June 26, 2014 by Darlene

My Next Half Marathon

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I know that I said I wouldn’t do one until the fall. But I am having trouble deciding on a fall half and I just got caught up in racing excitement of my 10 mile race last Sunday.

crossing the finish line of the Adirondack Distance Run

So what’s 3 more miles in 3 weeks??

Race info:

Flat and fast course in beautiful Saratoga Spa State Park
Saratoga Springs Strong To Serve Half Marathon Technical Shirts to all half marathon runners
Saratoga Springs Strong To Serve Half Marathon finisher medals to all half marathon finishers
Saratoga Springs Strong To Serve Half Marathon /Pint Glasses to overall and age group champions
6 water stops of half marathon course / 1 water stop on 5K course
At least 2 Port-a-potties on the half marathon course
Fresh fruit, pastries, and more at the finish line
Packet pickup 7/12/14 Noon – 5:00 PM at iRunLocal & on race morning at Race HQ
Top notch make-your-own goodie bags
20% of all entries fees support the Strong To Serve

The Course:

The Half Marathon course starts in with a lap around the Peerless Pool Parking Lot, turns right on East West Road, and then right onto Geyser Loop Road. The course then turns left to run a lap around the SPAC Parking Lot and returning to Geyser Loop Road. The course then turns left on East West Road, left on North South Road, and continues onto Roosevelt Drive. The course then turns onto the path on Avenue of the Pines, turning right on the path to head south beside Route 9. At Crescent Avenue the course moves out to the breakdown lane of Route 9 and continues south to East West Road. The course turns right on East West Road returning to the front entrance of the Peerless Pool Parking Lot. The course then continues for a 2nd full lap. After the 2nd lap the course turns right into the Peerless Pool Parking Lot finishing with a lap around the parking lot.

I have never run a race with a second full lap. This is a negative especially when you are a slow runner. Another will be if it is hot and humid. Again if you are slow, you will finish later when it is warmer out. And the third is that it is an inaugural race. I don’t think there will be a lot of runners and I could be running much of the race alone.

Nevertheless, I am excited to run my first summer half marathon. It will be purely for fun – no expectations. Especially since I have had no training plan and it is summer. Hopefully, it will be enjoyable and I can be on our boat on Lake George by noon.

The plan:

Instead of a 12 week plan, I have a 4 week plan.

I ran 10 hilly miles last Sunday.
I will attempt to get in 11 miles this Saturday (no promises)
I have Mon, July 7 off from work to run 12 miles (or not).
13.1 miles on Sun, July 13 or bust.

Goals:

Finish uninjured
Not finish last
Have fun
Finish under 2:30:00

Happy Running! Have you done a half in the summer? Have you run a half without training?

June 23, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

update Last Week:

Monday – walk at work, 4 mile run, mall walk with BFF

to the park for lunch

after work

Tuesday -2 walks at work, tennis

AM walk

Wednesday – lunch luau at work, walk, 3 4 mile run, ~~yoga~~

lots of eating

PM walk around campus

on a full stomach – ugh!

Thursday – rest, day in NYC (lots of walking)

Friday – walk at work, 4 mile run, mah jongg

Saturday – rest, spectate a 5K, nails, gardening

my friend’s first 5K

Sunday – 10m race, boating

perfect weather & a PR

Lake George with friends

This Week:

Monday – DAY OFF, 3 recovery miles
Tuesday –rest, tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles at lunch, concert
Thursday – rest, movie
Friday – 4 miles, mah jongg
Saturday, Sunday – 6 miles, boating

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

June 22, 2014 by Darlene

Adirondack Distance Run recap

Sunday, June 22, 2014 – 7:30 a.m.

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

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I was excited but nervous about this race.

I’ve wanted to run this race since I started running.

Finally this year I was able but…

I was not really prepared. I had been racing 5ks and working on my speed. Plus my running had been on mostly flat surfaces.

So yes, I decided to run this race but not as a race but just as a hilly long run/walk….take it slow and enjoy the scenery.

The race started at 7:30 am in the village of Lake George and ended in Bolton landing (next door to the marina where we keep our boat.)

I had a few options since there was a bus leaving Bolton Landing at 6-6:20 am. But I decided to stay home yesterday and drive up very early this morning. (I could have slept on our boat and then take the bus to the start but I wanted to get a good night’s sleep.)

The weather was perfect…cool (in the 50s to start) and sunny. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer day to race.

I wore the outfit below –

I got so many comments about how well everything matched

The drive takes about a hour or so so I left around 5:45 am.

I got there and found parking in a small lot and then walked to the fire station to pick up my bib. Then I walked back to my car to get rid of my jacket & race shirt. (It was chilly but I knew I would not need it racing.)

I used the rest room (there were real ones) and then it was time to line up. I was surprised at how many people were racing – about 500 and all the fast runners were there (from the local running clubs.)

I bumped into someone I knew and we ran together for a while and chatted.

As I mentioned, this course is hilly but it is also very scenic. I tried to focus on the scenery to take my mind off the hills.

I made a conscious effort to run conservatively. I felt great and I felt strong but I was worried about getting injured since I hadn’t trained for this. I have had a strained achilles and a stress fracture from overdoing and I don’t plan on repeating my past mistakes.

So I think I walked during every mile except for the first. I especially took it easy on the uphills.

I kept glancing at watch and even with all the walking, I was still running around a 10 minute pace for the first 5 miles.

The hills were steeper the first half but the second half seemed harder. The hills kept coming and coming. I knew by the last few miles that I would have a PR so I kinda lost my motivation to push on. I could have run harder but didn’t see the point.

I really loved running this race. It is the route that I drive every weekend during the summer to go boating. I kept thinking during the race about how I would run this one every summer and that it would be one of my favorites.

Anyway, I finally made it to where you turn to get to the finish line. I was surprised to see my hubby and some boating friends there cheering me on.

Of course, at that point I ran as fast as I could.

adr3
adr2

I crossed at 1:44:39. A new PR – over 5 minutes faster than my last and only 10 mile race.

phew! done!

Everyone got medals which is always a plus.

my proud hubby

I was so happy to have finished pain-free!! (love my new New Balance shoes!!)

trying to photo bomb

I grabbed some watermelon and a pastry and headed straight to the water to soak my feet in the cold lake water.

aawww

A great end to a great race.

For this race, they gave out awards to first place in EVERY age. I looked at the results and saw that there were 2 61-year old women ahead of me so I didn’t stick around.

I walked next door (how convenient) where my hubby and our friends were waiting to head out on the lake. I spent the rest of the day relaxing in the sun on the water

Splits:

mile 1 – 9:45
mile 2 – 10:19
mile 3 – 10:00
mile 4 – 10:00
mile 5 – 10:34
mile 6 – 10:36
mile 7 – 10:04
mile 8 – 11:19
mile 9 – 11:18
mile 10 – 10:26

Race Goals:

Have Fun.
Finish uninjured.
Not Finish Last.
Finish under 2 hours.

Yup. I met them all.

first sleeveless tech shirt

As I already mentioned, this race was on my bucket list and now it will be on my race to run every year list.

It was well-organized – lots of volunteers, plenty of water stops, someone calling out times at each mile, bikers warning you of oncoming cars, buses to the start before & after the race and you can’t beat the scenery.

Happy Running! Do you have a bucket list race?

June 19, 2014 by Darlene

My bucket list race

Nope it’s not a Half Marathon.

It’s a 10-miler. Rolling hills from Lake George Village to Bolton Landing. And it is THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!

Sunday, June 22, 201417 7:30 a.m.

I always wanted to do this race but:

June 2008, 2009, 2010 – 3.1 miles was the longest I was running back then
June 2011 – strained achilles
June 2012 – recovering from broken ankle surgery
June 2013 – broken foot (and I actually registered for the race 😦 )

Here are some views of the course (route 9N) from previous summer runs:

Race Info:

Packet pick up: Sunday 6:00-7:15 a.m. at Lake George Firehouse on Ottawa Street.
Pre-Race Transportation: Race Day-Buses leave Bolton Landing, Town Hall Office , Main Street starting at 6:00 a.m.
Last bus leaves at 6:40 a.m. (I could sleep on my boat and take this bus to the start)

Race Start: 7:30 am at Lake George Firehouse on Ottawa Street.

Post Race Transportation: Buses leave from Main Street beginning 9:00 a.m. through post award ceremony 10:45 a.m. (I could sleep at home or at my friends’ in LG and take this bus back to my car)
Awards: Awards ceremony 10:00 a.m. Overall top 3 male and female. Awards to fastest time for each individual age. (That’s different! Last year I was the only person with my age!!!!) Raffle prizes.

The Course:

yes, rolling hills – steeper the first half but not easy the 2nd half (I know)

When I am done with the race, I am next door to my boat. Perfect, right?

Bolton Landing Marina

So I should be excited?

Yes. However, I am not really prepared. I have been racing 5ks and working on my speed. My running has been on mostly flat surfaces.

