Races

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Jingle Bell 5K Race Report Plus More


This was my 2nd year running this race.  Last year it was 9 degrees and I FROZE!! I knew it had to be better.

Today was my long run day since I had a work Holiday party last night and I am going to NYC with my Mah Jongg friends tomorrow. I was torn on how to get it in but I decided to run the race and then add 6 miles to it later.

 
 

the party "look"

 

Though I didn’t drink last night, I danced for 2 hours in HIGH heels and my legs felt it this morning!!

Ready to "Race"

The weather seemed to be similar to my Turkey Trot so I dressed accordingly but added some accessories to go with the spirit of the race.

Before the race I bumped into some old running friends – Amanda (the amazing recent marathoner), Felice (the speedy new Mom), and Jen, Brigid & Janis (the news runners from the spring).

Jen, Janis, Brigid & Felice

 

with Santa & me

We all started the race together.  It was very crowded at the beginning and it was very difficult to get going and get by a Grinch, do, &   lady with a cap. 

Felice flew ahead.  She didn’t seem rusty after just having a baby just 2 mos ago.  I knew I couldn’t keep up.  Then the rest of the group eventually passed me but Amanda & Brigid were always in sight.

I found the course more difficult than I remember.  The hills kept coming and I battled the wind was in my face.

I didn’t have the energy to PR and something in my brain kept repeating that “You’ve got to run slow because you have 6 more miles to do when this is done.”  But I really wanted to run fast!!!!

The clock flashed 29:31 when I crossed the finish line.  At first I was disappointed but then I remembered that all my times at races on this course have been over 30 minutes.

Everyone did well.  Felice finished under 26 minutes!!!! We hung around and had pizza and chatted about racing.  Everyone was encouraging about my half marathon plans.  In fact, Janis & Brigid plan to run one in April.  I know Amanda will also.

No one won an award since they only gave out medals for the top 3 finishers.  No age group awards! Darn!  I would have won 3rd or 1st!!

After everyone left, I took off my bells and exchanged my Santa cap for a beanie.  I grabbed my ipod/Nike + and set it to 3 miles.

I decided not to do the race course because of the hills but to head out and run for 3 miles and then head back.  

 

Glad to be done with 6 mi!

 

Stats:

lst 3 mi = 31:24
2nd 3 mi = 33.29

9 miles= 1:34:24

So that’s positive splits but I didn’t walk so that’s an improvement. Actually I felt better during the 6 mile run than during the race.

Happy Running!

 

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Tis the Season…

 
Tonight is my first Holiday Party – my work party – it is always very lavish & lot’s of fun (even more if I didn’t have a race tomorrow morning.)

I also signed up for Run With Jill’s Blogger Gift Exchange (deadline 12/8)

and Finishing is Winning’s Blogger Card Exchange (deadline 12/6).

My house is decorated…with snowmen everywhere!  I plan to work on card writing this weekend.

unedited card pic1

unedited card pic2

 

Happy Running! Good Luck to Those Racing This Weekend!

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3 Things Thursday

  1.           I found this quote in the December FleetFeet newsletter:

    2. “You’ve got to have goals in life or you wither away.
    It’s no disgrace to fail, only not to try.”  – — Jon Mendes Age 90, on his plan to run/walk the 2010 NYC Marathon

    Need I say more…

  2. I definitely HATE the treadmill.  It’s so stuffy in the gym and I run so slow, it takes forever.  I also am not motivated to not walk when I get tired.  SO my plan is to get up early and run outside before work.  But if I can’t (or it rains like yesteray), I’ll have to do the dreadmill after work.
  3. Tomorrow is a rest day because I have a 5K on Saturday – the Jingle Bell Run which I did last year.  It’s The Happy Runner’s return to running after having a baby – YAY!  The problem is that I signed up before I was training for a half.  What do I do?  Do the 5k and then add 6 more miles??

Happy Running! It’s snowing on my Blog!

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Hanukkah & the Half

As I said in my previous post, this was my Hanukkah present to myself.  I used my USAir miles to book a flight into Ft Myers, Fla. after work on Jan 14.  I booked a motel near the race. (They even gave me $10 off per night when I mentioned I was running the race.)

My hubby’s sister now lives in Florida and he’s never visited her.  A former co-worker of his lives there  and one of our LG friends will be there at that time.  I always go on vacations and my hubby never does.  He doesn’t complain because he prefers to stay home & relax.  I, on the other hand, am always on the go and LOVE to TRAVEL.

For his Xmas gift, I booked him a flight to Florida on Jan 10 and rented him a car. He will visit his sister & friends, go deep sea fishing, etc and then pick me up at the airport on Jan 14. 

We will stay in Naples together until Jan 18 (I have Jan 17 off).  He can watch me in the  race and I can show him around my favorite spots in Naples (where I been 7x).

CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!!

I’ve cheated a little.  I’ve actually been secretly training.  I am on week 6 of the schedule below.  I started the day after my 10K fiasco.  It may sound crazy that I’ve never run more than a 5k race and I’m training for 13.1 miles.  So be it!

