November 19, 2013 by Darlene

Tuesday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – REST, ~~mall walk~~
Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – ~~rest~~ 3 miles before work, yoga after work

brrr…first run in tights

Thursday – ~~4 miles after work~~, REST, mall walk
Friday – ~~rest,~~ 3 miles before work (in tights again), mah jongg after
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 6 8 miles (6 with friends & 2 solo), dinner out

mah jongg anniversary dinner

This Week:

Monday – tennis
Tuesday – 3 miles before work, mall walk with BFF
Wednesday – rest, yoga after work
Thursday – 3 miles before work
Friday – 3 miles before work, HOLIDAY PARTY at work, mah jongg after
Saturday – rest
Sunday – 7-8 miles

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

November 17, 2013 by Darlene

Running & Eating with Friends

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am running a half marathon on March 30 with someone I met during a race. Thanks to Facebook, we remained in touch and I promised that I would run some of the long runs with her since this is her first half marathon.

I am a solo runner. I run alone. I run slow…walk often and feel more comfortable running by myself (except in races which I love.)

my last group run – May 2010

Heidi asks every weekend and I have yet to say yes. This weekend, I caved and I suggested Nisky Bike Path at 10:30 am. (I had planned to go there anyway & I planned to run 6.)

I got up and looked outside and it was raining… I grumbled to my husband “that is why I run alone. Yesterday it was sunny and 60 degrees and today it is rainy, cloudy, windy….blah blah blah.”

But I got dressed and since it was warm (50 degrees) decided on a tee shirt and running skirt. I also brought a windbreaker and cap.

like my new compression socks?

When I got to the bike path, it was only drizzling. Adrienne & Heidi were there already. Adrienne had said that she would only run 4 miles but she wound up doing the whole 6 and even faster than us.

We ran 3 miles out and then turned around and ran 3 miles back. We chatted the whole time which made it go by quickly.

Neither Heidi and Adrienne had run more than 6 miles and March 30 will be their first half…so exciting.

Heidi and I ran at the same pace…though I am sure that she would have run faster if I weren’t there. Adrienne sped up for the last 1 mile since it was obvious that we were running too slow for her.

Adrienne and Heidi

For me, it was a boost. I never have run 6 miles without walking. They never walk when they run. It will be interesting to see if I can keep up. I should mention that Heidi is in her 40s and Adrienne in her 20s or 30s.

experimenting with a new app called fitsnap

I was nervous about my lack of speed (and my sore foot which didn’t hurt much at all) but I had fun.

We hope to do it again (probably every Sunday) at a different place and add more runners to the group.

After I left, I had to stop at work for something. Since I was already dressed for running, I decided to run some more. I ran 2 more slower miles. I guess I need a partner…

In the evening, I went to my Mah Jongg group’s 5th anniversary dinner. We tried a new restaurant this year called Ala Shanghai. We ordered lots of appetizers and shared, then we ordered many main dishes and shared and then ordered several desserts. Everything was so good. So glad I ran those extra miles!

the whole group minus 2

Happy Running! Do you run solo or with a partner?

November 12, 2013 by Darlene

Weekly Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – DAY OFF, movie, tennis

very enjoyable!

Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, yoga after work
Thursday – hair appt after work
Friday – 3 miles before work, mah jongg after
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 15K race, movie

disturbingly violent & sad but well done

This Week:

Monday – rest, mall walk with BFF
Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, yoga after work
Thursday – 4 miles after work
Friday – rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 6 miles
Sunday – rest, mah jongg anniversary dinner

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

November 5, 2013 by Darlene

Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – lunch out, 3 miles after work
Tuesday – 1 mile walk at work, tennis after
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, dinner and movie out with friends
Thursday – 1 mile walk at work, ~~lunch out, 3-4 miles after work~~, nails, REST
Friday – ~~REST~~, 4 miles after work on the rail trail

70 degrees!!!

Saturday – day in NYC with college friends – walk in Central Park, lunch in Chelsea market, walk on the Highline

at the NYC Marathon finish line

with 2 college friends on the High Line

Sunday – 8 (tough) miles on the Nisky bike trail

cold (38 degrees) and windy

This Week:

Monday – DAY OFF, tennis
Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, yoga after work
Thursday – hair appt after work
Friday – 3 miles before work, mah jongg after
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 15K race

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

October 29, 2013 by Darlene

Running Updates on Tuesday

Last Week:

Monday – 2 mile walk, Chili/Dessert Cook Off at work, tennis after work

6 different chilis and 4 desserts to sample

Tuesday – tennis after work
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, dinner out with a friend

am run in the neighborhood

Thursday – workshop, lunch out, 3 miles after work

run in the Crossings

the Crossings and new shoes

Friday – REST, mah jongg at my house
Saturday – 7 miles

cold windy run on the Corning Bike Path

Sunday – REST, day at Ellms farms with my mentee & her sons

This Week:

Monday – lunch out, 3 miles after work
Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, dinner and movie out with friends
Thursday – lunch out, 3-4 miles after work or before work

Friday – REST
Saturday – day in NYC, ??? miles?, walk on the Highline

The Highline…always wanted to go here!!

it’s the day before the NYC Marathon…maybe I’ll bump into a famous runner…this is about as close to running it as I’ll ever get!!

