Running, Boating, Running, Boating

Yup, that was how I spent my Labor Day weekend.

The weather wasn’t perfect but I’ll take it.  It beats winter!

On Saturday, which was a nice day, I stayed home until dinner, doing housework, errands and then joined the hubby at the marina for dinner.

On Sunday morning, I had an awesome run in that 90% humidity.

Well, awesome because I was running along Lake George. Instead of my usual run around the Sagamore hotel are, I decided to run south on 9N.

It is rolling hills (the reverse direction of my the Adirondack Distance Run) and I walked whenever I felt I needed to.

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looking south

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not a sunny day but the ducks don’t care

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cool old house, now a gift shop

I turned and ran around the cemetery before heading back to the marina.

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old school house, now a store

I completed a total of 4.5 miles. I would have liked to do more but everyone was waiting at the marina to head out on the lake.

It was the annual Christmas in Log Bay party but it was looking like rain.

And it drizzled all day but none of the predicted hard rain and thunderstorms materialized. Lucky us!

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there are usually hundreds of boats

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my hubby pulled folks around using his dinghy

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our friend on his kayak

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now that’s a big float, later on, they had 15 people squeezed on it

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Santa & Mrs Claus handing out candy to the boaters

Yes, the live band still played and everyone had fun despite the lousy weather.

By evening, it had cleared up.  We went out for pizza and then had birthday cake while watching the fireworks. (This was a weekend of unhealthy eating!!!)

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I got up early the next morning, Labor Day.  I usually don’t run two days in a row but it was going to be a picture perfect day and I couldn’t resist. It was warm and very foggy over the water.

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I decided to run on 9N again but this time going north.

UPHILL!!

Again, there was a lot of walking involved. I’m ok with that.

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Eventually I turned into a housing complex and continued my run…now going downhill.

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I ran all the way until it ended at the water.

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And then I had to go back.  I could barely walk up the hill.  But I knew as soon as I got to the main road, I would be running downhill.

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beautiful blue sky away from the lake.

I made a quick detour over the Sagamore bridge.

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I finally arrived back at the marina to a clearing sky.

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After another 4.5 miles completed, we headed out on our boat.

We decided to dock at one of our favorite spots.

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this was my view from the site on Log Bay island

Then some friends stopped by to visit.

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Finally, we rode around for a while, stopping at another of our favorite sites.

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the view from Red Rock Bay island

The sun was going down and time to call it a day (and have our post-weekend ice cream.)

Labor Day weekend always makes me sad.  It feels like the end of summer.

Happy Running! Do you feel the same about Labor Day weekend?

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Five Friday: The 4th of July

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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 Five Things About July 4th:

1. Time Off – you never have to work on July 4th.  Yay!

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hope to be doing a lot of this (with a drink & a book in each hand)

2. Red, White and Blue. Lots of flags and patriotic clothing.

3. Picnics & BBQs. A time to pig out with friends.

4. Boating & Swimming.  Rain or shine we go out on our boat.

5. Fireworks.  Love them! We get to watch them at our marina.

 Yes, there are races that I would LOVE to run but you can’t do everything.

this crowded race is in Saratoga…someday…maybe?

Happy Running! How do you spend July 4th! 

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Ice Ice Baby…

Not because it was freezing out (and it was) but a real ice bar.

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this was taken the day before on a less snowy day

The Sagamore Resort’s Glacier Ice Bar & Lounge:

36,000 pounds of crystal-clear ice transformed into one of the “hottest and coolest lounges” in the Adirondacks. Exquisite ice carvings and sub-zero temperatures make this swanky lounge an unforgettable experience. The lounge will consist of a frozen back bar, counter and even stools, although the stools will be draped with furs. In addition to drinks appropriate to the frozen north, both chilled and hot, the ice bar will feature foods such as oysters, shrimp and lobster served on beds of snow. 

Here’s what it looks in the summer:

We drove up in the afternoon. It was snowing the whole way up and it was COLD!!! First we stopped by our marina. (The lake is frozen and no visibility due to the snow coming down.)

