July 12, 2015 by Darlene

TEAM Sarcoma 5K Race and Weekend Recap

I wasn’t planning on racing this weekend.

But my runs have been so sluggish lately that I thought I needed a pick me up and I signed up on a whim.

The weather was predicted to be good (but maybe a little too warm). I had never run this race but have done several in this park. And more importantly, it took place in Saratoga which is halfway to the marina.

I almost signed up for one on Sunday but it was at the same time as a half marathon (so would be more crowded).

It was really tough to set any goals. I had not run a 5K in about 6 weeks but if I wanted to push myself, this would be this:

Finish under 29 minutes.
Run all splits under 10 minutes.

But with the heat and my unpredictable feet, it was this:

Finish under 30 minutes.
Total pace under 10 minutes.

I got up and had my usual breakfast of oatmeal and tea and headed north for my 45 minute ride. The start was at the Warming Hut in Saratoga State Park. It is a big park and always confusing on where to enter.

There was a sign luckily and I found a parking spot in a lot not far from the start. I got there about 8:15 and the race was to start at 9 am. Just the right amount of time to get my race packet, hit the restrooms and look for familiar or unfamiliar faces to chat with.

waiting…

I immediately bumped into Jackie who I knew from the Troy Turkey Trot and Freihofers training groups. We hung out and lined up together.

the start area

It was a small race – about 400 runners, many of which were walking for the cause.

I’ve run over a 100 races and I still get nervous before each one. Will I suck? Will I get injured? Once the race starts, I relax and enjoy it.

The start line was confusing. It was just a mass of runners on the grass. So the race started and we were running on the grass. The grass was very wet so it was slow going. I tried to keep up with Jackie but she is faster. So I just tried to keep her in my sight up ahead.

Next we were running through a gravel trail. You know how clumsy I am especially with wet feet so I was very careful here.

Finally we were on concrete and the crowd finally thinned out.

I haven’t run fast in quite a while and my legs felt like lead. But I just trudged along and decided that I wouldn’t stop until the first water stop.

I made it. It was a little past the 1 mile point. It was quite warm and in the 70s already. So I drank the water and walked and then tried to make up time.

I still was dragging but willed myself not to walk until mile 2. Luckily, running through the park was mostly shady and I was enjoying the course.

The last mile went on forever and I really wanted to walk again but I didn’t and managed to sprint across the finish line. I was happy to finish under 29 minutes.

In fact, it was 28:38 (and really a little less since it wasn’t chip timed.)

The race was exactly what I needed.

I never pushed myself and I know I could have run faster.

It was very warm and humid and my time was not a PR but it was still faster than my last few 5ks! Happy. Happy.

Jackie and I hung around for awhile. We were hoping that they would give out awards. But they did not…only for the top teams who raised money.

Yup. I would have won my AG

Oh well. We don’t race for bling, do we?

My Positive Splits:

mile 1 – 9:06
mile 2 – 9:23
mile 3 – 9:34
.14 – 8:03

So my next 5k is in two weeks – it will be hillier and there will be more runners. Hopefully, I will be more confident.

After the race, I headed up to the marina and spent the rest of the day on our boat tied up to our friends’ boats.

We spent the whole day relaxing in the sun and then went out to dinner.

The next morning, I got up early and went for a hilly 5 mile run. It was perfect. I felt great.

Then I returned to the marina, everyone wanted to take our boats out fro breakfast. I had already eaten but a 5 mile run deserves a 2nd breakfast, right?

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Then we spent the rest of the day on an island where we hung out in the shad and grilled an early dinner.

After we left the island, we rode around the lake for a while and then headed back to put our boat away until next weekend. I ended my weekend with a homemade soft ice cream sandwich (I ate it too fast for a photo.)

I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend.

I’m linking this post up with Tara at Running n’ Reading for her Weekend Update!

I am also linking up with Jessica from The Silvah Lining for the Race Recap Link Up.

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

July 9, 2015 by Darlene

Thinking Out Loud Thursday: That Elusive Speed

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

I have been thinking about running goals and speed.

I was getting faster for awhile..

and then things slowed down for whatever reason.

Of course as we age, we slow down.

But what if we started running when we were old. Do we still slow down?

So it seems that if we don’t slow down then it’s a Win-Win.

After a few months of running, my 5k finish times went down to a consistent 29-30 minutes.

Then all of a sudden, I was able to run 27-28 minute 5ks.

Now, I am back to finishing at 29-30 minutes.

Did I slow down or is that where I should be for my age??

Am I going to get even slower? If so, I need to adjust my goals!!

The same thing happened with Half Marathons.

I finished my first one in around 2:26.

