October 14, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Adjust

Every Wednesday, the Deb from Deb Runs will be providing a word about which to blog. Kind of like a nice little blog prompt. Posts can be fitness or health related, but don’t have to be, so really anyone can play along. Just be sure to link up with InLinkz on Deb’s main post, and share the love by reading and commenting on other’s participant’s posts.

This week’s Word is ADJUST

I wasn’t going to post today because I already did but this word just is so appropriate.

As runners, we have to ADJUST.

Adjust our running because of family, friend or work commitments.

Sometimes I’ve had to change the time of a run or miss a run. It’s not the end of the world. Other things can be more important than running.

had to cut short my run to go to my mil’s 90th birthday party

Adjust our running because of the weather.

It’s snowing or raining so we run slowly or indoors.

have to run slower when it is sleeting

And then there’s the clothes. You thought it would be warmer. Or you thought it would be colder.

One day’s it’s 80 and then it’s 40! I was cold!

Adjust our running to run with a group or another runner.

Sometimes, in a group, I struggle to run faster.

speedy turkey trot running partners

And then you run with a friend who is much slower. But you adjust because it is more important to have their company.

love running wth Judy!

Adjust our running because of race conditions (ice, snow, hills, etc.)

lots of hills at the beginning of this race

monsoon rain – an adjustment, for sure,

Adjust our running due to injuries.

We all get injured. Sometimes we run while recovering and have to adjust. Sometimes those injuries pop up in the middle of a race.

foot pain slowed me down in this race

stress fracture in my foot is making me adjust my pace

Adjust our goals due to any of the above.

We may have a goal to PR but the course is hilly or the weather is lousy. Or even worse, we are injured!

just happen to finish (post broken foot)

Happy Running! How have you had to adjust your running?

October 7, 2015 by Darlene

Wedneday Word: Tenacious

This week’s Word is TENACIOUS.

What is “Tenacious?”

According to the dictionary:

not readily relinquishing a position, principle, or course of action; determined.

In other words: persevering, persistent, determined, dogged, strong-willed, tireless,indefatigable, resolute, patient, unflagging, staunch, steadfast, untiring,unwavering, unswerving, unshakable, unyielding, insistent; stubborn,intransigent, obstinate, obdurate, stiff-necked; rock-ribbed; pertinacious

Isn’t every runner tenacious?

We set goals.

YES! Half Marathon PR!!

We run in uncomfortable conditions.

Lake George Half Marathon

We run even when we shouldn’t.

2nd metatarsal stress fracture

TENACITY:

Happy Running! How are you tenacious?

September 23, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Comparison

This week’s Word is COMPARISON

Comparison is a natural impulse, especially for women.

I wish I had thinner thighs like ….

I wish I had bigger boobs like…

I wish I had a flatter stomach like…

Yes, comparisons to others will make you crazy. There will always be something about our looks that we are unsatisfied with.

And what about runners? Do we compare?

Of course.

There’s the “I wish I could wear that when I run” to “if only I could run that far or that fast.”

We all try to run faster than the runner ahead of us.

We check the race results and compare ourselves to the other runners in our age group.

Yes, we want that award.

In the end, we can’t get carried away with the comparisons to other runners.

We are ALL RUNNERS and we are who we are.

Happy Running? Do you compare yourself to others?

September 16, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Cautious

This week’s Word is CAUTIOUS

According to the dictionary, cautious is someone who is “careful to avoid potential problems or dangers.”

That is not one of my strong points.

I usually do and then think later.

I don’t do crazy things like jump out of an airplane (…yet.) but I have run in ice and snow.

I have traveled to Europe alone several times.

I have taken many race-cations on my own.

in West Palm Beach, FL

In fact, I have 2 upcoming races where I am staying in Air-BNB apartments by myself – one in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan.

And yes, I have raced with a stress fracture – actually twice.

why am I smiling??? it hurts!!

