goals

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Welcome October…Welcome Fall!

September was a pretty busy month even though it didn’t go as planned.

This is what I had hoped:

  • Higher weekly and monthly mileage totals – not really but I had good intentions
  • Lower my 5K time – actually I did but not by as much I would have liked
  • Lower my 10K time – nope because I changed my mind & didn’t run the 10K
  • Start yoga – nope here too
  • Join a gym and work out – well, I didn’t really think this would happen

about 8 of those miles were walked 😦

But let’s focus on the good things that happened in September.

  • I ran in four races.

showing off my medal from the 4.4 Chase Away Leukemia race

  • I finished a 5K in less than 30 minutes.

doing it at the MPBA 5k

  • The weather cooperated and we had some more boating weekends.

cool but sunny day on Lake George

  • I started my weekly tennis contract and am enjoying it.
  • I stayed in my friend’s house on Schroon River 2 more times (for running, mah jongg). Love it there!

view from the house

  • I got a surprise visit from my friend in Russia.

at the NY Botanical Gardens

  • I am enjoying the foliage in the Northeast.

Hiking on the Indian Ladder Trail at Thatcher State Park

  • I rode my bike (1x)

at the Nisky bike trail along the Mohawk R.

  • I used the treadmill once.
  • I won a healthy receipe contest at work AND I won $25 gift card to Walmarts (from The Happy Runner).

this was my prize at work

For October, I am going to go out on a limb and try to:

  • Higher weekly and monthly mileage totals (that means long runs on the weekend)
  • Run at a more consistant & faster pace
  • Start yoga
  • Join a gym and work out
  • Lose weight
  • Eat healthy

Happy Running!  How was your September?  Anything different planned for October?

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I Want to Reach 65

That when I will be able to retire (and receive SS) so I can run whenever I want.

Only kidding.

I am trying to increase my running miles and it hasn’t been happening.

I am determined to do it this month.  That is reach 65.  And each month even more until I reach 100.

Thats means I have to schedule it:

  • Tues after work – 4 miles
  • Wed – supposed to rain – nail appt, walk with friend at the mall
  • Thurs before work – 3 miles
  • Fri after work – 4 miles
  • Sat – supposed to rain – mah jongg with the ladies
  • Sun – 6  or 7 miles

17-18 miles scheduled

Ta Da!

Happy Running!  What do you do to motivate yourself to run?

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Race Goals


I found this on FB.

So this will be my goal for my next race which is tomorrow.  I decided to stay at my friend’s river house tonight.

AJH relaxing at the river house before last year’s half marathon

I was debating on running the 5k or the 10k.

But I decided on the 5K. (The weather looks iffy and based on last year’s 10K, I may be last.)

If it not raining afterwards, I want to go to the expo in Schroon Lake and also run some more.

running around Schroon River

I plan to enjoy the race and run my best.

Happy Running!  Are you racing this weekend and if so, what is your goal?

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Wordless Wednesday


This is my motivation! Six months to go!

Happy Running!  What race are you looking ahead to?

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Why Does Summer Go By So Quickly?

I can’t believe it’s September already!!

Here is what I had planned for August:

  • running (4 times per week)
  • faster running (fewer walk breaks)
  • longer runs (5 miles or more)
  • another 5K race (hopefully faster than the last one)
  • tennis (once a week)
  • boating on weekends
  • reading (when not watching the Olympics)
  • fun times with friends & family

oops…ran less than July

How did I do?

  • I have been running 3-4 times each week.

  • I am not sure if I am running faster but I am worrying about it less. It will come or it won’t (and I’ll deal with it.)

  • My runs are not necessarily longer since I have been running before work (to avoid fatigue & heat) which means I usually run only 3 miles.  On the weekend, I have run 4 miles and I did complete my FIRST 10K RACE!!

  • I ran another 5K race and I finished under 31 minutes!!

  • I played tennis 3 times.

  • I have been boating most weekends — the weather has been perfect!

  • Yes, I have been reading my YA trilogies (Divergent & Delirium)
  • Yes, there have been fun times

and I ran with Joan Benoit Samuelson!!

What new goals do I have for September?

