August 13, 2013 by Darlene

Am I Training?

Last Week:

Monday – another day off – breakfast at the race track and then back to the lake

Tuesday – 3 miles after work in the park

Wednesday – ~~rest – walk – yoga?~~ 2 miles on the track

Thursday – ~~3 miles~~ rest
Friday – rest ~~– walk~~
Saturday – 5 miles on the bike path

Sunday – rest ~~– walk~~ floating around the lake

This Week:

Monday – 4 miles after work
Tuesday – walk or tennis?
Wednesday – 3 miles after work and/or yoga?
Thursday – 3 miles after work
Friday – rest – walk
Saturday – proctor MPREs, 6 miles, lake, river
Sunday – tennis, friends at the river

Back to the question- AM I TRAINING?

I really haven’t decided.

My friend remarked that I am “very Zen.” This what I posted on Facebook:

I have realized a few things: injuries are a part of life, recovery gets more difficult with each one but you just keep moving even if it is at a slower pace.

That being said, my runs are VERY VERY SLOW! My fitness level is zilch. My motivation is lacking. But I keep plodding along. I will not quit because starting over is so painful.

Some days I say: I WILL RUN 13.1 MILES on OCTOBER 13 if it kills me.

Other days, I say: Who needs the pressure of having to do long runs each week. I have run 6 half marathons. I have proved to myself that I can. My friends are already impressed. I will just run for fun and compete in 5Ks.

Right now, I am keeping things open.

The answer is — I AM SORTA TRAINING. SORTA MAYBE. MAYBE NOT.

Happy Running! Are you training?

August 2, 2013 by Darlene

Foto Friday: My First Free Race Photos

All the races that I have run, you’ve had to buy the race photos. And they’re expensive. I only have paid money for them if it were a big race and they came out well (such as for my first and last half marathon.)

Other times, I take my own or screen capture the proofs.

The Biggest Loser 5K race this past Sunday wasn’t even a race for me. But I ran whenever I saw a photographer and they took quite a few pics AND they were free to download.

Here are some of them:

I never would buy any of these but I like critiquing my stride…my fat thighs, etc.

Happy Running! Do you often get free race photos or do you buy them?

August 1, 2013 by Darlene

July – Gettin Better All the Time…

I usually hate to rush the summer. But this year, the faster the time goes, the sooner I am running & racing again!!

July Goals:

Continue to heal the broken foot – YES but this is really out of my control.
Follow doctor’s orders and don’t overdo – YES for the most part.
Ditch the crutches – YES but I really did this last month.
Wear 2 of the same shoes – YES!

wore 2 running shoes all month

even wore sandals

Walk – Yes, started with the treadmill, then the track, then the road…

Bike – YES, started with the stationary bike and then ended with a regular bike
Run a little (yes, I am being optimistic) – YES, 1 mile, then 2 miles, then 3 miles… 🙂

running in Chestertown

even ran/walked a 5k race

hopefully the mileage continues to pick up…

I also spent more time on our boat and on the islands of Lake George than last month.

I spent the weekend with tennis friends and even hit the tennis ball.

Me on the left on the court in Chestertown

AUGUST GOALS (aiming HIGH):

RUN (regularly)!!!
Do not overdo and listen to my body…REST when necessary!!
Play TENNIS!
Start planks!
Attend a yoga class!
Start training for the Oct 13 half marathon
Run a race
Run at least 50 miles this month

Happy Running! How was your July? What do you have planned for August?

July 31, 2013 by Darlene

So What Was I thinking?

Whose first race after breaking their foot and not running for 7 weeks would be one with HILLS?

That would be me!!!!

I even look happy

What happens when you run down steep hills and/or on uneven surfaces??

Yup, pain in my left shin. Never had this before.

The morning after the race, my right quad was sore but that went away. The shin discomfort stayed sore even on Tuesday.

So I RESTED it! Yes, I did not run.

That wasn’t too hard since I worked tech support at the NYS Bar Exam for 2 LONG days.

This afternoon, I will go back to the SOFT track to see how my shin feels.

Tomorrow I will rest again.

So 2 steps forward, one step back…

Happy Running! Anyone have any advice on shin splits?

July 29, 2013 by Darlene

Biggest Loser 5K Run Walk Race Report

As you can see from the map below, participants run/walk down the mountain, then take the ski lift back up and continue to the finish line. (I wondered what they would do about timing…)

Although we spent the day on our boat on Saturday, the forecast was for rain on Sunday so we did not stay overnight.

perfect weather for swimming & relaxing

If we did, my drive to Killington would have been shorter. Instead, I left from home to my longest driven race (my previous record was 1 1/2 hrs). The race was scheduled to begin at 9:00 am and I wanted to get there early for packet pickup etc. so I left around 5:40 am (ugh!!)

