It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

1.  I runfess…

This may sound depressing but when I heard that my best friend from Junior High died (went to bed with a headache and never woke up), I decided CARPE DIEM and to sign up for that marathon while I am able.

and so I clicked:

2.  I runfess…

Last month, my hubby caught COVID (Sorry I didn’t post about it).

 He had a mild case and it didn’t interfere with my running/social schedule. 😉 and I never caught it!!!

3. I runfess…

Some runners enjoy running alone.  I don’t mind for short runs.

But more than 4 miles… I NEED company.

I am hoping I don’t regret having to run those 16, 18, 20 milers next Fall!!!

my companions for that dreaded 12 miler!!

So fingers crossed that a few of my local running friends get into the NYC marathon lottery.

4. I runfess…

I LOVE to race (as you probably know) and sign up for as many races as I can (in advance).  This was my plan for the next few months.  Those in BOLD are paid for but those in ITALICS are non-refundable, non-transferrable, only available through time qualifying or a lottery and expensive. The others are ones that I planned to run:

• • 02-19-23 – Publix Fort Lauderdale Half Marathon
  • 03-11-23 – Electric City 10k
  • 03-19-23 – United NYC Half Marathon
  • 03-26-23 – Shamrock Shuffle
  • 04-15-23 – Helderberg to Hudson Half Marathon
  • 04-30-23 – Sasha’s Super Hero 5k
  • 05-07-23 – Tropicool 5k
  • 05-13-23 – Prospect Mountain Run
  • 05-18-23 – CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge (3.5m)
  • 05-20-22 – Brooklyn Half Marathon
  • 05-28-23 – Miles on the Mohawk 10 miler
  • 06-03-23 – Freihofer Run for Women 5k
  • 06-18-23 – Valley Cats Father’s Day 5k
  • 06-25-23 – Race to the Lakes 15k
  • 06-25-23 – Dodge the Deer 5k
  • 07-04-23 – Firecracker 4
  • 08-13-23 – Run for the Roses 5k

As in the last 10 years, my body has cooperated.

June 1, 2013 – my last serious injury!!

5. I runfess…

In addition to not liking to run alone, I don’t like to race alone. I am a well-known race enabler.  Just ask my friends.  And it is unfortunate when I talk them into signing up and sharing hotel rooms and I cannot run. (Details on this will be coming in the WRD on Sunday.)

Sherry & Stan (pictured right) signed up for those March, April and May half marathons due to my urging.)

Happy Running! Anything to runfess this month? Anyone else enter the lottery for the NYCM 2023? Do you plan your racing schedule way in advance? Have injuries ever forced you to DNS a big race? Please share.

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with bloggers, Me (My First 5K and More), Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida!

So Join in!

And don’t forget to link back to your hostesses and visit some other blogs!!

Join the link party!

It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

And the FIRST one for this year!!

1.  I runfess…

With all the stuff going on in my job, my poor running friends have become my therapists.  Luckily they are great listeners and don’t complain.

2.  I runfess…

When you don’t know when you have to work and where, how can you schedule your runs?

3.  I runfess… 

I may have volunteered to work a week in NYC because I love to run in Central Park and would get to hang out with Cari.

4.  I runfess…

I am enjoying racing without a watch and running 1:1 intervals.

Ok, they are free races (and the fast local runners are there so no AG award would happen anyway.)

However, I like getting my long training runs done the day before rather than adding on miles before or after the race (as done in previous years).

long runs with my running buds

Plus it’s rewarding to be able to help out a friend (who’s returning to running after an injury.)

5. I runfess…

I keep toying with the idea of joining a gym… maybe Planet Fitness..

I had planned to check it out first…

A month has gone by and I have yet to do so…

Happy Running! Anything to runfess this month?  Please share.

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with bloggers, Me (My First 5K and More), Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida!

So Join in!

And don’t forget to link back to your hostesses and visit some other blogs!!

Join the link party!

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It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

And the last one for this year!!

1.  I runfess…

I flunked Planksgiving.

I had good intentions and I started out strong. In fact, I planked for the first 12 days.

