blogging

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Brain Exchange Week 17 and Monday Goals


This week’s  Question: Where was the best place you have ever raced and why?  Where is your dream place to race?

I’ve only done 5ks at this point but my favorite place is race is Saratoga.  The State Park is beautiful.  I’ve run several races there.  The horse race track is very famous and the old mansions in the city are beautiful.

Silks & Satins with AJH

I also really enjoyed my 2008 Boilermaker experience.  It is a very famous race and although, I ran the 5k not the 15k, it was fun being in the midst of the festive atmosphere – the music, the beer, the food, etc.  This was the race that FleetFeet Albany’s No Boundaries program was training us for and they rented a bus for us, had a pasta party the nite before, etc.

 Dream race – I’m hoping to run a half marathon some day in another state maybe Florida. I love the warm weather.

me approaching the finish line at the Boilermaker

 

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 20 miles. I did 21 miles! Woo Hoo!

This week’s BUSY schedule:
Mon – tennis after work
Tues – tennis after work
Wed – dinner w/friends
Fri eve – Mah Jong
Sat – hair appt
Sun – leave on vacation

This week’s running:
Tues– 3 miles before work
Thurs – 5K Race
Sat –  9  miles

Weekly Running Goal = 15 miles
November Monthly Running Goal = 65 miles, a 5k race, a PR
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it, I even passed 500 – New Goal is 600)
 
Happy Running!

 

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Bloggers are Great!

This is why I read blogs:

Check out these motivational quotes from Lesley –  http://racingitoff.blogspot.com/2010/11/time-to-motivate.html

Check out this post on Why I Run Races from Jen –  http://www.jenisgreen.com/2010/11/02/why-i-run-races/

I’m wordless today.  These two bloggers said it all!

Happy Running and Happy Blogging!

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Brain Exchange is Back (Week 16)

     

This Week’s Question: 

What do you miss most when you are in the heat of training or gearing up for a race?  Do you skip late nights out?  Do you give up goodies and alcohol?  What is the first thing you crave when training is over?

Answer:

I really haven’t done a lot of training but I hope to start.  However, the day before a race (even a 5k), I try to eat pasta and drink a lot of water, go to bed early.  If I go out, I don’t drink alcohol.  This is a little tough, since I play mah jongg on Friday evenings.  My friends play until late & I always go home early. Sometimes, I don’t go at all. They drink wine & I drink water. It’s worth the sacrifice!!

Happy Running!

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I’m a “Frunner”

http://blog.timesunion.com/running/frunner-meet-darlene-cardillo/

This is part of a running blog series in the Times Union (local newspaper, online edition). Each week, they profile a local runner.

Runner?  So I guess I need to be one…This morning I wimped out.  It was dark and foggy.  I played tennis last nite and am playing evening.  My body said “no.”  Tomorrow am I have no excuse as well as Thursday after work.

Next 5k race is Saturday!!!

 Happy Running!

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3 Things Thursday

  1. After reading AJH’s post, I ordered a  Gorillapod.  I can’t wait to use it.

  1. I am blog inspired again. After reading Endurance Isn’t Only Physical (Running is Hard & I am Slow) confessions, I ran yesterday even though I didn’t want to…it was hard and I was slow.
  2. I met my friend at the mall. She had to buy tennis sneakers.  She didn’t but I bought another paire of running sneakers that I don’t really need (I have an old Brooks pair, my favorite race Saucony, 2 Nike+ for training, Reebok treadmill pair and now…Mizuno Waverider 12).  I put them on and they felt GREAT!!!! They were on sale at DSW for $59 (normally $100).  I just read about them and found out that because I have a high arch, these are NEUTRAL which is perfect for me.  I always thought I needed stability for support…I can’t wait to run in them!!

Happy Running!

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I’m a Runner (of the Week)

Thanks Courtney for the feature – http://www.runcourtrun.com/2010/08/runner-of-week_16.html

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Brain Exchange #16 & Monday Running Goals

Topic: Pre-Race Rituals

Question: Do you have pre-race rituals?  Bizarre OCD’s?  If so, what are they?

The night before: I try to go to bed early.  I do not drink any alcohol. I try to eat carbs (pasta, if possible) & drink water.
The morning of:  I eat 2 hours before the start of the race. I have hot cereal and coffee.  I drink water on the way. My clothes have to be comfortable and be color coordinated.  I wear my best sneakers.  I bring my iPod for music.

Nothing too bizarre!


Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 16 miles. I did 16!!! YAY!
IT WAS HOT!!!!!!!!!!!

This week’s schedule:
Monday – USTA tennis playoffs after work
Tuesday – seeing John McEnroe playing NYBuzz (WTT tennis)
Wed –  tennis after work
Thurs – theatre in the park w/ friends after work
Friday, Saturday & Sunday- boating on Lake George island

This week’s running :
Monday or Tues  – 3 miles  before work
Wed or Thursday – 3 miles  before work
Saturday – 4 miles at the marina
Sunday – 4 miles at the marina

Weekly Running Goal = 14 miles
Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it!!)

