April 14, 2016 by Darlene

TOLT: STEM, Racing, Injuries, Work, etc.

Since it is Thursday, I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

Here’s what I’m thinking about today…

STEM

Yesterday was my second week volunteering with a Couch to 5k program for women who are survivors of domestic violence.

This relates to yesterday’s post about being judgmental. For the past two sessions, the women have been newbie runners and not very competitive. They were so excited to have finished a 5k race. So I used to run before or after the group run to keep up my training pace.

I assumed that this session would be the same. The women last week were more enthusiastic. This week, however, there were two new women. I was paired up with one. Well, she has run before and she is fast. In fact, this will be a good workout for me. And the other new woman was even faster. She may have been an elite runner in her country.

She doesn’t speak English well but guess where she is from??

PARIS!!!

Woo Hoo! We were both thrilled to be able to speak French together. Mine is a little rusty but I did teach high school French for 22 years!

So far we are only running 1 1/2 minutes at a time but I think I will not be able to slack off this session.

Racing

I race every weekend. But I do not have one scheduled this weekend. It feels so strange that I almost signed up for one in Saratoga on Saturday.

Luckily Denise (Judy‘s friend) will run 10 miles with me on Sunday for my last long run before my half marathon.

I will try to refrain from running that 5k. (No promises.)

Tennis Elbow

The good: it doesn’t affect my running. The bad: it’s not any better. But like any athlete, I took ibuprofen, taped it and wore a band and then played tennis.

The good: it didn’t affect my tennis. The bad: it’s not any better.

Work

I am walking EVERYDAY!! I started out with a 100 mile goal but I upped it to a lofty 400.

mmm

I usually walk to the park (with a stop at Starbucks). Yesterday, I walked to the library to return a book.

Next Half Marathon

It’s on April 24 (in 10 days) and I am not really stressing about it. Is it because it’s #19? Or because I know the route and it is very HILLY. Sometimes it’s a relief to know that you will not get a PR.

I plan to enjoy the race. I hope that it is nice weather and I can hang out by the lake afterwards.

The picture below is the view from the start & finish line (in 2011).

starting/finish line

Happy Running! What’s on your mind today?

March 31, 2016 by Darlene

TOLT & My March Recap

I can’t believe March is over already…

So here’s how things went:

Weekday Runs:

The weather was fickle – there were warm days and then there were cold days. There were even rainy and windy days. I was still able to run 2-3 times each week – mostly after work.

Long Runs:

There was a half marathon. Then I immediately started preparing for my next half marathon. So I continued to run higher mileage on the weekend.

a week before the half

5 mile race + 4 = 9 miles (a week after the half)

5k race + 7.4 = 10.5 miles

Total Mileage:

86 miles this month!

mar16

Less than last month but about average for me.

Races:

I ran THREE races this month – a 5k, a 5 miler and a half marathon.

2:22:40- very hilly race

46:28 (3rd in my AG)

27:55 – 1st in my AG

I was happy with how they all went. I did not have PR goals and of course, they could have been faster but the shorter races were the first part of a long run. And the half marathon had hills which I had not trained for.

Cross Training:

I continued to play tennis one night a week until my tennis elbow flared up.

may have to take a break for awhile

I DID NOT go to a single yoga class!! I planned to but something usually got in the way. Next month, I promise! (Wait, I said that last month!!)

lheartspaceogo

I continued to walk at work (around the building and to Starbucks or the park). I have also started going to the mall to get more steps in on days when the weather is lousy.

My Starbucks addiction continues!!

I went to the gym once. It was not so bad but now my elbow is my excuse.

Sat am at the gym

Other News:

I met my GOTR running buddy. Her name is Jayme and she is in 5th grade. We will be corresponding through notes and then I run both the practice 5k and the real 5k with her. She is very cute and it should be fun.

I ran twice with the Freihofer Challenge Training group. My “advanced” group friends signed up again. There are also some new runners. I have enjoyed it so far.

I am still working on that scarf. It is very long. Someday I may finish it and start something new.

I’ve gotten back into reading. Finished this book:

enjoyed it …it’s about a grandmother telling her life story to her granddaughter.

Feeling healthy so Life Is Good.

Looking Ahead:

The place where I work is participating in the Million Mile Month for the month of April. I plan to walk/run 100 miles.

MMM_VertLogo_2016_forweb_copy

I am training for another half marathon in April. It’s another hilly but scenic one. I am looking forward to the lake views not necessarily the hills.