On November 13, there was the Stockadeathon 15k race…

And you what happens once you stop, it’s hard to start again.

And so I didn’t.

2.  I runfess…

Last month I admitted that I had a weakness for cute running shirts.

Actually I have a bigger obsession for calf sleeves.

I like to wear ones that match my outfit, and for each season or holiday…

St. Patrick’s Day and Thanksgiving covered.

Now I have three new pair:

3.  I runfess… 

I signed up for ALL FIVE races offered in Dec-Feb through a local racing club.

They are FREE, have age group awards and delicious food after… so why not??

Well, the races are on Sunday.  My running friends run on Saturday… the course is quite boring but there are usually three distances to choose from (the longer the distance, you more you loop).

First world problems…

I may walk on Saturday and then race on Sunday or run long on Saturday and fun run on Sunday… TBD

Winter Series #1 = “fun” run

4.  I runfess…

So with no half marathons scheduled for December and January, I’m losing my weekend long run mojo.

It’s hard to want to run double digits in the freezing cold, right?

brrrrr

I even considered signing up for the Fred LeBow Half Marathon again in NYC..

No, I didn’t sign up!!

At least I have one in February and March to train for.

5. I runfess…

Instead I signed up for half marathons in April, May (this one should be a Runfession but I’ll explain next Friday) and September:

April 15, 2023

May 20, 2023

September 23, 2023

Happy Running! Anything to runfess this month?  Please share.

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with bloggers, Me (My First 5K and More), Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida!

So Join in!

And don’t forget to link back to your hostesses and visit some other blogs!!

Join the link party!

It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

1.  I RUNfess… 

I am addicted to buying running tops.  Most of the race shirts don’t fit so…

I had to buy this one for my Thanksgiving race.

There may have been some other half price shirts in my cart, too.

2.  I RUNfess…

All the excitement about the NYC Marathon did give me FOMO.

So much so that I am thinking of signing up for 2023.

I have until until February to come to my senses.

3.  I RUNfess…

One reason to run it in 2023 is that I age up and my time from a 2022 NYRR half marathon would give me a guaranteed entry.

4.  I RUNfess…

If I do run it in 2023 (and that’s a big IF) and if I finish faster than 5:30 (a bigger IF but my 2019 time was 5:29), I could run it again in 2024.

memories from 2019

I have two friends interested in running it in 2024 too.

More FOMO.

5.  I RUNfess…

Nevertheless, I will be getting my NYC running fix with these two races:

another bucket list race checked off

Hopefully it will be a healthy re-do of 2019

Hooray for points and FREE hotel rooms.

Racing is not a cheap sport!!

Happy Running! Anything to RUNfess this month?  Please share!

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with bloggers, Me (My First 5K and More), Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida!

So Join in!

And don’t forget to link back to your hostesses and visit some other blog

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It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

1.  I RUNfess… 

You know how they say “Never wear anything new on race day”?

I ordered these new Topos (Specters rather than Phantoms) and they were supposed to come after my last half marathon.

So I planned to test them out on a long run and wear them for my 15K and half marathon races in November.

But the shoes arrived early…

thumbs up… no worse than the shoes I was going to wear.

2.  I RUNfess…

I hate tapering.  Before a race, I get antsy and want to run even more.

The week before my last half marathon, I ran SIX days in a row!!

But I did take two days off before the race.

3.  I RUNfess…

I organized a college reunion in NYC …

We went out to lunch and then since we were all French majors, we visited The Little Prince exhibit at the Morgan Library.

because I wanted an excuse to run there. (I hope my friends don’t read this blog…)

fait accompli

4.  I RUNfess…

I will be limited on my NYC racing because I no longer work in the city and I’ve used up all my hotel points (unless anyone has any advice on cheap places to stay.)

So my last two stays will be in Dec for this race…

another bucket list race checked off

and in March for this one:

Hopefully it will be a healthy re-do of 2019

5.  I RUNfess…

I bought each of my running friends Maine Marathon mugs as Christmas gifts to motivate them as they trained for our recent race-cation in Maine (or maybe to selfishly have training partners..)

But I forgot to give the mugs to them.

