July 26, 2013 by Darlene

Next “Race”

If I can call this one a “race.” I may have to call it a WALK.

When at least, they transferred my registration from the 15K to the 5K.

Exciting! The Biggest Loser RunWalk Killington 5K/15K courses each have a twist! Participants run/walk down the mountain, then take the ski lift back up and continue along with breathtaking views of Killington Peak, the second highest peak in Vermont. The 5K course goes through beautiful downtown Killington while the 15K route, great for someone’s first 15K, travels along rustic wooded roads with stunning views of the Green Mountains. Afterwards kick back with family and friends and celebrate at the post-race concert featuring former “Biggest Loser” contestant and Nashville recording artist, Dan Evans at Killington Resort’s Roaring Brook Umbrella Bar, or enjoy the lush landscape during a gondola ride to Killington Peak. Even Packet Pick-Up the day before the race is a party.

Sounds like fun…

AJH and Christa are supposed to be doing the 5K too. So if nothing else, it will be a blogger reunion.

Goals:

Not limp off the course.
Have fun.

I don’t know if I dare to run. If I do, I’ll hope for an injured 5K PR. Does anyone have those?

Freihofer’s – June 2012 – Recovering from broken ankle – 35:39
Runner’s World – Oct 2012 – Running with a Stress Fracture – 35:32
Last Run – Dec 2012 – Recovering from stress fracture – 35:25
Biggest Loser – July 2013 – Recovering from a broken foot – ??

Happy Running! Any races planned? Have you ever done a race while injured?

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.

starts at the Colonie Town Park and ends at the Corning Bike Path.

I will know so many runners at the race.

This is the shirt we are planning to all wear.

After I finished the Sarasota Half, I decided that I wanted to do better.

So happy to have finished!!

Well, guess what? Another injury and it would be dumb to do this race. Right?

I usually train for a half for 12 weeks. That means running 3 miles comfortably by July 22 to start the PLAN.

It is July 12 and I still have a broken foot. So I obviously cannot do that.

I want to run it well. I do not want to get injured.

So…… I should not run it this year.

Or maybe I’ll walk it??

Decisions…Decisions!

Time will tell…. (If you know me at all, you know that if there is any way I can do this race, I will….)

Happy Running? Ever have the “Should I do it dilemma”?

July 9, 2013 by Darlene

DNSing

Normally I have all my summer weekends booked with 5Ks. In my healthy days, I did one every Saturday and then drove up to Lake George afterwards.

at the Silks & Satins, one of my favorite 5ks

This summer I did not book any. I was planning to do long runs and a lot of boating on the weekends.

running on the Sagamore bridge over Lake George

So I only have THREE DNSes.

June 23: Adirondack Distance Challenge 10 miler

This is the end before you turn into the park (next to my marina.)

At least I was able to pick up my race shirt.

July 28: Biggest Loser 15K in Killington, VT

The 15k course travels through the heart of the Green Mountains and ends with an exciting ride on the chairlift to the finish line. Enjoy breathtaking views of Killington Peak and the surrounding area while winding through wooded roads and Killington’s downtown with a long time limit allowing runners and walkers to complete the race at their own pace. (So this is 8 weeks post-injury. It is a long drive & my doc would probably kill me if I tried to walk 9.3 miles while recovering from a broken foot??)

Oct 13: Mohawk-Hudson Half Marathon (I can defer my registration on this one to next year…)

I am very sad about this. These are 3 races that I was really looking forward to.

Happy Running! Any advice?

July 1, 2013 by Darlene

Mid-Year Report Card

We’re halfway through 2013 so it is a good time to take a look at those goals to see how I am doing.

I must say that things were looking up until June 1.

already more miles than all of 2012

Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside)- YES, until June 1.

even ran 3 times while on vacation

Continue fitting in tennis and yoga at least once a week (as cross-training) – Yes, until June 1.

Finish my 5K races under 30 minutes and not stress about a PR (though getting one would be super!) – Sure I stressed but finished Ice Breaker, Lake George, Mother’s Day and the Freihofer’s all under 30 min.

Ice breaker 5k – 28:47

Get an Age Group award (in May I will be entering a new AG!!) – Yes, in the correct AG, I finished 1st at Lake George 5K and 1st in my new AG at the Mother’s Day 5K.

Lake George 5K – 1st in 50-59

Mother’s Day 5K – finished 1st in 60-69

PR in a 10K race (I have only one injured 10K under my belt.) – Yes, HMRRC #3

Run a 10 mile race (the one from Lake George to Bolton Landing is on my bucket List) – Nope (broke my foot on June 1).
Run at least one half marathon (a spring and a fall one) – Yes, I ran the Sarasota Half Marathon in March (the fall one may not happen.)

Run at least 12 races (one per month, if possible) – Yes, at least one per month and 11 total races already!! (However, there will probably be no races in July and August 😦 I hope to resume racing in September.)

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

one of 3 April races

Run a race in another state – Yes, I ran in Florida (Vermont was planned for next month but that one is doubtful)

Florida racing

Run a NEW race (hopefully one in NYC) – Yes, I’ve run 5 new ones so far – Hmrrc #3 & #5, Ice Breaker 5K, Lake George 5K, Mother’s Day 5k, ( NYC hopefully next year)

Mother’s Day 5K in Schenectady

Listen to my body and slow down when necessary (In other words, do not get injured…) – 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 5 healthy months.

Let’s hope my foot heals quickly and I can add more miles and races during the rest of the year.

Happy Running! How has your 2013 been?

