March 21, 2015 by Darlene

Spring Races

It’s almost Spring (although it doesn’t feel or look like it) and time to fill up my racing calendar.

a 5 miler and a new one for me.

March 29, 2015 – in my neighborhood – my 4th time running it

April 11, 2015 – loved this last year – hope to win a pie again

half #12 – along the ocean – yay & a visit to a college friend in NJ

enjoyed this one last year too – hopefully there will be cherry blossoms this year

yes, that’s me on the website – I ran the 10K last year – this year I signed up for the 15K

May 7, 2015 6:30 pm…wasn’t planning on this but a FB friend started a team for this 5k and…

May 9, 2015 – My Birthday – running the 15K, a new race for me

GOTR event – I am volunteering in this program and will be doing it with my new buddy – otherwise I would run this for the 2nd time

May 24, 2015 – I am doing the relay with AJH – my 13th half

This is the only race that I have never missed – so this will be my 8th time. My favorite 5k!

Half Marathon – June 13, 2105 – my 14th half – get to see the new bridge over the Hudson

June 20, 2015 – my 2nd year – loved it last year – this year I will be jetlagged.

Happy Running? Do you have your spring races planned? Which race(s) are you looking forward to?

March 9, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #6)

Monday – 4 5 mile run on the TM

Thank God for Downton Abbey!!

Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 4 mile run

one day heat wave – 20 degrees warmer than last week

Thursday – 3 2 mile run on the TM, pack

this time, it was Nashville

Friday- ~~rest, flew to Palm Springs!!!~~ (flight got cancelled) 3.5 mile run
Saturday – 5k race, visit an arts festival, rest, 3 long flights to Palm Springs, CA

after work on the bike path arouond the puddles

Sunday – great run/hike with Mary in the mountains, enjoyed the warm weather 🙂

Mary on the Bump N Grind Trail

This Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #7)

Monday – 4 mile run, watch qualifying matches at the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament, hang out with Mary
Tuesday – 4 mile run, watch qualifying matches at the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament, hang out with Mary
Wednesday – ~~rest, fly home to NY~~ 4 mile run, watch women’s first round at the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament, hang out with Mary
Thursday – rest, fly home to NY
Friday- rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 4 mile race + ? more miles
Sunday – rest

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 ?

March 7, 2015 by Darlene

Shamrock 5K Race DNS

shamrock 5k

Come join us for a wild 5K dash in beautiful Downtown Palm Springs. Chase that pot of gold to the end of the rainbow and receive a beautiful finisher medal. Registration includes a St. Patrick’s Day t-shirt, festive eyeglasses, green pancakes and a free photo download! Costume contest with great prizes!

shamrock5k

Leaving the frigid NE for warm dry California weather…Running with my friend Mary again…Seeing scenery like this…

This race was just the icing on the cake.

Since it was a St. Patrick’s day race, I planned to wear as much green as I owned:

my new Runingskirts.com skirt

I got this a few years ago

these are a few years old also

with a black tank and black compression socks. Cute but not contest worthy!

Well, it never happened!!!

I got up yesterday morning at 4:30 am to find out that my first flight (to Philly) was cancelled. The weather was clear in Philly but they had had bad weather all week. So who knows why?

Needless to say, I was big time bummed!!!

The earliest that they could re-book was today and get to Palm Spring (on 3 long flights) in the evening.

Yes, miss the race!!

At least it was only a 5K and not a big race that I had been training for.

Still a bummer!

So instead I went to work EARLY and went for a run after work. Since it was earlier than usual, I went to the bike path and hoped I could find some dry spots.

not here

not here either

here’s some

Well, in two parts, I managed 3.5 miles.

Good-bye snow and ice for a while. My next running pictures should look very different.

Happy Running! Did your travel plans ever interfere with a race?

March 5, 2015 by Darlene

March 5 by the 5th Virtual Race

Laura at Mommy Run Fast hosts a virtual race called 5 by the 5th. The rules are that you have to run either 5 miles or a 5K by the 5th of each month starting February through May. There are prizes up for grab each month for those that participate and record their results.

I don’t do a lot of virtual races because I run so many actual races.

But this one is easy to fit in.

Well, yesterday we had a heat wave. It was 38 degrees.

I drove to UAlbany where I ran last week because I thought that the path around the campus would be clear.

It was for the most part, but in spots, it was snowy and slushy. I had to tiptoe around the slush.

And at every intersection, there were huge puddles. What a mess!!!

But it was a nice night to run and a 5k completed!

I had extra time and the arctic freeze was predicted to return today so I added an extra mile.

Happy Running! Do you do virtual races? Have you been able to run outdoors?

March 5, 2015 by Darlene

Heading West

My latest excuse for a vacation is that my running friend, Mary moved to Palm Springs, CA and last year I had such a good time visiting her that I decided to do it again. (Thanks Mary!!)

Remember Mary, my running, ice cream buddy?

So I am going to PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA again!! March 6-11! (leaving tomorrow – taking 3 flights and hoping for good connections.)

Of course, there had to be a race for us to run together.

after last year’s 10 mile race

With a big tennis tournament starting nearby, the only race I could find was a 5K.

Come join us for a wild 5K dash in beautiful Downtown Palm Springs. Chase that pot of gold to the end of the rainbow and receive a beautiful finisher medal. Registration includes a St. Patrick’s Day t-shirt, festive eyeglasses, green pancakes and a free photo download! Costume contest with great prizes!

Sounds like fun, right?

The last time I ran a 5k was in December and that was at night. My last competitive 5k was back in November. Not to mention that I am going from the frigid, snowy NE to the California desert. (Shocker!!)

So my primary goal for this race is to have fun. Of course, an age group award would make it even more special.

I am really excited to see Mary again. To run with Mary! To leave the cold weather!

