August 4, 2014 by Darlene

Monday running update

20140625-122436-44676505 Last Week:

Monday – walk around the hotel, work at the bar exam, 4 mile run after

Tuesday – walk around the hotel, work at the bar exam, rest

Wednesday – 3 5 mile run ~~before~~ after work, walk at work, ~~yoga after~~

Thursday – walk at work, staff picnic, ~~5 mile run~~(rain)

Friday & Saturday- tennis. hiking (in CT)

3.5 mile hike

Sunday – ~~5K race + 3 more miles~~, ~~boating~~, 6 mile run

Hot, Hilly & Humid

This Week:

Monday – breakfast at the track, rest
Tuesday – 3 mile run before work, walk at work, tennis
Wednesday – walk at work, 3 mile run, yoga
Thursday – walk at work, 4 mile run
Friday- walk at work, rest
Saturday –10 K race, boating
Sunday – rest

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

June 29, 2014 by Darlene

We’re halfway.

report-card1 6 months down and 6 to go. How am I doing on my 2014 Goals?

1. Do not get injured. So far, so good.

happy legs and feet!

2. Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR. Yes!

in the freezing cold

in the spring

during my vacation

3. Continue fitting in tennis and/or yoga once a week upper body & core strength exercises (planks & weights). Tennis YES, Yoga Rarely, Planks & Weights SO SO

my instructor returned from maternity leave on May 7.

when I can remember to use them

4. Finish all races (except 15ks & half marathons) at under 10 min. pace per mile. Almost all.

: 5k – 30:10

: 4 miler – 38:07

: 5 miler – 48:14

: 4 miler – 38:06

: 5k – 28:56

: 5K – 27:51

: 10k – 1:00:52

: 5K – 28:14

: 5K – 28:51

: 2014

: short 5k (2.25 m) – 20:19

5. Run at least one race per month and at least 20 for the year.Yes! 14 races so far.

: HMRRC 15K – January

: Polar Cap – February

: Runnin of the Green 2014

: 3rd

: Betar Byway – June

6. Run a race in another state or even a NEW state. Yes, Mayor’s Wellness 10 miler in CA, Lighthouse 5k in FL and the Love Run Half in PA. But they are not new states.

Lighthouse 5K in FL.

7. Run at least 10 NEW races. 11 already!- Mayor’s Wellness 10m, HMRRC Winter Series #3 15K, Lighthouse 5k, Love Run, Bacon Hill 5k, Rabbit Ramble 4m, Cherry Blossom 5k, Spring Run off 10k, Mom’s 5K, Betar Byway 5K, Strawberry Fest 5K, Adirondack Distance Run

first annual Love Run

Bacon Hill 5k

Spring Run Off 10K

Strawberry Fest 5K

8. Run in NYC. No, not yet.

This is as close as I have gotten

9. Get an Age Group award. Yes! 9 of them – 3rd at the Mayor’s Wellness, 1st at the Lighthouse 5K, 1st at Bacon Hill 5k, 2nd at Rabbit Ramble 4m, 2nd at Cherry Blossom 5k, 3rd at Spring Run Off 10K, 1st at Mom’s Day 5k, 1st at Betar Byway 5K, 1st at Strawberry Fest 5K

Mayor’s Wellness 10m

Cherry Blossom5k

Mom’s Day 5K

Spring Run Off 10K

Betar Byway 5K

10464192_905772132782587_8976828319425984868_n

Strawberry fest 5K

10. Run a 10 mile race. Yes! Mayor’s Wellness 10m and Adirondack Distance Run

Mayor’s Wellness 10m

11. Run at least one half marathon. Yes! The Love Run.

12. PR in a half marathon. Yes! at the Love Run.

4 sec PR

13. Run over 800 miles. 4 miles so far. I’m on my way.

14. Continue to blog almost everyday. Yes! So I am doing pretty good so far. Things to work on the next 6 months:

Go to yoga regularly
PR in a 5K
race in a new state
run in NYC
continue to race each month
continue to sign up for new races
STAY HEALTHY

Happy Running! Do you have yearly goals? If so, how are you doing so far this year?

June 11, 2014 by Darlene

Another weekend, another race

poster

Yup, that’s me.

I’ve run a race almost every weekend since March 30:

3-30-14 – LoveRun Half Marathon
4-06-14 – Delmar Dash 5m
4-12-16 – Bacon Hill Bonanza 5k
4-19-14 – Rabbit Ramble 4m
4-27-14 – Cherry Blossom 5k
5-03-14 – Spring Run Off 10K
5-11-14 – Mom’s Day 5K
5-17/18-14 – ON VACATION in Florida
5-31-14 – Freihofer’s Run for Women
6-08-14 – Betar Byway 5K
6-14-14 – Strawberry Festival 5K
6-22-14 – Adirondack Distance 10m

And I love it!

ME on page 2

Why do I race so much?

Racing keeps me running. I know that I cannot slack off. If I do, then the race will be painful (physically and mentally).
I usually run alone and when I run a race, I see and meet other runners. So much more enjoyable.
I am competitive so when I run a race, I don’t stop and walk as much and I run faster.
I only get that runner’s high when I cross a finish line.

Lighthouse 5K

So this weekend, I have a 5k – Strawberry Festival 5K. Supposed a fast course so I hope to have a better time than last weekend. (But you never know.)

The problem with racing every week:

It’s gets expensive.
You miss out on social activities with family and friends
You skip long training runs.
You cannot adequately prepare for a longer distance race.