Of course, eventually I got faster and finished one in 2:09

Now, I am back to finishing close to 2:26.

So will I continue to run at this speed? Or can I get faster? Or as I age will I get even slower?

Just food for thought.

On another related topic….

I decided to run some 5ks this summer.

TEAM Sarcoma 5k on July 11 (this Saturday)
Silks & Satins 5k on July 24 (in 2 weeks)

Both take place in Saratoga – the first one in the park and the second in town starting at the race track.

How fast will I be? Who knows?

Happy Running! Do you struggle with race goals related to speed?

July 8, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Humble

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 HUMBLE

I looked up the definition of HUMBLING and this it what I found:

causing awareness of your shortcomings
making you realize that you are not as good as you thought

I have not found anything as humbling as running!!!

RUNNING IS HARD!!

Running up hills is humbling!

This was at the beginning of my last half marathon (and at the end)!!

Running injured is humbling!

I hadn’t been diagnosed yet but I was in pain and it turned out to be a stress fracture in my right foot. I ran 2 races with that injury. I have also run with a broken foot in addition to other less serious injuries.

Running in adverse temps (cold, hot, rain, etc.) is humbling!

I ran the Love Run Half Marathon in Philly in cold monsoon-like rain. I also ran 2 other halfs in the rain, one in the freezing temps of January and one in the heat and humidity of July. All were very tough, to say the least.

Running after a long layoff is humbling!

This photo was taken after finishing a half marathon in March 2013. It was 16 months after serious ankle surgery. My previous half had been in November 2011. It was definitely harder than I thought it would be.

Falling during a race is humbling!

Unfortunately it has happened to me twice. Both times, I was just cut up and not seriously injured.

Trying to run fast is humbling!

A flat course where it all just went wrong!!

Often, you get spoiled and when you have a good race, you think all of the ones after will be.

Not so!!

I ran a half in 2:09 and then the next one I struggled to finish in 2:20, and the 2 after that were even slower. Humbling!!

I’ve had the same experience with 5ks lately.

and I think MOST DAYS RUNNING IS HARD and sometimes IT IS also HUMBLING!

Happy Running! What do you find humbling?

July 6, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday- 3 4 mile run before work, dinner out for friend’s bday

Tuesday – ~~walk at work~~ (rain), dentist after, gym

15 mins – better than nothing

Wednesday – 3 mile run before work (rain), 2 mile run at work, hair appt, mall walk with BFF

got rained on or may have gotten another mile in

Thursday – 4 3 mile run after work

with Judy, new Hokas and ice cream afterwards = good run

Friday – off from work, 4 3.5 mile run, ~~nails~~, gardening, errands, mah jongg

Saturday – boating

it wasn’t sunny but it was so much fun

Sunday – 3 5 mile run, boating

slow, hilly but scenic ❤

warm, sunny day in the bay

This Week:

Monday- 3 mile run
Tuesday – walk at work, tennis
Wednesday – 4 mile run
Thursday – walk at work, rest
Friday – 4 mile run, mah jongg
Saturday & Sunday – 5k race, boating

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

July 1, 2015 by Darlene

June Update & Wednesday Word

June Goals:

Run 3-4 times each week. YES! except for taper & recovery week

even ran before work twice

Get some strength training or yoga done. NO!!! Not yet…
Go for a walk several times a week at work. YES!

Run a 5K. YES!

not fast but won 3rd in my AG

Complete Half Marathon #14. YES!

again very slow but won 3rd in my AG

Complete a 10 mile race. No! My flight got cancelled.
Lose at least 5 lbs. Doubt it!
Run at least 80 miles. No, not even close.

took a week off after my half marathon

What else?

I went to NYC with friends

to the Neue Galerie

and the Metropolitan Museum of Art &

I went to Denver for a work conference and took a City Running Tour

I went boating several times

I read some good books and saw some movies

and Mary Coin, the Ape House and others that I can’t remember

and Spy

July Goals:

Run 3-4 times each week.
Get some strength training or yoga done.
Go for a walk several times a week at work.
Run a 5K race or two.
Improve my speed.
Keep my weight in check.
Run at least 70 miles.

This week’s Word is INDEPENDENT

Here’s what “Independent” means:

not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct,etc.; thinking or acting for oneself:

not subject to another’s authority or jurisdiction; autonomous; free:

not influenced by the thought or action of others:

not dependent; not depending or contingent upon something else for existence, operation, etc.

not relying on another or others for aid or support.

rejecting others’ aid or support; refusing to be under obligation to others.

Hmmm…am I independent?

Yes and no. But more Yes than No.

at a Jimmy Buffet concert

I am married so of course, I can rely on my hubby for support. He will tell that I am stubborn and don’t listen to his advice. Although we enjoy boating and tennis, we have many different interests. This results in spending a lot of time doing things separately. (Some people might think this odd because many married couples do most things together.) For example, I don’t expect him to accompany me on vacation and to races.

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solo at a tennis tournament in CA

I do have a lot of friends. I love being with them.

But if I can’t find someone to do something, I will do it alone. I will go to the movies alone. I will go on a trip alone. (I have flown to Europe several times alone.)

in Fla solo running a half marathon where I knew no one

So how does “Independent” relate to running?

not influenced by the thought or action of others – I don’t care when people say “Isn’t that bad for you knees?” “Should you be doing that with your ankle?” (Runners don’t care what others think.) We also can run at whatever pace we are capable of.
not relying on another or others for aid or support – I drive to my races by myself and run by myself most of the time (Running is a great sport because you don’t need others to do it.)
not depending or contingent upon something else for existence, operation, etc – All you need are running shoes (and some cute outfits LOL) and you can run.

Happy Running! How did you do in June? What’s planned for July? Are you independent?

June 30, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: 2015 Goals Update

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

This week’s topic is: 2015 Goals Update

6 months down. 6 months to go. So how am I doing on my 15 goals for this year??

GOALS
FOR

1. Do not get injured.

No major injuries just some nagging foot issues.

ouchy!

2. Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR.

Yes, for the most part.

2x before work

3. Continue fitting in tennis and/or yoga once a week.

Tennis, yes. Yoga, no!

4. Do some upper body exercises.

Just a few times. Nothing to write home about.

5. Finish all of my races under 10 minutes per mile (except half marathons)

Yes. Except 15ks and 10 milers.

Cherry Blossom 5k – 8:59
Bacon Hill 5K – 9:00
Delmar Dash 5m – 9:09
Shamrock Shuffle 5m – 9:17
Runnin’ of the Green 4m – 9:21
Spring Run Off 10k – 9:22
Polar Cap 4m – 9:24
Albany Law Day 5k – 9:25
Mastodon Challenge 5k – 9:25
Freihofer Run for Women 5k – 9:28
Betar Byway 5k – 9:28
Mother’s Day 5K – 9:45
HMRRC Winter Series #3 10K – 9:48

6. Run at least one race per month and at least 20 for the year.

Yes. 20 so far…

January – 4

February – 2
March – 3
April – 3
May – 6

June – 2

: 2015

7. Run a race in another state.

Yes. Florida, (almost California), New Jersey and Vermont

West Palm Beach Half in FL

Asbury Park Half in NJ

VCM Relay in VT

8. Run in NYC.
No. Not yet.

9. Get several Age Group awards.

Yes. 9.

: West Palm – Jan 2015

: 2015

: 3rd

: 1st

: 2015 – 27:56

: 1st

: 3rd

: 3rd

10. PR in a half marathon.

Yes.

West Palm Beach Half – 2:09:40

11. PR at another distance.

Yes. 4 mile and 5 mile.

Runnin’ of the Green 4m – 37:27

Delmar Dash 5m – 45:26

12. Join a running group or two.

Yes. Freihofer Training Challenge.

13. Volunteer.

Yes. At the HMRRC Winter Series Marathon and I was a GOTR running buddy.

14. Run over 900 miles.

Not if I don’t get moving. 5 Half marathons and only 404 miles so far. (Last year I ran 911 miles.)

15. Continue to blog almost everyday.

Yes.

So what do I focus from now until the end of the year?

Keep up the weekly runs
Continue signing up for races
Drag myself to the gym now and then
Take a yoga class or two
Focus on speed for the shorter races.
Prepare for my half marathon in October.
Find a solution for my annoying achy feet (besides surgery)
Lose those extra pounds.

That should keep me busy!!!

Happy Running. Did you set goals for this year? If so, how are you doing?

June 27, 2015 by Darlene

My Most REAL Race #REALwomenmove

Go to http://www.skirtsports.com/ambassadors/ to read about the awesome ambassador captains

Part of my responsibility of being a Skirts Sports Ambassador Captain is posting every month on a different topic. You can click on the links to read my posts.

In April, the topic was:

“261” and honoring the anniversary of Kathrine Switzer; the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon and

Women conquering barriers

In May, the topic was:

What REALwomenmove means to me

This month, it’s:

My most REAL race ever

Actually ALL of my races have felt “real.” Every experience was different but I learned something from each one.

Which one is the most real???

It could be my FIRST HALF MARATHON….

Half Marathon in Naples, Florida

It felt unreal at the time. I couldn’t believe that I had run 13.1 miles. I had never raced more than a 5k. I didn’t even train with a GPS watch. It is my proudest moment!

It could be the half marathon(s) that I ran in the FREEZING RAIN.

Lake George Half Marathon

Love Run

I was miserable and wanted to quit so many times but I didn’t. I stuck it out and am glad that I did.

It also could be the races where I was injured and ran IN PAIN. Unfortunately, there were several.

Runner’s World 5k with a stress fracture

Freihofer’s 5K with a broken foot

Asbury Park Half when my foot hurt the whole race

These races showed me how strong I can be and how important running is to me. (or maybe how stupid & stubborn I am.) Fortunately, none of these injuries worsened due to racing.

But I think my MOST REAL RACE EVER is the first one that I ran after I had surgery on my ankle.

I had 8 screws and a plate put in and the ortho told that I would walk again but he wasn’t sure that I could run races.

I broke my ankle on Dec 29. I had signed up for the Freihofer’s 5K (which is my favorite race) before that. The race was held on June 1. I hadn’t started running yet but I was walking. So I decided that I would go to the race and walk the 3.1 miles.

happy to be running again with friends

Your bib was colored according to the previous year’s finish time. I squeezed in with the other YELLOWs (though I thought that I should go to the end with the walkers but it was too far to walk!)

As soon as the gun went off, off I started running.

Yes, I ran!

I ran up the hill. I kept running and running and running.

I cautioned myself to go slow so that I would be able to finish the race.

Everyone was running. I felt that if I stopped to walk, I would be trampled. Yes, runners were passing me but for the most part I was keeping up at my slow pace.

I left my Garmin home since I was planning to WALK so I had no idea what my pace really was and I didn’t care. I WAS RUNNING!

As we approached the end…it was downhill. I slowed as to not FALL and then I sprinted (yes sprinted) across the finish line.

I had TEARS in my eyes. I couldn’t believe that I RAN!!!!

pic on the cover of the TU

Strangely, my picture appeared on the front page of our local newspaper. I got a lot of phone calls questioning whether or not that was really me and how did I do that??

I framed that picture and gave it to my PT guy and my ortho (who both thought I was nuts.)

No race has ever felt as REAL!!

Love this Jenny Hadfield quote:

I made a pact with myself to never complain about an event I’ve successfully finished. No matter what my finish time or pace, I will cross the line with a pocket full of gratitude. Records are meant to be broken, but those moments are far and few between. Every adventure offers an opportunity to evolve, explore, and celebrate life. And that is the gift that keeps on giving.

Be sure to drop by the Skirt Sports website to see how the Ambassadors as #REAlwomenmove!

Happy Running! What has been your most “real” race?

June 25, 2015 by Darlene

Thining Out Loud Thursday: Racing, Confidence & Walking

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

Until recently I have felt that I had been racing more than running. In fact, I know I have.
- 3-14-15 – Runnin of the Green 4 m
- 3-22-15 – Shamrock Shuffle 5m
- 3-29-15 – Delmar Dash 5m
- 4-11-15 – Bacon Hill Bonanza 5k
- 4-18-15 – Asbury Park Half Marathon (in NJ)
- 4-26-15 – Cherry Blossom 5k
- 5-02-15 – Spring Run Off 10K
- 5-07-15 – Albany Law Day 5K against DV
- 5-09-15 – Mastodon 5k
- 5-10-15 – Mother’s Day 5K (for GOTR)
- 5-25-15 – Vermont City Marathon Relay
- 5-30-15 – Freihofer’s Run for Women
- 6-07-15 – Betar Byway 5K & Morea u M ile
- 6-13-15 – Walkway Half Marathon
- ~~6-21-15 –~~ ~~Adirondack Distance 10m~~ ~~(my flight got cancelled so I missed it)~~

That’s 14 (almost 15) races in 4 months.

When I first started running, I would sign up for races as a motivator to get out there and run during the week. I knew that my race performance would suffer if I didn’t.

Once I started running half marathons, I followed a plan so I would run during the week to train for the race.

I ran in order to race.

Many runners don’t race much at all. They just run. And that’s perfectly fine.

But I need to race. I enjoy it. I am not sure that I would run if I didn’t race.

I think that I have lost my confidence! From September to March, this is what happened:

5K PR– 27:11 (Run for the Roc -9/28/14)
10 mi PR – 1:38:45 (Perfect 10 Miler – 10/26/14)
15K PR – 1:33:23 (Stockade-athon – 11/09/14)
10K PR– 57:03 (Troy Turkey Trot- 11/27/14)
Half Marathon PR – 2:09:40 (West Palm Beach Half – 1/17/15)
7K PR – 44:24 (HMRRC Winter Series #5 – 2/2/14)
4 mi PR – 37:27 (Runnin’ of the Green – 3/14/15)
5 mi PR – 45:26 (Delmar Dash – 3/29/15)

Yup, that’s a PR at every distance!! Even after several serious injuries and being OLD! What a confidence booster!

Since April, things have slowed down. I have still been racing a lot but my times have been slow! (That is slow for me. Others would complain if they ran a mile in over 8 minutes. Some would be thrilled run one in 10 minutes. We’re all different.)

I feel like I have gone backwards…to the time when I struggled to finish a 5k under 30 minutes and a half marathon under 2 1/2 hours.

Being the analytical person that I am, I have searched for the reasons…

–my feet started hurting during my April half (which was annoying to say the least)
— I have cut back on my mileage (skipped runs)
–I have been running solo (no group runs)
–It is warmer (and humid)

All are very valid reasons. I don’t expect PRs. But I would like to have a good race to bring my confidence back.

Galloway may have a point. Lately I have been reading his tips on several blogs. His most recent is about walking. If you have read any of my race recaps, you know that I DO WALK.

According to Galloway:

Compared to running constantly, the 1-minute walk break still results in runners feeling better, staying healthier, and going faster, but it can get even better! Limiting walk breaks to 30 seconds, or in some cases even less, while cutting the run time accordingly, gives all the same benefits, with even less fatigue and even faster times.

Why?

The greatest benefit of the walk break comes in the first 30 sec. Our heart rates come down, the running muscles relax, we catch our breaths, and the fatigue melts away. After 30 seconds of walking, we tend to slow down.
As fatigue sets in, that walk gets slower… This means faster running is needed to stay on pace, which creates more fatigue at the end of each running segment, so the walk will get slower, and so goes the downward spiral at the end of the race.

I do not officially use the RUN/WALK method. But I do walk.

When I first started running, my goal was to run a race without walking. I was thrilled when I could. However, I didn’t get faster until I allowed myself to walk.

Not one of my PR times above were accomplished without walking.

Of course, I wish I was strong enough to run fast and not have to walk. But unfortunately I am not.

Happy Running! Any thoughts today? What do you think about racing, PRs and/or walking?

June 23, 2015 by Darlene

Adirondack Distance Run DNS

Sunday, June 21, 2015 – 7:30 a.m.

A ten mile race consisting of rolling hills from Lake George Village to Bolton Landing.

adc

Last year was my first year running this race which was on my bucket list since I began running.

adr3

I loved it. Especially since it ended at the marina where we keep our boat and my friends and my hubby could watch me finish.

This year, I was really looking forward to the race even though I would not be racing under optimal conditions:

I hadn’t be running this past week.
I ran a half marathon last weekend.
I would be coming home late the night before from Denver and would be jet-lagged.

Nevertheless, I laid out my clothes before I left for my trip and planned to give it my best shot and have fun.

My flight from Denver to Baltimore left on time and even arrived early. I was psyched to not have any flight problems.

But I spoke too soon.

After I landed, it started to storm.

My flight was delayed an hour.

Many of the other flights were delayed or cancelled.

I bumped into Carol whom I knew from college & her husband. They had been visiting their son who lives in Baltimore so we hung out together hoping to fly home that night.

The flight got delayed again and again and again.

And eventually it got cancelled along with every flight going out of Baltimore.

I’ll spare all the details but it was an angry scene of thousands of passengers trying to find their luggage, re-book their flights and find lodging for the night.

We were told that all the flights were booked for the next day and the lines for re-booking were miles long and not moving at all.

It also looked next to impossible to get a cab or even find a room for the night. There weren’t even any rental cars left.

Yeah, we were screwed.

So what my friends decided to do was to have their son come back to the airport to get them, sleep at his apartment and rent a car (outside of the airport) and drive home the next day. (They couldn’t stay longer sadly because Carol had to go to Boston Monday morning for cancer treatments.)

I was so lucky to have bumped into Carol. They invited me to sleep on the couch and drive back with them the next day.

So instead of arriving home Saturday evening at 10:30 pm and running my favorite race at 7:30 am on Sunday morning, I got home at 4:30 pm on Sunday afternoon.

I am disappointed but it could have been a lot worse.

Happy Running! Do you have a bucket list race? Ever miss a race due to transportation problems?

June 19, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: What Makes Me Happy

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 Things That Make Me Happy

1. Being on my boat with my hubby on Lake George

It is so beautiful, peaceful, relaxing. It’s my weekend place to be.