It’s that time of the month…

time to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

This is in honor of Jenny (who used this in a March post).

1.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that May is my favorite month:

• • My annual tennis vacation to Naples, Fl.
• 
  • My birthday (Jenn is my b-day twin).

• • Tulips in bloom.
• 
  • Boating on Lake George begins.
• 
  • Lots of races (5k, 10 mi and half marathon).

2. Over coffee… 

I’d tell you that I’m currently in Florida, We arrived yesterday. In addition to playing tennis (for the first time since last May), I plan to run everyday.

3. Over coffee… 

I’d tell you that although I skipped this race last year, I did sign up again. Anyone surprised?

Tropicool 5k – 5/5/24 in Naples, FL

4.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that a local 5k race that was cancelled last year and re-located in previous years, has returned to its original date and location. I am tempted to sign up…

it’s dedicated to Summer (a STEM participant) who died of a drug overdose

5. Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I’m really looking forward to sunshine for my Brooklyn Half Marathon that ends in Coney Island.  It has poured the other two times I’ve run it. It’s my last shot. Hotels are too expensive so I don’t plan to register again for this race!!

Does that look fun?

Happy Running! What’s new with you?  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 The Running Teacher!

So Join in!

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

https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef

It’s that time of the month…

time to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

To that mug, I would add “in a skirt.”

Hopefully that will happen soon…

1.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that my 2nd half marathon of 2024 is coming soon – April 13.

I am healthy so there are no excuses…

My goal is to feel better during the race (SMILE) and accept my finish time (even if it is not what I had hoped for.)

2. Over coffee… 

I’d tell you that the weather and work interfered with my training for the above race. So “no excuses” has turned into:

Snow, ice, power outage and then long days in NYC (with rain during several). More rain, snow…

Looking ahead now to the Brooklyn Half Marathon in May… LOL.

3. Over coffee… 

I’d tell you that only 4% of those (close to 165k) who entered the lottery for the NYC Marathon got accepted.  Two of my friends were among the unlucky ones.  

I am glad that I bit the bullet and will run it for 3rd (and last) time.

4.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that our 4 hotel rooms are already booked for the November NYC marathon.

I’ve decided for the first time to stay in the Wall Street area and take the Staten Island Ferry to the start rather than staying in Manhattan and taking the bus.

We’ll see if more sleep (and less waiting time) will help my performance. LOL

5. Over coffee…

I’d tell you that ice cream is the theme of my summer races.

I’ve registered for two:

at High Lawn Farms last summer

in Lee, MA

and

August 3, 2024 on Governor’s Island, NYC (10k)

Happy Running! What’s new with you?  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 The Running Teacher!

So Join in!

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

https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef

It’s that time of the month…

time to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

NYC is the theme for this month’s post:

1.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that my first half marathon since last September is in TWO weeks (and in NYC)!

It’s #66 but I’m still anxious about it.

2. Over coffee… 

I’d tell you that this is the second time I’ve run this race but both times it has been a “recovery” race. And so the goal of my training has been “just finish.”

Do you believe that I thought this was a “slow” finish time? Now I’ll be happy with 2:36:01.

3. Over coffee… 

I’d tell you that I haven’t been to NYC for work in two months but after I return home March 18 from the race, I go back on March 24 and I’m there for the rest of the work week.

You will be seeing plenty of Central Park pics… I hope the cherry blossoms are early this year again.

4.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I am also working in NYC in April, twice in June and in July.

Maybe that why I subconsciously signed up for races in May

May 18 (Prospect Park to Coney Island)

and August

Aug 3- 10k (on Governor’s Island)

5. Over coffee…

I’d tell you that the sign up for the guaranteed entry for the 2024 NYC Marathon opened up on Feb. 21…  and I have until March 21 to decide if I want to run it for 3rd time.

I have 3 close friends running it (another may also qualify and another who is entering the lottery).

FOMO is real.

Training is hard!!

It’s so expensive!

Spectating could be lots of fun!!

Anyone interested in entering the lottery?

Happy Running! What’s new with you?  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 The Running Teacher!

So Join in!

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

https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef

It’s that time of the month…

time to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

1.Over coffee…

I’ve told you already that I registered for our race-cation race in Cape Cod in October. (Use my code for $10 off if you want to do it too – DARLENESGROUP).

