Races

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The Long Run That Almost Wasn’t

Five weeks to go!!

So yesterday was supposed to be a 10 miler!

I woke up with a headache and feeling nauseous.  It was also raining! I contemplated skipping my long run.  I ran an emotional race on Saturday.  Maybe that was enough.

So I hung out on the couch and watch some Tivoed shows.

Then the rain stopped and though it was cloudy and rain predicted for the whole day, the sky brightened.

I put on my running clothes and dragged myself out the door.  I decided that if I still felt bad, I would only do 6 miles.  4 Saturday + 6 Sunday = a weekend 10 mile long run, right?

I wanted to run some place scenic like the trail along the Mohawk or the Hudson Rivers but I was  afraid to waste time with the impending rain.

So instead I ran in town along Delaware Ave.

Believe it or not, the sun came and it turned out to be a nice day.

The more I ran, the better I felt and decided to do the 10 miles. 

I ran down the main street – nothing scenic at all… some stores but they were closed…and then hit the Rail Trail.

Eventually, it will be about 9 miles and lead from Albany to Voorheesville.  Now it is only 2 miles.  I ran it once before.  It’s kinda rocky and hard to run on. 

I ran it yesterday for a bit but not the whole thing since it was very muddy.

My reward at the end of my run was a cupcake, pumpkin with cream cheese frosting, at my favorite local shop (Maybe that’s why I chose this street!!!)

I was hoping to be faster than last Sunday but I still don’t have the stamina.  I run and when I get tired, I walk.  I felt like I walked less (about once a mile) but my running pace was slower. (I always run faster with people around me to motivate me.) I finished the 10 mile run at 2:02 (lst half 00:59, 2nd half 0:63).

I ended the day with a visit to my favorite 3 people:

my mentee, Amanda & 6 wk old Matthew

Amanda's son Richard, almost 5

 and then a stop at Target…I couldn’t resist – pumpkin pop tarts, pumpkin coffee, running tights, running pants, running bra 🙂

And then the rain came….

Happy Running! Have a great week!

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Susan Komen Race for Cure Report

I woke up to cool temps and RAIN.  It was just sunny and 80 degrees on Sunday!!

I parked my car at work as I usually do for this race since there will be so much traffic & confusion. I planned to jog a mile or so to meet up with my team for a group photo.

However, a friend from work who was walking the race was there and convinced me to ride with her friend who had a private parking space near the race.  Reluctantly I agreed because it was raining.

I left my camera behind because of the weather but I wore the same outfit as last year but added white compression socks & had a jacket.

Race 4 the Cure '10

After we parked underground, we  headed up the stairs to the museum and waited where it was dry for all 80 members of the team to arrive. It was raining but it seemed to be raining less. I chatted about half marathons with a professor that just ran one and another who will be racing her first next week.  Finally we took the group picture and I headed down to the start line.

most of our team

 

closer up

What a crowd!  I just squeezed in and tried to get a signal on my Garmin.

The race began and the rain was just a drizzle.  YAY!!  I took off my jacket and tied it around my waist.  The rain never started up again until after the race.

I am very familiar with this course.  It  is my 8th time racing it.  It starts with an uphill and it is also very crowded.

I didn’t plan to PR it but as I glanced at my Garmin, I secretly wanted to run fast again. 

However,  my legs didn’t agree with my mind and they are tired from Sunday’s Half.  I even stopped for water and I wasn’t thirsty??

I saw my friend Mary who whizzed by me near the end…she had her fastest 5K ever and she is training for a marathon!! So proud of her!

Unfortunately, I ran out of steam and finished with my slowest 5K time in over a year…

Garmin Time: 29:39 (Official time: 29:53-gun, 29:47, chip)

Mile 1: 9:40 (uphill)
Mile 2: 9:51 (waterstop)
Mile 3: 9:18 (downhill)
         .1: 9:56

I hung around for awhile with some profs and then jogged a mile back to my car debating on whether to do my 10 miler today or tomorrow.  It started raining harder so I put it off until tomorrow.  Now the sun is out… Oh well.

