June 1, 2012 by Darlene

Hopping and Racing

I found out at PT why I am having trouble running. I cannot hop!

Of course, I can hop on my good foot but I can’t on the other. As a result, I can only push off on one foot and I am sorta dragging the other … so my running is slow, painful and awkward.

I was told to keep trying to hop.

I know it will come because there was a time when I couldn’t stand and couldn’t walk and couldn’t run.

So when I can hop, I think I will be able to race.

Speaking of racing, tomorrow is one of my favorite races.

Hopefully, it will not rain as predicted. The SRMs are planning a group photo. Many of the recent SRM marathoners will be cheering.

SRMs in 2011

Obviously, I cannot race it but I am doing it anyway.

Goals:

Walk fast and finish in under an hour
Run some and finish under 45 minutes
Have fun

Happy Running! Are you racing this weekend?

May 31, 2012 by Darlene

My Favorite Month Has Ended…

May was a pretty good month:

went on my tennis vacation to Florida

turned 59 on 5-9

got to visit with my Russian friend Anna

started boating on Lake George

did a lot of biking

ran my first mile

Here were my May Goals:

Continue PT 1-2x per week. Yes, except when on vacation.
Do exercises on my own, as well 1-2x per day. Yes, but not a diligently as before.
Use exercise bike and/or treadmill at work on days with no PT. Yes, when raining bcause I have been walking outside.
Go biking outdoors 1-2x per week. Yes and everyday when on vacation.
Go for walks outside. Yes, everyday at lunch.
Run outside (at least a few steps or maybe on a track.) Yes, one mile on dirt/sand 4 times so far
Hit a few tennis balls (maybe practice serving or volleying) Yes, while on vacation.
STAY POSITIVE!! Trying but it is tough!

So I think I’ve met all my goals in recent months so it’s time to switch things up.

June Goals:

Run/Walk a 5k in less than 45 min.
Run a mile in less than 12 min/mile
Run 3 miles (with few walk breaks)
Sign up for a 5k

How’s that for optimism?

Happy Running! How did you do in May?

May 30, 2012 by Darlene

Boating and Running

Two of my favorite things!!

the gang toasts the 1st boating weekend of the season

my hubby enjoying the view

enjoying a Memorial Day lunch on the island

a visitor to my chair

I am still working on running. I didn’t leave my Garmin behind as suggested. I dodged the storm yesterday and ran ONE MILE on the dirt path of Washington Park (with some walking) at an amazing pace of 12:33!!

As soon as I got in my car, the rain came and boy did it rain!!!

Today is a PT day and tomorrow, I hope to try some more running.

I have an Un-Race on Saturday and then a trip to NYC on Sunday.

Happy Running!

May 22, 2012 by Darlene

What’s the Plan, Stan?

Gotta have a plan, right?

June – WALK
July – RUN
August – RUN MORE
September – 5K
October – 10K
November – 15K
December – RUN LONG
January – Half Marathon!!!

January 13, 2013 or 1-13-13 (lucky 13?)

Well I may be overly optimistic since I haven’t started running outside yet. But my 6 month injury anniversary is June 29 and I’ve had enough!!!

The worst case scenario is that I walk the races. Even the Palm Coast allows walkers (if you can finish under 4 hrs).

Happy Running! Do you plan ahead? How far?

May 7, 2012 by Darlene

Recovery Monday

Not from running … but

from a day in NYC
and a day on the lake….
from nervously tracking my marathon running friends (and THEY ALL DID GREAT!! WooHoo!)
and from trying to get things done at work so I can leave tomorrow for my 8 day vacation

Here are the highlights from the weekend:

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Happy Running! How was your weekend?

May 4, 2012 by Darlene

An Exciting Weekend Coming Up

No –I am not racing. (Now that would be beyond exciting.)

I know many local runners racing this marathon: Felice, Tami, Melissa, Elisa, Bridget, Janis, Karen, Gail and Mary. For Bridget & Janis, this will be their first. SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!

Felice & Elisa

Tami, Janis & Bridget

Mary B.

GOOD LUCK GIRLS!! I’ll be tracking you!

I won’t be racing but I will be spending the weekend with my favorite Russian – Anna.

me & Anna

On Saturday I am taking the Megabus to NYC to see her. She has been working in NYC this past week. We have plans to eat lunch at Gordon Ramsey‘s restaurant, the Maze. (Anna works in real estate in Moscow and is a Master chef).

I always look at the desserts first

After lunch we are going to see Ricky Martin on Broadway in Evita.

Anna is coming home with me and we will spend Sunday together. My plans for her stay will not be elaborate as the day in NYC but it will be fun.

cruise on Lake George is planned

Happy Running! Any exciting plans for the weekend?

May 3, 2012 by Darlene

My First Un-Race

Right before my injury, I paid for this race:

The normal registration price is $40 so I wanted to take advantage of the early discount of $25. And since this is one of my favorite races, I decided to splurge and buy the medal.

This would have been my FIFTH Freihofer’s Run for Women – the race that I’ve run the most.

the 2011 running group and then some

So…… I hope to be walking without pain by then… (21 weeks post surgery…maybe even running a few steps?????)

Do I bite my tongue and do it as a WALK or Un-Race?? And get my first Freihofer’s medal for a finish of more than 60 minutes?? (Last year the slowest was 75 min so I hope to beat that.)

Suzy wearing last year’s tech shirt

Sure…why not? I paid for it and I ‘ll get a cool tech tee-shirt and chocolate chip cookies. Next year I will try to beat my 28:14 finish time.

Happy Running! Have you ever walked a whole race?

May 2, 2012 by Darlene

Things Happen For a Reason

When I planned our annual tennis trip last fall, I thought Mother’s Day was May 6 so being away May 8-15 wouldn’t be a problem.

On Mother’s Day:

I run one of my favorite races: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008
I celebrate my birthday.
I go to the annual Tulip Fest in Washington Park.

Guess what? I am missing Mother’s Day this year.

Not to worry…

They moved the race. It is no longer run nearby.

I am injured and not running 😦
The race is not in Delmar as it had been for 31 years. They used to give away awesome schwag but the sponsorship has changed also.
I will celebrate my birthday with Anna & my hubby on May 6 and then on May 9 with my friends in Florida.
Due to the warm winter, the tulips will most likely be gone by May 13. I have already seen them several times in full bloom last week:

So things happen for a reason…

(Maybe I broke my ankle so that _(fill-in-the blank: I could start knitting, cook dinner every night, spend more time with my hubby, become a biker, do some cross training, spend my race entrance fees on PT co-pays OR come back a stronger runner!)

Happy Running!

April 30, 2012 by Darlene

Spectating at Sean’s Run

I was on this year’s race brochure so of course, I would have run this race.

me on the front of the mailing

I decided that the race was late enough (1 pm) to be able to drive to Chatham and watch my friend Mary run this race.

Mary & I enjoying a post-race ice cream cone last year

Friday’s RW quote also came to mind:

Running is not, as it so often seems, only about what you did in your last race or about how many miles you ran last week. It is, in a much more important way, about community, about appreciating all the miles run by other runners, too.–Richard O’Brien

The last 17 weeks have been all about me. I have been feeling sorry for myself cuz I can’t run. I have been jealous of everyone running, training and racing. Everday I wake up and curse Dec 29 and wish I never went for that run.

So yesterday was a perfect running day (just a little too windy) but cool & sunny. I got to the race early enough to wish Mary luck before the race.

She's ready!

Then I was able to do what I have never been able to do. I watched the runners start.

They're off!

I got to see all the runners go by.

I even watched the winner (at an amazing time) cross the finish line.

Chuck Terry wins for the 3rd time!

Mary, who is tapering for her marathon next weekend, did great.

Here she comes!

Of course, we had to have our free ice cream cone together again.

the spectator & the runner

I think it’s supposed to be a reward for racing but it still tasted good.

So my first spectating experience wasn’t half bad. It’s fun if you know someone racing. Of course, I prefer to be in the race….and I will be next year!

Afterwards we went out for coffee and talked about my comeback –whenever that may be. Hopefully we will race together in the near future.

Happy Running! Have you ever spectated at a race when you’ve been injured?

April 28, 2012 by Darlene

Change or No Change

I thought things had changed a lot since last April and then I went to the hairdresser.

Change:

Last April, I was getting excited to run my second half marathon (13.1 miles).
This April, I am excited to run 2 minutes on a treadmill and I look forward to biking on the weekends.