I have completed a race with a broken foot.

post Freihofer 5k

I have run a 5k after being sidelined after ankle surgery and not having run at all for 5 months.

definitely not cautious

Do I stretch for or after a run?? Of course not. Do I use a foam roller or stick? Nope. And yes, at my age, I should be more cautious and think about preventing injuries…

But that’s not me.

I grew up with a cautious Jewish mother who worried about EVERYTHING. Maybe I am rebelling.

Happy Running! Are you “cautious?

September 9, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Carefree

This week’s Word is CAREFREE

Don’t I wish…

In life, I am definitely not carefree.

I plan my days and I plan my nights and I plan my weekends. My hubby, on the other hand, is a go with the flow kind of guy. It drives me nuts. But because he doesn’t care, I make the plans and I am in control.

1508071_10153802254859428_8318378114823220880_n

love him and he is “carefree”

My friends are the same way. Nothing would happen if it weren’t for me. I plan our trips to NYC, our dinners out, our annual Florida vacations, etc. Again, I ask for ideas, but they always respond “What ever you choose is fine.” Again, I am in control which is nice but it is also exhausting.

on one of my planned trips to NYC

Another problem about not being carefree is that I have trouble sleeping. I just can’t turn off my problems even if they are minor.

relaxing in the sun at Boca Grande beach

I could be carefree here, I think

But running is a different story.

I run when I can, where I choose, the distance that fits into the time I have and I never care about my pace. I use an app for distance and as soon as I am done, I click “delete.”

running carefree

Yes, I am a “carefree” runner. No tempos, intervals, hill repeats, speed drills …too much to worry about.

Not so much for racing…

I wear always wear my Garmin for a race. I check my pace frequently and then I post my splits in my race reports on my blog. I care about my times for a race because I want to do well and improve. And I am competitive.

Happy Running! Are you Carefree?

September 2, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Accountability

This week’s Word is ACCOUNTABILITY

According to the dictionary:

Accountability means taking responsibility for something that you are supposed to do.

At work, I am accountable to a lot of people. If I don’t do what I am supposed to do, there may be repercussions that affect people besides myself.

At home, it may be shopping, cleaning up, laundry etc. If I don’t do them, we just don’t eat and have no clean clothes. No big deal. Lucky for me, my hubby is very easy going about most things.

But for running, I am accountable to myself.

If I do NOT run regularly, then I run and get injured, I should hold myself accountable.

Most importantly, if I don’t run regularly or enough miles, when it comes to running a race, I won’t be happy with my results.

So how do I stay accountable?

Set goals and share them. I have goals for each race, each week, for each month, for each year. I post these on my blog. I thinks it helps me be accountable.

Be realistic about your running.

I know that I don’t have the time to run everyday. And for my feet, it would not be a good idea. I know that when I run alone, my pace is slow and I walk a lot. I also know that at my age, PRing is not going to happen often (or maybe never.)

Join a running group or find a running partner.

ladies from the Freihofer’s Training Group

With a group, I have a time, place and people to run with. It also adds specific workouts to my schedule.

Judy, a FB friend

If you arrange to meet someone to run with, you show up and complete the distance. Voila accountability.

Put it on your calendar.

When you work and have a busy life, running may get ignored, skipped or forgotten. I put my runs on my calendars (yup several of them – wall, work computer, iphone, etc.)

Make running a priority.

That means sometimes saying no to an invitation because you have to run. That means rearranging vacations, events around your race or running schedule. You obviously have to have an understanding family and friends.

Always be prepared to run.

I have running shoes and clothes in my car. I never know when my schedule may change and I will be able to run. I also always bring running stuff with me when I travel.

Happy Running! How do you stay accountable?

August 26, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Ambitious

This week’s Word is AMBITIOUS

Someone who is ambitious is “eagerly desirous of achieving or obtaining success, power, wealth, a specific goal, etc.“

Everyone is ambitious but about different things.

