December 23, 2011 by Darlene

2011 Goals – How did I do?

Here are the GOALS that I set for 2011:

I was doing REALLY well until June 11 when I hurt my heel… then I rebounded!!

Lower my 5K PR – No, it still stands at 27:30 but I did have 3 races under 28 minutes and 2 just over 28!

√ Run 5ks under 28 minutes – 3 out of 9 under 28 (all 5ks under 30 minutes except for the one where I fell)

√ Win my age group – 2nd for the LG Half, (50-59), 2nd for Polar Cap 4m (55-59), 2nd for Firefighters 5K (55-59), 1st SPAC 5k(55-59) – only got prizes for the lst 2

: Polar Cap – 2nd place in AG

√ Run new races – 14 new races (Polar Cap 4m, Firefighters 5k, Naples Half, LG Half, Delmar Dash 5m, Sean’s Run 5k, Workforce Challenge 3.5m, Runnin of the Green 4m, Adirondack Half, Fall Foliage Half, Santa Clarita Half, Stockade-athon, Run Off That Turkey 5K. Hmrrc Winter Series #1 3m)

Runnin of the Green 4 miler

Run at least one race each month – 1 in Jan, 1 in Feb, 2 in Mar, 2 in Apr, 4 in May, 2 in Jun, 0 in July, 0 in August, 1 in Sept, 2 in Oct, 4 in Nov & 2 in Dec. (injured in July & August 😦 )

: Sean’s Run in May

√ Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside) – over 800 miles for the year. (It would have been more if I had not been injured in July & August.)

Running outside in January

√ Run a longer race than 5k (4 mi, 5 mi or 10K) – 5 Half Marathons, a 15K, 2 – 4 mile races, 1 -5 mile race

: Delmar Dash 5 miler

√ Run a half marathon race – 5 Half Marathons!! Woo Hoo!

LG Half Marathon 4-11

√ Run at least 15 races – 21 races (It would have been more if I had not been injured in July & Aug. I DNS for about 6 races.)

Mother’s Day Race ’11

√ Run a race in another state – 2 – a Half Marathon in Florida and a Half Marathon in California

Half in Naples, Florida

Volunteer at a race – Nope

√ Take running pics & post on FB & this blog – I have taken lots of photos (even use the timer on my camera) & post on this blog & on facebook

√ Keep track of how many miles I run this year – I record every mile I run on this blog, dailymile.com & on a tickerfactory.com ticker

Happy Running! Did you accomplish your 2011 running goals?

November 30, 2011 by Darlene

Pace or Time?

Awards at races are given out based on the TIME that you cross the finish line.

Personally if you want to improve your running speed, shouldn’t you be looking at PACE not time. After all, some 5ks are calculated at 3.03 miles and others at 3.15 miles. The same goes for 10Ks, 15ks and Half Marathons.

Naples Half

Santa Clarita Half

Obviously, the longer the course, the slower your finish time will be.

So I thought that I ran faster for my 5K on Nov. 24 than for my 5K on Nov, 26. I finished in 27:58 on Nov 24 and in 28:11 on Nov. 26.

As you can see my PACE was faster on Nov 26 (8:57/mi) even though my time was slower. The 5K course was longer!

So maybe I should re-calculate my PRs and revise my future racing goals!!

Happy Running! What’s more important to you – time or pace?

November 22, 2011 by Darlene

The Former 5K Racer

My first year of running, I ran about 13 5K races, my second year, 17 and my third over 20!! I went from finishing in 37 minutes to finishing in 27 minutes!!

Year Four: two 4 mile races, a 5 mile race, a 15K race and 5 Half Marathons!

Since June, I have run only one 5k and I struggled to finish under 30 minutes!!!

I feel like I am no longer a 5K racer!!!

That being said, I have signed up for three 5K races before the end of the year! Nov 24, Nov 26 and Dec 17.

So what is my goal for my 5Ks?

Have fun!
Finish under 30 minutes!
Get faster with each one…

Happy Running! How do you choose between distance and speed? Can you do both?

November 4, 2011 by Darlene

Half Marathon Goal Revised

I decided to not be a wimp and just GO FOR IT!

My New Goal= 2:22:38 or lower!! Yes, I plan to try to PR!!!!

Here’s why…

Lake George Half elevation
Finish time = 2:22:39

Fall Foliage Half elevation
Finish time = 2:32:50

Santa Clarita Half elevation

Looks flatter to me….

I have nothing to lose…no embarrassment if I don’t make it.

I’ll be happy to finish and grab my medal…

Correction= HALF MARATHON 11/6/11

In fact, after my last long 12 min/mi run, it doesn’t appear very likely that I will succeed … but I’m gonna try!!

(You’ll find out on Thursday when I get back….suspense………..)

Happy Running! How do you come up with your goals?

November 3, 2011 by Darlene

Goals for Half Marathon #5

As I said in yesterday’s post, I am a little nervous about this race. In addition to having a heel injury and penguin-like training runs, I also will be changing time zones (3 hour time difference) and staying with a friend’s sister, Ellen, whom I haven’t seen in 36 years.

