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 27, 2013 by Darlene

Mentoring and a Day on the Farm

For 5 1/2 years, I have been mentoring Amanda. (I got paired up with her in a program (that has since lost funding) called Mentors & Moms. Unfortunately, with working and running & other social things, I haven’t had the time to see her as much as I’d like.

Recently Amanda has been depressed. She cannot work her job as a EMT (because of the hours) and is working in store for minimum wage. She just broke up with her boyfriend (and baby daddy) whom she had been with for 3 years. She is all alone trying to survive and take care of her 2 sons. (Richard is almost 7 yrs old & in first grade, Matthew is 2.)

Every fall we go to Ellms Family Farm which has a lot of things to do for kids – games, rides, mazes, etc. So today was the date we settled on. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t as nice as the past few weekends. (I selfishly gave my weekends to running and boating 😦 )

In fact, it was downright COLD!!! And windy and cloudy and it even sprinkled at times. But we made the best of it. We went on every ride and in every maze. We had lunch and bought pumpkins.

Eventually when we couldn’t stand the cold anymore, we headed for the mall. We walked around, I bought the kids new sneakers. Then we had dinner at Burger King.

we all felt like this at the end.

We all had fun and I really need to spend more time with them. (However, she already found a new guy. I actually like this one, though).

Happy Running!

March 24, 2013 by Darlene

A Relaxing “Spring” Weekend

Yes, you did. There was No Early Spring!!!!!!!!!!!

It is the end of March and it is still in the 30’s and windy. Like it has been for the last few months. I am so over winter.

The only good thing about this weekend is that my half marathon was over and I did not have to worry about fitting in a long run.

During my training, I have been obsessed with my miles and I have been ignoring Amanda, the girl I mentor.

So yesterday I planned to spend the day with her and her sons. Usually we do an Easter Egg hunt, play in the park, eat ice cream…

And usually it is warm enough to do so.

Not this year!!! So we headed for the mall where there was an Easter egg hunt.

Amanda helping Matthew in the 0-3 yr old group

Richard is on his own with the 4-6 yr olds

Then I took some photos (the line was too long to have them sit on the bunny’s lap.

And we had lunch.

McDonald’s – what else?

Afterwards the kids played in the mall playground.

The tradition is to end the day with ice cream and we did. But it was too cold & windy to eat it there so we took it home to eat.

On Sunday, it seemed a little warmer (still in the 30’s) and less windy so I went for a run. Not because I had to but because I felt like it. I went to the Corning bike trail to run an easy 4 miles.

not quite like I was dressed in Florida!

I wanted to run outside for the first time in my new Newtons.

mine have yellow laces

I also wanted to run the course for my 5k next weekend.

path is clear but still snow on the grass.

So far I really like the Newtons. At least for short distances. This was the first time since last September that I tried to run at a faster pace. And it seemed easier with these shoes. I walked at least 3 times and still I had a decent time (at least for me).

splits were 9:51, 10:37 and 9:49 for 3 miles.

I walked several more times but finished 4 miles (last lap was 9:50). A far cry from my 12 min. miles. Definitely a morale booster even if it is a short distance.

After I got home, my hubby & I went to a boat show. It makes us think summer is around the corner.

It cost $8 each to get in but I had $2 off coupons but they didn’t take credit cards. Neither my hubby or I had enough cash 😦

Guess what? They let us in for FREE!

It gets even better. I filled out 2 raffle coupons and we both won!

a “Go Boating on Lake George” long sleeved shirt

and a “Pirate Girl” flag for our boat

We climbed in and out of boats for fun & I picked up some good freebies.

All in all, a no-stress weekend.

Happy Running! How was your weekend? Did you run or race?

January 2, 2013 by Darlene

2012 Recap (in Photos)

And it wasn’t all bad…

Here it is month by month in photos. ENJOY!

JANUARY

Jimmy Buffet-themed birthday party for one of my Lake George friends

FEBRUARY

I knit my first sock

MARCH

I started biking

APRIL

I started walking at lunch

MAY

I celebrated my birthday in Florida

JUNE

I started running again

JULY

I started playing tennis again

AUGUST

I cooled off every weekend in the lake

SEPTEMBER

I had a 2nd visit from Anna from Russia

OCTOBER

I spent time with my 2 fav little guys

NOVEMBER

I had a surprise visit from a friend who moved to Florida

DECEMBER

I got to go to Orlando with friends

Happy Running! Hope you had a good year! What was the highlight?

