November 30, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday– Today was my last 3 mile run with my Turkey Trot Challenge Group. Neither of coaches showed up so we were on our own. Instead of intervals, we ran a SPEEDY 3.3 miles (Boy, those ladies are fast I struggled big time to keep up.)

3.3 fast miles – race pace for me (not the others)

Tuesday – Just a normal work day with a lunchtime walk and played 1 1/2 hours of tennis followed by dinner out.

Wednesday – I had the day off from work. I used it to cook for the holiday and squeezed in a yoga class in the middle.

2nd yoga class this month! WooHoo!

Thursday – First I ran a 10K race and then for fun I did the 5k after with friends. I spent the rest of the day cooking since I was bringing Thanksgiving dinner over to my MIL’s that evening.

59:33 – not one of my best

31:28 – one of my slowest

this was happening in my house & I ran 9.3 miles and had to cook

and squash leek soup

gotta have pumpkin pie for dessert

Friday – Another day off and I did NOT go shopping. I rested from my 9.3 miles the day before (except for a quite 1 mile cuz it was 65 degrees outside) and made turkey soup (what else?) I did go out in the evening to play mah jongg .
Saturday – I did debate going to a 5K race but decided against it and to rest another day. Besides it was cold and rainy. I did decorate the house for the holidays so it wasn’t so restful. In the evening, I went to the movies with a friend.

snowmen everywhere

Sunday – Today I did my last long run. I ran 2 miles and then Judy & I ran 6 miles together on the rail trail. And in the evening, I took Amanda (my mentee) and her sons out to dinner and then to the Holiday Lights in the Park.

21.6 miles done with 3 runs and 4 rest days.

This Week: (taper time – race week)

Monday- 3.1 miles after work
Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – 3.1 miles before work
Thursday – 3.1 miles before, pack
Friday – rest, fly to Florida
Saturday – rest
Sunday – 13.1 miles!!!
Monday – rest, fly home

I am linking up for the Weekly Wrap hosted by Holly @ HoHoRuns and Tricia @ MissSippiPiddlin. See rules here.

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway!

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ?

November 28, 2015 by Darlene

‘Tis the Season

Yes, 5 days off from work in a row… To me that’s a vacation or in this case a “staycation.”

Here are the highlights:

I cooked Thanksgiving dinner. (This is important because I don’t cook often.)

and some squash/leek soup

pumpkin pie

I ran a 10k and a 5K race.

10K

My house is decorated.

I don’t go all out but it still takes time… a small fake tree & a menorah plus snowmen everywhere!!

I even made and wrote out my holiday cards. I always make a photo collage card.

this isn’t it but I made one that is similar

I finally got to the movies. I love going to the movies but really don’t go until winter when there’s nothing else to do.

It was good…Next on my list is Brooklyn, Room, the Danish Girl

I did some online shopping for my hubby and together we went shopping for a joint anniversary gift.

We’ve had a hot tub on our decks for years but it died. Of course, it hasn’t worked since I started running. My hubby really wanted it. So I said yes. I do have 2 race-cations planned for Florida. I can’t be greedy.

Speaking of the winter holidays…

Winter weather is back. Just on Friday, the temperature was in the 60’s and this morning, it was in the 20’s!!! Brrrr!

I haven’t really run since Thursday (except a slow 1 miler on Friday) and I wanted to get in one more longish run before my half marathon next Sunday.

I waited until it warmed up to the 30’s but the sun made it feel even warmer. I ran on the street parallel to the rail trail and ventured off to some other trails.

a path leading to the rail trail

a path going under the rail trail

on the other side

enjoying some sunshine

After 2 miles, I went back to my car where Judy was waiting. She was nice enough to oblige and join me for the next 6 miles.

We did the same route as the last time – 3 miles out on the rail trail and then 3 miles back.

Although it was cold, the sun made it very pleasant. Our pace was actually the same as last time. So 8 easy miles – my last long run is done!!