This is a HILLY TEN mile race.

So what do I do now?

I am healthy so I am DOING IT!

I don’t want to get injured so I will take it slow and probably walk a lot of it. But I will enjoy the scenery and finish. Maybe I’ll be the only one in my Age Group. (They give award for EACH age!!)

Race Goals:

Have Fun.
Finish uninjured.
Not Finish Last.
Finish under 2 hours.

Happy Running! Do you have a bucket list race?

June 16, 2014 by Darlene

Monday running update

update Last Week:

Monday – ~~8.5 miles~~ rained out (off in the am), proctor LSATS
Tuesday -walk at work, ~~rest~~, 5 mile run

Wednesday – a walk at work, 3 mile run, yoga

run, then yoga then .5 miles more

Thursday – walk at work, 3 2 mile run during lunch, hair appt

on the track

Friday – walk at work, rest, mah jongg

Saturday – 5k + 6.7 miles, dinner party at work

course was short but 1st in my AG

farewell to profs leaving

Sunday – rest, boating

Lake George

This Week:

Monday – 4 miles
Tuesday -tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles, yoga
Thursday – rest, day in NYC
Friday – 4 miles, mah jongg
Saturday – rest, spectate a 5K
Sunday – 10m race, boating

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

June 14, 2014 by Darlene

Strawberry Festival 5k race report

2014_StrawbFest5k_Logo_FullColor-01

Another new race. I am continuing my quest to run new ones. I had several choices today including a rhubarb 5k or a strawberry 5K. The strawberry one was closer.

According to the website: “The course takes runners through the picturesque Old Niskayuna, a stunning and fast course.”

I planned to race, check out the Strawberry Festival on the same street and then run more miles on the Nisky Bike trail (in preparation for next weekend’s hilly 10 miler.)

The weather was perfect for running except for the wind – cool and cloudy.

It was about 60 degrees when I got to the race but it felt colder.

like by DIY arm warmers (cut knee socks)

I easily found parking on the street, got my race packet and walked to Mac Donalds to use the rest room. The race start was on a street with lots of shops and eateries – pretty convenient.

also 2 coupons for free ice cream!

The police stopped traffic to start the race.

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The course was very nice. You race through the neighborhoods…it was not totally flat but not too bad. The bad part was running into the wind. Although it was cool, I quickly warmed up and rolled down arm warmers.

My plan was to run the whole thing without stopping and if possible have negative splits.

My first mile was too fast so I slowed down for the second. I didn’t stop at the water stop.

Strawberry fest 5K

I started to speed up during the 3rd mile and then…

it was over!!!

Apparently, the police had blocked off part of the course so it was NOT 3.1 miles. It was more like 2.25 or so.

I was shocked when I saw the end. I crossed around 20:19. (I hadn’t even broken a sweat…)

Everyone was very annoyed. They apologized and promised to give us a discount on next year’s entry.

That’s not a 5k!!!

I hung around for the awards. They were only giving one for first in each age group so I wasn’t sure if I would get one.

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I DID!! (age group 60-99)

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Splits:

mile 1 – 8:57
mile 2 – 9:25
.25 – 8:33

I might have had a PR in this one…GRRRR!

After the race, I walked up and down the street sampling all the free food for the festival.

Then I drove to the bike path that was nearby. Instead of running 5.9 miles. Now I had to run 6.75 – ugh!

The sun had come out but it was even windier and I really didn’t feel like running.

I ran in the direction of Lock 7 this time and promised myself a free ice cone if I ran the miles.

my new friend told me that he could run faster

I struggled. I walked. But I did it and got a free cone (thanks to the race) and it was a BIG one! I headed to Target to do some grocery shopping and then rushed home to get ready for a work party!

Looking forward to a relaxing Sunday on the boat!

Happy Running! What are your plans for the weekend? Ever run a race that was short?

June 12, 2014 by Darlene

My next half marathon?

I started running in 2008. But 2011 was the first year that I ever even considered running a Half Marathon and I did 5 that year! Yes, I got hooked.

1st – Naples HM – 2:28:27

2nd – Lake George HM – 2:22:39

A strained Achilles delayed my training for #3 (so I walked half the race.)

3rd – Adirondack HM – 2:44:59

4th – Fall Foliage HM (No photographer) – 2:32:50

5th – Santa Clarita HM – 2:30:12

My first one was my most enjoyable and my 5th one, the least. In fact, the 5th one left me wanting an immediate do over! Unfortunately, after the 5th, I broke my ankle, then had a stress fracture so Half Marathon #6 came 16 months later in 2013 and I was just glad to finish.