Oct 13-14, 2024

This is the house that we rented:

2. Over coffee… 

I’d tell you that my cat Mac who disappeared on Dec 4. never returned. 😦

3. Over coffee… 

I’d tell you that we’ve never had just one cat, so guess what?

Champ now has a younger sister.

or Lady Di as I call her… she’s 4-6 mos old and very loving

4.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I finally decided to defer my 2024 entry until 2025.

Not as easy as you think. I contacted them and they said you can defer as long as it’s 72 hours before the race.

After several emails, I finally got a form to fill out. $25 before 1/1 and $40 after. Deadline Feb. 1!! What?

The race is Feb 18!! I contacted them again and they said to just send the form and the money.

So do I pay $40 to NOT to run the race this year and maybe run it next year??

Or forget the whole thing!!  Very tempting!

5. Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I’m still looking into a Florida 5k instead during that weekend.

I’m leaning toward the first one because of the course (scenic and over a bridge) but it’s also the longest drive…

Happy Running! What’s new with you?  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 The Running Teacher!

So Join in!

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

https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef

It’s that time of the month…

time to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

1.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that it’s a good thing that I have a large skirt collection.  As you may know Skirt Sports is no more.

I am grateful for my years as an Ambassador (since 2015) because it brought some wonderful people into my life.

with my NYC buddy, Elizabeth

Will I stop wearing skirts?

Never!

I’m not the only one in my area who wears them either.

2. Over coffee… 

I’d tell you that I was a loyal Topos shoe wearer.  It seemed to cure my neuroma pain.

But now Altra makes a shoe with a 4mm heel drop and a wide toe box.

I may be a convert.

AltraFWD Experience

3.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that once I decided that I liked the Altras, Topos came out with a new shoe…

Hmmm?

4.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that nothing cures racing depression than running another race.

So glad that I had signed up for one of our local turkey trots.

racing is about challenging yourself and running with others…

5.Over coffee…

Speaking of races, I’d tell you that next week, I’m off on my last race-cation of 2023.  This one destination is new to me – Tampa, Florida.  I’ve never been.

The mug at the top is a clue to what race I’ll be running.

Happy Running! What’s new with you?  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 bloggers.

https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef

It’s that time of the month…

time to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

This weekend I will run my second marathon.  So I’m got a “New York state of mind.”

1.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that although I ran the NYC Marathon in 2019, I am still a little stressed about the logistics.

First of all, they changed the transportation to the start choices based on your finish time.

I had to choose the 6:15 am Mid-town bus!! And I will not start until after 10:55 am.

In 2019, I started at 10:30 am and choose the 7:00 am bus (and still had a long wait in the cold.)

2. Over coffee… 

I’d tell you that my Orange Wave starts at the top of the bridge.

• Pink has the least climb and it has four 90 degree turns.
• Blue has about 30 feet / 9 meters more climb than Pink. It has two 90 degree turns.
• Orange has about 50 feet / 15 meters more climb than Pink. It has four 90 degree turns.

 In 2019, I started in the Green wave (which is now Pink) so I was on the bottom.

Truthfully, I don’t remember much after the big cannon went off and the playing “New York, New York” with Frank Sinatra… I was so excited, I just ran over that big bridge…

3.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that in 2019 I was also in a similar wave.  Meaning that all the runners around me were much faster.

My projected finish time is 4:30 but I will most likely finish between 5:30 ad 6:00.

Am I’m totally fine with that!

4.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I followed the same plan (Hal Higdon Novice) as in 2019 but due to WFH and less travel, I was able to follow it more closely.

I tried to do the long midweek runs (although many I split into two runs)

and completed all the long runs.

5.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I couldn’t have trained for this race without the support of my running friends.

That includes my “virtual” friends too.

Feel free to track me. My Bib # = 48527 (but remember I don’t start until 10:55ish)

Happy Running! What’s new with you?  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 bloggers.

It’s that time of the month…

time to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

1.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that unfortunately there was a record number of Boston Marathon qualifiers for 2024 and my friend did not get in. 😦

BQed by 3.5 minutes!!

2. Over coffee… 

I’d tell you that on a related note, they’ve changed the qualifying standards for the NYC Marathon.  It used to be that you could qualify for with a non-nyrr half marathon finish time. 

Important Note: 2024 will be the last year NYRR will accept both half marathon and full marathon Non-NYRR qualifying times…  Starting in 2025, the TCS New York City Marathon will only accept qualifying full marathon times.