April 24

I have been busy signing up for spring races. This is my list so far for the next 2 months:

4-03-16 – Delmar Dash 5 miler
4-09-16 – Bacon Hill Bonanza 10k
4-30-16 – Spring Run Off 5k
5-01-16 – Cherry Blossom 5k
5-07-16 – Mastodon Challenge 15k
5-08-16 – Mother’s Day 5K (for GOTR)
5-12-16 – Albany Law Day Against domestic violence 5k ??
5-14-16 – Summer 5k Addiction Awareness Run
5-29-16 – Vermont City Marathon Relay

I signed up to be a STEM volunteer. I will be running with the group on Wednesdays after work.

No monthly goals.

my motto for 2016

Since it is Thursday, I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

Happy Running! How did your March turn out? Anything exciting planned for April? What are y0u thinking about this Thursday?

September 28, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday– I squeezed in a walk at work and then after work, went to my first Troy Turkey Trot training group run. I loved it. Holly & I chatted the whole run. I even ran up the hills.

Love this park’s flowers

hilly but great run

view on my way home

Tuesday – Just a work day, a lunch time walk and 1 1/2 hours of tennis after work.

flowers are here but slowly dying

Wednesday – I squeezing in a run on the track during work. I wasn’t sure if I would make it to the STEM group run/walk on time after work. It’s a Couch25k program for survivors of domestic violence.

With all the traffic, I missed the STEM run so on my way home I stopped to run some more and discovered that the Rail Trail was completed (from Delmar to Albany.) Since I had already run that afternoon, I only did 2 miles.

Thursday – A busy work day but managed a walk in the park at lunch and then a run after work on the same rail trail as yesterday.

flowers are still in bloom

finished just as it got dark – the days are getting shorter 😦

Friday -I took the day off and headed up to my friend’s house on Schroon River. (And yes, there is water there now.) I stopped off at the outlets (and bought stuff I needed and stuff I didn’t need) and then picked up my race packet. I ate dinner in Chestertown and called it a night.

Saturday -It was nice to finally have only a 5 minute ride to the start of the race. It was colder than I hoped (like 38 degrees.) The 10k was hilly as I expected but I won an age group award which is always nice.

1:00:10 – not a PR but 2nd in my AG

After the race, I drove back to my friend’s house to run some more miles (though my legs protested.)

only got in 2.8 miles

But my run was interrupted when my hubby called to say that he was waiting at the marina. I hurried there and we spent a wonderful day picnicking with some friends on one of the islands of Lake George.

We ended the day with a very late dinner out with more friends.

Sunday – We had hoped to spend another day on out boat but a party was planned for my MIL’s 90 the birthday. At least, I was able to squeeze in an easy mile run in the morning. (So my 12 mile weekend long run was in 3 parts over 2 days…)

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me the hubby

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the family

24 miles for the week with only 3 rest days and 4 days of running. Half Marathon is 2 weeks away!!! Taper time!

This Week: (Week #11 of HM training)

Monday- 3 mile run (with the Turkey Trot Training group)
Tuesday – rest
Wednesday – 3 mile run before work,volunteer walk/run with STEM group, dinner with the tennis ladies
Thursday – 4 mile run after work
Friday – rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 5k race + more miles
Sunday – rest, day in NYC (walking, eating, Broadway show)

I am linking up for the Weekly Wrap hosted by Holly @ HoHoRuns and Tricia @ MissSippiPiddlin. See rules here.

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

September 14, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday– Day off from work and I was recovering from my partying on the lake the day before but I did drag myself out for 4 scenic slow miles before spending the rest of the day on the lake.

Tuesday – Played tennis for 1 1/2 hours indoors and then watched the USOpen on TV with friends, pizza, wings & beer.

Wednesday – Knowing it was going to be very warm, I decided to run before work. I was tired from going to bed to late the night before but managed 3 miles in the neighborhood.

Thursday – Another warm day and forecast for storms got me and a hair appointment after work out of bed early for another before work run. This time 4 miles and I finished before the rain started.

Friday -No work today. I met my college BFF in Williamstown, MA to see the Van Gogh & Whistler’s Mother exhibit at the Clark Art Institute.

It was great and we also enjoyed a nice lunch and hike.

may have been too much walking for a day before a long run… but so worth it

Saturday – I ran one of my favorite 5Ks

28:56 – not a PR or an AG group but still fun

and then added more miles to make a total of 11.5 for the day.

may have been my slowest long run ever – tired…humid…but enjoyed the scenery

After watching a great US Open women’;s final on TV, we went out to dinner and then I ordered a new phone (iPhone 6s!!!)

