There were a lot of carbs going down this past weekend.

On Saturday, I brought my car in for its 50K mile check up.

Instead of sitting around in the waiting room, I decided to go for a walk.

I headed toward this restaurant that I pass all the time when I go for my long run at the Nisky bike path but have never stopped.

It seemed close but not when I started walking.  It turned out to be 3/4 mile.

First I had some delicious tea. (They had so many kinds to choose from.

Then it was too tempting not to eat… the problem was picking something.  Everything was made with tea and sounded delicious.  I chose pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon butter.  YUM!

Then I walked back (and wished it were longer than 3/4 mile) and picked up my car.

A Summer Sports Expo was being held in Saratoga  so I decided to drive up since I was half way there anyway.

Not that I need anything, but I love sales. Last year, I wound up buying a pair of Newtons for 40% off.

There were more biking, swimming and kayaking stuff than running.  Most of the running booths were clubs or advertising summer/spring races.  Since I run so many races, I was familiar with most of them.  The expo would be really useful for a beginner runner or someone new to the are.

I didn’t buy anything but entered a ton of raffles. Fingers crossed.

Afterwards, I walked arond the town a bit.  I love Saratoga and I needed to walk off those pancakes.

I rushed home because I was going out to dinner (yes, another meal out) to celebrate a friend’s retirement.

We went to Delmonicos which happens to be my favorite restaurant.

I usually order steak (their specialty) but since I had a long run planned for the next day, I ordered pasta (with chicken, mushrooms & broccoli) – Yes, more carbs!  And I shared a cannoli for dessert. (I could have eaten the whole thing.)

On Sunday, I took my long run.  I ran (ran is a loose term) 11 miles two weeks ago, only 4 during my Florida trip so I planned to repeat the 11 mile long run.

I knew it would be hard.  I have been slacking off on my mileage. I have been skipping runs…combination of the weather and just too many weeks of long runs.

The question was where to go…

I hate running a route more than once.  There is still snow and ice since the temps have been so cold. I wasn’t sure if any of the bike paths would have 5 1/2 mile clear path. (Oh, Florida- how I miss you!!)

So I decided to run into town and then back home.  (I used to run this route when training for my first few half marathons.) Definitely not scenic but clear.

I got up at 8 am and believe it or not, it took me until noon to get out of the house.  Reading blogs…putting away laundry…reading email..watering plants..etc. etc.

heading into town

It turned out to be a beautifully sunny day (in the 30s).  Unfortunately, it was WINDY. It seems to be windy for all my long runs.

Maybe it’s me, but the wind just zaps my strength and I find it hard to move.

We still have a lot of snow but the roads are clear for the most part.

this is a sidewalk!!

The problem is that with all the traffic on this main road, it’s best to run on the sidewalks. But they are full of puddles and often have icy spots.

It’s exhausting dodging the water and trying to not slip.

Eventually I arrived around 4 miles at a coffee shop.  I wanted to take my Gu but I didn’t  have water so I stopped to buy some.

lemon, raspberry cupcake and salted caramel Gu – both delish!

On the counter was a mini cupcake…I was eyeing it so the cashier gave it to me.. I couldn’t refuse another carb, could I?

finally a sunny day for my town clock pic

I  hid my water for the way back and more gu at mile 8 and continued into town.

On the way back, so tired of those sidewalk puddles, I detoured and ran back on a street parallel that doesn’t have much traffic.

Unfortunately, I missed the water that I had stashed and had to take my gu solo.

My run wasn’t great.  It was slow and I walked when I was tired but I actually had more energy the 2nd half of the run. And as bad as it was, it was better than my 11 miler 2 weeks ago.

look who’s was anxiously waiting for me to get home!

Happy Running! How was your weekend?  Do you eat a lot of carbs?

Maybe I should have skipped this one?

Ever feel this way after a run??

I hadn’t run since Wednesday and the sun was shining.

And it was 50 degrees! Yes, 50 and I haven’t left on vacation yet.

No way I was not running, right?

First I should say that I tried those yoga poses mentioned in this post. They were hard but then again I am NOT flexible.  But they seemed to go well.

Not really.  The next morning, my left quad was sore and my hip ached. (I am feeling OLD!)

So I haven’t tried yoga since nor have I run.

But I hate to miss a long run and I hate to miss a run in good weather so I drove to  Colonie Town Park to see what I could do.

This park is one of my favorite places to run but I haven’t been at all this winter.

Guess what?  They have NOT cleared any snow in either direction.

So I drive back and headed to the Corning  Preserve where I was pretty sure that it would be clear.

It was so nice not to wear gloves or a jacket or even a hat!!

But I didn’t realize how windy it was…

I headed in the short direction into the wind first.

Even with 2 days rest, my legs weren’t feeling it.  My foot was achy and my hip was not painful but I could feel discomfort.  It seemed like this run maybe exactly like last weekend’s long run.

Anyway I continued to run and walk when I was tired.

I tried to extend the distance by running back and forth on this bridge

and around the parking lot of the USS Slater.  The I headed back.  It was very warm with the wind at my back.  I didn’t mind sweating at all.

The other direction had puddles that were more like lakes.  I also slipped several times when I tried to run so I tiptoed through them.

The river was pretty in spots where the ice was cracking. I enjoyed being outdoors but my legs were getting slower and slower.

Then the trail ended! What?  I should have been able to run 5 miles. Not 1.5 miles!  It was clear the last time I was here 2 weeks ago.

So I had to turn around.  And run into the wind which had really picked up.  There were times that I couldn’t even move forward.

I think the birds on the icy river were having more fun than me.

The worst part was that I planned to run 11 miles.This would only have given me 6.5.

my shoes are muddy and soaked and the snow is black as well

Yes, I really wanted to quit. I wasn’t enjoying it… it was too hard.. my foot & hip were bothering me…….

But I didn’t quit.  I started over and headed in the other direction.  I turned around and ran with the wind at my back and then turned around again and ran into the wind and FINALLY ran with the wind at my back until my Garmin said 11.

Now I walked .5 miles into the wind to my car.

DONE!

It took an embarrassing amount of time but it is over! (Next long run is in 2 weeks…let’s hope for better times.)

The day ended better with dinner out to celebrate a friend’s birthday. We ate at a new Chinese restaurant.  We had dumplings as an appetizer..then I had:

shrimp with Asian pears …yum

blood orange marsipone mousse…delish!

Happy Running!  Did you run this weekend?  How did it go?