But really, I’m excited about leaving the Northeast and heading to sunny Cali! I am also looking forward to hanging out with Ellen, her hubby & her daughter. (Ellen, stop cleaning!!!)

My Goals:

A. Have FUN!
B. Finish!
C. Do not re-injure my foot or injure any other body part!
E. Finish faster than Half Marathon #3 –under 2:45.
F. Finish faster than Half Marathon #4 –under 2:32. (This is my hope!)
G.Finish faster than Half Marathon #2 — under 2:22. (This is A DREAM & a PR!!)

Happy Running! California, here I come!

November 1, 2011 by Darlene

Welcome November!

Wow, October flew by! But I am happy to say that I ran my most miles ever!!! (Previously it was 95 in Dec 2010) I have also surpassed my total miles for 2010 with 2 months left to go!!!

Here were my October Goals:

Continue to run pain-free – YUP!!
Continue tennis & yoga once a week – YUP!!
Run 3-4 times a week – YUP!!
Join a gym & start to cross-train ??? NOPE. Not yet!
Increase weekly mileage by adding long runs to prepare for Half Marathon #4 – YUP! Actually ran it and now it is HM #5
Run a 5k or 10K or both – YUP! A 5K on 10-1-11
10-1-11

10-10-11

10-16-11

10-22-11

10-23-11

10-30-11

GOALS

Hope to continue to run pain-free
Continue tennis & yoga once a week
Run 3-4 times a week
Survive Half Marathon #5
Run a 5k (& finish under 30 min.)
Join a gym & start cross-train

Happy Running!

October 24, 2011 by Darlene

Last Week in Review & an Impromptu Half

Monday – 5 miles (on Jones Beach boardwalk)
Tuesday – 3 miles (after work)
Wednesday – 2 miles on treadmill, Yoga 1.25 hrs
Thursday – REST
Friday – 2 miles (after work)
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 13.1 miles – Fall Foliage Half Marathon in Rhinebeck

2 weeks to go… until Half Marathon #5!

Happy Running!

September 29, 2011 by Darlene

September’s Almost Over. Bring On October!

I ran the whole month of September and haven’t run this many miles in a month since April!!

Here’s what I planned for September:

Hope to run pain-free – Almost (still sore from time to time)
Continue tennis & yoga once a week – YES
Spend a few more weekends on Lake George. – YES
Run 3-4 times a week – YES
Increase weekly mileage by adding longer runs – YES, got up to 8 miles
Prepare for Half Marathon #4 by doing 4 & 5 – YES
Survive Half Marathon #3 – YES
Run a 5k or 10K race (only if #1) – NO but I have one Oct 1.

running by Huddle Bay on Lake George

running my 3rd Half

So now what’s planned for October?

Continue to run pain-free 🙂
Continue tennis & yoga once a week
Run 3-4 times a week
Join a gym & start to cross-train ???
Increase weekly mileage by adding long runs to prepare for Half Marathon #4
Run a 5k or 10K or both

Happy Running! What are you planning for October?

September 26, 2011 by Darlene

The Aftermath & Plans for the Future

the end of the Adirondack Half Marathon

Looking back, here were my possible plans for this race:

A. Run the whole damn thing (and hope I don’t make my heel injury worse).
B. Walk the whole thing (under 5 hours, of course so I can get a medal).
C. Run until I get tired and then walk.
D. Walk one mile, run one mile, etc.
E. Walk up the hills, run down the hills.
F. Pretend that it’s a training run for Half Marathon #4 instead of a race.
G. Play it by ear. Do whatever feels right.
H. Have lots of fun and take lots of photos.

I didn’t do A or B or D or F. I got caught up in the excitement and ran most of the the first 7 miles. After mile 8, I was done and walked up the hills and would have run down the hills if I had the chance. It makes sense since my longest training run was 8 miles. I had fun and did take photos. So I did C, E, G, & H.

Here were my goals:

Have fun.
Run a lot of it.
Walk when necessary.
Finish under 5 hours (but really I want to finish under 4 hours or maybe even in 3 hours)

ALL GOALS ACCOMPLISHED!!! YAY!!!

In 6 weeks, I have another Half Marathon.

I hope to continue training and get in better running shape. If I don’t have to walk the last few miles, my time will improve. I have no idea if this course is flat or hilly…so who knows. But I know I will have fun since I will be in LA and staying with an old friend.

After that, I will do a few 5ks and look for another Half Marathon for the spring. Yes, I said “Another Half.”

I think I prefer to train in the winter when there’s nothing else to do on weekends and it is not so hot & humid. There are also not many 5ks races to enter. I also want to run in a flat half marathon.

After that, I hope to run many 5ks in the summer as I did before except for the 10 miler in Lake George and maybe a 10k or 15k at some point.

Then who knows…

Happy Running! Anyone know of a FLAT half marathon in the spring in the NE?