August 6, 2015 by Darlene

Thinking Out Loud Thursday: Breaking All the Rules

Thursdays are for thinking… so I am linking up with Running With Spoons…

And here’s what I am thinking…

You bloggers may hate me, but I don’t follow the rules:

Stretching.

I don’t stretch. If I am at home, I open the door and start running. Otherwise, I drive to my route, get out of the car and start running.

in my driveway and ready to go

After my run, I just hop in the shower and go to work or hop in my car and drive home or to wherever.

done and time to go home

Gadgets and Running-Related Stuff.

Besides not stretching, I don’t even own a foam roller, or a stick or KT tape.

I will use one if it will make my body look like this

Knock on wood, I haven’t needed them yet.

Chafing.

I have never experienced it. So I don’t have Body Glide and don’t use anything like that to prevent chafing.

Running Plans.

I have never really used one. That’s not to say that I don’t plan my runs. I do.

But I don’t use a formal plan which means I don’t do hill repeats, intervals, temp runs, etc.

I run several times during the week, usually 3-4 miles and do whatever I feel like. (It’s usually pretty slow with lots of walking.) If I am training for a half marathon, I try to run longer on the weekend, increasing each week’s distance by one mile until I get to 12. I also run races which tends to mess up my training.

Voila – this got me to a PR

Healthy Food.

I’ve never had a protein shake nor have I made a smoothie.

Before a race, I eat 3 packets of this:

I don’t want to look at the ingredients. I am sure they are all artificial

After a run, I love this:

oh so healthy, I know.

or something similar to this:

is there protein in this?

Electrolytes.

Just plan H2O for me. I don’t add Nuun to my water nor do I drink Gatorade. So far, water works for me.

an old pic like circa 2010. I am thinner and wearing shorts!

Solo Runner.

I usually run alone. It’s easier because I can run wherever and whenever it is convenient for me. I can run at whatever pace and distance I feel like. (I do like to run with others, though.)

getting it done at lunch

Ok, I’m not a total running loser.

I have a Garmin GPS watch. I wear it to all my races and check my paces on it.

I eat Gu as fuel whenever I run more than 4 miles.

I have lots and lots of running shoes.

my latest…still looking for THE pair…

I wear running skirts and love them.

my newest skirt from SkirtSports

I have a race belt that holds my bib and carries my phone.

I read running magazines.

but why do they always wear skimpy running shorts on the cover?

I have joined Running Groups.

I have enjoyed them. Running with others makes the time go by faster. It also motivates you to run at a faster pace.

Freihofer’s training group

I run a lot of races each year.

Last year it was 31. It may be even more this year.

finishing my last 5k

Speaking of races, I have another 5k tomorrow night.

August 7, 2015 6:30 pm Central Park, Schenectady

I’m not a fan of evening races so we’ll see how it goes. Just hoping for NO PAIN and a finish under 30 minutes. Would be extra happy with an Age Group Award!!

Happy Running! What are you thinking about? Are you a rule breaker?

August 4, 2015 by Darlene

Care For Kids 5K Race Recap

in Chestertown, NY

I signed up for this race because I didn’t feel ready to “Race the Train,” a hilly 8.4 mile trail race. I also have run in this area and love the scenery.

I have friend who lives nearby. I could sleep at her house the night before if I didn’t want to sleep on our boat (which is 15 minutes away.)

Because I have run here before, even though it said that it was mostly flat, I know that there are hills.

You could park near the finish and take the shuttle to the start or vice versa.

Suse Q’s Sunshine Cafe – the finish. I have eaten here. They have awesome breakfasts.

So the day before the race, I spent a relaxing day on Lake George with my hubby and friends.

at a dock on a island

then in the bay

We got back to the marina late and then went out to dinner. I ate way too much (chicken parm & pasta) and ate it too late. I was planning to go to sleep at my friend’s house but was too pooped so I slept on our boat.

Race day morning, I woke up early and had breakfast with this view:

Then I drove the the race start.

I was pretty early so I just hung out watching everyone arrive.

Yes, these racers were dressed at the Mario Bros.

Little did I know then every camp in the area was participating…lots and lots of KIDS!!

the campers were wearing the green race shirt

I bumped into a runner from my area that I had never met. We became fast friends since we run most of the same races. She may even run more than me (if that’s possible.)

So we started together but I quickly lost her.