  • Higher weekly and monthly mileage totals.  I ran fewer miles in August than July.  If I stay healthy, I want to gradually increase.  If the weather cools down, I should be able to add some after work runs that are longer (though it will also get darker earlier.)
  • Lower my 5K time.
  • Lower my 10K time
  • Start yoga.
  • Join a gym and work out. (If  I keep saying this, maybe it’ll happen.)

Happy Running!  Do you have any new goals?

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5K Number 5

on Sept 1, 2012 in Saratoga

So I continue on my quest to do at least one 5K each month. And I plan hope to get faster with each one.

I actually only signed up for this one because it had a Groupon and only cost $10. I have never run this race but have run many in Saratoga (though the courses are all different.)

This one starts at the Warming Hut in the park so the route may be similiar to the Run for the Horses 5K that I did several years ago.

(Course Description: Starts at Warming Hut, travels down Avenue of Pines, let up route 9 passing the Dance Museum. Then course continues through a back trail in Saratoga State Park, exiting at Gideon Putnam Road. Loop around Theater, then head back towards Route 9 trail with nursery on your right. Ends at Warming Hut.)

Ave. of the Pines

MY RACE GOALS:

  1. Have fun.
  2. Finish.
  3. Feel good during the race.
  4. Run the whole thing
  5. Only walk at water stop(s).
  6. Run faster than my previous 5Ks this year (beat 30:58 ).
  7. Run faster than my RFTH 5k time (beat 30:40)

(And they are in order of importance.)

Happy Running!  Do you have any racing plans for the weekend?

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July Recap – Where has the summer gone?

What happened in July?

The Good:

  • My mileage has increased. 64 miles this month!!! Woo Hoo!
  • I ran several 4 milers. (It’s still a struggle but it’s a start.)
  • I ran in a 5k race. (My pace was better than the last one. Love.Racing.)
  • I played tennis 4 times. (I’m rusty but enjoyed it)
  • The weather has been perfect for boating and relaxing on the weekends. (YAY!!)

The Not So Good:

  • Lunchtime hour walks have disappeared. (lazy, lazy, lazy – boo!)
  • Biking has been nonexistent. (no time & bike rack is on my hubby’s truck)
  • Stretching & icing- oops – none of that either. (Bad Girl!)
  • Running is still a struggle aerobically…too much walking…pace too slow…blah, blah, blah
  • Ankle is still painful…(almost all the time) YUCK!

Basically my plans for August are almost exactly the same as for July:

  • running (4 times per week)
  • faster running (fewer walk breaks)
  • longer runs (5 miles or more)
  • another 5K race (hopefully faster than the last one)
  • tennis (once a week)
  • boating on weekends
  • reading (when not watching the Olympics)
  • fun times with friends & family

In addition, I should go back to stretching, to walking at lunch & to biking (on non-run days).  No promises here but I will try!!!

Sorry Ankle…I’ve neglected you!

Happy Running!  How was your July?  Anything different planned for August?

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A Good Run and a Good Weekend

I ran  3 miles after work on Thursday and it was pathetic.  I had to stop and walk almost every tenth of a mile. I’m not exaggerating. Yes, it was hot and humid & I was tired but that’s no excuse.

I took Friday off and went up to the lake.

Saturday morning, I went for a 4 mile run.  It was VERY hot and humid (I didn’t get up as early as I should have).  I went south on 9N in Bolton Landing which has rolling hills and cut through the cemetery and then ran back to the marina.

through the cemetery

It was not a particularly fast run.  But I ran at a consistent pace and had negative splits.  There were very few walk breaks and I felt redeemed.

Not sure the reason for this good run …it was in the morning…after a day off…pretty scenery?? 

So although I want to run almost everyday.  My ankle says “You need to rest it.”

Today I rested it again.

Otherwise the weekend was like every weekend on the lake…relaxing and fun.

boats tied together in Basin Bay

my hubby & friends’ son flexing their muscles

a duck who decided to come on our boat

cooling off in shallow Basin Bay

Running plans for the week:

Monday – run before work
Tuesday – Tennis
Wednesday – run after work
Thursday – run after work
Friday – REST
Saturday – 5K race

(This is similar to last week so I hope I have a good run on Sat.)