With my career, I have always been ambitious. I started out as a French major/Spanish minor. I got my Masters in Education and taught for 22 years at a private all girls school.

Then in my 40’s, I decided to change careers. I got another Masters in Instructional Technology and completed my coursework for a PhD in the same area.

For 8 years, I was the Director of Technology for a Diocesan School District. I LOVED THAT JOB!!! I got to work with teachers and students and every day was something different.

Unfortunately when 1/2 of the 40 schools closed, I decided that I needed to prepare for retirement and I got a new job. It is the job I have now (at a law school) and I hope to work there until I am 70.

Yes, I said 70. I am not the Suzy homemaker, stay at home type.

However, about earning money…not so ambitious.

I preferred to work at a job that I enjoyed rather than earn a lot of money. So for my first 2 jobs, I had a very low salary and no retirement. As a result, even though I want to work now, I actually have to in order to be able to do the things I want.

As far as running, I am ambitious in so far as I make goals.

I make them for every race and every month and every year.

My goals could be more ambitious like run a marathon or an 8 minute mile but since I strive to be successful, I think I set realistic goals.

My most ambitious one was running a half marathon when the farthest I had raced was a 5k.

Now, my ambition rests at getting out there and running several times a week, no matter what and signing up for races with a few each year being a half marathon. In other words, I will be persistent.

I have no ambitions on running a half marathon in all 50 states (too expensive) but I plan not to repeat any halfs. There are so many that I don’t think I’ll run out of choices.

Now if only I could be ambitious about cleaning my house…

Happy Running! Are you ambitious?

August 19, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Focus

This week’s Word is FOCUS

So what does “focus” mean?

to direct one’s attention or efforts
to concentrate

Sometimes, it is hard to stay focused on running. There are always excuses not to run. It’s too hot or too cold or I’m too tired or I don’t have time or my blah blah blah hurts.

But I know that I will feel better after I run. I know that my upcoming races will go better if I get out there and run. These two things help me stay focused.

I don’t think I felt like running…

Then there are times when I do run and it doesn’t go well and races don’t end as planned. I could concentrate on the reasons why…an injury, the weather, the hills, etc

..but I should focus on the fact that I did run or I did finish the race and there will be more runs and races.

not one of my better days

As runners, we need to look back on when we started running. Remember when we couldn’t run a mile and when we couldn’t finish a 5k under X minutes.

We have all made progress and we need to focus on that.

this was one of my slowest 5K times but it was after not running for 5 months and I was so happy

All runners are different. Some can run ultras. Some can run 6 minute miles. Comparing yourself to others just leaves you frustrated.

We need to focus on our own running and our own individual goals.

We all start at the same time but each runner will finish at different times.

Happy Running! How do you stay focused?

August 12, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Initiative

This week’s Word is INITIATIVE

So what exactly is initiative?

An initiative is the start of something, with the hope that it will continue. It is also a personal quality. A person with initiative is motivated to do things. If you take the initiative, you’re willing to get things done on your own.

My biggest initiative was to decide to start running. At age 55, I joined No Boundaries and set out on my quest to run a 5K.

2008

But more importantly, when my friends stopped running, I continued. I ran by myself and signed up for race after race after race.

2010

Three years later, I took the initiative to run a half marathon. I told no one and signed up for one in Florida, where I knew no one.

the best day ever

I have made friends from blogging and running races. But for the most part, I take the initiative in my running.

I sign up for races that I want to run whether or not I know anyone. (Of course, it is more fun when you do.)

alone at last summer’s half

Running is important to me so I take the initiative to do it on my own.

I have gotten on a plane by myself many times to run a race – California, Florida, Philly, etc. (If I had more time and more money, I would do it even more.)

running solo in Fla last Jan.

If fact, my next half marathon is in Brooklyn. I don’t know anyone in Brooklyn. I am taking a bus there, I rented an apt for the night before the race, and I will take the subway on race day…by myself. (Wish me luck!)