Then we headed to the bar. It was cold!  And pretty crowded.  There were heaters and a fire pit but still it was cold. The poor bartenders!

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The ice sculptures were very cool.

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My hubby got a drink.  All the drinks had cool names like “Snow Ball,” Old Man Winter,” etc. I had a hot chocolate (that stayed warm for minutes.)

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Some of our friends also stopped by to join us.

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he was making our friend, Ed’s drink – schnapps & vodka

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me & Kathi

Eventually it got too cold outside and we continued our drinks & conversation indoors by the fireplace.

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when it got darker, they had skiing on the screen

Afterwards, we headed to the Inn at Erlowest where we had dinner to celebrate our anniversary.

The food was delicious.  I had lobster/carrot bisque, ricotta/butternut spinach gnocchi & creme brulee for dessert.  Carb loading for my race the next day.

Happy Running! Any special plans for the weekend?

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Monday Running Update

 

20140222-161624Last Week:

  • Monday – rest, fly home
  • Tuesday – 3 miles on TM at lunch (too tired, too busy), tennis
  • Wednesday –  3 4 miles, yoga (still sore)
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no snow or ice and 40 degrees

  • Thursday – rest, 3 miles on the TM at work, haircut
  • Friday – 4 miles, rest, mah jongg
  • Saturday – rest, 8 miles
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on the Corning Bike Path with a new friend

  • Sunday – 8 miles rest, movie

enjoyed it

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This Week:

  • Monday – Day off from work, 4 miles, tennis
  • Tuesday – rest, tennis
  • Wednesday –  3 miles, yoga
  • Thursday – rest
  • Friday – 4 miles, mah jongg
  • Saturday – rest
  • Sunday – 15 K race

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races to start off the new year?

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Weekly Running Update

 

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Last Week: (Off from work ALL WEEK!)

  • Mondayrest,  3 miles, tennis
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in town and around the golf course

  • Tuesday – 4 3 miles (tennis cancelled), New Year’s Eve dinner out
  • Wednesday –  rest, 3 miles, cruise on Lake George, (yoga cancelled)
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in the neighborhood

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on Lake George

  • Thursday – 4 miles rest – too cold and snowy
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we got about a foot but the temps were sub-zero

  • Friday – 3 miles on the treadmill at work, mah jongg
  • Saturday – rest, bus trip to NYC with the hubby for the Boat Show, lots of walking miles in NYC

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  • Sunday – 8 slow slippery miles
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on the Corning Bike Path – just did it slow as to not fall.

This Week: (Back to work 😦 )

  • Monday – rest
  • Tuesday – 3 miles on TM at lunch, tennis
  • Wednesday –  rest, fly to Palm Springs
  • Thursday – 3 miles?
  • Friday – rest
  • Saturday – 10 mile race!!
  • Sunday – rest
  • Monday – rest, fly home

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races to start off the new year?

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December Rundown

DECEMBER GOALS:

  • RUN (regularly)!!! YES! At least 3x week!
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in the park

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in town

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in the neighborhood

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on the bike path

  • Do not overdo and listen to my body…Do NOT run if foot pain gets worse. YES!  Only ran 1 mile on rest days of the streak and then added my rest days back. Foot pain is much improved.
  • Attend at least 2 yoga classes! YES! Attended 3 classes!
  • Walk or run at least 1 mile a day while at work. YES on most days! Thanks to my co-worker Sherri.
  • Cut back on the sweets and eating out. I doubt it.  It is the holiday season!
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ate lots of cookies

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and desserts

  • Start knitting again (socks or something else)
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working on a pair of socks

  • Run before work at least once a week. Not often! Too cold!
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would you run?

  • Run a new route. Yes, sorta. I haven’t run this route in 3 years.
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in town and around the golf course

  • Continue to run some of my long runs with others. Nope.  Just couldn’t coordinate our days. I usually run on Saturday and they run on Sunday.  Definitely plan to do it next month!
  • Run at least one race. YES! 