I discovered them when I was packing for the trip so I brought them to Maine.

it became a race memento instead….

Happy Running! Anything to RUNfess this month?  Please share!

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with bloggers, Me (My First 5K and More), Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida!

So Join in!

And don’t forget to link back to your hostesses and visit some other blog

It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

1.  I RUNfess… 

I planned on going to the gym this month with my free membership.

You didn’t see any gymfies because I never went.

It seemed that in order to get the FREE one month, you had to join the YMCA and pay $100.

I told them it was false advertising and I refused to pay the $100 and hence…

no gym workouts for me 😦

2.  I RUNfess…

I scheduled my flu shot and COVID booster around my running.

I waited to get the flu shot until after my September 3 half marathon.

I waited to get my 3rd booster until after my September 10 5k race.

Of course, I was worried that if I got a reaction (which really was NOT important in the long run) would interfere with  my running schedule.

Nope, no reaction and was able to run right after BOTH shots!! Woo Hoo!

3.  I RUNfess…

I was not disappointed in my last half marathon finish time. It was almost identical to the same race a year prior (just 4 seconds faster.).

But I was annoyed at how painful the second half of the race was for me. It is not fun running in pain.

However, the next day, I didn’t feel ANY after effects.

Not sure what I will change for the next one on October 2. New shoes? Intervals? Nothing?

4.  I RUNfess…

Even though I complained about my lack of endurance during the last 7 miles of my last half marathon, my training long runs for the next one included TWO 5k races.

Oops! My bad.

5.  I RUNfess…

I am very excited about my next half marathon because it will be in Maine with 9 of my running buds.

We always have fun together and the race is just an excuse to take a vacation.

stay tuned for more jumping attempts

I also will meet up with Deborah who is running this race too.

Happy Running! Anything to RUNfess this month?  Please share!

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with bloggers, Me (My First 5K and More), Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida!

So Join in!

And don’t forget to link back to your hostesses and visit some other blog

It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

1.  I RUNfess… 

Sometimes I double-book myself.  Well, the weekend of Sept 10-11, I may have triple booked myself.

I registered for a 5k on Sept. 10 that I run every year.

My good college friend invited to her house in RI because there is a race there on Sept. 11. Of course, I said “Sure, why not?”

I ran the half several years ago but I’m running a half the weekend before so I would only consider running the 5k.

2019

Finally, FOMO on this NYC event on Sept. 10.  I signed up since it is free.

2.  I RUNfess…

I skipped a 11 mile run in order to run a 5k.

After the race, I had planned to run 8 additional miles but instead:

No regrets…

And my running friend said that the “hay is in the barn.” Let’s hope so.

3.  I RUNfess…

After over 10 years of half marathon training, I’ve recently embraced the Galloway method.  Yup, run/walk intervals… and short intervals. And guess what? When I run this way, I feel like I could run forever and I’m not beat afterward.

4.  I RUNfess…

I only run intervals when I with run other runners.  Since I don’t wear a watch, I have to run whatever intervals, my running partner is running.

5.  I RUNfess…

Even though all my training long runs have been done using run/walk intervals, I don’t plan to run my half marathon that way next Saturday.

I will run my usual positive splits, just running fast and walking when too tired to run fast.

hope to be smiling as I was after this race last year

and one more for good measure:

I RUNfess…

Though I think Age Groups awards are important since they measure your achievement against those at your same age and I find it rude when runners don’t stick around to receive their awards, I did exactly that.

I knew that I had won my age group (and by ONE second) but I was anxious to get to the lake since my hubby was there patiently waiting. (For that reason, I usually run/race on Saturdays.)

the same race last year. where I won 2nd.

Happy Running! Anything to RUNfess this month?  Please share!

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with bloggers, Me (My First 5K and More), Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida!

So Join in!

And don’t forget to link back to your hostesses and visit some other blog

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It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

Didn’t I just runfess?  This summer is flying by…

Here we go again:

1.  I runfess… 

I ran two races in 3 days and it was 90 degrees for the evening 5k that I ran with no water stops. No worries, right?