Sunday – 8 miles?
Monday – DAY OFF (run if I didn’t get my long run done on Sunday.)

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any upcoming races? Ever run in NYC?

October 22, 2013 by Darlene

Tuesday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – REST, 2 miles walked at work, mall walk with BFF after work

Tuesday – 3 miles walked at work, tennis after work, dinner out after tennis

park during lunch walk

Wednesday – 2 mile walk at work, 2 miles after work, YOGA

Thursday – 2 mile walk at work, 4 miles after work on the rail trail

Friday – 4 mile walk at work, REST, mah jongg in the evening

Saturday – 10K race, hanging out with hubby & friends, dinner out

Monster Scramble 10K

ride to the top of Prospect Mountain

Sunday – spectating at a Duathlon, 2.75 mile run during it

AJH crossing the finish line

running along the Mohawk Towpath Byway

This Week:

Monday – tennis
Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, dinner out with a friend
Thursday – 3 or 4 miles after work
Friday – REST
Saturday – 7 miles
Sunday – REST, day at Ellms farms with my mentee & her sons

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any upcoming races? Do you like running in the cooler weather? (I miss summer already.)

October 2, 2013 by Darlene

Another Tuesday Update on Wednesday

Last Week:

Monday – 4 miles after work

looking a little more like fall on the rail trail

Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – 1 mile walk, 3 miles on the track during lunch

forgot my music – so boring running in circles

Thursday – 1 mile walk, 3 miles after work

washington park

Friday – 1 mile walk, rest
Saturday – 5k am race, boating

Race for Hope 5K

Sept 28 on Lake George

Sunday – 2 mile walk, mah jongg at Schroon River house

pretty foliage in the Adirondacks

the mah jongg gang

This Week:

Monday – 12 miles – DAY OFF

tough run on NIsky bike path

Tuesday – walk, tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, walk, maybe yoga?
Thursday – 3 miles before work, walk, haircut after
Friday – rest
Saturday – 5K race, Les Mis in the evening
Sunday – NYC trip
Monday – DAY OFF -last long run of 8 miles – TAPER begins…

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

September 29, 2013 by Darlene

Last but Full Adirondack Weekend

And the weather cooperated.

On Saturday, as I mentioned in my previous post, I drove up to my marina after my race to spend the day on Lake George with friends.

perfect weather for fall boating

It was a combination belated Pirates Day party and early birthday party.

so we dressed like pirates

We ate and chatted, danced, and had lots of fun.

warm enough for jet skis

Chris & her hubby, the birthday boy

Chris dancin with my hubby

On Sunday, I drove up early with friends to Chestertown to spend the day playing mah jongg.

Another picture perfect fall day. I was feeling quite under the weather at this point but I made the best of it. While they played tennis, I went for a walk. The foliage had changed more since last weekend.

In between eating, we played mah jongg. (We had breakfast, brunch, snacks and lunch. Fine for me who was carb loading for the long run the next day.)

one table inside & one on the porch

one table on the deck

As always, we had a fun time. I love these ladies.

group photo plus dog

We left around dark. When I got home I took some cold medicine and went right to bed.

Happy Running! How was your weekend?

September 26, 2013 by Darlene

Three Things Thursday Dilemma

In this case, it is THREE RUNS. (Sound familiar?)

I have 3 choices AGAIN this Saturday. (Sunday I am going to Schroon River with the mah jongg ladies.)

1. The first is a 5K race on Saturday morning. I have done it twice before (2010 & 2009). There is a big hill at the beginning & small ones throughout. The race course is NOT scenic (around the neighborhood & a main road.) It is only a 5K so I would have to do my long run on Monday. but it is nearby and I would have time to go up to the lake afterward to go boating.

Sept. 28, 2013 – 10 am

2. The second one is a 5K race on Saturday evening. It is in Lake George and the first time for this race. Lake George is VERY HILLY. It is only a 5K so I would have to do my long run on Monday. But I could go boating during the day and do the race after. It sounds like a really cool fun race & it is followed by fireworks. It is scenic (but it will be dark). However, this race would be more fun if I ran it with someone else or had spectators (not sure if my hubby & friends would come watch.)

3. The third choice is to just get my 12 mile long run out of the way and not do a race. After the run, I could head up to the lake. On Monday the forecast is for rain so I could stay over in Schroon River and run a scenic short one there.

12 miles on the FLAT Nisky bike trail

So which one will I choose???

Most likely #1. Hopefully next year, I will do the Flashlight 5K.

I love racing. I am hoping that the rain will hold off until the afternoon on Monday for my long run. I plan to run the 5K quickly and head up to the lake for my LAST boating outing of the year.

My goals for the race are: remain uninjured, finish under 31 minutes, win a AG award, and most of all, have fun.