October 17, 2012 by Darlene

Newton, the Foot & the Weekend

Yesterday, FleetFeet offered a workshop on Running Naturally sponsored by Newton. If you were injured and not running, would you go to a running workshop?

Well, I did!

I bumped into fellow SRM, Melissa, there too. It was nice to see her. They gave us Newton running shoes to try on. They felt very weird at first. But soon got very comfortable.

I actually tried the orange Motion Performance ones

The Newton rep explained about the shoe and why they are different.

Newton Running shoes are designed with a minimal “drop” – or height difference – between the height of the heel and the ball of the foot. A more level-to-the-ground platform positions you to support a natural running motion.

Our feet are sensitive and brilliantly designed to ensure that we step efficiently and lightly. Unfortunately, highly cushioned shoes often obstruct this communication with the ground. Enter our biomechanical sensor plate, which allows you to sense the ground so you can stride more efficiently and lightly – some might even say intelligently, the way nature intended.

Then we went out to run…yes, run!!

I hadn’t run since the Komen race. My foot hurt a lot this past Sunday but amazingly, it stopped hurting Sunday night. In fact, I was walking normally and even wore shoes to work yesterday. My achy foot was replaced by a painfully tight calf muscle (from biking, perhaps???) But I haven’t run…the real test for the foot.

The Newton rep gave us some cool running drills…many making us lift our knees high. I was nervous but did them. Luckily we only had to run across the parking lot and back. Yes, I realized that my foot wasn’t 100% and it is not healed but it is definitely better than before.

They gave us all tee-shirts and many folks then bought some Newtons. I definitely like them… A lot. Though, I may try the stability ones rather the neutral ones. However now, it seems ridiculous to buy new shoes when you are injured. If I am going to spend the money, I want to be able to run with them.

Now about the upcoming weekend.

Oct 20-21 in Bethlehen, PA

In a weak moment when I was injured, I read about this in a RW magazine.

Why Bethlehem, PA?

From its role in shipbuilding to its pioneering work on that staple of skyscraper construction, the I-beam, to its supplying armor plating during both world wars, the significance of Bethlehem Steel cannot be overstated. Because of this, it seemed natural to choose the refurbished Bethlehem Steel Mill and ArtsQuest SteelStacks campus as headquarters for our inaugural Half & Festival. That’s where you’ll find our Health and Fitness Expo, our seminars, and our film screenings. And of course, the 5-K, 10-K, and half-marathon races will all finish under a flaming arch right in the thick of it, alongside Bethlehem Steel’s huge, awe-inspiring blast furnaces.

And my high school BFF Nancy lives nearby. So I signed up!!! I wanted to do the half marathon but I cautiously registered for the 5K. I almost switched to the 10K after I ran one in August. (Glad I didn’t.)

So right now, I shouldn’t be running yet. It would be stupid to try. So I emailed my friend to see if she even remembered that I was coming. Maybe I would just not go.

Well, she said that she was looking forward to my visit and even bought tix for us to see Gypsy on Sat eve and to go to a wine tasting on Sunday. So Allentown, Pa, here I come (by bus!)

Nancy is the one on the left.

The race??

Saturday, 6:30–7:30 a.m. – Race-Day Bib Pickup at the Expo
8 a.m. – Race Start

It starts at 8am…and it looks like a very crowded event!!! My friend is not a runner nor is she a morning person. Yikes!

But I can walk it, right? You get a medal for just finishing! Guess what?

Course Time Limit – The 5-K course will be open for 47 minutes (15-minute miles). Runners who are traveling with a clock time of 47 minutes or longer will be asked to move to the sidewalk.

Walking a 5k usually takes me about 60 minutes and running 30 minutes. This means if I do it, I’ve got to run/walk it. And hope my foot doesn’t get any worse….

Here’s the description of the course:

The 5-K course takes runners through Bethlehem’s eclectic South Side, packed with cool eateries, coffee shops, and music houses. With a fast start along 1st Street, the course makes a 90-degree turn up Webster Street. This begins the only significant hill on the course, which ends at the gates of Lehigh University and runs past the gothic 1929 Packard Laboratory, named after James Ward Packard, one of the inventors of the Packard automobile. A quick downhill brings you back to 3rd Street, and you will drop into the Bethlehem Steel complex and pass by the company’s former headquarters. There is a quick downhill turn past the Sands Casino, which has the only remaining massive ore cranes at its front door, then it’s on to the finish just past the flaming arch in front of ArtsQuest—a modern movie and music venue that promotes arts and culture, nestled in the heart of the former Bethlehem Steel complex. You’ll hit the only significant hill in the 5-K course about a mile in. After that, it’s all downhill!

