October 28, 2014 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Favorite Running Product/Gear

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 Running Product/Gear

Mine is my Garmin 205.

I ran with the Nike Plus sensor on my shoe and my iPod for the first first years. I even trained with it for my first half marathon.

Then I bought my Garmin 205 right before the day of my first Half.

I know it is BIG but I love it. I don’t even feel it on my wrist. Someday, it will break and I will have to get a new/smaller model 😦

Why do I love it?

1. It was affordable. I paid less than $100 for and I have had NO problems with it in 4 years.)

2. The screen can be split in four so I can see everything I need on one screen – race time, clock time, race pace, race distance (or whatever I choose) without touching a button.

3. It has a very reliable and accurate. I sometimes use my iPhone and many of its apps and none are exact. They ALL measure less than the actual distance.

4. It can be set to beep for intervals. It can also beep if you are running too fast or too slow.

5. The current lap pace pops pops intermittently as you run and at the end of each lap.

6. It is easy to see your stats after you are done – lap splits, best speed for each lap, calories, etc.

this was my recent 5K PR – walked 3x!

7. You can also connect it to your computer so you can sync it and see even more of your stats.

I know that there are many more features that I don’t use such as the maps and I don’t use it for intervals or any kind of timed training runs (because I don’t do them) but I couldn’t race without it.

Happy Running! What is your favorite running product/gear?

October 24, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Reasons to race

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 Five Reasons to Race.

running even while on a tennis vacation in Fla.

1. Racing keeps me running. I know that I cannot slack off. If I do, then the race will be painful (physically and mentally).

before the start of a half marathon

2. I usually run alone and when I run a race, I see and meet other runners. So much more enjoyable.

my first 5k under 30 min after being injured

3. I am competitive so when I run a race, I don’t stop and walk as much and I run faster.

smiling even though running with a stress fracture

4. I only get that runner’s high when I cross a finish line in a race.

got to see Palm Springs. CA and my friend Mary

5. Racing gives me the excuse to see new places and visit old friends.

Speaking of races, 2 days until…

Bib#: 1697

Happy Running! Why do you race?

October 21, 2014 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Tapering

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: Tapering

Well, this topic is appropriate because I have a 10 mile race this coming weekend.

So I guess I am tapering.

What does “tapering” mean?

It is the gradual reduction of training intensity and duration as you edge forever closer to race day. It is a necessary aspect of endurance training and it starts in the last few weeks before the big day.

A few weeks in the case of a marathon. For me, it is the last week before a half marathon. After my long run of 12 miles, I reduce my long run to 8 miles and run several times during the last week. Those runs are usually only 3 miles and then I rest for two days before the big event.

Why is tapering important?

Studies show that levels of muscle glycogen, enzymes, antioxidants, and hormones–all depleted by high mileage–return to optimal ranges during a taper.
The muscle damage that occurs during sustained training is also repaired.
And if that isn’t enough, immune function and muscle strength improve, as well, which reduces the odds you’ll catch a cold or get injured just before the race.
You will not lose your fitness during the tapering period.
If you do it properly you are likely to feel fresher on race day than you have ever felt.

What should you do during a taper (so you don’t go crazy)?

Obsessively check the weather for race day.
Plan your race outfit.
Make sure you have the right fuel for the race.
Check the race Web site for race-morning particulars such as start time, and work out the details of how you’ll get to the start on race day.
Also check the race Web site for the course map and study it.
Relax!!

Back to my tapering.

I don’t feel like I need to taper because I really didn’t train hard.

13 mile week included my only uninterrupted long run of 8.5 miles

Most of my long runs were interrupted by a race.

: 2.8 + 10k

: 6.9 +5K

: 6.9 +5k

: 5k – 27:11 – PR (Sept. 2014)

: 8.5

: 4.5 +5k

: 7.5

: 4.5

: 5

: 5k – 28:25

: 10k

: 5

This taper will be an easy one since the forecast is for rain everyday. I hate to run in the rain and I’m not a fan of treadmills.

Happy Running! What are your thoughts about tapering?

October 17, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite Fitness Tunes

This week, the theme is Five Favorite Fitness Tunes!

Ok, I just picked ones that motivate me to RUN:

Stronger by Brittney Spears
Don’t Stop by the The Rolling Stones
Stronger by Kelly Clarkson
Best Day of My Life by the American Authors
Run Run Run by Michelle Lewis

and if you haven’t, watch this video:

Addicted to Running

Happy Running! What is your favorite running song?

