January 13, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: 2015 Race Plans Part 1

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: 2015 Race Plans

I run so many races (33 last year) that I am just listing some of the races I plan to run in the first 6 months of 2015:

West Palm Beach Half Marathon – Ocean Views and in Florida in the winter. And visiting 4 friends too!

January 17, 2015

Polar Cap 4 miler – This hilly race takes in Lake George. I have done it several times before. The best part is that I get to run with fellow blogger AJH. Afterwards, I can go to the lake George Winter Carnival also.

February 7, 2015

Shamrock 5K – I would have liked to run a longer race like I did last year but this one fit. I am so excited to be running this race with my friend Mary in CA.

shamrock5k

Runnin’ of the Green – this is a very popular local 4 miler. This year, the location will be different. Hopefully, it will be as flat as the previous Green Island course.

March 14, 2015

Delmar Dash – This is a 5 miler that is very close to where I live and it is flat!!

March 29, 2015

Bacon Hill 5k or 10k in Schuylerville, NY. I ran this for the first time last year and loved this country race.

April 11, 2015

When I didn’t get into the NYC Half Marathon, I registered for the Asbury Park Half Marathon to keep me running through the winter. I have a friend that lives an hour from this race and I will be running along the ocean!!!!!

Cherry Blossom 5k in Niskayuna, NY. Another race from last year that I enjoyed a lot.

April 26, 2015

Spring Run Off 10k in Albany, NY. This race is run along the Hudson River and is a popular local 5k and 10K race. There is a free pasta dinner the night before. I met some awesome runners last year and hope to see them again.

May 2, 2015

Mother’s Day 5K in Schenectady, NY. I ran this race in 2013 and plan to run again this year. I may be mentoring a someone from the GirlsontheRun program at this race, too. This 5k is very well-organized and has a chocolate fountain afterwards. Need I say more?

md5k15

Freihofer’s Run for Women – This is the only race that I have run every year so I want to keep my streak going. This year, I signed up to be part of a training group like I did for the Troy Turkey Trot. I am looking forward to running with others.

frw15

When I did not get into the Covered Bridges Half Marathon on June 7, I registered for the first annual Walkway Half Marathon in Poughkeepsie. The course will include the William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail and the Walkway Over the Hudson as well as Marist College and the Hudson Valley Rail Trail.

HALF MARATHON – June 13, 2015

Adirondack Distance Run – It’s a 10-miler. Rolling hills from Lake George Village to Bolton Landing (where we keep our boat.) I did it last year for the first time and can’t wait to run it again!

June 20, 2015

Happy Running! What are some of your 2015 races?

January 6, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Goals for 2015

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:

GOALS
FOR

So here are my 15:

Do not get injured.
Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR.
Continue fitting in tennis and/or yoga once a week.
Do some upper body exercises.
Finish all of my races under 10 minutes per mile (except half marathons)
Run at least one race per month and at least 20 for the year.
Run a race in another state.
Run in NYC.
Get several Age Group awards.
PR in a half marathon.
PR at another distance.
Join a running group or two.
Volunteer.
Run over 900 miles.
Continue to blog almost everyday.

I think my goals are pretty conservative. I think they are ALL achievable.

The toughest will be #10 & #11. The most important will be #1. If #1 happens, then #6 and #14 can follow.

Happy Running. Happy New Year! What is your biggest goal for 2015?

January 2, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Blogging or Fitness Resolutions/Goals

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 Blogging or Fitness Resolutions/Goals.

I will post in a few days all my 2015 goals but here are FIVE:

1. Walk Everyday

I used to be really good about this. A co-worker and I walked everyday at 11 am. Then it got cold. It’s not as much fun to walk indoors. Then it got busy at work. My co-worker still walked but I slacked off.

2. Exercise

I am good at getting out to run at least 3 times each week and playing tennis once a week. But that’s it. I have weights and a free gym where I can use the machines. I also can do yoga at home. There are so many video programs. My upper body needs help!

3. Eat Fewer Sweets

It’s no secret that I have a sweet tooth and prefer desserts to a meal.

I need to get more of this when I am hungry:

and less of these:

christmas cookie exchange at work

4. Do Speed Drills or Hill Repeats

When I was part of a running group, I had no choice but to do the drills. I plan to join again in March but on my own. They don’t happen.

5. Be more positive and confident.

In work, life and running, I do not always believe in myself. In 2015,I will try to be more optimistic. I will accept my flaws but not dwell on them. In other words, a happier 2015. Of course, let the PRs keep coming!!

Runners World 5K

Happy Running! What are some of your resolutions?

December 24, 2014 by Darlene

Currently

Being off from work for more than a weekend is very strange for me. I am not used to having so much free time and yet, not getting things done.

Reading…. I want to see Unbroken tomorrow in the theaters so I am trying to finish the book. (I doubt I will finish, though.)

Watching… I heard this show was good and I am binge watching all the episodes to catch up. So far, I am enjoiying it and I think I am hooked.