Yes, and I have a 10 mile race coming up that I am NOT prepared for. Gulp!

Happy Running! Have you ever run a long race that you hadn’t trained for?

June 5, 2014 by Darlene

Summer racing

is coming!

I love to run races in the summer.

It’s always a challenge to fit them in around our weekend boating.

But I wouldn’t give either one up.

I am hoping that this summer I am free of injuries.

That hasn’t been the case in recent years:

2011 – 6 wks off for a strained achilles
2012 – slowly recovering from ankle surgery (started running too soon & wound up with a 2nd metatarsal stress fracture)
2013 – 6 wks off for a broken 5th metatarsal

So far, this is my summer racing schedule:

June 8 – Betar Byway 5k
June 14 – Strawberry Festival 5K
June 22 – Adirondack Distance 10m
July 13 – Saratoga Half Marathon – doubtful but maybe
July 26 – Turning Point 5k
August 2 – Race The Train (8.4m) – maybe?
August 9 – Camp Chingachgook 10k
August 16 – Jailhouse Rock 5k
August 30 – Care For Kids 5K Run – maybe?
September 7 – MBPK 5K
September 14 – Biggest Loser 10k

I am also looking for a fall half marathon. I have a few possibilities and they are Sept 21 or 27 or Oct 5. That will mean long runs starting this summer.

Happy Running! Do you race a lot in the summer?

June 1, 2014 by Darlene

May’s over! Bring on June and summer!

my birthday month!

MAY GOALS:

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

in Albany, NY

even on the track

Continue planks. Occasionally – when I remember.
Start back at Yoga. Only went once.

May 7

Walk at least once a day at work. When I worked.

to the park

around campus

on the track

Continue to use those 5 lb weights on my desk. Sometimes.
Run my 5k races under 30 minutes! YES!

28:14

28:51

PR in a 10K race (under 1:06:10) – YES!

1:00:51

Run during my tennis vacation in Florida. – YES! 5 times

13.5 miles

Run at least 75 miles this month. Nope. Slacking off. Only 68.

do you see a trend?

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

I had a wonderful vacation in Florida where I spent a lot of time at the beach and on the tennis courts.

I spent a day with my mentee and her sons.

I celebrated my birthday with several dinners out with family and friends.

I went boating on Lake George for the first time this year.

JUNE 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.
Add a long run each week to prepare for 10 mile race.
Run any 5k races under 10 minutes per mile!
Run a 10 mile race and finish under 2 hours.
Run at least 75 miles this month.
Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy.

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

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

736266_10152810125994428_8957897214587131445_o

at the tulip fest – May 10

10257349_10152810125244428_7254052617908473030_o

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

10273176_10152810126664428_7296958087525405644_o

first horse ride

10286958_10152810125379428_1312739711227090147_o

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

Happy Running! Have a great weekend!

May 14, 2014 by Darlene

“Biggest Loser” inspired

blge

Last year, I got sucked in by the Biggest Loser hype and signed up for the 15K in Killington, VT. on July 28, 2013.

Unfortunately, I broke my foot in June and wound up switching to the 5k and run/walking it. Still I had fun. (Race recap.)

even won 2nd in my AG

The worst part of the race was having to ride a chair lift as part of the race (and the slippery rocky terrain.) Otherwise, it was well organized, you got FREE race photos and there was a lot of excitement in the air.

This year, they have added a Six Flags race series. And there is a race scheduled at the Great Escape Amusement Park in Lake George, NY on September 14.

Each registered participant and finisher will receive the following:

The Biggest Loser Finisher’s Medal
Commemorative Technical T-Shirt
Drawstring Backpack
Chip-Timed Race for Runners and Those Tracking Personal Goals
Free Downloadable Race Photos
Award Divisions for Runners and Walkers
Special discount offer for general admission tickets to the theme park on race day
Celebrity appearances by former contestants from “The Biggest Loser”
Hydration Stations with Water/Sports Drinks Along the Course and Food at the Finish Line
Last but not Least, a Truly Inspirational and Unforgettable Experience

Sounds awesome. Right?

I have a hard time saying ‘no” to any race in Lake George (my summer weekend home). And I am impulsive.

So I signed up.

There is a 5k and a 10k. I chose the 10k (for now!) It will be hilly. All races in the Adirondacks are hilly.

Seemed perfect but now they changed the date of the Susan Komen Race for the Cure. For the first time, this 5K will be held this weekend instead of in October when it has always been before. I have run that race 6 times–always dedicating it to all my friends who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Dilemma!!

Happy Running! Anyone doing any of the Biggest Loser Races?

May 10, 2014 by Darlene

#Run50

usa1

New York -5K, 10K, 15K, 4m, 5m, 131.
Florida – 13.1
California – 10m, 13.1
Vermont – 5K
Pennsylvania – 5K, 13.1

I wish I started running earlier. I used to have a job that allowed me to go to conferences all over the country. There was a 5k at each conference. They always closed out in hours. At the time, I thought people were nuts to get up at 7 am to run. But for the last conference that I went to (2006), I registered and walked the 5k (in 45 min.) I started to see how much fun everyone was having.

I visited 8 cities/states for those conferences (San Diego, Seattle, Baltimore, Atlanta, Chicago, San Antonio, Philly, New Orleans). Too bad, I wasn’t a runner then.

Now I am 61. I have run in 5 states so far.

Run in all 50 states?! Not likely. But I will do my best to run in some more different states.

I’d say my goal is 15 states.

Many bloggers are pursuing the goal of running in ALL 50 states: