May 5, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – 2 – 1 mile walks at work, rest, tennis

may be the last one outside – rain predicted for the rest of the week

afternoon break to Walgreen s& Starbux

Tuesday – 1 mile walk at work, 4 mile run on the TM at work

walk outside on the track before the rain

hated it but it was raining – watched an episode of Call the Midwife

Wednesday – 1 mile walk at work, rest, dinner out with the tennis ladies

walked inside, raining outside 😦

the group at a Thai restaurant (had pasta w/lobster & veggies + cheese cake pops for dessert)

Thursday – 2 walks at work, 4 mile run, dinner & mall walk with bff

Am walk after the rain stopped!

PM walk before the rain started again

rain shortened run

Friday – walk at work, rest, pre-race pasta dinner

Saturday – 10k race

PR & 3rd in my AG

finally got to see this movie

Sunday – rest, nails, movie…

not a great film but enjoyable

This Week:

Monday – 3 miles, tennis
Tuesday – rest, dinner, movie with bff to celebrate my b-day
Wednesday – 3 miles, yoga
Thursday -rest, hair appt
Friday – 3 miles, birthday dinner out
Saturday – rest, tulip fest with mentee & sons
Sunday – 5k race, dinner out to celebrate my b-day

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ? Do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

May 3, 2014 by Darlene

Spring Run Off 10K Race Report

spring run off

I signed up for the 10k which was to begin at 8:30 am. The 5K would begin at 10 am. Again I was tempted to switch & sleep in but I switched for the Bacon Hill Bonanza and I promised myself that I would suck it up and run 6.2 miles for this race.

I am familiar with the course. It is where I do most of my long training runs.

Last night this race included a free pasta dinner & packet pick up.

same tech tee shirt as last year (unfortunately unisex)

The food was really good. It was catered by D’Raymonds, a local Italian restaurant. There was salad, bread, pasta, wine, and lots of homemade desserts. It wasn’t a buffet. They actually served you.

My hubby was supposed to come but couldn’t so I was alone. However, I got invited to sit with two lovely older runners. We had some great discussions….about running, of course. We exchanged emails. They said they would come early to cheer me on in the 10K and I would stay for the 5k and cheer them on.

Ilsa from Conn. (in her 70s) and Sue from Albany, my age.

pasta dinner before the race above

As it has been in recent weeks…fickle weather. Unseasonably cool, breezy cloudy and chance of rain.

I wore a similar outfit to last week – just different colors. (long sleeved tech shirt with a shirt over, running skirt, compression socks, cap – extra jacket, gloves, and pants to stay warm before and after).

I arrived early to make sure I got parking and to look for some SRMs (Strong Running Mamas group) that I knew were running the race. I found parking in the closer lot and then walked over to the start to get my chip (They didn’t hand them out last night – haven’t run a race with a chip in a long time.)

It was quite cool waiting for the race to begin. But I immediately met so many racers that I knew — Michelle, a student that I taught years ago (you would never think that she ran but she does & marathons), Valerie that I met last week, another runner, Nancy, that I meet at races all the time, the brother-in-law of a friend. I even chatted with runners that I met for the first time. Runners are so friendly at some races.

If you are wondering – that’s a beaver!

Eventually Felice, Bridget, Janis and some other SRMs showed up (They had been running before the race.) and it was about time to line up.

At this point, I got rid of my jacket and pants. The sun had come out and it was getting warm.

this course has nice river views

I started toward the front but not too near the fast runners.

Unfortunately, I forgot that this was a 10k not a 5K or that I am 60 not 40. Plus I felt really sluggish and tired this morning.

I went out too fast!!!!

I was already walking through the water stop at 1.5 miles. I haven’t walked in a race in weeks.

But this was a sign that the race would be going downhill.

I willed myself to keep up an even pace until the turn around of this out and back course.

I did and then I died.

I walked and then ran and walked some more and then walked and ran, etc. etc. I walked 7 times, I think. (I had no problems running the Delmar Dash 5 miler several weeks ago – what gives?)

Plus I developed a big blister on my right foot (damn old sneakers!) and I was very hot (wish I had worn just a short sleeved shirt.)

Finally, I decided to have some Gu to get more energy around mile 5.

It may have helped or it was just sheer determination to finish the race well.

I knew I would PR since I have only run a few 10ks and my best was 1:06:10 but secretly I wanted to finish under 1 hour!

As I approached the finish line, I had a few runners cheering for me – new friends Ilsa & Sue and some SRMs.

nice face – this photo is featured on the race site – springrunoff.com – UGH!

I crossed at 1:00:52.

Done!

Race Splits: (1:00:44 – Garmin time)

mile 1 – 9:12
mile 2- 9:35 (water stop)
mile 3 – 9:26
mile 4 – 9:59 (walking has begun)
mile 5 – 10:24 (lots of walking)
mile 6 – 9:59 (less walking)
.24 – 8:46

I had some refreshments and waited for the 5k to begin. I wanted to cheer on my new friends and the SRMs that were running it. (I did miss the infamous SRM photo op when I was talking to some others.)

Jennifer, Janis, Felice, Kara, Bridget & Elisa

I also began to feel better about my race. My time wasn’t bad. It was a PR!! I should learn from this — pace myself better and prepare better.

It was fun cheering the 5k finishers. I rarely do this because I usually only go to to races when I am running in them.

I only got a pic of Ilsa finishing

After the 5k was over, they had the awards ceremony. Some of the SRMs had left but many had stayed. So many of us got medals – Felice, Bridget, Elisa, Jen, Valerie, Nancy, Ilsa, Sue.

Even I got 3rd in my age group!!

springrunoff

All in all, not a bad race but not what I hoped. Do I wish I had signed up for the 5k? Maybe (I would have won 1st in my AG!) but I think it was good to try the longer distance.

My Race Goals:

run the whole thing without stopping – Not quite – I walked a lot – too much
PR (under 1:06:10) – YES!
finish under 1:02 – YES!
keep each mile’s pace under 10 minutes – Nope but only mile 5 was over
win an AG award – Yes – 3rd
have fun! – YES!
stay healthy! – YES! just a blister.

I had planned to run more miles after the 10K but after the awards, it looked like rain so I headed home. I may run again tomorrow if the weather is good.

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

May 2, 2014 by Darlene

April showers bring…

It’s been a rainy week.

weather 4-29-53

That means treadmill runs.

That means short runs.

they’re coming up in some places

Hopefully this means that the tulips will bloom on time.

May 10 & 11

But tomorrow I have another new race.

spring run off

There is a 5k and a 10K. I signed up for the 10K.

Oh no!

My last long run was March 30, my half marathon. So not prepared for this race!

At least the course is mostly flat.

My Race Goals:

run the whole thing without stopping
PR (under 1:06:10)
finish under 1:02
keep each mile’s pace under 10 minutes
win an AG award
have fun!
stay healthy!

We’ll see how I do. It’ll be a challenge.

Tonight they having a free pasta dinner. Pretty cool for a small local race.

Happy Running! Are you having a lot of rain? Are you racing this weekend?

May 1, 2014 by Darlene

April rundown

APRIL GOALS:

RUN at least 3-4 times each week. Yes!

on the track

after work in town

in the park

on the trail

Continue planks (Do it at least once per week.) Yes! Several times a week.

this is not ME!

Walk at least once a day at work. Yes! Almost every work day with my co-worker.

with my co-worker Sherri

Use those 5 lb weights on my desk. Yes! Most days. 20 reps of several arm toning exercises.

Spend some time with my mentee, Amanda’s 2 sons. Yes!

at a museum

at a park

at the mall – nice artwork for a 1st grader!

Find a new knitting project. No! Not yet.
Focus on speed rather than distance. (Next long race isn’t until Jun 22.) No, not really in training but yes, in shorter races.
Run a 5k race under 30 minutes! YES! Bacon Hill Bonanza and ALS Cherry Blossom 5k.

28:56 & first in my AG

27:51 & second in my AG

Run a 5 mile race under 50 minutes! Yes! Delmar Dash.

Run a 4 mile race under 40 minutes! Yes! Rabbit Ramble.

38:06 & 2nd in my AG

Run at least 70 miles this month. Yes! 73 (but my lowest in months!)

apr14

Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy. Yes!