Thanks Judy for the company!!

Then in the evening, I took my mentee, Amanda and her 2 sons to see the Capital Lights in the Park. We go every year. It’s mostly the same but the kids still enjoy it. We have dinner before & hot chocolate after. They get balloon animals and their faces painted.

Richard is almost 9 & Matthew is 4

Now I need to go back to work to relax. LOL

Happy Running! Has winter arrived where you run? Have you started your holiday shopping?

November 26, 2015 by Darlene

Troy Turkey Trot 10K & 5K Races Recap

This was my 2nd time running this 10K and my second time being part of the Turkey Trot Challenge training group.

I really enjoyed this race last year (in spite of the snowstorm) so was looking forward to this year’s race.

happy because it was and still is my 10K PR (check out all the snow!)

The course was the same as last year:

I picked up by bib on Sunday so I didn’t have to rush on race morning.

A cotton tee shirt! what were they thinking?

But I did want to arrive early to get parking. I parked in the bowling alley parking as I did last year and walked a few blocks to the Atrium where I could wait for the race to begin.

I checked my jacket and pants since I wouldn’t need them until after the race.

At least this year, it hadn’t snowed the night before but as usual for this time of year, it was cold – in the 40’s. And of course, you had to be careful not to overdress because you will get too warm.

I chatted with members of my training group until it was time to brave the cold.

The 10K started at 8 am followed by the kid’s one mile race & a one mile walk and then at 10 am the most popular event, the 5K.

pic from a previous year

Last year, I had problems with my Garmin so I made sure to turn it on early. I squeezed in to the crowd at the 9 minute pace group with Stan, Nancy & Jackie from my training group even though I knew that I would lose them quickly.I just tried not to start out too fast and to run at an even pace and to save some for the last mile.

Jackie is in gray to the right

For some reason, this race seemed a lot more crowded. For my pace, it never thinned out. I was running in a crowd the whole race. My legs never seemed to get going. I just couldn’t run fast today. And for some reason, my skirt/capris kept falling down. This bugged me and I kept pulling them up. (I have run in them before but I think it was the race belt that kept pushing them down.) I’m not sure that this slowed me down but it sure was annoying.

near the beginning because I am smiling (& my half-zip is zipped up)

The course is pretty flat. You run over the Green Island bridge twice near the beginning and then run through Troy before you turn around and run back.

There was a lot of crowd support. There were even guys handing out bottles of beer.

I saw an old tennis friend who was volunteering and I high fived her. That was cool since I haven’t seen her in years.

There were quite a few water stops. I skipped the first one and even the second but I questioned my judgment because I was dying for a drink by the 3rd one.

Timing clocks were placed at every mile. I didn’t have to look at my watch to know that I was slow and had NO chance of a PR. I wasn’t sure that I could even finish under 1 hour.

Finally, I stopped to walk at the last water stop and take a GU. It was a little after mile 4. I walked for a while.

This walk gave me a second wind, I think.

must be toward the end (I am warm now)

As usual, it seemed to take forever to run the last mile….

But as soon as I saw the finish line, I gave it everything I had (which wasn’t much at this point) & I crossed under 1 hour!! (My chip time was 59:33.)

Not a PR but really not a decent time for me but I tried not to get too bummed about it.

10K Splits:

mile 1 – 9:18
mile 2 – 9:35
mile 3 – 9:25
mile 4 – 9:45
mile 5 – 10:02 (water & gu)
mile 6 – 9:32
.22 – 8:30

This year, unlike the previous year, I signed up to run a second race, the 5k about an hour later.

yes, that’s how they ran and faster than me

I got some refreshments but really wasn’t hungry so I just drink some chocolate milk. Then I went back to the Atrium to stay warm.

Boy, was it crowded… 5 thousand or more runners squeezed into a small building.

