May 11, 2014 by Darlene

Mom’s Day 5K Race Report

I always like to race on Mother’s Day. It usually falls around my birthday so I feel I am celebrating that as well.

This is the first year that I was not running in the HMRRC’s Mother’s Day race. I liked it when it was close by and then it moved to Schenectady.

2011 in Delmar

Mary Pat & I at last year’s race in Schenectady

This race has great swag – bag, rose, chocolate fountain, etc. I would have done it again if there wasn’t a closer race and beside, this is the year of running NEW races.

So today I ran a familiar course (same as last weekend’s) but a new race.

I convinced my friend, Mary Pat to run with me again this year. (She has been injured so wasn’t that enthusiastic.) Coincidentally, we both pulled into the parking lot at the same time so we walked over to get our bibs. And I was still debating on whether or not to do the 5k or the 10K.

look at our bib numbers

The weather was picture perfect. Blue skies and sunshine. A little warmer than I would have liked but I am not complaining. The sunshine was delightful. There was quite a breeze so that kept you cool.

I finally decided on the 5K. It looked like there were very few running the 10K so I didn’t feel like running alone and it was warm. Also I left my Gu home and I don’t like to run over 5 miles without fuel. So I stuck with my original registration.

I bumped into Valerie again (a runner in my age group who runs many of the same races). She said her goal is to someday “beat me.” Great! Now I feel pressure!.

This race was low key. No chips and timing devices. A line on the sidewalk where you started and finished.

The race also started about 15 minutes late while they were marking the course.

Getting ready & starting my watch

As usual, I started off fast and waited to peter out.

beautiful day on the river…lots of fisherman

It was warmer than I was used to. This was my first summer-like temp race. It was exactly the same course as last weekend.

I was very very thirsty and held out until the turn around to stop for water and walk for awhile. Ugh! I hate when I do that.

Then I continued slower than before. On the way back, we were running into the wind. But it felt good. I am not sure if it was the heat or that I was running too fast, but I found it hard to breathe. I stopped and walked at least two more times. And this is only a 5K!!

Finally the finish line was in sight. I sprinted and tried to finish under 28 minutes but could not muster up enough energy.

heading to the finish line

Final time was 28:14 (23 out of 134)

Splits: (Garmin time – 28:10)

mile 1 – 8:59
mile 2 – 9:16
mile 3 – 9:23
.14 – 8:05

Done!

Positive splits! No surprise there. Not a bad time considering the walking.

The food was just banana halfs and apples. I missed the HMRRC race’s chocolate fountain, pizza, soup and delicious pastries, etc.

We waited around for awhile but my friend Mary Pat had to leave. So I hung out with Valerie and some others waiting for the awards. There were some older women that finished ahead of me but it turned out that they were younger than me. Yay!

mom 5k

moms5k1

I won first in 60+. (I hate that age group. Feel ancient!)

I dropped off my swag in my car and continued to run some more.

Unfortunately it was getting late so I only had time for 2 more miles. Better than nothing. (My hubby was home waiting to leave.)

The course was nice but I think next year I will return the HMRRC Mother’s Day race in Central Park. (Good food & tech shirts are important.)

the marina where we keep our boat..many of our friends were out on their boats

I continued my Mother’s Day/Birthday celebration with dinner with my hubby at one of my bucket list restaurants. It’s in the town where we keep our boat in the summer so it’s on the lake (but pretty pricey.)

view from the restaurant – Chateau on the Lake

Our friends stopped by on their boat and snapped our pic:

The meal was great and so was the day!

Happy Running! Did you run or race today? If not, how did you celebrate?

May 10, 2014 by Darlene

#Run50

usa1

New York -5K, 10K, 15K, 4m, 5m, 131.
Florida – 13.1
California – 10m, 13.1
Vermont – 5K
Pennsylvania – 5K, 13.1

I wish I started running earlier. I used to have a job that allowed me to go to conferences all over the country. There was a 5k at each conference. They always closed out in hours. At the time, I thought people were nuts to get up at 7 am to run. But for the last conference that I went to (2006), I registered and walked the 5k (in 45 min.) I started to see how much fun everyone was having.

I visited 8 cities/states for those conferences (San Diego, Seattle, Baltimore, Atlanta, Chicago, San Antonio, Philly, New Orleans). Too bad, I wasn’t a runner then.

Now I am 61. I have run in 5 states so far.

Run in all 50 states?! Not likely. But I will do my best to run in some more different states.

I’d say my goal is 15 states.

Many bloggers are pursuing the goal of running in ALL 50 states:

Happy Running! How many states have you run in? Do you plan to run in all 50?

May 8, 2014 by Darlene

Redemption or Not

May 11. 2014

I signed up for this 5k on Sunday.

may11

Got an e-mail that they are now offering a 10K…so?

If you read my race report from last weekend, I wasn’t exactly pleased with how I ran the race.

Do I switch?

Yup-

It will be good practice
It can count as a long run
I can practice pacing better than last week
I will kill time until the awards
Maybe get a 10K PR?
Maybe win AG award?
There are not a lot of 10Ks around

Nah-

I need to work on speed work
Maybe get a 5K PR?
Maybe win AG award?
I can run 3 more miles after without the pressure
The weather is iffy
I have plans for after… can get an earlier start going up to the lake
Just relax and enjoy. It’s only a race.

Happy Running! What would you do?

May 6, 2014 by Darlene

My birthday week

There will be a whole lot of eating going down:

Tuesday: dinner out with BFF

one of my local favs

Friday: dinner out with co-workers (MY BIRTHDAY)

eat free on your b-day – can’t beat that

Saturday: lunch out with mentee and sons

Sunday: dinner out with hubby

on Lake George – always wanted to go here

Wednesday or Thursday: dinner out with tennis friends in Florida

Turtle Club for sunset

I guess I better squeeze in some running between my meals.

Wednesday: run before yoga
Thursday: run sometime during the workday??
Friday: run sometime during the workday

Sunday – 5K race or maybe the 10K

May 11. 2014

Tuesday: run sometime during the workday

One problem…the weather 😦

this does not make me happy especially Sunday!!

Happy Birthday! How do you usually celebrate your birthday?

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.)