September 28, 2012 by Darlene

Weather Woes

I HATE RAIN!!

Yes, I do.

I will deal with it today because last night, I purposely did not watch TV:

I plan to use the treadmill at work (on the dark, stuffy behind the curtains of our gym stage) and watch TV on my iPad.

Tomorrow and Sunday, I am going back to Chestertown for a weekend of mah jongg playing.

and I baked it myself & used freshly picked apples

When the mah jongg ladies take a break to play tennis, I was planning to go for a run (and preferably a long one.)

me running in Chestertown

Rain does not fit into my plans!

I know I will have a great time with my friends but adding a run would make it perfect (Besides I will feel less guilty about all the food consumption.)

Happy Running! Anyone else a rain wimp?

August 10, 2012 by Darlene

Impromptu 10K

My favorite quote of the moment:

“The most powerful time to persist is when you don’t feel like it. Keep going, and the persistence itself will make you feel better.” – Ralph Marston.

So I had been feeling guilty about not running Tuesday or Wednesday am but it was 93 degrees when I left work on Wednesday.

I put on my running clothes and went to the Corning Bike Trail. I wanted to run 3 miles at least. I decided to run 3 miles out because the farther you run, the shadier it gets and then walk back.

I ran 3.1 miles slowly in 35 minutes and then turned around and headed back. Then I saw a very old lady running VERY VERY slowly but running (without walking). I felt guilty walking so I started to run and passed her. Then I walked and she passed me. We played leap-frog for a while until I tired and walked more (and she turned and headed back to where she started her run – the opposite direction as me). I was impressed with how slow she was running. I can’t run that slow and how she kept that consistent pace (even in the heat).

I ended up finishing my 2nd 5k in 41 minutes. Total time for the 10K was 1 hour 16 min.

Last year, I would have been discouraged in finishing in over ONE hour. Last week, I would only have attempted 3 miles.

But now, I realize that I can push myself through the pain. And yes, I did feel better afterwards.

Will I run the 10K on Saturday?

Yes (unless it is raining/thunderstorms)!

13.1 miles in the pouring rain…never again!

Happy Running!

August 9, 2012 by Darlene

Weather Wimp

Check out the humdity!

Still on the fence about Saturday’s 10K.

Tuesday, I skipped my morning run because I would be playing tennis after work.

Tennis went poorly. I was tired, hungry, thirsty, my foot hurt, whine, whine, whine. So I bought new tennis sneakers as a motivator.

Wednesday, I was too tired to run before work. A mistake since it was cool and 90 degrees after work.

Today, I had an very early meeting at work and a hair appt after work…NO time for RUNNING!!

I have Friday off so I could run but don’t want to run the day before a 10K. Besides, the weather does not look great…if it isn’t raining, it will be very humid! (If I were a REAL runner, it won’t matter, right?)

I’m not there yet!

Happy Running! Are you a weather wimp?

June 5, 2012 by Darlene

Two for Tuesday: The Good and Bad

1. The Good:

Still reveling in the after glow of my great weekend…

running for the lst time in over 5 months

spending time with my favorite kids

going to NYC to see “Once” on Broadway

2. The Bad:

It has been raining since my race on Saturday. Things aren’t looking good for the rest of the week either.

I have a miserable head cold!!! Yuck!

So my running has been on hold.

Happy Running!

December 13, 2011 by Darlene

2011: The Year of Firsts

I starting running in 2008. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, I ran A LOT of 5ks!! That’s all I did and yes, I got faster. I even took about 10 minutes off my time.

But in 2011, I accomplished some FIRSTS:

First 4 mile race

Polar Cap 4 miler

First 5 mile race

Delmar Dash 5 miler

First 15K race

Stockade-athon 15K

First half marathon

Naples Half Marathon

First destination race

Naples, Florida

First race in the rain

Lake George Half Marathon

First injury 😦

You might think that I did it in that order (because that would be logical.) This is the order:

First Half Marathon & first destination race (Jan 2011)
First 4 mile race (Feb 2011)
First 5 mile race (Apr 2011)
First race in the rain (Apr 2011)
First injury (Jun 2011)
First 15k race (Nov 2011)

Happy Running! What did you do for the first time in 2011?

November 10, 2011 by Darlene

Santa Clarita Half Marathon Race Report

I got up at 4:30 am and had my traditional race breakfast of coffee and hot cereal. Ellen quickly informed me that weather.com was wrong… it was already raining!! After uttering a few obscenities, I got dressed and tried to remain positive. I secretly wished I had some rain gear.

I was also COLD – yes it was warm before I got here! In fact it was 80 last weekend for LA RNR Half.

I decided to wear a short-sleeved tee, arm warmers (cut off knee socks), skirt, cap, gloves, windbreaker. I added a jacket & sweats that I would ditch at the start. Ellen (an experienced racer in the rain) also brought an umbrella.

We left about 5:30 to get to the race early. As we drove, it was raining harder & harder. WE WERE NOT HAPPY CAMPERS!

We parked in the Hilton lot and hung out there until the start. Hotel bathrooms YAY! Everyone seemed to be putting on plastic bags YUCK!

getting ready to head out into the rain

As planned, I hid my jacket, sweats & umbrella and we headed out in the rain to start the race.

the start

Ellen & I had hoped to have our best half finishes for this race but since we run different styles & at different paces, we separated and planned to meet again at the finish.

