5k

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So Now What or 4 Races Thursday

What do you do when you’ve accomplished all your June goals on June 2?

  • Run/Walk a 5k in less than 45 min. – did FRW in 35:39
  • Run a mile in less than 12 min/mile – all 3 miles in FRW were less 12 min/mi
  • Run 3 miles (with few walk breaks) – Did FRW with only 2 water walk breaks
  • Sign up for a 5k- ran the FRW 5K

NEW GOALS:

  • Run more 5Ks!
  • Run faster!
  • Run stronger!

4 Possible 5k races:

 

July 21, 2012

or

at the Great Escape, Lake George
July 21, 2012

Aug 25, 2012


Happy Running! What summer races do you have planned?

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The Cat is Out of the Bag

Image

This photo was published on the front page of the sports section of our local paper yesterday.

I am the one in the purple shirt  front and center.

No, my doctor did not clear me to run yet.  My Pt guy told me I could only walk it.

Oops!

Happy Running?  Ever ignore an injury and run in a race?

 

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Freihofer’s Run for Women Un-Race Report

I got a medal

Obviously not a PR…but this medal is meaningful in a different way.

On Dec 29, 2011, I thought I may not ever run again.

Today, I know I will but I am not sure how fast I will get or how long a distance I will run

But it’s okay.  I definitely appreciate being able to run a lot more.

My new favorite quote:

I made a pact with myself to never complain about an event I’ve successfully finished. No matter what my finish time or pace, I will cross the line with a pocket full of gratitude. Records are meant to be broken, but those moments are far and few between. Every adventure offers an opportunity to evolve, explore, and celebrate life. And that is the gift that keeps on giving.  — Jenny Hadfield

So now about the race.

Yesterday, I took my daily lunch walk to pick up my bib, tee-shirt (& goodies – loaf of bread, box of cookies, lots of free samples). It’s about a 5k there and back.  However, going back is UPHILL.

It was tough; my ankle HURT and I wondered how would I do this race.  Why was I doing this race??

I woke up early today to RAIN!!  I toyed with not going since I wasn’t racing anyway and walking in the rain would take twice as long.

But I put on pants over my skirt, grabbed a jacket and umbrella and drove to work.

The rain let up a little and the walk to race was a good warm up for my ankle.

this year’s banner along the route

I love the ENERGY of this race!! All women! Elites and first timers! 

As I approached the race start, I knew I made the right decision to WALK this race.

I bumped to many people I knew…and finally some of the SRMs for our photo shoot.

some of the group

It was now drizzling but looked like it would rain at any moment.  I decided to hide my pants & umbrella but tie my jacket around my waist & wear the cap. (It was very HUMID so I should have left the jacket behind too.)

I squeezed in with the other YELLOWs (though I thought that I should go to the end with the walkers but it was too far to walk!)

view from above

As soon as the gun went off, off I ran.

Yes, I ran!

I ran up the hill.  I kept running and running and running.

I cautioned myself to go slow so that I would be able to finish the race.

Everyone was running.  I felt that if I stopped to walk, I would be trampled.  Yes, runners were passing me but for the most part I was keeping up at my slow pace.

There were timers at every mile and every K.  I left my Garmin home (not on purpose – I forgot it.) My pace was consistently between 11-12 min/mile…I was happy and I was not struggling to run at that pace.   My ankle did not hurt.

I stopped at both water stops to walk not because I had to but because I was thirsty and felt I should walk some.

As we approached the end…it was downhill.  I slowed as to not FALL and then I sprinted (yes sprinted) across the finish line.

I had TEARS in my eyes.  The last time I felt like this was after my FIRST HALF.

5th FRW

I’m not sure what the chip time was but the gun time was 35:xx.  I far exceeded all my goals!!!!!!

It is my second slowest 5K time (my first 5k was my slowest) but I am SO HAPPY!!!!!!

As soon I finished, it started to rain.

I have to admit, that my ankle really hurt afterwards.  I struggled to walk back to my car.

It was worth it. 

So it seems that the cure for a stiff weak ankle is a RACE!!

Happy Running!  Enjoy your weekend!

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Hopping and Racing


I found out at PT why I am having trouble running.  I cannot hop!

Of course, I can hop on my good foot but I can’t on the other.  As a result, I can only push off on one foot and I am sorta dragging the other … so my running is slow, painful and awkward.

I was told to keep trying to hop.

I know it will come because there was a time when I couldn’t stand and couldn’t walk and couldn’t run.

So when I can hop, I think I will be able to race.

Speaking of racing, tomorrow is one of my favorite races.

Hopefully, it will not rain as predicted.   The SRMs are planning a group photo.  Many of the recent SRM marathoners will be cheering.

SRMs in 2011

Obviously, I cannot race it but I am doing it anyway.

Goals:

  • Walk fast and finish in under an hour
  • Run some and finish under 45 minutes
  • Have fun

Happy Running!  Are you racing this weekend?

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My Favorite Month Has Ended…

May was a pretty good month:

went on my tennis vacation to Florida

turned 59 on 5-9

got to visit with my Russian friend Anna

started boating on Lake George

did a lot of biking

ran my first mile

Here were my May Goals:

  • Continue PT 1-2x per week. Yes, except when on vacation.
  • Do exercises on my own, as well 1-2x per day. Yes, but not a diligently as before.
  • Use exercise bike and/or treadmill at work on days with no PT. Yes, when raining bcause I have been walking outside.
  • Go biking outdoors 1-2x per week. Yes and everyday when on vacation.
  • Go for walks outside. Yes, everyday at lunch.
  • Run outside (at least a few steps or maybe on a track.) Yes, one mile on dirt/sand 4 times so far
  • Hit a few tennis balls (maybe practice serving or volleying) Yes, while on vacation.
  • STAY POSITIVE!! Trying but it is tough!