Drinking… I have fallen in love with herbal teas.

Eating… out a lot.

10411072_585123754954000_4556961298703373221_n

lots of holiday and birthday celebrations

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Anticipating… the Hangover Half Marathon on New Year’s Day…but only as a training run but still nervous.

hhm15

Wishing for… Seasonally warm temps and DRY weather… no snow, ice or rain so I can run outdoors.

Yay! Clear path.

Seeing next week… Going to MoMA in NYC to see…

and seeing the decorations that I missed on my last visit.

Loving... that I do not have to go to work and can RUN any time I want and do whatever whenever. I may even hit the gym.

have to finish knitting this scarf by tomorrow!

Feeling… Anxious. I am always nervous about running a half marathon especially a destination race where I don’t know anyone.

West Palm beach, here I come!

Happy Running? What are you currently….?

December 23, 2014 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Show Us Your Year In Pictures

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: Show Us Your Year In Pictures

January:

10 mile race with a friend in Palm Springs CA

February:

4 mile race in Lake George with blogger AJH

March:

5k race while visiting friends in St. Augustine, FL

a wet half marathon with new friends in Philly

April:

1st in my age group (and winning a pie) at a new 5k

May:

tennis vacation in Naples, FL

1st in my age group again at a 5k on Mother;’s Day

June:

day in Staten Island

finally running a bucket list 10 miler

July:

Jimmy Buffet concert

my 9th half marathon

August:

a scenic but tough 10K with a new FB friend

many warm weekends on our boat on Lake George

September:

Running in Central Park, NYC

finally a 5K PR

October:

college reunion in NYC

Perfect 10 Miler in NJ & a PR

November:

PR at a 15K

10K PR at a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot

December:

a rainy 5k race through the lights in the park

a day in NYC with friends

Happy Running! What are some highlights of your year?

December 19, 2014 by Darlene

It’s that time of year…

Time to mail those holiday cards out.

I participated in this card swap:

I was paired with Kristy from the Runaway Bride Planner to whom I sent this card:

xmas card 2014

I was also paired with John from Run. Geek. Run Disney who will be sending me a card.

My virtual running friends will get this one:

running card

I also plan to send the card below to a few friends and family:

holiday card

Happy Running? Do send many holiday cards? Do you buy them or make your own?

December 18, 2014 by Darlene

I ‘Mustache’ You Some Questions

It’s a slow week at work so I’d thought I’d answer a bunch of “mustache” questions:

4 Names people call you other than your own name.

Hon or Honey (my hubby)
Madame (my former students)
Dar (my friends)
Dee

4 Jobs I’ve had:

Usherette
French Teacher
Director of Educational Technology for a school district
Instructional Technologist at a law school (current)

4 Movies I’ve watched more than once:

Bridesmaids
Titanic
Love Actually
The Wizard of Oz

4 Books I recommend:

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Eleven Minutes by Paolo Coelho
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

4 Places I’ve lived:

Pittsburgh, PA (born there)
East Meadow, NY (where I grew up)
Nice, France (my junior year of college)
Albany, NY (college years)

4 Places I’ve been:

Russia
Greece
Israel
France

in 2002, 2004, 2006

4 Places I’d like to be now:

Florida
Caribbean
California
Mexico

I want this view

4 Favorite foods:

Ice Cream
Pizza
Apple Pie
Cider Donuts

yes, please!

4 Things I don’t eat

Peanut Butter
Avocado
Raw Onions
Blue Cheese

4 TV shows I watch

Revenge
Grey’s Anatomy
Nashville
The Good Wife

4 Things I’m looking forward to next year:

Trip to West Palm Beach, Florida in January
Trip to California in March
Half Marathon along the Jersey Shore in April
Trip to Naples, Florida in May

aphm

4 Things I always say:

Oh my God!
You’re kidding!
Really!
Gotta run!

Ok your turn. Answer one (or more) of these in a comment. And, if you’re so inclined, consider yourself tagged.

Happy Running!

December 16, 2014 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Running in Snowy Conditions

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: Open so I chose – Running in Snowy Conditions

Of course, I live in the Northeast. This is the story of most of my winters (except for 2012 – the one when I was injured.)

There are several things you can do as a runner when it snows:

Do Not Run

This is probably not an option for more than two days — especially if you are training for a race.

I did this my first 2 years of running. I stopped running in Nov and started again in April. I was not a serious runner, obviously.

Run Indoors

This is probably the most logical one.

If you belong to a gym where there is a track, you can run there. I think a track is boring but it is better for me than a treadmill and you can do some creative speed drills.

You can also run on a treadmill. I personally hate them but I have used them when it is impossible to run outside.

I kinda run like this.

Wear Yak Trax.

You should have a pair if you live where it snows a lot. They really work. You can run in the snow and not slip and slide.

Find a clear road.

Sidewalks are unreliable. Sometimes they’re shoveled and sometimes they’re not. The bike paths are the same way. You never know. On main roads, there is too much traffic to run in the road. So you have to look for a road that is plowed and doesn’t have a lot of traffic or a trail that is shoveled.

This is a speed workout is from Coach Jenny:

Perform the following workout on a clean, plowed, well-lit, low-traffic, half-mile-ish stretch of road in your neighborhood, a large parking lot, or on a path.

Begin the intervals on one end of the road. This will be your starting point for every rep and the finishing point for every recovery period.

Repeat this ladder interval set 1-2 times. (Each set includes 8 minutes of hard running.)

From the starting point, run 30 seconds at a hard effort. (That means a pace where you aren’t able to speak, but can still control your form. It’s somewhere between comfortably hard and an all-out sprint effort.) Recover by turning around and walking or jogging back to the starting point. You can walk until you catch your breath and then jog back to the start. The key is to allow your breathing to come back down to an aerobic level where you can talk easily before your start your next interval.
From the starting point, run 1 minute at a hard effort, and then walk/jog recover back to the starting point.
Run 90 seconds at a hard effort. Walk/jog to recover.
Run 2 minutes at a hard effort. Walk/jog to recover.
Run 90 seconds at a hard effort. Walk/jog to recover.
Run 1 minute at a hard effort. Walk/jog to recover.
Run 30 seconds at a hard effort. Walk/jog to recover.

and of course, if you are lucky and able, find a destination race where there is NO SNOW!!

Me on January 17!!

Happy Running! Any other suggestions for running in snowy weather?

December 12, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite Winter Activities

This week, the theme is Favorite Winter Activities:

I’ll say it up front. I hate the cold!!

If I didn’t run, I would never go outside.

I don’t ski, snowboard, ice skate, sled, snow shoe…nada!

Keeping that in mind, here are my favorites:

1. Running (only cuz I sign up for races & winter half marathons to make me get out there)

Polar Cap - February

2. Tennis (Indoors) – I play doubles once a week.

3. Knitting – I am not very experienced but I have made socks, hats & scarfs.

IMG_4256-0

sock1

4. Cooking (on the weekends) – I love to make soups & chili.

5. Reading – I always read every night before I go to sleep.

I think this one is her best – I read it in one day!

loved this one – can’t wait to see the movie!

Happy Running! What are some of your favorite winter activities?

December 11, 2014 by Darlene

Year of Running 2014

It’s that time again–time to look back at how my year of running has gone. Miss Zippy has posted this the past three years and each year, the response has grown.

How you play along:

1. Grab her button

2. Answer the following questions

3. Add a Link at the bottom of her post.

Best race experience?

Well, with over 30 races this year, it is hard to pick one…so I won’t.

The Best Destination Race was the Mayor’s Wellness 10 miler in Palm Springs, CA. It was my first 10 miler but it was awesome because of the scenery and running with my good friend, Mary.

The Best Short Race was the Bacon Hill Bonanza 5K. This was a new race and it was also very scenic. I met Hollys who influenced me to join a training group. And I also won an apple pie for 1st in my AG. I loved the course so much that I ran 3 more miles there after the race.

5k - 28:56

The Best Long Race was the Adirondack Distance Run 10 Miler. I’ve wanted to run this race for several years but something always got in the way. It is very scenic (but hilly) and ends at the marina where we keep our boat so my hubby & boating friends were waiting for me at the finish line. And since it ends on the beach, you can soak your feet in the lake after the race.

Best run?

Actually my races are always more enjoyable than my runs but I have had a few enjoyable ones such as:

in Peebles State Park – I just discovered this area, the park has trails with views of the river & waterfalls. Nearby is a lock and there are many bridges to run over.

and

along the Schroon River – I have a tennis friend who owns a house in Chestertown and when we go up to play tennis, I love to go out and run. I have discovered many different routes in the area with views of the river and lakes.

and along the ocean in Florida – I love the ocean and the warm climate of Florida in the winter. I was fortunate to visit some friends and be able to run everyday to views of the ocean.

Best new piece of gear?

This a tough one also. It is either my Mizuno Wave Rider 18s because my feet don’t hurt and I have gotten a few PRs wearing them

Run for the Roc - September

Or a new running skirt that is very comfortable and have gotten many compliments on it.

it says RUN RUN RUN in different shades of purple

Best piece of running advice you received?

It was probably from my coach Patrick during our Turkey Trot Training Group runs. He kept telling to embrace the hills and repeat “I Love Hills.” I think it has made me into a stronger runner and now I try to run up the hills rather than whine & walk up them. He also instilled in us about the importance of speed drills. We did them once a week. I PRed at 4 distances so I guess they do work.

Most inspirational runner?

Back for a repeat performance is AJH from Age Groups Rock. She continues (at my age) to compete in triathlons (even after a disastrous experience in one.) I have watched her in a duathlon and she is one fierce biker.