May 29, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five and May Runfessions

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 Free Friday.so I have decided to link up again with Marcia’s Healthy Slice for Runfessions.

Here are my 5 Runfessions:

1. I am impulsive. Some people think about what race to sign up for, weigh all the options, think some more. Me, I just sign up and think later.

So many months ago I heard about a new race and I signed up.

June 13, 2015 7:30 am

The USATF-certified, out-and-back course begins at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, located on the eastern banks of the Hudson River. The route continues southwest on the flat, tree-lined William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail, which winds through the Dutchess County towns of Poughkeepsie and Wappingers Falls. The stunning views from the elevated Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park offer runners a wonderful mid-race pick-me-up as they head across the river and onto the Hudson Valley Rail Trail in the Ulster County town of Lloyd. A return trip across the Walkway, and a final downhill sprint brings participants back to Marist and the scenic waterfront.

It is only 1 1/2 hours away so it is driveable the morning of the race. It go overs the new bridge that I have been wanting to see.

Of course, that means leaving at 5 am. Ok, not fun but I can do that.

Here’s the bad part:

All runners must pick up their race numbers at the expo.

THERE WILL BE NO DAY OF PACKET PICK-UP.

Oops. I hadn’t thought of that. I just got back from a vacation so I don’t want to spend money on a hotel. I work on Friday and I can’t drive 3 hours to get my bib.

I posted messages on several running groups’ FB pages with no response.

Finally I noticed that someone posted on FB that she was running it. So I asked her to pick up my bib. I don’t really know her but she said yes. I am grateful.

Next time, maybe I’ll read the fine print.

2. Ignorance is bliss.

My clothes seemed to be getting tighter and tighter. It may have been all my birthday celebrations. But I decided to weigh myself. Yup, I had gained 5 lbs and was at my post-vacation weight before my vacation. (I still enjoyed my vacation with deserts and drinks!!)

I came home and went to weigh myself. My scale was dead. I think it needs a new battery.

But I haven’t replaced it.

For a while I won’t be depressed about how much I weigh…

3. Tennis won…

I ran a measly 13 miles during the 8 days I was in Naples, Florida.

it was pretty and I could have gotten up early every day…

I played tennis for about 13 hours (or more). And the first time in a year, I enjoyed tennis more than running.

Don’t worry. I’m back to normal. I haven’t played tennis since I got home and will go back to playing once a week and running 3-4 times a week.

4. I want new feet…

They are still an issue. I think I have solved the blister problem. I didn’t get any during my half marathon. But besides surgery, I have still googling solutions.

substitute RUN for WALK

I have two problems and they are related my inherited, poor shoe choice BUNION problem.

The barely noticeable one get inflamed and presses on a nerve so it hurts on and off (sometimes more on then off.)

The bigger one doesn’t hurt but makes my big toe turn inward. That makes the second toe hurt and puts pressure on the ball of my foot – burning pain on longer runs.

As a result, my speed has left me and my desire to run long races is disappearing, as well.

A smart person would just stop running for awhile.

But that is not going to happen…

Tentative summer schedule: (The ones in bold I have signed up for.)

6-07-15 – Betar Byway 5K & Moreau Mile
6-13-15 – Walkway Half Marathon
6-21-15 – Adirondack Distance 10m
7-12-15 – Saratoga Springs 5k
7-18-15 – Silks and Satins 5K
8-1-15 – Race the Train (8.4 m)
8-15-15 – Jailhouse Rock 5k

My fall schedule is even more full with a half marathon scheduled for Oct 10.

So now I am considering wrapping them with KTape or buying new shoes

thinking of these…. anyone?

or just biting my tongue and running in pain.

5. Too lazy.

I sit at work all day in front of a computer.

I eat at my desk.

I am not that busy that I couldn’t go for a walk. Sometimes I force myself. But most days I just sit.

Before and after work, I pass by a FREE gym. I would take 15 minutes to stop and use some of the machines to work on upper body strength. But I never do.

I always have clothes and shoes with me. Just can’t get myself motivated.

Well, that felt good…

Happy Running! Anything to runfess?

March 28, 2015 by Darlene

Runfessions March

This month I’m linking up again with Marcia’s Healthy Slice for Runfessions. This my third Runfessions post. I think will continue to do this monthly. Many of my Runfessions from last month repeated themselves… Here are this month’s Runfessions:

1. I did not go to the gym nor did I go to any yoga classes. I had good intentions. But I always seem to have something more important to do. Yeah, I know that’s not a good excuse. If I really wanted to, I could find the time.

2. Last month, I was good about not buying ice cream This month, not so much. I got addicted to this in California and it was on sale so I bought some more. I’ve also had soft ice cream. as well. Several times!!

3. I added 2 more races to my spring schedule.

May 7 – 6:30 pm

This was too tempting. I work at a law school and it is 2 days before a race so it will be a training run.

May 24

I got in the lottery so I had to do it, right? And I have been whining about not being able to do my long runs on the weekend because of too many races.

4. I bought more running clothes that I don’t need.

$9.99 at Marshalls and I can wear them for tennis

No more…my drawers are bulging!!

5. I’ve been skipping long runs. I am casual about my week day run distances but when I am training fora half marathon, I always have a schedule and try to keep to it. I increase my long runs every weekend by 1 mile until I get to 12 and then I taper to 8. It’s got me through so far and I even PRed on my 11th in January. My next one is April 18th.. week 7 – 8 miles – Nope – in California, too busy, too hot… only hiked week 8 – 9 miles – Nope – 4 mile race, too tired, rained…after ran/walked 3 more so only ran 7 week 9 – 10 miles – Sorta – 5 mile race and after ran/walked 5 more slow ones week 10 – 11 miles – Sorta – 5 mile race and after ???- hopefully 6 more

Well, that’s it for now.