I wanted to find my friends and my hubby (who was running his FIRST 5k with a friend)….and rest my weary legs.

cotton shirt #2

I had already picked up my bib but I needed to get it from my checked bag. And I was so sweaty that I wanted to change my clothes.

I did find my tennis friend but I never found my hubby.

I got rid of my jacket and put a dry tee shirt under my sweaty shirt.

This was the first time that I had run the 5k race. But it was just an out and back course.

Finally it was time to squeeze into the starting area. I found someone from my training group in the “gray” bib area and we chatted until the race began.

pic from a previous year

Of course, my legs were tired from having already run 6.2 miles (at race pace) so all I wanted to do was finish. Of course, I was hoping to come in under 30 minutes but I wasn’t sure that was possible. I didn’t want to push it since I had a half marathon to run in a little over a week.

waving to the camera (already lost my hair scrunchie)

It was so crowded that I had no problem slowing down in the beginning. Like the previous race, it was crowded the whole race.

And my legs were not cooperating. They wanted to run slow. And so I did.

I crossed the finish line around 32 minutes which was 31:28 chip time.

I got some more chocolate milk and then went back to the finish line to wait for my hubby. Then I got a text that he pulled a muscle and quit the race. I didn’t say “I told you so.” (He never trained. In fact he had never even run before.) His running days are officially over.

5K Splits:

mile 1 – 9:58
mile 2 – 10:12
mile 3 – 10:08
.14 – 8:22

9.3 miles in the books!

last year 57:03

slowest 5k in years

So not to be a Debbie Downer…

The Good:

The weather – not too hot or too cold. If the sun came out, I would have been too warm. It was perfect running weather.
Race organization – considering the number of runners, it was very well organized.
Race location – place to stay warm indoors with indoor bathroom and bag check
Chocolate Milk at the finish
Medals for both the 10k and the 5k
15K PR – each of my race times were disappointing but if you add them together, it was 1:31:01 which is a slight PR.
Good preparation for my half marathon in 10 days
Running 9.3 miles lets me eat more Thanksgiving food
NO PAIN…no blisters…lower back and feet felt great. Thumbs up to my Nikes! (and I didn’t wear compression socks.)

The Bad:

my 10K time – considering I was in a training group for this race and I ran this course last year, I should have finished faster!!
post race refreshments – I would have liked pizza or bagels or cookies
same medal for both the 5k and the 10k (if you run both, you have 2 of the same medals)
cotton tee shirts (in my case, 2 cotton tee shirts)
my 5k time – the last 5k at the Stockeadathon 15k was faster and there were huge hills
my hubby’s racing is over before it began
for some reason, I didn’t push it…I was never out of breath..I never ran fast

Overall, I enjoyed the races. I am glad that I ran them. I think I will do both next year too.

After the race(s), I had to rush home. There was change in plans. Instead of going out to a restaurant, I was cooking dinner and BRINGING it to my MIL’s. (Hopefully for all my efforts, I will get to bring home some leftovers.)

Happy Thanksgiving To You and Your Family!!!

Happy Running! Did you run off that turkey?

November 23, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday– I squeezed in a short walk at work and then after work, went to my 9th Troy Turkey Trot training group run. We met at our new meeting spot, the State Office Campus. We had no coach tonite so the 4 of us did our speed drills (8 1 minute sprints) on our own. After the run, I met my BFF for a walk in the mall.

3 miles with 8 -1 minute interval at the State Office Campus

Tuesday – Just a normal work day with a lunchtime walk and played 1 1/2 hours of tennis followed by dinner out.

Wednesday – Tonite was my last run with Kelly as she prepares for Saturday, her FIRST 5K. After the run, I rushed off to my hair appointment.

around the UAlbany campus

Thursday – Had a busy work day but it was raining & windy after work so I ran 3 miles on the treadmill. UGH!! Hated it!

Friday – Rest day so only a walk at work and then an evening of mah jongg.

