“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!
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:
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):
Happy Running! Sign up for some races!!!
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!
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!
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!!!
Happy Running!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
My First 5K and More... 
