October 1, 2013 by Darlene

September Recap

Wow, September has come and gone very quickly. The good news is that I am still healthy and running 🙂

SEPTEMBER GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!! YES, several times a week.

did some short ones in this park

and some long ones here

Do not overdo and listen to my body…REST when necessary!! YES. At least 2 rest days each week.

the month started like this

and ended sitting here

Play TENNIS! YES, I have played 4 times.
Start planks! 😦
Attend a yoga class! 😦
Decide if I am going to run the Oct 13 half marathon. YES, I am doing it (but will do it slow.)
Run a race. YES, 2 – 5Ks and a 10K.

Malta 5K

Helper’s Fund 10K

Race for Hope 5K

Register for some fall races. YES, at least one for Oct, Nov and Dec.

a new one on Oct 19. in lake George

Run at least 60 miles this month. YES. 79 miles!!!

September 2013

Beside spending at least one day on the lake each weekend, I also had my last visit to Schroon River. This time to play mah jongg.

hiking at boating on Lake George

october-month-halloween

OCTOBER GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!!
Do not overdo and listen to my body…REST when necessary!!
Start planks!
Attend a yoga class!
Complete a half marathon.
Run at least 2 other races.
Continue running longer on the weekend.
Run at least 50 miles this month (it’s lower because HM training will be ending.)

Happy Running! How was your September? Anything exciting planned for October?

September 30, 2013 by Darlene

Hardest Long Run Ever

Because my weekend was so busy, I took today off from work to get in my last long run.

Little did I know that I would be SICK!!

I got little sleep last night – headache, sore throat, congested… the cold medicine did zilch!

So I woke up feeling like I got hit by a freight train. I really wanted to stay in bed not run.

What would any runner do…

Get out of bed and get ready to run.

The weather was the motivator – it was warm and sunny! I was hoping it would make me feel better.

I decided to go to the Nisky Bike Path – it’s flat and scenic, there are restrooms, bikers & runners… a great place to do a long run.

I had some water and a gel and set out for 4 miles and then looped back to my car for more water. I did bring a gel with me (and lots of tissues.)

It was warmer than I thought and I felt worse that I thought. So I just trudged along…running…walking…running.

I really wished I had brought water. The good news is that nothing hurt. I just had no energy…my back ached..my legs ached…worse than any half marathon I ever have run.

After 8 miles, I refueled at my car and then headed 2 miles in the other direction and then turned around.

I got the 12 miles done! I didn’t die! My time was slower than most of my halfs.

I’m not going to get too depressed. I attribute my disastrous performance to the heat, not enough hydration, most of all my cold.

yes, please

If I could drag myself through 12 miles today, I guess I can drag myself through 1.1 more! (Hopefully it won’t feel this bad in 2 weeks!!)

Happy Running! Have you ever experienced a terrible long training run?

September 20, 2013 by Darlene

My Fall Race Schedule

6469844-cartoon-of-a-woman-reaching-the-finish-line-in-a-running-event

I love racing.

September:

Sept 7

Sept 28, 2013 (that’s me with my mouth open LOL)

October:

5K
Oct 5

13.1
Oct 13

Oct 19 in Lake George

November:

15K
Nov 10

5K
Thanksgiving Day

December:

Dec 14

There may be even more…

Happy Running! Are you racing a lot in the fall?

September 12, 2013 by Darlene

TTT

Ugh! A five day week.

It is the first time I have worked a full week in awhile.

I didn’t defer my Oct 13 half marathon. That just means that I didn’t pay the $25. I still may run/walk it or if the weather is lousy, skip it and maybe even sign up again next year. Who knows… The jury is still out.
Tennis wasn’t so bad. I played on Monday with some friends (at my level). I wasn’t awesome but I didn’t suck. (4-6, 4-6, 2-0) Tuesday I played with women that were at a higher level. I played a little better (8-6, 3-3)
Crazy weather..how’s a girl to dress or run?

On Wed, I ran before work to avoid the heat & humidity (& possible thunderstorms). I did the same today.

Happy Running! Are you having crazy weather as well?

September 6, 2013 by Darlene

D-Day

Oct. 13, 2013

Tomorrow is the deadline to defer my registration for the above half marathon until next year.

I can’t decide what to do. I keep going back and forth. I have 3 choices. (see below.)

I am definitely NOT IN SHAPE to run 13.1 miles.

YES, JUST DO IT

just walk most of it … they’ll be other walkers
you have your SRM shirt to wear
you will be depressed if you don’t
you will get a medal anyway as long as you finish
you’ll be more motivated to do longer runs on the weekends in the coming weeks
you will save $25 (that you can use to register for another race)
you will be among the marathon finishers so you won’t be alone
you already paid $60
5 hours vs 2.5 hours – more for your buck
if the weather is nice, it’s a beautiful course
you can always sign up next year and train better
Carpe Diem…who knows what injuries next year will bring?

after run/walking the Adirondack HM – Sept 2011 (2:45 finish)

NO, SKIP IT

run another race that weekend
go boating or for a hike that day
you will save $25 (that you can use to register for another race)
won’t have to stress in the coming weeks about long runs & can do some shorter races instead
you can still get the race shirt
you won’t be embarrassed by your slow time
who wants to spend 5 hours walking…
you can always sign up next year and train better

last weekend for running & boating on Lake George
(our marina closes Oct 15)

NO, DEFER IT

It’s only $25?? you already spent $60
run another race that weekend
go boating or for a hike that day
won’t have to stress in the coming weeks about long runs & can do some shorter races instead
you won’t be embarrassed by your slow time
you can train properly next summer
you can even try for a PR next year

maybe beat my time from the rainy hilly Lake George HM

Happy Running! Ever have this dilemma? What would you do?

