September 1, 2016 by Darlene

TOLT: August Recap

Image result for august

Wow, the summer is flying by… Pumpkin lattes will be here before you know it…

So here’s how August went…

Weekday Runs:

Like July, August was HOT and humid most days and we had very little rain. I was able to run at least 3-4 times each week. But I do not have a treadmill at home so they were mostly slow sweaty ones.

Because I was not working, I was able to run wherever. I was not forced to run near home or near work. So I tried to do my runs in many different places – Chestertown, Crossings, Corning Trail, Colonie Town Park, Nisky Trail, Zim Smith Trail, Rail Trail, UAlbany, etc.

I also ran with Alyssa 4 times. I met her on FB. These were, no doubt, besides my 5k races my faster runs. I struggle when I run with her but she gets me to run faster. She says that I make her faster . Win-Win.

I re-connected with Barbara and Judy and ran with them each once. It’s more fun running with friends.

: with Judy

Long Runs:

There were TWO!!!. I ran races or went boating on the weekends. So I managed to move these runs to Monday.

Total Mileage:

I ran 89 miles this month – finally some improvement.

aug

Races:

I ran three races this month – a 8.4 miler, a 10K and a 5K.

: Aug 20

: Aug 13

: 2016

I was generally happy with how they went. I did not have PR goals and of course, they could have been faster. I won age group awards in all three. That’s an achievement. The 8.4 and 10k races were very HILLY! The only one I felt could be better was the 5k. We are, though, our own toughest critics.

Cross Training:

I was STILL unemployed and I played tennis. But not as often as in the beginning of the summer.

I DID NOT go to a single yoga class!! Someday I will do, I promise.

lheartspaceogo

I did workout at the gym at least three times. I know that I could go more often but it’s better than nothing.

I walked to the tennis courts when I played nearby and occasionally did go for a walk. But not as often as when I worked. I think that the tennis and the hiking (see below) made up for it, though.

my favorite place to walk – rail trail

Other News:

I went hiking again…by myself and with some friends. Love it. Once to Pinnacle Point in Bolton Landing and then on four trails in Chestertown.

I took a trip to NYC with my two of my friends. We listened to Broadway tunes in Bryant Park and then walked to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the Costume Institute. What a full but exciting day!!

I also took a day trip to the Saratoga Race Track with a friend. We had breakfast, watched and bet on the races and then stopped by the Casino (where I won $77).

I spent two wonderful weekends with my knitting and mah jongg friends on the Schroon River. I did some running but mostly played tennis, knit or played mah jongg and ate.

Boating season continued and the weather was great. I love it at the lake. It’s my “happy place.”

Feeling healthy so Life Is Good.

And I HAVE A NEW JOB!!!!!!!!! I will be working starting Sept.7.

Looking Ahead:

My next half marathon is September 18 and I am excited.

I do have a bunch of races coming up. This is my list so far for the next 2 months:

9-5-16 – Sefcu 5K
9-10-16 – Malta 5k
9-18-16 – Saratoga Palio Half Marathon
9-25-16 – Arsenal City 5k ???
10-01-16 – Apple Run 5K
10-09-16 – Ramblefest Half Marathon
10-15-16 – Great Pumpkin Challenge 10K

No monthly goals.

my motto for 2016

Since it is Thursday, I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

thinking out loud

Happy Running! How did your August turn out? Anything exciting planned for September?

August 30, 2016 by Darlene

TOTR: Fall Races

This week’s TOTR topic is Fall Race Schedule

Here’s what I have planned so far…

9-10-16 – Malta 5k

I’ve run this 5k several times. It’s pretty flat and I usually win an AG award.

malta5k

9-18-16 – Saratoga Palio Half Marathon

2008 Saratoga Palio Poster (Palio!) Tags: race poster memorial compassion run promotional legacy scholarship palio halfmarathon 5k fund mentalhealthcare melaniemerolaodonnell

This a first for me. I’ve heard good things about it so we’ll see. I am using it as a training run for my next half.

10-01-16 – Apple Run 5K

This is a fun local race with good swag.

10-09-16 – Ramblefest Half Marathon

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Another new race. It follows the same course of the Steel Rail Half which had favorable reviews.

10-15-16 – Great Pumpkin Challenge 10K

I have run this race a few times. There will be many runners there that I know so it should be fun. Plus running around the park is beautiful this time of year.

