Races

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Silks & Satins 5K Race Report

This was my 3rd year running in this race so I knew where the race was and that it was a flat course. I was pretty excited since I usually run alone but this race I was meeting 2 women — one who I met at my last race and one who I’ve only met online – both started running in their 50’s so we have a connection!!!

It had rained all night and when I left my house it was  very HUMID.  I was surprised that at 6:45 am it was already 72 degrees – Oh No!!

This 5k coincides with the opening of the Saratoga Racetrack which draws people from all over the world. I got there early enough to find parking.  Last year there were about 1200 people but this year only 800 or so…the weather??

I looked for AJH and luckily for cell phones, we found each other before the start.


Then I found Mary, as well.

AJH & I started near the front.  Since the clock starts when the first runners leaves, I don’t like to hang back.  Mary, however, headed toward the back.

I quickly lost AJH.  I knew that I couldn’t keep her pace. My first mile, however, was faster than it should have been in this weather (under 9 min).  I think I continued to get slower each mile, as a result. This is a flat course so I was hoping to PR.  As I approached the finish line, I saw 29… and  I was disappointed.  I wished I had kept my mile 1 pace & didn’t walk at the water stop.  My final time was 29:34.  At least I was under 30 minutes and faster than last year 🙂

There was a lot of food at this race but I was too hot to eat much. I found AJH who had a SUPER race. (26 minutes os so) Her fastest 5k this year!! She is amazing!!!

We hung around for the awards.  There were a lot of  FAST runners at this race (esp. in our age group).  AJH came in 6th and I came in 10th so no awards for us…  I never found Mary but I spoke to her on the phone later.  (She felt sick and was disappointed at her 31 minute time so left right away.)

AJH & I hung around for awhile watching the horses warm up and chatting about running. 

She may even have convinced me to run a longer race some day… Hopefully, we will connect again for another race in NY or VT…(Check out her blog for her race report.)

Mary & I made plans to run together this Friday and she signed up to do the Fasig Tipton 5k with me on Aug. 7.  She wants to do a 5k in under 30 min and I want to run a longer race..so I hope we can help each other.

Happy Running and Have a great Weekend!

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Rest Day & 5 Foto Friday

No running…No tennis…I slept til 7a.  It was raining so no lunchtime walk.   I’m playing Mah Jongg tonight and going to bed early.  Tomorrow is RACE DAY!

And now for Five Foto Friday, RunningLaur-style. I love flowers.  Here are some I took Monday in my friend’s garden:

Happy Running and Good Luck to all Those Racing this Weekend!

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3 Things Thursday

 

  1. We had a big storm last night and the rain cooled things down.  I was sick yesterday (headache, nauscea, etc) but I wasn’t going to waste this running weather.  I went out for an easy 3.5 mile run before work.
  2. Tennis is picking up.  My team won both rounds of playoffs and now we play the winner of the Oneonta division in the Regionals on July 31.  If we win, we go to Syracuse to play in the NYS Sectionals Aug 20-22.) Last year our team came in close to last place so the season ended early & I was able to focus on running. )
  3. My next 5k is Saturday. I’m excited because I’ll be meeting 2 other runners before the race and I’ve run this race 2x before. I’m not in peak condition so we’ll see how I’ll do.  Anyway, it should be fun!!

Happy Running and good luck on your weekend races!

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I played…I Lost…We Won…I Ran

From my captain’s email: Aces Wild were victorious tonight!!!

 We beat the number one team, Alley Cats 3-2 in a fierce competition!!  Darlene was really the unsung heroine who played first singles for our team and although losing, put up a great battle against the toughest player on the 3.0 league.  Thanks Darlene for being such a team player and really getting our team to victory!!

Julia held her ground at 2nd singles and blew away her opponent!! Donna and Nancy crushed the 1st doubles team in 2 sets. Karen and Catalina were the lobbing queens and really met their match at 2nd doubles, although losing they played great!!Annie and I had a tough 2 setter against the captains.. Karen Paratta and Deb Lawson, but won in 2 sets and took a definitive lead in the second set at 5–1- ultimately winning at 7-6, 6-3.

