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”?

January 16, 2014 by Darlene

Throwback Thursday

3 YEARS AGO TODAY I RAN MY FIRST HALF MARATHON!

2011

15 YEARS TODAY AGO I MARRIED MY HUBBY!

20013

2003

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, LOU!

January 16, 1999

Happy Running!

January 4, 2014 by Darlene

Long Runs

I found this on Pinterest and thought it appropriate to post here:

Long Runs…
….at times, a confidence booster,
and other times
…..an ego crusher

….show you how far you’ve come,
or how much farther you need to go
….a chance for mental cleansing,
or a time for “chatter brain” to be unleashed

….time to connect with running buddies,
or much needed “me” time
….done just as the sun is rising,
or chasing the sun to bed
….allow you to shed all the roles you wear in life,
except for one
….Runner

last summer

last Saturday

Happy Running! How would you describe your long runs?

January 3, 2014 by Darlene

Foto Friday

There’s no better way to look back on the good things that happened than by looking through your blog photos.

So here’s a month by month look at the highlights of 2013:

January:

running over a bridge while on vacation in Daytona Beach, Florida

February:

winning an AG award with AJH at the Polar Cap 4 mile race

March:

finishing the First Watch Half Marathon in Sarasota, FL.

April:

running Sean’s Run 5K with Mary

May:

running the Mother’s Day 5K with my tennis buddy, MaryPat and winning lst place in my new AG.

June:

not a good month but this was taken BEFORE the Freihofer’s Run for Women (the race where I broke my foot)

July:

recovered enough to complete the Biggest Loser 5K

August:

no races this month but several trips to scenic Chestertown to play tennis and run

September:

winning an AG award at the Helper’s Fund 10k where I met a new running partner, Heidi

October:

finishing the Mohawk Hudson River Half Marathon and seeing a lot of familiar faces

November:

running the Stockade-athon 15K

December:

running the Last Run 5k in a snowstorm (just for fun)

It was definitely hard to choose just one memory from each month. I feel very fortunate.

Happy Running! What were some of your highlights of 2013?

January 2, 2014 by Darlene

2014 Running Goals

14 Goals for 2014:

Do not get injured.
Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR.
Continue fitting in tennis and/or yoga once a week.
Finish most of my 5K races under 30 minutes.
Run at least one race per month and at least 20 for the year.
Run a race in another state or even a NEW state.
Run at least 10 NEW races.
Run in NYC.
Get an Age Group award.
Run a 10 mile race.
Run at least one half marathon.
PR in a half marathon.
Run over 800 miles.
Continue to blog almost everyday.

I think my goals are pretty conservative. I think they are ALL achievable.

The toughest will be #12. The most important will be #1. If #1 happens, then #3 and #13 can follow.

Happy Running. Happy New Year! What is your biggest goal for 2014?

January 1, 2014 by Darlene

2013 is in the books…

I must say that things were looking up until June 1 and then I broke my foot. I started getting back on track in August and the year ended pretty well.

Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside)- YES, except for June & July.

even ran 3 times while on vacation in May

Continue fitting in tennis and yoga at least once a week (as cross-training) – YES, until June 1. I started tennis again in Sept. I didn’t start yoga again until late Oct.

Finish my 5K races under 30 minutes and not stress about a PR (though getting one would be super!) – YES. Sure I stressed but finished Ice Breaker, Lake George, Mother’s Day, and Freihofer’s – all under 30 min. Post broken foot, I finished the Malta 5K, Race for the Cure, Delmar Turkey Trot and Stuff the Sleigh under 30. NO PR this year!! (I think my 5K PR days are over.)

Ice breaker 5k – 28:47

Get an Age Group award (in May I will be entering a new AG!!) – YES. 3rd at the Polar Cap 4m, in the correct AG I finished 1st at Lake George 5K and 1st in my new AG at the Mother’s Day 5K, 2nd in the Biggest Loser 5K & Helper’s Fund 10k, and 1st in the Race for Hope 5K, the Monster Scramble 10K and Stuff the Sleigh 5K. Getting older rocks!

Polar Cap 4m – 3rd in 50-59

Lake George 5K – 1st in 50-59

Mother’s Day 5K – 1st in 60-69

Helper’s Fund 10K – 2nd in 60-69

Race for Hope 5K – 1st in 60-69

Monster Scramble 10K – 1st in 60-69

Stuff the Sleigh 5k – 1st in 50+

PR in a 10K race (I have only one injured 10K under my belt.) – YES, both of my 10ks were faster. My PR was at the Helper’s Fund.

Helper’s Fund 10k

Run a 10 mile race (the one from Lake George to Bolton Landing is on my bucket List) – NO (broke my foot). I hope to run my first in January.
Run at least one half marathon (a spring and/or a fall one) – YES, I ran 2 – the Sarasota Half Marathon in March and the Mohawk Hudson in October.

Sarasota Half Marathon 3/17/13

Mohawk Hudson River Half Marathon – 10/13/13

Run at least 12 races (one per month, if possible) – YES, 22 total races – at least one per month except for August (when I decided to cautiously recover from my broken foot.)

at least I am smiling! (J. Berkeley photo)

one of 3 April races

one of 3 September races

one of 3 November races

Run a race in another state – YES, I ran in Florida and Vermont.

Florida racing

Register for The Biggest Loser RunWalk at www.biggestloser.com/runwalk

running in Vermont

Run a NEW race (hopefully one in NYC) – YES, 11 out of 22 were new ones – Hmrrc #3 & #5, Sarasota Half, Ice Breaker 5K, Lake George 5K, Mother’s Day 5k, Biggest Loser 5k, Helper’s Fund 10K, Mohawk Hudson Half, Monster Scramble 10K and Stuff the Sleigh 5k. (NYC hopefully next year)

Mother’s Day 5K in Schenectady

The Biggest Loser RunWalk (including a ride on a chair lift)

Listen to my body and slow down when necessary (In other words, do not get injured…) – YES. I broke my foot but I cannot blame overuse on that one.
Continue blogging regularly (to keep track of miles, as a motivator, to meet new runners…) – YES!

So I think I did pretty well during my 10 healthy months.