11-05-16 – NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K (in NYC)

My second time running through the NYC Marathon finish line. What can I say? You know I love NYC.

11-13-16 – Stockade-athon 15K

There aren’t many 15ks so I like to run them. This one is a very popular and lots of fun.

11-19-16 – Girls on the Run 5k

This is the 2nd year for this race. Most likely I won’t be running the race for myself but volunteering and helping one of the STEM runners finish her first 5k.

11-24-16 – Troy Turkey Trot 10k

70th this year

I plan to participate in the training group for this race. It’s the most popular race in our area and a great way to start Thanksgiving Day.

11-24 -16 –Troy Turkey Trot 5k

This race happens right after the 10k. I’m dressed to run so why not do it too??

12-03-16 – Panama City Half Marathon (in FL)

the Half!

A race-cation!! Can’t wait!! In addition I get to meet my favorite fellow bloggers! This will just be a fun one!!

I’m linking up with

with Erika @ MCM Mama Runs,
Marcia @ Marcia’s Healthy Slice
and Patty @ My no-guilt life!

Happy Running! What fall races are you looking forward to?

August 29, 2016 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – Completed my postponed long run today. Judy was nice enough to run the first 3 with me and then I was solo for the next 7. The weather was perfect and the run pretty decent.

Tuesday – played tennis in the am. and did a bunch of errands the rest of the day.

Wednesday – walked the mall and got some retail therapy. Ran with Alyssa in the evening at the Crossings. As always, a run with a friend is better than without.

Thursday – Played tennis in the am with the same new group as last week and then met Barbara for a run right after. We ran in the ugly humidity and then I finished solo at home. (Do you ever plan on 4 than feel guilty that you stopped at 3.5 and finish later?)

wearing my favorite Skirt Sports top ❤

Had a hair appt in the afternoon. Met a friend for dinner. (We had planned to go to the gym and for a walk but postponed it until the next morning.)

Friday – The tennis robin got cancelled so I went to the gym, for a walk and out to lunch with a friend. (We had planned this for the day before but only got the eating part done.)

I wasn’t running…just posing for a pic. I used the arm machine and then went for a 5 mile walk.

Afterwards I went grocery shopping, made a broccoli slaw salad, packed my stuff for the weekend and drove up to my friend’s house on Schroon River. We spent the evening knitting, chatting and watching a movie.

Saturday – I woke up to this view of the Schroon River.

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I had planned to run 11 miles this morning but decided to just do a short run since it was too hilly.

I didn’t play tennis but walked to and from the courts (2 miles). After lunch, we played mah jongg and chatted, etc. I drove back to the marina to have dinner with my hubby and boating friends. Then I spend the rest of the evening with my mah jongg friends ( though 3 did not spend the night.)

Sunday – Started the day with a few sets of tennis and then we went for a walk. Two more friends arrived and after lunch, we spent the rest of the day playing mah jongg.

Fun weekend spent with good friends. I did miss boating (cuz the weather was perfect) but hopefully I’ll get to do that next weekend.

23 miles done with 4 runs and 3 rest days.

This Week:

Monday – 11 mile run, STEM orientation
Tuesday – gym, rest, PM tennis, dinner out
Wednesday – tennis round robin, 4 mile run with a friend
Thursday – AM tennis, 3 mile run with a friend
Friday – gym, rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 12 mile run
Sunday – boating (Xmas party in the lake)

Once again, I am linking up for the Weekly Wrap hosted by these wonderful bloggers Holly @ HoHoRuns and Tricia @ MissSippiPiddlin. See rules here.

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

August 27, 2016 by Darlene

Runfessions August

It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

I runfess…

I have a running shoe problem. Maybe you already knew that.

My lower back started aching so I bought these (on sale.)

Nike Zoom Vomero 12s

Then I got an email with an even better sale on my first Zoom Vomero 11s. So I had to buy them too.

bought these a year ago – now I have a new pair

The problem is that I am still attached to my older shoes that are worn out or were never comfortable. Memories! My 5k Pr…my Half Marathon PR… I am having trouble parting with them.

I runfess...

I am bailing on my 11 miler tomorrow. It’s not the weather. I’m not sick or injured. I have the time. I just don’t feel like running it alone.