So I think I’ve met all my goals in recent months so it’s time to switch things up.

June Goals:

  • Run/Walk a 5k in less than 45 min.
  • Run a mile in less than 12 min/mile
  • Run 3 miles (with few walk breaks)
  • Sign up for a 5k

How’s that for optimism?

Happy Running!  How did you do in May?

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Boating and Running

Two of my favorite things!!

the gang toasts the 1st boating weekend of the season

my hubby enjoying the view

enjoying a Memorial Day lunch on the island

a visitor to my chair

I am still working on running.  I didn’t leave my Garmin behind as suggested. I dodged the storm yesterday and ran ONE MILE on the dirt path of Washington Park (with some walking) at an amazing pace of 12:33!!

As soon as I got in my car, the rain came and boy did it rain!!!

Today is a PT day and tomorrow, I hope to try some more running. 

I have an Un-Race on Saturday and then a trip to NYC on Sunday.

Happy Running!

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What’s the Plan, Stan?

Gotta have a plan, right?

  • June – WALK
  • July – RUN
  • August – RUN MORE
  • September – 5K
  • October – 10K
  • November – 15K
  • December – RUN LONG
  • January – Half Marathon!!!

January 13, 2013 or 1-13-13 (lucky 13?)

Well I may be overly optimistic since I haven’t started running outside yet. But my 6 month injury anniversary is June 29 and I’ve had enough!!!

 The worst case scenario is that I walk the races.  Even the Palm Coast allows walkers (if you can finish under 4 hrs).

Happy Running!  Do you plan ahead?  How far?

 

 

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My First Un-Race

Right before my injury, I paid for this race:

The normal registration price is $40 so I wanted to take advantage of the early discount of $25.  And since this is one of my favorite races, I decided to splurge and buy the medal.

This would have been my FIFTH Freihofer’s Run for Women – the race that I’ve run the most.

the 2011 running group and then some

So…… I hope to be walking without pain by then… (21 weeks post surgery…maybe even running a few steps?????)

Do I bite my tongue and do it as a WALK or Un-Race?? And get my first Freihofer’s medal for a finish of more than 60 minutes?? (Last year the slowest was 75 min so I hope to beat that.)

Suzy wearing last year’s tech shirt

Sure…why not?  I paid for it and I ‘ll get a cool tech tee-shirt and chocolate chip cookies.  Next year I will try to beat my 28:14 finish time.

Happy Running!  Have you ever walked a whole race?

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Things Happen For a Reason

When I planned our annual tennis trip last fall, I thought Mother’s Day was May 6 so being away May 8-15 wouldn’t be a problem.

On Mother’s Day:

  • I run one of my favorite races: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008
  • I celebrate my birthday.
  • I go to the annual Tulip Fest in Washington Park.

Guess what?  I am missing Mother’s Day this year.

Not to worry…

They moved the race. It is no longer run nearby.

  • I am injured and not running 😦
  • The race is not in Delmar as it had been for 31 years.  They used to give away awesome schwag but the sponsorship has changed also.
  • I will celebrate my birthday with Anna & my hubby on May 6 and then on May 9 with my friends in Florida.
  • Due to the warm winter, the tulips will most likely be gone by May 13.   I have already seen them several times in full bloom last week:

So things happen for a reason…

(Maybe I broke my ankle so that _(fill-in-the blank: I could start knitting, cook dinner every night, spend more time with my hubby, become a biker, do some cross training, spend my race entrance fees on PT co-pays OR come back a stronger runner!)

Happy Running!

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Spectating at Sean’s Run

I was on this year’s race brochure so of course, I would have run this race.

me on the front of the mailing

I decided that the race was late enough (1 pm) to be able to drive to Chatham and watch my friend Mary run this race. 

Mary & I enjoying a post-race ice cream cone last year

Friday’s RW quote also came to mind:

Running is not, as it so often seems, only about what you did in your last race or about how many miles you ran last week. It is, in a much more important way, about community, about appreciating all the miles run by other runners, too.–Richard O’Brien

The last 17 weeks have been all about me.  I have been feeling sorry for myself cuz I can’t run.  I have been jealous of everyone running, training and racing. Everday I wake up and curse Dec 29 and wish I never went for that run.

So yesterday was a perfect running day (just a little too windy) but cool & sunny.  I got to the race early enough to wish Mary luck before the race.

She's ready!

Then I was able to do what I have never been able to do.  I watched the runners start.

They're off!

I got to see all the runners go by.

I even watched the winner (at an amazing time) cross the finish line.

Chuck Terry wins for the 3rd time!

Mary, who is tapering for her marathon next weekend, did great.

Here she comes!

Of course, we had to have our free ice cream cone together again.

the spectator & the runner

I think it’s supposed to be a reward for racing but it still tasted good.

So my first spectating experience wasn’t half bad.  It’s fun if you know someone racing.  Of course, I prefer to be in the race….and I will be next year!

Afterwards we went out for coffee and talked about my comeback –whenever that may be.  Hopefully we will race together in the near future.

Happy Running!  Have you ever spectated at a race when you’ve been injured?