Sunday – The boating season is winding down so I thought that we would drove up to spend one more day on the lake. But the weather didn’t cooperate so I spent a day catching up at home.

22.5 miles for the week with only 3 rest days and 4 days of running. Half Marathon is 4 weeks away!!! Gulp!

This Week: (Week #9 of HM training)

Monday- 4 mile run
Tuesday – rest, tennis after work
Wednesday – 3 mile run before work, yoga?
Thursday – 4 mile run before work
Friday – rest
Saturday – 12 mile run, boating?
Sunday – rest, mah jong at the Schroon River House

I am linking up for the Weekly Wrap hosted by Holly @ HoHoRuns and Tricia @ MissSippiPiddlin. See rules here.

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

September 7, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday– Boy, was it a hot one. I sweat for 3.5 miles in the city & the park. Met my BFF for a walk after.

Tuesday – Played tennis for 1 1/2 hours after work then met an old friend for a late dinner.

Wednesday – Knowing it was going to be very warm, I decided to run before work. My legs even had some occasional speed but only had time for 3 miles (Yeah, I could have gotten up earlier.)

Thursday – Another warm day and forecast for storms got me out of bed early for another before work run. This time 4 miles. Now I know why I don’t run 2 days in a row. Even my new shoes couldn’t remedy my tired legs. (It was warmer and more humid. Maybe that was it?)

Friday -Just work today and then a fun evening of mah jongg.

Saturday – I was planning a 5K but changed my mind and decided to do my long run uninterrupted.

Sunday – I recuperated with a fun day on the lake. It was the annual Christmas celebration on Log Bay.

last year’s pic but you get the idea

20.5 miles for the week with only 3 rest days and 4 days of running. Half Marathon is 5 weeks away!!!

This Week: (Week #8 of HM training)

Monday- DAY OFF –4 mile run
Tuesday – rest, tennis after work
Wednesday – 3 mile run before work, yoga?
Thursday – 4 mile run before work, hair appt after
Friday – rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 5K race + 8 more miles
Sunday – rest, boating

I am linking up for the Weekly Wrap hosted by Holly @ HoHoRuns and Tricia @ MissSippiPiddlin. See rules here.

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

August 24, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday– Since I hadn’t run for two days, I dragged myself out of bed and ran 4 sweaty miles in a different (upscale) neighborhood. Glad I got it done before work but it was already warm. Enjoyed the new views – elaborate gardens, dead turtle (no, not me but felt like it) and a flock of wild turkeys.

Tuesday -I was planning to rest but woke up early and decided that I needed to sweat. Ran in the same neighborhood (but a different loop) as yesterday. No dead turtles or wild turkey sightings but I did bump into a tennis friend. After work, I played 1 1/2 hours of tennis followed by our usual dinner out.

Wednesday – Another hot day and I had planned to repeat my ice cream run of last week but got invited to a friend’s birthday party. Glad I had run Monday & Tuesday.

Thursday – I needed to run off those wings and birthday cake so I got up early and ran some 4 slow miles in the same neighborhood. I ran into the mother wild turkey and her children.

Friday -Just work today. Very busy getting ready for the beginning of the school year.

Saturday – I got up early today because I wanted to do my long run before my weekend on the river with the tennis ladies. To save time, I ran into town and back. It was a difficult run (Why don’t they get easier??) but I did get 9.5 miles done.

I arrived at Schroon River just as the girls were finishing up with tennis. After lunch we went for a 2 mile walk.

Sunday – More tennis ladies arrived today. But before they arrived, I sneaked out for a run. Love this area to run in.

We played tennis in the morning and after lunch, we relaxed and chatted the rest of the day away.

23.25 miles for the week with only 3 rest days and 4 days of running.

This Week: (Week #6 of HM training)

Monday- rest, walk at walk, gym?
Tuesday – 4 mile run after work
Wednesday – rest, mall walk with bff
Thursday – 4 mile run after work
Friday – rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 10k race + 4 miles, baby shower, time with my mentee & sons
Sunday – boating

I am linking up for the Weekly Wrap hosted by Holly @ HoHoRuns and Tricia @ MissSippiPiddlin. See rules here.

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

August 21, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: 5 Years from Now

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 5 Years From Now

This may be kinda boring because hopefully there will not be any changes in my life in 5 years (as long as I remain healthy).

Working at the same job – I am too old to change careers. I would like to afford to be retired but I doubt I will be able be.

2. Tennis – I love my friends and enjoy playing this sport on a limited basis. I won’t be playing seriously on a team but I plan to plan socially with my friends at least once a week.

and continue our annual tennis vacations.

