April 2, 2014 by Darlene

The Pre-Love Run Half Marathon Race Report

This race was planned last fall by my new runner friend, Heidi. She then invited her local friend Adrienne (whom I have met & run with). Both Heidi and Adrienne were bringing their husbands (Heidi’s hubby was even running.) It was also Heidi & Adrienne’s FIRST half marathon. (How exciting!)

Heidi, Adrienne & me back in January

Then Heidi invited 2 high school friends, Lisa & Andrea. I had met neither of them. They were experienced runners and were traveling solo. Lisa got her own room so Andrea would be my roommate.

Everyone was driving out except me & Lisa. We were flying.

On Friday, I worked a half day and then flew out to Philly.

Nothing on this trip was easy or went smoothly. My flight was supposed to leave at 5:15 pm. It was delayed then we sat on the tar mat for 2 HOURS!!

I finally arrived in the Philly airport around 8 pm. I reserved my shuttle ahead (Big Mistake!). I don’t want to go into all the details but they got mixed up on the flt time & number and after many calls of hearing “He’s on his way” and waiting 2 hours, I arrived at my hotel at 10:30 pm. LONG DAY!!

The hotel Heidi picked was the Sheraton Downtown – not the race hotel (which was more expensive.) But the accommodations were fine (clean, comfy bed unfortunately no microwave, fridge or hot tub)

I met my roommate Andrea for the first time. She was awesome. We got along great.

we had a great view from our room

This hotel was about a mile away from the start of the race which was at the art museum.

map phillyPNG

The hotel is, however, just a few blocks from the Convention Center where the expo was being held.

The next morning, Andrea (who has lots of food allergies) & I made breakfast in our room (I had tea & oatmeal made creatively with a coffee maker). Then we met Lisa and walked over to the expo. (I was also meeting Lisa for the first time…just loved her.) Adrienne and her hubby were going out to breakfast (They have young kids & were savoring every kid-free moment.) and would meet us there. Heidi & her hubby Kevin has decided at the last moment to arrive today rather than last night.

Andrea, me & Lisa entering the expo

First we got our bibs, then our shirts (tech short sleeved) and a coffee mug.

Then we met up with Adrienne and walked around the expo together.

Adrienne, Lisa, me & Andrea with our bibs

The expo was a typical expo. Lots of running stuff to buy at good prices. But I really didn’t need a thing so I didn’t buy anything (I was tempted to buy shoes, though!!) They were giving away free tech shirts from past events so I took 2 of those.

Adrienne got her hair braided…

while Lisa & Andrea got massages.

Then Lisa, Andrea & I walked across the street to have lunch at Reading Terminal Market. It was great. You could find anything you wanted to eat.

Lisa & Andrea having a healthy vegetarian lunch

I forgot to mention that it was raining. Well, pouring. So we decided to take a trolley tour around town.

So we stayed dry and it was really informative. I learned a lot about the city (I want to go back!) We had planned to get out at each stop but it was too cold and raining too hard.

We did get out at the museum to run up the steps and snap a picture of Rocky.

And also to see the Liberty Bell.

We actually spent the whole day on the trolley.

We decided to go out to dinner as a group since even Kevin & Heidi had arrived.

me, Adrienne, Lisa, Kevin, Heidi & Andrea

Of course we chose a place that served pasta and we walked there (in the rain.)

left side: Kevin, Heidi, Adrienne & Dan. Right: Andrea, me & Lisa

After a lengthy wait, we got our food and it was very good. We chatted about the upcoming race, of course, and what to wear with the weather forecast being cold and rainy.

We got back to the hotel rather late but who sleeps the night before a big race anyway? (More about the actual race in tomorrow’s post. Spoiler: got very very wet!)

**Don’t forget to enter my PocketFuel giveaway!

Happy Running! Have you ever been to or run in Philly?

March 31, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – rest, tennis
Tuesday – 1 mile walk, 4 mile run

inside at work

outside after work – still COLD but sunny & less wind

Wednesday – 4 3.5 miles on the TM

too WINDY to run outside – The Good Wife OMG!!!

Thursday – ~~3 miles on TM~~, 1 mile walk at work, rest, hair appt.

walking with a co-worker

a good substitute for the treadmill?

Friday – 1 mile walk at work, rest, fly to Philly

RAIN!!!!!!!!!!! Indoors again!

Saturday – rest, LoveRun expo, touring around Philly in the rain

the group minus Heidi & Kevin

Sunday – Half Marathon!!!, fly home

in the cold windy rain but a 4 sec PR!!

This Week:

Monday – rest, mall walk with BFF
Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 4 miles
Thursday – 3 miles
Friday – 4 miles, mah jongg
Saturday – rest
Sunday – 5 m race

**Don’t forget to enter my PocketFuel giveaway!

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

March 28, 2014 by Darlene

The Important Stuff…The Outfit

Philly Forecast

Of course, I have been obsessively checking the weather and hoping for a warm up. It has been a COLD week!!

