January 3, 2015 by Darlene

December Recap

DECEMBER GOALS:

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

3-4 miles here a few time (unfortunately)

during Christmas break

Walk once a day while at work. YES on most days!

we’re inside now. 9 1/2 loops of the building

Run with a group when possible. Nope. Not this month. But did run twice with Judy.

Complete my 5k race(s) with under 10 min/mile pace. YES!

29:02 in the RAIN

Complete a 15K race. YES!

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HMRRC Winter Series #1 – 2nd fastest 15K

Do long runs on the weekend to train for half marathon on January 17. The last 2 weekends.

Run at least 80 miles. YES! 91 miles.

dec14

Go to the gym at least once a week. NOT REALLY. Lazy lazy lazy. I did a few times the last week.
Start back at yoga. Went Once!

new instructor, Maria; my former instructor Lisa has lyme disease 😦

Avoid gaining weight (while attending holiday parties). Not sure. Afraid to look at the scale!
Spend time with my mentee. YES! 3X.

celebrating Amanda’s 25th b-day

celebrating Richard’s 8th b-day

on Christmas Day

Also:

Spent 2 days in NYC!!

Dec 6 to see a Broadway show …

Dec 29 to see the Matisse exhibit

JANUARY GOALS:

Run 3-4 times each week (no matter how cold it gets.)
Walk once a day while at work.
Get some strength training or yoga done.
Run with a group when possible.
Do long runs on the weekend to train for half marathon on January 17.
Complete a 10K race.
Complete a 15K race.
Complete my10th & 11th half marathons.
Run at least 90 miles.

Happy Running! How was your December? Anything special planned for January?

January 1, 2015 by Darlene

Hangover Half Marathon recap

January 1, 2015

Every year, the Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club puts on the Winter Series, a series of free races for its members ($5 for non-members). On New Year’s Day, starting at noon, they offer the Hangover Half or 3.5 Bill Hogan Run as Winter Series #2.

I had planned to run the 3.5 mile race. That was before the 15k that went surprisingly well. Since then I have run 11 mile and 12 mile long runs (which didn’t go as well.)

So I decided that 13.1 miles would not be a stretch and that it would be motivating to have people around (and food after.)

For New Year’s Eve, my hubby and I had a quiet evening – just dinner out and a movie. We usually go Lake George on New Year’s Day but my hubby didn’t want to and I was fine with it.

So when I arrived at the race on New Year’s Day, I switched my registration to the half marathon.

We had been enjoying unseasonably warm winter weather. Well, that ended. It was cold today and WINDY so back to those layers.

I arrived at UAlbany early and was surprised at how many people were running on New Year’s Day. There were over 300 running the half marathon.

I bumped into to several SRMs, some runners from the Turkey Trot training group and Judy whom I have run with recently. Judy & I hung out and chatted util the race began.

at the start

As I have previously mentioned, the course is horribly boring (and ugly) and there is no crowd support.

It is pretty much 13.1 miles of me with my own thoughts and nothing to look at besides the backs of the fast runners lapping me. Yes, three laps of the same boring loop for the whole 13.1 miles.

Sounds like torture?

And it was.

hhm

I ran without walking until the first water stop at around 4 miles. It was so tough running into the wind. There were times that I was barely moving forward. My lips were getting wind burned and I was cold.Then when the wind was at our backs (not often enough), I unzipped my jacket and took off my gloves. This was the story of the whole race.

Unfortunately after mile 5, my lower back and left arm started bothering me. My legs were fine but the wind was slowing me down and I began to walk.

As in the previous HMRRC Winter series race, I was running alone most of the time.The speedy runners kept passing me but each one seem to say “Good job or you’re doing great.” That was nice. I, however, did not pass anyone.

I just kept plugging along trying to maintain good running form and minimize my arm & back ache.

The last 4 miles were the hardest. It seemed that every runner that passed me by was on their last lap but I had to run one more grueling lap.

This is when I start counting my steps to keep up the pace.

Finally the end was near but 279 runners (out of 309) were done and when I came to the next to last turn, there was no volunteer and I went straight instead of turning left. Luckily I realized my mistake and turned around. To make mattes worse, at the last turn, I had no idea whether to turn left or go straight so I waited until the next runner (an old guy) came so I would not run the wrong way again.

I tried to make up time for my mistakes and sprinted across the finish line at 2:18:33.

Believe it or not, that was a PR!!

Although, this was a tough race for me with the wind, I was happy that I didn’t quit.

done!

