May 30, 2012 by Darlene

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!

May 22, 2012 by Darlene

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?

May 3, 2012 by Darlene

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?

May 2, 2012 by Darlene

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!

April 30, 2012 by Darlene

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?

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.