I have run 6 out of 7 of my previous half marathons in warm weather (at least 60-70 degrees except for the Lake George Half weather debacle.)

Naples, FL

Lake George, NY

Schroon Lake, NY

(black short sleeve top, pink skirt)
Rhinebeck, NY

Santa Clarita, CA

Sarasota, FL

Albany, NY

So what to wear for this half marathon in Philly?

I bought a new pink skirt:

skirt

I have another pair of black compression socks:

socks

I would love to wear my Lululemon tank:

tank

with a pink baseball cap:

cap

and my Brooks shoes:

shoes

If only it were 60-70 degrees. It looks like it will be in the 40’s with WIND and RAIN!!. (The forecast gets worse every time I check…it started out as being sunny and in the 60s.)

mar 30

Do I need to add a jacket, gloves & tights to my outfit?? Probably YES. UGH!!!

Fingers crossed. Praying that there is NO RAIN!!!!!

**Don’t forget to enter my PocketFuel giveaway!

Happy Running! Is your running outfit important?

March 27, 2014 by Darlene

The Countdown is on…

092713-loverun1

My 8th Half Marathon is in THREE DAYS…gulp!

I shouldn’t be nervous, right?

Well, I never feel confident about my running.

Yes, I know I can and will finish. I knew after the first one that I could run 13.1 miles.

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

My first was the Naples Half Marathon and my time was 2:28:27 (gun time) and I was thrilled finishing under the 2:45 cut off.

1st

My second was the Lake George Half Marathon. It was pouring freezing rain the whole race and my time was 2:22:39. I didn’t wear my Garmin and there were no clocks so I was shocked at this PR.

2nd

A strained Achilles delayed my training for #3 which was the Adirondack Half Marathon. With my longest training run being 6 miles, I finished this race by walking the second half. My time of 2:44:59 was much faster than I expected.

3rd

My 4th, the Fall Foliage Half Marathon, was just a spur of the moment long training run. It was VERY hilly and I was happy with my time of 2:32:50

My supposedly PR race was the Santa Clarita Half Marathon, my 5th. It was in California & pouring for the first 6 miles. I was very disappointed with my time of 2:30:12. I felt that I trained well but I fell apart the second half of the race 😦

5th

Unfortunately, after the 5th, I broke my ankle, then had a stress fracture so when Half Marathon #6 came 16 months later, I was just glad to finish. My time for the Sarasota Half Marathon was 2:33:59. My ankle & foot held up and I was elated.

6th

Half Marathon #7 was supposed to be the one where I would be seriously training and get a PR. Then I broke my foot. With a late start to my training and my weekly miles not what I would like, again this half marathon was just “I’ll be happy to finish.” My time for the Mohawk-Hudson Half Marathon was 2:24:14, actually my second fastest time.

7th

So for Half Marathon #8, I am trying not to put pressure on myself.

lr medal

My main goal for this half is to ENJOY it (It is the largest half marathon so far in 2014… my first BIG one.)

And though I would be satisfied with D, happy with C, I would be ecstatic with A.

GOAL A: under 2:22:39
GOAL B: under 2:24:14
GOAL C: under 2:30:12
GOAL D: finish smiling and uninjured

keep-calm-it-s-only-a-half-marathon-2

**Don’t forget to enter my PocketFuel giveaway!

Happy Running! Do you run Half Marathons? Do you train for them or just enjoy them?

March 25, 2014 by Darlene

My 6th Blogoversary

March 25, 2014

I’ve been blogging for SIX YEARS!! That means I’ve been running for SIX Years!

Year 1 – starting to run for the first time and completing many 5ks
Year 2 – after taking the winter off, running again and completing even more 5ks (Anniversary post)
Year 3 – running through the winter, completing 5ks (and a 5k PR), 4 milers and my first Half Marathon (Anniversary post)
Year 4 – completing some 5ks, a 5 miler, my first 15k and FOUR more half marathons (plus an achilles injury and a broken ankle 😦 ) (Anniversary post)
Year 5 – recovering from a broken ankle, running my first 10k and some 5Ks, suffering a foot stress fracture, running my 6th Half Marathon
Year 6 – a few 5ks, then a broken 5th metatarsal, then more 5ks, several 10Ks, my 7th Half Marathon and a 15K

Mohawk Hudson Half Marathon

Monster Scramble 10K

Malta 5K

me, Courtney and her aunt MaryPat my friend)

Freihofer 5K

Mother’s Day 5K

Stockadeathon 15K

Mayor’s 10 Mile Race

Lighthouse 5K

Year 7: ???

I am again hoping that this next year (lucky 7?) brings NO INJURIES and lots of running and racing…

Happy Running! Thanks for stopping by!!! How many years have you been blogging?