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  • Continue running longer on the weekends (to train for January 10 miler) YES!
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8 miles on the Corning bike trail

  • Complete the RW Running Streak (run at least 1 mile everyday from Thanksgiving to New Year’s) NO! I decided to quit after 10 days straight.

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  • Run at least 70 miles this month.  YES! 86 – my biggest month this year!

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I also visited NYC with 2 friends.

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I spent some time with my mentee Amanda and her sons. In fact I saw them 3 times this month.

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I celebrated quite a few dinners out – 5 birthdays, 2 tennis parties, Christmas & New Year’s Eve. Holy waist line!

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tennis friend Suzy’s b-day

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former co-worker Cheryl’s b-day

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college friend Judy’s b-day

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tennis party

I went to see several very enjoyable movies: Philomena, Catching Fire, Book Thief, American Hustle, Saving Mr Banks.

 I also read some good books including What Alice Forgot, the Aviator’s Wife, the Orphan Train.

JANUARY GOALS:

  • RUN (regularly)!!!
  • Do not overdo and listen to my body!
  • Attend at least 2 yoga classes!
  • Walk or run at least 1 mile a day while at work.
  • Cut back on the sweets and eating out now that the holidays are over.
  • Run before work at least once a week.
  • Continue to run some of my long runs with others
  • Complete my first 10 mile race.
  • Run at least one other race.
  • Continue running longer on the weekends (to train for January 10 miler and March half marathon)
  • Run at least 70 miles this month. 
  • Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy.

Happy Running! How was your December? Anything exciting planned for January?

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Playing Santa

My priority for the day was to make sure Amanda (the girl I mentor) and her sons have a nice Christmas.

So my hubby and I went there to give them gifts.

Matthew is 2 and loves Sesame Street.  Everything I bought him – books, clothes, etc was Elmo-themed.

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Richard is 7 and is obsessed with Teenage Ninja Turtles. I bought him Ninja puzzles, books, dvd, etc.

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Mom Amanda is 24 and loves to read.

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It is definitely better to give than receive.

Afterward, we went to the movies.

very enjoyable. Jennifer Lawrence is great in it.

 and then to dinner with my hubby’s family. Unfortunately, they are not into the holiday so no decorations or gifts.

 I was glad to be able to celebrate with Amanda and her kids.

Happy Running! How was your holiday?

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DIY Cards

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I have quite a few birthdays in addition to Christmas to celebrate in December.  Instead of buying cards, I have been making them.

Thanks to Walgreens and Facebook, it is cheap and very easy.

I create a 4×6 collage print from photos in my Facebook account and/or photos from any from my Friends’ Facebook accounts.  Cool, right?

It cost $.39 and recently there was a 40% off special (that’s $.23.)

Here is a sampling:

cheryl

richard

judy

lou

sherri

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You can make bigger collages (5×7 or 8×10) and they very often have code for a “free collage.”  You can also make single print with all kinds of cute borders.

I make these a lot and my friends think I am so techie.  I do it for fun.

I didn’t create my Christmas cards this way.  I ordered regular digital cards (with envelopes) from Shutterfly.  But next year, I may even do it this way.

Happy Running! Would like this type of card over a traditional card?

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Foto Friday

Tis the season…fa..la..la..la…la..la..la…la

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lots of snowmen at my house

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stockings for the cats cuz they love Christmas too.

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our puny artificial tree…still trying to talk my hubby into a bigger real one

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spending time with friends in NYC

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holiday lights in Washington Park, Albany

ice menorah on the last night of Chanukah in NYC

ice menorah on the last night of Chanukah in NYC

On the running front, the weather has been balmy but that it is ending.  Today it is raining and tomorrow it is supposed to snow!! Oh no!  I am not ready for YakTrax.  I hope I can get a long run in. (I find it impossible to run more than 3 miles on a treadmill.)

Happy Running!  What are your favorite holiday decorations? Does the winter weather put a damper on your running?

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