I’ll that it!!!

Maybe even get to go on this trail (Bump N Grind)…

1497811_1498527633769600_8959616117855336520_n

doesn’t this look like fun?

view from Mary’s patio…she lives on the 12th hole

Happy Running! Do you plan your vacations around races??

March 2, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #5)

Monday -work at the Bar Exam, tennis
Tuesday – work at the Bar Exam, rest
Wednesday – 3 mile run, monthly tennis dinner out

Japanese dinner

Thursday – 4 mile run

I was soooo cold!!

Friday- rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 9 mile run

it was cold but running with a new friend made the first 5 miles bearable. The last 4 not so much.

Sunday – rest, volunteer at HMRRC Winter Series #6

3 hours standing still in the cold & wind

This Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #6)

Monday – 4 mile run
Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 4 mile run
Thursday – 3 mile run
Friday- rest, fly to Palm Springs, CA!!!
Saturday – 5k race
Sunday – ??? mile run with Mary, enjoy the warm weather 🙂

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 ?

February 28, 2015 by Darlene

February Recap

February Goals:

Run 3-4 times each week (no matter how cold it gets.) Yes.

at UAlbany

in Washington Park

Walk several times a week while at work. No!!! Boo!
Get some strength training or yoga done. A little!
Run with someone else when possible. Yes! Barbara, I met her on FB.

I’ll get a picture next time…my phone died but she pushed the pace on my first 5 cold miles. So much better with company. The 2nd 4 miles were torturous!!

Do long runs on the weekend to start to train for half marathon on April 18. Yes.

post 4 mile race

Complete a 10 mile race. Yes.

no PR but 2nd fastest 10 miler.

Complete a 4 mile race. Yes.

a new PR at 37:40 and 2nd in my AG

Volunteer at a race. NO. Only because it got cancelled due to the cold.
Run at least 80 miles. Yes! 82 miles

feb15

March Goals:

Run 3-4 times each week (no matter how cold it gets.)
Get some strength training or yoga done.
Start running with a training group.
Do long runs on the weekend to start to train for half marathon on April 18.
Complete a 5K race.
Complete a 5 mile race
Complete a 4 mile race.
Run all my races under 10 min. mile pace.
Volunteer at a race.
Run at least 80 miles.

Happy Running! How was your February? Anything special planned for March?

February 20, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Races to Run in 2015

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 Races to Run in 2015.

I run so many races (33 last year) that I am listing 5 NEW races that I am looking forward to running in the first 6 months of 2015:

West Palm Beach Half Marathon – Ocean Views and in Florida in the winter .YAY! and visiting 4 friends too!

January 17, 2015

This one would have been #1 but I already did it!!

1. Shamrock 5K – I would have liked to run a longer race like I did last year but this one fit. I am so excited to be running this race with my friend Mary in CA and also get to watch some of the qualifying matches at the BNP Paribas Open Tennis Championships (and maybe see some of the stars practicing.)

shamrock5k

2. Shamrock Shuffle – This is a new one. I love new races and it is 5 miles.

3. I didn’t get into the NYC Half Marathon so I instead registered for the Asbury Park Half Marathon to keep me running through the winter. I have a friend that lives an hour from this race and it’s supposed to be the “Best Half in New Jersey – One of Best in the Country.” The best part, I will be running along the ocean!!!!!

aphm

4. Mastodon Challenge– It is hilly so it will be a challenge and it is on my birthday. How could I not race on my birthday?

May 9, 2015

5. I also did not get into the Covered Bridges Half Marathon on June 7 (sold out in 24 min.) so instead I registered for the first annual Walkway Half Marathon. It’s in Poughkeepsie which is about 1.5 hours away. The course will include the William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail and the Walkway Over the Hudson as well as Marist College and the Hudson Valley Rail Trail. (It is hilly – the only negative.)

HALF MARATHON – June 13, 2015

Happy Running! What are some of your favorite 2015 races? Are you running any new ones?

February 5, 2015 by Darlene

February 5 by the 5th Virtual Race!

I don’t do a lot of virtual races because I run so many actual races.

But this one is easy to fit in.

Well, yesterday we had a heat wave. It was 30 degrees. Tonight it is supposed to be -30 so I thought it best to get outside.

I drove to UAlbany where I ran last week because I thought that the path around the campus would be clear.

It was in a few spots but for the most part, it was snowy and slushy. I was slip sliding all over the place.

At every intersection, there were huge puddles. What a mess!!!

check at that huge mound of snow. More is coming this weekend.

But it was a nice night to run and a SLOOOW 5k completed!

Happy Running! Do you do virtual races? Have you been able to run outdoors?

January 29, 2015 by Darlene

GOTR

This is my new volunteer gig.

I signed up to be a Running Buddy for our local GOTR program.

Here’s what it will involve:

The Running Buddy provides encouragement and support to their buddy throughout the course of the season by sharing weekly notes of encouragement. These notes can be emailed or delivered to their buddy’s Head Coach.

The Running Buddy acts as a personal cheerleader for their buddy by attending the practice 5k and the end of season 5k.

The Running Buddy completes the 5k with their buddy and expresses support and enthusiasm for her accomplishment!

Girls on the Run Capital Region is a 10-week afterschool program for girls in grades 3-8 that uses running and physical activities to teach life skills and help girls develop a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness.

The 6 sites are located in Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady counties. (I hope to volunteer at a Delmar elementary school near my home.)

This spring’s 10-week season starts the week of March 9th, concludes the week of May 18th. The Final 5K is May 10th in Central Park, Schenectady. (This is the Mother’s Day 5K that I was planning to run.)

Practice 5K’s will be held the last two weeks of April at the respective schools. Orientation and assignments will be made in mid-March once the season is underway.