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March 24, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – 12 miles (morning off from work)

Tuesday – 1 mile walk at work, rest, tennis

our new course record

Wednesday -1 mile walk at work, 4 mile run on tm during lunch, dinner out with tennis buddies

this time is was Revenge on my iPad

Thursday – 1 mile walk inside and then a 2 mile walk outside, 3 mile run

oops…the walk involved a Shamrock shake

spring? lake is still frozen but it was 40 degrees!

Friday – 1 mile walk at work, 4 3.5 mile run, mah jongg

3-21-14

Saturday – rest, lunch, movie & ice cream with Amanda

they did a good job adapting the book

kurver

Sunday – 8.5 miles

cold and VERY WINDY

10K plus virtual run (spring fling seemed more like a winter fling)

This Week:

Monday – rest, tennis
Tuesday – 4 miles
Wednesday – 4 miles
Thursday – 3 miles on TM, hair appt.
Friday – rest, fly to Philly
Saturday – rest, LoveRun expo
Sunday – Half Marathon!!!, fly home

March 30, 2014

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

March 21, 2014 by Darlene

Spring Time and Racing

It’s Spring (although it doesn’t feel or look like it) and time to fill up my racing calendar.

LoveRun Half Marathon in Philadelphia, PA

March 30, 2014

Delmar Dash in Delmar, NY

April 6, 2014

Bacon Hill 5k or 10k in Schuylerville, NY

April 12, 2014

Rabbit Ramble in Guilderland, NY

April 19, 2104

Cherry Blossom 5k in Niskayuna, NY

April 27, 2014

Spring Run Off 10k in Albany, NY

May 3, 2014

Mom’s Day 5K in Albany, NY

May 11. 2014

Freihofer’s Run for Women 5K in Albany, NY

May 31, 2014

Happy Running? Are you excited for Spring? What races do you have planned?

March 20, 2014 by Darlene

Racing Bucket List

I am lucky to have done some amazing things in my life. Check out my Reverse Bucket List. And only 3 out of 32 involve running.

So what is on my Racing Bucket List? (Since I started running almost 6 years ago, many of the items, I have already done but not ALL):

1. Run a 5k race. CHECK.

Freihofer’s 5K

2. Run a 10K race. CHECK .

Helper’s Fund 10K

3. Run a 15K race. CHECK.

Stockadeathon 15K

4. Run a HALF MARATHON. CHECK.

Naples Half Marathon

5. Run over a BRIDGE. CHECK.

Ringling Bros Bridge (Sarasota, FL)

6. Run along a LAKE. CHECK.

Lake George (Camp Chingachgook 10K)

7. Run a DESTINATION race. CHECK.

Mayor’s 10 miler in Palm Springs

8. Run along the OCEAN.

9. Run in another COUNTRY.

10. Run in CENTRAL PARK, NYC.

11. Run on a BEACH.

12. Run with a FAMILY member (my hubby or stepson.)

13. Run a POPULAR half marathon (more than 5,000 racers.)

What’s not on my Bucket List? (nothing is written in stone…)

Run a Marathon.
Run a Disney Race.
Run a fun race (color, neon. etc.)
Run a obstacle race.
Run a triathlon.
Run an ultra.
Run a trail race.
Run a (Ragnar) relay race.

Happy Running! What’s left on your Running Bucket List?

March 18, 2014 by Darlene

The Last Long One…13 days till 13 miles

longrun

I usually do my long runs on the weekend but this was a 12 miler and I ran a 4 mile race on Saturday.

I didn’t want to add on 8 miles on Saturday after the race nor did I want to run 12 miles on tired legs on Sunday.

I wanted to run 12 miles in one shot and at my slow half pace so….

So I took Monday morning off from work.

Yes, I took time off to run!!

I had to get up early and get it done because I could only take a half day off.

To save time, I ran from my house and I planned to repeat the course that I ran for my last 11 miler but add on a mile.

I got spoiled running on Saturday in 40 degree temps.

Yesterday morning it was in the single digits with the wind chill. Brrrrrrr!

I donned my winter apparel but still froze my face off when running into the wind.

At least it was sunny and there were no puddles on the sidewalks (just ice in rare spots.)

To get the extra 1/2 mile, I added a short detour and then stopped to buy water at the coffee shop (I hate to carry anything).

photo from last week

Guess what, they had NO bottled WATER!! They also had no mini cupcakes. I was tempted to buy a larger cupcake but no one offered to give an obviously thirsty runner a cup of water, so I changed my mind. (Remember how I stashed my water there last week but forgot it….it was still there, but frozen.)

I continued down the street and stopped at Stewarts. The water was cheaper and I took a Gu (and hid the water for the way back).

passed the clock again …less snow each week,

I turned around at 6 miles and headed back.

I did another detour that was different the first and stumbled upon what might be a park with trails?

I also remembered to drink my water.

Although my pace for this run was a little better than last week’s, the first half was a lot faster than the second (the reverse of last week.) It was still slow but as I know from past experiences, my race pace is always better than my training runs.