March 7, 2012 by Darlene

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday – The Brochure

Guess what just came in the mail – the brochure for 2012 Sean’s Run – http://www.seansrun.com/pdfs/2012Flyer_spread.pdf

ME on page 2

2011 was the first year I ran this race. This year, I can’t run in it because of my injury.

The funny thing is that the 2011 brochure had my friend Mary’s photo in it (from the first year she ran the race.)

Mary in the 2010 race and on the 2011 brochure

And then last year at race time she was coming back from a serious injury.

So I think it is bad luck to have your photo on the Sean’s Run brochure!! It leads to injury LOL!

Happy Running!

February 28, 2012 by Darlene

Two for Tuesday and My Epic Comeback

1. From wheelchair to running a 5K – check out the story HERE. In 10 months, Kimberly Sheerin went being a paraplegic to running 3.1 miles. AMAZING!!

2. This past weekend, I put on a running shoe and I kinda walked (walk is a loose term – I moved slowly and didn’t fall).

Those two events prompted me to start planning my running future!!

2 months – bones healed – CHECK!
3 months – walk without crutches
5 months – walk in a race
6 months – start to run
9 months – race in a 5k
12 months – run a half marathon

So there you have it…my planned comeback! More details to come!

Happy Running!

February 3, 2012 by Darlene

One Race I Will No Longer Run

It was just announced that Susan G. Komen for a Cure, America’s largest charity to fight breast cancer, will no longer fund a program that provides free or low-cost breast cancer screenings for millions of women who get their health care from Planned Parenthood. This is a huge blow.

In abruptly pulling nearly $1,000,000 in funding for breast cancer screenings, the Susan G. Komen foundation cited a sham “investigation” into Planned Parenthood launched by Republican Rep. Cliff Stearns, one of the most militant anti-choice members of Congress…

You can get more information and sign the petition at the link below:

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/komen_2/?r_by=-5081570-GmSoeyx&rc=paste1

I have run this 5k four times

with the law school team each year

NO MORE!

Unless Susan G. Komen restores its funding!!!

Happy Running? Have you run a Race for the Cure? Will you again?

January 28, 2012 by Darlene

Race Superlatives

Thanks to Jen from Jen is Green for this idea. I’ve run a total of 72 races, with race recaps for ALL of them.

**Most Fun Race — Mother’s Day Race

This race is close to home and always on or around my birthday. It’s all women and I always run it with friends. They also give out awesome pre-race swag – hat, tote bag, lunch bag, back pack, etc. One year, we even got a red rose.

**Most Difficult Race — Fall Foliage Half Marathon

I ran this race last October on a whim. I wanted to use it as a training run for my half in November. It was the first annual so there were no reviews. And it was so HILLY!!! I mean steep hills. I was not prepared and I could barely walk for several days after.

**Most Scenic Race — Naples News Half Marathon

Palm trees, Gulf of Mexico, beaches, yachts, mansions…what can I say? It was awesome!

**Most Boring Race — HMRRC Winter Series #1 (3m)

This series occurs several times during the winter and there are different distances to choose from each time. You run around the State Office campus and the longer the distance the more times you loop. Concrete…concrete! The most boring course ever but it is FREE!

**Best Post Race Party — Adirondack Half Marathon

There was entertainment, lots of food (even ice cream) and best of all, Schroon Lake to soak your aching feet with (with friends.)

**Most “Nostalgic” Race — Freihofer’s Run for Women 5k

I never thought I would run this race. I was always envious of women that could. After I joined the No Boundaries program, my friends and I decided to do it (even though we had never run 3 miles). I have done it every year since.

**Best “Feeling of Accomplishment” Race — Naples News Half Marathon

After running 5ks for 3 years, I never thought I could run 13.1 miles!! Even as I was standing at the starting line with tears in my eyes, I was doubtful. Then at Mile 10, I called my hubby and said “I feel good!” I knew I would finish… the best feeling EVER!

So that’s it.

I hope to add even MORE races to my list … hopefully.

Happy Running! Feel free to make a similar list and share on your blog.

January 1, 2012 by Darlene

December Recap

GOALS:

Play tennis again. YES. Just once.
Run regularly (without pain). YES. 2-4 miles several times a week.
Run a 5k race. YES. Albany Last Run.
Start training for my March Half Marathon. YES. Started on Dec 24.
Do not get injured. YES. So far so good.
Stay healthy. YES. Knock on wood.

return from injury months are identical – Jun and Dec

Running in Orlando (while on vacation)

Running a 5K: Albany Last Run

GOALS:

Play tennis regularly (1-2x week)
Run regularly (3-4x a week)
Continue training for my March Half Marathon.

Happy Running! What are your goals for January? How did your December go?

December 31, 2011 by Darlene

2012 Goals – Prematurely Posted

I think it’s important to have goals but not let them run your life. So here are my 12 running goals for the year:

Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside)
Continue fitting in tennis and yoga at least once a week (as cross-training)
Finish my 5K races under 30 minutes and not stress about a PR (though getting one would be super!)
Get an Age Group award
Run a 10K race
Run a 10 mile race
Run at least one half marathon
Run at least 12 races (one per month, if possible)
Run a race in another state
Run a NEW race
Listen to my body and slow down when necessary (In other words, do not get injured…)
Continue blogging regularly (to keep track of miles, as a motivator, to meet new runners…)

Happy Running! Did you set any interesting running goals for 2012?

December 28, 2011 by Darlene

Wordless Wednesday

ME on page 2 of the 2012 brochure

Last May, I ran Sean’s Run for the first time. My friend Mary talked me into it. It was a big (1500 runners) local race but a very hilly race.

Look who is now pictured on the 2012 race brochure – http://www.seansrun.com/pdfs/2012Flyer_spread.pdf

That would be me…(at least they cut out my fat thighs!!). I wasn’t planning on doing this race again…but maybe I should.

The funny thing is that last year’s brochure had Mary’s photo on it (from the first year she ran the race.)

Happy Running!

December 23, 2011 by Darlene

2011 Goals – How did I do?

Here are the GOALS that I set for 2011:

I was doing REALLY well until June 11 when I hurt my heel… then I rebounded!!

Lower my 5K PR – No, it still stands at 27:30 but I did have 3 races under 28 minutes and 2 just over 28!

√ Run 5ks under 28 minutes – 3 out of 9 under 28 (all 5ks under 30 minutes except for the one where I fell)

√ Win my age group – 2nd for the LG Half, (50-59), 2nd for Polar Cap 4m (55-59), 2nd for Firefighters 5K (55-59), 1st SPAC 5k(55-59) – only got prizes for the lst 2

: Polar Cap – 2nd place in AG

√ Run new races – 14 new races (Polar Cap 4m, Firefighters 5k, Naples Half, LG Half, Delmar Dash 5m, Sean’s Run 5k, Workforce Challenge 3.5m, Runnin of the Green 4m, Adirondack Half, Fall Foliage Half, Santa Clarita Half, Stockade-athon, Run Off That Turkey 5K. Hmrrc Winter Series #1 3m)

Runnin of the Green 4 miler

Run at least one race each month – 1 in Jan, 1 in Feb, 2 in Mar, 2 in Apr, 4 in May, 2 in Jun, 0 in July, 0 in August, 1 in Sept, 2 in Oct, 4 in Nov & 2 in Dec. (injured in July & August 😦 )

: Sean’s Run in May

√ Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside) – over 800 miles for the year. (It would have been more if I had not been injured in July & August.)

Running outside in January

√ Run a longer race than 5k (4 mi, 5 mi or 10K) – 5 Half Marathons, a 15K, 2 – 4 mile races, 1 -5 mile race

: Delmar Dash 5 miler

√ Run a half marathon race – 5 Half Marathons!! Woo Hoo!

LG Half Marathon 4-11

√ Run at least 15 races – 21 races (It would have been more if I had not been injured in July & Aug. I DNS for about 6 races.)

Mother’s Day Race ’11

√ Run a race in another state – 2 – a Half Marathon in Florida and a Half Marathon in California

Half in Naples, Florida

Volunteer at a race – Nope

√ Take running pics & post on FB & this blog – I have taken lots of photos (even use the timer on my camera) & post on this blog & on facebook

√ Keep track of how many miles I run this year – I record every mile I run on this blog, dailymile.com & on a tickerfactory.com ticker

Happy Running! Did you accomplish your 2011 running goals?

December 17, 2011 by Darlene

Albany Last Run Race Report

This was my second time doing this race so I wasn’t as clueless as last year. I knew that the fireworks were before the race and to get ready to run right after they ended. They said that there was a new course but I only remember that it ended coming down a hill. I hoped that it was still the case.

I also knew that this race would be crowded so to just have fun with it.

The race started at 5 pm. It’s always a little tricky to run a race at night when you’re used to fueling in the morning. So I decided to have my pasta in the morning and my cereal in the afternoon. (that may sound crazy?)

It was COLD…in the 20’s and windy. I just wore layers… tutleneck, vest, race jacket, tights under my skirt, hat, gloves. My hubby has a parking pass for under the mall so he drove me. We planned to go out to dinner afterwards.

before the race

Several of my friends that wanted to run the race got closed out…this race is very popular. But I did run into several of the SRMs (Strong Running Mamas) and we watched the fireworks outside before the race began.

Brigid & Janis

She is pretending to "puke"

The fireworks were better than they look here

As soon as the fireworks ended, the race began. 1500 runners started pushing and shoving. It was so crowded going up the hill. In fact it was hard to get a decent running pace for most of the race. There was a car parked in the middle of a narrow street, there were walkers and runners cutting in and out.

Nevertheless, I was enjoying my run and feel really good. I even ran up ALL the hills and was continuously passing people. The lights were awesome (even though I’ve seen them many times already.)

As I said I felt comfortable running the whole time. Probably because I was forced to start slow. The race ended out of the park and back downtown. It went downhill and my recurring nightmare came true.

I have dreamt that I would be running so fast down a hill that I would fall on my face.

I was running fast and I glanced at my Garmin and didn’t see a pothole/crack in the road and down I went.

I was stunned and just laid there wondering how badly I was hurt. Several people stopped. One guy helped me up.

Despite the shock and pain, I was determined to finish the race. I couldn’t run fast but I crossed the finish line. It was around 30:20 or so.

negative splits!

I grabbed some water and looked for a seat but couldn’t find any. Soon Brigid & Janis showed up. My hand was bleeding (darn, I had taken my gloves off at the end) and I pulled up my tights and blood was dripping down my leg — Some really nasty scrapes on the left knee.

We walked around looking for a paramedic and finally found some who bandaged me up.

I called my hubby who was waiting inside to tell him what happened. He came outside to get me and asked it I wanted to go home or go out to dinner.

I think my ego was more bruised than my body. (Tomorrow will tell). And we did go out to dinner.

one of the holiday martinis at Applebees - recommended as a painkiller

Albany’s Last Run was hopefully not my “last” run. It was the kind of race that you do for fun. You can’t PR but of course, you can stupidly try!!

Happy Running! Has anyone else ever fallen during a race?

December 1, 2011 by Darlene

It’s December!

67 MILES

November wasn’t a high mileage month since I ran my half marathon at the beginning of the month and I was not training for anything else.

Here were my goals for November:

Hope to continue to run pain-free – YES!
Continue tennis & yoga once a week – YES!
Run 3-4 times a week – YES!
Santa Clarita Half Marathon
Survive Half Marathon #5 – YES (but wish I had done better)
after the Run off that turkey 5k race
Run a 5k (& finish under 30 min.) – Ran 2 5k races (finished at 27:58 & 28:11)
Join a gym & start to cross-train – Not yet….
Stockade-athon 15K