March 21, 2014 by Darlene

Spring Time and Racing

It’s Spring (although it doesn’t feel or look like it) and time to fill up my racing calendar.

LoveRun Half Marathon in Philadelphia, PA

March 30, 2014

Delmar Dash in Delmar, NY

April 6, 2014

Bacon Hill 5k or 10k in Schuylerville, NY

April 12, 2014

Rabbit Ramble in Guilderland, NY

April 19, 2104

Cherry Blossom 5k in Niskayuna, NY

April 27, 2014

Spring Run Off 10k in Albany, NY

May 3, 2014

Mom’s Day 5K in Albany, NY

May 11. 2014

Freihofer’s Run for Women 5K in Albany, NY

May 31, 2014

Happy Running? Are you excited for Spring? What races do you have planned?

March 20, 2014 by Darlene

Racing Bucket List

I am lucky to have done some amazing things in my life. Check out my Reverse Bucket List. And only 3 out of 32 involve running.

So what is on my Racing Bucket List? (Since I started running almost 6 years ago, many of the items, I have already done but not ALL):

1. Run a 5k race. CHECK.

Freihofer’s 5K

2. Run a 10K race. CHECK .

Helper’s Fund 10K

3. Run a 15K race. CHECK.

Stockadeathon 15K

4. Run a HALF MARATHON. CHECK.

Naples Half Marathon

5. Run over a BRIDGE. CHECK.

Ringling Bros Bridge (Sarasota, FL)

6. Run along a LAKE. CHECK.

Lake George (Camp Chingachgook 10K)

7. Run a DESTINATION race. CHECK.

Mayor’s 10 miler in Palm Springs

8. Run along the OCEAN.

9. Run in another COUNTRY.

10. Run in CENTRAL PARK, NYC.

11. Run on a BEACH.

12. Run with a FAMILY member (my hubby or stepson.)

13. Run a POPULAR half marathon (more than 5,000 racers.)

What’s not on my Bucket List? (nothing is written in stone…)

Run a Marathon.
Run a Disney Race.
Run a fun race (color, neon. etc.)
Run a obstacle race.
Run a triathlon.
Run an ultra.
Run a trail race.
Run a (Ragnar) relay race.

Happy Running! What’s left on your Running Bucket List?

March 18, 2014 by Darlene

The Last Long One…13 days till 13 miles

longrun

I usually do my long runs on the weekend but this was a 12 miler and I ran a 4 mile race on Saturday.

I didn’t want to add on 8 miles on Saturday after the race nor did I want to run 12 miles on tired legs on Sunday.

I wanted to run 12 miles in one shot and at my slow half pace so….

So I took Monday morning off from work.

Yes, I took time off to run!!

I had to get up early and get it done because I could only take a half day off.

To save time, I ran from my house and I planned to repeat the course that I ran for my last 11 miler but add on a mile.

I got spoiled running on Saturday in 40 degree temps.

Yesterday morning it was in the single digits with the wind chill. Brrrrrrr!

I donned my winter apparel but still froze my face off when running into the wind.

At least it was sunny and there were no puddles on the sidewalks (just ice in rare spots.)

To get the extra 1/2 mile, I added a short detour and then stopped to buy water at the coffee shop (I hate to carry anything).

photo from last week

Guess what, they had NO bottled WATER!! They also had no mini cupcakes. I was tempted to buy a larger cupcake but no one offered to give an obviously thirsty runner a cup of water, so I changed my mind. (Remember how I stashed my water there last week but forgot it….it was still there, but frozen.)

I continued down the street and stopped at Stewarts. The water was cheaper and I took a Gu (and hid the water for the way back).

passed the clock again …less snow each week,

I turned around at 6 miles and headed back.

I did another detour that was different the first and stumbled upon what might be a park with trails?

I also remembered to drink my water.

Although my pace for this run was a little better than last week’s, the first half was a lot faster than the second (the reverse of last week.) It was still slow but as I know from past experiences, my race pace is always better than my training runs.

experimenting with compression sleeves (left leg) instead of socks…$9.99 at Marshalls

I had to rush to get to work…no time to stop at Stewarts to get my $.50 ice cream cone for St. Paddy’s Day (Maybe later. 12 miles…I earned it!!)

Happy Running! Have you ever taken time off from work to run?

March 16, 2014 by Darlene

One Year Ago and Two Weeks To Go

I’m the one in front in blue

ONE YEAR AGO, I was in Sarasota, FL nervously wondering if I could run 13.1 miles after serious ankle surgery and then a foot stress fracture.

AND I DID IT!!

It made me believe that I was invincible!!!

This Strong Running Mama also attempted another half marathon. This time after a broken foot.

