September 9, 2014 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Fall race plans

Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!

This week’s topic is: Fall Race Plans

For the first time in recent years that I have been healthy, I am NOT running a Half Marathon!

Yes, I thought about it … a lot…but it is hard to train in the hot weather and I am busy with boating on the weekends. So I decided to skip it this fall.

Instead, I am running for enjoyment and doing short races except for two longer ones:

The Perfect 10 miler on Oct 26.

Oct 26, 2014

It is a new race for me and supposedly flat. I am going to combine it with a visit to a former college roommate in New Jersey. The race is all-women and in addition to a medal, you get a hoodie.

and

The Stockadeathon 15K on Nov. 9.

Nov. 9, 2014

This race is the oldest 15k in the country. I’ve done it twice before. It is challenging but lots of fun. This year they changed the course. I’m going to miss the big fireplace in the park to warm up. The start and finish activities will now be indoors.

Now here are some of the shorter races that I plan to run:

Run for the Roc 5k on Sept 28.

This is a new one for me but it’s at the race track in Saratoga and sounds like fun.

Burnt Hills Apple Run 5K on Oct 4.

This 5k was recommended to me by a runner from Conn. and her friend. I hope to see them again at the race.

Falling Leaves 5K on Oct. 11

I ran this one several years ago and liked it. It was my first age group win, I think.

Great Pumpkin Challenge 10k on Oct 18.

I have signed up for this race but never run it. This is the year! It takes place in Saratoga National Park which is a very pretty place to run.

Troy Turkey Trot 10K on Nov 27.

ttt

This is the most popular race in my area. I have always avoided it because it is so crowded. The local 5k that I usually run has changed to be non-timed so I think I’ll give this one a shot this year.

These are the races that I have signed up for so far.

But you know me, I may even add a few more.

Happy Running! What are your fall racing plans?

September 8, 2014 by Darlene

Monday running update

20140625-122436-44676505 Last Week:

Monday – DAY OFF – 4.5 mile run, boating

Tuesday – 2 walks at work, rest, dinner with a friend

AM walk

PM walk

Wednesday – 3 mile run, walk at work

before work

AM walk

Thursday – walk at work, 4 mile run, mall walk with BFF

AM walk

HUMID run after work in the park

Friday- ~~2 walks at work,~~ rest
Saturday- 5K race , mah jongg party at the river

tough conditions but won 3rd in my AG

Sunday – 5 7.5 miles, mah jongg party at the river

PERFECT running weather

we even played a little mah jongg

This Week:

Monday – walk at work, rest
Tuesday – 3 mile run, walk at work, rest, tennis
Wednesday – walk at work, 4 mile run
Thursday – walk at work, rest, exercise class at work
Friday- walk at work, 4 mile run, mah jongg
Saturday – rest, boating?
Sunday – 5K race+ 5 miles

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

September 4, 2014 by Darlene

Back at it

I mean racing. I haven’t done a race in a few weeks.

But I have a 5k on Saturday.

It’s my second time running this one.

In 2013, I finished in 29:49 (recovering from a broken foot)
In 2012, I finished in 29:53 (recovering from a broken ankle)

So I guess since I am healthy, I should finish faster. But you never know what will happen on race day.

This is the third year of the race and they have been promoting it a lot. I heard they were hoping for 1500 runners.

Race Goals:

run each mile under 10 min.
run the whole thing
set a course PR
win a age group award
have fun & stay healthy

Happy Running! Any running/racing plans for the weekend?

September 1, 2014 by Darlene

Monday running update

20140625-122436-44676505 Last Week:

Monday – 2 walks at work, rest

AM walk

Tuesday – 3 4 mile run before work, 2 walks at work, rest, tennis

but it was 4 miles with perfect temps

AM walk

PM walk to the park

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

AM walk

Thursday – DAY OFF – trip to the US Open

long day (7 am – midnight) but so much fun!