Thumbs up BEFORE the race

Then during the race, the runner in the photo below died. He was a running coach, had already run 19 marathons (including Boston many times) and won his age group at his previous 5k.

And he was only 4 years older than me.  I have no idea if he had heart problems. But this does make you think.

very happy in retrospect that I took it slow during the race and walked often. You can be BOTP and still win your AG if you are the only one.

2.  I runfess…

Even though I had run a 5k in Brooklyn the night before, I knew I could not be in NYC without running in Central Park.

luckily Cari had company which enabled me to walk as needed and yes, she is a rockstar and can run with a backpack on.

3.  I runfess…

Almost all my walks, runs and hikes end with ice cream.  That’s a lot of ice cream each week. LOL

post run ice cream = mojo

4.  I Runfess…

Although I’ve been trying to add more walking and hiking to my running routine, there still has been ZERO working out and ZERO bike rides.

5 mile hikes every other Monday 

and 3.5 mile trail walks on Thursdays

4.  I Runfess…

I’ve been struggling with deciding between racing and running with friends.  Unfortunately they both could happen on Saturdays.  Both are fun!

What do I do?? FOMO either way.

or

Happy Running! Anything to runfess this month?  Please share!

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with bloggers, Me (My First 5K and More), Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida!

So Join in!

And don’t forget to link back to your hostesses and visit some other blog

It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

1.  I runfess… 

I skipped two weekends of racing. And yes, it felt weird.  I had major FOMO when friends posted their pics on IG and FB. And I missed those AG award possibilities.

friends at the OK 5k

2.  I runfess…

One of the main reasons I skipped a race was to run with my friends.  I know many runners do run alone but it’s so easy to let those friend connections slip away when we get busy.

9 of us gathered for brunch… so fun!

3.  I runfess…

I do miss the routine of getting up early and heading to the gym. Not enough to join and pay $$.  Instead, I planned (at least in the summer) to get up and go for a run or walk.  I’ve been semi successful.

4.  I Runfess…

I’m only a fan of Peloton for running outdoors with music. So when they offered 3 months for the price of one, I did sign up.  I ignore the drills and references to the Thread and just listen to the music while I run.

4.  I Runfess…

I’ve been getting pressured by friends to go biking…

My bike is old and needs a tune-up (or maybe I need a new bike). My bike rack is a pain to put on my car and my neighborhood is boring.

Yada Yada.. so many excuses.

my lonely “Big Red”

Happy Running! Anything to runfess this month?  Please share!

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with bloggers, Me (My First 5K and More), Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida!

So Join in!

And don’t forget to link back to your hostesses and visit some other blog

It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

1.  I runfess… 

I admit that I may be a little (or a lot) vain…

As you may recall, I was named an Ambassador for the Maine Marathon.

They posted pics on FB and IG with text IDs for the 6 new Ambassadors:

I sent them an edited version of this pic

My friends, of course, noticed their description of me and asked me if it bothered me… (If you didn’t notice, mine is the only description with an age reference).

It did…

2.    And so (encouraged by my friends), I emailed them.

The response:

3.  When I first signed up for my May half marathon, I thought that it would be a goal race.  The Steel Rail Half Marathon had a flat course and it was my current PR.

I runfess…

After I did better than expected in my April Half Marathon,

I relaxed my training and just ran the Steel Rail Half Marathon for fun.

4.  I Runfess…

I struggled recently with DNSing a race. I tried to think of all the reasons why I shouldn’t run it. And I came up with so many:

• • exhaustion
  • headache
  • rain, humidity
  • evening start
  • crowded
  • don’t know teammates
  • hilly
  • ran a 5k several days ago
  • tapering for a half in 3 days

Yet I ran it anyway.

No regrets.

4.  I Runfess…

I played tennis everyday while on vacation.

I may have enjoyed it more than running (although I did run everyday too.)

Since my gym membership ends on June 4, I may try to play tennis on my Mondays off.

Happy Running! Anything to runfess this month?  Please share!

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with bloggers, Me (My First 5K and More), Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida!

So Join in!

And don’t forget to link back to your hostesses and visit some other blog