Yup, sometimes life gets in the way. I work full-time and I am not a morning runner. Evening and weekend work, family and friend obligations often make running impossible.

My hubby and my friends do not run so I try not to let running interfere with my relationships.

10405437_10153756637729428_6501356606667614072_n

dinners out with friends

boating with the hubby

tennis instead of running

Sometimes, I’d rather be running but I know I always can’t choose running.

Tapering or Recovering

Also we may not want to take a break, we know we have to. Before and after a long race, I usually take at least 2 days off. I like to be active and feel like a slug when I don’t run. But I that these old bones need a rest or there will be repercussions.

best post half recovery

Lack of Mojo

This is a tough one. It’s when you just don’t feel like running.

I’ve had this feeling many times but since I sign up for so many races, I know that if I don’t run, there will be consequences.

There are many reasons for lack of mojo:

Over training
Fatigue
Pain
Poor races results

We’ve all experienced these.

I have recently felt the last two. Since my half in April, my feet have bothered me on and off. It is not fun to run when something hurts.

ouch!!

I also have been disappointed in my finish times. I am getting slower. Especially for my April half which I trained for and the course was flat. I expected to do better and I was depressed for long time afterwards.