October 10, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite fuel/foods

This week, the theme is Five Favorite Fuel/Foods for Fitness/Running/Training

1. Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat

This is what I eat for breakfast before every race. Sometimes I make instant and sometimes I make the real stuff. My favorite flavor is maple or brown sugar cinnamon.

2. Protein Bars

If I run after work, I usually eat one of these before I run. My favorites are Balance bar (yogurt honey peanut) and Kind (vanilla blueberry).

3. Energy Gels

I love salted caramel and peanut butter. Now there are 2 new ones – chocolate peanut butter & root beer!!

I usually take one GU before a race and every 4 miles during a long run or race. I have never had any stomach issues with GU,

4. H20

Just plain water…nothing added. And usually from the tap.

5. Chocolate milk

Not fuel but refuel.

For some reason, after a race, this is the only thing I can eat/drink right away. It doesn’t upset my stomach.

Happy Running! What are you favorite fuel/foods for fitness/running/training?

October 3, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Fitness Inspirations

This week, the theme is Five Fitness Inspirations

1. Healthy + Clothes = 🙂

Being active (running and playing tennis and occasionally yoga) makes me feel healthy, helps keep a healthy weight and as a result, I can wear whatever I want.

I am over 60 and I want to be able to wear the same outfits as a 20 year old (except for maybe a bikini).

2. Healthy enough to run

Every time I don’t feel like going out for a run, I remember when I was injured and couldn’t run…

and know that someday I won’t be able to anymore.

3. Effort=Reward

I think I run half marathons because running doesn’t come easy to me. It is hard. I struggle on every long run.

Every half marathon that I finish still leaves me in awe. I can’t believe that I actually have run 13.1 miles.

4. Harriette Thompson

Harriette Thompson ran her first marathon at age 76. Now she’s 91 and still running marathons despite having had cancer, etc.

I’m not sure that I will ever run a marathon but I hope to continue running for a long time …hopefully still when I’m in my 90s.

5. John Anthony

This is John Anthony. He is my 10 year old running buddy. I was paired with him last November though the IRUN4 program.

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John Anthony has several rare genetic diseases – a skin biopsy showed he has SCAD which is an inborn error of metabolism. a metabolic disorder. His current geneticist thinks he also has glycogen storage disease type O and two of his specialists thinks he has Mitochrondrial disease (Mito).

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He is in and out of the hospital and sick so often. He cannot go to school, often is too weak to walk and cannot do the things we all take for granted.

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When I get them, I send him my race shirts. He is wearing one is all the pictures on this page. Inspite of it all, he is smiling 🙂

Happy Running! What are your favorite fitness inspirations ?

September 30, 2014 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Favorite Distance

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 Distance

I am torn between two..

Love AG awards!

I love 5Ks. There are so many to choose from each weekend. I can choose by location, swag, elevation, friends going, AG award possibility, time, scenery, etc.

5k in Florida

5k with a friend

I also don’t need to really train. At this point in my running, I can go out and run 3 miles and not get hurt.

a flat 5k

a scenic 5k

A 5k doesn’t take a long time and it is easy to fit into your schedule and not take a lot time away from family and friends.

a nearby 5k

If I am training for a long race, I can use the 5K as a warm up tempo run and add more miles afterward.

just a fun 5k

Half Marathon

I love Half Marathons too.

even in the rain

Running a half marathon is hard and it gives you tremendous satisfaction when you finish.

my first!

You get a medal. Who doesn’t love bling?

It motivates you to get out the door and run several times each week. It makes you increase your miles.

It gives you an excuse to plan a vacation around a race.

in Sarasota, FL

You don’t have to be fast. You just have to finish. It is less stressful than running a 5K.

while recovering from an injury

Happy Running! What is your favorite distance?

September 26, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Five favorite fall activities

This week, the theme is My Five Favorite Fall Activities

I love fall especially living in the Northeast.

So here they are my five:

1. Running

I love running when the temps are cool and the leaves have turned colors. These are some of my favorite places to run…

the rail trail

in Washington Park

along the Schroon River

on the bike trails

along Lake George

2. Eating & drinking anything pumpkin

Yup, I love pumpkin everything…

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No, I didn’t buy them but I was tempted

3. Racing

Racing in the cooler temps is the best! Even better is a race in a scenic locale…here are just a few that I have signed up for…

Apple Run 5K

Great Pumpkin Challenge 10k

Stockade-athon 15K

4. Going to farm activities

There are several around here but Ellms Family farm is my favorite. I always take my mentee and her sons. We go on rides, do corn mazes, pick pumpkins, pet the animals, eat cider donuts…so much fun!