It was cloudy when I left which quickly turned to RAIN. I am not a fan of rain but it was early yet. As soon as I hit Vermont, the rain stopped. Still it was humid and looked like it could start again.

Packet pickup went smoothly. There were even real bathrooms. I bumped into AJH right away. Then we saw Christa and her friend.

With AJH (left) and Christa (right) before the race

It looked like the rain may hold off so I decided to ditch the jacket. It was warm and humid enough to get wet and be ok.

There was a 30 min per mile time limit for the race. Even if I walked the whole thing, I could beat that. Would my foot be ok to run it??? So what should I do???

Although AJH and Christa would be walking the whole thing, I decided to run it and if I had to then walk.

during the national anthem…most participants were wearing the race shirt.

So I moved up and tried to run when the gun went off. Unfortunately, there were a lot of walkers and they were blocking my path. Eventually I got by and proceeded to run DOWNHILL for a long time. (I didn’t realize how tough this is on the quads when you aren’t in shape!!!)

I didn’t wear a watch or a Garmin. I was not worried about my time or pace. This was meant to be a FUN race.

Good thing. The signs for distance were not accurate and the race was long. Someone told me it was at least 3.4 miles.

The downhill ended and it went up hill for a while and then down and then up.

AJH snapped this. I “looked” happy.

I ran most of the first half of the race. But I decided not to risk my feet and I walked all of the uphills during the 2nd half.

The interesting part of the race was the chair lift which supposedly took 6 minutes. It was nice to rest and the views were pretty (although it was overcast,)

But after running almost 3 miles, 6 minutes of sitting still, your legs turned to jelly. It was very weird. Everyone had the same reaction.

The worst part of the race was now —– it was raining lightly, it was downhill, rocks, crevices and stones, and it was rather steep and slippery. I AM NOT A TRAIL Runner! I have already had a broken ankle and a broken foot. HELP!!

What did I do? I walked very slowly and carefully and prayed that I would not fall. Miraculously I did not.

It was longer to the finish line than I thought. Eventually we went uphill and I was very happy! I even ran.

Finally I finished – according to the results: 45:34 (minus 6 minute chair lift)

all finishers got a medal

I grabbed some water (The food was the standard bagel and banana) and walked around.

Country star and Biggest Loser contestant Dan Evans warming up

I got to see AJH and Christa cross the finish line as well as Christa’s friend who did the 15K.

Believe it or not, I won 2nd in my Age Group. (just a certificate and a ribbon)

After the race, I left and stopped at a Pancake restaurant and had some awesome food. I also chatted with some local runners (who didn’t do the race.) Of course, since I was still wearing my race clothes.

Then I visited my hubby’s aunt & uncle’s gift shop/inn (Greenbrier) nearby.

aunt Kathy & cousin Jennifer(sorry it’s blurry)

I am glad I did the race. I am glad I walked and didn’t worry about time. I am glad that I switched from the 15K to the 5K. I am glad that I got to see some fellow bloggers. I am glad that I don’t live in Vermont and have to run on those hills!! (My quads are sore but my foot is fine 🙂 )

Happy Running! Have you ever run a race for fun?

July 27, 2013 by Darlene

No More Excuses

Yes, my foot fracture is not fully healed. But it does not hurt.
So … I can run!

No more excuses!!

So this type A runner needs to start running regularly… even if it is hot…even if I am too tired to get out of bed. The only way for me is do it is to plan it–

This Past Week:

Monday: day off – 2 miles on road
Tuesday: 1 hr on stationary bike at lunch
Wednesday: 3 miles on track after work
Thursday: 1 hr walk
Friday: 3 miles on road before work
Saturday: rest at the lake
Sunday: 5K run/walk

Next Week:

Monday: working at the bar exam – rest
Tuesday: working at the bar exam – rest (maybe a short run after on the bike path??)
Wednesday: 3 miles
Thursday: rest (no break, party at work)
Friday: day off – 3.5 miles
Saturday: walk
Sunday: 4 miles

Happy Running! Do you have problems motivating yourself to get out there?

July 26, 2013 by Darlene

Next “Race”

If I can call this one a “race.” I may have to call it a WALK.

It’s on Sunday in Killington, Vermont.

When at least, they transferred my registration from the 15K to the 5K.

Exciting! The Biggest Loser RunWalk Killington 5K/15K courses each have a twist! Participants run/walk down the mountain, then take the ski lift back up and continue along with breathtaking views of Killington Peak, the second highest peak in Vermont. The 5K course goes through beautiful downtown Killington while the 15K route, great for someone’s first 15K, travels along rustic wooded roads with stunning views of the Green Mountains. Afterwards kick back with family and friends and celebrate at the post-race concert featuring former “Biggest Loser” contestant and Nashville recording artist, Dan Evans at Killington Resort’s Roaring Brook Umbrella Bar, or enjoy the lush landscape during a gondola ride to Killington Peak. Even Packet Pick-Up the day before the race is a party.