Happy Running and enjoy the weather!

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Brain Exchange #15 and Monday Goals

Click HERE to participate.

Topic: Favorite Athletes

Question: Who are your Top 5 favorite athletes? And why?  They can be famous or infamous, to do with your sport or be in a completely different sport.

  1. Kim Clisters – Tennis – I really admire her comeback after taking time off to have a baby and then winning the US Open. ( I just to see her play at the US Open that year, too)
  2. Roger Federer – Tennis – I love to watch him – he makes it look so easy – and he’s not afraid to show his emotions
  3. John McEnroe – Tennis – he’s from my era – he’s so much fun to watch – a great commentator (& still a great double player) – I’m going to see him play on July 13.
  4. Chris Evert – Tennis – she’s from my era – she’s such a class act – she still looks amazing (I watched her play at a charity event last November)
  5. Kara Goucher – Running – I read about her in Runner’s World magazine & began a fan
  6. Joan Benoit Samuelson – Running – another oldie – I saw her at the Freihofer’s Run recently & WOW  she can run

I have only recently become a runner so most of my favs are tennis players.

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 15 miles. I did 14!!! Close enough!!
I won a giveaway!!! Ryders Sunglasses! YAY!

This week’s schedule:
Monday & Tuesday – boating (on vacation)
Wed – Census job or tennis
Friday –  tennis before work, mah jong after work
Saturday & Sunday- boating on Lake George island

This week’s running :
Monday   – 4.5  miles at the marina
Thursday – 4  miles after work
Friday – 3.5 miles
Sunday – 4 miles at the marina

Weekly Running Goal = 16 miles
Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles

Happy Running & hope you had a great 4th!

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Brain Exchange #14 & it’s Monday…Goals

Click HERE to participate.

Topic: Give-A-Ways- Love Em or Hate Em

Question: What are your thoughts on give-a-ways?  Do you enter them often?  What entices you to enter or turns you off from entering?  Have you run your own give-a-ways?

I love them.

I enter only those that offer items that I’d like to win. I always post the giveaways on my blog and on twitter (if required) but I do not post on Facebook – there are enough items that appear on people’s  Facebook news items & I don’t want to add to it.

Giveaways have given me opportunities to learn about new running products and they have introduced me to bloggers that I wouldn’t otherwise found.

I have been lucky to win some cool things.   I have never run my own giveaway.  I don’t think I have enough readers and a vendor hasn’t offered me anything to review and give away (Hint! Hint!)

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 10.5 miles. I did 13!!!
I ran in a 5K race! I came in 2nd in my age group!

This week’s schedule:
Monday – friend’s b-day dinner
Tuesday – tennis after work
Wed – tennis after work
Thursday – tennis before work, hair appt
Friday –  Census job after work, mah jong
Saturday & Sunday- boating on Lake George island

This week’s running :
Monday  – 3 miles before work
Wednesday – 3  miles before work – LAST DAY OF THE MONTH!
Friday – 3 miles before work
Sunday – 4 miles (while at the marina)

Weekly Running Goal = 14 miles
JUNE Monthly Running Goal = 54 miles
JULY Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles

Happy Running & have a great week!

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Brain Exchange #13 & Monday Goals

Click HERE to participate.

Topic: The athletic family

Question: Do you come from an athletic family?  Are your parents/siblings/spouses/children also involved in your sport(s)?

Nope.  Growing up, no one in my family was athletic. I didn’t play any sports in high school nor did my friends. My first husband jogged which I thought at the time was crazy.

In my 40’s, a colleague suggested that we learn to play tennis so we did.  I loved it and played it all the time, played on several teams and now my best friends are those I met playing tennis.  In fact, I met  my current husband on the tennis courts, 12 years ago or so.

My stepsons do not play any sports.  One did track for a little while in HS but currently does not run.  My husband still plays tennis occasionally.

I started running a little over 2 years ago.  My husband  has no interest in running.  😦  He’s not crazy about my running but doesn’t discourage me.



Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 14 miles. I did 15!!!
I won a giveaway!

This week’s schedule:
Monday – USTA tennis match after work
Tuesday – tennis after work
Wed – Mentors meeting after work
Thursday – Census job
Friday –  tennis before work, mah jong after work
Saturday – party
Sunday – on the boat

This week’s running :
Tuesday  – 3 miles before or after work
Thursday – 3.5  miles before work
Saturday – 3.1  miles – RACE

Weekly Running Goal = 9.5 miles
Monthly Running Goal = 54 miles (up to 38)
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles (up to 273)

Happy Running & have a great week!