September 4, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Fall Races to Run

Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mary 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, the theme is Five Fall Races to Run:

Here are my top 5:

Oct 10, 2015

1. Brooklyn Rock N Roll Half Marathon – This will be my first Rock n Roll race and my 15th half marathon.

Oct. 31, 2105

2. NYRR Dash to the Finish Line – I am really excited about this one. Finally I will be running a race in NYC. It starts near the UN and ends in Central Park. I will get to cross the finish line of the NYC Marathon (which is the next day.)

November 8, 2015

3. Stockade-athon – This a very popular local 15K. I have run it 3 times. They changed the course last year and I enjoyed it even more.

November 26, 2015

4. Troy Turkey Trot – Last year I ran this 10K for the first time and I plan to do it again. Lots of runners and loads of fun.

October 17, 2015

5. Great Pumpkin Challenge – I ran this 10k for the first time last year. I may just do the 5k this year. We’ll see. I enjoyed running in Saratoga State Park.

Happy Running! What’s on your fall racing schedule? Anyone running any of the above races?

September 1, 2015 by Darlene

August Recap

Can’t believe the summer has gone by so quickly!!! And it’s already September…

So how did this past month go?

August Goals:

Run 3-4 times each week. Yes!

I tried to vary my runs. I get bored so I just pick different times and places for each one.

Start longer runs on the weekend in preparation for Half marathon #15. Yes!

I have gotten up to 10 miles. None were exceptional but that’s the way they always are. Many were add-ons after races too.

Walk at work on days that I don’t run. No!!! Too busy at work.

I lost my walking buddy so I have to be motivated to do it on my own. I AM NOT. This is a busy time of year at work and I just can’t tear myself away.

Go to the gym at least once a week. No! Started to but that ended quickly…

I started going once a week but life just got in the way.

Run before work to avoid the heat. Yes! Often.

The summer heat has forced me into this. My neighborhood is not exciting so I have searched out some others.

Run a race or 2. Yes! Two 5ks and one 10K. Won 3rd, 2nd and 1st in my AG.

It’s no secret that I love to race. It’s the only time I can get my legs to move. Not ideal for half marathon training but I’m not one to follow traditional plans.

Run at least 75 miles. Yes! 86 miles!!

Finally some decent monthly mileage…those long runs helped here.

Spend time with my mentee & sons. Yes!

I have slacked off since she is working a lot and has a boyfriend. I hadn’t seen her since May so we were long over due. I plan to see them much more often in the fall.

What else?

Spent lots of time on Lake George

Love our boat and our boating friends. Lake George is the most beautiful lake in the country and the weekend weather has cooperated this summer. Yay!

Went to the track and actually won

For my former co-worker and I, this is an annual tradition. We have gone to breakfast at the race track for over 30 years. This year since I had the day off, we stayed for the races and I was incredibly lucky.

Saw Jimmy Buffet in concert.

Friends turned me and the hubby on to Jimmy. We went to our first concert last year and vowed to repeat this awesome experience every year. It’s even more fun with friends.

Spent a weekend with my tennis friends on Schroon River

Another annual thing. About 10 of us gather at a house on the river to play tennis and have fun every summer.

September Goals:

Run 3-4 times each week.
Continue the long runs on the weekend in preparation for Half marathon #15.
Run a 5k race under 29 minutes.
Run a 10K race under 60 minutes.
Take a yoga class.
Start doing planks again.
Pick a spring half marathon.
Run at least 90 miles.

Happy Running! How was your August? Anything exciting planned for September?

August 31, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday– Work, work, work. Busy day since it was the first day of law school.

Tuesday – Too tired to run before work so I ran after. Boy was it humid!!! I had planned to run about 3 miles but the flowers in the park were so pretty, I ended up with 4.5.

Wednesday – I was planning on going to yoga but I got out of work late so I decided to take a short run. I don’t usually run 2 days in a row so I was pooped. But I stumbled upon a new part of the rail trail that was paved so it was worth it.

