September 26, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Five favorite fall activities

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 My Five Favorite Fall Activities

I love fall especially living in the Northeast.

So here they are my five:

1. Running

I love running when the temps are cool and the leaves have turned colors. These are some of my favorite places to run…

the rail trail

in Washington Park

along the Schroon River

on the bike trails

along Lake George

2. Eating & drinking anything pumpkin

Yup, I love pumpkin everything…

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No, I didn’t buy them but I was tempted

3. Racing

Racing in the cooler temps is the best! Even better is a race in a scenic locale…here are just a few that I have signed up for…

Apple Run 5K

Great Pumpkin Challenge 10k

Stockade-athon 15K

4. Going to farm activities

There are several around here but Ellms Family farm is my favorite. I always take my mentee and her sons. We go on rides, do corn mazes, pick pumpkins, pet the animals, eat cider donuts…so much fun!

5. Hiking

I don’t hike a lot but I do enjoy it and plan to do more this year. These are some places that I go…

Thatcher Park

Five Rivers

Prospect Mountain

Peebles State Park

I haven’t done this hike in Lake George in a few years…hope to do it again.

view from Buck Mountain

Happy Running! What are your favorite fall activities?

August 31, 2014 by Darlene

August Rundown

August Goals:

RUN at least 3-4 times each week. YES!

Continue planks. Not often.
Go to Yoga at least 2x. Nope! Not at all (but my yoga instructor is out with Lyme disease.)
Walk at least once a day at work. YES!

Play tennis outdoors once a week YES! (got rained out 2x)
Continue to use those 5 lb weights on my desk. Not often!
Run any 5k or 10K races under 10 minutes per mile! Yes and No!

Jailhouse Rock 5K – 28:25 = 2nd in AG

Camp Chingachgook 10K – 1:04:54 = 2nd in AG

Run at least 70 miles this month. NOT QUITE! My lowest monthly total this year 😦

aug2014

Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy. YES!

See my mentee Amanda (she is no longer moving away.) YES! We went to an amusement park.

Eat healthy…lose those annoying extra lbs. No! 😦
Run at least once a week before work. Yes!

Decide on a winter half. Not yet!

What else?

I spent two days in Connecticut where I went hiking and played a lot of tennis.

I went for breakfast at the race track with Molly for the 30th summer.

I went to another tennis weekend on the Schroon River.

Also I spent some more time boating on the lake with my hubby.

I went to the US Open.

September Goals:

RUN at least 3-4 times each week.
Do planks.
Walk at least once a day at work.
Use those 5 lb weights on my desk.
Lose those extra lbs.
Run 5k races under 10 minutes per mile!
Start training for October 10 mile race.
Pick a destination Winter or Spring race.
Run at least 70 miles this month.
Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy.

Happy Running! How was your August? Anything special planned for September?

August 29, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Fall Preview

This week, the theme is Fall Preview.

Here are the 5 things that I am looking forward to this fall:

1. Fall Foliage and Cooler Temps

along the Schroon River

along Lake George

The fall colors are beautiful in the Northeast. I hope to get to do some running in the Adirondacks and some on the local bike paths and trails.

Washington Park

Nisky Bike path

2. The Perfect 10 race.

on Oct 26 in NJ

10 miles is less to train for than a half marathon. It is a new race for me and supposedly flat. I am going to combine it with a visit to a former college roommate. The race is all-women and in addition to a medal, you get a hoodie. YAY!

3. Fall activities with my mentee and her sons

2013

Ellm Family Farms is one of our favorite places to go with the kids. There’s a lot of things to do there – rides, ziplines, mazes, pumpkin picking, etc. Plus they have great cider donuts.

2012

4. Stockade-athon 15K

This race is the oldest 15k in the country. I’ve done it twice before. It is challenging but lots of fun. This year they changed the course. Hope it is easier.

The new course generally follows the course layout of the previous few years in a clockwise loop versus counter clockwise as in years past. The new course, adds approximately 1.5 miles of new sections, including a short section in Riverside Park in the Historic Stockade, and two new residential loops.

I’m going to miss the big fireplace in the park to warm up. The start and finish activities will now be indoors.

5. A new 5K & 10K

It’s no secret that I love to race and I love trying new races. As the cold weather approaches, I will try to run as many as possible.

Burnt Hills Apple Run 5K on Oct 4. was recommended to me.

Great Pumpkin Challenge 5k and 10k on Oct 18. was one that I have signed up for but never run. This is the year!

Happy Running! What are you looking forward to this fall?

August 17, 2014 by Darlene

FUNday SUNday

and I wasn’t boating.

It started out a slow 3 mile run in the neighborhood.

My hubby stayed up at the lake but I came home.

I haven’t seen Amanda, the girl I used to mentor, in a while. In fact not since May.

Then I decided to take them all to Hoffman’s Playland. It’s a local amusement park that’s been around forever but is closing Sept 15.

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Richard is 7 1/2 and Matthew will be 3 on Friday.

They went on all the little kid rides.

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and one big kids’ ride that they begged me to go on with them.

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yes, I was screaming!

Then we had dinner at Subway and of course, ice cream for dessert.

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I think he liked it 🙂

It is sad that this place is closing 😦

Happy Running! Do you like amusement parks?

July 2, 2014 by Darlene

June Recap

JUNE GOALS:

RUN at least 3-4 times each week. YES!

in the park

in town

found a new route

even ran before work 2x

Continue planks. When I remember.
Go to Yoga at least 2x. YES! Twice.
Walk at least once a day at work. YES! Most days.

Play tennis outdoors once a week. YES, 3 times (once was rained out.)
Continue to use those 5 lb weights on my desk. Also when I remember.
Add a long run each week to prepare for 10 mile race. Not really. I added some extra miles to two 5K races.
Run any 5k races under 10 minutes per mile! YES!

Betar Byway 5k – 29:49

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2.25 m Strawberry Fest 5k – 20:19

Run a 10 mile race and finish under 2 hours. YES and a PR!

1:44.:39

Run at least 75 miles this month. YES! Finally!

jun14

Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy.YES!

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my race shirt is his favorite shirt

Boating on Lake George has begun. (Maybe that’s why my running has been slacking.)

I also went to NYC for the day. So much fun!

on the ferry to Staten Island

at the Chinese Scholar Garden

at the Alice Austen cottage

Sad news: Amanda, the girl I have mentored for over 6 years is moving to NJ. She is like a daughter to me. I will miss her and especially her 2 sons.

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2014

2010

JULY GOALS:

Repeated goals:

RUN at least 3-4 times each week.
Continue planks.
Go to Yoga at least 2x.
Walk at least once a day at work.
Play tennis outdoors once a week
Continue to use those 5 lb weights on my desk.
Run any 5k or 10K races under 10 minutes per mile!
Run at least 75 miles this month.
Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy.

New goals:

Lose at least 5 lbs.
Add weekly long runs.
Complete my 9th half marathon.
Choose a fall or winter half marathon.
Start training for a fall half.

Happy Running! How was your June? Anything special planned for July?

May 16, 2014 by Darlene

Foto Friday

I’m in Florida but these were taken back in Albany, NY.

check out that face! Ugh! and it’s the featured photo for the race website. (springrunoff.com)

pasta dinner before the race above

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at the tulip fest – May 10

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with my mentee’s sons (and the sun in their eyes)

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first horse ride

Amanda with Matthew (almost 3) and Richard (7 1/2)

Happy Running! Have a great weekend!

April 13, 2014 by Darlene

Spring is Here (at least for a short time)

spring

Finally a day that feels like spring!

As I said yesterday, it was too beautiful outside to not run some more miles. And the area where the race race took place was so nice that I decided to stay put and run there.

I heard that the 10k had better views so I decided to go that way. I wasn’t going to run 6.2 miles — just maybe 3 more.

It was farmland and mountains in all directions.

No traffic at all.

A sign that I was not in the city any more.

Definitely a dairy farm area.

I miscalculated and wound up with 3.5 extra miles.

I think I made the right decision to run the 5k. I won a pie and I got my miles in as well.

Afterward, I decided to take a different way home. On my run I saw a sign for a yarn store and a zoo.

Well, I found neither but I did take a delightful ride along the Hudson River.

At one point, I had to stop and take the pictures above. The spray of the water was breathtaking.

I continued on my way and arrived in familiar territory — where my hubby and I used to fly his plane (it got destroyed by ice several years ago). And I stopped at our favorite ice cream place – Bubbles diner.

coffee raspberry twist – yum!

At that point, I headed back to the highway toward home to do some mundane things like grocery shopping, laundry, etc.

Today, was another spring-like day. I had promised to take my mentee’s kids to the the butterfly exhibit at a local museum.

We had a lot of fun with the butterflies.

As well as the other fun hands-on science activities.

After a stop at Mac Donald’s to pick up lunch, we headed to the park to eat and play on the playground.

It was warm but quite windy. Perfect for flying kites.

What warm day would be complete without a stop for ice cream on the way home. So we did.

This was my rest day but boy am I tired!!

Happy Running! What did you do to enjoy the warm weather?

runner-sig

January 24, 2014 by Darlene

Reverse Bucket List

I saw this on Age Groups Rock and loved it and decided to do my own.

As she explains:

Essentially, it’s a list of all the wonderful things you’ve already done. Not the ones you WANT to do.

It isn’t supposed to be a brag or a “look at me and the special things I’ve done” list. It’s just a bit of reflection and an attempt to stay focused on the positives. Sometimes, we fall short of our own expectations, or we see others who’ve far exceeded the expectations we set for ourselves. For a second, we can forget how awesome we are.

Accomplishments are something to be proud of but they do not determine your value. A Reverse Bucket List should make you feel motivated and inspired to be the person you want to be.

So here I go:

1. Spent my junior year of college in France studying French at the Universite de Nice. (I switched from being a Math major to a French major so I could do this.)

2. Went skiing in the Alps (during my junior year abroad). It was my first time skiing EVER.

3. Rode a jet ski in the Caribbean (on my honeymoon)

4. Went snorkeling off the coast of the Virgin Islands (also on my honeymoon.)

5. Went to a rain forest in Puerto Rico.

6. Saw the Wailing Wall in Israel.

7. Saw the Acropolis in Greece.

8. Visited Monet’s gardens in Giverny, France. (Monet is one of my favorite painters.)

9. Went to the top of Mont Blanc.

10. Went to a Mets baseball game (at Shea stadium, Expo Stadium and Wrigley Field)

11. Saw the Mona Lisa, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, etc. in Paris. (I went many times with students, with my SIL but my favorite time was the one by myself on the way to visit my friend in Holland.)

12. I won a Teacher of the Year award while teaching French.

I taught French here for 22 years.

13. Went white water rafting in Jackson Hole, WY.

14. Saw a geyser in Yellowstone National Park.

Old Faithful – Aug. 2003

15. Visited the Grand Canyon, Zion Canyon and Bryce Canyon.

Bryce Canyon – Sept. 2004

16. Went to Russia 3 times and stayed with a wonderful girl, Anna (whom I am still in contact with).

Family dinner in Kursk – Apr. 2006

17. Saw Billy Joel and Elton John perform in concert.

18. Competed in USTA Nationals (in Palm Springs).

Our 2.5 team – Oct. 2002

19. Started taking annual girl trips (to Naples and other places.) We’ve taken 17 trips together already.

Naples, FL – May, 2010

20. Watched many famous tennis players play at the US Open.

Kim Cljsters – 2009 (the year she won)

21. Starting running at age 55 – the best decision I ever made.

Freihofer’s 5K – June, 2008
(with my 2 friends that started me running)

22. Ran 7 Half Marathons.

my first – Jan. 2011

23. Ran several destinations race (2 in California & 2 in Florida.)

10 Mile race in Palm Springs – Jan 2014

24. Climbed to the top of several lighthouses. (I love the ocean & lighthouses.)

Ponce Inlet, FL (Jan 2013)

25. Went back to school and switched careers from French to Technology. (Never got burnt out as a teacher. Love all things techie so it is perfect.)

at a technology conference with Heike, one of the many techies
that I connected with through the past 15 years

26. Got matched with Amanda through a Mentors & Moms program. (So now I have a pseudo daughter & 2 grandsons.)

with Richard (7), Amanda (23) & Matthew(2)
– Dec. 2013

27. Took a carriage ride through Central Park

with friends – Dec. 2013

28. Learned to quilt (I have completed many full-size quilts.)

this one I made for a friend’s grandson

29. Learned to knit. ( I have only knitted socks & hats so far.)

30. Have seen the sunrise over the Atlantic ocean

Daytona Beach – Jan. 2013

31. Have seen the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico

Naples – Nov. 2010

32. Learned to play mah jongg.

closed $.50 hand (only one hand that is better)

It is amazing how many things that I am proud that I have accomplished in my lifetime so far.

I feel very fortunate that when I was younger I did a fair amount of traveling that financially I cannot do now. (If I win the lottery I will do more.)

Happy Running! What items are on your “Reverse Bucket List”?

December 31, 2013 by Darlene

December Rundown

DECEMBER GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!! YES! At least 3x week!

in the park

in town

in the neighborhood

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!

ate lots of cookies

and desserts

Start knitting again (socks or something else)

working on a pair of socks

Run before work at least once a week. Not often! Too cold!

would you run?

Run a new route. Yes, sorta. I haven’t run this route in 3 years.

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!

Continue running longer on the weekends (to train for January 10 miler) YES!

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.

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

I also visited NYC with 2 friends.

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

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

tennis friend Suzy’s b-day

former co-worker Cheryl’s b-day

college friend Judy’s b-day

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.