5. Hiking

I don’t hike a lot but I do enjoy it and plan to do more this year. These are some places that I go…

Thatcher Park

Five Rivers

Prospect Mountain

Peebles State Park

I haven’t done this hike in Lake George in a few years…hope to do it again.

view from Buck Mountain

Happy Running! What are your favorite fall activities?

September 19, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: My five favorite races

This week, the theme is My Five Favorite _____________________

Of course, I filled in the blank with races….

You know that I love to race and I have run A LOT of RACES so it is hard for me to pick just FIVE.

Just to be interesting, I will pick 5 different distances.

Here they are:

1. Freihofer’s Run for Women (5k) – it is ALL women (more than 4000)– all ages, all sizes, veterans, newbies, elites, walkers. When I ran it the first year that I started running (2008), it made feel like a “real” runner. Finishing it after suffering a serious injury (2012) helped me believe that I could be a runner again. And then in 2013, completing it with a broken foot showed me how strong (or maybe stubborn) I was.

2012 – in newspaper

2010 – in the newspaper

2014 – Troy Record

I love the downhill finish of this race and I also enjoy running through Washington Park in Albany, NY where I run often after work.

It is convenient since I can park at work and walk to the race to avoid the traffic and confusion. There is an expo the day before where you get free Freihofers cookies and a loaf of bread.

2. Spring Runoff (10K) – This 10K takes place in the spring and it a good way to kick start your racing season. It is run along the Hudson River and on the bike path that I go to often for my long runs.

The evening before, there is a free pasta dinner where I met two awesome ladies.

The course is fairly flat and is my currrent 10K PR.

3. Stockade-athon (15k) – This race is the oldest 15k in the country. It takes place in the fall so the foliage is pretty and you run around Central Park and through the oldest parts of the city of Schenectady, NY.

It is a popular local race for me so you run into a lot of familiar faces. The end of the race features food such as pizza, hot soup and cozy fireplaces.

4. Adirondack Distance Run (10 miler) – There aren’t many 10 mile races around and this is a great one. It has a point-to-point course that starts in the village of Lake George, NY and ends in Bolton Landing. It takes place in early summer so it is not too hot or humid yet.

The course is rolling hills but you don’t mind since you are running along Lake George the whole way.

the end of the race

This is the route that I drive each weekend to go on our boat.

Since our marina is next door to the beach, I can have friends cheering for me at the finish line.

5. Naples News Half Marathon (13.1) – This race is special because it was my first half marathon. It was also held in one my favorite vacation spots. I go there every year with my tennis friends. The race was held on my wedding anniversary and my hubby was there waiting at the finish line. Plus if you live in the NE, January in Florida is a great getaway.

The course is beautiful with many views of the Gulf.

At one point, a priest blessed runners with holy water.

I don’t plan to repeat any of my half marathon races but maybe someday I will run this one again.

Happy Running! What are your 5 favorite races? Have you run any of the above?

September 16, 2014 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Breaking through a mental wall in training

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: Breaking Through a Mental Wall in Training

If you train for a long race, you will hit no doubt hit a wall at some point in your training.

Here’s my advice:

Have a plan and stick to it.

my typical half marathon training plan

I always use a plan. I am not strict about my mileage during the week but I am for the long runs. It gets me through the training. Sometimes, I have to split up my run such as running a 5K and then add extra miles. Sometimes I am so busy that I even split up my runs over two days. But I make sure I get them done. Training doesn’t seem so daunting that way and I know that by doing ALL my long runs I will be able to finish the race.

Do not let bad runs get you down.

Bad runs happen. I think I have more bad ones than good ones. You don’t accomplish anything by dwelling on them. So many things influence your run – time of day, weather, health, what you ate, injuries, etc. So you just move on and remember:

Accept that running is not easy.

I always think that it should get easier and I should be faster by now. But guess what? Running is hard!

Vary your route.

running near the Schroon River

I usually run on the bike trails for my long runs. Even though they are nice, they get boring. This past weekend I ran on a new route and it was energizing. The new scenery took my mind off the miles.

Find a running partner(s).

Heidi & Adrienne, my partners in crime

I usually run alone. I find it easier to fit running into my schedule that way. I could find runners to do long runs on the weekends but most are much faster than I am. When I was training for the Love Run in March, I did several of my long runs with the ladies in the photo above. They were training for their first half. Because they are faster and don’t walk during their runs, it helped me a lot and running with someone else made the miles less painful.

Sign up for a short race.

winning my age group at the Strawberry Fest 5K

When my long runs or training isn’t going well, I run a short race. I am one of those runners who runs better and faster in a race. Races for me are a big motivator. It restores my confidence.