I should say that I couldn’t even eat a GU before the race. I was still full from last night’s dinner. I also wore my old running shoes (I am not uncomfortable racing in my new Hokas.)

Both of those things may have contributed to my lackluster performance in this race. It was also hot and humid.

Running behind a bunch of inexperienced runners (namely the campers) got me off to a slow start. And my legs felt like cement. Immediately, my foot that hasn’t hurt in weeks started to hurt (Damn those old shoes!!).

But the course was very pretty. You ran along the Schroon River for most of the race.

It was a slight uphill but nothing terrible. It was warm and I already needed a break before mile 1 so I stopped at the first water stop.

Then we ran over a bridge with more river views to follow. I never felt like I could move fast. Maybe it was the heat but I stopped to walk again before mile 2.

By mile 3, my legs were absolutely dead. I walked several more times and was glad to finally reach the finish line standing.

I crossed at 29:27 – my slowest 5k this year (except the GOTR one with my running buddy.)

Splits:

mile 1 – 9:16
mile 2 – 9:24
mile 3 – 9:48
.14 – 8:24

Believe it or not, I still won 3rd in my age group. It’s great being old sometimes.

I had an ice pop which tasted refreshing and decided not to take the bus back to the start but to run instead.

It was a slow one but I didn’t care. I just ran to enjoy the scenery. I got back to my car, ate a jelly donut (now I was starved) and ran a little more so I could end the day with 7 miles (I had planned for 8 but decided to quit anyway.)

I then drove to my friend’s house nearby, had lunch and spent several hours with her.

I ended the day back on our boat on Lake George to make a full circle for the weekend.

Running + boating = a great weekend.

It wasn’t the race that I wanted and I’m not sure this course merits a repeat but I never regret a race.

I’m linking this post up with Tara at Running n’ Reading for her Weekend Update!

I’m also linking this one up with Jessica at The Silvah Lining–she hosts a Race Recap linkup every Tuesday. Please head over and linkup a race recap you’ve written, new or old. And check out some of the other posts!

Since this week is a free topic, I am linking to Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life for

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

August 3, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday– I had the day off from work since I was working as tech support at the NYS Bar Exam. After a long day of sitting and reading, I was anxious to go for a run. It was VERY hot but I wasn’t far from one of the places where I like to do my long runs so I drove there. I ran 2 miles in one direction, stopped for water and ran 2 miles in the other. It was not easy but glad to get some exercise. (Rewarded myself with a Starbucks Frappuccino.)

Tuesday – I again had the day off from work since I was working as tech support at the NYS Bar Exam. After another even longer day of sitting and reading, I knew that I had to go for a run. It was about 6 pm so I drove across the street to The Crossings which is a great place to run. I ran a 3 mile loop that included a water stop. Then I decided to run to the ice cream shop for a Salted Caramel milkshake (yum) and back until I added another mile.

Wednesday – Another hot day but I was indoors all day at work. It was even too hot to go for a walk. So I dragged myself to my mini-gym to use the machines and then did some weeding at home. My hubby said it was too hot to cook so he twisted my arm and we went out to Chili’s followed by soft ice cream for dessert. (This hot weather sure is flattening.)

Thursday – Today I knew it was going to be another hot day with a chance of welcomed thunderstorms so I dragged myself out of bed and ran 3 miles in the neighborhood before work. Yes, it was cooler but boy was it humid!!! After dinner, I met my BFF at the mall where we chatted and walked in circles until we tired and then stopped at Starbucks.

holy humidity

Friday – Got again early to run 3 miles before work. My neighborhood is quite boring but I try to run in different directions. It was still humid but not as bad. I only had to work until noon. We had a staff picnic (sliders and ice cream) and we played games. After dinner, I played my weekly mah jongg.

Saturday – No exercise today. We spent the day on our boat just relaxing, first a dock on an island and then in a bay. I carb loaded at a local restaurant for dinner.

Sunday – Started the day with a nearby 5k race. After the race, I added 4 more miles and then spent the day with a friend who has a house in the area. My husband was on our boat. I met him later a little boating and for dinner before heading home.

a hard one but at least I won 3rd in my AG

21 miles for the week. Only 2 rest days which explains why I am tired.

This Week: (Week #3 of HM training)

Monday- DAY OFF, rest, day at the track
Tuesday – 3 mile run before work, tennis
Wednesday – 4 mile run after work
Thursday – rest, hair appt
Friday – 5k race
Saturday – rest, boating
Sunday – 8 mile run, boating

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

August 1, 2015 by Darlene

July Recap

July Goals:

Run 3-4 times each week. YES!