December 28, 2012 by Darlene

Yak Trax To the Rescue

We got 8-10″

Our first major snowstorm arrived yesterday!! It snowed all day and I was depressed that I hadn’t run the day before.

I was supposed to go to a movie & then dinner to celebrate a friend’s birthday but she didn’t want to drive in the snow.

I had a dilemma because my treadmill at home is broken and where I work is closed and I don’t belong to a gym. I wanted to run!! My hubby said something to the effect “If you fall again, I’m going to kill you!!”

Last winter we had virtually NO SNOW!! And I couldn’t run because of my broken ankle. They say this winter will be different (My luck!)

Then I remembered that I had Yak Trax. I think I wore them once. I usually use the treadmill when the weather is bad or don’t run.

This winter I want to train for my half in March and I don’t want to over do so I have been running only every other day. Today is that day!

So I drove to where I have been running lately once the snow had stopped. I put on my Yak Trax and slowly ran 3 miles!! I loved the run! It was peaceful. I ran in the road which was mostly cleared and I didn’t slip at all! (if only my shoes were waterproof since they got wet and my toes were COLD!!)

Hooray for Yak Trax!

On another note, I went back to the park to show Richard & Matthew the lights on Wed. They weren’t as impressed as I was but loved the other activities in the boathouse.

Richard in front of a light display near the boat house

face painting (an “alien”)

free cookies from B95.5 radio station

Matthew & Elmo

Richard took his picture with every single character (I will not post them all…when he was little he used to be afraid of them)

the boys got balloon animals too

It was nice extending the holiday season. Tonight I have my annual tennis holiday party.

Saturday is my FIRST LONG RUN!! 4 miles!!

Happy Running! Did you get snow? Do you run outside when there’s snow?

December 26, 2012 by Darlene

Christmas Day 2012

ornament from CafePress

The perfect way to celebrate Christmas is to go for a run and I did!!

I woke up to this:

Snow!! Icy roads!

dressed for the holiday & a run

But I knew I had to run so I drove into town and ran 3 miles through the streets (avoiding the icy patches.)

Then I had to squeeze everything else into the day:

exchange gifts with my hubby

He loved his remote-controlled helicopter – played with it all day

and photos from this past summer on the lake, in addition to lots of clothes and the 1st season of Boardwalk Empire

visit my mentee and her sons & give them gifts

I gave Amanda my favorite new series – Divergent & Delirium

Richard is already playing with his new Transformer laptop

Baby Matthew also got an educational toy

They also got some new clothes

I just love them!!!

visit my mil and stepsons – Lasagna for dinner, what else?
go see Les Miserables – I am not a good critique because I love everything Les Miz – I’ve seen the show 12x (brought my students to NYC every year), know every song… so I had to see the movie the day it opened. I enjoyed it, of course (My hubby – not so much). The non-singers were better than I expected. Cosette and Eponine were the best vocally and the others adequate (I’ve heard better on stage.) The stage version was more emotional but that’s maybe because I knew the story so well. I would derfintely recommend the film.

les-miserables-jean-valjean-movie-poster

love Hugh Jackman!

Happy Running! Merry Christmas! What did you do special on Christmas Day? What was you favorite gift?

October 28, 2012 by Darlene

Fun Before the Storm

Actually I think we will luckily only have some RAIN and a lot of WIND from Sandy.

But it was a beautiful day yesterday and I cannot run so I took advantage of the opportunity to spend the day with Amanda (my mentee) and her 2 sons.

Amanda and I both needed cheering up. She has lost her job as a EMT and cannot find another. (Richard is almost 6 yrs old & in kindergarten, Matthew is 14 mos) Her problems make mine seem rather minor.

Every fall we go to Ellms Family Farm which has a lot of things to do for kids – games, rides, mazes, etc. As usual, I took lots of photos and here is just a sampling.

I walked around all day and it was tiring with a boot (and a little painful). The hot cider and freshly baked cider donuts made me feel better. The kids had fun and that’s all that matters.

Happy Running! If you live where Sandy hits, stay safe!

August 22, 2012 by Darlene

Wordless Wednesday

Matthew turns ONE, McDonalds & rainbow…what could be better?

and of course, I ran.

Happy Running!

