June 24, 2015 by Darlene

My Therapy Run

I woke up Monday in a really pissy mood.

I had the day off from work. I took it off to recover from my hilly 10 mile race. If you read yesterday’s post, you know that I DID NOT get to run one of my favorite races.

I also spent most of Saturday in a plane or at an airport and most of Sunday, in a car. None of which were part of the plan.

So, although, I was extremely sleep deprived, I NEEDED A RUN!

Not just any run but a special one. So I decided to drive to Peeples Island State Park. I had run there last year once and loved it.

Of course, with unpacking, housework and laundry, I didn’t arrive there until around noon when it was sunny and in the 80’s.

I decided to run around the area first. There was a nice path after the bridge.

I also discovered another path along the river.

I stopped for some water and then continued over another bridge and headed in the opposite direction.

At this point I had run about 3 miles. After another stop for water, I finally entered the park’s trail.

There are a lot of roots and rocks so it is hard to run. I did a lot of walking but ran when it was safe to do so.

As you can see by the pictures, it’s a very relaxing place to run.

When I finished the loop around the park, I had completed 5.75 miles. Of course, I ran across to the park across the street so I would end with 6 miles!

They may have been the slowest miles I have ever run but I felt 100% better.

Happy Running! Is running ever your therapy?

June 23, 2015 by Darlene

Adirondack Distance Run DNS

Sunday, June 21, 2015 – 7:30 a.m.

A ten mile race consisting of rolling hills from Lake George Village to Bolton Landing.

adc

Last year was my first year running this race which was on my bucket list since I began running.

adr3

I loved it. Especially since it ended at the marina where we keep our boat and my friends and my hubby could watch me finish.

This year, I was really looking forward to the race even though I would not be racing under optimal conditions:

I hadn’t be running this past week.
I ran a half marathon last weekend.
I would be coming home late the night before from Denver and would be jet-lagged.

Nevertheless, I laid out my clothes before I left for my trip and planned to give it my best shot and have fun.

My flight from Denver to Baltimore left on time and even arrived early. I was psyched to not have any flight problems.

But I spoke too soon.

After I landed, it started to storm.

My flight was delayed an hour.

Many of the other flights were delayed or cancelled.

I bumped into Carol whom I knew from college & her husband. They had been visiting their son who lives in Baltimore so we hung out together hoping to fly home that night.

The flight got delayed again and again and again.

And eventually it got cancelled along with every flight going out of Baltimore.

I’ll spare all the details but it was an angry scene of thousands of passengers trying to find their luggage, re-book their flights and find lodging for the night.

We were told that all the flights were booked for the next day and the lines for re-booking were miles long and not moving at all.

It also looked next to impossible to get a cab or even find a room for the night. There weren’t even any rental cars left.

Yeah, we were screwed.

So what my friends decided to do was to have their son come back to the airport to get them, sleep at his apartment and rent a car (outside of the airport) and drive home the next day. (They couldn’t stay longer sadly because Carol had to go to Boston Monday morning for cancer treatments.)

I was so lucky to have bumped into Carol. They invited me to sleep on the couch and drive back with them the next day.

So instead of arriving home Saturday evening at 10:30 pm and running my favorite race at 7:30 am on Sunday morning, I got home at 4:30 pm on Sunday afternoon.

I am disappointed but it could have been a lot worse.

Happy Running! Do you have a bucket list race? Ever miss a race due to transportation problems?

June 22, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday- rest, ~~walk at work~~
Tuesday – rest, ~~walk at work~~, pack
Wednesday – fly to Denver for a conference, 4 mile running tour (flight delay)
Thursday – workshops
Friday – workshops, 3 mile walk

Saturday – 4 mile city running tour + 1 mile, ~~fly home~~ (flight cancelled)

Sunday – ~~10 mile race,~~ ~~boating~~ (drive home from Baltimore)

This Week:

Monday- off from work, 5 mile run
Tuesday – walk at work, tennis
Wednesday –3 mile run before work, dinner out
Thursday – walk at work, rest
Friday – 3 mile run, mah jongg
Saturday – rest, boating
Sunday – 5K??, boating

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

June 21, 2015 by Darlene

City Running Tour of Denver

As I mentioned last week, I went to Denver for a work conference. I wanted to see the city and run but I had very little time.