September 1, 2013 by Darlene

Where Has the Summer Gone?

I cannot believe that it is September already!!

Well, August wasn’t the best but it wasn’t the worst.

AUGUST GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!! Yes, I guess. I ran several times each week.

several runs after work in this park

Do not overdo and listen to my body…REST when necessary!! YES!!

plenty of resting on the lake

Play TENNIS! Only once.

Start planks! Only once 😦
Attend a yoga class! Nope!
Start training for the Oct 13 half marathon. Not sure if I am doing it yet.

did get a long run of 6 miles done here

Run a race. Nope!
Run at least 50 miles this month. YES!!

happy to be running although I am walking more than running some days.

So my running goals were not met. I feel bad about that. But I am not injured and I have run some. I did get back on the bike paths that I love.

Nisky Bike Path

Colonie Town Park Bike Path

I have spent lots of time with my hubby on our boat and also socializing with friends.

boating on Lake George

day at the US Open

more boating

Now what to shoot for in September? Well, they will look very similar…

SEPTEMBER GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!!
Do not overdo and listen to my body…REST when necessary!!
Play TENNIS!
Start planks!
Attend a yoga class!
Decide if I am going to run the Oct 13 half marathon.
Run a race.
Register for some fall races.
Run at least 60 miles this month

Happy Running! How was your August? Anything exciting planned for September?

August 13, 2013 by Darlene

Am I Training?

Last Week:

Monday – another day off – breakfast at the race track and then back to the lake

Tuesday – 3 miles after work in the park

Wednesday – ~~rest – walk – yoga?~~ 2 miles on the track

Thursday – ~~3 miles~~ rest
Friday – rest ~~– walk~~
Saturday – 5 miles on the bike path

Sunday – rest ~~– walk~~ floating around the lake

This Week:

Monday – 4 miles after work
Tuesday – walk or tennis?
Wednesday – 3 miles after work and/or yoga?
Thursday – 3 miles after work
Friday – rest – walk
Saturday – proctor MPREs, 6 miles, lake, river
Sunday – tennis, friends at the river

Back to the question- AM I TRAINING?

I really haven’t decided.

My friend remarked that I am “very Zen.” This what I posted on Facebook:

I have realized a few things: injuries are a part of life, recovery gets more difficult with each one but you just keep moving even if it is at a slower pace.

That being said, my runs are VERY VERY SLOW! My fitness level is zilch. My motivation is lacking. But I keep plodding along. I will not quit because starting over is so painful.

Some days I say: I WILL RUN 13.1 MILES on OCTOBER 13 if it kills me.

Other days, I say: Who needs the pressure of having to do long runs each week. I have run 6 half marathons. I have proved to myself that I can. My friends are already impressed. I will just run for fun and compete in 5Ks.

Right now, I am keeping things open.

The answer is — I AM SORTA TRAINING. SORTA MAYBE. MAYBE NOT.

Happy Running! Are you training?

July 22, 2013 by Darlene

The Plan

Of course, it is not the original plan.

PLAN A:

I was NOT supposed to get injured.

I was supposed to have run a 10 mile race a month ago and a 15K this weekend NOT be starting over.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TRAINING FOR A PR!!

PLAN B:

7 weeks after breaking my foot, I would have to be running 3 miles comfortably to start this plan today.

I am not!

12 week plan – the plan I used for my last injury recovering half marathon

PLAN C:

This one would start on Aug. 19 with 2 miles.

With any luck, I can follow Plan C. (I am not sold on an 8 week plan especially after an injury so there is still a chance I will not do the race.)

But if I decide to do it, I will do what I can. I will walk when I have to.

It may be my slowest time yet but I WILL FINISH!

Happy Running! Any advice on training for a half marathon after injury?

July 19, 2013 by Darlene

Listen to Orville Rogers and Strive to be Above Average

Orville Rogers’ 5 Rules for Running Forever

As far as training goes, listen to your body. Don’t go too fast or too far.
When you’re upping your training, increase your speed or distance, not both. If you overtrain, you risk your next competition.
Look at the records and then make a goal for yourself that you think you can do.
Visualize, and when you visualize, picture yourself breaking those records.
Never give up.

Oh yeah—and stretch.

at age 95, he has set 7 world age group records this year

Read the complete article here.

I agree with his advice especially #1 & #2 (except that I forget to stretch).

1. It is really important when injured to know when to run, how fast, how far and how often. That means listening to your body and knowing when aches & pains are serious or just part of life. It means being patient… (I am not good at this!!)

2. I usually concentrate on distance. Being older, I need to build up my stamina and fitness level. I need to be careful about overdoing. I used to worry about speed when I only ran 5ks. I also did more speed workouts when I was injury-free. Now I seem to always be coming back and I am glad to be running.

2011 stats from http://www.runningusa.org

3. My goals in the past have been PR or win a Age Group award. Again when you are constantly in recovery mode, PRing is NOT realistic. So a realistic goal may be to be ABOVE AVERAGE. It seems that I am way above average with regards to “AGE” and I am usually above average in my 5K time. So my new goal is to be above average in my 10k and half marathon times.

and I NEVER GIVE UP!!!!

Happy Running! Do you have any other running advice? Are you “Above Average?”

July 12, 2013 by Darlene

My Next Half?

Well, this would work.

Oct 13, 2013

I registered for this half marathon even before I ran the Sarasota Half in March…even before I knew than I could ever run 13.1 miles again. (It always sells out right away.)

The race is local. Last year I watched with a stress fracture and vowed to run it this year.

The course is also where I do my long runs.