March 8, 2014 by Darlene

I Am Featured

happy

I am honored to be featured on The Happy Runner‘s blog.

Check me out here.

Felice, on the left, at the 2010 Mother’s Day race

Felice, a local blogger, is the creator of the Strong Running Mamas group. When she asked me in 2010 to help organize a group for new runners, I eagerly accepted.

It was a lot of fun. These women are awesome and have inspired me.

Now the group has migrated to Facebook and has grown to over 100 members

February Fitness Survey

I saw this over on Zaneta’s blog (Runner’s Luck) and thought it would be fun… since I’m tired of talking about the weather (Yes, we are having ANOTHER snowstorm!!).

1. Do you have a Fitness board on Pinterest? Share it.

I have a RUNNING Pinterest board with pins on it but I’m not good about keeping it up-to-date.

http://www.pinterest.com/dsc59/running/

2. What is your go to place for fitness questions? (friend, blog, website)

I usually asking questions on my blog AND also the Sweat Pink, Philly Love and Strong Running Mamas Communities on Facebook!

3. What do you do to workout when the weather outside is too cold, snowy or icy?

The cold doesn’t bother me anymore. I just dress appropriately and go out and run. If it is snowy, I’ll wear my YakTrax. But if it is icy that’s when I stay inside and use the treadmill at work.

4. Latest song(s) added to your playlist?

Best Day of My Life by American Authors

Timber by Pitbull

5. Share a link to your favorite healthy recipe.

Not exactly healthy but it has butternut squash in it and it tastes great. Click here for the recipe or

6. What’s your favorite fitness app?

I have downloaded a lot of fitness apps but lately I have been using Nike Plus for my runs. It’s not as accurate as my Garmin but it’s just an alternative to FitSnap for sharing pics on Fb and Instagram.

Share a picture of a recent workout.

This is my long run on Sunday.

Happy Running! What’s your favorite fitness app? What’s the latest song added to your playlist?

January 30, 2014 by Darlene

Pin It Party

Today I am joining up with The Lean Green Bean blog for her Pin It Party.

Here is how it works:

All bloggers are welcome to participate!

Here’s what you do:

Round up 5 blog posts you’ve written that you would like to see on Pinterest.
Make sure there is a nice, pinable image or photo included in each post.
Write a short post featuring the posts you chose- ie, put 5 nice images & links to the posts all in one place, along with a short description of each post.
On Thursday, publish your post, then visit The Bean and add your post to the linkup! (If you’re just reading this today and still want to participate, just publish in the next few days…I’ll leave the linkup open for about a week!)

The only rule is this:

If you add your post to the linkup, please take a few minutes to visit at least three other posts and pin some of their images!

So here are 5 links I would like to see on Pinterest:

Click on each image to Pin them.

https://myfirst5k.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/guest-post/
I started running at age 55. It’s the best decision I ever made. This post tells you why you should too.

https://myfirst5k.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/h-is-for-half-marathons
I have run 7 half marathons. I took me awhile to convince myself that I could. This post gives you some reasons to run a half and some tips to consider when you do.

https://myfirst5k.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/what-i-am-reading-wednesday/
I love to read and I love to run. This post includes the titles of some running-related novels.

https://myfirst5k.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/yoga-for-a-runner/
I haven’t been doing yoga long but I think it has helped me as a runner. This posts explains how.

https://myfirst5k.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/11-good-things-about-being-injured/
Unfortunately, I had a serious injury two years ago and I could not run for a long time. This post lists 11 things good about being injured (Sarcastically, of course. Not be able to run sucks!)

Happy Running!Are you participating in the Pin It party?

January 2, 2014 by Darlene

2014 Running Goals

14 Goals for 2014:

Do not get injured.
Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR.
Continue fitting in tennis and/or yoga once a week.
Finish most of my 5K races under 30 minutes.
Run at least one race per month and at least 20 for the year.
Run a race in another state or even a NEW state.
Run at least 10 NEW races.
Run in NYC.
Get an Age Group award.
Run a 10 mile race.
Run at least one half marathon.
PR in a half marathon.
Run over 800 miles.
Continue to blog almost everyday.