So I decided to do a personalized running tour:

You choose how far you want to run, which areas and sights you would like to see, and then we customize a run specifically for you…We run at your pace, provide water, and even bring along a camera in case you’d like to capture the moment or the sights.
At the end of the run, our running guide will …provide you with a souvenir goody bag with other keepsakes to help your remember your run through the city.

These runs are perfect if you are a tourist looking to explore a new city, training for a race and interested in a running partner, or a business traveler eager to fit in a run and looking to avoid the hotel treadmill. We work with you to recommend specific routes that cater to exactly the kind of run and experience you are looking for.

So my original plan was to get to my hotel in Greenwood Village, south of Denver and then check into the conference. They were giving us 10 tickets for the light rail so I planned to use one to get to Union Station in downtown Denver to meet Melissa and start my Denver “running tour.”

My flight was scheduled to arrive at 12:40 pm and the tour at 4:00 pm. Plenty of time, right?

And as with many best laid plans, things could go wrong.

Remember how my flight to Palm Springs in March was cancelled and I missed my 5k race. Well, this time, I was stuck in the Baltimore airport for 7 hours. Instead of arriving in Denver at 12:40 pm, I arrived around 6:30 pm.

Yep, I missed my running tour!!!

Luckily City Running Tours was very accommodating and offered to let me re-schedule. The problem was WHEN?? I was in Denver to go to a law technology conference, not to go running.

So I looked at Saturday’s sessions and decided that I could miss them and they re-scheduled my running tour for 9am on Saturday with Marty, instead of Melissa.

I was very disappointed not to run on Wednesday. I hadn’t run since Saturday and all I did at the conference was eat breakfast, go to a workshop, eat, go to a workshop, eat lunch, go to a workshop, eat, go to a workshop, eat, go to a workshop, eat, go to a workshop, eat dinner. Yes, they fed us a lot and mostly sugar and carbs.

After 2 days of that, I searched out a place to walk on Friday evening. I found a park with some walking paths not far from the hotel. It was very isolated and many coyote warnings so I didn’t stay long. It was very pretty and just what I needed in terms of exercise.

The next morning, I was very anxious for my run. I had breakfast in the hotel and then walked to the nearby light rail station. The ride took about 30 minutes. I arrived about 15 minutes early and Marty wasn’t there yet.

It turned out that he was waiting at the train station not the light rail station but we eventually found each other.

I was a little nervous about the pace. It was very hot and I wasn’t used to this altitude. But my young tour guide said he was getting over PF and was glad to go at my pace.

So for the next hour and 1/2 or so, we ran, chatted about running, stopped for water at each Starbucks and for many photo ops. Marty talked about all the important sights in Denver as we passed by them. It was so fascinating.

Here are some of the sites:

And I loved the city of Denver. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to visit it while there for a conference. It was kinda good that I was leaving later that day or I may have been tempted to return instead of attending my conference workshops.

We ended the tour near where we began. Marty told me to get something to eat and drink because it was included. So we went to a coffee shop in the train station and I had a iced decaf vanilla latte and a chocolate croissant.

Since I still had an hour before I had to catch my train back to the hotel, I decided to retrace some of my steps and run some more.

So my trip to Denver started off on a bad foot but certainly ended on a high note.

A 4 mile run to see the highlights of Downtown Denver was definitely worth it to me. If you have the opportunity to take a City Running Tour, I would highly recommend it.

The only negative was that there was no souvenir goody bag but that’s ok. I have enough tee shirts!

I’m linking this post up with Tara at Running n’ Reading for her Weekend Update!

Happy Running! Anyone take a “City Running Tour?”

June 19, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: What Makes Me Happy

Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mary at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC to host the Friday Five linkup. 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!

This week, the theme is Five Things That Make Me Happy

1. Being on my boat with my hubby on Lake George

It is so beautiful, peaceful, relaxing. It’s my weekend place to be.

2. Hanging out with my friends

Whether it is playing tennis, knitting, going to a movie or the most likely, eating out. I them love!!

3. Running in scenic places

I love running along the water or on a trail.

Lake George

Peebles State Park

Corning Bike Path

Washington Park

4. Racing

There are more races now that any time of year. So there are so many choices. You can choose by location, bling, course, etc.

5. Playing tennis outdoors.

It’s free. It’s close to home. Love being outdoors in the fresh air.

Happy Running! What makes you happy?

June 17, 2015 by Darlene

City Running Tours

I am going to Denver today for a work conference. I am staying in a hotel outside of the city.

I want to see the city of Denver and I want to run.

But I have very little time since I have to go to the conference sessions on Thursday, Friday & Saturday am.

I do have a little time after I arrive today so I found this:

City Running Tours

They have scheduled group tours several times a week in many cities, including Denver. It would be fun to run with others.

But unfortunately none are scheduled when I can go.

For a more expensive price, there’s this…

Our PERSONALIZED RUNNING TOURS are completely customizable to accommodate your needs and interests as both a runner and a tourist. You choose how far you want to run, which areas and sights you would like to see, and then we customize a run specifically for you. Your own personal running guide will meet you at the location where you are staying to take you on your run. We run at your pace, provide water, and even bring along a camera in case you’d like to capture the moment or the sights.

At the end of the run, our running guide will ensure you get back to where you are staying and provide you with a souvenir goody bag with other keepsakes to help your remember your run through the city.

These runs are perfect if you are a tourist looking to explore a new city, training for a race and interested in a running partner, or a business traveler eager to fit in a run and looking to avoid the hotel treadmill. We work with you to recommend specific routes that cater to exactly the kind of run and experience you are looking for.

Sounds perfect (except that the price is more than I paid for my last half marathon.)

I wish that I had the time to plan my own “running tour.” But I do not.

Denver

I will need a run after sitting on a plane for so many hours and I will not have run since Saturday (and I have a 10 mile race on Sunday when I return.)

So I plan to take the light rail from my hotel into downtown Denver and run for about an hour on a customized City Running Tour.

A 4 mile run on a Wednesday afternoon seeing the highlights of Downtown Denver seems worth it to me.

I’ll let you know how it went when I return.

Happy Running! Anyone ever take a “City Running Tour?”

June 15, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday- rest, tennis
Tuesday – ~~3 mile run~~ (rain), movie instead

very funny

Wednesday – 4 mile run

Thursday – rest, walk at work

Friday – rest, walk at work
Saturday – HALF MARATHON, movie

I was slow but still got 3rd in my AG

Sunday – rest, boating

This Week:

Monday- rest, walk at work
Tuesday – rest, walk at work, pack
Wednesday – fly to Denver for a conference, 4 mile running tour
Thursday & Friday – rest, conference (would love to squeeze in a run)
Saturday – fly home
Sunday – 10 mile race, boating

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

June 11, 2015 by Darlene

Half Marathon #14

So I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

June 13, 2015 7:30 am

Every time, I run a half marathon, I like to look back at my previous races. I can’t believe that this will be my 14th. And 9th after my ankle surgery. (So Dr. Ortho, I can run again!!)

1. My first and BEST was the Naples Half Marathon in January of 2011. My goal was just to finish and I did in 2:28:27 (gun time, no chip timing).

2. I immediately registered for the 1st annual Lake George Half Marathon in April of that year. Unfortunately, I had to run in sleet & freezing rain for 13.1 miles & without my Garmin. My time was 2:22:39 (gun time, no chip timing) and a PR until this year.

3. Out with strained Achilles for 6 weeks during the summer of 2011 delayed my training for the Adirondack Half Marathon (so I walked the 2nd half of the race.) I finished in 2:44:59. It was still fun because I was running it with lots of friends.

I see the finish line!

4. Again impulsively, I decided to sign up for the inaugural Fall Foliage Half Marathon as a training run. This was my hilliest half but I finished in 2:32:50.

my 4th Half Marathon 10-23-11

5. My goal race of that year was the Santa Clarita Half Marathon that I was running with a friend in California. This time it only poured for half the race and I finished with a disappointing 2:30:12.

After 5 half marathons in 2011, there were NONE in 2012. (The year of the broken ankle & foot stress fracture.)

