March 14, 2015 by Darlene

Runnin’ of the Green Race Report

rotg

This was to be my 8th 4 mile race.

rotg

Though it’s not a new race, it is a new course.

This very popular local race used to be run in Green Island (Runnin’ of the Green) but I guess it got to be too large so they moved it this year to Schalmont (which was farther away.)

I had no idea if it were flat or hilly so I assumed that it would be a little of each.

My past 4 milers:

Polar Cap Races (hilly):

2011 – 40:11
2013 – 41:40
2014 – 40:10
2015 – 37:40 PR

Runnin’ of the Green 4 milers (flat):

2011 – 38:02
2014 – 38:07

Rabble Ramble:

2014 – 38:06

last year

So I guess, my goal for the race would be to finish under 40 minutes.

Unfortunately, the forecast was for rain or freezing rain. I was not too happy. I HATE to run in the rain.

I woke up early to rain. I was not happy especially since if it were nice, I planned to run 6 more miles after the race. It was also cold – 30’s.

I wanted to dress like this:

last Sunday – 90 degrees!

but I adapted this outfit for the East coast climate – tights, long sleeved shirt, jacket, gloves.

indoors staying warm – 33 degrees!!

I left early since I didn’t know what the parking situation would be. But as it turned out, they didn’t get the attendance that they expected. There were half as many. I think many runners thought the new location was too far.

We got a short sleeved tech shirt which was unisex so too big,

I bumped into the usual folks that I see at the HMRRC races. We chatted and then it was time to go outside.

I made the wise decision to ditch the fleece vest because the rain had stopped (Hooray) and it was humid.

not a pretty sight

I made the obvious mistake of thinking I could keep up with these speedy ladies. I could not. But trying tired me out during mile 1.

There were timers at each mile and I finished the first mile a little over 9 minutes.

The course was not as flat as the old course but it was not too bad. By mile 2, I was exhausted. I crossed a little over 18 minutes but I was having a hard time breathing. I am not used to running fast. It has been quite a while since I have run a short race – like November!!

So I walked at the water stop and then continued.

At mile 3 which was around 28 minutes, I was done! I walked for quite a while. Secretly I wanted to finish under 37 minutes but that dream had faded.

11081113_948688318475731_2532455934048886077_n

I struggled to finish and crossed at 37:27.

I didn’t know it at the time but that was a PR for me!!!

It never rained and I even got warm enough to unzip my jacket and take off my gloves.

done!

The refreshments, as usual, were decent – 2 kinds of soup, pizza, pudding, fruit, cookies, hot chocolate. I ate everything while waiting for the awards.

I hung out with those speedy ladies again. They are my age but much faster and they run marathons and the Boston Marathon!! Anyway, they are super nice and all live near me.

I didn’t win anything. I think I was 8th.

those speedy old ladies ahead of me!!

Considering that I have done no speed work and not much running lately, I was pleased with my time.

Splits:

mile 1 – 8:58
mile 2 – 9:05
mile 3 – 9:40
mile 4 – 9:23
.06 – 7:08

I drove home and decided that if it was not raining, I would run 6 more miles – 2 loops around UAlbany. I ran one very slow one and then it started to rain so I quit.

I planned on 10 miles but only got in 7. Maybe I’ll have better luck next weekend.

St_PatrickDay

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

Happy Running! How are you celebrating St. Patty’s Day?

March 9, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #6)

Monday – 4 5 mile run on the TM

Thank God for Downton Abbey!!

Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 4 mile run

one day heat wave – 20 degrees warmer than last week

Thursday – 3 2 mile run on the TM, pack

this time, it was Nashville

Friday- ~~rest, flew to Palm Springs!!!~~ (flight got cancelled) 3.5 mile run
Saturday – 5k race, visit an arts festival, rest, 3 long flights to Palm Springs, CA

after work on the bike path arouond the puddles

Sunday – great run/hike with Mary in the mountains, enjoyed the warm weather 🙂

Mary on the Bump N Grind Trail

This Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #7)

Monday – 4 mile run, watch qualifying matches at the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament, hang out with Mary
Tuesday – 4 mile run, watch qualifying matches at the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament, hang out with Mary
Wednesday – ~~rest, fly home to NY~~ 4 mile run, watch women’s first round at the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament, hang out with Mary
Thursday – rest, fly home to NY
Friday- rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 4 mile race + ? more miles
Sunday – rest

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

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

March 8, 2015 by Darlene

Good News

I have arrived in Palm Springs.

And it is sunny and warm.

view from Mary’s condo in la Quinta

Mary and I are planning to run/hike on the Bump N Grind Trail today:

1497811_1498527633769600_8959616117855336520_n

I was able to re-book my return flight to stay an extra day. I will now be able to attend the BNP Paribas Tennis Championship at Indian Wells. The first round of the women matches takes place on Wednesday and I am now leaving on Thursday.

Really, I am hopeful of catching men like Federer, Nadal, Djokovic practicing.

last year on centre court of the new Stadium #2

But my big news is:

vcm relay

AJH,who was lucky enough to get into the NYC Half Marathon lottery, also got into the Vermont City Marathon Relay and we are running it a 2-person team.

I have heard that this is an awesome race and though I was not planning on running another half marathon, I am so excited to be part of it.

Happy Running! Any good news to share?

March 7, 2015 by Darlene

Shamrock 5K Race DNS

shamrock 5k

Come join us for a wild 5K dash in beautiful Downtown Palm Springs. Chase that pot of gold to the end of the rainbow and receive a beautiful finisher medal. Registration includes a St. Patrick’s Day t-shirt, festive eyeglasses, green pancakes and a free photo download! Costume contest with great prizes!

shamrock5k

Leaving the frigid NE for warm dry California weather…Running with my friend Mary again…Seeing scenery like this…

This race was just the icing on the cake.

Since it was a St. Patrick’s day race, I planned to wear as much green as I owned:

my new Runingskirts.com skirt

I got this a few years ago

these are a few years old also

with a black tank and black compression socks. Cute but not contest worthy!

Well, it never happened!!!

I got up yesterday morning at 4:30 am to find out that my first flight (to Philly) was cancelled. The weather was clear in Philly but they had had bad weather all week. So who knows why?

Needless to say, I was big time bummed!!!

The earliest that they could re-book was today and get to Palm Spring (on 3 long flights) in the evening.

Yes, miss the race!!

At least it was only a 5K and not a big race that I had been training for.

Still a bummer!

So instead I went to work EARLY and went for a run after work. Since it was earlier than usual, I went to the bike path and hoped I could find some dry spots.

not here

not here either

here’s some

Well, in two parts, I managed 3.5 miles.

Good-bye snow and ice for a while. My next running pictures should look very different.

Happy Running! Did your travel plans ever interfere with a race?

March 5, 2015 by Darlene

March 5 by the 5th Virtual Race

Laura at Mommy Run Fast hosts a virtual race called 5 by the 5th. The rules are that you have to run either 5 miles or a 5K by the 5th of each month starting February through May. There are prizes up for grab each month for those that participate and record their results.

I don’t do a lot of virtual races because I run so many actual races.

But this one is easy to fit in.

Well, yesterday we had a heat wave. It was 38 degrees.

I drove to UAlbany where I ran last week because I thought that the path around the campus would be clear.

It was for the most part, but in spots, it was snowy and slushy. I had to tiptoe around the slush.

And at every intersection, there were huge puddles. What a mess!!!

But it was a nice night to run and a 5k completed!

I had extra time and the arctic freeze was predicted to return today so I added an extra mile.

Happy Running! Do you do virtual races? Have you been able to run outdoors?

March 5, 2015 by Darlene

Heading West

My latest excuse for a vacation is that my running friend, Mary moved to Palm Springs, CA and last year I had such a good time visiting her that I decided to do it again. (Thanks Mary!!)

Remember Mary, my running, ice cream buddy?

So I am going to PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA again!! March 6-11! (leaving tomorrow – taking 3 flights and hoping for good connections.)

Of course, there had to be a race for us to run together.

after last year’s 10 mile race

With a big tennis tournament starting nearby, the only race I could find was a 5K.

Come join us for a wild 5K dash in beautiful Downtown Palm Springs. Chase that pot of gold to the end of the rainbow and receive a beautiful finisher medal. Registration includes a St. Patrick’s Day t-shirt, festive eyeglasses, green pancakes and a free photo download! Costume contest with great prizes!

Sounds like fun, right?

The last time I ran a 5k was in December and that was at night. My last competitive 5k was back in November. Not to mention that I am going from the frigid, snowy NE to the California desert. (Shocker!!)

So my primary goal for this race is to have fun. Of course, an age group award would make it even more special.

I am really excited to see Mary again. To run with Mary! To leave the cold weather!

I’ll that it!!!

Maybe even get to go on this trail (Bump N Grind)…

1497811_1498527633769600_8959616117855336520_n

doesn’t this look like fun?

view from Mary’s patio…she lives on the 12th hole

Happy Running! Do you plan your vacations around races??

March 3, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Favorite Post-Race Treat

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: Favorite Post-Race Treat

Ice Cream!!

Unfortunately, you don’t get it very often. That was one of the reasons that I enjoyed Sean’s Run (pictured above and below) so much.

Chocolate Milk

I’m not fussy, I don’t care what kind. After a race is the only time I drink it.

Happy Running! What is your favorite post-race treat ?

March 2, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #5)

Monday -work at the Bar Exam, tennis
Tuesday – work at the Bar Exam, rest
Wednesday – 3 mile run, monthly tennis dinner out

Japanese dinner

Thursday – 4 mile run

I was soooo cold!!

Friday- rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 9 mile run

it was cold but running with a new friend made the first 5 miles bearable. The last 4 not so much.

Sunday – rest, volunteer at HMRRC Winter Series #6

3 hours standing still in the cold & wind

This Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #6)

Monday – 4 mile run
Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 4 mile run
Thursday – 3 mile run
Friday- rest, fly to Palm Springs, CA!!!
Saturday – 5k race
Sunday – ??? mile run with Mary, enjoy the warm weather 🙂

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

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

March 1, 2015 by Darlene

Volunteering

One of my goals for the month was to volunteer at a race.

I really appreciate volunteers. They are often responsible for the success of a race. They direction runners at all the turns, give out water and medals and do it in heat and frigid temps.

I know I should volunteer more often or at least once a year, but I am selfish.

I want to race not watch others race.

I’ve only volunteered once and it was in 2010 for a 15K when that distance was too long for me.

So I signed up to work at the HMRRC Winter Series #6 – the Marathon & Marathon Relay (since I wasn’t planning to run in it.)

running at Winter series #5

I choose the late shift – 12-3 pm and hoped that it wouldn’t be an unbearably cold day.

Well, it was so COLD that they postponed the race a few weeks until today.

And of course, today was cold but not as cold and windy as it has been. But there was NO sun unlike yesterday.

I arrived at UAlbany, the race location, a little early and signed in. They gave the volunteers either a hat, gloves or a sweatshirt.

I chose the blue sweatshirt

I got scheduled for post #8 – on the outer loop at the farthest point from the start. I was to be with a guy named Steve so we got our orange flag, yellow vest and drove one car over.

that’s Steve

And we just stood there waiting for runners to come by.

here comes a runner

It wasn’t a big race but a long one – a marathon and a marathon relay. Sometimes we waited awhile for a runner. But almost each one thanked us for volunteering. Having run many races here, I know how important volunteers are.

looks cold, right?

If cars came by, we had to make sure they stopped and let the runners go by. But on a Sunday, there wasn’t much traffic.

not a very scenic course

It was nice not being out there alone. When there was a lull in the race, Steve and I chatted. About running, what else?

But the biggest problem was the cold. It was cloudy with snow flurries and very cold. I was dressed very warmly – thermal shirt and pants under a fleece and tights. I was even wearing a long down coat. However, after an hour, I could no longer feel my toes. The hand warmers that they gave us were not helping.

The wind had picked up which made it feel colder than it was. And of course, not running but standing still made it worse.

WMarathon-213

The race organizers drove by twice offering us hot chocolate or coffee and more hand warmers.

Still, I counted down the hours and anxiously waited for the last runner to pass us.

Finally it was over and we drove back.

I hung out inside to warm up having hot soup, bread, etc.

The race organization also gave you a $15 gift card to Dicks if you volunteered once and ran at least 3 races (I ran 5 races and already used it to buy more GU.)

Even though I froze out there, I am still glad that I did it.

If you run races, you know that they cannot happen without people directing the runners, stopping traffic and handing out water…even on the coldest or warmest days.

But I think my next volunteering stint will be in warmer weather!!

Happy Running! Do you often volunteer at races?

February 28, 2015 by Darlene

February Recap

February Goals:

Run 3-4 times each week (no matter how cold it gets.) Yes.

at UAlbany

in Washington Park

Walk several times a week while at work. No!!! Boo!
Get some strength training or yoga done. A little!
Run with someone else when possible. Yes! Barbara, I met her on FB.

I’ll get a picture next time…my phone died but she pushed the pace on my first 5 cold miles. So much better with company. The 2nd 4 miles were torturous!!

Do long runs on the weekend to start to train for half marathon on April 18. Yes.

post 4 mile race

Complete a 10 mile race. Yes.

no PR but 2nd fastest 10 miler.

Complete a 4 mile race. Yes.

a new PR at 37:40 and 2nd in my AG

Volunteer at a race. NO. Only because it got cancelled due to the cold.
Run at least 80 miles. Yes! 82 miles

feb15

March Goals:

Run 3-4 times each week (no matter how cold it gets.)
Get some strength training or yoga done.
Start running with a training group.
Do long runs on the weekend to start to train for half marathon on April 18.
Complete a 5K race.
Complete a 5 mile race
Complete a 4 mile race.
Run all my races under 10 min. mile pace.
Volunteer at a race.
Run at least 80 miles.