I am making changes as needed.  I have to fit running in around tennis, work, and other activities.  So I am trying to run 3x a week plus one long run on the weekend. Cross-training will probably be tennis or walking.

HALF MARATHON TRAINING
 Week MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT SUN Total
1 3 Cross
Train		 3 3 Cross Train 7 REST 16
2 3 Cross
Train		 4 4 Cross
Train		 7 REST 18
3 3 Cross
Train		 4 3 Cross
Train		 8 REST 18
4 3 Cross
Train		 4 4 Cross
Train		 8 REST 19
5 3 Cross
Train		 4 4 Cross
Train		 9 REST 20
6 3 Cross
Train		 5 4 Cross
Train		 9 REST 21
7 3 Cross
Train		 5 4 Cross-Train 10 REST 22
8 3 Cross
Train		 5 4 Cross
Train		 11 REST 23
9 3 Cross
Train		 5 4 Cross
Train		 12 REST 24
10 3 Cross
Train		 6 4 Cross
Train		 13 REST 26
11 3 Cross
Train		 6 4 Cross
Train		 8 REST 21
12 3 Cross-Train Rest 3 Cross
Train		 Rest RACE DAY!  

I’ve gotten some good tips from this site:  http://www.marathonrookie.com/half-marathon-training.html

Happy Running! Happy Hanukkah!

 

 

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I did it…

Yesterday I registered for my FIRST HALF MARATHON!!! Happy Hanukah to Me!!!

Event Details:

Run along a fast and very flat out-and-back course through the area known to locals as the “Olde Naples” section of town, the Naples Daily News Half Marathon takes runners through the city streets, residential neighborhoods and waterfront districts of this south Florida city that lies near the state’s southern tip and just a short drive from perhaps its greatest ecological treasure, Everglades National Park.

Sponsored by the Naples Daily News local newspaper and the Gulf Coast Runners athletic club, the race is a longtime tradition in the Naples area and features both natural and man-made scenery, from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the architectural beauty of the multi-million-dollar homes runners pass on their way along the race route.

Following an out-and-back course that starts and finishes in Naples’ Cambier Park, runners leave the starting line at 7:00 AM and begin heading first west and then southward along Gordon Drive, which they follow for the next three and a half miles all the way down to the turnaround point at the lands’ end spot at the end of the road. There, they turn around and head back along the course they’ve just run until they hit Kings Town Drive, where they turn and head into the Champrey Bay and Galleons Cove neighborhoods.

Thanks to the race’s multiple turnaround points, at the end of Gordon Drive and inside the neighborhoods, runners get a chance to view the elite competitors in the race multiple times and see any friends who are running either ahead or behind them at several points during the race, past participants say. After the stretch of the race along Galleon Drive and the turnaround, runners then head back out of the neighborhood and onto Gordon Drive once again for the reverse route back toward Cambier Park and the finish line festivities.

One of the race’s really interesting and unique traditions takes place along the stretch on Galleon Drive, where a clergyman at Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church blesses the runners passing by (all runners pass by the church twice during the race) with holy water, which has become a landmark many runners look forward to in the race each year.

Why Run Naples Half Marathon?

  •  The best distance course in the state! Certified! Flat-Fast-Shady-Loop!
  • FREE Pasta party
  • Great 4 color Coolmax shirts
  • Unique quality medals to all finishers who finish within race time limit of 2:45
  • Awards 5 deep for 27 age groups
  • Door prizes including weekends at beach front hotels
  • $15,500 cash awards – Open – Masters – Grand Masters – Senior Grand Masters
  • Special $3,500 cash awards for US citizens
  • Cash awards for course records overall & age group

Why Should I?

  • I love Naples! I go there to play tennis every spring and just got back!!
  • The race is on my 12th wedding anniversary.
  • The day after is Martin Luther King Day – a work holiday!
  • I can use my frequent flier miles to fly for free!
  • I missed my first 10K. 
  • I am running longer runs on the weekends (already ran 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 miles).
  • I still have 6 1/2 weeks left to train.
  • I should run a half before my knees die & my body quits…

    •  

So I am…

And I am NERVOOOOOOOOUUUUUUSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Running! Happy Hanukah!

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November Ends…

Recap of November:
 Goals – 65 miles,  a 5K race & a PR  

 I ran 66 miles . I ran 2 5k races, both under 29 minutes and a new PR!!!! I did my first volunteering stint. A GOOD MONTH!!

December Monthly Running Goal = 70 miles, a 5k race, finish under 30 min., follow my half marathon training schedule (scary, huh?)

Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it, I even passed 500 – New Goal is 600 and I’m almost there!)

Happy Running and Happy Holidays!
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Brain Exchange #20 & Monday Goals

This Week’s Question: How do you manage diet and exercise during the holidays?

Answer:

I basically continue my usual running schedule.  I try not indulge other than at the  Parties – I have 7 holiday celebrations and 2 birthdays. YIKES!!

