March 30, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #9)

Monday – 4 3.5 mile group run with FRW training group

Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 3 mile run at lunch, dinner out with tennis ladies

Thursday – ~~4 mile run~~ rest
Friday- 3 4 mile run, mah jongg

Saturday – proctor MPREs, rest, knitting group

Sunday – 5 mile race + 6 more miles

45:46 – a PR!!

6 more much slower miles with Judy

This Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #10)

Monday – 4 mile group run with FRW training group, mall walk with BFF
Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 4 mile run
Thursday – 4 mile run
Friday- rest, Passover seder with the mah jongg ladies
Saturday – 12 mile long run – may start with FRW training group and then add some more
Sunday – rest, Easter dinner with the fam

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ?

March 1, 2015 by Darlene

Volunteering

One of my goals for the month was to volunteer at a race.

I really appreciate volunteers. They are often responsible for the success of a race. They direction runners at all the turns, give out water and medals and do it in heat and frigid temps.

I know I should volunteer more often or at least once a year, but I am selfish.

I want to race not watch others race.

I’ve only volunteered once and it was in 2010 for a 15K when that distance was too long for me.

So I signed up to work at the HMRRC Winter Series #6 – the Marathon & Marathon Relay (since I wasn’t planning to run in it.)

running at Winter series #5

I choose the late shift – 12-3 pm and hoped that it wouldn’t be an unbearably cold day.

Well, it was so COLD that they postponed the race a few weeks until today.

And of course, today was cold but not as cold and windy as it has been. But there was NO sun unlike yesterday.

I arrived at UAlbany, the race location, a little early and signed in. They gave the volunteers either a hat, gloves or a sweatshirt.

I chose the blue sweatshirt

I got scheduled for post #8 – on the outer loop at the farthest point from the start. I was to be with a guy named Steve so we got our orange flag, yellow vest and drove one car over.

that’s Steve

And we just stood there waiting for runners to come by.

here comes a runner

It wasn’t a big race but a long one – a marathon and a marathon relay. Sometimes we waited awhile for a runner. But almost each one thanked us for volunteering. Having run many races here, I know how important volunteers are.

looks cold, right?

If cars came by, we had to make sure they stopped and let the runners go by. But on a Sunday, there wasn’t much traffic.

not a very scenic course

It was nice not being out there alone. When there was a lull in the race, Steve and I chatted. About running, what else?

But the biggest problem was the cold. It was cloudy with snow flurries and very cold. I was dressed very warmly – thermal shirt and pants under a fleece and tights. I was even wearing a long down coat. However, after an hour, I could no longer feel my toes. The hand warmers that they gave us were not helping.

The wind had picked up which made it feel colder than it was. And of course, not running but standing still made it worse.

WMarathon-213

The race organizers drove by twice offering us hot chocolate or coffee and more hand warmers.

Still, I counted down the hours and anxiously waited for the last runner to pass us.

Finally it was over and we drove back.

I hung out inside to warm up having hot soup, bread, etc.

The race organization also gave you a $15 gift card to Dicks if you volunteered once and ran at least 3 races (I ran 5 races and already used it to buy more GU.)

Even though I froze out there, I am still glad that I did it.

If you run races, you know that they cannot happen without people directing the runners, stopping traffic and handing out water…even on the coldest or warmest days.

But I think my next volunteering stint will be in warmer weather!!

Happy Running! Do you often volunteer at races?

February 27, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: What I Like About Running in the Winter

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 so I chose: 5 Things I Like About Running in the Winter

All I have been doing on this blog is complaining about how cold it is and how I hate it!

So I decided to point out what I like about winter running:

1. It doesn’t rain.

not a fan

I will run in the snow and cold but I will not run in the rain. Hence, no rain is a good thing for my running.

happier here

2. I don’t sweat.

So I have less laundry because I can wear my running clothes more than once.

And I can sneak out at work and go for a run and not be sweaty for the rest of the day.

lunch break run

3. It’s pretty outside.

Well, at least most of the time.

4. There are free races.

Race fees add up. I am lucky that our local running group (HMRRC) sponsors 6 free races during the winter. There are 3 distances to choose from at each race.

It’s informal so it’s just a run with friends and food after.

5. There’s not a lot to do and it’s get me outside.

In the summer, there’s boating, biking, hiking, tennis, gardening…many things to do outdoors.

Polar Cap 2015

But in the winter, I don’t ski, ice skate, snowshoe or snowmobile. Running is my only outdoor activity.

Happy Running! What do you like about running in the winter?

February 26, 2015 by Darlene

TTT

ttt
1. I am sick of this cold weather. It’s sad when 20 degrees feels like a heat wave.

I will run outside in the winter but below zero, I draw the line.

As a result, there has been very little running since the weekend. (It was -11 when I left for work on Tuesday.)

I’ve had enough. Elsa, “Stop!!!!”

Just a side note…

no surprise that this February is the coldest

2012 was the winter that I broke my ankle and could not run!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. I am at the age where more of my friends are retired than not.

just 2 of us here are not

just 3 of us here are not

Guess where they spend the winter?

