5k

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Happy Anniversary “Running Mamas”

Janis, Jen M, Felice, Jen F, Bridget, Lisa & me

A year ago (actually March 14, 2010) Felice (The Happy Runner) organized a group of young mothers who had NEVER run before.  She asked me and several local bloggers to help out.

I participated in the group training runs and got to follow them from the “wondering  if they could run 2 minutes without stopping” stage to finally running a 5K race.

at the Freihofers Run for Women 5K

Well, they didn’t stop there!! They ran more 5ks and got faster!!! They ran a 10k!! Then they signed up to run a Half Marathon –  in their first year of running!!!!!

Whoa!

I was so proud of them!! But at the same time, a little jealous… This is my 3rd year of running and I’m still entering 5ks!! (51 of them….) And I am happy when I break 30 minutes.

These ladies made me realize that I could push myself.  So I did!!

 I finished the Turkey Trot 5k well under 28 minutes!! 

 Then believe it or not, I ran a HALF MARATHON.

So thanks “Running Mamas” for lighting a fire under my feet! 

Let me know when you sign up for a Marathon. I have no plans for running one…but you never know…

Happy Running!

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Just Felt Like Running Virtual 5k

I signed up for Detroit Runner’s Virtual 5k which was supposed to be run on Saturday, March 5.  Saturday I did my long run and then Monday I ran 4 miles on the treadmill.

So yesterday I ran my 5K race.

I was tired of the treadmill at the gym so I braved the 14 degree temps at 7 am in the morning. I dressed in my usual winter layers and hoped that the roads wouldn’t be too icy.

They weren’t  – just here and there you had to slow down and walk over the icy patches.

Ever since October when I started training for my first half marathon, my pace has slowed to a crawl – sometimes over 12 min/mile. Always over 11 min.  That’s OK for long runs but not for a 5K.

Even when I was training for 5ks, my runs were slower than my actual race pace. I can’t seem to motivate myself to not stop when I get tired. In a race, I can push myself because I am very competitive.

So on this cold morning, with teary eyes and runny nose, I finished at 32:19. Not even close to my 27:20 PR but under 11 min/mi is a good run for me these days.  (The last mile was 10:15)

Today it was raining!! I stayed after work and used the treadmill.  For the first time!! Yes, we have 2 treadmills at work.  They are on the stage in the gym.  Lucky the curtain is closed.  It is dark and there are no TVS and no people.  Kinda creepy.  I watched an episode on “The Good Wife” on my iPod and ran my usual SLOOOOOW 3 miles.

Tomorrow is a REST DAY!  I have a race on Saturday — Runnin of the Green – 4 miles. A new race for me!! I’m excited!

Happy Running!

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Three Things Thursday

  1. Boy, this has been a really long week!  At least it has seemed that way. Maybe because there have been no snowstorms and I’ve had to work everyday! I played tennis Mon & Tues evenings and bailed on my morning runs!!! I did return to the treadmill yesterday & today 🙂
  2. I’ve also had some bad news.  A good friend’s father died and another good friend’s younger sister was diagnosed with a rare rapidly spreading form of breast cancer (3-5 yrs to live even with mastectomy, chem & radiation). So I’m NOT going to complain about my left foot (last time it was the right one) that started hurting Sat and hurt Sun & Mon. The pain is gone now and it seems pretty trivial. It also reinforces my decision to go from running a 5K race to completing a Half Marathon.  You never know what life will bring. CARPE DIEM!!
  3. My credit card was burning a hole in my pocket so I registered for some races.

Mar 12 – Runnin of the Green 4 mi Run – Green Island, NY
Mar 26 – Firefighters Run 4 Life 5K – Schenectady, NY
Apr 10 – Delmar Dash 5 mi – Delmar, NY
May 8  – Mother’s Day 3.5 – Delmar, NY
Jun 4 – Freihofer’s Run for Women (5K) – Albany, NY

 I haven’t registered for my second Half Marathon yet – Apr 23 in Lake George. I want to run it but it’s hilly and I’m chicken.  I’m training for it. 