Happy Running! How was your weekend?

 

 

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Christmas in July


Yes, Christmas in July. I ran this race before but it was in December and in Albany (The Crossings).  Easy to dress for… and a familiar course.

This one is on Saturday, July 21… and it’s another new 5K race location for me so I have no idea if it is hilly or not. It’s in Lake George. That’s why I chose it.  (I think you know that I love Lake George.) And it should be cool to run in an amusement park.

It starts and ends in

'Jingle Bell Run' comes to Great Escape in July
My runs of late have been soooo slow… I think a race may be what I need!!

I plan to run at least One Race a Month (so far I have signed up for – July 21, Aug 18, Sept 15, Oct 20, Nov 21, Dec 15).

Goals for this Race:

  • Run most of it
  • Beat my Strides4Strides time (32:50)
  • Enjoy it

Now I have to figure out what to wear that is Christmasy but cool.

Happy Running! Any races coming up for you?

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Newbie vs Returning Runner

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that when you return from a serious injury, you don’t return at the same level as before your injury!!

But where are you in terms of running?  And when do you get to where you want to be?

In some ways, it is the same as a “new” runner:

  • You run slow.
  • You get out of breath.
  • You have self-doubt. (Can I really do this?)
  • You get impatient.
  • You walk sometimes.
  • You set goals.
  • You run a race ahead of schedule.
  • You “want” to be fast.
  • You get frustrated.

Then, in other ways, it is so different:

  • You know you can do it.
  • You are fearful of re-injury.
  • You are obsessed with pace.
  • You rarely run without your Garmin.
  • You have many types of running shoes (& are totally satisfied with none.)
  • You get depressed easily (because your expectations are probably too high.)
  • You are pissed off at having gotten injured.
  • You whine about it (all the time.)

So I know all this because several years ago I was a beginning runner.  I will count my 1st two years as “Year 1” since I ran 6 months the first year & 6 months the 2nd year.  I started in the No Boundaries program on April 1, 2008 with the goal of running a 5K in July.  Of course, I ran several 5ks before that.  I was impatient.  I only ran 3 miles because I thought that was all I could do.  In these first years, I progressed from being happy to finish to really wanting to get faster. I had the goal of finishing a 5k under 30 minutes.

I did break 30 minutes several times but it wasn’t until year 2 that I did it more consistently and started to think PR at every race.  I also started to run longer.  By longer, it at most 4-6 miles.  I also succeeded in breaking 28 minutes in a 5k.

That meant that I was ready to seek higher goals – run longer races.  In year 3, I ran 4 mile and 5 mile races.  I even ran 5 half marathons and fell in love with that distance.  I even ran a 15 k.

This is currently year 4 for me – the Injury Year.

After 5 months of nothing, I ran a 5k for my first outdoor run.  Finishing at 35:39 was a dream because I ran. I didn’t know that I could run.

Now, I am running and the type-A in me wants to know where I am, where I should be and when will I get to where I want to be…

Here’s my invented theory:

Newbie                       Returning                    activity

Year 1…………………….Months 1-4 ……………….running

Year 2…………………….Months 5-8 ………………running faster

Year 3…………………….Months 9-12 …………….running longer

If this is true, I will back to where I was next summer…  It also means that I will be ready to run a half marathon next March (That’s what I hope since I signed up for one on Mar 17 in Fla.)  In addition, I plan to break 30 min. in a 5k by the end of the year.

Back to running…now that I can relax.

Yesterday I ran 4 miles in Bolton Landing.  I ran north on  9N for 1 mile which I had never done.  It was straight uphill and I walked a lot and I’m ok with that. Then I ran 1 mile south on 9N – rolling hills.

Then I enjoyed the rest of the day. Here are some pics from the weekend.

Sat:

hanging out in Bassin Bay with friends

some cute ducklings

sunset on Speaker Heck Is. where we barbecued with friends

Sun:

my hubby relaxing on Red Rock Bay

view from Dunham’s Bay where we had dinner

This morning I ran a stress-free Garminless 2 miles before work.

Happy Running!  Does my return to running theory make sense?