Inside, I had some soup, bread, pizza and hot chocolate before I ventured out into the cold again. I knew I didn’t win a age group award. The majority of the runners finished under 2 hours and the slowest, I think finished in 2:30.

hhm

Race Splits: (my Garmin actually worked)

mile 1 – 9:54
mile 2 – 10:05
mile 3 – 9:52
mile 4 – 10:04
mile 5 – 10:54 (water & gu)
mile 6 – 10:32
mile 7 – 10:36
mile 8 – 11:28 (water & gu)
mile 9 – 10:32
mile 10 – 10:54
mile 11 – 11:03 (water)
mile 12 – 10:54
mile 13- 10:47
.23 – 8:44

If only I was strong enough to run without walking, I would have a faster finish time.

My goal was to get through the race without too much pain and boredom. A PR was a plus!

I am glad that I started the new year with a race.

Now I have to stay healthy for 16 more days!

Happy Running! Did you run on New Year’s Day?

December 30, 2014 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Wrap-up – A Look Back at 2014

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: Wrap-up – A Look Back at 2014

2014 was probably my best year of running. NO INJURIES!!!!!!!!

Here are some highlights:

4 Destination races in 4 different states

10 miler in CA.

5k In FL.

a Half Marathon in PA.

10 miler in NJ

PRs at 5 distances

half marathon PR in March

10 mile PR in October

15K PR in November

10K PR in November

5K PR in September

Many many Age Group Awards (18, I think):

one of my favorites

$50 gift card to a restaurant

Ran lots of races (over 30) of which 20 were new races. Most of these I want to run again next year.

Troy Turkey Trot 10K

Great Pumpkin Challenge

Run for the Roc 5K

Adirondack Distance Challenge

Ran in some new places and met new faces

Uncle Sam’s Bikeway & RPI Campus in Troy

Blatnik Hill (part of Nisky bike trail)

Union college campus & the STEM group members

Prospect Park with the Turkey Troy Training group members

ran in Central Park, NY for the first & hopefully not the last time

new running buddy, Judy that I met on FB

Happy Running! How was your 2014?

December 29, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week: (Week 9 of HM training) – OFF FROM WORK

Monday – 6 mile run, errands, nails

3 miles with FB friend Judy & 3 miles solo

Tuesday – ~~3 mile run~~ (rain), 1 mile run at the gym, tennis

14 times around= 1 mile Torture

2 week trial membership

Wednesday – ~~rest~~, 3 mile run, gym, holiday party

Thursday – Christmas visit to mentee & mil, dinner, movie

Friday- 12 mile run, mah jongg chez moi

a tough one 😦 on a beautiful sunny day

Saturday – rest, gym, cooking (2 quiches, meatloaf, apple sauce, soup), shopping

Sunday – 3 mile run, tennis holiday party

This Week: (Week 10 of HM training) – OFF FROM WORK

Monday – rest, DAY IN NYC
Tuesday – 3 mile run, lunch out, tennis
Wednesday – rest, gym, dinner out for New Year’s Eve, movie
Thursday – Hangover Half Marathon
Friday- rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 3 mile run
Sunday – rest, gym

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 ?

December 28, 2014 by Darlene

2014 was a good year

report-card1 Yes, it was a very good year:

ZERO injuries
5 PRs
many races including three 10 mile races, four 10k races, two half marathons, three 15k races, fifteen 5k races and more…

So let’s take a closer look at my 2014 goals…

1. Do not get injured. No injuries, YAY!

happy legs

happy feet

happy body

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

in the freezing cold

in the spring

during my vacation

in the summer

in the fall

3. Continue fitting in tennis and/or yoga once a week and upper body & core strength exercises (planks & weights). Tennis YES, Yoga Rarely, Planks & Weights SO SO, Gym occasionally starting in October.

my instructor returned from maternity leave on May 7 and then went out on leave for lyme disease in July…

when I can remember to use them

indoors except the summer

4. Finish all races (except 15ks & half marathons) at under 10 min. per mile pace. Almost all. Even a few under 9 min!!!

: 5k – 30:10

: 4 miler – 38:07

: 5 miler – 48:14

: 4 miler – 38:06

: 5k – 28:56

: 5K – 27:51

: 10k – 1:00:52

: 5K – 28:14

: 5K – 28:51

: 2014

: short 5k (2.25 m) – 20:19

: 5k – 30:47

: 5k – 28:25

: 2016 – – 28:47

: 5k – 28:16

: 5k – 27:11 – PR (Sept. 2014)

: 5K – 27:47

: 5K – 27:46

: 10K – 58:28

: 10K – 57:03 – PR

: 5K – 58:16

: 5k:29:02

5. Run at least one race per month and at least 20 for the year. Yes! 33 races.

: HMRRC 15K – January

: Polar Cap – February

: Runnin of the Green 2014

: 3rd

: Betar Byway – June

: Turning Point – July

: Camp Chingachgook – August

: Run for the Roc – September

: Apple Run 2014

: Stockadeathon – November

: Albany Last Run – December

6. Run a race in another state or even a NEW state. Yes in FOUR states! Mayor’s Wellness 10 miler in CA, Lighthouse 5k in FL, the Love Run Half in PA and the Perfect 10 Miler in NJ (which is a NEW state).