Of course, though I only have some minor aches and pains (foot & hip), I don’t feel confident in my ability to run 13.1 miles in TWO WEEKS!

Yes, I will finish (even if I have to crawl.) But the competitive me wants to PR. And my training runs don’t seem to indicate that it’s a possibility.

Nevertheless, I am super excited about this race. I am running with 4 others (2 that I know & 2 that I don’t). I leave Friday evening and come back Sunday night. It should be a fun quick getaway weekend.

Happy Running! How do you deal with the pressure of a big race?

March 4, 2014 by Darlene

February Rewind

FEBRUARY GOALS:

RUN at least 3-4 times each week. YES! (though there were more 3 times than 4 times.)

around the park

around my town

around work

Start back at planks (Do it at least once per week.) YES, several times a week (1 minute before getting in the shower in the am)
Take the stairs at work rather than the elevator. Yes, most of the time.
Finish knitting another pair of socks. No but I finished one sock of the pair.

Continue to run some of my long runs with others. NO. Hard to coordinate so I have done them solo.
Run while on my mini-vacation to Florida. YES!

Feb 27

Feb 28

Run at least one race. Yes, 2 races!

Feb 1

Feb 2

Continue running longer on the weekends to train for my March half marathon. YES! Every weekend.

10 miles on the Nisky bike path

10 miles on the Corning bike path

Run at least 75 miles this month. YES! 82 miles!

feb14miles

Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy. YES!

MARCH GOALS:

RUN at least 3-4 times each week.
Continue planks (Do it at least once per week.)
Finish knitting that pair of socks.
Spend some time with my mentee, Amanda. (I haven’t seen her since Christmas)
Run a 5k race under 30 minutes!
Run a 4 mile race under 40 minutes!
Continue running longer on the weekends to train for my half marathon.
Complete my 8th Half Marathon.
Run at least 80 miles this month.
Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy.

Happy Running! How was your February? Anything different planned for March?

February 20, 2014 by Darlene

My Next Half Marathon?

I haven’t even run my March Half Marathon and I am planning more.

So many to choose from.

I have decided that running a half marathon is HARD and I want it to be special so I am NOT going to run the same one more than once.

That’s makes my choice a little easier.

I will not run the Lake George (in April) or the Adirondack (in Sept) or the Fall Foliage or Mohawk Hudson (in Oct) again. Tough decision because they are all local.

There are a few more that are nearby:

not this year – too close to the March half

would love love to do this one- it is in my town but I am away on vacation on this weekend every year

will it be too hot to train for & to run??

Sept 27, 2014 – a possibility but it would mean summer training

As you can see I have not decided.

Maybe a destination half marathon in the fall?

NYC? California? Florida??????

Happy Running! Do you repeat big races?

February 1, 2014 by Darlene

January Update

JANUARY GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!! Yes!
Do not overdo and listen to my body! Yes!
Attend at least 2 yoga classes! Nope.
Walk or run at least 1 mile a day while at work. Some days but not every.
Cut back on the sweets and eating out now that the holidays are over. I think so (except for in California.)
Run before work at least once a week. Nope.
Continue to run some of my long runs with others. I did once.

8 miles with Adrienne

Complete my first 10 mile race. YES!!!!

1:49:55 and 3rd in my AG

Run at least one other race. Yes!

Continue running longer on the weekends (to train for January 10 miler and March half marathon) Yes! Ran at least 8 miles each weekend.

Run at least 70 miles this month. Yes! 78!

January 2014

Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy. Yes!!

What else?

I spent New Year’s Day on Lake George.

cruise with my hubby & friends

I went to NYC for a day.

to the NY Boat show & other holiday sites (with my hubby)

I visited La Quinta, CA to see my friend Mary.

at Indian Wells Tennis Garden

I went to an Ice Bar in Lake George.

I read many good books including Wild, Eleven Minutes, the Alchemist, Gold, My Husband’s Secret…
I played tennis at least once or twice each week and went out to dinner with some of the tennis ladies (that I don’t get to play with regularly.)

I finally finished knitting this pair of socks!

FEBRUARY GOALS:

RUN at least 3-4 times each week.
Start back at planks (Do it at least once per week.)
Take the stairs at work rather than the elevator.
Finish knitting another pair of socks.
Continue to run some of my long runs with others.
Run while on my mini-vacation to Florida.
Run at least one race.
Continue running longer on the weekends to train for my March half marathon.
Run at least 75 miles this month.
Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy.

Happy Running! How was your January? Anything different planned for February?

January 31, 2014 by Darlene

Half Marathon Training

I am usually so anal about training that I would normally be posting about my progress week to week.

This has been my typical training plan for my previous half marathons:

However, the last 2 half marathons that I ran came after injuries so just finishing was the goal.

Well, this is where I am on the plan for Half Marathon #8:

1-3

So I am currently on week 4 but you can see that my long runs did not start at 3 this time.

Since my last half marathon in October, I have continued long runs of 6-8 miles. This was basically due to the fact that I wanted to be prepared for a 10 mile race on Jan 11.

I guess the rest of the plan may look something like this:

4-12

Hopefully having more long runs will make a difference in my final results at the race on 3/30/14.

I want to PR but I want to remain healthy. The 2nd being more important.

PR???

Happy Running! Do you follow a strict plan when you train for a big race?

January 24, 2014 by Darlene

Reverse Bucket List

I saw this on Age Groups Rock and loved it and decided to do my own.

As she explains:

Essentially, it’s a list of all the wonderful things you’ve already done. Not the ones you WANT to do.

It isn’t supposed to be a brag or a “look at me and the special things I’ve done” list. It’s just a bit of reflection and an attempt to stay focused on the positives. Sometimes, we fall short of our own expectations, or we see others who’ve far exceeded the expectations we set for ourselves. For a second, we can forget how awesome we are.

Accomplishments are something to be proud of but they do not determine your value. A Reverse Bucket List should make you feel motivated and inspired to be the person you want to be.

So here I go:

1. Spent my junior year of college in France studying French at the Universite de Nice. (I switched from being a Math major to a French major so I could do this.)

2. Went skiing in the Alps (during my junior year abroad). It was my first time skiing EVER.

3. Rode a jet ski in the Caribbean (on my honeymoon)

4. Went snorkeling off the coast of the Virgin Islands (also on my honeymoon.)

5. Went to a rain forest in Puerto Rico.

6. Saw the Wailing Wall in Israel.

7. Saw the Acropolis in Greece.

8. Visited Monet’s gardens in Giverny, France. (Monet is one of my favorite painters.)

9. Went to the top of Mont Blanc.

10. Went to a Mets baseball game (at Shea stadium, Expo Stadium and Wrigley Field)

11. Saw the Mona Lisa, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, etc. in Paris. (I went many times with students, with my SIL but my favorite time was the one by myself on the way to visit my friend in Holland.)

12. I won a Teacher of the Year award while teaching French.

I taught French here for 22 years.

13. Went white water rafting in Jackson Hole, WY.

14. Saw a geyser in Yellowstone National Park.

Old Faithful – Aug. 2003

15. Visited the Grand Canyon, Zion Canyon and Bryce Canyon.

Bryce Canyon – Sept. 2004

16. Went to Russia 3 times and stayed with a wonderful girl, Anna (whom I am still in contact with).

Family dinner in Kursk – Apr. 2006

17. Saw Billy Joel and Elton John perform in concert.

18. Competed in USTA Nationals (in Palm Springs).

Our 2.5 team – Oct. 2002

19. Started taking annual girl trips (to Naples and other places.) We’ve taken 17 trips together already.

Naples, FL – May, 2010

20. Watched many famous tennis players play at the US Open.

Kim Cljsters – 2009 (the year she won)

21. Starting running at age 55 – the best decision I ever made.

Freihofer’s 5K – June, 2008
(with my 2 friends that started me running)

22. Ran 7 Half Marathons.

my first – Jan. 2011

23. Ran several destinations race (2 in California & 2 in Florida.)

10 Mile race in Palm Springs – Jan 2014

24. Climbed to the top of several lighthouses. (I love the ocean & lighthouses.)

Ponce Inlet, FL (Jan 2013)

25. Went back to school and switched careers from French to Technology. (Never got burnt out as a teacher. Love all things techie so it is perfect.)

at a technology conference with Heike, one of the many techies
that I connected with through the past 15 years

26. Got matched with Amanda through a Mentors & Moms program. (So now I have a pseudo daughter & 2 grandsons.)

with Richard (7), Amanda (23) & Matthew(2)
– Dec. 2013

27. Took a carriage ride through Central Park

with friends – Dec. 2013

28. Learned to quilt (I have completed many full-size quilts.)

this one I made for a friend’s grandson

29. Learned to knit. ( I have only knitted socks & hats so far.)

30. Have seen the sunrise over the Atlantic ocean

Daytona Beach – Jan. 2013

31. Have seen the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico

Naples – Nov. 2010

32. Learned to play mah jongg.

closed $.50 hand (only one hand that is better)

It is amazing how many things that I am proud that I have accomplished in my lifetime so far.

I feel very fortunate that when I was younger I did a fair amount of traveling that financially I cannot do now. (If I win the lottery I will do more.)

Happy Running! What items are on your “Reverse Bucket List”?