Instead I am going up to spend the weekend with friends.

annual mah jongg weekend on the river

I hope to get out on the road on Monday. Alone…gulp!

Happy Running! Do you have a hard time getting rid of running shoes? Do you often skip or re-schedule your long runs?

August 25, 2016 by Darlene

TOLT: Resting & Running Friends, Racing, etc.

thinking out loud

Since it is Thursday, I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

Here’s what I’m thinking about today:

Image result for rest days running

Last week, I did NOT take a rest day. I either ran, walked, hiked, played tennis and a combination of some of these EVERYDAY.

Image result for rest days running

So last Sunday, I took a REST DAY! (I only cheated with a short hike.)

It has made all the difference!

This week I feel much better and my runs have been better. So much so that I may take a REST DAY tomorrow.

Until this summer, most of my runs have been solo. I could run where I wanted, when I wanted and at the pace I wanted. Sounds perfect, right?

No, running with a FRIEND is so much more enjoyable. I’ve had to drive to my run. I’ve had to run in very hot temps. I’ve had to run at a slower pace. I’ve had to run at a faster pace.

So worth it!

I was fortunate to run this week with 3 friends:

: with Judy

: with Barbara (on a previous run)

: with Alyssa

If you read my blog, I RACE a lot. Like every weekend.

: Aug 20

: Aug 13

: 2016

In preparation for my next half marathon (and other social obligations), I am NOT racing this weekend or next.

Who am I kidding? I will miss it! It will take restraint not to hit that Register button.

Instead I will try to fit in my 11 mile and 12 mile long runs.

Image result for long runs ecards

Yes, that’s me.

Should I run on Saturday morning and then go boating or to the river house for our “mah jongg weekend’?

pic from a previous year

Should I skip it and enjoy the weekend and do my long run on Monday???

Maybe next week, I should do my long run n Friday since it’s a holiday weekend and there is a Christmas Party on the lake.

also from a previous year

Decisions…decisions…

Happy Running! Do you take rest days? Do you go through racing withdrawal? Do you have a problem fitting in your long runs? What are you thinking about this Thursday?

August 22, 2016 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – Decided to spend the night at my friend’s house on the Schroon River. and woke up to perfect running weather (finally). Too bad, my legs were sooo tired.

They weren’t too tired to go for a hike. I climbed to the top of Meade and Beckman Mountains.

hardest of the 7 hikes that I have completed in the Chester Challenge but totally worth it. I even met the owner of the property.

I spent the rest of the day sitting by the river and knitting before heading home.

Tuesday – played tennis in the am and then we celebrated the summer with a pizza party. I played tennis again in the evening. Got lucky. It rained in between.

Wednesday – ran with Barbara in the am. It was great catching in up since we hadn’t seen each other in a while.

new Nikes – so far so good.

I walked the mall with my bff in the afternoon. In the evening, played mini golf with my tennis buds followed by dinner out.

we are better at tennis than golf LOL but it was fun

Thursday – subbed in a new tennis group in the am. Spent the afternoon in the pool with some tennis friends.

Met Alyssa for a run in the evening.

rained before we started and then more humid than ever

Then met an old friend at a local wine bar. These days are busy. Good thing I’m not employed. LOL

Friday – played in a tennis robin for 3 hours. It was nice playing on clay for a change.

No running today. Just some errands including a car appt. Spent the evening playing major jongg.

Saturday – Ran a 5k race today. Felt lousy and didn’t run well.

the only good thing was wining my age group

So after the race, instead of my planned 7 miles, I drove up to the lake. My hubby brought a friend. We (or they) jumped off cliffs, rode around in the boat, hung out in the bay and hiked (me and his friend) to a waterfalls.

Still feeling under the weather, I drove home instead of going out to dinner and spending the night on the boat.

Sunday – a real REST day. The first one in many weeks – no running, no hiking, no tennis….

15 miles done with 4 runs and 3 rest days.

This Week:

Monday – 10 mile run,
Tuesday – AM tennis, rest
Wednesday – 4 mile run with a friend
Thursday – AM tennis, 4 mile run, hair appt
Friday – AM tennis, rest
Saturday – 11 mile run, boating and/or mah jongg
Sunday – tennis, mah jongg on the Schroon River

Once again, I am linking up for the Weekly Wrap hosted by these wonderful bloggers Holly @ HoHoRuns and Tricia @ MissSippiPiddlin. See rules here.