Florida!

Guess where I want to be?

Florida!

January 19, 2015 =Heaven!

3. To make myself feel better about the weather, I have been registering like crazy for spring races.

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

The snow will be gone by then, right?

10404450_10152698652522951_7381394646867722718_n

love this pic!

Happy Running! What’s going on with you these days?

February 23, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #4)

Monday -DAY OFF – 4 mile run on the TM, tennis

too cold and windy outside

Tuesday – rest, tennis

post tennis birthday celebration

Wednesday – 3 4 mile run

25 degrees! Warmest weather in a long time

Thursday – 4 3 mile run on the TM, mall walk with BFF

I refuse to run outside when it is below zero with the wind chill

Friday- rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 8.57 mile run, Chinese New Year’s party

16 degrees with 40 mph wind gusts!!!

Sunday – ~~rest~~ 3.3 mile run, errands

34 degrees!! Heat wave!!

This Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #5)

Monday -work at the Bar Exam, rest, tennis
Tuesday – work at the Bar Exam, rest
Wednesday – 3 mile run on the TM, tennis dinner out
Thursday – 4 mile run
Friday- rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 9 mile run
Sunday – volunteer at HMRRC Winter Series #6

I’m linking this post up with Tara at Running n’ Reading for her Weekend Update!

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ?

February 22, 2015 by Darlene

Coldest Run Ever and Chinese New Year

Well, yesterday really tested me.

I was dressed in appropriate layers. Except that a face mask might have helped.

It was 16 degrees. I have run in colder.

I decided to go on my usual local long run – from my house to the coffee shop in town and then back again.

I figured if I was too cold, I could stop halfway and thaw out.

The way out wasn’t too bad.

This was the only part with a sidewalk that I could run on. The rest of the way I had to run in the road, dodging cars.

Finally I arrived at my halfway point. My face was frozen so I decided to stop.

If those cars didn’t hit the pole, they would have ended up in the coffee shop.

I got a glass of water and bought a granola bar and sat down to warm up.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay long. I needed to get back home to cook for the party I was going to later.

Well, while I was in the coffee shop, the wind picked up and the whole way back I was running into the wind.

The wind was also gusting up to 40 mph. There were times that I could not move forward. The snow was blowing in my face. I had to walk backwards at times to move.

My eyes were burning (my contacts were freezing.) I can’t tell you how many times, I debated calling my hubby to have him come get me.

In the end, I made it home…alive!!

After a LONG hot shower, I felt better and was very happy to have gotten my long run done. (It started snowing a little while after I got home.)

But this is how I felt…

I’ve been into making quiches lately so I made a broccoli/cheddar and a spinach/swiss for the party that we were going to.

The party was great. We were invited by Julia (who is Chinese) and her husband John.

here they are on our boat last summer

I re-connected with a few ladies that I used to play on a tennis team with.

here last May we are in Sarasota meeting them for lunch

It was great catching up. As you know, I don’t play USTA tennis anymore and I don’t get to see them.

And we got to eat a lot of different foods —all good. (Glad I ran those miles earlier in the day.)

weather 2-22-15

Today, of course. It is sunny….no wind….and much WARMER temps. It figures.

But the deep freeze returns tomorrow. My next outdoor run is scheduled for Thursday.

Happy Running! How are you coping with the cold?

runner-sig

February 16, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #3)

Monday – ~~4 mile run~~ SNOW DAY
Tuesday – ~~rest~~, 3 mile run on the TM, 2 mile run, tennis

Wednesday – 4 mile run, webinar

Thursday – rest, 3 2 mile run on the TM, hair appt

dreadmill

Friday- rest, mah jongg
Saturday – car appt, 8 6 mile run, dinner out for Valentine’s Day

too cold & windy …

Sunday – rest, ~~volunteer at HMRRC Winter Series #6~~ (cancelled due to the cold)

This Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #4)

Monday -DAY OFF – 4 mile run, tennis
Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 3 mile run
Thursday – 4 mile run, mall walk with BFF
Friday- rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 8 mile run, car appt, Chinese New Year’s party
Sunday – rest

I’m linking this post up with Tara at Running n’ Reading for her Weekend Update!

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ?

February 7, 2015 by Darlene

Polar Cap 4m Race Report

polarcap15

I have run this race with blogger AJH several times and it was a tough hilly one but still fun.

Here we are winning AG awards in 2010

AJH got 2nd place...we won a lunch bag which matches the race shirt

AG awards again in 2013

I ran with her last year but only she got an award.

AJH’s award in 2014

AJH was running it again and I was looking forward to seeing her.

10872764_10155126109310174_3510530694647973051_o

don’t like that hill at the end but apparently we only run half the hill at the beginning this year

during last year’s race

Also the weather was better than it has been – meaning it wasn’t snowing yet and it wasn’t sub-zero. But it was COLD!!! In the teens when I left with snow showers predicted.

