Half Marathon

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The (2) Cupcake Long Run

 Enough already! It’s April 8!!

But I can see shorts in my future 🙂

Although it was in the 40s and cloudy today, I was determined to wear shorts and I did!

I took the day off from work to do my long run – the sign of a real “runner.”

I decided to the take the same route as my last run of 11 miles but continue on to the golf course for another 1/2 mile and run back home. I grabbed some Gu and a coupon for a FREE cupcake  in a new bakery that just happened to be on my route (Just a coincidence!!)

I wanted to simulate my half marathon pace which was to run without stopping except at the 2 mile water stops. I did that for the first 2 miles but then I had to stop periodically to avoid getting hit by cars crossing the street and then at 4 1/2 miles, there was the new bakery!!

I went in and got my free cupcake (vanilla with buttercream frosting and sprinkles – delish!) and a bottle of water. I ate the cupcake & drank half the water & stashed it for the way back.

It was supposed to be sunny but the sun never came out.  It was a good thing because I would have been warm.

I ran to the golf course.  It was closed because it was bought over by new owners.  They were cleaning it up and a TV station was there interviewing the new owners.  I may be on TV running by in the background.

I headed back to pick up my water by the Cupcake Shop.  You know the rest of the story.  I bought cupcake #2 – this time a lemon one with raspberry filling – even better than the first.

I would have bought a box if I could carry them!

 Cupcake fuel was even better than GU. Too bad they’re don’t have them during races and that they’re too messy to carry in your pocket!

As usual, my pace was pretty slow but as always I try to finish up strong.  And I did … My time was 2:19 – nothing to write home about but my 12 mile training run before my first and only half was 2:22.

Done at last!

Hopefully my legs hold up for my 5 mile race on Sunday!!

If you’re on Facebook, check out Women’s Running Magazine.  I am today’s “GODDESS.”

 

Happy Running! Have a great weekend!

 

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Wednesday Words of Wisdom

“The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy…It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed.” – – Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ

I will try to remember this when I run on April 23 —

Happy Running!

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Virtual and Non-Virtual Races – Gotta Love Em!

Virtual Races

I love to compete in Virtual Races.  They are FREE!  It is motivating because once you sign up, you feel like you are accountable to run that distance. There is no pressure.  It doesn’t matter what your finishing time is.  You can fit it in whenever you have time. You discover NEW blogs.  And sometimes you can win a random prize just for entering. Below are two Virtual Races coming up:

 

CantaffordVM

Non – Virtual Races

I love to compete in Non Virtual Races even more.  They are not free but most of the entrance fees do go to charity and you get a teeshirt.  It is motivating because once you sign up, you feel like you have to TRAIN to run that distance. There is  pressure.  But that’s a good thing.   Under pressure is when I do my best running. They are scheduled so you have to organize your life and rearrange things. You meet other runners. You feel like you are part of a community that shares the same interest – racing.  And sometimes you can  even win some bling.  Below are some of the Non Virtual Races that I may run (the purple ones are definites):

  • 4-10-11 Delmar Dash 5mi
  • 4-23-11 Lake George  Half Marathon
  • 4-30-11 Great Mom’s 5-K Fun Run or YMCA 5k or St. John’s/St. Ann’s Center Spring Run-Off 5k/10k or Brink 5k  or 5-01-11 Sean’s Run 5k or Literacy 5k ??
  • 5-08-11 Mother’s Day Race (3.5 mi)
  • 5-19-11  CDPHP Workforce Challenge 3.5
  •  5-22-11 SPAC 5K Rock & Run
  •  6-4-11 Freihofer’s Run for Women
  •  6-11-11 Kinderhook Bank OK 5K
  •  6-27-11 35th Annual Adirondack Distance run (10Mi)???
  • 7-23-11 Silks & Satins 5k
  •  Fasig Tipton 5k –
  • 8-13-11  Jailhouse Rock 5K
  • 8-20-11 – New Visions 5K
  • 9-10-11 Capital Region Special Surgery Race for Hope 5K
  • 9-15-11 -Schenectady Arc 5k or Get Your Rear in Gear 5k
  • 9-23-11 Arensal City 5K   ??
  • 9-25-11 Adirondack Half Marathon
  • 10-01-11 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 
  • Falling Leaves 5K
  • 10-22-11 Great Pumpkin Challenge 10k
  • 11-11-11 Valatie Veteran’s Run
  • 11-24-11 Bethlehem Towne Turkey Trot 
  • 12-03-11 Jingle Bell Run
  • 12-17-11  Albany Last Run

    • Happy Running! Sign up for some races!!!

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    Brain Exchange #32 & Goals for the Week

     

    Finishing is Winning‘s Brain Exchange:

    This Week’s Topic:  Building Mileage

    This Week’s Question:  Regardless of the distance you train for, or whether it be road racing or triathlon, training is time consuming.  What are your tricks for fitting all your training into your schedule?  How do you balance family, friends, work and training?

    Balance is the hardest part of running, especially if you are training for a long race. I have to fit in tennis contracts, tennis matches, yoga, work, appts, mah jongg, my mentee, my friends, and my hubby.

     I plan all my running for the week on Monday. I post my running schedule on my blog. It keep me accountable.

    I arrange my running around my life and my life around my running.

    So far, I have luckily been able to do it all.

    However, you have to be realistic and flexible.  So sometimes, the running part gets cut short because other things are more important.

    Last week update:

    My goal was 24 miles and I ran 5 times for a total of  24  miles. YAY!!
    I played tennis once  and did Yoga once.
    This was Week #9 of my 2nd Half Marathon training.  3 weeks to go!

    Goals for this week:

    This week’s schedule:

    Mon – dentist
    Wed – yoga
    Thurs – meet bf at the mall
    Fri –  OFF from Work, mah jongg

    This week’s running:

    Tues – 4 miles after work
    Wed – 3  miles after work
    Fri – 12  miles
    Sun –  Delmar Dash 5 mile race 

     
    Weekly Running Goal = 24 miles 
    April Monthly Running Goal = 80 miles, a race, a Half Marathon

    Yearly Running Goal = 1011 miles

    Happy Running!

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    How to get Motivated for a Half Marathon?

    How do I get motivated? 3 weeks to go!!

     Most people just go out and run more often or run longer.

    Not me! I get pysched by planning my running outfit!

    first half marathon outfit

    That was my first skirt and I loved racing in it. I liked the pockets to carry my phone, camera, gu but my hubby said it made my hips look HUGE!  I will wear my ASICS shoes again and the Compression Socks! Why ruin a good thing?

    So here’s what I have:

    running skirt

    shirt if it's warm

    shirt if it's cool

    a black Spi Belt (to carry my phone, camera, gu)
    and a black baseball cap or visor.

    What do you think?

    Oh and the hair thing:

    before

    After

    Happy Running!

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    One Month From Today

    Is this when I start to wonder why I signed up?

    Do I really want to do another?

    My first one was such as great experience.  Shouldn’t I just savor it?

    Who wants to run up and down the rolling hills of 9N?

    Maybe I should work on my 5K speed? There are a lot of those races coming up!

    Ok, enough whining!!!

    I’ll do it…one month of training left until I run along Lake George! I will do it! I will have fun!!!

    Lake George 3

    Happy Running!

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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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    Two (Half Marathons) for Tuesday

    1. I finally registered for the Lake George Half Marathon yesterday that I have been training for for the past 6 weeks…(it’s on April 23)
    2. I haven’t run my 2nd half yet and I signed up for a 3rd Half Marathon (Adirondack Half Marathon)- it’s on September 25, 2011 and it goes half way around Schroon Lake. (The Half Marathon will begin at the 13.1 mile marker and will end at the Full Marathon Finish Line. The runners will run on the easier section of the marathon course.  The first five to six miles are flat; then there are long, gentle hills on Route 9. Time to complete this race will be 5 hours.)

    Am I nuts? Have I been possessed by the Ides of March?

    At least I will have 2 months off before training for my 3rd half marathon. I will have to change my long runs to Thursdays after work to accommodate the boating season of July & August and I will be able still fit in my Sat 5k races. Yay!!!

    (On another note – I haven’t run in 3 days!!! I am recovering from Daylight Savings Time and playing tennis 3 days in a row. Running begins tomorrow or else!!!)

    Happy Running!

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    Three Things Thursday

    1. I hate the cold.
    2. I hate the ice.
    3. I hate the wind.

    Now that that’s clear.  I need to decide if I am running the half on Apr 23, sign up and increase my weekly mileage.

    Monday, I didn’t feel like getting up early but played tennis after work. No miles!
    Tuesday, I ran 3 miles outside before work dancing over the ice patches and played tennis after work.
    Wednesday, I didn’t feel like getting up early but planned to run after work.

    BUT I couldn’t move forward, the wind was so strong.  I went to yoga instead. No miles!

    The yoga class was GREAT!! I felt so good afterwards but when I back out to my car (parked by the curb on a 4 lane street), someone had knocked the side mirror off my car!!!! My hubby took it for an estimate – almost $600 to fix.  Ouch!

    Today when I got up, it was -4 with the wind chill and there was a light coating of snow on the ground.  Off to the gym I went to run 4 miles on the treadmill.

    To make matters worse, they predict rain for  the weekend (My long run of 9 miles is scheduled!!) I think I’d rather be cold than wet for hours 😦  HELP!!

    Happy Running!

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    R.I.P. Little Plane

    at the airport in Mechanicville, NY

    It’s been a tough winter!  And it just got tougher!  My hubby’s plane got destroyed.  The snow & ice on top of the hangar got to be too much and it collapsed and crushed the plane…no insurance either 😦

    We got it 12 years ago and until we started boating on Lake George we used it a lot!  And had a lot of fun!

    landing on Lake Champlain

    on Saratoga Lake

    flying over the Hudson River

    So it could be worse as my hubby said: “It could have been destroyed while I was flying in it!” But I know he is feeling a lot of pain.

    While he went to his mother’s who consoled him with eggplant parm, I went out for a long run.

    It was my first since the half marathon – 7.25 miles!! The weather warmed up a little – 25 degrees (but felt colder when the breeze picked up.)  I followed my long run route but couldn’t run on the sidewalks (since no one shovels) and had to stop repeatedly when the road got too narrow & cars were coming at me.  I discovered a hilly detour around a park & golf course which was pretty.

    I can’t say it was painless.  My feet continue to start to hurt after 5 miles (first left then right) and I even got my first blister ever. 

    Then I spent my pre-Valentine’s Day evening with my mentee – dinner & a movie – it was nice to hang out together.

    Happy Running & Happy Valentine’s Day!