It was raining very hard. I had nothing on that was waterproof & I got soaked! Nevertheless I was running at a good pace… In fact probably too fast, but I thought I has trained well and could keep it up.

There was water at every mile but I grabbed a cup and walked at every two & took a GU at every four miles.

Unfortunately, this half panned out like the last two. I had no energy for the second half so my pace got slower and slower. When a PR was no longer possible, I started to walk.

The good news is that the rain did stop around mile 7. It was cool out and I was wet so even when the sun peeked out, I was never sweaty. I finally took off my jacket and wrapped around my waist toward the end.

pic from last year, obviously

The course was great – scenic, varied, rolling hills but very doable and many downhills. I should have been able to have a better finish time… I was very disappointed!

Official time: 2:30:13

The infamous photos that I will not buy:

heading to the finish

crossing the finish line

Done!

After I finished, I was cold but waited for Ellen to cross. I was hoping that one of us had a good day. NOPE! She also did not have a good race.

at least I got a medal!

I found my discarded stuff & went to car to get a dry shirt and socks. It didn’t feel so great over WET underwear. Then we went back out to cheer on the marathon finishers.

This guy has run over 200 marathons!

We spent the rest of the afternoon lamenting over our half marathon failures. Even the “best bloody Mary in the world” only helped a little.

The day ended with a fancy gala where Ellen’s daughter was being honored.

Half Marathon #5 completed.

Happy Running! How do you deal with a bad race?

November 9, 2011 by Darlene

Santa Clarita Half Marathon Pre-Race Report

Friday night, I arrived in LA after a LONG uneventful flight. The 3 hr time gain was helpful as Ellen & I stayed up for awhile and chatted. I hadn’t seen Ellen since her sister’s wedding in 1975!!!

Ellen's house in Van Nuys

Saturday am we got up early and headed to the expo to pick up our race packets. It was a beautiful sunny day -a little cool but a perfect day for a race. Unfortunately the race was on Sunday when RAIN was predicted!!

Ellen & I with our bibs

I got a cool tech shirt & a bag

I tried to put that horrible thought out of my mind and let Ellen become my personal tour guide. She was great and drove me past all the famous sites of LA.

I even got to have a carb-loaded pasta lunch in Beverly Hills.

Of course, several times Ellen suggested that I buy something to wear in case it rains for the race. I chose to be optimistic – weather.com said 30% chance of showers. That’s 70% chance of no showers!

I ordered some more carbs – French toast – at dinner and I was set or so I thought at the time.

wearing our race shirts that we weren't racing in

Ellen and I spent the rest of the evening organizing our race outfits before heading to bed early for a early wake up…

To be continued…

Happy Running!

October 1, 2011 by Darlene

Susan Komen Race for Cure Report

I woke up to cool temps and RAIN. It was just sunny and 80 degrees on Sunday!!

I parked my car at work as I usually do for this race since there will be so much traffic & confusion. I planned to jog a mile or so to meet up with my team for a group photo.

However, a friend from work who was walking the race was there and convinced me to ride with her friend who had a private parking space near the race. Reluctantly I agreed because it was raining.

I left my camera behind because of the weather but I wore the same outfit as last year but added white compression socks & had a jacket.

Race 4 the Cure '10

After we parked underground, we headed up the stairs to the museum and waited where it was dry for all 80 members of the team to arrive. It was raining but it seemed to be raining less. I chatted about half marathons with a professor that just ran one and another who will be racing her first next week. Finally we took the group picture and I headed down to the start line.

most of our team

closer up

What a crowd! I just squeezed in and tried to get a signal on my Garmin.

The race began and the rain was just a drizzle. YAY!! I took off my jacket and tied it around my waist. The rain never started up again until after the race.

I am very familiar with this course. It is my 8th time racing it. It starts with an uphill and it is also very crowded.

I didn’t plan to PR it but as I glanced at my Garmin, I secretly wanted to run fast again.

However, my legs didn’t agree with my mind and they are tired from Sunday’s Half. I even stopped for water and I wasn’t thirsty??

I saw my friend Mary who whizzed by me near the end…she had her fastest 5K ever and she is training for a marathon!! So proud of her!

Unfortunately, I ran out of steam and finished with my slowest 5K time in over a year…

Garmin Time: 29:39 (Official time: 29:53-gun, 29:47, chip)

Mile 1: 9:40 (uphill)
Mile 2: 9:51 (waterstop)
Mile 3: 9:18 (downhill)
.1: 9:56

I hung around for awhile with some profs and then jogged a mile back to my car debating on whether to do my 10 miler today or tomorrow. It started raining harder so I put it off until tomorrow. Now the sun is out… Oh well.

I am glad that I did this race. It is such an important cause!!!

Our team did great…those young speedy runners…and we raised almost $4000. I raised over $700 myself.

Happy Running! Have a great weekend!

September 8, 2011 by Darlene

TTT + 1

It has rained THREE Mornings in a row!! I think I mentioned several times that I don’t run in the rain!! So my running has been slacking off 😦
My hubby (MR. I never exercised in my life cuz I can play any sport well) suggested that we join a gym. There’s a new Planet Fitness nearby – only $10 amonth!
My problem is that I work and it is crowded when I can go… But I think I will join but not for the treadmill on rainy days but to crosstrain (which I should start doing). Optimistically Tues, Thurs (after work) & Sat or Sun.