Saturday – I participated in a 5k race. It was so exciting to see all the young girls from the GOTR program run their first 5k and the clients from the STEM program do the same. After the race, I dragged myself through 10 more miles (4 or which were with Barbara. Thanks Barbara!!)

Kelly & all the STEM runners did great!!

Sunday – REST day…just relaxing, errands and some cooking.

22 miles done with 4 runs and 3 rest days.

This Week: (1 week until Half Marathon)

Monday- 3 mile run (last one with the Turkey Trot Training group)
Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – DAY OFF – rest
Thursday – 10K & 5K race, Thanksgiving dinner
Friday – DAY OFF – rest
Saturday or Sunday – 8 miles

I am linking up for the Weekly Wrap hosted by Holly @ HoHoRuns and Tricia @ MissSippiPiddlin. See rules here.

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ?

November 21, 2015 by Darlene

Girls on the Run 5K Race & Long Run Recap

November 21, 2015 – 9:30 am- Corning Preserve

I was running this race for many reasons:

1. GOTR is a great organization. I was a GOTR running buddy in the spring and I was happy to support them again.

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GOTR participants in a May 2015 5k

2. The STEM runners were running their first 5k. I volunteered to help Kelly train for this race.

STEM participants in a previous 5k

3. Several people where I work were also running their first 5k. They claim that I motivated them to run so of course, I had to be there.

4. My running friends Barbara & Judy are also running this race. It’s nice to know people to hang out with before & after a race.

with Barbara on the same course but back in May

with Judy in March

4. I love to race. This is a flat course and one where someone could PR. I have also gotten a AG award every time I’ve run on this course. But I guess it would be selfish of me to try.

Laurie on the right was also going to be at the race.

5. I had to run 12 miles today in preparation for my Dec 6 Half Marathon. The Corning Bike Path is a perfect place to extend my miles from 3 to 12.

nice river views

So I arrived early to a crowd of excited runners – young and old.

I parked in the parking lot that was farther away and walked to the start.

It was cold. I had better get used to this weather because it’s only going to get worse.

I wore layers which I shed before the race. I knew that I would be cold waiting to begin but fine once I started running.

I immediately bumped into Kelly who was, of course, nervous about her first 5K. As soon as I talked to her, I knew that I had to run with her and encourage her. This is what running is all about. Not PRs.

Every time, I turned around, I saw someone that I knew.

I chatted with Judy, Laurie & Barbara.

But unexpectedly, I saw 3 ladies from last fall’s STEM program They were still running and I was so happy to see them again. One runner, Kim, just ran the Stockadeathon and is thinking of a half marathon in the spring.

I also saw Judith who is GOTR running buddy, Elenora, a fellow SkirtSports ambassador and several others that I knew.

Kelly & moi

After we took lots of photos, it was time to line up.

12247714_414575815417743_4679760232635783446_o

GOTR runners

The GOTR runners, their coaches and running buddies lined up first. Everyone followed.

Needless to say, it was very slow going for the first 1/2 mile.

But we had perfect weather. What seemed to cold at the beginning, warmed up. I shed my gloves & tied my jacket around my waist. (Overdressed again!)

Kelly, a few other STEM volunteers and I chatted the whole race. Kelly never walked or even seemed to struggle. We ran at around an 11 min pace which was faster than Kelly was used to. It was so great to see her run well and to be a part of it.

As soon as she saw the finish line, she took off. She finished at 34;XX and I know she was thrilled…so much faster than she expected.

on the front & back of our Mizuno jackets and these runner really ARE!

I am glad that I didn’t run ahead and try to PR. This experience was much more rewarding!!

After I was done, I hung out with Judy and Barbara and watched the others finish.

Everyone crossed the finish line so happy and so proud of themselves.

Finally my co-workers crossed….crying!! They had finished their first 5K…something they had thought was impossible. It brought me to tears, as well.

