April 3, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Good Things

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 Good Things

Here are my 5 “Good” things:

1. My Health

Nothing is injured!!! I feel fine when I play tennis as well as run.

happy legs and happy feet

2. My Racing

Not my training but I have been racing every weekend and that’s been going well.

Runnin’ of the Green – 37:27 – 4 mile PR

Shamrock Shuffle – 46:29 – 5 mile PR

Delmar Dash – 45:46 – new 5 mile PR

This weekend I am taking a racing break so I can get one decent long run in before my half in 2 weeks.

3. Winter is over.

The sidewalks and paths are mostly clear.

Nisky Nike Path

If only, it would warm up!

4. My FRW Running Group

I have been running with them every Monday night. I’ve enjoyed it a lot. Unfortunately, racing and long runs have prevented me from attending any of the Saturday training runs.

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5. My new GOTR running buddy.

I attended the orientation and am paired up with Rebecca, a 5th grader at an elementary school in my town. I send her weekly motivational messages as she trains for a 5K on May 10. I will run the practice 5k with her on April 30, as well as the Mother’s Day 5K on May 10.

Happy Running! What “good” things are happening in your life??

March 28, 2015 by Darlene

Runfessions March

This month I’m linking up again with Marcia’s Healthy Slice for Runfessions. This my third Runfessions post. I think will continue to do this monthly. Many of my Runfessions from last month repeated themselves… Here are this month’s Runfessions:

1. I did not go to the gym nor did I go to any yoga classes. I had good intentions. But I always seem to have something more important to do. Yeah, I know that’s not a good excuse. If I really wanted to, I could find the time.

2. Last month, I was good about not buying ice cream This month, not so much. I got addicted to this in California and it was on sale so I bought some more. I’ve also had soft ice cream. as well. Several times!!

3. I added 2 more races to my spring schedule.

May 7 – 6:30 pm

This was too tempting. I work at a law school and it is 2 days before a race so it will be a training run.

May 24

I got in the lottery so I had to do it, right? And I have been whining about not being able to do my long runs on the weekend because of too many races.

4. I bought more running clothes that I don’t need.

$9.99 at Marshalls and I can wear them for tennis

No more…my drawers are bulging!!

5. I’ve been skipping long runs. I am casual about my week day run distances but when I am training fora half marathon, I always have a schedule and try to keep to it. I increase my long runs every weekend by 1 mile until I get to 12 and then I taper to 8. It’s got me through so far and I even PRed on my 11th in January. My next one is April 18th.. week 7 – 8 miles – Nope – in California, too busy, too hot… only hiked week 8 – 9 miles – Nope – 4 mile race, too tired, rained…after ran/walked 3 more so only ran 7 week 9 – 10 miles – Sorta – 5 mile race and after ran/walked 5 more slow ones week 10 – 11 miles – Sorta – 5 mile race and after ???- hopefully 6 more

Well, that’s it for now.

Happy Running! Have any Runfessions to share?

March 25, 2015 by Darlene

Fabulous Fit Gear Swap

This month, for the first time, I decided to participate in a #FabulousFitgear Swap with Renee from Bendiful Blog.

This is how the program works: you register by the 5th of the month, Renee will send you another blogger, you check out their blog, get to know them and you send them some fabulous fit gear ($20 value) by the 15th of the month.

I love new gear and I love meeting new bloggers. A win-win.

I got paired with Sue at This Mama Runs For Cupcakes. She is currently training for the Paris Marathon. I couldn’t be more jealous as Paris is my favorite city in the world!!

I got her some headbands, socks, a tank top, and lock laces. I hope she liked them.

This is what I got:

I love this top. It fits perfectly and it matches my new running shoes, compression socks and skirt that I already have!

perfect, right?

even have purple shoes

I also love Experia socks – they are so comfortable and these are a perfect color. I have them in many colors but not this color.

I have never tried Nuun but if it ever gets warm here, I may try it on long runs.

Thanks Sue for the gifts!!!

Happy Running! Have you participated in this swap?

March 24, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Favorite Spectator/Race Signs

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: Favorite Spectator/Race Signs

Here are a few that I remember seeing:

sign

Happy Running! Do you have any favorite running signs?

March 20, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Spring

This week, the theme is Spring

Here are 5 things that I am looking forward to this spring:

1. Running in a skirt and without a jacket

I am sooo tired of layers…

Bacon Hill Bonanza

best cone ever!

2. Flowers

It’s hard to imagine the snow melted but it will happen. Seeing flowers in bloom always brightens my mood.

3. Returning to my usual running routes

My running has been restricted due to the ice, snow, puddles. I have had to run in the road or around UAlbany campus. I am looking forward to running in the parks and on the bike paths again.

4. My Next Half Marathon

I can’t believe it will be here in a month. No, I’m not training well at all but I am still excited .

5. Annual Tennis Vacation

This is female bonding at its best. We’ve been traveling together since 2002 and to Naples, Florida in May since 2005.

we always take a picture outside this restaurant each year

group photo on our last day of tennis lessons

Happy Running! What are you looking forward to this spring?

March 13, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Day in the Life

This week, the theme is 5 Things in My Day/Day in the Life

Obviously I do more than five but here are the main things I do on a typical Friday:

1. Social Networking on my iPad

I start every day with the Today show, breakfast and reading e-mail, Facebook, Instagram and Bloglovin on my iPad. I get up extra early to fit it in.

2. One Minute Plank

I always (almost always) do my plank on the bathroom floor when I am waiting for my shower to heat up.

2. Work

Not the highlight of my day but it is essential – it pays the bills and pays for my races. I work in a law school in IT and help staff and faculty with technology. In other words, I spend a lot of time on the computer.

Yes, I am sitting most of the day. When the weather is nice, I go for a 15 minute walk outside in the morning and often walk at lunch. In the cold weather, I SIT!!

3. Running

Usually three times a week, I run after work. If at all possible, I run outside. This has been a very snowy, icy winter so my most popular route is been around UAlbany campus. They keep the path that goes around the perimeter pretty clear.

Once the snow melts, I will return to my other running routes in town and the park.

4. Mah Jongg

Every Friday night from 7-11 pm, I play Mah Jongg with a great bunch of women. If everyone showed, we’d have 12 – 3 tables but usually we have only 8 and during the winter, sometimes it’s only 4.

a mah jongg anniversary dinner – 6 years together

We play, eat, drink and chat… so much fun and “brain” exercise, too.

4. Reading

I cannot fall asleep at night without reading. No matter how late, I go to bed, I read. Sometimes it’s just a few pages and sometimes I read for hours.

So that’s my Friday.

Happy Running! What do you do on a typical day?

Wordless Wednesday

Running down the Bump N Grind Trail in La Quinta, CA

March 10, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Weight Loss or Maintenance While Distance Running

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: Weight Loss or Maintenance While Distance Running

I signed up for 4 half marathons – one in January, one in April, one in May, and one in June. That means I am running long on the weekends from October-June.

My goal is to maintain my weight although losing 5 lbs would be nice.

Each mile you run burns, on the average, 75-125 calories. For me, I think it’s around 100 calories. So you need to eat but not overeat. Seems pretty logical.

However, I realize that everyone’s metabolism is different.

But here’s what works for me:

Eat breakfast

Yes, it’s the most important meal of the day. I never run on an empty stomach. I always have oatmeal–2 or 3 packages with almond milk.

Supplement your runs.

You need energy to run. I always eat one packet of Gu for each 4 miles of running and only drink water.

Reduce your cravings.

I am a dessert person. I crave sweets.

During the day if I need something sugary, I’ll eat a protein bar or if I want a treat, I’ll buy a latte or frappuccino at Starbucks but I’ll have it non-fat and without whipped cream.

At night, if I crave a snack while watching TV, I’ll have a cup of herbal tea. (and yes, I do cheat and have ice cream.)

Refuel after your runs.

You burn calories when you run. If you don’t eat right away, you will wind up overdoing the calories later.

After a run, I might have some fruit, a bagel or chocolate milk.

Eat healthy at meals (most of the time.)

I usually do except when I eat in a restaurant. (Everything goes out the window when I see my choices on the menu, especially the desserts.)

Healthy eating to me means dinners consisting of lean meat or fish, lots of veggies and brown rice or whole wheat pasta.

Lunch – bagel, yogurt with granola, apple, cheese (I eat at my desk between 10 am & 2 pm)

Happy Running! How do you maintain your weight when training?

March 6, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorites

This week, the theme is Friday Favorites:

1. Favorite Race:

West Palm Half Marathon. The year is still young but so far this is my favorite…great views…flat course..perfect running weather and I got a PR and Age Group award.

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2. Favorite Running Apparel

Champion Jacket – I bought it at Target. It is light weight but warm enough with layers…zippered pockets…cheap. I have it in 3 colors.

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Polar Cap 2014

3. Favorite Running Shoes

Mizuno Wave Rider 18s – I got them last fall to review. I loved them so much that I bought them in another color. They are supportive but light with a wide toe box.

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4. Favorite Food

Granola with yogurt. I eat it everyday for lunch. Preferably granola with flax seed and/or chia and Greek yogurt.

5. Favorite place to run

UAlbany campus – lately this is the only place that is clear. We’ve had a tough winter with lots of ice and snow. There is a road that goes around the perimeter of the campus that is 3 miles and it is easily to add on a mile with a variety of additional loops. It is also well-lit at night.