I am glad that I did this race.  It is such an important cause!!!

Our team did great…those young speedy runners…and we raised almost $4000.  I raised over $700 myself. 

 Happy Running! Have a great weekend!

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Foto Friday

Warning – there are lots of photos on this page.

First on Wednesday, our Komen Race for the Cure team which has almost 70 runners on it was interviewed for the TV news.

running for the photographer

getting interviewed

 

just part of the 70 member team

 
Click HERE to watch the news clip. Click HERE to read the story in the newspaper.
 
I did run 3 miles on Tuesday & Wednesday.  The runs were not great but my training runs never are.  They were slow (12 min pace) with frequent walking…will I ever be fast???
 
Anyway, I am excited for Saturday’s race.  It is always such an emotional event. (Unfortunately, it’s supposed to RAIN!!)
 
Next, the official Adirondack Half Marathon photos (why do my thighs look huge or maybe they are & I should wear capris?) are out.
 

looks like I'm having fun

thumbs up pose

running cuz I see a camera

 

pretending like it's a not a hill

I see the finish line!

 
Happy Running! Have a nice weekend & Good Luck if you are racing!
 
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September’s Almost Over. Bring On October!

I ran the whole month of September and haven’t run this many miles in a month since April!!

Here’s what I planned for September:

  1. Hope to run pain-free – Almost (still sore from time to time)
  2. Continue tennis & yoga once a week – YES
  3. Spend a few more weekends on Lake George. – YES
  4. Run 3-4 times a week – YES
  5. Increase weekly mileage by adding longer runs – YES,  got up to 8 miles
  6. Prepare for Half Marathon #4 by doing 4 & 5 – YES
  7. Survive Half Marathon #3 – YES
  8. Run a 5k or 10K race (only if #1) – NO but I have one Oct 1.

running by Huddle Bay on Lake George

 
 

running my 3rd Half

 

So now what’s planned for October?

  • Continue to run pain-free 🙂
  • Continue tennis & yoga once a week
  • Run 3-4 times a week
  • Join a gym & start to cross-train ???
  • Increase weekly mileage by adding long runs to prepare for Half Marathon #4
  • Run a 5k or 10K or both

Happy Running!  What are you planning for October?

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My Next Race

‎1 in 8 women will be stricken with breast cancer in her lifetime.

In fact, here are my friends* who have all battled this horrible disease (if you read my blog, you may recognize them):

  • Top Row: Judy, Mary Ann, Mary M. Ava
  • Bottom Row: Sally, Phyllis, Maria, Sue

 

 The Komen Northeastern New York Race for the Cure® raises money to fund education, screening & treatment programs for these women & supports the national search for a cure.

I am participating in this Race in Albany, NY this SATURDAY with the hopes of raising  $1000 to help to provide for research programs in our area.

$100 for each of my 8 friends above who beat this disease, $100 for Dee, a friend’s sister who is currently fighting this disease and $100 for Dottie, who unfortunately lost her battle with this disease. 

( *They are all currently cancer-free 🙂 )
 
So this race doesn’t fit into my training plan but it’s a race that I have to run and Albany Law School where I work has organized a team.  We have 55 runners so far and we are being interviewed for TV news tomorrow.
 
I am happy to say my heel doesn’t hurt at all and that I feel fine!!!!!!!!!!!!  Maybe I could have pushed myself more on Sunday but who knew?
 
So what are my goals for this race?
  • Not go for a PR (I just did a half marathon & have to run 10 miler this weekend)!!
  • Not be my slowest!
This will be my 4th Komen Race & I have done 4 Freihofer’s (FRW) – That means I have run this course 7 times:
 
2008 FRW – 33:29
2008 Komen – 32:49
2009 FRW – 35:05
2009 Komen – 31:15
2010 FRW – 30:39
2010 Komen – 29:10 (Komen PR)
2011 FRW  – 28:14 (course PR)
                        – 27:30 (5K PR)

Happy Running!  Click here if you want to donate.