10250127_774629115883201_4825100355175091535_n

smiling & wearing my half marathon shirt

I have been pretty lucky this month. Look at what I’ve won:

Door prize at the Delmar Dash ($75 worth of running-related items)
Raffle prize at the Rabbit Ramble (Road ID)
Blog giveaway – insoles
Blog giveaway – bag
work – 4 movie tix

my birthday month!

RUN at least 3-4 times each week.
Continue planks.
Start back at Yoga.
Walk at least once a day at work.
Continue to use those 5 lb weights on my desk.
Run my 5k races under 30 minutes!
PR in a 10K race (under 1:06)
Run during my tennis vacation in Florida.
Run at least 75 miles this month.
Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy.

Happy Running! How was your April? Anything special planned for May?

April 28, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – 1 mile walk at work, 4.6 mile run

in Washington Park

Tuesday – 1 mile walk at work, rest, tennis

outdoors before the rain

Wednesday – 3.4 mile run

Thursday – 1 mile & 2 mile walks at work, rest

new route around the school- solo walk – windy but sunny

lunch break solo walk to the park

Friday – 1 mile walk at work, barbecue, 4 mile run

perfect running weather

Saturday – rest, errands, bib pick up, mall visit with mentee & sons

1st grader’s art on display!

Sunday – 5K race + 4 miles more

2nd in my AG!

recovery miles at the Nisky bike path

I also won a giveaway last week:

from Marcia’s Healthy Slice

This Week:

Monday – rest, tennis
Tuesday – 4 miles
Wednesday – rest, dinner out with the tennis ladies
Thursday – 4 miles, mall walk with bff
Friday – rest, pasta dinner
Saturday – 10k race + 2 more?
Sunday – rest

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

April 27, 2014 by Darlene

ALS Cherry Blossom 5K Race Report

als race

Boy, there were a lot of races to choose from this weekend (about 15 including Sean’s Run, Kiwanis Classic, Lake George) but I have been trying to run new races. (If Mary were not in CA, she would have talked me into Sean’s.)

So this is another new race for me. And an important cause. I worked with someone for years who died of ALS.

Not sure if there would be cherry blossoms. We have had a cold spring. The races advertised Sport Tek shirts for for runners, a raffle, and medals for top male and female finishers in the following age groups: 14 & under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 and up. 60 and up!! Boy do I feel old!

Afterwards, there would also be a craft fair and a barbecue.

I wasn’t sure if the course was hilly or flat but guessed it would be a combination.

als5kcourse

So of course, I was hoping to break 30 minutes and maybe win an AG award. But my week day runs have been so slow, I never know what race day will bring. Of course, I stalked previous years’ results and if there were only one or two winners at 60-99, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

Yesterday, I was in the area so I stopped by to pick up my race packet.

nice women’s tech shirt. 59 – my b-day is 5-9. Lucky?

Again, the weather was cooler than I would have liked. But it wasn’t raining (like it did all day yesterday) when I left so I am not complaining. I wanted to wear a short sleeved top, skirt & compression socks but had to add another layer to stay warm.

The 1.5 mile walk started at 9 am and the 5K race started at 10:15. In a email, it warned runners that this would be a record crowd and that parking would be a problem so I tried to get there early.

I drove the same way as I did to pick up my bib and planned on parking at the tennis courts in the park. But although I was early for the race, the parking lot was blocked off. So I drove around the park and back out the other way trying to figure out where to go. (Good thing I left early.)

I wound up parking closer and on a street which was not part of the race route.

As soon as I got there, it started to drizzle and get colder. I put on a jacket and pants under my skirt and walked over to the race area.

there were a lot of cherry blossom trees but most were not in bloom yet.

As the start of the race got closer, I ditched my jacket, gloves & pants.

I headed to the start and bumped into someone that I met last November at a 5k. We are in the same age group and we started talking about local races.

Then all of a sudden, everyone started moving. Oops! We weren’t near the front of over 500 racers & I forgot to start my Garmin.

I quickly started it and it took forever to find a signal, I actually had to stop to turn it off and on. (Great for my race time, right? Oh, I forgot, this was a FUN race.)

It was pretty cool out. My hands were cold but the rest of me was fine once I got moving. The course had tons of twists and turns. It made it interesting as you weaved through the neighborhood and then back around.

There were NO mile markers or timers. Even so, I never looked at my watch. The course was pretty flat except for mile 3 being mostly uphill. I didn’t walk nor did I stop for water. I just tried to run a constant pace.