6th – Sarasota HM – 2:33:59

Half Marathon #7 was supposed to be the one where I would be seriously training and hopefully get a PR. Then I broke my foot. With a late start to my training and my weekly miles not what I would have liked, again this half marathon was just “I’ll be happy to finish.”

7th – Mohawk Hudson HM – 2:24:14

Finally, there was Half Marathon #8. Injury-free for the whole training but I trained during an awfully cold, snowy winter. Nevertheless even running in monsoon rains, I managed to PR.

8th – Love Run HM – 2:22:35

So ideally, if I stay healthy, I’d like to run two half marathons a year.

Why Do I run Half Marathons:

It is hard and it gives you tremendous satisfaction when you finish.
You get a medal.
It motivates you to get out the door and run several times each week.
It makes you increase your miles.
It gives you an excuse to plan a vacation around a race.
You don’t have to be fast.
It really is doable (Anyone can! Some even are walker friendly.)
The training isn’t as time-consuming as for a marathon.

How Will I Choose My Next Half Marathons:

Not too expensive. I run a lot of races and do not want to spend more than $100 on one.
I want a medal. 13.1 miles is a big deal to me.
Run one with someone else I know, if possible. It is more fun with a friend running partner or spectator.
Stay local or use frequent flier miles and visit a friend. Again, I don’t want to spend too much money.
Not too hilly.
Pretty scenery.
I do not want to repeat a race. There are too many exciting races out there to choose from.
Not too small and not too large. (I don’t want to run alone but I don’t want deal with crowds and congestion.)

I haven’t decided on a Fall one yet. Maybe the Hogsback Half Marathon in Conn. on 9/27/14. It is hilly but I have a friend who lives nearby. I am thinking of possibly the West Palm Beach Half Marathon in Fla. on 1/17/15 because I have several friends that live near there.

Here are some of my Half Marathon Tips:

Get good running shoes
Learn to fuel (try different kinds and stick with what works on race day)
Hydrate – it may not be important on short runs but it is on long ones – use the water stops during the race
Increase your long runs gradually – I usually add one mile each week and stop at 12 – your adrenaline on race day will get you through the last mile
However, don’t cheat on long runs – some people can run 8 or 10 mile & are able to do 13 – I wouldn’t recommend it
Don’t forget to taper – you don’t want to have tired legs for that important day
Dress appropriately – that is for 20 degrees cooler than at the start (so bring throwaway clothing)
Wear a GPS when training and for the race – it helps you keep track of time, distance and most importantly pace
Start out slow – it will pay off during the second half – you’ll want to be able to run across that finish line and smile!
Don’t be embarrassed to take walk breaks – it’s better than hitting a wall at mile 10 or getting injured and having a DNF
Enjoy the experience. Soak up the atmosphere. It is supposed to be fun!
If possible, take pictures or buy a race photo – you’ll won’t regret having a visual reminder of the experience
http://thekennedyadventures.com/2011/05/10-tips-for-running-a-half-marathon-successfully-top-ten-tuesday/
http://www.halfmarathons.net/first-timers-guide.html

Click HERE to read an article about women running half marathons.

Happy Running! Do you run Half Marathons? Do like them? How do you choose the one to run?

June 11, 2014 by Darlene

Another weekend, another race

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Yup, that’s me.

I’ve run a race almost every weekend since March 30:

3-30-14 – LoveRun Half Marathon
4-06-14 – Delmar Dash 5m
4-12-16 – Bacon Hill Bonanza 5k
4-19-14 – Rabbit Ramble 4m
4-27-14 – Cherry Blossom 5k
5-03-14 – Spring Run Off 10K
5-11-14 – Mom’s Day 5K
5-17/18-14 – ON VACATION in Florida
5-31-14 – Freihofer’s Run for Women
6-08-14 – Betar Byway 5K
6-14-14 – Strawberry Festival 5K
6-22-14 – Adirondack Distance 10m

And I love it!

ME on page 2

Why do I race so much?

Racing keeps me running. I know that I cannot slack off. If I do, then the race will be painful (physically and mentally).
I usually run alone and when I run a race, I see and meet other runners. So much more enjoyable.
I am competitive so when I run a race, I don’t stop and walk as much and I run faster.
I only get that runner’s high when I cross a finish line.

Lighthouse 5K

So this weekend, I have a 5k – Strawberry Festival 5K. Supposed a fast course so I hope to have a better time than last weekend. (But you never know.)

The problem with racing every week: