January 29, 2016 by Darlene

Runfessions January & Friday 5 (or 6)

It’s that time again. The last Friday of the month. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

1. I runfess…

You how they say don’t go to the grocery store when you’re hungry. Well, don’t go to Target after a long run when you are half frozen.

puffer jacket with hood

Well, at least it was on clearance and I had a cartwheel coupon.

2. I runfess…

Remember how I said I loved my FitBit because it made me walk more. I used to try to get to 10,000 steps everyday.

last week

Well, the newness has worn off and now I pretty much only get 10,000 steps when I do a long run (like on Sat.). I even forgot to put it on on Sunday but I didn’t move much anyway.

3. I runfess…

After all those holiday parties and Christmas cookies, I vowed to cut back and eat healthier (and save $) in January. Besides when I go to Florida in a week, there will be a lot of eating and drinking going on with friends (and I will be going all out.)

monthly tennis ladies night out

I went out to dinner this past week three nights in a row. My bad.

4. I runfess…

I work several Saturdays during the year proctoring law school entrance exams. Though I hate to work 6 days a week, I justify it by using this extra money for race entry fees.

Dates for 2015-16:

December 5, 2015 – EAU Palm Beach Half weekend
February 6, 2016 – Sarasota Music Half weekend
June 6, 2016.
September 24, 2016.
December 3, 2016

I just signed up for a fall half marathon.

Guess when? Yup. September 24, 2016. At least, I had a 10% coupon code.

5. I runfess…

I have gotten spoiled by either running a race or having a running partner for part of all my long runs. Thanks Judy!

This part Saturday was no exception. I ran 6 miles by myself then Judy came to run the final 6 with me. I usually run slower the second half of my runs so it works out fine. However, it was so cold and windy and we were running uphill that I couldn’t hold the slower pace. I wound up running the last 3 miles by myself. Sorry Judy!

I looked back at one point and couldn’t see Judy.

And for extra measure…

6. I runfess…
I can’t wait to leave the frigid Northeast and run in Florida. I am excited for my half marathon…

new Nike shoes & skirt & top from SkirtSports

or maybe it’s because I want to wear my latest running purchases? (Yes, Sunshine State, please warm up!)

Since it is also Friday, I am linking up with the three DC area bloggers Mar at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC for their Friday Five linkup.

Happy Running! Anything to Runfess?

January 28, 2016 by Darlene

Thinking Out Loud Thursday – Caffeine and Sunshine

So I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

Here’s what I’m thinking today…

CAFFEINE…

In August 2013, I decided to give up alcohol and caffeine. Crazy, right?

The story is that I am a terrible sleeper – it’s has to be dark, quiet, comfortable & I need a book. Even then, I sometimes can’t sleep. Somewhere I read that it would help to eliminate caffeine and alcohol.

It was really difficult to give up coffee. I LOVE COFFEE.

Then there’s energy gels. Most have caffeine, right? So I had to limit myself to rootbeer & peanut butter GUs.

Did my running suffer? Not that I noticed.

Did my sleeping improve?? Hard to say. Sometimes yes and sometimes no.

Little by little, I have been cheating by having decaf Starbucks lattes and an occasional glass of wine or mixed drink. I have even bought salted caramel and caramel macchiato GUs.

But for some reason, this week I have been feeling the need for CAFFEINE!!! I mean like I crave it. I feel so sluggish at work.

So twice, I’ve gone to Starbucks and bought a Flat White. (Today could make it 3 times.)

It was great. I started to feel better and I felt so much more energetic after work. And I had great runs.

Am I going back to caffeine?

Not yet… but maybe soon.

I NEED SUNSHINE!!!

Maybe it’s not the caffeine that I need but the sun!! It’s been cloudy for weeks and even if it is sunny, I work inside and it’s dark when I go out to run.

I went for a short walk today…because the sky was blue and the sun was out. It was cold and windy but you can’t have everything.

And then after work when I run, it will look like above ….dark!! But at least I did get to feel the sun on my face for a few moments today.

ONE WEEK!

Yes, one week from day, I will be flying to Florida!! It’s too soon to trust the weather forecasts.

half marathon on Feb 7.

I am just hoping for SUNSHINE!!

Happy Running! What are you thinking about today?

January 27, 2016 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Being an Optimistic Runner

Every Wednesday, the Deb from Deb Runs will be providing a word about which to blog. Kind of like a nice little blog prompt. Posts can be fitness or health related, but don’t have to be, so really anyone can play along. Just be sure to link up with InLinkz on Deb’s main post, and share the love by reading and commenting on other’s participant’s posts.

This week’s Word is Optimism.

Optimism is defined as “hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something” or this definition which I like better:

For the most part, I think runners are optimists. We wouldn’t be out there day after day if we weren’t.

As runners, how can we be more optimistic?

Take risks.

Run in a place where you’ve never run before. Don’t use excuses such as “I may get lost,” “I’m not good on hills, “It’s too far,” “Trails are too hard,”I’m too slow to run with them,” “Tracks are boring,”etc. Take a chance. This new place could become your new favorite route. An optimistic runner will seize new opportunities with an open mind.

Don’t be afraid to fail.

Sign up for a new distance. Join a running group. Try a new race. You never know how you’ll do until you try. Running is hard. So yes, you may fail. An optimistic runner will try and expect to cross that finish line.

Focus on the positive in a run or race.

Runners will have bad runs. There will be awful races. We will get injured. But an optimistic runner will see value in each running experience and is able find something positive:

-I ran my fastest mile
-I didn’t get injured
-I crossed the finish line
-It was faster than my last race
-I had negative splits
-I ran at an even pace
-I ran up the hills
-I did it inspite of….
-I had fun
-I made a new friend
-Great bling.
-Pretty course

Make new goals.

Don’t give up if you don’t succeed. You’re not too slow.Maybe the course was hard. Maybe the weather was the culprit. If you didn’t meet your goal, just sign up for another race. Keep trying.

Am I an optimistic runner?

Sometimes I am not. I whine about how I wish I could run faster. I complain that I didn’t have the race time that I wanted. I sulk when my training runs suck. I don’t like to run when it’s too cold, too hot, too humid, too windy, etc. I hate the treadmill. Blah blah blah.

So this post is therapeutic.

I have a half marathon in 11 days!!

I am going to be an optimist:

I will have fun.
I will enjoy the beautiful course.
I will cross the finish line with smile.
I will give it my best shot.
If it is not up to my expectations, I will still look at its positive outcomes.
I will continue running half marathons as long as I can.

this race is going to be a blast!!

Happy Running! Are you an optimist?

January 24, 2016 by Darlene

Challenge Yourself Virtual 10K Race Recap

I am excited to be a Running on the Wall race ambassador and yesterday, I participated in the Challenge Yourself Virtual 10K.

Normally I run races every weekend. But in the NE during the winter months, there are very few scheduled.

I would have to just run for myself. But this was so much more motivating.

What I like about virtual races it that they help me push myself just a bit more and this race did just that.

It was not as fast as a real race but definitely better than if I was just running on my own.

What is even cooler is the nice race bling they send you. I got a bib, a medal, a tank top, the bib, a car magnet and either choose a runners hat or arm sleeves. (I chose the arm sleeves since I don’t have any besides the DIY ones made from cheap socks.)

And the tank top, it is light weight and perfect for me! It is one I will be proud and comfortable wearing to remind myself: “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” Yes, running is hard and it’s supposed to be hard.

Since I had planned to do my long run of 12 miles yesterday, I decided that it would be a good day to run the Challenge Yourself Virtual 10k Race.

The snowstorm hit south of us so we didn’t get a single flake but what we did get was COLD temps and wind.

It was 16 degrees when I arrived to start my race but in the single digits with the windchill. I did dress for these frigid temps and the only thing that was cold were my fingers because I kept taking off my gloves to take photos.

I started my race by running 2 miles around Colonie Town Park. I have run here before and it’s where the Mohawk Hudson Hal Marathon starts.

There’s lots of trails but I kept running into ice and turning around.

The park is on the Mohawk River which looks to be frozen.

Heading out of the park, you run under a covered bridge.

Next I ran on the path toward the Nisky Bike Path where I run many of my long runs.

It was mostly clear but every now and then there were snowy patches. Luckily, it was just snow not ice.

To get to the Nisky bike path, you had to run on the road.

this bridge is on the highway along the Mohawk River

you had to be careful because you couldn’t see cars coming around the curve

Finally I arrived at the entrance of the bike path.

Here there were quite a few snowy patches but they were not slippery.

a view of the Mohawk River in the distance

After 2 miles on this route, I turned around.

I have a really bad sense of direction and made a left when I should have made a right so had to back track. (Good news is that it gave me the .2 miles that I would have needed.)

back to the path leading to my car

I was very happy to arrive at my car and thaw out.

10K completed!

Time: 1:07:55

One of my slower 10Ks but I am happy!

I can’t wait to do another Running on the Wall race!

thumbs up to Running on the Wall Virtual Races

Happy Running! Do you like virtual races? Why or why not?

January 23, 2016 by Darlene

Phew! It Missed Us!

Snow is pretty. Don’t get me wrong. I love to LOOK at it.

my driveway during a previous snowstorm

But I panic when I have a long run scheduled and a snowstorm is forecast.

I bought this flag in Florida (because of the cats)

What would I had done?

YakTrax to the rescue.

I don’t love to run in them but I would have had it snowed.

Find a clear path and run multiple loops.

one of my favorite places to run (from a previous winter)

Again not an ideal for a long run but doable.

Run in the road.

Sidewalks are never consistently shoveled. You have to be wary of cars but it would be the only place to cover those miles.

Run slowly and carefully.

What would I have NOT done?

Run on the Treadmill

nothing I could do would make 12 miles bearable

Skip it!

a long run when you have a half marathon in TWO weeks!

But the storm hit south of us. Hip Hip Hooray!

My pleasant challenge was to choose a new location to run. I’ve run on the Delmar Rail Trail, Corning Bike Path and the Nisky Bike Path. So I decided on Colonie Town Park which also includes a bike path.

We didn’t get any snow but boy was it cold!!! 16 degrees when I arrived but in the single digits with the windchill.

First I ran 6.2 miles as part of the Challenge Yourself Virtual 10k Race.

I’ll recap it in my race report tomorrow but basically I ran around the park for 2 miles and then toward the Nisky bike path for 2 more and then turned around (made a wrong turn) and finally finished with 2.2 miles back to my car.

I took a lot of pics and my fingers were numb but otherwise I survived the frigid temps.

wearing my $.01 SmartWool compression calf sleeves – love them! and my new shoes – love them too!

Again I was lucky that Judy agreed to keep me company on my last 6 miles.

We ran in the opposite direction on the bike path heading toward Cohoes for 3 miles and then turned around (uphill on the way back 😦 )

I was too cold now to take many pics. When we started out, we took it very slow since there were several icy patches on the path.

Luckily the path became clearer for the rest of our run but the wind picked up..Brrrr!

I ran with Judy for the first 3 miles. It was nice to run and have someone to talk to. It made the miles go by faster.

However, on the way back, it uphill and windy. I had a hard time running at her speed so I didn’t. I just ran ahead and stopped and waited for her several times and then ran ahead again.

This was too funny. Either it meant that we didn’t get snow or that we didn’t freeze to death.

Both were true.

If it were summertime, I would have stopped at Guptills for an ice cream cone. Instead, I stopped at Target for a Starbucks hot mocha and to pick up a few food items but as usual spend over $200.

I also stopped at Norstrom Rack to buy another pair of those penny smartwool compression calf sleeves.

12 miles today!! So my last long run is done!!! Two weeks until the BIG DAY!!

smhm16

Happy Running! Did you get hit with the snowstorm? How do you cope with running in the snow or cold?

January 19, 2016 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Expo Buys

Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with Marcia @ Marcia’s Healthy Slice and Patty @ My no-guilt life!

This week’s topic is Best Expo Finds.

I haven’t been to a lot of expos and even fewer BIG expos but still I’ve managed to buy a few things:

Hoodie at the NYC Marathon Expo

when it was closing & it was on sale

Tank at the RNR Brooklyn Expo

I got $10 off any Brooks item by test driving a Toyota

Cap & Shirt at VCM Expo

I’m wearing the cap

and the shirt

Race Belt at Adirondack Marathon Expo
Gloves, Headband & Gel at Adirondack Marathon Expo

just love these flavors

Cool Shirt at Adirondack Marathon Expo

they had the racers names on the back and a star next to your own

So nothing too exciting!

I’m sure if I ever run a marathon or a bucket list half, there will be more shopping!

Happy Running! Are you a big Expo shopper? What have you bought?

January 17, 2016 by Darlene

HMRRC Winter Series #4 (15K) Race Report

This same race in 2015

Once again the Hudson Mohawk Runners Club sponsored a FREE race for its members and this weekend, they offered distances of 3M, 15K and 30K.

I was hoping for better weather than last weekend so that I could run one of these races. Remember, I don’t like rain or snow of ice….

Well, it was great – in the 30’s with just a little wind.

Since I have a half marathon in 3 weeks, I chose to run the 15K and then add on more miles after.

I have run several 15Ks (including 3 on this same course) and as you can see my times are all over the place:

2015
HMRRC #4 – 1:34:29 -same course
Stockade-athon 15K – 1:31:35 PR
2014
Stockeadeathon – 1:33:23
HMRRC #1 – 1:34:55 – same course
HMRRC #4 – 1:42:40 -same course
2013
Stockeadeathon – 1:42:22
2011
Stockeadeathon – 1:36:08

As I said previously, I am NOT stating any goals for my races. I just wanted to enjoy the race, not have any pain and get my training miles in for my upcoming half marathon.

Without all that pressure, I felt relaxed for the race.

These races start at 10 am so you don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn. I always leave early to get parking since these races are crowded and there are other events going on at UAlbany.

Because this race was organized by ARE, I thought that they would have bibs & chip timing like last year so I wore my race belt but they didn’t.

And since it was a holiday weekend, the attendance seemed to be down from 2 weeks ago so I was there earlier than I needed to be.

What I love about this local race is that you get to see a lot of people that you know. And I immediately bumped into running friends, Judy & Barbara again.

We stayed indoors until the last minute and then made out way outside.

I lined up with Barbara who was also running the 15K. I hoped that she would run slower than the 3.5 mile race a few weeks ago and we could run the race together.

basically a few loops around parking lots

With all the races that I have run (about 175?), I have never raced with anyone. My friends are either slower or faster so I always run solo.

Well, I did stay with Barbara for about 3 miles. We were running in the 9s and I had wanted to run this race around 10. It was a training run and I was afraid of straining something.

As you can see, Barbara is getting ahead of me

So I let her run ahead and as she did last time, she seemed to maintain her pace and I did not. I could only keep her in my sight for a few miles and then she disappeared from view.

For most of the race, I felt fine. I was warm so I unzipped my jacket and took off my gloves but by the end, I felt chilled.

I walked through the water stop around mile 3 and then several times after mile 6 including to take a Gu (Orange – gag!) and another water stop around mile 7. I ran up most of the hills until the last one (I was pooped by mile 9.)

love this pic!

I was very happy with how I ran this race as a training run – I pushed myself just enough but not too much. It wasn’t a PR 15K but it turned out to be a course PR and my 2nd fast 15k.

Race splits:

mile 1 – 9:28
mile 2 – 9:53
mile 3 – 9:41
mile 4 – 10:16 (water)
mile 5 – 10:07
mile 6 – 9:58
mile 7 – 10:50 (gu & water)
mile 8 – 10:07
mile 9 – 10:26 (walks)
.3 – 8:38

Finish Time – 1:33:13

only prizes for 1st & 2nd

Barbara whose time was 1:29:xx was waiting for me at the finish line. (Judy had run the 3 miler and was long gone.)

We chatted and had some refreshments. There was pumpkin bisque and vegetable curry soups – I had both and some bread and hot cocoa.

After Barbara left, I dragged myself out the door to run some more miles. It was tough. My legs had stiffened and I was cold & sweaty but I ran the scenic part of the campus.

img_8156-1

img_8158-1

img_8157-1

2.2 miles more to bring my total up to 11.5 for the day.

my new bargain smartwool socks & Nike shoes = no blisters (happy feet)

My hubby won his tennis match so we are off to celebrate that, my race and our wedding anniversary.

l&d 12038287_10154200672714428_4679287681227959390_n

Happy Running! How you are enduring the winter? Did you run this weekend?

January 16, 2016 by Darlene

Loving/Not Loving

Welcome to the winter edition of Loving/Not Loving

Loving: HMMRC, a local running club, offers a winter racing series. The races are on Sundays and free. Each race has 3 distance options.
Not Loving: The distances don’t coincide with the long runs that I need to do to prepare for my half marathon. This weekend is a 15k and I need to run 11 miles. On 1/31, there is a 10 miler and I need to run only 8.

3.5 mile race

Loving: SkirtSports has come out with a new print.
Not Loving: Now I want to order it in everything style. I don’t need any more running outfits!!

free love print

Loving: In the cold weather, I don’t have to worry about my feet sweating and getting blisters after a long run.
Not Loving: Shoes and boots aggravate my bunions and now my foot hurts again. (And it’s a long time until sandal/flip flop season!!!)

feb

Loving: I have found new ways to relax – coloring books, knitting and jigsaw puzzles.
Not Loving: These are all sedentary activities. I found that I can knit and ride the exercise bike but the others, NOPE (gotta sit!).

Loving: You get a free Starbucks item after you get 12 stars. I then always order the most expensive thing on the menu.
Not Loving: I forgot that I used my two “free” items and ordered a venti coconut milk cinnamon vanilla chai latte. (ouch!)

Loving: My FitBit tracks my steps. It makes me take the stairs rather than the elevator.
Not Loving: It’s not accurate on the treadmill and does not record steps while on the bike.

Loving: The days are getting longer. When I leave work to run, it’s still light (for about 15 min.)
Not Loving: The cold weather has just arrived and will be around for awhile.

Loving: Downton Abbey is back on TV.
Not Loving: This is its last season.

Loving: It’s so easy to shop online and find what you what cheaper.
Not Loving: It’s too easy and you may buy what you don’t need.

my current Nikes in a new color – $20 less & no tax or shipping – had to buy, right?

Loving: When you are dragging at work around 4 pm, the cold crisp air (while running) certainly wakes you up.
Not Loving: My hands almost froze off. How can I keep them warm?