As I approached the finish line, I was shocked to see that I was UNDER 28 minutes!! I wish I had more energy to run faster at the end (or didn’t blow the beginning of the race.)

This could have been a PR!! (Oh right, it doesn’t matter!)

I did finish under 28 minutes – 27:51 (missed a PR by 22 seconds.) But I was very happy. There was the fastest that I’ve run a 5K since May 2011. So it’s a post surgically repaired ankle PR 🙂

I celebrated with some post-race refreshments:

And then walked around the craft fair. I didn’t have any money which was good.

Then I looked at the results. 2nd in my Age Group! What a surprise!

als5k

While I was waiting for the award ceremony, I recognized one of my former French students, Tricia. She ran it with her son and is going to be running her first half marathon in the fall.

Tricia is in pink, I look cold & miserable

Race Splits: (2.93 miles – 27:05)

mile 1- 9:13
mile 2 – 9:21
mile 3 – 9:09

happier with a medal

My Race Goals:

run the whole thing without stopping –YES!
finish under 30 minutes –YES!
keep each mile’s pace under 10 minutes – YES!
have fun! (do not have to win a AG award or have a PR) YES! and won an award!
stay healthy! YES!

another medal and a post ankle surgery PR = a good day

As I mentioned earlier in this post, I taught with someone who died from ALS, a terrible disease. At this race, there were 160 people running/walking to support a local news photographer, Gene, who was recently diagnosed with ALS. (I used to play on the same tennis team as his daughter.)

Afterwards, I had planned on stopping at the Nisky bike path for as many more miles as my legs could handle.

It started to rain but as I arrived in the parking lot it stopped. It was colder than during the race so I put on my jacket and some capris.

overcast day

So I ran 2 miles out and 2 back. The first mile was great, the 2nd ok but the last 2 were crappy slow.

at least the ice has melted…my first time here since early winter

How did I finish the afternoon? A trip to Target. Nothing exciting..just groceries and then a nice home cooked dinner.

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

April 24, 2014 by Darlene

TTT

1. Why are my training runs at a 12 minute pace and my races between 9 and 10??

I always feel so lethargic when I run by myself. I walk frequently. I don’t push myself. If I didn’t sign up for races, I would never get faster.

see what I mean?

2. Why do I feel pressure to PR at all my races?

I am competitive and want to get faster and even win an AG award. I would have more fun if I get went out there to run and not think about my finish time.

disappointed in my time

having fun – didn’t care about my time

3. What are my goals for this weekend’s 5K race (another new one)?

als 2014

run the whole thing without stopping
finish under 30 minutes
keep each mile’s pace under 10 minutes
have fun! (do not have to win a AG award or have a PR)
stay healthy!

Happy Running! Are you running or racing this weekend? How do you motivate yourself to train well?

April 22, 2014 by Darlene

Run the Perfect 10 Miler With Me on October 26th!

A few weeks ago, I heard about a women’s-only ten mile race at Mercer County Park, New Jersey in October, called the Perfect 10. It’s put on by CGI Racing, which also organizes the Rutgers Unite Half and the LoveRun, among other events.

Except for the rain, the Love Run was a fun event and so well organized that I wanted to run another CGI race.

I have a college friend that lives in NJ about an hour from the race so I registered and plan to stay with my friend for the weekend.

Until the end of May, it’s $50, which is pretty good compared to half marathons and other area races around that time of year. Also, there will be a chocolate fountain at the finish – how can you say no to that?!

The Perfect 10 race is an event that is not only a running competition but a celebration of our own positive image as women, both inside and out. The organization encourages you to share your inspiring stories of why you are a perfect 10, and those featured monthly will have a chance to receive the Perfect 10 Honor on race weekend.

In a Runner’s World article by Kristin Armstrong, she wrote, “you are most beautiful when you are doing what you love.” That is a message I hope runners everywhere will understand, especially those who are self-conscious when taking their first strides outside the door.

So, if you’re in the NJ/NY/PA/DE area and get excited about the prospect of a mid-fall ten mile race, chocolate, or men in tuxedos, please visit the Perfect 10 website to check it out further! Also, follow their Twitter and Facebook pages for the latest information and inspiration!

Check out this video, too!