Thursday – After work I met Judy at the Crossings. It is always fun to run with someone else.

Friday -Just work today and then a fun evening of mah jongg.

Saturday – Ran a 10K race and though it wasn’t great, I won 1st in my age group.

Though I was pooped and had blisters on my feet, I added 3.8 miles after to make it 10 for the day

Rushed home and visited my friend whose first grandchild was in town.

Then I took my mentee and her 2 sons to Huck Finn’s Playland to celebrate her younger son’s 4th birthday. What a full day!!

Sunday – I recuperated with a relaxing day on the lake.

21.5 miles for the week with only 3 rest days and 4 days of running. Half Marathon is 6 weeks away!!!

This Week: (Week #7 of HM training)

Monday- 4 mile run after work, mall walk with BFF
Tuesday – tennis after work
Wednesday – 3 mile run before work
Thursday – 4 mile run after work
Friday – rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 10 mile long run, boating
Sunday – boating (Xmas party on Log Bay)

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 ?

August 30, 2015 by Darlene

Trout 10K Race Recap

As I mentioned in a previous post, I only signed up for this race to boast my morale hoping that some of the speed that had been lacking in my runs would come back in a race.

There was 5k and a 10k and both started at 9:30 am which in August in a late start, in my opinion.

lots of fish-themed items everywhere

I was very tempted to run the 5K but since I am training for a October Half, the 10K would bring me closer to my 10 planned miles.

The weather wasn’t too bad considering the high temps we have had. It was in the low 70’s but with the humidity, it felt warmer.

the course was along the Hudson River

There wasn’t a large race so I didn’t think I see anyone I knew but I did spot 3 runners I knew and then I was surprised to see Helen and Sue. They were in the Turkey Trot and the Freihofer’s Training Groups. I haven’t seen them since May so we chatted catching up on our racing experiences.

before the race

Soon, it was time to begin. Helen, Sue & I started together. We quickly separated but would meet again after the race.

pretty course with river views

I wanted to have a good race and hoped that I could leave my turtle-like training runs behind and have a faster pace. My legs had a different idea. They felt sluggish right from the beginning.

Even so, my pace wasn’t too bad for the 5k but I had to keep it up for 6.2 miles and I was tired after 1 mile.

There were 2 water stops a little after mile 1. I grabbed some water and walked for a short bit but didn’t drink much thinking that there would be another water stop later for the 10k runners.

Big mistake.

No water until these same 2 stops on the way back. That meant nothing to drink for another 4 miles on a warm day!!

Anyway, I managed a decent time for the first half but I was very tired!!!

Maybe it was because the last race I ran over 3.1 miles was back in June. Who knows??

The worst part was that I felt my feet starting to get blisters (especially on my right foot). Then my toe on the left foot started getting sore. And then my lower back started aching.

Not a fun second half of the race. But I gave it my best shot. I ran and walked when I couldn’t run anymore (which was several times.)

Most of the race I was playing piggyback with a young runner (Marissa) who happens to be the Head of the Board of Directors for the GOTR program. I met her at a planning meeting for the GOTR 5K. (I tried to ignore her hoping that she wouldn’t recognize me since I haven’t gotten any sponsors for the race…)

She was ahead of me most of the race but toward the last few miles, I went ahead of her. During the last mile, I couldn’t keep up and let her go ahead.

As I approached the finish, Sue was waiting on the side. She asked me if I was going to finish under an hour. I said “No way! She ran with me for a little while which was great. (I may have walked at that point if she weren’t there.)

cute sign near the end of the race

Finally the finish line was in sight and I saw 1:00 but I also saw that Marissa hadn’t crossed yet.

And yes, my blistered old feet mustered up enough speed to pass her.

And yes, Marissa did recognize and said I helped pace her during the race.

So it wasn’t race I had hoped for. I finished at 1:00:39.

More than 3 1/2 minutes slower than my last 10k (and PR).

Sue, Helen & I hung around waiting for awards and munching on the food (cookies, cupcakes, pretzels, bagels – yup lots of carbs).