I like to run races & those long runs don’t seem to fit in (for example, my 12 mile run is scheduled for Apr 10!) .  I work so I can’t do them during the week.  I know I can add miles on after or the next day but it doesn’t feel the same as a non-stop long run.  I also like to rest the day before a long run.  I like to do my best in a race (I’m competitive!) so it’s hard to have it just be a training run at half marathon pace.  DILEMMAS!  I guess it was easy when I just ran 5ks!!  But I really enjoyed that Half Marathon experience!

I’ll figure it out… What’s more important is staying healthy and enjoying life!

Happy Running!

 

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February is Almost Here! Will the Snow Ever End?

January Recap:

My goal was to run 50 miles and a Half Marathon. I ran 72 miles and a Half Marathon!!!!! WooHoo!
 

February Goals:

 

  • 60 miles (combo of outside & treadmill)
  • 4 mi race
  • Follow Half Marathon training schedule

 

Please warm up and stop snowing!! I can’t run in this!!!!!!!!!

 Happy Runnng!

 

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Virtual 5K

Another balmy 32 degree day in Upstate, NY!! Just in case, this was my last run of the month, I decided that my after work run would be my participation in Baby Weight My Fat Ass’ Virtual 5k.

I lugged all my running gear to work again:  Turtleneck, fleece, windbreaker, gloves, tights, shorts, headband, socks, sneakers, ipod, headphones, Garmin, water bottle, banana….(Did I miss anything?)

I think it took me 15 minutes to change and get the show on the road.

It was dark as it usually is when I run after work so I wore a bright white windbreaker over my fleece.  Luckily, the streets around where I work are pretty lit up.

 I was prepared after yesterday for a slow run.  Some of the sidewalks are shoveled, others are icy & slushy.  I have to weave in and out. When I have to run in the road, the snowbanks are high and I sometimes have to stop when a car goes by because there is not enough room to run.

Nevertheless, I felt that I ran at a faster pace than yesterday.  Even my splits were negative.  Final time according to my Garmin – 33:53

Still running at my half marathon pace – that’s OK because I start training again on Monday for my 2ND HALF MARATHON!! (April 23, 2011 in Lake George).

Happy Running!

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Tentative Winter-Spring Racing Schedule


It’s not written in stone but I need a plan OR I won’t get out of bed to run:

Jan 16 – Naples Half Marathon – Naples, Fla.

Feb 5 – Polar Cap 4 mi Run – Lake George, NY

Mar 12 – Runnin of the Green 4 mi Run – Green Island, NY
Mar 26 – Firefighters Run 4 Life 5K – Schenectady, NY

Apr 10 – Delmar Dash 5 mi – Delmar, NY
Apr 23 – Lake George Half Marathon

May 1 – Literacy 5k – Troy, NY
May 8 – Mother’s Day 3.5 mi Race – Delmar, NY
May 22 – SPAC 5k Rock & Run – Saratoga, NY

Jun 4 – Freihofer’s Run for Women (5K) – Albany, NY
Jun 11 – OK 5K – Kinderhook, NY
Jun 25 – Valley Cats Home Run 5K – Troy, NY

You can see I’ve added some new races.

Once it gets warm and the days get longer…I think it will be warm by July,   I may change my long runs to during the week.  That way, if I want to do another Half Marathon, it’s won’t interfere with 5k Sat races or weekend boating plans.

There are 3 HM possibilities:

  1. Aug 6 – Camp Chingachgook Challenge Half – Lake George, NY
  2. Sept 18 – Melanie Palio Half – Saratoga, NY
  3. Oct 9 – Marine Corps Half – Colonie, NY

    4. 

Happy Running!

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McMillan..McSchmillan

Someone mentioned that the McMillan Calculator can help you  figure out what your finish time & pace would be at different races.  So I tried it.

It says to put in your best time at a distance you run (which is 5k for me).  Here’s the results:

No way I will finish 13.1 miles in 2:07:07!!!

So I put in my average time over the course of my 5ks.  Here’s the results:

2:18:40? I don’t think so but it would be nice.

Then I put in the pace I think  I will run a 5k at this distance.  Here’s the results:

2:37:10. Now that’s more like it!!

Of course, I didn’t need the McMillan Calculator  to predict that!

