10k

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Welcome 2011!


First, let’s look at my 2010 Running Goals:

  1. lower my 5K PR———YES! from 29:30 to 28:42 to 27:12
  2. run a 5k under 29 minutes——-YES! 4 times
  3. win my age group at least once——YES! on 11/11/10
  4. run new races——-YES! 11 out of 21 were new races
  5. run on the treadmill all winter (3x week)——YES! (unless I could run outside)
  6. run a longer distance on the treadmill (more than 2.75 mi)——– YES! up to 6 mi.
  7. motivate some of my friends to run————YES! 2 that started with me, stopped & are now running again
  8. increase the distance of my training runs (more than 3mi) at least once a week————– YES! 6-12 mi
  9. run at least 15 races———–YES! I ran 21 races
  10. run a 5k in another state (preferably Fla next fall)————–NO!!! but I signed up for a half in Florida in 2 weeks
  11. take more running pics—————— YES!  I took a photo at almost every race.
  12. keep track of how many miles I run this year————-YES! I counted  every run on this blog, dailymile.com & tickerfactory meter

SO 11 out of 12 ain’t bad!!!

And now my 2011 Running Goals:

  1. lower my 5K PR
  2. run 5ks under 28 minutes
  3. win my age group
  4. run new races
  5. run at least one race each month
  6. run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside)
  7. run a longer race than 5k (4 mi, 5 mi or 10K)
  8. run a half marathon race
  9. run at least 15 races
  10. run  a race in another state
  11. volunteer at a race
  12. take running pics & post on FB & this blog
  13. keep track of how many miles I run this year

I don’t think they are too ambitious… many are similar to last year’s…some are brand new.

Happy Running! Good Luck setting your goals!

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400th Post and the Naples Half Marathon

Why Run Naples Half Marathon?

  •  The best distance course in the state! Certified! Flat-Fast-Shady-Loop!
  • FREE Pasta party
  • Great 4 color Coolmax shirts
  • Unique quality medals to all finishers who finish within race time limit of 2:45
  • Awards 5 deep for 27 age groups
  • Door prizes including weekends at beach front hotels
  • $15,500 cash awards – Open – Masters – Grand Masters – Senior Grand Masters
  • Special $3,500 cash awards for US citizens
  • Cash awards for course records overall & age group

Why Should I?

  • I love Naples! I go there to play tennis every spring!!
  • The race is on my 12th wedding anniversary
  • The day after is Martin luther King Day – a work holiday!
  • I can use my frequent flier miles to fly for free!
  • I missed my first 10K 
  • I am running longer runs on the weekend (already ran 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 miles)
  • I still have 10 weeks left to train (see plan below)
  • I should run a half before my knees die & my body quits…

Suggested – HALF MARATHON TRAINING SCHEDULE
Revised – MY HALF MARATHON TRAINING

So how’s that for a 400th post?  Going out on a limb and thinking beyond 3.1 miles 🙂

 Happy Running and THANKS for your input!

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The Dunkin Run

Nope, it’s not a race report.  I didn’t do the Dunkin Run 5k/10k in September (which used to be the Bruegger’s Bagel Run).

It was a cool fall afternoon, sunny when I started. I’m still debating my distance running future so on the weekend I’m trying to do a long run, if possible. Today was 8 miles…

At around 3.5 miles, there was a Dunkin Donuts so I stopped and bought a bottle of water, a French toast Bagel twist (yum) and a pumpkin donut hole.  I’ll call it my re-fueling stop.

I continued to the shopping plaza a 1/2 mile away and then turned around and headed home. It was cloudy most of the way, drizzled for a while and then the sun came back out.

I tried to look periodically at my Nike+ to check my times. I wish I had had a Garmin now (The Garmin 205 was ion sale at Amazon for $98 the other day & I hesitated & missed it.)

Stats:
5k = 31
10k =1:04
8 mi=1:23

All in all, I felt great.  I only walked at the hill at mile 7.

Now I have have to get ready to go to a Halloween party in Lake George.

Happy Running, Happy Halloween & Good Luck to all those running in the Marine Corp Marathon esp Amanda!

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Monday Goals

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 17 miles. I did 16.
10K Race – too sick to do it! 😦

This week’s schedule:
Mon – tennis after work
Wed – dinner with a friend
Fri – mah jongg after work
Sat – eve. halloween party
Sun – Lake George am.

This week’s running:
Tues– 4 miles after work
Wed- 3  miles before work 
Thurs – 4 miles after work
Sat –  7  miles
Weekly Running Goal = 18 miles
October Monthly Running Goal = 60 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it – can I make 500?)

Happy Running!

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The Virtual Great Pumpkin Challenge

me starting my virtual race

I got up, took my blood pressure and it was perfect so I decided I would run yesterday’s race – at least the 5k.  Unfortunately it was raining. Anyway, my hubby said that I was nuts and he wasn’t gonna pick me up off the pavment.

When it did stop in the afternoon, my hubby left to play tennis & I set out on my virtual race (wearing the race shirt)  & to the drug store to pick up 2 prescriptions.

I guessed that to the pharmacy & back would be a 10k. Actually it was 3.5 miles so I ended up doing 7 miles.

Stats:

lst 5k – 31:20
2nd 5k – 34:55
10K – 1:06:15
7 miles – 1:15:56

As you can tell, I ran the first 5k and walked a lot during the 2nd.  I didn’t stop the clock waiting for lights to cross streets but did stop for 10 minutes in CVS (and stopped the clock).

Still sad that I missed the opportunity to run a 10k…I probably shouldn’t have waited so long since the running season is limited from now til next spring.

Happy Running! Hope everyone had a good racing weekend!

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Great Pumpkin Challenge 10K Race That Wasn’t

  

This was supposed to be my first 10k!!!!!!!!!!!

I signed up months ago so I would be motivated to train for it… However, 5k races & boating got in the way so I did what I could. 

I was tempted to switch to the 5k but my friend Mary after she finished her half marathon said she would sign up and would pace me.  I still wasn’t convinced but then 3 of the women in the beginning runners group (they did their 1st 5k in June) signed up.

I was too embarrassed to back out. 

I wasn’t afraid that I couldn’t do it since I ran my first 5k after only running 1 mile without stopping. I was nervous that I would push myself and get injured –that  bump knee & those old age aches & pains.

Well, everyone said I could do it and my friend Mary promised to drag me through it.

It was COLD in the 30’s. I couldn’t decide what to wear but I opted for shorts and long sleeves. I would wear sweats until the race began. My hubby had picked up my race packet yesterday so I didn’t have to arrive too early.

This is where the bad part starts. 

People had been dropping like flies at the office but not me, I said!! I have my first 10k.  I started feeling lousy Thurs eve.  Sore throat.  All day Friday, I had a headache.  I didn’t sleep much Fri eve and I felt worse.  When I got up on Sat, I actually felt a little better and was very excited to get to the race.

My friend Mary called and we agreed to meet.  I parked my car and waited through 3 shuttles to get to the start which was about a mile away. When I got there I immediately bumped into 2 friends from the running group.

All of a sudden, I got this really intense HEADACHE! I mean I couldn’t move.  I wanted to start the race but I couldn’t. I called my hubby & cried on the phone to come get me.  The shuttle driver was nice enough to take me back to my car.

Depressed about the race, I rested on the couch for the rest of the day & felt a little better but then the pain started to come back so my hubby took me to the doctor.  He gave me a shot & the pain went away but the doc was very concerned that my blood pressure was high and ordered me to the ER. 

My blood pressure got even higher there  -197/109.  They did all kinds of tests – blood work, EKG, Cat Scan and ALL WERE NEGATIVE!!! They gave me something to lower my blood pressure and sent me home (at 3am).

Today I took my blood pressure and it’s 120/80.  I can’t wait to run again.

Yesterday I was so DISAPPOINTED about the race!  Today I’m just happy to be healthy…There will be other races!!

Happy Running!

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3 Things Thursday

  1. I definitely prefer running outdoors to running on the treadmill. Unless it rains I’m going to try to run in my neighborhood.  The past 2 mornings, I searched out my capris, gloves & fleece vest and ran 3 miles. On the treadmill, it took me 40 minutes to run 3 torturous miles.  Outside in the chilly air, it took 29 minutes.  Unfortunately it doesn’t get light early enough to do more.  So I’ll reserve my longer runs for the weekend or after work (if I ever am free.)
  2. Yes, I said longer runs.  Saturday is my 1st 10K…if it goes well, who knows???
  3. Tomorrow I will carb load and try not to think about if I will crash & burn running more than 3 miles.  I’M NERVOUS!!!!!!

    4. 

Happy Running and good luck to any weekend racers!

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Monday Goals

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 16 miles. I did 14.5.
NO RACES!

This week’s schedule:
Tues – tennis after work
Wed – mentors mtg after work
Thurs – movie after work
Fri – mah jongg after work
Sat – eve. halloween party
Sun – Lake George am.

This week’s running:
Mon– 4 miles after work
Wed- 3 miles before work 
Thurs –  4 miles before work
Sat – 10 K race

Weekly Running Goal = 17 miles
October Monthly Running Goal = 60 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it – can I make 500?)

Happy Running!

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3 Things Thursday

  1. My friend Mary who ran a half marathon last weekend is going to pace me through a 10K on Oct 23. Now I have to do it..

    2. Mary after the 1/2

  2.  So since I played tennis Mon & Tues evenings and couldn’t run, I dragged myself out last night.  I planned to run 5 miles. I did it with several walk breaks and it took me an hour.  I never can do it without walking even at 3miles except when I ‘m in a race.  The last 1/2 mile was the best.  I ran it at a  really fast pace because it was so dark. 9 days left to get ready mentally & physically!!
  3. I haven’t even run a 10k and I’m already thinking half marathon.  I think it’s because so many bloggers are running half & full marathons this fall and it seems so exciting.  Local runners also just ran the Hudson-Mohawk Half & Full.  The half I’m thinking about is in Naples Florida on Jan 16.  That’s my annivesary and it will depend on my hubby accompanying me.  I will postpone my decision till after the 10K.  Stay tuned!!

Naples Half 1-16-11

Happy Running!

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Chili, Balloons & Running

Another perfect weekend…great weather, activities, friends, etc. 

Saturday was the annual Chili Cookoff on Speaker Heck Is (Lake George).    It’s always scheduled the weekend of the Adirondack Balloon Festival. We didn’t take our boat but went on our friend’s pontoon boat. 

the "pirate" pontoon

It was the first time we attended but these people are serious about their chili. I did enter the contest (there were 10 chilis) but didn’t win.  Truthfully, they all tasted good to me. 

 

The "winner"

In addition to eating chili, people played games such as washers, etc. 

playing washers

After the cookout, we headed back to the marina and then went to our friend’s house.  He took out his boat on the lake to watch Moon Glow and then the fireworks.  There were 11 of us on the boat …so much fun!!! Unfortunately it was windy so only 2 balloons participated but the moon was full and the fireworks were awesome. 

watching the moon

Moon Glow

fireworks on the lake

The next morning..it was beautiful. I insisted that we sleep on our boat so I could run.  It wasn’t as cool as predicted and it was even sunny.  I headed out on 9N south (as I did last week).  I thought I might try 10K.  I forgot how hilly it was and I walked a lot of it.  Around 9K, my right calf tightened up which made me nervous so I stopped at 9.4K.  I was satisfied (1:04:00) but I wish I had my camera.  The colors are changing fast up here. 

We then headed back to Speaker Heck Island for a relaxing day with our friends. 

Speaker Heck Island

Another 5k on Saturday coming up — The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  I’m running on a team with those I work with. 

Happy Running (Hope you had a great weekend, too!)