Helen won 3rd and I won first.

And yes, I was the only one in my age group!!

no medal…a blue ribbon??

Race Splits:

mile 1- 9:09
mile 2- 9:33
mile 3- 9:43
mile 4- 10:20
mile 5- 10:50
mile 6 – 10:25
.2 – 8:08

The splits were not surprising. My energy level got lower and lower with each mile.

The positives about this race. It was a good speed workout. I needed a race to get me moving and I certainly ran faster than I would have if I hadn’t been racing.

But I got spoiled about my feet not hurting all summer. I think they like slow miles, short races, no compression socks and my Hokas. (At least I still have 6 weeks to figure out what to do with my feet.)

So even though I was hot and my feet hurt with every step, I changed into my Hokas, took off my compression socks and literally dragged myself for 3.8 more miles. (I may have walked more than I ran but I got it done!)

When I got home, I wanted to collapse. But I had to go to visit my friend’s new granddaughter and then take my mentee and her 2 sons to an amusement park.

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it was fun and it made me forget abut my race time.

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the ice cream helped too 🙂

I’m linking this one up with Jessica at The Silvah Lining–she hosts a Race Recap linkup every Tuesday. Please head over and linkup a race recap you’ve written, new or old. And check out some of the other posts!

Happy Running! How was your weekend? Did you run or race?

August 28, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: What I Did This Summer

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, the theme is What I Did This Summer

Here are my 5 favorites things:

1. Boating on the lake

2. Running in scenic places

3. Weekend on the Schroon River

4. Trip to NYC

5. 5K Races

Happy Running? What did you do this summer?

August 27, 2015 by Darlene

Thinking Out Loud Thursday: The Turtle Races

Thursdays are for thinking… so I am linking up with Running With Spoons…

So here’s what I’m thinking…

As you may know, I have been whining about how pathetically slow my runs have been.

It’s hard to believe that someone who runs in the 9s and sometimes under 9 minute pace is currently running at a 12-13 min pace.

Well, I am.

They’re only training runs.

So it’s all good.

But I think my ego needs to get some speed back and for me, the only way is to race.

So I signed up for a race – a 10K this Saturday.

August 29, 2015

I was planning to run 10 slow miles but I guess I’ll try to run 6 fastish miles and crawl for 4 more after.

I have never run this race before but I have run on this course (like 2 weeks ago in the picture above) and have even run a 10k here last year.

At the time, it was my 10K PR but since then I have run faster twice.

I finished at 57:03 in the Troy Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving which was my last 10K.

I was in a running group at the time and training for that race so I don’t expect to beat that right now. I’ll be happy with anything near 1 hour.

Training for a half marathon in the summer and keeping up any semblance of speed is tough!!!

Anyone else having the same problems?

Do you ever use a race as a (expensive) speed workout?

Happy Running! What are you thinking about today?

August 26, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Ambitious

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 AMBITIOUS

Someone who is ambitious is “eagerly desirous of achieving or obtaining success, power, wealth, a specific goal, etc.“

Everyone is ambitious but about different things.

With my career, I have always been ambitious. I started out as a French major/Spanish minor. I got my Masters in Education and taught for 22 years at a private all girls school.

Then in my 40’s, I decided to change careers. I got another Masters in Instructional Technology and completed my coursework for a PhD in the same area.

For 8 years, I was the Director of Technology for a Diocesan School District. I LOVED THAT JOB!!! I got to work with teachers and students and every day was something different.

Unfortunately when 1/2 of the 40 schools closed, I decided that I needed to prepare for retirement and I got a new job. It is the job I have now (at a law school) and I hope to work there until I am 70.

Yes, I said 70. I am not the Suzy homemaker, stay at home type.

However, about earning money…not so ambitious.

I preferred to work at a job that I enjoyed rather than earn a lot of money. So for my first 2 jobs, I had a very low salary and no retirement. As a result, even though I want to work now, I actually have to in order to be able to do the things I want.

As far as running, I am ambitious in so far as I make goals.

I make them for every race and every month and every year.

My goals could be more ambitious like run a marathon or an 8 minute mile but since I strive to be successful, I think I set realistic goals.

My most ambitious one was running a half marathon when the farthest I had raced was a 5k.

Now, my ambition rests at getting out there and running several times a week, no matter what and signing up for races with a few each year being a half marathon. In other words, I will be persistent.

I have no ambitions on running a half marathon in all 50 states (too expensive) but I plan not to repeat any halfs. There are so many that I don’t think I’ll run out of choices.

Now if only I could be ambitious about cleaning my house…

Happy Running! Are you ambitious?

August 21, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: 5 Years from Now

This week, the theme is 5 Years From Now

This may be kinda boring because hopefully there will not be any changes in my life in 5 years (as long as I remain healthy).

Working at the same job – I am too old to change careers. I would like to afford to be retired but I doubt I will be able be.

2. Tennis – I love my friends and enjoy playing this sport on a limited basis. I won’t be playing seriously on a team but I plan to plan socially with my friends at least once a week.

and continue our annual tennis vacations.

3. Weekly mah jongg games

I play with a great bunch of women and I love the game.

4. Boating in the summer on the weekends

hanging out in the bays or on the islands.

5. Running and racing

I hope to be still running the occasional half marathon.

I hope to continue winning awards in my new age group.

If I lose my mind and someone trains with me, I may have run a full marathon…but that’s not in the plan!!

I don’t think I have any of these …

Happy Running? What about you? Any changes planned in the next 5 years?

August 11, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Fall Race Schedule

Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!

This week, the theme is Fall Race Schedule

Here is my tentative list of races:

9-5-15 – Run for the Horses 5k

I ran this once several years ago – another race in the Saratoga park

9-12-15 – Malta 5k

this will be my 3rd time – a nice local race

9-19-15 – Arc in the Park 5K

this will be my first time

9-26-15 – Helper’s Fund 10K

I ran the 10k last year – hilly but scenic

10-03-15 – Apple Run 5K

my first time was last year – it’s on my list now

10-10-15 – Rock N Roll Brooklyn Half Marathon

This is an inaugural race and my first time too

10-17-15 – Great Pumpkin Challenge 10K

I ran it last year and it was fun.

11-08-15 – Stockade-athon 15K

this will be my 4th time but 2nd on the new improved 15k course

11-21-15 – GOTR 5k

It’s an inaugural race – to raise $ for GOTR

11-26-15 – Troy Turkey Trot 10k

my 2nd time – loved this race last year

Happy Running! What races are on your fall schedule? Any of the ones above?

August 10, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday– It was Staff Appreciation Day so I had the day off from work. My former co-worker, Molly and I decided to have our annual breakfast at the race track day. But since I didn’t have to rush off to work, we decided to stay for the races. It was a blast especially since I won 7 out of 10 races. Too bad I only bet $1 at a time.

Tuesday -I had planned to run before work but I was too tired (after 12 hours at the track yesterday.) Then it was raining during my lunch break so I decided to forget it. I did play tennis after work for about 2 hours (but went out to dinner after & put those calories burned back on.)

Wednesday – Again I got lazy and decided to run after work rather than before. I chose the rail trail close to home. I was tired so the run was slow but the highlight was a deer in my path.

Thursday – Not much happened today except that I had a hair appointment and ate a lot of food at work. So I forced myself to stop by the gym to a few minutes of exercise.

Friday – I left work early so I could go home and change in order to run an evening 5K.

free beer & ice cream & 2nd in my AG made up for my mediocre finish time

Saturday – Another rest and boating day on the schedule. So nice that the weather has been cooperating.

Sunday – After a restless night sleeping on the boat, I dragged myself up early to run. I love to run in this area and I know that it will be ending before you know it. Unfortunately, my hubby & friends were anxiously awaiting my return but I did manage to squeeze in 7 miles.