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

The toughest will be #12. The most important will be #1. If #1 happens, then #3 and #13 can follow.

Happy Running. Happy New Year! What is your biggest goal for 2014?

January 1, 2014 by Darlene

2013 is in the books…

I must say that things were looking up until June 1 and then I broke my foot. I started getting back on track in August and the year ended pretty well.

Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside)- YES, except for June & July.

even ran 3 times while on vacation in May

Continue fitting in tennis and yoga at least once a week (as cross-training) – YES, until June 1. I started tennis again in Sept. I didn’t start yoga again until late Oct.

Finish my 5K races under 30 minutes and not stress about a PR (though getting one would be super!) – YES. Sure I stressed but finished Ice Breaker, Lake George, Mother’s Day, and Freihofer’s – all under 30 min. Post broken foot, I finished the Malta 5K, Race for the Cure, Delmar Turkey Trot and Stuff the Sleigh under 30. NO PR this year!! (I think my 5K PR days are over.)

Ice breaker 5k – 28:47

Get an Age Group award (in May I will be entering a new AG!!) – YES. 3rd at the Polar Cap 4m, in the correct AG I finished 1st at Lake George 5K and 1st in my new AG at the Mother’s Day 5K, 2nd in the Biggest Loser 5K & Helper’s Fund 10k, and 1st in the Race for Hope 5K, the Monster Scramble 10K and Stuff the Sleigh 5K. Getting older rocks!

Polar Cap 4m – 3rd in 50-59

Lake George 5K – 1st in 50-59

Mother’s Day 5K – 1st in 60-69

Helper’s Fund 10K – 2nd in 60-69

Race for Hope 5K – 1st in 60-69

Monster Scramble 10K – 1st in 60-69

Stuff the Sleigh 5k – 1st in 50+

PR in a 10K race (I have only one injured 10K under my belt.) – YES, both of my 10ks were faster. My PR was at the Helper’s Fund.

Helper’s Fund 10k

Run a 10 mile race (the one from Lake George to Bolton Landing is on my bucket List) – NO (broke my foot). I hope to run my first in January.
Run at least one half marathon (a spring and/or a fall one) – YES, I ran 2 – the Sarasota Half Marathon in March and the Mohawk Hudson in October.

Sarasota Half Marathon 3/17/13

Mohawk Hudson River Half Marathon – 10/13/13

Run at least 12 races (one per month, if possible) – YES, 22 total races – at least one per month except for August (when I decided to cautiously recover from my broken foot.)

at least I am smiling! (J. Berkeley photo)

one of 3 April races

one of 3 September races

one of 3 November races

Run a race in another state – YES, I ran in Florida and Vermont.

Florida racing

Register for The Biggest Loser RunWalk at www.biggestloser.com/runwalk

running in Vermont

Run a NEW race (hopefully one in NYC) – YES, 11 out of 22 were new ones – Hmrrc #3 & #5, Sarasota Half, Ice Breaker 5K, Lake George 5K, Mother’s Day 5k, Biggest Loser 5k, Helper’s Fund 10K, Mohawk Hudson Half, Monster Scramble 10K and Stuff the Sleigh 5k. (NYC hopefully next year)

Mother’s Day 5K in Schenectady

The Biggest Loser RunWalk (including a ride on a chair lift)

Listen to my body and slow down when necessary (In other words, do not get injured…) – YES. I broke my foot but I cannot blame overuse on that one.
Continue blogging regularly (to keep track of miles, as a motivator, to meet new runners…) – YES!

So I think I did pretty well during my 10 healthy months.

Happy Running! How was your 2013? Do you set goals?

December 19, 2013 by Darlene

Third Annual Secret Santa Sock Swap

Thanks to 3x A Charm Runner for organizing this.

I was paired with Judy from Confessions of an Empty Nester. She and her sister have an amazing blog. She is not a runner but a fantastic cook which I am not. What we do have in common is that we both like to read, quilt, knit and of course, blog. I am glad to have been introduced to her blog and I hope to try some of her recipes. (If you need some recipes for Christmas cookies, go there now!)

This is what I bought her:

I was also paired with Julie from Healthy Wealth and Wise Not but Learning. She is from COLD Minnesota and is just getting back into running. She loves to sew and make jewelry and sounds like a really interesting person.

She sent me the gifts below:

Julie really outdid herself. I can’t believe that she made some of the gifts–crocheted the potholder, made the soap & made the paper cutouts. I have already worn the socks and the gloves and used the coffee mug.

Thanks Julie for the awesome gifts.

Happy Running! Did you participate in any holiday gift exchanges this year?

November 22, 2013 by Darlene

Holiday Cards

As you may know, I love to take pictures. Every Christmas, my holiday card is a photo or photo collage. Since I started running, I have added a running photo or collage.

I decided to create them in Shutterfly because I store all my photos there.

for friends and family

for running friends

Then I looked at the price and the options. You had to order a box of 12. I wanted 20 of #1 and about 6 or 7 of #2. They cost about $10 each plus you had to pay shipping. That’s not a lot but these days, everything is digital and I get fewer and fewer real cards.

So I decided to look at my second option – Walgreens where I have made several collages and photo books.

for friends and family

for running friends

The bottom one is just a collage which cost about $.30 and the top one, I was able to order a box of 20 with 40% off for about $10. And they have same day pick-up. (No shipping fees) If I need more of #1, I will choose the collage option.

If you like to get cards, I recommend that you join Runner Luck’s Christmas Card Swap. Sign up here before Dec. 5.

Or if you like to get a sock full of gifts, join Third Time’s A Charm’s Secret Santa Sock Swap. Sign up here by Dec 6.

Happy Running! Do you send paper Holiday Cards? Did you sign up for the card or gift swap?

June 27, 2013 by Darlene

Bye Google Reader

If you use Google Reader, I have some sad news: it’s shutting down on July 1st, and when it does, it’ll take all your subscriptions with it!

BUMMER!

On my iPad and iPhone, I use Feeddler and I like it. But I keep getting scary messages about it linking up its content to Google Reader.

Just in case, I downloaded all my subscriptions from Google reader.

In addition, I’ve set up an account in BlogLovin and installed the app on my iPhone. I also linked this blog to it.

I have also set up an account in Feedly and installed the app on my iPad.

Both apps seamlessly imported my feeds from Google Reader.

At first glance, if Feeddler no longer works, I think I will use Feedly.

But we’ll see what happens after July 1.

Happy Running! How do you read your favorite running blogs?

June 25, 2013 by Darlene

Getting a Facelift

What do you do when you are not running and there is not much to write about?

Redo the header on your blog – that’s what.

I used a free banner creator for the first time rather than PhotoShop so the photos aren’t very clear … oh well.

lst header:

2nd header:

3rd header:

4th header:

5th header:

current header:

I didn’t realize that I changed my header every year. Six headers means that I am in my 6th year of blogging (and running.)

My headers seem to tell the story of my running.

The first 3 years, I only ran 5ks so the title was “My First 5K Blog.” Then I added more distances and changed the name to “My First 5K and more …”

In the beginning years, I often ran with others (so you see pics with other runners). Now, it’s usually just “Moi.”

I think that in light of all my injuries that in my next header, the “and more” will mean “more than running”. I may include other activities such as tennis, yoga, biking, boating… What do you think?

Happy Running! Any recommendations for creating my 7th header?

June 13, 2013 by Darlene

Three Things Thursday

I have been asked to share this post- 27 Blogs With Tips For Getting the Most Out of Running. It is very informative (especially if you are a beginning runner.) Check it out!
It has been raining a lot – doesn’t bother me a bit. Sorry!
I.HATE.CRUTCHES!!