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posted on FB

I was so engrossed in the finishers that I forgot to get water or something to eat after the race. (I guess that was OK since I didn’t really expend a lot of energy during the race.)

Even though, this was one of my slowest finish times, I am glad that I participated in the race.

Afterwards, Barbara was nice enough to keep me company as I needed to get some more miles done.

as you see, I got rid of my gloves, jacket & hat

She is great to run with because she keeps me moving. The next four miles were definitely faster than the first 3 and much much faster than the solo miles to follow. We ran in the opposite direction from the race course and then turned around and followed the course again.

But after 4 miles, she left me to my own devices.

I decided to run back to my car, get my baseball cap, shed my half zip and add back the green windbreaker.

lots of geese

Then I ran the race course again but continued on beyond it before I turned around.

trees are so barren

These miles were TOUGH!! I was tired but I think my lack of energy was from my lack of food & water. What kept me going was the decision to turn back, cross the bridge and run into the city and go to Cider Belly Donuts. (They are supposedly the BEST and last time, I ran there, I didn’t have any money to buy one.)

So over the bridge, I dragged myself even though I already already completed my 5 miles (bringing me to my planned 12 mile total for the day.) And when I arrived…

Royal bummer!!!

What did I do? Settled for second best…

skinny peppermint mocha & sandwich)

Luckily, Starbucks was across the street.

When I was done, I was so chilled that I had to sprint the 1/2 mile back to my car.

Yes, 13 (broken up) miles for the day!!

Happy Running! Did you race or run this past weekend? Ever run a race just to help someone else?

November 19, 2015 by Darlene

Thinking Out Loud Thursday: Races, Runs, Thanksgiving, etc.

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

Here’s what I’m thinking today…

Two More Long Runs before my next half marathon (on Dec 6.)

It seems like I was just getting ready for run my last one (Oct 10) and now, my next one is almost here. How did that happen?

So this weekend, my run will be 12 miles! My longest distance before the race.

Although I’ve finished 15 half marathons, I still worry about completing the distance. I also struggle when I run alone. So I’m not looking forward to it.

Then next weekend, there’s just 8 miles.

Two More Races before my next half marathon

first annual – 11-21-15

I have a 5k this weekend. Normally, I would pass on this one because of the long run mentioned above. But I have been involved in this organization so I want to support them. The girl that I am training and all the others in the STEM program) are running their 1st 5k. Some of my co-workers are running their first 5k too.

Yup, I gotta do this race.

Do I race it?

Or swallow my pride and help the others finish?

I am looking forward to this 10k on Thanksgiving. Since I started running, I’ve almost always (except 2008 & 2012) run a race on Thanksgiving morning. It’s the best part of the holiday (and I love food!!)

I used to run the local 5ks but last year I joined a training group for the 10k. I enjoyed it so I joined the same group this year. I PRed at last year’s race but I don’t think I’ve been as dedicated to my training so we will see what happens.

yes, it snowed last year. Hopefully not this year.

I am also toying with running the 5k after the 10k race. The 10K is at 8 am and the 5k at 10 am. The 5k is the big race – thousands run it. I have friends running the 5k so it might be fun to run this one just for fun. I am already there and dressed to run.

What do you think?

Then there’s Thanksgiving...

I LOVE Thanksgiving food…

What I miss most is cooking my favorite recipes….squash leek soup, stuffed turkey, sweet potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce and homemade pumpkin pie.

yum!!

double yum

My husband’s family is complicated. Mine is non-existent. So this year, we’re on a wait and see what my MIL is planning. We may just go to a restaurant and then visit her or friends for dessert after.

What are you planning? Are you running a Turkey Trot? Are you cooking?

Happy Running! What are you thinking about today? Please Share.

November 13, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Ways to stay healthy during the holidays

Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mar at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC to host the Friday Five linkup. Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!) They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!

This week’s theme is WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

1. Bring healthy snacks to work. If you are hungry, you will be tempted to eat something unhealthy. This is what I always have in my lunch bag everyday.

2. Walk whenever you can. That means taking the stairs rather than the elevator. Eat a quick lunch and go for a walk. Take a walk after dinner.

3. Sign up for a race. If you do, you will be motivated to get out and run. Running burns calories, right?

4. Do some kind of cross-training activity that you enjoy– work out, do yoga, pilates, zumba, play tennis or whatever you can to stay active.

5.Get on the scale. I rarely get on the scale but I try to weigh myself more frequently during the holidays. Nothing like several lbs gained to make me lose my appetite.

Will I cheat? Of course but I try to make them worthwhile cheats on special occasions. (I have a weakness for desserts…)

holidayparty2013 003

christmas cookie exchange at work

Happy Running! How do you stay healthy during the holidays?

November 12, 2015 by Darlene

Thinking Out Loud Thursday; Backache, Yoga, Racecations and More…

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

Here’s what I’m thinking today…

My Achy Back

My lower back aches frequently. Especially when sitting a long time (in cars, buses, movie seats, etc.) I sit all day at my job but I can get up and move around.

The only time, it hurt when I’ve run is during my last half marathon and it hurt during the last 4 miles…so much that I thought about DNFing.

It felt ok during my 15K on Sunday but then it started aching at night.

I wondered whether or not I was injured and should I scale back my running?

I didn’t. I ran on Monday and then again yesterday. And I didn’t feel any worse … it still felt off and achy.

Yoga

I actually love yoga. I suck at it. I have zero flexibility but I feel good after I take a yoga class.

my best pose – this home thing last 2 days, I think

Yes, I know you don’t have to pay money to do yoga but I have zero motivation to do things at home.

that’s me and Lisa (up front)

I used to go to a class every Wednesday. I loved my instructor Lisa and I am picky about yoga teachers. I need someone who understands that everyone is not at the same level and offers different ways of doing each move.

Well, Lisa got Lyme disease and then she got a job somewhere else. So I stopped going.

A year ago, I went again and I liked Maria, the new instructor but I just couldn’t get myself to go.

Yesterday, I had the day off. I had run, done all my errands. I had no excuses… so I went to yoga class. (I even bought a 5 card pass to motivate myself to go back.)

When Maria started the class, she announced that the focus of the class was the LOWER BACK and to strengthen those muscles.

Whoa! Does she have ESP or what?

And believe it or not, last night my back felt GREAT! That achy feeling was gone. Amazing!

So I am not injured!!! 🙂

Day Off

We have had a great Fall. Lots of warm weather and sunshine. Unfortunately, I am lazy about about getting up early and I work so I have had to run after work …in the dark.

I was excited to have had a day off to run during the day.

But it was cloudy and drizzly all day.

So dreary, it felt like evening. DARN!

Racecation

With THREE weeks until my racecation, I finally started planning. Here’s how things stand:

Arrive Friday in West Palm, take shuttle to expo and pick up bib.
My friend F. will meet me there and we’ll drive back to her place in Delray
Spend Friday & Saturday in Delray
Meet my friend M. for dinner Saturday and she’ll drive me to my hotel in West Palm
Half Marathon Sunday!!!! 6:30 am.
My friend G. will meet me at the race or hotel and we’ll drive to her place in Jupiter
Sunday & Monday in Jupiter
G. will drive me to the airport in West Palm on Monday

I’m hoping for an early snowstorm so I will be stranded in Florida for an extra day…much too short a vacation!!

Half Marathon

Speaking of my next half, I haven’t figured out a training schedule yet. But I think it maybe too late now.

I ran 13.1 miles on October 10 so I guess I thought that would hold me over until Dec. 6. But all of a sudden it’s almost taper time and I don’t have a plan.

I did run 9.4 miles on Sunday. What’s next?

The usual 2-3 easy runs on weekdays.

Nov 14 – 11 miles
Nov 21 – 5k race + 9 miles
Nov 28 – 8 miles (or 5k race + 5 miles)

So now I have a plan.

Races

This memory from 5 years ago popped up on my FB page.

I ran a 5K race on Veteran’s Day. It was my FIRST age group award.

My friend Holly tried to talk me into running a 5K yesterday. I said “Maybe.”

Thank God when I woke up, it was raining and I changed my mind.

Of course, then I looked at the results and I would have won an AG award.

Does anyone else do that? Check the AG awards on races that you didn’t run to see if you would have won??

That Red Cup

I love Starbucks. Does anyone care that the cup isn’t Christmasy enough?

I did like the fall one better …

but who cares. Really?

There’s isn’t a Chanukah cup, is there?

this was a hoax in 2008

Age?

I feel a little narcissistic with yesterday’s post. I didn’t expect readers to compliment me on how I didn’t look my age. But thanks. Much appreciated.

The goal was to show younger runners that age is just a number and it shouldn’t define what you are able to do.

Happy Running! What are you thinking about today?

November 10, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Post Race Celebrations

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 Post Race Celebrations

I really haven’t run any BIG BIG races so I haven’t participated in the infamous post race events.

But one of the important things that I consider when I review a race is its post-race food.

We pay enough to race. There should be a decent selection of post race refreshments.

Here’s what I like to see after a race:

Chocolate Milk

(Walkway Half)

Pizza

Soup in the winter

HMRRC Winter Series

Ice cream in the summer

(Schenectady ARC Challenge)

(Sean’s Run)

Carbs (bagels & home made baked goods)

Bacon Hill Bonanza)

(Helper’s Fund 5k/10k)

Fruit

chocolate fountain with pretzels and fruit for dipping

preferably with a chocolate fountain (Mother’s Day bRUNch)

My most recent post-race nourishment:

just perfect… there were also bagels, yogurt, fruit, etc. (Stockadeathon)

One of favorites is this barbecue:

(Camp Chingachgook Challenge)

However if the post-race food is lacking, I just go out with a friend…

After all, I have put back those calories that I burned!!

Happy Running! Are post-race refreshments important to you?

November 9, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday– I squeezed in a short walk at work and then after work, went to my 7th Troy Turkey Trot training group run. We changed our meeting spot from hilly Prospect to the State Office Campus because it was getting too dark to run in the park. But only 3 people showed up for my group. Nowhere to hide, my coach made me run fast (so fast, I almost puked LOL). I cooled down with a walk around the mall with my BFF.

4 intervals of 4 min fast X 2 min jog- at the State Office Campus so no hills

Tuesday – Just a normal work day with a lunchtime walk and since I wasn’t schedule for my usual tennis after work, I did a nice easy 3 mile run. Had to take advantage of this nice weather (70 degrees in Nov?)

soo dark!

Wednesday – The weather has been so nice. I took a walk during work and after work, I ran 3 miles with my STEM client. We ran at UAlbany this week since there were no lights at our other location. It was so warm that I ran in a tee shirt!!

at UAlbany

Thursday – Had a busy work day but sneaked out at lunch for a 3 mile run. It was supposed to be a rest day but it was so warm that I had to do it. After work, I went to visit a friend that I haven’t seen in a while.

Friday – After 4 days in a row of running, I decided to take 2 days off. Besides, there was rain in the forecast. But between the raindrops, the sun came out and I took a Starbucks walk. I spent the evening playing maj jongg.

Saturday – I got up early to proctor the MPREs at work. Afterwards, I drove to pickup my race packet for the Stockade-athon. Frank Shorter was there and it was a thrill to meet him. The rest of the day was filled with errands and carb loading.

Sunday – I ran the Stockadeathon 15K race. It was my 2nd time running the new course. It was fun since I knew a lot of runners there. And I got a PR – so surprised!! That evening, we celebrated our 7th year of mah jongg with an anniversary dinner.