3. Weekly mah jongg games

I play with a great bunch of women and I love the game.

4. Boating in the summer on the weekends

hanging out in the bays or on the islands.

5. Running and racing

I hope to be still running the occasional half marathon.

I hope to continue winning awards in my new age group.

If I lose my mind and someone trains with me, I may have run a full marathon…but that’s not in the plan!!

I don’t think I have any of these …

Happy Running? What about you? Any changes planned in the next 5 years?

July 27, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday- OFF FROM WORK, rest, trip to NYC (8 miles of walking)

lobster restaurant cruise, walk on the High Line & in Chelsea Market

Tuesday – 3 mile run after work, ~~tennis~~ (work webinar), rest
Wednesday – 5 4 mile run after work, dinner out

definitely not feeling it – lots of walking

Thursday – ~~rest~~, 2 mile run at work, dinner out with tennis BFFs

bad food & bad service but great company

Friday – rest, walk at work, gym, ~~mah jongg~~

Saturday – 5k race+ 4 miles, graduation party

28:33 or so – 7th in my AG (a fast crowd)

a new place for me – very scenic

Sunday – rest, boating

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This Week: (Week #2 of HM training)

Monday- OFF FROM WORK, proctor NYS Bar Exam, 4 mile run after
Tuesday – OFF FROM WORK, proctor NYS Bar Exam, 4 mile run after
Wednesday – rest, walk at work, gym
Thursday – 4 mile run after work, mall walk with BFF
Friday – rest, walk at work, mah jongg
Saturday – rest, boating
Sunday –5k race + 5 mile run, boating

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

July 13, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday- 3 mile run

Tuesday – walk at work, ~~tennis~~ (rain), nails, gym

my usual 15 minute workout

Wednesday – 3 3.5 mile run

Thursday – 3 mile run with Judy after work

Friday – rest, walk at work, mah jongg
Saturday – 5k race, boating, dinner out

Sunday – 5 mile run, breakfast out, boating

deck overlooking the lake

This Week:

Monday- rest, walk at work, gym
Tuesday – 3 mile run before work, tennis (guest SkirtSports Instagrammer)
Wednesday – rest, walk at work, dinner out, movie
Thursday – 4 mile run after work
Friday – 3 mile run after work, mah jongg
Saturday – rest, boating
Sunday – 6 mile run, boating

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

June 23, 2015 by Darlene

Adirondack Distance Run DNS

Sunday, June 21, 2015 – 7:30 a.m.

A ten mile race consisting of rolling hills from Lake George Village to Bolton Landing.

adc

Last year was my first year running this race which was on my bucket list since I began running.

adr3

I loved it. Especially since it ended at the marina where we keep our boat and my friends and my hubby could watch me finish.

This year, I was really looking forward to the race even though I would not be racing under optimal conditions:

I hadn’t be running this past week.
I ran a half marathon last weekend.
I would be coming home late the night before from Denver and would be jet-lagged.

Nevertheless, I laid out my clothes before I left for my trip and planned to give it my best shot and have fun.

My flight from Denver to Baltimore left on time and even arrived early. I was psyched to not have any flight problems.

But I spoke too soon.

After I landed, it started to storm.

My flight was delayed an hour.

Many of the other flights were delayed or cancelled.

I bumped into Carol whom I knew from college & her husband. They had been visiting their son who lives in Baltimore so we hung out together hoping to fly home that night.

The flight got delayed again and again and again.

And eventually it got cancelled along with every flight going out of Baltimore.

I’ll spare all the details but it was an angry scene of thousands of passengers trying to find their luggage, re-book their flights and find lodging for the night.

We were told that all the flights were booked for the next day and the lines for re-booking were miles long and not moving at all.

It also looked next to impossible to get a cab or even find a room for the night. There weren’t even any rental cars left.

Yeah, we were screwed.

So what my friends decided to do was to have their son come back to the airport to get them, sleep at his apartment and rent a car (outside of the airport) and drive home the next day. (They couldn’t stay longer sadly because Carol had to go to Boston Monday morning for cancer treatments.)

I was so lucky to have bumped into Carol. They invited me to sleep on the couch and drive back with them the next day.

So instead of arriving home Saturday evening at 10:30 pm and running my favorite race at 7:30 am on Sunday morning, I got home at 4:30 pm on Sunday afternoon.

I am disappointed but it could have been a lot worse.

Happy Running! Do you have a bucket list race? Ever miss a race due to transportation problems?