 
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The Aftermath & Plans for the Future

the end of the Adirondack Half Marathon

 
 Looking back, here were my possible plans for this race:

A. Run the whole damn thing (and hope I don’t make my heel injury worse).
B. Walk the whole thing (under 5 hours, of course so I can get a medal).
C. Run until I get tired and then walk.
D. Walk one mile, run one mile, etc.
E. Walk up the hills, run down the hills.
F. Pretend that it’s a training run for Half Marathon #4 instead of a race.
G. Play it by ear. Do whatever feels right.
H. Have lots of fun and take lots of photos.

I didn’t do A or B or D or F.  I got caught up in the excitement and ran most of the the first 7 miles.  After mile 8, I was done and walked up the hills and would have run down the hills if I had the chance. It makes sense since my longest training run was 8 miles.  I had fun and did take photos. So I did C, E, G, & H.

Here were my goals:

  • Have fun.
  • Run a lot of it.
  • Walk when necessary.
  • Finish under 5 hours (but really I want to finish under 4 hours or maybe even in 3 hours)

ALL GOALS ACCOMPLISHED!!! YAY!!!

In 6 weeks, I have another Half Marathon.

I hope to continue training and get in better running shape.  If I don’t have to walk the last few miles, my time will improve.  I have no idea if this course is flat or hilly…so who knows.  But I know I will have fun since I will be in LA and staying with an old friend.

After that, I will do a few 5ks and look for another Half Marathon for the spring.  Yes, I said “Another Half.”

I think I prefer to train in the winter when there’s nothing else to do on weekends and it is not so hot & humid.  There are also not many 5ks races to enter.  I also want to run in a  flat half marathon.

After that, I hope to run many 5ks in the summer as I did before except for the 10 miler in Lake George and maybe a 10k or 15k at some point.

Then who knows…

Happy Running! Anyone know of a FLAT half marathon in the spring in the NE?

 

 
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Adirondack Half Marathon Race Report

No need to be nervous.  Right?  This is just a training run for Half Marathon #4 which is in 6 weeks.

But I was and stayed up late finishing a book.  When I got up, I remembered that this house had all the comforts of home EXCEPT that there was a percolator.  I don’t know how to use one.  Neither did AJH.  So since I was the first one up, I drove to Stewarts to buy some COFFEE.  Got to have coffee!!  Then I ate my usual cream of wheat with raisins and continued to stress out about how I would be able to do 13.1 miles.

After getting our race gear together, we headed to the race (and didn’t make any wrong turns.)  There was no traffic and plenty of parking. 

No problems with bathrooms either.  There were bathrooms at Stewarts, porta potties and NO LINE at the boathouse (Thanks Mary for the advice).

We were at the Marathon start and needed to take a bus to the half start.

where the marathon starts

 

There were lots of buses.  I must say that this race is very well-organized.  So we arrived at the start with plenty of time for photos.

me & AJH

 I bumped into the young mothers running group right away. They seemed so excited & I was excited for them.

me, Bridget, Janis, Felice & Amanda

I should mention that it was warm, sunny but not as humid as I thought. Occasionally, there was even a breeze.

 
The race was very scenic with views of the lake, especially the first half. The speactator/course marshall support was awesome.  There was music, cheering and sometimes, they looked up your number in the program & called out your name.
 

the lake is on the right

 
 
What was my plan?
 
Really no plan.  I was going to play it by ear.  I had said that I just wanted to finish under 4 1/2 hours.
 
I felt great for  the first 6 miles or so.  No pain.  I ran except for walking through several water stops.  My time was good and I started thinking of PR…
 
Then came the endless hills of route 9.  I mean endless. 
 

My pace slowed and slowed and slowed.  I decided to walk up the hills and run down the hills.  Unfortunately that meant that I walked A LOT!!

The idea of a PR vanished so did finishing under 2:30.  Yeah, I said I just wanted to finish…

As I dragged myself past the drummers, I was determined to sprint across the finish line UNDER 2:45.

I did!!! Officially 2:44:59. My slowest half marathon time so far but I’m thrilled!!

All my friends had already finished so I wandered to the food tables.  What a spread!!! In addition to the usual bagels, yogurt, fruit, they had ICE CREAM!

The race ended at the beach.  Perfect way to cool off your aching feet.

We hung around for the awards ceremony.  AJH won 3rd in her AG but she had already headed home to Vermont. Felice won also – 2nd in her AG.  She didn’t beat Sarah’s time but I’m sure this half was tougher than the one Sarah did.

Then I drove back to my friend’s river house to unwind.  Believe it or not, my heel doesn’t hurt…yet.

Half Marathon #3

 

I’m glad I decided to do this race.  Yes, I wish I was trained and ready but I’m glad I pushed myself the lst half and ran.  I’m glad that I walked the 2nd half so that now I continue to train for my next race.

 
Happy Running! Hope you had a nice weekend!
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Adirondack Half Marathon – Pre-Race Report

Lucky for me, my friend has a house on Schroon River which is not too far from the start of the race.

Fellow runner/blogger AJH was running this race too & I invited her to stay with me.

I planned on getting there early Saturday morning but actually AJH arrived before me.  Then we headed to the Expo, my first,  in Schroon Lake.

It was a pretty small expo.  First we picked up our race packets.  Instead of tee shirts, they gave us a cool green race jacket. So I decided to buy a tee shirt – one with the logo on the front and the name of the runners on the back.  Can you believe it?  I’m not even racing this one.

back of the shirt

Then we had lunch. We went to small cafe that specialized in crepes.  Yes, the French teacher in me came out.  It was delicious!! I had a chicken, brie, apple crepe and we split a smores crepe for dessert.

I bumped to my running friend Mary on the street who had come up to get her packet and look at the course.

AJH & I decided that we’d like to drive the course.  We headed north and followed the Marathon route.  It was very scenic, many of the leaves had changed colors but it was VERY hilly.

Finally we arrived at the start of the half marathon. 

They said it was flat – not really but definitely less hilly that the 1st 13 miles.  For most of the beginning miles you had a great view of the lake and the race ended at the beach.

I started to get excited about the race but then reality set in – I’m not racing it… I can’t.  I will finish and have fun anyway.  I repeat.  I will finish and have fun.

a sign in front of one of the stores in town

So then we headed back to the house.  It took about 11 minutes.  Yes, we were pretty close.

AJH relaxing at the river house

Before we knew it, it was time to head back to Schroon Lake for the Pasta dinner.  I was surprised how elaborate it was.  I succeeded in carb loading – 2 plates of pasta & some cheesecake. We sat with a nice couple from NJ.  He was doing his 1st half and she was training for the Chicago Marathon.

Remember that 11 minute ride.  It turned out to be much longer on the way home.  We missed 2 exits and then accidentally got back on the highway when we didn’t need to.

Finally got back and spent the rest of the evening on our laptops while planning our morning routine.

To be continued…

 

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Goals for Half Marathon #3

Actually this is pretty easy…since I’m not ready to race 13.1.

My Goals:

  • Have fun.
  • Run a lot of it.
  • Walk when necessary.
  • Finish under 5 hours (but really I want to finish under 4 hours or maybe even in 3 hours

I am not a fan of rain.  I raced in it once and that was enough for a lifetime.  Here are the forecasts:

It looks like either way, it will be WARM and  HUMID!!

Happy Running! Good Luck in your weekend races!

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Half Marathon #3 – What’s the Plan?

“If you tell yourself that your goal race is going to hurt + that it won’t be any fun, your expectations will probably come true. Instead tell yourself that there will be challenges, counterbalanced by feelings of joy and satisfaction.” — Jeff Galloway

So what’s the plan?

A. Run the whole damn thing (and hope I don’t make my heel injury worse).
B. Walk the whole thing (under 5 hours, of course so I can get a medal).
C. Run until I get tired and then walk.
D. Walk one mile, run one mile, etc.
E. Walk up the hills, run down the hills.
F. Pretend that it’s a training run for Half Marathon #4 instead of a race.
G. Play it by ear. Do whatever feels right.
H. Have lots of fun and take lots of photos.

Stay tuned to see what I do…

Happy Running! Anyone faced with this situation?