Happy Running! Have any Runfessions to share?

February 27, 2015 by Darlene

Runfessions February

This month I’m linking up again with Marcia’s Healthy Slice for Runfessions. This my second Runfessions post. Maybe I will continue to do this monthly.

Most of my Runfessions from last month repeated themselves except that I didn’t eat ice cream this month.

This month has been very very cold. In fact, the coldest, ever!!!

Here are my Runfessions:

1. I was not very good about the Take the Leap 30 Day Yoga Challenge.

I had good intentions and I love yoga.

So I started out well but it went down from there.

I watched some videos, I downloaded some apps.

But I really prefer going to classes and I didn’t get to any. The one I like is on Wednesdays and Saturdays and I always seem to have something more important to do.

Some days, I have just done a one minute plank and a few quick stretches.

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Finally, I quit it all. Nada.

2. I hate the treadmill so much that yesterday, I suffered rather than use it.

I had planned to run on the treadmill so I didn’t bring my warmest outdoor running clothes.

Luckily I forgot my clothes at work (and you know that I have no qualms about re-wearing running clothes.)

The day before it was almost 30 degrees so I didn’t bring my fleece-line tights nor did I have an extra shirt or warmer hat.

Yesterday, it was 18 and single digits with the wind chill. Out I went. I thought that it wouldn’t be so bad.

The good news is that it was my fastest run in a long time. The bad news is that I froze. I was cold the whole time. I couldn’t feel my face or my fingers by the time I was done.

Still… better than the treadmill.

3. I can’t stop myself from signing up for races.

If I am supposed to training for a half marathon in April and then one in June, why am I signing up for short races???

It messes up my weekend long runs… but I love racing, I guess.

3-07-15 – Shamrock 5K (Palm Springs, CA)
3-14-15 – Runnin of the Green 4 m
3-22-15 – Shamrock Shuffle 5m
3-29-15 – Delmar Dash 5m
4-04-15 – Rabbit Ramble 4m ?? (if I’m not away for Passover)
4-11-15 – Bacon Hill Bonanza 5k
4-18-15 – Asbury Park Half Marathon* (in NJ)
4-26-15 – Cherry Blossom 5k
5-02-15 – Spring Run Off 15K
5-09-15 – Mastodon 15k
5-10-15 – Mother’s Day 5K (for GOTR)
5-30-15 – Freihofer’s Run for Women 5k
6-07-15 – Betar Byway 5K
6-13-15 – Walkway Half Marathon*
6-21-15 – Adirondack Distance 10m

Well, that’s it for now.

Happy Running! Have any Runfessions to share?

January 31, 2015 by Darlene

Runfessions January

This month I’m linking up with Marcia’s Healthy Slice for Runfessions. This my first Runfessions post. Maybe I will continue to do this monthly.

This month, my races have gone pretty well – 2 half marathons, a 10k & a 15k.

But here are my Runfessions:

1. I have been skipping some of my week day runs

pretty to look at but not to run on.

or cutting them short.

1.7, really?

I try to run every other day but this weather is getting to me. It’s not the cold but the ice and snow. And I hate the treadmill. I need to get on track or this will be a long winter.

2. I make excuses for going to the gym or to yoga.

I have not been even once. The excuses are NOT good ones – too tired, have to go to the library, too lazy to change into my clothes, hungry, etc.

this bad has been sitting on my floor at work for weeks

3. I have been eating ice cream again.

Since I started running, I have gained 10 lbs. I’ll contribute 5 to aging but the other 5 need to go. Most people will say “You look fine.” But those of you who have always been thin will understand when I say “I am fat for me.”

So I stopped buying ice cream. But the other night while watching TV, I said to my hubby “I want ice cream!” And the creep went out and bought some. (I think was because he wanted some too.)

Freihofer's Run for Women 2009
I have since given away all my shorts (because they no longer fit) and have bought skirts.

W. Palm Beach Half Marathon
4. Yesterday I ran in 2 different socks.

Not a big deal. But I pride myself in being matchy matchy. But it was still dark in the morning when I packed my bag and gray and light blue looked the same.

5. I hesitate running new routes because I am directionally challenged. Yeah, I get lost easily (even in my own neighborhood.)

I was headed out Thursday to run on one of my usual routes. It was 30 degrees (a heat wave from the -30 it was last night) and we were in between snowstorms. Then I noticed that my Clif Bar sent me the above message.

So I drove to UAlbany where I heard that Perimeter Rd was clear of snow. And it was clear. Even though, the route goes in a circle around the campus, I was still worried about getting lost. (Thankfully I didn’t.)

6. Every now and then I consider registering for a full marathon but I freeze. Part of me wants to do ONE just to say I did. But I worry about the time commitment, the training and my fitness.

If I did one, it would have to flat and take place in early May or in a warm climate in early winter.

I think I would do it I had some to share the training and motivate me through it. But I don’t. (Any volunteers?)

7. I don’t stretch or foam roll or do anything.

I don’t even own a foam roller.

I know it’s bad. I know I should. But I never do. (Unless I am with a group and everyone is.)

But I am always stretched (pun) for time.

I just change my clothes, go outside, start to run, stop, go inside, change my clothes.

And that’s how I roll (another pun).

8. I wear my running clothes more than once.

I’ll preface that with the fact that I do not sweat. (Unless it is 95% humidity in the summer). Especially in the winter. I just do the sniff test and put them back in my bag for another run.

these have probably been worn several times

I would be really embarrassed to tell you how many times the clothes that I keep at work have been worn to run on the treadmill. (I think I should bring them home and wash them next week.)

Well, that’s it for now.

Happy Running! Have any Runfessions to share?