Lighthouse 5K in FL.

7. Run at least 10 NEW races. Yes. 20!- Mayor’s Wellness 10m, HMRRC Winter Series #3 15K, Lighthouse 5k, Love Run, Bacon Hill 5k, Rabbit Ramble 4m, Cherry Blossom 5k, Spring Run off 10k, Mom’s 5K, Betar Byway 5K, Strawberry Fest 5K, Adirondack Distance Run, Saratoga Half Marathon, Turning Point 5K, Run for the Roc 5K, Apple Run 5K, Great Pumpkin Challenge 10K , Perfect 10 Miler, Troy Turkey Trot 10k, HMRRC#1 15K

first annual Love Run

Bacon Hill 5k

Spring Run Off 10K

Strawberry Fest 5K

Saratoga Half Marathon

Run for the Roc 5K

Great Pumpkin Challenge 10K

Troy Turkey Trot 10K

8. Run in NYC. Yes! Not a race but I ran there.

9. Get an Age Group award. Yes! 18 of them – 3rd at Mayor’s Wellness, 1st at Lighthouse 5K, 1st at Bacon Hill 5k, 2nd at Rabbit Ramble 4m, 2nd at Cherry Blossom 5k, 3rd at Spring Run Off 10K, 1st at Mom’s Day 5k, 1st at Betar Byway 5K, 1st at Strawberry Fest 5K, 2nd at Saratoga HM, 3rd at Turning Pt 5K, 2nd at Jailhouse Rock 5k, 3rd at Malta 5k, 2nd at Run for the Roc 5k, 1st at Apple Run 5K, 1st at Falling Leaves 5K, 1st at Run off that Turkey 5K, 3rd at Albany Last Run 5K

Mayor’s Wellness 10m

Cherry Blossom5k

Mom’s Day 5K

Spring Run Off 10K

Betar Byway 5K

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Strawberry fest 5K

Turning Point 5k

Malta 5k

10. Run a 10 mile race. Yes! 3 – Mayor’s Wellness 10m, Adirondack Distance Run and Perfect 10 Miler.

Mayor’s Wellness 10m

Adirondack Distance Run

10 miler - 1:38:45

11. Run at least one half marathon. Yes! 2 – The Love Run and Saratoga Half Marathon

Saratoga Half

12. PR in a half marathon. Yes! at the Love Run.

4 sec PR

13. Run over 800 miles. Yes! Over 900 miles!

most miles ever

14. Continue to blog almost everyday. Yes!

Goal added for the second half of the year:

PR in a 5K. Yes!

Run for the Roc – 19 sec PR over 2011 PR

Achievements that weren’t goals:

PR in a 10K

Troy Turkey Trot

PR in a 10 mile race

Perfect 10 miler

PR in a 15K

Stockadeathon

Yes, at age 61, I PRed at every distance this year. I’m not getting older, I’m getting better!!

Happy Running! Do you have yearly goals? If so, how did you do this year?

December 24, 2014 by Darlene

Currently

Being off from work for more than a weekend is very strange for me. I am not used to having so much free time and yet, not getting things done.

Reading…. I want to see Unbroken tomorrow in the theaters so I am trying to finish the book. (I doubt I will finish, though.)

Watching… I heard this show was good and I am binge watching all the episodes to catch up. So far, I am enjoiying it and I think I am hooked.

Drinking… I have fallen in love with herbal teas.

Eating… out a lot.

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lots of holiday and birthday celebrations

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Anticipating… the Hangover Half Marathon on New Year’s Day…but only as a training run but still nervous.

hhm15

Wishing for… Seasonally warm temps and DRY weather… no snow, ice or rain so I can run outdoors.

Yay! Clear path.

Seeing next week… Going to MoMA in NYC to see…

and seeing the decorations that I missed on my last visit.

Loving... that I do not have to go to work and can RUN any time I want and do whatever whenever. I may even hit the gym.

have to finish knitting this scarf by tomorrow!

Feeling… Anxious. I am always nervous about running a half marathon especially a destination race where I don’t know anyone.