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

August 21, 2016 by Darlene

Jailhouse Rock 5K Race Recap

This race sucked for many reasons but I’ll get into that later in this post.

The race started at 8:30 at the Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa about 40 minutes away from my house. This nice local race usually has about 300 runners. There’s no parking lot but it is easy to find parking on the street. There are bathrooms in the museum which is always a plus.

I’ve done this race 4 times before. I’ve always enjoyed it.

2009 – 31:04
2010 – 29:49
2012 – 30:58
2014 – 28:25

I’m the one in the pink compression socks (2012)

I know that you walk up a hill to start the race and you finish running down this hill. Couldn’t be any better than that.

the hill is VERY steep

So I was pretty excited all week to run this race. Do I hear PR possibility??

But silly me is taking advantage 100% of my unemployment status. This is how my week went:

Sat – hilly hilly 10k, a walk
Sun – a run, 2 hikes
Mon – a run, a hard hike
Tues – tennis twice
Wed – a run, a walk
Thurs – tennis, a run
Fri – tennis (3 hrs)

Do you see the word rest there? Nope. Me neither.

To make things worse, I woke up Saturday am with an upset stomach. I ate a little and took my tea with me and made my way to the race.

I got there early enough to find a close spot and use the rest room (in the museum). The weather was great – high 60’s – the best weather we’ve had for running this summer.

I was disappointed to not see many friends there. I did see one lady that I know but hung out with 2 older guys. (One is in his 80’s and the other in his 60’s who is pretty fast.)

unisex tech shirt

I felt nauseous and couldn’t even get a GU down. But I still had high hopes for the race.

This time I didn’t forget to start my Garmin but I put it on too lose and so it turned to where I couldn’t see my pace. (Probably not a bad thing.)

I looked for my friend at the start. I thought he could pace me because he is slightly faster than me. But I couldn’t find him so I had to go at it alone.

The first mile was a gradual uphill but nothing steep. I was going to try to hold back but my legs felt like lead so I didn’t need to worry about that.

I was hoping to run the whole thing but around halfway at the water stop, I was sick to my stomach and out of breath so I stopped and walked for a while.

Mile 2 seemed to be flat but every time I tried to speed up, I felt nauseous and out of breath so I walked again and again. I knew I had to give up on hopes of a PR and just finish the race.

I knew there was that downhill at the finish but I found myself walking AGAIN, right before it.

Finally I got to the steep downhill, I wish I was confident enough to go all out but I was afraid of falling flat on my face so I held back. And then my hat blew off and got stuck in my scrunchie. I gave up trying to put my hat back on and held it in my hand. But it was hard to sprint with a hat in your hand so I just threw it to the side.

Then I saw the clock. It was 28:xx and I ran as fast as I could.

I crossed at 28:33.

I was NOT happy.

I immediately saw my friend who was waiting for me. He was worried because I was way ahead of him and then he saw me bonk and he finished ahead of me. He was also very disappointed in his time so we walked to get my hat and commiserated together.

Well, at least I won my age group.

And it was more useful that last week’s muffin.

Splits:

mile 1 – 9:05
mile 2 – 9:24
mile 3 – 9:05
.14 -7:03

I hate to be a Debbie Downer because those paces aren’t bad. But you don’t get many opportunities to race with this weather and a course with a downhill finish.

I decided after to race to bag my plan to go to the Zim Smith Bike Path to run 7 more miles. (A LSD in preparation for my Sept. 18 Half.)

Instead I called my hubby to tell him that I was coming up to the lake. My hubby had a friend along so we had to play tour guide before heading to the bay to hang out with our friends.

the guys jumped off the cliff

we drove around the lake showing him our favorite spots

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in Shelving Rock bay

The best part was that my hubby’s friend likes to hike so I had a partner to try and find Shelving Rock Falls.

and we did.

Unfortunately, I did not feel well all day and when they decided to go out to dinner in town, I left to drive home.

I’m already over my race performance. It is what it is. I’ve glad to be healthy enough to run. There will be other 5ks and there will be other bad races. (Maybe even some good ones 🙂 )

Since it is Sunday, I am linking with Ilka and Angela for the Sunday Fitness and Food Linkup.

fitness & food linkup

Happy Running! Any racing plans this weekend? Ever suck on a race that should have been a PR?

August 19, 2016 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorites

It’s Friday so I am linking up with three DC area bloggers Mar at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC . Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!) They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!

Here are my CURRENT FAVORITES:

1. Tomatoes from the garden

They are almost good as dessert. I can eat them plain. YUM!!

2. Hiking

This is a new passion. And I can’t get enough.

3. Running with Friends

It sure beats running alone. And I run so much better. This week I ran a 10k race, a 4 miler one morning with Barbara and another 4 miler in the early evening with Alyssa. Still trying to coordinate a run with Judy.

4. New Running Gear

Don’t you run better when you look better? I do.

Two age group awards with my new Skirt Sports skirts.

Hope to do the same tomorrow in a 5k race with new running shoes.

5. Tennis

I had briefly lost interest in tennis but this week I played four times. All were with different groups of players. I enjoyed my matches and especially meeting new women on the courts.

**6. The Olympics

I will be going through withdrawal.

The athletes have been amazingly talented, gracious, entertaining, patriotic…

Bolt wannabees

Can you believe that I didn’t mention ice cream and boating.

They’re a given! LOL

Happy Running! What are some of your current favorite things?

August 18, 2016 by Darlene

TOLT: Sunflowers

thinking out loud

Since it is Thursday, I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

Here’s what I’m thinking about today:

SUNFLOWERS

sunflower

Sunflowers are now in bloom and they are one of my favorite flowers.

Of course, they face the sun and I LOVE the sun!

at the train station before my Race the Train race

But I seem to see them every time I go out for a run. So it made me think about how these flowers relate to my running.

And then a friend posted these quotes on FB:

Remember that all flowers grow through dirt.

In order to experience the fruits of our training (the medal, the age group award, the PR or just the finish line), we run through painful injuries, nagging pains, heat, rain, hills, slow, sluggish paces (or the dirt). In fact, our bad runs may outnumber the good ones. But they help us grow (bloom) and become a better runner.

Keep your head towards the sun and you will never see the shadows.

In other words, focus on our goals and what we want to do with our running. Some of us just want to run. Others want to get faster. Even others want to run longer distances.

Look at the positives in our runs or races. You finished. You walked less. You had negative splits. You weren’t in pain. The scenery was awesome. The weather was perfect.

Your runs will be more enjoyable (or shadow-free)

Griswold. Conn – would love to run here!!

Happy Running! What’s on your mind today?

August 17, 2016 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Physical

Every Wednesday, the Deb from Deb Runs will be providing a word about which to blog. Kind of like a nice little blog prompt. Posts can be fitness or health related, but don’t have to be, so really anyone can play along. Just be sure to link up with InLinkz on Deb’s main post, and share the love by reading and commenting on other’s participant’s posts.

Today’s word is Physical.

Of course, the first thing I thought of with this word was this:

Wow, that was 35 years ago?

And that may have been my first time getting “physical.”

I did NOTHING athletic growing up. Just those nasty physical fitness tests in gym class.

In college, there was just drinking and dancing. (I took bowling and Israeli dance as my required PE classes.)

I was lucky to not have a weight problem so I never thought about getting involved in anything related to physical fitness.

When this song came out, my bff and I decided to take an Aerobics class at a local community center. It was fun. We moved and did steps & stretching to music.

I think at some point in my 30’s, I joined a gym. I went occasionally but that didn’t last.

Fast forward to my 40’s. A co-worker and I met every evening to go for a walk. This was our version of doing something “physical.” Then one day, we decided to take an adult ed class at a local high school – Intro. to Tennis.

We were just awful. But somehow, I got hooked. Not on the physical part but on meeting great people and being part of a community – the tennis community.

So I took lessons, got better, joined numerous tennis teams and played ALL THE TIME.

In fact, I met my current hubby in 1996 while playing tennis.

at Nationals in Palm Spring – 2002

Then came my 50’s. I was still playing tennis but it was starting to be more social than competitive.

One day my tennis friend suggested that we join No Boundaries and learn to run.

One of my first races

Almost immediately I signed up for races. As my one friend remarked this past weekend. You seemed to have found your niche with running.

Almost there!

As so I guess I have. It’s my physical. It has even motivated me to do other physical things such as yoga, the gym, walking, hiking so I can be a better runner.