Friday- ~~walk at work~~ (too tired), 3 4 mile run, ~~mah jongg~~

Saturday – ~~7 mile run~~, rest, dinner on the lake
Sunday – 4.5 mile run, boating (Xmas on the lake party)

This Week:

Monday – DAY OFF – 4 mile run, boating
Tuesday – 2 walks at work, rest
Wednesday – walk at work, 4 mile run
Thursday – walk at work, 4 mile run, mall walk with BFF
Friday- 2 walks at work, rest, mah jongg
Saturday & Sunday – 5K race + more miles, mah jongg party at the river

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

August 31, 2014 by Darlene

August Rundown

August Goals:

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

Continue planks. Not often.
Go to Yoga at least 2x. Nope! Not at all (but my yoga instructor is out with Lyme disease.)
Walk at least once a day at work. YES!

Play tennis outdoors once a week YES! (got rained out 2x)
Continue to use those 5 lb weights on my desk. Not often!
Run any 5k or 10K races under 10 minutes per mile! Yes and No!

Jailhouse Rock 5K – 28:25 = 2nd in AG

Camp Chingachgook 10K – 1:04:54 = 2nd in AG

Run at least 70 miles this month. NOT QUITE! My lowest monthly total this year 😦

aug2014

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

See my mentee Amanda (she is no longer moving away.) YES! We went to an amusement park.

Eat healthy…lose those annoying extra lbs. No! 😦
Run at least once a week before work. Yes!

Decide on a winter half. Not yet!

What else?

I spent two days in Connecticut where I went hiking and played a lot of tennis.

I went for breakfast at the race track with Molly for the 30th summer.

I went to another tennis weekend on the Schroon River.

Also I spent some more time boating on the lake with my hubby.

I went to the US Open.

September Goals:

RUN at least 3-4 times each week.
Do planks.
Walk at least once a day at work.
Use those 5 lb weights on my desk.
Lose those extra lbs.
Run 5k races under 10 minutes per mile!
Start training for October 10 mile race.
Pick a destination Winter or Spring race.
Run at least 70 miles this month.
Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy.

Happy Running! How was your August? Anything special planned for September?

August 29, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Fall Preview

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 Fall Preview.

Here are the 5 things that I am looking forward to this fall:

1. Fall Foliage and Cooler Temps

along the Schroon River

along Lake George

The fall colors are beautiful in the Northeast. I hope to get to do some running in the Adirondacks and some on the local bike paths and trails.

Washington Park

Nisky Bike path

2. The Perfect 10 race.

on Oct 26 in NJ

10 miles is less to train for than a half marathon. It is a new race for me and supposedly flat. I am going to combine it with a visit to a former college roommate. The race is all-women and in addition to a medal, you get a hoodie. YAY!

3. Fall activities with my mentee and her sons

2013

Ellm Family Farms is one of our favorite places to go with the kids. There’s a lot of things to do there – rides, ziplines, mazes, pumpkin picking, etc. Plus they have great cider donuts.

2012

4. Stockade-athon 15K

This race is the oldest 15k in the country. I’ve done it twice before. It is challenging but lots of fun. This year they changed the course. Hope it is easier.

The new course generally follows the course layout of the previous few years in a clockwise loop versus counter clockwise as in years past. The new course, adds approximately 1.5 miles of new sections, including a short section in Riverside Park in the Historic Stockade, and two new residential loops.

I’m going to miss the big fireplace in the park to warm up. The start and finish activities will now be indoors.

5. A new 5K & 10K

It’s no secret that I love to race and I love trying new races. As the cold weather approaches, I will try to run as many as possible.

Burnt Hills Apple Run 5K on Oct 4. was recommended to me.

Great Pumpkin Challenge 5k and 10k on Oct 18. was one that I have signed up for but never run. This is the year!

Happy Running! What are you looking forward to this fall?

