blogging

by

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!

by

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!

by

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!

by

I’m a Runner (of the Week)

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

by

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!

by

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!

by

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!

by

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!

by

Five Things Friday

  1. The weather is beautiful today!  It has that summer feeling!  I played tennis at 7 am and I wanted to stay outside all day…but I had to go to work  😦  At least I took a long walk at lunch to enjoy the sunshine.
  2. I’m getting through my no race weekend blues by reading running blogs and racing through others.
  3. I dragged myself out of bed yesterday at 6 am and ran 3 miles before work.  I’m glad I did (after, not before, that is).
  4. I have a busy  evening planned…mah jongg is at my house tonight and I have  to buy snacks, wine &  clean up…I have plants that I bought on Monday that need to be planted…we’re leaving for the lake early tomorrow morning & I have to shop, pack, organize for 2 days on the boat/island…Oh yes, I wanted to run too!!
  5. Happy Father’s Day to all those Dads out there!!

Happy Running & Have a great weekend!

by

Brain Exchange #12 & Monday Goals

Click HERE to participate.

Topic:  Motivational Quotes

Question:  What are some of your favorite motivational quotes/sayings?  Do you have any personal mantras you use while dealing with tough times on the race course?

Here are some of my favorites:

“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” – John Bingham

“Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.” – Lance Armstrong

“There is no better feeling in the world than to take your mind and body to a place you thought it couldn’t go; a place you thought it didn’t belong. You should all try it sometime.” – Shauna Reid

“Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must, just never give up.” – Dean Karnazes

“I’ve given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement.” – Steve Prefontaine

In a race, I just look around at all the runners around me, all sizes, shapes and ages, and feel a sense of pride to be one of them.  I just telling myself to “keep going, it’ll be over soon and I will survive.”

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 14 miles. I did 13.5 – Close enough!!
I ran a 5k race!! I had a PR!!!!!

This week’s schedule:
Monday – tennis match pm (day off from work)
Tuesday – tennis after work
Wed – Census job after work
Friday –  tennis before work, mah jong after work
weekend – on the boat

This week’s running :
Monday – 3.5 miles
Wednesday-  before work  – 3 miles
Friday – 4 miles after work
Sunday – 3.5 miles

Weekly Running Goal = 14 miles
Monthly Running Goal = 54 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles

Happy Running & have a great week!