December 9, 2011 by Darlene

Half Marathon Envy

All the talk about the Las Vegas RnR Half Marathon last weekend makes me want to do one again sooooon!

2011 was the first year that I ever even considered running one and I did 5! (No photopgraper at #4)

1st

2nd

3rd

5th

Unfortunately, my first one was my most enjoyable and my last one, the least. In fact, the 5th one leaves me wanting a do over! I am hoping that I can do better or at least feel better doing it.

It’s not easy to choose one. There are many things to consider: date, weather, travel distance, time off from work, elevation, etc.

Some possibilities:

2/5/12 – Melbourne Half (Fla.) – my sister-in-law lives nearby but would need to take time off from work
2/19/12 – Half at the Hamptons (NH)- 3 3/4 hrs – cold?? (but have 2/20 off)
2/25/12 – Lake Effect Half (Syracuse, NY) – 3hrs – snow, cold – new race but flat
2/26/12 – Hyannis Half (Mass) – 3.5 hrs away – too cold?
3/11/12 – Celebrate Life Half – 1.5 hr away – hilly – no finisher medal
3/24/12 – 13.1 NY Half (Queens, NY) – 3 hrs away – boring course
4/7/12 – Race the Runways (Brunswick, Maine) – 5 hrs away – too cold? – supposed to go to Pa for Passover
4/29/12 – Lake George Half – 1 hr away – hilly, did it last year
6/17/12 – New Paltz Challenge – 1.5 hr away- but it’s Father’s Day

Gotta decide so I can start training…

Happy Running! Any suggestions? Housing invitations??

December 6, 2011 by Darlene

Free Races

I am a member of the Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club and for $15, you get a monthly newsletter, discount on their sponsored races as well as these FREE races.

I have never done them before even though I have been a member.

However, this year, since I’m not training for anything, I think I will unless it is too cold, too icy or too snowy. I am a winter wimp!

So it looks like this Sunday, I will run a 3 mile race.

Happy Running! Do you belong to a running club? Do run non competitive fun races?

December 1, 2011 by Darlene

It’s December!

67 MILES

November wasn’t a high mileage month since I ran my half marathon at the beginning of the month and I was not training for anything else.

Here were my goals for November:

Hope to continue to run pain-free – YES!
Continue tennis & yoga once a week – YES!
Run 3-4 times a week – YES!
Santa Clarita Half Marathon
Survive Half Marathon #5 – YES (but wish I had done better)
after the Run off that turkey 5k race
Run a 5k (& finish under 30 min.) – Ran 2 5k races (finished at 27:58 & 28:11)
Join a gym & start to cross-train – Not yet….
Stockade-athon 15K

I did run my first 15K race & I am pleased with how I did!!!

December Goals:

Play tennis & do yoga once a week
Run 3-4 times a week
Run at least 15 miles per week
Finish the year with 800 miles
Run a 5k (& finish under 30 min.)
Choose a Half Marathon for the spring
Join a gym & start to cross-train

Happy Running! What are your goals for December?

November 30, 2011 by Darlene

Pace or Time?

Awards at races are given out based on the TIME that you cross the finish line.

Personally if you want to improve your running speed, shouldn’t you be looking at PACE not time. After all, some 5ks are calculated at 3.03 miles and others at 3.15 miles. The same goes for 10Ks, 15ks and Half Marathons.

Naples Half

Santa Clarita Half

Obviously, the longer the course, the slower your finish time will be.

So I thought that I ran faster for my 5K on Nov. 24 than for my 5K on Nov, 26. I finished in 27:58 on Nov 24 and in 28:11 on Nov. 26.

As you can see my PACE was faster on Nov 26 (8:57/mi) even though my time was slower. The 5K course was longer!

So maybe I should re-calculate my PRs and revise my future racing goals!!

Happy Running! What’s more important to you – time or pace?

November 27, 2011 by Darlene

Run Off That Turkey 5K Race Report

Another new race for me. I knew nothing about this race except that it was a 5K. I knew I would eat a lot on Thanksgiving and running would be a good idea. A race would motivate me to run at least 3 miles!

It turned out to be a perfect morning for a race…sunny & in the 50s. I got there early because I wasn’t sure where I was going. No signs but eventually I located the church where it started & parked across the street in the school parking lot.

I was pleased to find out that they gave out gloves instead of shirts (I have enough race shirts!!!) But it was a small race so no chip timing again.

I waited in my car until the start…it was chilly and this time I didn’t overdress. I left my jacket in the car.

As usual I had positive splits. But I didn’t care. I knew I was running fast and I said to myself “So what!” My first 2 miles were under 9 min pace. This is a first for me…even in my 5K PR, this didn’t happen. But the last 1/2 mile was uphill and I slowed down a lot. Also according to my Garmin, the race was 3.14 and Thanksgiving’s was 3.03.