West Palm beach, here I come!

Happy Running? What are you currently….?

December 23, 2014 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Show Us Your Year In Pictures

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: Show Us Your Year In Pictures

January:

10 mile race with a friend in Palm Springs CA

February:

4 mile race in Lake George with blogger AJH

March:

5k race while visiting friends in St. Augustine, FL

a wet half marathon with new friends in Philly

April:

1st in my age group (and winning a pie) at a new 5k

May:

tennis vacation in Naples, FL

1st in my age group again at a 5k on Mother;’s Day

June:

day in Staten Island

finally running a bucket list 10 miler

July:

Jimmy Buffet concert

my 9th half marathon

August:

a scenic but tough 10K with a new FB friend

many warm weekends on our boat on Lake George

September:

Running in Central Park, NYC

finally a 5K PR

October:

college reunion in NYC

Perfect 10 Miler in NJ & a PR

November:

PR at a 15K

10K PR at a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot

December:

a rainy 5k race through the lights in the park

a day in NYC with friends

Happy Running! What are some highlights of your year?

December 20, 2014 by Darlene

2014: My Year in Racing

I’m linking up with Montana from Pretty Lil Mudder and a number of other Girls Gone Sporty members to give out some awards to the races I ran. Since I ran so many, I had no problem finding a race for each category even though I only ran 2 half marathons and no marathons.

Most Scenic Course – This was a little difficult to choose…along the river, along the ocean, along a lake, in a park??? But I will pick the Mayor’s Wellness 10 Miler (in Palm Springs) because of the awesome mountain views.

Most Challenging Course – For me, challenging is hills and distance but I think I’ll choose hills. There were 2 that I ran along Lake George that were hilly but the Adirondack Distance was longer (10 miles) so more challenging.

Best Course Support (aid stations, volunteers, people cheering you on, etc) –

I would probably have give this one to the Stockade-athon. There were many water stops & volunteers. And the people of Schenectady cheered the runners throughout the course. The photo below was taken by a friend along the course.

Best Expo – It would have to be the Love Run (in Philly) since it is the only one I went to. I went with friends and we had a lot of fun – lots of booths, free shirts, hair braiding, massages, etc.

Best Swag – Another tough one. Sometimes I like the shirt, sometimes the medal, sometimes you get other good stuff. But I would have to pick the Apple Run 5K. You got a bag, shirt and a glass. Plus the AG awards were plaques.

Most Unique Medal – I guess the most unique medal was the one made out of wood from the Camp Chingachgook 10k. All of my other medals are metal.

Best Post-Race Food/Beverages – I have run a few races that have had a good selection of post race food. It is important if you spend a lot money on a race and if it is a destination race. My vote this year goes to the Camp Chingachgook 10k. They had an awesome barbecue of hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, etc.

The Perfect 10 Miler had good post-race food as well (just too healthy for me.)

Best Race Shirt– This was easy. It was the lilac hoodie from the Perfect 10 miler (in NJ.) It is very comfortable. I have worn it several times already.

Favorite Overall Race – With running 33 races this year, it is certainly hard to pick one. But if I have to, I’d say it was the Troy Turkey Trot 10k. The weather cooperated, there was a lot of excitement surrounding the race and I saw a lot of racers that I knew there. It was just fun. The only thing that would have made it better would have been an Age Group award. At least, I had a PR.

Race You Are Most Proud of Yourself for Completing – Half Marathons are tough for me. I ran one this year in the pouring rain but my award goes to the Saratoga Half Marathon. It was very very humid and I felt sick the whole race. I wanted to quit several times but toughed it out.

Happy Running! What awards would you give to the races you ran in 2014?

December 15, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week: (Week 7 of HM training)

Monday – ~~walk at work,~~ cookie party at work, ~~tennis~~ 6.5 mile run

after work instead of tennis – had to run off those cookies

Tuesday – walk at work, 4 mile run

AM walk – indoors

sleet, freezing rain=treadmill

Wednesday – walk at work, ~~yoga~~ ~~STEM celebration dinner~~ (cancelled – snow)

AM walk – will I ever get outside again?

Thursday – ~~walk at work~~, 4.5 mile run

got out of work early & found a dry road 🙂

Friday- walk at work, 3 2.5 mile run, mah jongg

AM walk

after work

mah jongg & celebrating 2 birthdays

Saturday – ~~yoga for runners~~, rest, shopping, knitting

I need to finish this scarf by Christmas

Sunday – 15K race, dinner out, lights in the park carriage ride to celebrate my mentee’s son’s b-day

1:34:55 – my 2nd fastest 15K

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This Week: (Week 8 of HM training)

Monday – walk at work, tennis
Tuesday – walk at work, 4 mile run, tennis dinner
Wednesday – walk at work, ~~yoga~~ STEM celebration dinner
Thursday – walk at work, dept holiday lunch, 4 mile run
Friday- walk at work, work holiday lunch, retirement party at work, 3 mile run, mah jongg (LAST DAY OF WORK)
Saturday – rest, yoga
Sunday – 10 or 11 mile run

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 ?

December 14, 2014 by Darlene

HMRRC Winter Series #1 (15k) Race Recap

winter series #1 in 2011

Hudson Mohawk Runners Club sponsors FREE races throughout the winter for its members. The course is pretty boring but free is free.

winter series #3 last year

This weekend, they offered distances of 3M and 15K.

The 15K distance fit right in with my long run schedule in training for my half marathon on January 17.

So I signed up and hoped the conditions would be good enough for running.

This was my 5th 15K:

2014
HMRRC #3 – 1:42:40 -same course
Stockeadeathon – 1:33:23 (PR)

2013
Stockeadeathon – 1:42:22

2011
Stockeadeathon – 1:36:08

My expectations for this one was to be around 1:40:00 and have a course PR.

My long runs had been on track until recently. I had been running 8 miles on the weekend. But then the past two weekends, I only ran 3.1 miles (in 5k races). Either it was too cold or I was too busy to add the extra miles.

Then there was the weather… it snowed/rained Tuesday & Wednesday and there was the aftermath Thursday-Saturday. Not a good week for running outdoors.

So today would be a stretch to run 9.3 miles… I was wondering if I should switch to 3 miles but then again, that would screw up my training even more.

I was nervous about going from 3 miles to 9 miles. I didn’t want to get injured.

Well, I decided to just do it and take it slow. If it felt like a strain, just walk a lot….just get it done!!

It had been freezing, snowing, raining all week but all winter races are cold & icy so I bundled up in my usual layers. Then I realized that today was a lot warmer so I revised my outfit.

It was in the 30s so I wore capris with compression socks and 2 shirts. I brought a jacket just in case.

I left early to get parking since these races are crowded and there are other events going on at UAlbany.

What I love about this local race is that you get to see a lot of people that you know.

I immediately bumped into Judy, Melissa & Karen, some SRMs. I also got to chat with Judy from FB and Heidi whom I ran the Love Run in Philly last year. I even saw some runners from the STEM group, the Turkey Trot group, my coach from that group as well as other familiar faces from races.

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

I lined up with Judy who was running the 3 miler and Judy who was coming back from an injury.

The race is very informal – no bibs, no starting mat, no timing chips, etc.

I just told myself that this was simply a training run and just do it.

My Garmin actually found the satellite right away for a change but as soon as I started I noticed that it said “DATA FULL.”

Great. I didn’t want to mess with it and delete stuff while I was running so I ran the race “naked.”

Yup. There were no clocks or mile markers so I had absolutely no idea where I was in the race and what time it was.

10387548_900162099995020_8108069054983403948_n

This was early on. I am smiling. Gus in my pocket. Gloves on.

The only way I realized we were looping the State Office campus was that I passed a volunteer that I knew 4 times!!

second loop at UAlbany

The course is very boring but it also has hills. Not steep hills, just a few rolling hills throughout. This year, I have tried to be better about hills and not walk up all of them. I think I did walk up 2 of them.

There were 2 water stops (mile 3 & 6??) and I stopped at both to take a GU and walk.

The problem with a small race of about 300 and being a middle of the packer, I ran almost all of the race by myself – no spectators, no scenery, no music, no Garmin. Every now and then, someone caught up to me, we chatted and then they passed me by.

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later on. Not so happy. Gloves off.

I dressed perfectly. I didn’t need my jacket. I was warm & took off my gloves. Toward the end of the race, it got windy & started to drizzle so I did feel a little chilled.

The amazing thing was that I felt great the whole race. No aches and pains. No blisters. I actually felt stronger as the race went on.

10868100_900162149995015_5220568456897809219_n

toward the end

Finally it was over and I sprinted across the finish line at 1:34:55.

I think I was 214th. This is a fast group. They gave awards for the top 2 in each 10 year age group. I was 4th in my age group.

ws1

I was happy with the results. With a Garmin, I might have been faster but I doubt I would have PRed. This was over 7 minutes faster than last year on this course and my 2nd fastest 15K ever.

I went inside to warm up and have some soup, bread, cookies, fruit, hot chocolate. Not a bad spread for a free race.

And this I think is my 33rd race and my last for 2014.

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