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 18 miles. I did 18 miles! Yay!
I ran a 5K and had a PR!! WooHoo!

This week’s schedule:
Mon – tennis after work
Tues – tennis after work
Fri  – work  Xmas Party
Sun – NYC

This week’s running:
Tues– 3 miles before work
Wed – 4 miles after work
Thurs – 3 miles after work
Sat– 5K race + 6 miles

Weekly Running Goal = 19 miles
November Monthly Running Goal = 65 miles, a 5k race, a PR
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it, I even passed 500 – New Goal is 600)

Happy Running!

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Parties…Parties…Run Off Those Calories?

MaryAnn's Party

Here are the stats:

  • 2 birthday parties down (Pat’s & MaryAnn’s) and 2 to go (Amanda & Richard).
  •  1 Holiday down (Thanksgiving) and 2 to go (Christmas & New Year’s).
  • 5 Holiday Parties to go (Work, Mah Jongg, Quilting, Mentors, Tennis)

There’s no way I can run off those calories so I’m just going to keep up my usual running schedule and ENJOY!!

Tis the Season!!!!

Running/Eating Stats:

  • Thurs- I ran a 5k race and then enjoyed my Thanksgiving dinner & 2 desserts
  • Fri – I ran 3 miles and enjoyed my dinner & dessert at Pat’s b-day party
  • Sat – I enjoyed dinner out then dessert at MaryAnn’s b-day party
  • Today – I ran 8.5 miles

Happy Running.  Enjoy the Season!

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Our Towne Bethlehem Turkey Trot Race Report – PR Baby!!

 Bethlehem Turkey Trot

I’ve always wanted to do the Turkey Trot in Troy but the thought of fighting the crowds of 600o racers has deterred me.  Last year I did the Cardiac Classic in Schenectady and was going to run it again until this race was announced.  It is in my town so no traveling.

Several of my friends – John, Pat, MaryPat were going to run with me so it would be fun.

I ran 4 times last week in Florida but since there wasn’t much time before or after tennis, I only ran 3 miles.  I also ran 3 miles before work on Tuesday.  I had been increasing my distance to 4 miles during the week & 7-9 on the weekend so vacation has set me back a bit.

I was hoping I would do as well as my last 5k which was under 29 minutes or at least under 30 minutes.

Since this was a first of this race, I had no idea what kind of course it would be and I also knew it would be COLD (cloudy & 28 degrees!) !!! I hate the cold!!!!!!!

So I bundled up with tights, turtleneck, jacket, gloves, headband… and arrived early to register.

unhappy about the cold

Lucky I did get there 45 min early because I was one of the last to register before they closed it.  I was so surprised that close 2000 showed up for a first annual race.

I stayed warm in my car until the race began.

I started up front because I hate to lose time and they were no timing chips.

I must say that I was cold the whole race and my hands were numb even with gloves!!

The course was flat and I felt good the whole race.  I had no idea about my time so I just ran to finish.

I got to the finish line to see 27:12!!1 I was so happy!! There was a crowd at the end and I couldn’t figure out where to go so I just stood there.  Finally they pointed to an outside lane.  I have no idea if I crossed the finish line and what time it recorded.

Bethlehem Turkey Trot 

(Official time listed as 27:30 ! BUT “Due to the overwhelming response to this event, and the inexperience and confusion of many of the finishers with a multiple chute scoring system, the results beyond the 500th position are not available.”) Interesting? 

But I have a PR!!! YAY!  Extra dessert for me today!

I hung around waiting for my friends Pat & John to cross.  Pat has just returned to running and I’m so happy! They finished close to 40 min but I ran with them encouraging Pat across the finish line!!

I hung around with some other avid 5k racers I know.  One woman who is 60 has run 25 races and won her AG in 20 – she’s an addict like me.

They gave out trophies to the lst place in each 10 year age group.  The winner in my AG finished in 23 min – DARN! I thought I had a chance since the elites were at the Troy race.

After the race, I went home to relax.  I am not cooking this year!!!!!!!!!!  Me & my hubby are going out to a friend’s for dinner and then stopping off at his mom’s for dessert.

Happy Running and Happy Thanksgiving!

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Brain Exchange #19 & Monday Goals

This Week’s Question: In the spirit of Thanksgiving…tell me what you are most thankful for; one thing, five things, or many things.  But here’s the fun part…tell me, in photos!

 

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Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 15 miles. I did 12 miles! (and I was on vacation)
I had a great vacation in Naples, Florida – played tennis for 5 days (3 hrs each day),  ran 4 times, saw 3 sunsets!!!

This week’s schedule:
Mon – tennis after work
Tues – tennis after work
Thurs – Thanksgiving
Fri  – time w/mentee &  Mah Jongg

This week’s running:
Tues– 3 miles before work
Thurs – 5K Race
Fri – 3 miles
Sun  –  9  miles

Weekly Running Goal = 18 miles
November Monthly Running Goal = 65 miles, a 5k race, a PR
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it, I even passed 500 – New Goal is 600)
 
Happy Running!