August 18, 2014 by Darlene

Monday running update

20140625-122436-44676505 Last Week:

Monday – 2 walks at work, 4 3 mile run

AM walk

PM walk

Tuesday – ~~walk at work~~, rest, ~~tennis~~ (rain, rain)
Wednesday – ~~walk at work,~~ (rain) 3 mile run, ~~yoga~~

intervals in the rain (light rain) after work

Thursday – 2 walks at work, 4 3 mile run

AM walk – almost feels like fall

PM walk to the park

Friday- DAY OFF, party at the marina
Saturday –5K race + 3 1 more mile, boating

Jailhouse Rock 5K – 2nd in AG award

picnic on Log Bay Island (Lake George)

Sunday – 3 miles, day at my mentee & family

This Week:

Monday – walk at work, 4 mile run
Tuesday – walk at work, rest, tennis, mall walk with my BFF
Wednesday – walk at work, 4 mile run
Thursday – 2 walks at work, hair appt
Friday- walk at work, 4 mile run, mah jongg
Saturday – tennis party on Schroon River
Sunday 6 mile run???, more partying on the river

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

August 16, 2014 by Darlene

Jailhouse Rock 5K race report

The race started at 8:30 at the Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa (about 40 minutes away.)

As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve done this one 3 times before (in 2009, 2010, & 2012).

I’m the one in the pink compression socks

I know that you walk up a hill to start and you finish running down this hill.

the hill is VERY steep

It was chilly for an August race. It felt more like fall than summer. But nice weather for running. I wore my new Swirlgear tank (though it was too big) and hoped that the sun would warm me up.

I got there early enough to find parking and use the rest room (in the museum). I bumped into 2 runners from my age group – one very fast and one slower than me. We chatted and then it was time to head up the hill.

I turned on my Garmin and I realized it was almost dead. It must not have been on the charger correctly. Oh well, I was hoping that it just might last 3 miles.

The first mile was a gradual uphill but nothing steep. I tried to hold back but I am not good at that. There were no clocks on the course but someone called out 9:20 somewhere after mile 1.

I was hoping to run the whole thing but around halfway at the water stop, I was pooped already so I stopped and walked for a while.

Around 1.7 miles, my Garmin stopped. So I guess I had to run blindly.

Mile 2 seemed to be flat and then at the same point, I think someone called out 16:xx.

Without a watch, I was lost. I can’t believe how I depend on it. I like to know how far till the end of the race and what my pace is.

I knew there was that downhill at the but I found myself walking AGAIN, right before it.

Finally I got to the steep hill, I wish I was confident enough to go all out but I was afraid of falling flat on my face so I held back.

Then I saw the clock. It was 27:xx but it was too late to get a PR…those darn walks!!

I crossed at 28:25.

I was happy. It was faster than my previous two 5ks.

done!

While I was waiting for the times to be posted, I ran into another runner that I met at 2 other races. She is 59. She finished several minutes ahead of me but was 6th in her age group. I came in 2nd in my group. (I guess that will change next year when she is in my age group.)

jhr

race swag – hat for my ag prize, tech tee shirt, Xmas ornament, a package of cards

After the race, on the way back to my car, I passed the Iron Spring.

it is on the Xmas onrament

Then I noticed a trail so I took it.

It was only 1 mile out and back but very peaceful.

On one side there was brook flowing.

Although it was not warm and it was getting cloudy, I decided to drive back up to the lake.

I wanted to run some more but it was late and everyone was heading out to one of the islands.

Log Bay island on Lake George

We hung out all afternoon – eating, listening to music and watching the boats go by.

the marina gang

As for my 5K, I am satisfied with my efforts but as always, feel that I can do better.

Splits:

mile 1 – 9:03
mile 1- 1.7 – 9:26
mile 1.7-3.1 – ???

Race Goals:

Run the whole thing (haven’t been very successful at this lately.) – NOPE – walked twice
Under 10 min mile splits – YES!
Finish under 30 minutes – YES!
Win an age group award – YES – 2nd
Finish happy & uninjured – YES!

My next 5k is Sept 7. After that, I need to prep for my 10 miler in October.

Happy Running! Any racing plans this weekend?