3.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that training for a full marathon is so time consuming… I was debating whether or not to run NYC again in 2024 (with my friends) or just go spectate.

However, if I survive the 2023 marathon, I may have to run it in 2024 since I may not be qualifying again.

4.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I’m all about Pumpkin Spice.

very yummy

So I tried the new GU flavor.

It tastes really good but during my half marathon, it gave me a stomach ache.

I tried it again during a 9 mile run  and no issues. Maybe I just need to get used to it.

5.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that as soon as we finished our girls’ race-cation, we started planning the next one.

In fact, we already picked our 2024 race and I confirmed the dates with the RD.  Now I’m finalizing our rental (for 10).

Half Marathon and 5k – 10/6/24

Happy Running! What’s new with you? What do you think about qualifying for these two marathons? Anyone try pumpkin spice Gu?  Ever run the Cape Cod Half Marathon? 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 bloggers.

It’s that time of the month…

time to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

1.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I was hedging on signing up for a 5k at the end of this month…

Sept 30, 2023 – 10AM

I did sign up!

It was such a fun time in 2022

Now I need to figure out how to get my 18 miler done too…

2. Over coffee… 

I’d tell you that I may just add 5 more miles to my Half Marathon the weekend before.

Sept. 23, 2023 – 8AM

Two of my running friends will be running the 18 miler and so I plan to join them after I’m done (if my legs let me.)

3.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I have been going to the gym 3 times a week (on non-running days.)

I use the same machines and I’m getting quite bored.

But besides Sundays, I’m in a rush to get home in time to go to work.

I’m looking for ideas to spice things up… maybe wear my headphones and listen to podcasts, walk on the track…

4.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I did buy a new car (well, a 2021 which is newer than my 2010. LOL).

In my last Coffee Date, I mentioned my car requirements:

• • All wheel drive – need in the NE to get to my running routes, hikes and races in all wintry conditions.
  • Heated seats and steering wheel – to immediately warm up after the freezing temp runs, hikes and races.
  • Big enough trunk for all my running/hiking gear but an SUV is not necessary since my hubby drives a pick up truck.

My new car met all my running needs and more…

I did keep some important things from last car

5.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I’m excited about a visit to NYC this month. Not work or race-related.  Just a day trip to hang out with a college friend.

us in France in the 70’s. LOL

Of course, I’m trying to figure out the logistics of squeezing in a run and connecting with Cari…

5 years ago! Cari meet-up, running, Central Park, ice cream = ❤

Happy Running! What’s new with you? 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 bloggers.

https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef

It’s that time of the month…

time to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

1.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I love routines which means that I run 4 times a week and work out at the gym 3 times. 

Obviously running is a priority because the past 2 weeks I did get my runs in but my gym visits slacked off. In fact, I never got to the gym at all when I was not working from home…

Yup, only on Sundays!

Sundays are for leisurely gym mornings

Hopefully, I will continue to work remotely most of the time so that I don’t have to cancel my gym membership.

2. Over coffee… 

I’d tell you that speaking of running and not working from home, that also meant that my runs would have to be after work (I’m not a 5 am runner).

Not a problem, right?

after one of those painful runs…

Yes. problem this summer when it is HOT and insanely humid… sucky runs!!

3.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that my car may be on its last legs…

I do love my car but it is over 13 years old (168K miles) and lately the repairs have been killing my budget.

hate this nasty light

So what does this have to do with running?

Well, I find myself requiring certain things in a new car…

• • All wheel drive – need in the NE to get to my running routes, hikes and races in all wintry conditions.
  • Heated seats and steering wheel – to immediately warm up after the freezing temp runs, hikes and races.
  • Big enough trunk for all my running/hiking gear but an SUV is not necessary since my hubby drives a pick up truck.

Stay tuned for an update…

4.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I’ve been on a knitting frenzy since my granddaughter will be born in a month.

I finished the blanket and now want to make a hat and booties.

Working, running, hiking, working out… when do I knit?

Long car rides to and from the lake and also train and subway rides (when I worked in NYC).

5.Over coffee…

I’d tell you that sometimes I’d love to disable those memories on Facebook.  

Many in July were at races

2013 – Andrea and Crista (both bloggers) at Biggest Loser 5k in VT

 Silks and Satins 5k where we first met

Both of these women have since died from cancer…

Happy Running! What’s new with you?  Can you identify with any of my updates? 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 bloggers.