April 15, 2012 by Darlene

The Weekend of Almosts

I almost lost my wallet…I almost bought a new bike…I almost couldn’t file my taxes…I almost volunteered at a race…I almost got to see my mentee and her sons.

Saturday was a gorgeous day. My hubby & I decided to go for a bike ride on the Nisky Bike Path.

getting to ready ride

Almost immediately I spotted some running friends who had just finished running 20 miles – their last training run for their May 6 Marathon. We hugged and wished each other well – me to recover & them to complete their FIRST marathon.

Here they are before the Albany Last Run 5k

Then my hubby bumped into someone he plays tennis with and we rode the first half of our ride with someone who boats on Lake George like us — small world!

my hubby riding & chatting with our "new" boating friend

When we were done, we stopped off to get some lunch.

yum!

In my haste or absentmindedness, I left my wallet on the table. I realized it halfway home. We went back & someone had turned it in and everything was still in it – PHEW!!!

One problem I have with biking is that my butt hurts!! So I decided that I wanted to buy a new bike seat. We stopped off at a bike shop and I bought a cruiser seat (I saw some cool cruisers there which were tempting.) Then we heard that another shop was having a tent sale on bikes. I fell in love with a purple cruiser.

kinda looks like this but prettier

It was $349 – on sale for $319 & they said I could have it for $300…pretty tempting but I decided that biking is temporary until I can run.

My hubby was drooling over this in the parking lot:

an Italian-made motorcycle - Ducati...good thing it wasn't for sale

Finally on this April 14, it was time to file our income taxes. I’m not a procrastinator but since we have to pay a lot why give the IRS my money early.

I was done and hit e-file, and an error popped up about a missing payer id – Great, the banks arer closed Sunday & I have to work Monday & Tuesday.

It turns out that my stepson has an account in the same bank & had the payer ID so I was able to file today!! Yay!

Two years ago I volunteered at a 15K race & really enjoyed it. Last year, I got selfish. I ran all the races that I was able t and didn’t volunteer at all.

I also ran THIS race for the first time last year. I loved it…it was nearby and flat and my first and only 5 mile race.

April 10, 2011

Truthfully, if I weren’t injured, I wouldn’t be volunteering. I would be racing.

I had planned on helping with packet pickup at 7am. But that greasy cheese burger & fries that went down so good, kept me up all night so volunteering this morning didn’t happen.

By 11 am, I felt better and I had planned on going to the park with Amanda & her sons. My cell phone rang and Amanda said that she & her sons were sick 😦

park play re-scheduled for next weekend

My hubby was out playing tennis so plan B – test out my new bike seat and go for a ride. I decided to go to the Corning Bike trail.

headed south this time - toward the city & the port

tulips close up

It was a cloudy warm day but there were plenty of bikers and boats on the Hudson – mostly fishing.

this view is looking north

This time, I took the path as far north as you could go. It ends and then you have go into town and eventually can pick up the other bike trail. (I think)

my bike is resting - like my new seat?

I finished my ride before the rain and headed to Target!

Happy Running! Anyone have a cruiser? Should I get one?

March 19, 2012 by Darlene

Sunday in the Park

Daffodils bloomng early...mine are in the shade but are almost out.

70 degrees in March in the NE?? Unheard of. But the great weather continues…

I started the day at Starbucks with my favorite running buddy.

together for a race in 2010

Then I was heading for work to ride the exercise bike when I remembered that I can ride a real BIKE!!

me on Saturfay but it's the same bike

So I drove home and rode my bike around the neighborhood. (Does anyone’s butt hurt when you ride??) My hubby wants to get a bike rack so I can ride on the bike trails in Niskayuna and Albany.

Then I picked up Amanda and her sons to spend the rest of the day in The Crossings…Boy was it crowded!! Everyone else had the same idea.

Matthew enjoying the swing.

Richard and Matthew on the slide

Amanda & her boys

The day wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Kurver Kreme for soft ice cream.

Amanda's ice cream on the left, my medium on the right

That’s an old photo. But she always gets the Gran Pappy and I get a medium sugar-free vanilla/coffee twist with chocolate sauce or chocolate sprinkles. (Oh to be young again and have that metabolism!!)

So the nice weather continues this week… I plan to use the exercise bike everyday during lunch and ride the real bike after work. PT continues today and Wed.

Can’t wait to walk…(You thought I was going to say run..ha ha!)

Happy Running! Enjoy your training!