Get some strength training or yoga done. SOME! Used the machines at my free gym once a week.

played tennis only once

Go for a walk several times a week at work. RARELY!

this may have been my only walk

Run a 5K race or two. YES! 2 5ks.

Improve my speed. YES! Both 5ks were under 29 minutes.

TEAM Sarcoma 5K

Silks and Satins 5k

Keep my weight in check.?? Still haven’t put a new battery in my scale.
Run at least 70 miles. YES! 73 miles!

What else?

Lots of boating weekends.

July 5

July 11

July 12

July 18 & 19

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July 26

Lots of (too many) meals out with friends

Trip to NYC with friends

11713954_977057275652381_942845461633759221_o

lunch on a boat

walk on the High Line

Read several good books

August Goals:

Run 3-4 times each week.
Start longer runs on the weekend in preparation for Half marathon #15.
Walk at work on days that I don’t run.
Go to the gym at least once a week.
Run before work to avoid the heat.
Run a race or 2.
Run at least 75 miles.
Spend time with my mentee & sons.

Happy Running! How was your July? Anything exciting planned for August?

July 30, 2015 by Darlene

Thinking Out Loud Thursdays: Racing, What Else?

Thursdays are for thinking… so I am linking up with Running With Spoons…

I’ve been thinking and I’ve made my decision.

Next year, I will be racing the train.

I just don’t feel ready to tackle 8.4 miles on a hilly trail in the heat. I don’t want to get injured since I have a half marathon in October.

If I weren’t signed up for RnR Brooklyn, I would risk it. It sounds like fun and it’s a challenge that I would like to take sometime. Hopefully, it will fit into my schedule better next year,

Instead, I signed up for a 5k on Sunday.

in Chestertown, NY

Not as interesting as Race the Train but certainly easier. At least, there will be lots of pretty views.

I have friend who lives nearby. I can sleep at her house the night before if I don’t want to sleep on our boat (which is 15 minutes away.)

After the race, I may be able to squeeze in more miles in this beautiful area.

Because I am crazy that way, I signed up for another 5k.

Friday, August 7, 2015 6:30 pm in Schenectady’s Central Park

It’s on a Friday night so it won’t interfere with any weekend plans. I’m not crazy about an evening race especially in the summer. But we’ll see.

Here’s a surprise… I think that there will be no more racing in August.

I have a concert the weekend after…

We’re going on Saturday, August 15 to Xfinity Center in Mass.

and I have to work that morning. Unfortunately, I will miss 2 of my favorite races (that this year have been scheduled on the same day.)

10k

I would have chosen this one if I could run

I will be at my friend’s house on the Schroon River the weekend after that..

We will be playing tennis (though I hope to be able to run at some point.)

Happy Running! So what’s on your mind this Thursday?

July 27, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday- OFF FROM WORK, rest, trip to NYC (8 miles of walking)

lobster restaurant cruise, walk on the High Line & in Chelsea Market

Tuesday – 3 mile run after work, ~~tennis~~ (work webinar), rest
Wednesday – 5 4 mile run after work, dinner out

definitely not feeling it – lots of walking

Thursday – ~~rest~~, 2 mile run at work, dinner out with tennis BFFs

bad food & bad service but great company

Friday – rest, walk at work, gym, ~~mah jongg~~

Saturday – 5k race+ 4 miles, graduation party

28:33 or so – 7th in my AG (a fast crowd)

a new place for me – very scenic

Sunday – rest, boating

11737854_10206912244475692_2388800468628857966_n

This Week: (Week #2 of HM training)

Monday- OFF FROM WORK, proctor NYS Bar Exam, 4 mile run after
Tuesday – OFF FROM WORK, proctor NYS Bar Exam, 4 mile run after
Wednesday – rest, walk at work, gym
Thursday – 4 mile run after work, mall walk with BFF
Friday – rest, walk at work, mah jongg
Saturday – rest, boating
Sunday –5k race + 5 mile run, boating

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

July 25, 2015 by Darlene

Silks & Satins 5K Race Recap

This was once one of my favorite 5ks. I ran it in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

in 2008 – my first year of running and I was skinnier

But I haven’t run it since 2010.

in 2010, this is where I met AJH for the first time (I was wearing shorts back then.)

I met Mary at many races back then including this one in 2010.

It’s funny how things have changed. AJH was trying to convince me to run a longer race. Since then I have completed 14 half marathons.

My 5k time back in 2010 was 29:34 so things haven’t changed that much.

According to the web site, the course had changed for 2015.

Here is the new course:

I hoped that it was still flat.

They also give out cool medals now as AG awards:

11709437_1140770242605111_6407506313609689112_n - Copy

Yup. I wanted one!

The race started at 8 am (an hour earlier than my last one). That meant that I had to get up at 5:30. (That is earlier than when I work. The things we runners do!)

This being the opening weekend of the Saratoga Flat Track, believe it or not there was already traffic at 7 am. I was glad to have left early and found parking in a nearby lot.

I saw a lot of familiar faces. There was over 1000 runners at this race. The weather was nice…in the 60s at the start but pretty humid.

pre-race pose with my new skirt

Judith, a blogger and fellow SkirtSports ambassador recognized me by my skirt. We hung out and started the race together.

She reminded me that this new course would have 15 turns and not to expect a PR. And she was right. Plus, it was not chip timed from the start.

photo by Stan Hudy

This cost me some time since it was very congested from the start with lots of kids in front of me. All of a sudden, Holly, from my Turkey Trot & Freihofer group caught up to me. We talked for a few seconds and then she sped ahead.

I tried to keep up with her but I just don’t have her speed and she kept getting farther and farther ahead.

So I just did my thing. I felt fine…no aches or pains…just not able to push myself to run fast.

I only walked at the the water stop which was around the halfway point…not because I had to but because I was very thirsty.

I continued to trudge along…until I saw the finish line. I sped up because I was determined not to finish over 29 minutes.

According to my Garmin, I crossed at 28:33 but 28:41 gun time. I was happy with that.

Done!

Besides all the turns, it was a pretty flat course. I would do this race again.

photo by Stan Hudy

I immediately found Holly after I finished. We chatted until the results went up. She finished 6 out 24 and I finished 7th. There was some pretty speedy ladies in our age group.

No AG award this time (even if I PRed)

Splits:

mile 1- 8:59
mile 2 – 9:26
mile 3 – 9:25
.1 – 7:37

Since I wasn’t getting an award, I had a bagel and some chocolate milk and left. I got to my car just as they were towing others in the same lot. Oops, I guess I didn’t park in the right lot. And If I had gotten an award, my car would have been towed. (I guess things happen for a reason.)

since I was in Saratoga, I should post a picture of some horses

I was not going up to the lake because we had to go to a graduation party later. So I took advantage of this opportunity to get some more miles in. I drove to Saratoga Spa Park for a change of scenery. I’ll post pics tomorrow.

I’m linking this post up with Tara at Running n’ Reading for her Weekend Update!

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

July 23, 2015 by Darlene

Thinking Out Loud Thursday: Racing and Training

So I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

I’ve been thinking about racing and training.

How do you do both? Should you?

It’s no secret that I love to race! I have a hard time not signing up for a race every weekend.

There are a few problems with this besides that it’s expensive.

It’s hard to train for a long race such as a half marathon.

There would be no problem if I just ran shorter races but I like to run half marathons too.

What I have done in the past is add more miles after my races.

I guess it works. But I am not sure if it is the best way to train.

It’s like running a speed workout and taking a break, eating and then running some slow miles. Not quite the same as you would do when you run a actual half marathon.

So I am going to run lots of races before my next half (on Oct 10): 7-25, 8-1, 8-7, 8-17, 9-5, 9-12, 9-19, 9-26, 10-03 because I like to race.

This decision means that I have to be satisfied with a good or mediocre half marathon performance but maybe not a great one. I think if I want to run my best half, I will have to cut back on racing. Right now, I don’t want to do that.

I’m also thinking about my next race.

It’s summer. Summer is a time to kick back and relax. Enjoy the sunshine and time with family and friends.

So I have been doing that…a lot!

That means that I have had to skip weekday runs or shorten weekend distances.

My next race is Saturday – another 5k.

I was hoping to get back some speed. My last 5k was under 29 minutes. I’d love to do that again. I’d love to win a age group award too. We’ll see.

I’m debating about the race after that – either a difficult hilly longer but fun one or another 5k in a scenic area?

The train leaves at 8 am. It takes you to the start and you run back on the wooded hilly trail to the station. Sounds like fun but it is a longer distance than I have been running.