Thanks so much to everyone who brought us to this point.  We are all winners!!!!!!

It’s hard to go out and play knowing that the competition is so much better (My opponent even plays at the 3.5 level also).  I am so glad that the strategy worked and our team won!!! (I’m trying not to feel discouraged in not winning myself.)

This morning I got up and ran 3.5 miles before work.  I was actually running to get the frustation from tennis out of my system.  The weather was beautiful (just a little too humid).  I think it worked…

More tennis after work today, tennis tomorrow before & after work.  (Can I master 2 sports????)

Thursday will be my last training run for my 5K race on Saturday.

Happy Running!

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Weekend Recap & Monday Goals

It started Thursday with a reunion with some ladies I used to work with.  We had a picnic and then saw a play in the park – so much fun!!

Friday morning we headed to  Lake George to spend the weekend.  On Saturday we had 15 people on our site!!! The weather was perfect..so was the company (our friends and some Polish cousins, etc.)

Saturday evening I went to visit my tennis friends at Schroon River – it was tennis weekend #1 that I had to miss. (There’ll will be another in August.)

 I also missed the Mentors annual pool party and a blogger meetup in Schenectady & 5k.  Everything got scheduled for the same weekend!

On Sunday, my hubby’s sister & husband who were visiting from Florida came up to the lake. Another great weather day – so lucky this summer!!

The forecast for Monday was showers so even though I had the day off, we decided to head home.

YES!!! I did run 4 MILES in Bolton Landing on Saturday & Sunday mornings!!!!!  It was humid and my runs weren’t spectacular but I always enjoy this alone time as well as the scenery.  It’s my favorite time of the day!!!!!!!!!!

I’m looking forward to my next 5k on Saturday.  It’s one of my favorites and AJH from Age Groups Rock may race it too as well as another runner whom I met at the Valley Cats 5k.  I have been focusing on tennis rather than running so I’m not as prepared as I hoped.  This will be a fun race 🙂

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 14 miles. I did 11.5!!! I slacked off 😦
But I won my USTA doubles match!!!

This week’s schedule:
Monday – USTA tennis playoffs after work
Tuesday – tennis after work
Wed –  tennis before work & tennis after work
Saturday & Sunday- boating on Lake George

This week’s running :
 Tues  – 3.5 miles  before work
 Thursday – 3.5  miles  before work
Saturday – 5K RACE!!

Weekly Running Goal = 10 miles
Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it!!)

Happy Running and enjoy your summer!!

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Great Run & Long Weekend Ahead

For the third time this week, I’ve gotten up early to go for a run. Each time, my runs have gotten better so has the weather. I guess there must be a message there.  I love hot weather but I realize it’s not the best for running.

Today, I got up a little late so could only squeeze in 3 miles before going to work. It was sunny and in the low 50s.  I hardly stopped at all and felt like I could run forever!!! Darn job!!!

My next race is not until July 24.  It’s one of my favorites – Silks and Satins 5K.  This race  marks the opening of the Saratoga Race Track.  It’ll my 3rd time running in it. I may even have company running this race!!!

That’s a month between races which is a lot for me.  There’s one on July 11 but the age groups are under 14 and over 14.  That’s doesn’t motivate me.

Anyway, we have a lot of Lake George boating planned: July 3-6, July 16-19 and July 31-Aug 2.

In August and September, I have so many 5k races planned on Saturdays so boating will be limited to Sundays. (Please understand, Hubby!)

Happy Running!


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June is Over!!

2010 totals so far

June Update:

  • 55 miles (highest monthly total so far)
  • 3  5k races (Freihofer’s, OK, Valley Cats)
  • 2 new races (OK, Valley Cats)
  • 3 giveaway wins (Nathan water bottle, bag, Ryders sunglasses)
  • 5k PR (OK – 28:42)
  • 2nd place in age group award (Valley Cats)

June (-3.5 for May)

Happy Running and Welcome July!

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Brain Exchange #14 & it’s Monday…Goals

Click HERE to participate.

Topic: Give-A-Ways- Love Em or Hate Em

Question: What are your thoughts on give-a-ways?  Do you enter them often?  What entices you to enter or turns you off from entering?  Have you run your own give-a-ways?

I love them.

I enter only those that offer items that I’d like to win. I always post the giveaways on my blog and on twitter (if required) but I do not post on Facebook – there are enough items that appear on people’s  Facebook news items & I don’t want to add to it.

Giveaways have given me opportunities to learn about new running products and they have introduced me to bloggers that I wouldn’t otherwise found.

I have been lucky to win some cool things.   I have never run my own giveaway.  I don’t think I have enough readers and a vendor hasn’t offered me anything to review and give away (Hint! Hint!)

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 10.5 miles. I did 13!!!
I ran in a 5K race! I came in 2nd in my age group!

This week’s schedule:
Monday – friend’s b-day dinner
Tuesday – tennis after work
Wed – tennis after work
Thursday – tennis before work, hair appt
Friday –  Census job after work, mah jong
Saturday & Sunday- boating on Lake George island

This week’s running :
Monday  – 3 miles before work
Wednesday – 3  miles before work – LAST DAY OF THE MONTH!
Friday – 3 miles before work
Sunday – 4 miles (while at the marina)

Weekly Running Goal = 14 miles
JUNE Monthly Running Goal = 54 miles
JULY Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles

Happy Running & have a great week!

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Valley Cats Home Run 5K

Take me out to the ball park! Take me out to the crowd … This race began and ended at the home of the ValleyCats, a local baseball team that plays at Joe Bruno Stadium in Troy, NY, on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College.

Joe Bruno Stadium

I’ve never done this race before but I had heard that it was hilly, but fun. Amanda was doing it too. We agreed to meet before the race.

Again I had a sleepless headachey night and woke up nauseous and exhausted. I felt better after coffee and headed off early to the race. Amanda wasn’t there when I arrived. I  found some new friends & we took each other’s pictures.

new running friends – Kelly & Mary

me before the race

I found Amanda right before the start.  The race began with a steep hill.  I was tired after that.  Amanda had a great pace and I soon lost her.  The course continued to be one hill after  another.  I finally relented around mile 2 and walked a bit.

My mile 1 time was 9:30 so I knew I was not on a PR pace on this course.  I felt better after my walking stint.  The race ended by running around the inside of the ball park.  The finish was shown on the marquee screen in the outfield if anyone was watching.

I was surprised that I could finish under 30 minutes so I sprinted as fast as I could.  I did it – not a PR but under 30 minutes!! 29:40!

I went back to my car to get my camera & bumped into my 2 new friends and an ICE CREAM truck – They gave out free ice cream and 4 tickets toThursday’s Valley Cats game.

They were happy with their times

so was I

Yum

I finally caught up with Amanda after the race.  She had a PR!  Yay Amanda!! I had an ice cream cone! Yay me!

me & Amanda after the race

In addition to a tee shirt, we got 4 free tix to an August Valley Cats game and the refreshments were hot dogs, bagels, cookies, watermelon…

We hung around for the awards.  I was lucky & came in 2nd place in my age group!!! I won a baseball cap.

Again, I’m glad I did the race and can’t wait for the next one…

On to the rest of the day’s activities: gardening and 2 parties!!!

Happy Running and enjoy your weekend!

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Three Things Thursday

  1. Never believe the weather forecast. I was planning to run this morning but the weather forecast was for rain overnight and into the morning so I didn’t set my alarm for 6 am.  I got up at 7 am this morning and NO RAIN. I’ll have to run this afternoon in the heat and humidity instead. That is, if it doesn’t rain!
  2. I’m excited about the ValleyCats 5K this Saturday.  The weather is supposed to be cloudy and in the high 60’s – PERFECT! I think it’s hilly so I’ll try for a PR in one of my many upcoming 5ks.
  3. There’s a 10 mile race this Sunday – Lake George to Bolton Landing and a 10k/Half in Lake George on Aug 7… someday (maybe)!!!!!!

Happy Running!