Sounds like fun…

AJH and Christa are supposed to be doing the 5K too. So if nothing else, it will be a blogger reunion.

Goals:

Not limp off the course.
Have fun.

I don’t know if I dare to run. If I do, I’ll hope for an injured 5K PR. Does anyone have those?

Freihofer’s – June 2012 – Recovering from broken ankle – 35:39
Runner’s World – Oct 2012 – Running with a Stress Fracture – 35:32
Last Run – Dec 2012 – Recovering from stress fracture – 35:25
Biggest Loser – July 2013 – Recovering from a broken foot – ??

Happy Running! Any races planned? Have you ever done a race while injured?

July 19, 2013 by Darlene

Listen to Orville Rogers and Strive to be Above Average

Orville Rogers’ 5 Rules for Running Forever

As far as training goes, listen to your body. Don’t go too fast or too far.
When you’re upping your training, increase your speed or distance, not both. If you overtrain, you risk your next competition.
Look at the records and then make a goal for yourself that you think you can do.
Visualize, and when you visualize, picture yourself breaking those records.
Never give up.

Oh yeah—and stretch.

at age 95, he has set 7 world age group records this year

Read the complete article here.

I agree with his advice especially #1 & #2 (except that I forget to stretch).

1. It is really important when injured to know when to run, how fast, how far and how often. That means listening to your body and knowing when aches & pains are serious or just part of life. It means being patient… (I am not good at this!!)

2. I usually concentrate on distance. Being older, I need to build up my stamina and fitness level. I need to be careful about overdoing. I used to worry about speed when I only ran 5ks. I also did more speed workouts when I was injury-free. Now I seem to always be coming back and I am glad to be running.

2011 stats from http://www.runningusa.org

3. My goals in the past have been PR or win a Age Group award. Again when you are constantly in recovery mode, PRing is NOT realistic. So a realistic goal may be to be ABOVE AVERAGE. It seems that I am way above average with regards to “AGE” and I am usually above average in my 5K time. So my new goal is to be above average in my 10k and half marathon times.

and I NEVER GIVE UP!!!!

Happy Running! Do you have any other running advice? Are you “Above Average?”

July 1, 2013 by Darlene

Mid-Year Report Card

We’re halfway through 2013 so it is a good time to take a look at those goals to see how I am doing.

I must say that things were looking up until June 1.

already more miles than all of 2012

Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside)- YES, until June 1.

even ran 3 times while on vacation

Continue fitting in tennis and yoga at least once a week (as cross-training) – Yes, until June 1.

Finish my 5K races under 30 minutes and not stress about a PR (though getting one would be super!) – Sure I stressed but finished Ice Breaker, Lake George, Mother’s Day and the Freihofer’s all under 30 min.

Ice breaker 5k – 28:47

Get an Age Group award (in May I will be entering a new AG!!) – Yes, in the correct AG, I finished 1st at Lake George 5K and 1st in my new AG at the Mother’s Day 5K.

Lake George 5K – 1st in 50-59

Mother’s Day 5K – finished 1st in 60-69

PR in a 10K race (I have only one injured 10K under my belt.) – Yes, HMRRC #3

Run a 10 mile race (the one from Lake George to Bolton Landing is on my bucket List) – Nope (broke my foot on June 1).
Run at least one half marathon (a spring and a fall one) – Yes, I ran the Sarasota Half Marathon in March (the fall one may not happen.)

Run at least 12 races (one per month, if possible) – Yes, at least one per month and 11 total races already!! (However, there will probably be no races in July and August 😦 I hope to resume racing in September.)

at least I am smiling! (J. Berkeley photo)

one of 3 April races

Run a race in another state – Yes, I ran in Florida (Vermont was planned for next month but that one is doubtful)

Florida racing

Run a NEW race (hopefully one in NYC) – Yes, I’ve run 5 new ones so far – Hmrrc #3 & #5, Ice Breaker 5K, Lake George 5K, Mother’s Day 5k, ( NYC hopefully next year)

Mother’s Day 5K in Schenectady

Listen to my body and slow down when necessary (In other words, do not get injured…) – I broke my foot but I cannot blame overuse on that one.
Continue blogging regularly (to keep track of miles, as a motivator, to meet new runners…) – YES!

So I think I did pretty well during my 5 healthy months.

Let’s hope my foot heals quickly and I can add more miles and races during the rest of the year.

Happy Running! How has your 2013 been?