Happy Running!

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Welcome 2011!


First, let’s look at my 2010 Running Goals:

  1. lower my 5K PR———YES! from 29:30 to 28:42 to 27:12
  2. run a 5k under 29 minutes——-YES! 4 times
  3. win my age group at least once——YES! on 11/11/10
  4. run new races——-YES! 11 out of 21 were new races
  5. run on the treadmill all winter (3x week)——YES! (unless I could run outside)
  6. run a longer distance on the treadmill (more than 2.75 mi)——– YES! up to 6 mi.
  7. motivate some of my friends to run————YES! 2 that started with me, stopped & are now running again
  8. increase the distance of my training runs (more than 3mi) at least once a week————– YES! 6-12 mi
  9. run at least 15 races———–YES! I ran 21 races
  10. run a 5k in another state (preferably Fla next fall)————–NO!!! but I signed up for a half in Florida in 2 weeks
  11. take more running pics—————— YES!  I took a photo at almost every race.
  12. keep track of how many miles I run this year————-YES! I counted  every run on this blog, dailymile.com & tickerfactory meter

SO 11 out of 12 ain’t bad!!!

And now my 2011 Running Goals:

  1. lower my 5K PR
  2. run 5ks under 28 minutes
  3. win my age group
  4. run new races
  5. run at least one race each month
  6. run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside)
  7. run a longer race than 5k (4 mi, 5 mi or 10K)
  8. run a half marathon race
  9. run at least 15 races
  10. run  a race in another state
  11. volunteer at a race
  12. take running pics & post on FB & this blog
  13. keep track of how many miles I run this year

I don’t think they are too ambitious… many are similar to last year’s…some are brand new.

Happy Running! Good Luck setting your goals!

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2010 Running in Review

                2009——-2010

  • Jan – 0 mi——38 mi
  • Feb – 0 mi——44 mi
  • Mar – 0 mi——53 mi
  • Apr – 12 mi—–47 mi
  • May – 19 mi—-53 mi
  • Jun – 12 mi—–55 mi
  • July – 23 mi—-54 mi
  • Aug – 33 mi—-45.5 mi
  • Sept – 33 mi—-59.5 mi
  • Oct – 31 mi—–68.5 mi
  • Nov – 17 mi—-66 mi
  • Dec – 29 mi—–95  mi
               209 mi —– 678.5 mi

    •  

    RACES

          2008—–2009—–2010

  • Jan – 0——0——-0
  • Feb – 0——0—— 0
  • Mar – 0 ——0——1
  • Apr – 1——-0—-  —1
  • May – 2——4——4
  • Jun – 1——–1——-3
  • July – 2——-0—–1
  • Aug – 1——–3——2
  • Sept – 3——-3——3
  • Oct – 3——–4——2
  • Nov – 0——-1——2
  • Dec – 0——-1——-2   

    •                 13——-17——21

    Yup, I’m running more!!!!! and I love it!

     
                     lst in AG

    Happy Running!  Happy New Year!

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    Brain Exchange #23 & Monday Goals

    This week’s question:  Write a poem (any kind works) that sums up your 2010 year of racing. 

    Answer:

    There once was a runner named Darlene
         Who at every 5k race could be seen.
                Then she started to wonder
         If at longer runs she would blunder.
                So she signed up for a 10k
         But that day she did not feel ok.
    Give up, she did not
    And PRed at a Turkey Trot.
    Now her goal for 2011:
    Run a Half at age 57!!

    Recap of  last week:
    My weekly goal was 22 miles. I did   22 miles! Yay!
    I ran a 5K. (under 30 minutes!)

    This week’s schedule:
    Mon – tennis
    Tues – tennis
    Thurs – off from work
    Fri – off from work, tennis, mah jongg
    Sat – Xmas in LG

    This week’s running:
    Wed – 4 miles  after work
    Thurs – 4 miles
    Fri – 4 miles 
    Sun – 11 miles

    Weekly Running Goal = 23 miles
    December Monthly Running Goal = 70 miles, a 5k race, half marathon training schedule

    Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it, New Goal is 600 and I passed it too!!!!)

    Happy Running!