So I bundled up in my usual running layers and drove the hour ride up to Lake George.

Believe it or not, the temps warmed up to the 20s (heat wave!) and I discarded one layer.

I was glad I got there an hour early because I barely got a parking spot. This new location does not have enough parking, Many runners parked elsewhere and may have had their cars towed.

When I got there, AJH was already there. (She is hard core – drove all the way from VT.)

10924736_10155136809115174_8096058827417712730_n

nice to have gender-specific shirts – short sleeved – in the winter??

I chatted with some runners that I knew who were trying to talk me into running a maathon.

Then I hung out inside with AJH until the race was about to start.

I felt a little pressure to run fast since I didn’t win an AG award last year. But you never know what will happen when you run a race and there are some fast runners in my age group. And this is a hilly course.

Previous Polar Cap Races:

2011 – 40:11
2013 – 41:40
2014 – 40:10

Runnin’ of the Green 4 milers (a flat course):

2014 – 38:07
2011 – 38:02 PR

Rabble Ramble:

2014 – 38:06

I have not been doing any 5ks or any speed work at all. My runs on the weekend have been long. So I was prepared for a slower time. Not a PR but maybe a course PR if I was lucky.

I remembered the race started going uphill and my legs felt sluggish. Luckily they felt better as the race went on.

I walked after the first mile when there was a steepish hill.

Then we went downhill for a while and it was slippery around the turns.

I just plodded along admiring the scenery and trying for a consistent pace.

This race has a very pretty course. You run past the lake (which totally frozen & snow-covered)

I really suck on the hills, I walked part of each one. On one hill, while I was walking, a woman yelled “Don’t walk! Shuffle.” I replied that I wish I could. (In the end, I did pass her!!)

heading toward the last hill

Unfortunately, the last half mile of this race is straight uphill!

polarcap 2

I think I walked twice on that hill because I wanted to finish strong. But I really had nothing left at the end.

Polar Cap 2015

I crossed according to the clock at 37:40! A NEW PR!!!!

I was generally happy with the race. I ran it faster than I thought I would.

AJH finished a little after me.

We went inside to wait for the age group awards.

There was soup and fruit and baked goods – I am a sucker for home-made stuff and ate quite a few cookies. I also had the soup and 2 cups of chocolate milk.

pc4m

And we both won awards!!! Woo Hoo!! AJH for the 8th time. She keeps her streak going!

3rd and 2nd

Splits:

mile 1 – 9:12
mile 2 – 9:31
mile 3 – 9:40
mile 4 – 9:44

(Garmin time: 37:38)

Positive splits!!. What else is new?

After AJH left, I was debating on changing my clothes and leaving or running more.

But with a big snowstorm coming, I decided to take advantage. So I decided to run to the Winter Carnival in town.

This was the first day of the event which is held every weekend in February.

I wandered a bit.

not sure what they were dressed up for?

Then I visited with friends who were volunteering.

The outhouse races were beginning but I didn’t stay to watch.

I ran around the lake and through the town and then to my friend’s house. I talked to her hubby for about 2 hours! Then I ran back to my car.

I wonder if the horses get cold?

I covered 4 miles in total.

I may have stopped here…

Next, I drove north to Bolton Landing. I ran to our marina, through town and to the Sagamore.

the marina – my happy place (in the summer)

I stopped in a few stores…

and inside the Sagamore before running back to car.

one last view of the lake

Another 2 miles covered!

You are never too old to set another goal…does this mean I should run a marathon?

I decided to call it a day and head home. (My LG friends wanted me to stop back for the car parade and the bonfire but I was pooped and wanted to drive before the snow started.)

’m linking this post up with Tara at Running n’ Reading for her Weekend Update!

Happy Running! Did you run or race this weekend?

February 2, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #1)

Monday – rest, ~~walk at work,~~ ~~tennis~~ (Cancelled due to snow storm that never arrived)
Tuesday – ~~3 mile run on TM~~, 1.7 mile run (2 hour delay for work) ~~tennis~~ (cancelled, we got some snow)

Wednesday – ~~walk at work,~~ ~~3 mile mile run on TM~~, (too busy at work), dinner out with tennis friends
Thursday – ~~walk at work~~, 3 4 mile run, mall walk with BFF

new route – around the UAlbany campus

Friday- ~~walk at work~~, 4 3 mile run on the TM(too snowy, windy cold), mah jongg

except I listened to my first episode of “Serial” – hooked

Saturday – rest, errands
Sunday – HMRRC Winter Series #5 – 10 m race

a tough one – they can’t all be easy but at least it was sunny and less windy than last week

This Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #2)

Oh no! 6 more weeks of winter 😦

Monday – rest
Tuesday – 3 mile run on the TM at work, tennis
Wednesday – rest
Thursday – 4 mile run
Friday- rest, mah jongg
Saturday – Polar Cap 4 m race + some more miles??, Lake George Winter Carnival
Sunday – rest

I’m linking this post up with Tara at Running n’ Reading for her Weekend Update!

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ?

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?