As it stands now, I plan to take the Megabus to NYC on Friday & then the bus to PA. (I hope to talk my friend into stopping by the Expo to pick up my bib.) If my friend is cooperative, I will do the 5K to the best of my ability. If not, I will ~~brood~~ enjoy the rest of the weekend with a good friend and return home by bus on Monday.

Happy Running!

October 14, 2012 by Darlene

Spectating At a Duathlon

I encouraged AJH to do this because I could go watch. I didn’t know at the time that I would be injured. I just planned on racing on Sat and spectating on Sunday.

According to the website, this is the course:

Athletes will begin with a 2.2 mile run on a fast, flat section of Canal Rd., then turn left on Whites Lane to climb the run course’s one big hill. At the top of the hill, runners turn left to continue on a flat and downhill course back to the transition area. The same course will be repeated after the bike. Bikers turn left out of Krause’s driveway onto Canal Road to warm up their legs on the flats before a right turn onto Clamsteam Road, a steep incline. At the top of the hill, they turn left on Riverview Road, crossing over the interstate and putting down a few flat, fast miles on Riverview Road. They then continue on a scenic loop of rolling hills, river views, and beautiful countryside for a total of 16 miles

I have run that course and am familiar with the area. I wasn’t sure that my achy foot would handle what I had originally planned but I decided to give it a shot.

The forecast was for cold and rainy. And it was rainy. It varied from a drizzle to a downpour. For once, I didn’t have runner’s envy. I hate running in the rain.

I found AJH immediately after I arrived. She was with a friend (they drove 3 hours for this race!) and she was deciding what to wear.

with AJH before the race

There were about 90 racers. I’m sure there would have been more if the weather cooperated. Believe it or not, some people actually signed up today.

In addition to AJH, I bumped into a friend’s son who was racing, the one who did the Ironman Lake Placid with a broken collar bone.

Ironman Jeff

I waited until the race started before I left the starting/finish area.

AJH is waiting for the race to start

Then I slowly walked (limped) out to the road.

off they go

Yes, my foot hurt when I walked on it. (A dr visit is on tap for this week.) But I wanted to watch the racers on the course. Unfortunately, when I zoom in on my camera, it turns off. So my pictures are not close up.

AJH is finishing her lst 2.2 mile run

I was appropriately dressed with a raincoat, gloves & umbrella. I felt sorry for the WET racers.

AJH did great. She was 73rd after the first leg. Unfortunately, it was raining the hardest during the bike leg.

finishing her 16 mile ride in the rain

But she seemed to gain ground. There were even more bikers coming in after her than runners.

Finally the last stretch was a run and I walked toward the finish area to see her come in.

Here she is heading to the finish line

She finished around 1:50:00. Pretty impressive!

Too bad the weather was so awful. The course is very scenic. And if AJH does it next year, I hope to be able to get some running in in addition to spectating.

After the race, it was still raining so we went our separate ways. I am sure she headed to Target and I stopped at the grocery store to buy the ingredients for chili (chili cook-off at work tomorrow).

Happy Running! Anyone have a race this weekend?

October 7, 2012 by Darlene

Injury Update, Race Spectating and Quilting

Last week, Dr Google said Extensor Tendonitis, this week, it says Metatarsal Stress Fracture.

I need to get off the computer or I will go nuts.

Anyway, it felt worse this morning but the more I stay off of it, the better it feels. At least I still have my boot & crutches, if I need them.

I got a sub for my Monday tennis and my Tuesday tennis. I do not plan to run all this week. I will not race next weekend.

If it still hurts next week, I will go to the doctor. So that’s the plan. IT SUCKS!!!

This morning, I went to watch the runners finish the Mohawk Hudson Half marathon. I stood about a 1/2 mile before the finish line. I saw quite a few people I know. I was too busy screaming at them to take photos. I did see the winner of the full marathon.

he finished in 2 1/2 hours !!!

It was perfect running weather and this is a great course. I so wanted to be running. My hubby thinks I should quit as do my non-running friends. I WILL NOT!!!

Then I headed up north again. I stopped off at our marina. My hubby was there putting our boat away for winter (so sad… but now my weekends are free for long runs… 😦 )

After that stop, I continued to Chestertown. Several weeks ago, after a race, I signed up for a quilting class. (Did I have ESP that I would soon have lots of free time…)

Anyway, it took my mind off things for a few hours.

this is the lst of 12 applique blocks (I hope mine looks like this…)

Afterwards, I got myself a pity treat.

pumpkin ice cream – yum!

The plan had been to do a long run on the new loop that I discovered last weekend. Instead I drove it.

Schroon River

and stopped for a few pics. I won’t be back till next year.

Happy Running! Send some quick healing vibes my way!!

October 6, 2012 by Darlene

Komen Race for the Cure Race Report

This my 5th time running this 5K race. My times have been: 32:49, 31:15: 29:10 and 29:49.

But really, who cares? It is such an emotional race. Everyone there knows someone who has had or died from breast cancer. Many are survivors themselves.

the official tee shirt

I feel foolish worrying about my foot. Tendonitis is not life threatening. I am fortunate to be healthy.

The weather was pretty dreary when I left my house. Being on a team, I had to wear the team heavy cotton tee shirt (ugh!).

this is the back – it is blue with pink lettering

I parked my car at work (to avoid the crowds) and walked the mile to where the race began. After resting my foot since Tuesday, it felt pretty good – not 100% but hopefully it would not get worse.

But as I walked, my foot started to hurt…not a good sign. It also got warmer and even the sun was peeking out.

I got there early to meet my friend, MaryPat and her niece Courtney.

before the race

We then headed out to the start. I moved to the front (out from under the overpass) trying to get a signal on my Garmin. It took a long time and finally got one seconds before the race started.

I have run this same course 9x. It starts uphill and ends downhill with many inclines around and through the park.

I felt uncomfortable from the start. I was hot. My foot was hurting. But I just kept going.

In fact, I didn’t stop at all. Not even for water. This is the first 5k since returning from my ankle injury that I didn’t stop.

I wanted to. My ankle hurt. My good foot hurt more. I saw a friend that I used to work with who has CF and is in and out of the hospital. She cheered me on in the park twice. So I kept running. I ran for her in hope that she will find a match for a lung transplant.

Finally I saw the finish line and I had little left. I crossed around 30:50 or so. Not bad considering…

my splits

I waited for my friends to cross. I didn’t get their pics but got one of someone else from my team.

someone from the AHN team (in blue) heading to the finish line

This is the first race that I have run injured. It is the first race that I regret running. After the race, I could barely walk and I had to limp over a mile to my car…ugh! (The only good thing was that it didn’t start raining until I got to my car.)

Ice and ibuprofen have helped and I feel better but am still bummed about being injured!!!

finished 654 out of 1496 and 12th in my AG

Happy Running! Good luck to all those racing this weekend! Anyone else stupidly run a race while injured?

October 5, 2012 by Darlene

Weather, Injury and Race Goals

It rained all last weekend and most of this week (except today.) The forecast for this weekend is no better.

weekend forecast

Normally, I would be so annoyed … especially since I never run in the rain. But it has actually been a blessing. I was not tempted to run. I rested Wed & Thurs and normally I would have run 3 miles each day.

Today my foot feels much better…maybe because I have not run on it.

Oct 6, 2012 in Albany, NY

I am still on the fence about tomorrow’s race (it is supposed to be rainy and cold!). But most likely, I will do it. (I joined a team and I am meeting a friend there.)

At this point in my ankle recovery, I would have hoped to run faster… to finish under 30 minutes, etc.

Now with my new injury, I am hoping to run it without pain, not to aggravate my right foot so I can continue my running next week and after that.

So we’ll see how it goes.

Happy Running! Any racing this weekend? Good luck to all those SRMs running in the Mohawk Hudson Marathon or Half Marathon on Sunday!!!

October 3, 2012 by Darlene

Wordless Wednesday

Why didn’t someone tell me that my stomach was hanging out? (I won’t post anymore but all the photos are like that!!)

Happy Running! Anyone else have embarrassing race photos?

October 2, 2012 by Darlene

Racing for a Cure

I have run this race for the past 4 years on the Albany Law School team.

When the Susan J. Komen organization pulled the plug on financial contributions to Planned Parenthood (although they did change their mind), Albany Law School decided not to support this cause and not to sponsor a team for the race.

I still feel strongly about finding a cure for breast cancer. It is very dear to my heart as I said last year. The photo below shows 8 of my friends who are breast cancer survivors.

Since last year, another one of my quilting friends, Mary, has been diagnosed and is currently undergoing treatment.

Mary is on the right

This year I am running the race on the AHN team. I taught French there for 22 years and their team is running in honor of a woman who went to AHN and also graduated from Albany Law School, where I currently work. Here’s her story:

At age 25, Erin’s life changed when she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer after a self exam discovered a lump. She had just graduated from law school and never thought her life would take the direction it did. Her father told her, “Even though it’s your body with the cancer, we all have cancer now and we will fight this together.”
After many unsuccessful surgeries to remove the cancerous cells Erin decided to go ahead with chemotherapy treatments. “My family and I were devastated but would not let this beat us. I did not want cancer to define who I was. I was a young woman with cancer, not just a cancer patient. I wanted to live my life as normal as possible. And to my surprise, there was a way to make that possible.” Erin’s father had come across a newspaper article about a local woman who just ended chemotherapy and used Cold Cap Therapy. Invented in London, it is not yet approved by the FDA so Erin is only the 47th person in US to use procedure. Cold icepack-like hats wrap around the entire head to freeze the hair follicles during chemotherapy. The theory is that chemotherapy attacks fast growing cells and hair falls out because it is one of the fastest growing cells in the body. Hair cells/follicles are frozen, protecting them from the chemotherapy drugs. It is a very painful procedure as the cold ice packs reaching -15 to -26. The hats had to be changed every half hour to keep the follicles at the right temperature. Erin had a team of family members helping with the cold cap therapy during and after the chemotherapy treatment. Her entire immediate family and wonderful husband would care for her after the treatments on a daily basis; whether it was rubbing her feet or just sitting with her while she was too weak to move. Her hair thinned but she could go out in public without the cancer defining her. “I did not want to look like cancer beat me. If I looked strong it helped me feel strong.”

After 16 long weeks of chemotherapy, she had a successful surgery to remove the remaining cancer cells. Next step was 34 radiation treatments. For precautionary purposes, she will need to take a chemo pill everyday for five years. She has already hit the two year mark and is hopeful that she will be cured forever.

After completing all of her treatments, Erin and her husband Blair both sat for the NYS Bar Exam and both passed! “After my cancer battle, I did not know if I had enough strength to pass the exam but, I did not let cancer win. I want others to know that it will not defeat you if you fight. Every step of the way, I fought, my family fought. Through the pain, the heartache, and the life changes, we cannot become defeated. I am now married to my biggest supporter, expecting a baby early next year, and a working attorney. My life was derailed but with support, strength, and faith we can overcome!”

This is a huge race. You don’t run it for a PR. You just do it to feel good.

Happy Running! Have you ever run in the Race for the Cure?

October 1, 2012 by Darlene

Welcome October…Welcome Fall!

September was a pretty busy month even though it didn’t go as planned.

This is what I had hoped:

Higher weekly and monthly mileage totals – not really but I had good intentions
Lower my 5K time – actually I did but not by as much I would have liked
Lower my 10K time – nope because I changed my mind & didn’t run the 10K
Start yoga – nope here too
Join a gym and work out – well, I didn’t really think this would happen

about 8 of those miles were walked 😦

But let’s focus on the good things that happened in September.

I ran in four races.

showing off my medal from the 4.4 Chase Away Leukemia race

I finished a 5K in less than 30 minutes.

doing it at the MPBA 5k

The weather cooperated and we had some more boating weekends.

cool but sunny day on Lake George

I started my weekly tennis contract and am enjoying it.
I stayed in my friend’s house on Schroon River 2 more times (for running, mah jongg). Love it there!

view from the house

I got a surprise visit from my friend in Russia.

at the NY Botanical Gardens

I am enjoying the foliage in the Northeast.

Hiking on the Indian Ladder Trail at Thatcher State Park

I rode my bike (1x)

at the Nisky bike trail along the Mohawk R.

I used the treadmill once.
I won a healthy receipe contest at work AND I won $25 gift card to Walmarts (from The Happy Runner).

this was my prize at work

For October, I am going to go out on a limb and try to:

Higher weekly and monthly mileage totals (that means long runs on the weekend)
Run at a more consistant & faster pace
Start yoga
Join a gym and work out
Lose weight
Eat healthy

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

September 27, 2012 by Darlene

Destination Races

Half Marathon in Naples, Florida

My first Destination Race was in January 2011. It was my first half and I was VERY NERVOUS. I went with my hubby and arrived late Friday for the Sunday race. Saturday, we got settled, picked up my bib, and went to the Pasta dinner. After the race on Sunday and until Wed, we were able to relax and leisurely enjoy the sites of Naples.

My second Destination Race was last November in California. I was staying and running it with a friend. So we stressed out together before and after whined about how we did. PERFECT!

Ellen & I with our Santa Clarita Half Marathon bibs

I decided to do a third Destination Race. This one is March 17 in Sarasota, Florida. It is my first half marathon since my ankle injury and I am VERY NERVOUS. I am traveling alone for this one. I arrive on Tuesday for the Sunday race and leave on Monday. I am staying with a good friend who lives about 1/2 hour away and I have 2 other friends who live closer whom I may stay with the night before & after the race.

The problem is that I will be nervous the days preceding the race and those who do not run probably will not understand my anxiety, my need to run and rest and eat properly. Poor planning on my part (but it was due to work scheduling & cost.)

What is the solution?

Schedule another half marathon before the one in Sarasota. If I am successful, at least I will be less nervous, right?

So I thought I may run this one:

Our good friends recently moved there (Flagler Beach – 11 miles away) so we will get the chance to see them. My hubby & I would arrive Saturday (the day before the race) and leave Wednesday. (I even have Jan 21 off from work.)

But…good thing I checked before making the plane reservations.