So I finished at 28:11. I’m happy with that. I knew it wasn’t as flat as Delmar so I didn’t expect a PR (but secretly hoped for one.)

after the race

Though I didn’t know anyone running this race, I did bump into nice people: a DMer and someone who reads my blog (someone reads my blog?) I hung around with 3 women that I’ve met at many races and who run even more 5k races than me.

It took forever to have the awards ceremony…like almost 2 hrs. So we chatted about racing. They are older than me and they all won AG awards. Me, I came in 4th. If I were older or young, I would have gotten an award.

I feel like I have gotten most of my speed back. I don’t think about my injury anymore. I am starting to like 5Ks again!

Happy Running! Did you run off that turkey?

November 25, 2011 by Darlene

Our Towne Bethlehem Turkey Trot 5K Race Report

Nov 24, 2011

This is the 2nd year for this race. Last year, it was pretty unorganized and many more runners signed up than expected. There are several turkey trots in the area with the big one being in Troy. Most of the elites run that one.

Things have changed a lot in one year. Last year, I was only running 5ks and my goal was to get faster. This race was and still is my fastest 5K at 27:30.

This year, after an achilles injury, 5 Half Marathons and a 15K under my belt, fast I am not. But that’s ok.

This race also is being run on a different course. (It may be the same 5k course as my first race!!)

Knowing many runners who were signed up for this race and it being so close to home, I was excited to run this race!!

It was pretty chilly…in the 30s!! I decided to wear some layers and as much orange as I could find.

I was wrong about this year being more organized. They had ONE line to pick up your bib and it took forever. I was glad I was there early. I bumped into running friends Janis & Bridget and then I found my good friend MaryPat.

me & MaryPat

When it was finally time to start, we tried to squeeze into the crowd. Unfortunately, this race was not chip timed. When the gun went off, it took awhile to get to the start (at which point I started my Garmin) and then it was really hard to weave through the crowd.

Delmar is pretty flat so my mind said “PR” but my body had something else in mind. I was fine during the first mile but then I slowed and slowed. (Yes, this seems to be a pattern.)

I crossed the finish line a little over 28 minutes but according to my Garmin I finished in 27:58. (I didn’t stop it immediately so maybe a few seconds less.)

I hung around waiting for MaryPat to finish. I bumped into 2 more tennis acquaintances also while I was waiting.

Here comes MaryPat!

They were only giving out awards for the top finishers and the refreshments were water & Freihofer’s cookies so we left and went to Dunkin Donuts. It seemed that everyone there had come from the race. We chatted for awhile over a latte & a bagel before heading home.

I was cooking a turkey dinner for my hubby & myself and then going to a friend’s for dessert.

I love starting Thanksgiving Day with a race. I am happy with my time. It was faster than the last 5K I did! There’s always room for improvement!! (Tomorrow is another 5K race.)

Hope you had a

Happy Running! Did you race yesterday?

November 23, 2011 by Darlene

Good News and Bad News

This past weekend was the Philly Marathon. My running friend Mary was running it as HER FIRST MARATHON!! We have a lot in common & have run many races together. She ran the Stockade-athon the week before & had a terrible run. So I was a little worried. But…she did it!!! And she did great!!! I met her for coffee yesterday to hear all about it. Her excitement almost makes me want to do one…I said almost!!!

Now the not so good news: 2 runners died during this race. One was from my area. Read the story here.

He was only 40. He was an experienced marathon runner. He even had completed 3 Ironman races (including the one in Lake Placid this past July). I know they said he died doing something he loved but it is still so sad esp for his family and friends…

Happy Running! Do you ever worry that running is dangerous?

November 22, 2011 by Darlene

The Former 5K Racer

My first year of running, I ran about 13 5K races, my second year, 17 and my third over 20!! I went from finishing in 37 minutes to finishing in 27 minutes!!

Year Four: two 4 mile races, a 5 mile race, a 15K race and 5 Half Marathons!

Since June, I have run only one 5k and I struggled to finish under 30 minutes!!!

I feel like I am no longer a 5K racer!!!

That being said, I have signed up for three 5K races before the end of the year! Nov 24, Nov 26 and Dec 17.

So what is my goal for my 5Ks?

Have fun!
Finish under 30 minutes!
Get faster with each one…

Happy Running! How do you choose between distance and speed? Can you do both?

November 17, 2011 by Darlene

Tentative Races for 2012

Some oldies but goodies and some new ones on the horizon:

*HMRRC Winter Series Run – 1/?
Polar Cap 4m – 2/2
Runnin of the Green 4m – 3/17
Delmar Dash 5m – 4/8

*Spring Run Off 10K – 4/28

*NY-VT Champlain Bridge Race 5K – 5/20
Freihofer’s Run for Women (5k) – 6/2

*New Paltz Challenge Half Marathon – 6/17 (REVIEW)

*Adirondack Distance Run 10m – 6/24
Silks & Satins 5K – 7/?
*Jingle Bell Run (5k) in Lake George – 7/28
Camp Chingagook 10K in Lake George – 8/?
Jailhouse Rock 5K – 8/?