June 16, 2013 by Darlene

Father’s Day 2013

My hubby (on the right) spending the weekend on Lake George with his friends

And yes, I am home (depressed) with my cats & my books.

I can’t complain too much. This is me on Mother’s Day.

As they say, “This too shall pass.”

I will be back on the boat before the end of the summer!

Happy Running! Hope all the Dads out there have a great day!

June 8, 2013 by Darlene

One Week Post Injury

One week ago, I was excited to run my favorite race of the year.

me, Courtney and her aunt MaryPat my friend)

I am smiling not knowing what would happen next.

I had a great first mile which is the hardest part of the race because it is uphill and crowded. Then there was that misstep but I continued to run (through the pain.)

crossed at 29:41 and met my under 30 minutes goal.

A visit to the xray machine led to this for at least the next TWO weeks (but most probably 8 wks.)

A lot things happen the first week of an injury:

feeling that I should give up running
feeling that I will never give up running
trying to stay busy watching TV and reading books
difficulty navigating a 2 story house on crutches
trying to be self-sufficient by cooking, doing laundry and emptying the dishwasher
realizing that I need help by having groceries delivered to my home (Shoprite – free delivery if you spend over $100 & you get flowers)
going to a funeral and realizing that breaking my foot is not the end of the world
realizing that I have a lot of friends who care
knowing that my non-running friends will never understand when I say that I will run again
feeling that maybe I should give up running
knowing that I will try to run again
feeling sorry for myself
realizing that the world of hard to open doors are not made for crutching persons
being not embarrassed to crawl around on my hands and knees.
matching my sneakers to my outfits
being happy when it rains
everything takes longer when on crutches
watching the muscles in my leg slowly disintegrate
my hubby is a saint (hope he stays that way when he realizes boating maybe difficult or impossible)
reading EVERY website about a broken fifth metatarsal
~~hating~~ jealous when I see people running
trying to eat healthy and not eat ice cream more than once a day
feeling grateful that I am not in any pain
feeling glad that I can drive to work and do most of my tasks at my desk
feeling lazy, inactive (no yoga, walking, biking, tennis, RUNNING) and fat

And so yes Ryan, I will try… to be more positive.

Happy Running!

June 2, 2013 by Darlene

Sad Running Roundup

week-in-review11-1s6ozv2

Last Week:

Mon – rest, boating

Tues – 3.4 mile run (after work)
Wed – 6.6 mile run (after work)
Thurs – 2 walks – too hot to run, Mother Runner party

Fri – walk at lunch, mah jongg
Sat – 5K race and broken foot

I did manage to finish the race – I am the one in blue with black cap

Sun – walking around NYC cancelled due to INJURY

13.1 total miles (hey I ran a half )

This Week:

Monday – O miles
Tuesday – O miles
Wednesday – O miles
Thursday – O miles
Friday – O miles
Saturday – O miles
Sunday – O miles

Happy Running! Feel free to join my pity party!

June 1, 2013 by Darlene

Freihofer Run for Women Race Report and on the DL AGAIN!!

This race is always so exciting for me. (I posted why here.)

This year as I did last year, I walked over from work yesterday to pick up my bib and goodies (shirt, bread & cookies).

It was so quiet on the street. Believe it or not I actually saw Joan Benoit Samuelson running up the hill in the 90 degree heat.

After I picked up my goodies, I struggled up that hill (walking.)

oops I may have bought a pair of compression socks….

It was warm already when I got up this morning. I had my usual running breakfast (oatmeal & coffee) and drove to work where I would leave my car and walk the 1.5 miles to the start.

me, Courtney and her aunt MaryPat my friend)

I wanted to get there early so I could meet friends and take a photo with the other SRMs (the group keeps getting bigger and bigger).

Look at the group in 2010!!

Last year was such an emotional race. This year, I was relaxed about it. I wanted to do well but I know that it is so crowded.

some of the SRMs

Around 9:30 or so, I pushed myself into the crowd. It was so hot that I moved up and it was cool because I got to see the elite runners go by and head to the front. Joan Benoit Samuelson offered a moment of silence for Boston. And then we were off.

I tried to get moving. It was difficult but since it was a hill, going slow was ok.

It was warm and all I wanted was to run the whole race and finish strong.

Mile 1 was great. I felt strong and heat really wasn’t bothering me. I was just trying to save it for the end.

THEN IT HAPPENED!!!

I was approaching the first water stop. It was crowded and wet and I was debating whether or not to stop. Somehow I lost my footing or my weak ankle gave out…I am not sure what went wrong exactly. But in trying to remain upright, my foot twisted in my shoe. OUCH!!!!!!!!!!! (Deja vu! The same thing happened 12 years when waterskiing)

Of course, I did what every smart runner does. Stop so I don’t make it worse.

NOT!

I continued to run…my gait was way off and my foot hurt with every step but I ran on….. until I crossed the finish line.

And I did meet my goal. I finished at 29:41!!!

Splits:

mile 1: 9:17 (even going up that hill in the crowd)
mile 2: 9:35 – it hurts
mile 3: 9:40 – it hurts more
.17 – 7:53

After I finished, I headed to the Medic tent to ice my foot. The doctor there suggested I get an xray (not what I wanted to hear) Many women were throwing up, passing out, and staggering in so I limped out of there.

I tried to find my friend but there was SO MUCH SECURITY. I could not get to where we agreed to meet.

So I limped 1.5 miles back to my car.

I was still in denial but my foot was starting to turn purple and I knew what that meant.

Xray results: clean break of the fifth metatarsal