6. My next Half Marathon, the First Watch Half Marathon in Sarasota, Fla came in 2013 16 months after serious ankle surgery and 5 months after a foot stress fracture. I was just glad to be running again. The course was beautiful, my friends were waiting at the end and I was happy with my 2:33:59 time.

7. The Mohawk-Hudson Half Marathon in the fall of 2013 was supposed to be the one where I would be seriously training and hopefully get a PR. Then I broke my foot. With a late start to my training and my weekly miles not what I would have liked, again this half marathon was just “I’ll be happy to finish.” So I did in 2:24:14. I enjoyed it since it was my first half where I slept in my own bed the night before.

Mohawk Hudson Half Marathon

8. For the Love Run Half Marathon in the Spring of 2014, I was injury-free for the whole training but I trained during an awfully cold, snowy winter. Despite running in monsoon rains, I managed to PR at 2:22:35. I made new running friends and we had fun during our weekend in “wet” Philly.

loverun

9. Last summer, after running a 10 mile race, I impulsively registered for the Saratoga Springs Half Marathon. This taught me to never run one in the summer. It was very humid & I felt sick so I struggled to a 2:26:00 finish.

sshm4b

10. Impromptu and free. I registered for the Hangover Half Marathon this past New Year’s Day and ran it as a training run on a cold, windy, lonely, boring course. And it was my fastest at 2:18:33. Go figure?

hangover-059

11. Training in frigid temps and running in Florida in January I thought would give me problems but the stars were aligned and I had the BEST.HALF.EVER in West Palm Beach. Beautiful weather, awesome scenery, a big PR and age group win. I sprinted to a 2:09:40 finish!!!

race_697_photo_14838692

12. I had awesome aspirations for the Asbury Park Half Marathon this past April. But foot pain ended that and I had a disappointing 2:20:18 finish time.

13. The Vermont City Marathon Relay on Memorial Day weekend was an unplanned race. Although, my finish time of 2:25:24 was slow, I thoroughly enjoyed the race.

14. This race on Saturday should be scenic and a good time. I have not trained much since April so I will not be disappointed with a slow time.

Fingers crossed for NO rain and NO pain! (The forecast is for showers & thunderstorms…)

Here are my Goals:

A. Finish Faster than my previous half (under 2:25:24 )

B. Finish under 2 1/2 hours

C. Beat my slowest time (under 2:44:59)

D. Finish happy & uninjured 🙂

And what will I wear?

A combination of the last two outfits – hat, SkirtSports skirt, shoes from Asbury Park and SkirtSports shirt, socks from VCM

Happy Running! Anyone else running this race?

June 10, 2015 by Darlene

Betar Byway 5K and Moreau Mile Race Report

I ran this race last year and remembered it being fun (even though there were hills) so I signed up again.

The 5K is a out and back and has one hill just before the 1 mile mark, with the rest being flat and the down hill at about 2.25 and a slight increase at the finish. Course is both paved (along Hudson River) and packed dirt path in wooded area, for approx 1.25 mile.

bb elevation

It is about an hour north of my house (and on the way to my boat.)

And most importantly, I love scenic. Here are some views of the course:

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finish line view

The weather was cool and cloudy. It was about 50 degrees when I left the house. It was predicted to warm up to the 70’s later. Actually perfect running weather for a change.

I left early and arrived in plenty of time. I parked nearby and got my race packet.

ready to race in purple

Then I used the restroom – yes, there were real ones.

Believe it or not, I didn’t know anyone at this race.

So I just patiently waited until it was time for everyone to walk down to the water for the start.

Of course, while waiting for the gun to go off, I wound up talking to some older runners… about future races and running shoes.

I planned to start near the front since there were no timing chips or start line but I was chatting and forgot.

I must say that this was one of the prettiest course I have ever run. It was along the water most of the time or on a paved trail through a park.

I tried to focus on the scenery since I knew that this one would be tough due to hilly course.

The first mile had a small hill which I ran up and then came the monster hill. I walked up the whole thing and had trouble doing that it was so steep. I think I did the right thing since it was early in the race.

It wasn’t warm but I walked through the first water stop anyway but very quickly.

Lately I am having trouble running fast. I am trying but my breathing is labored and my legs just won’t go. ( guess that’s why runners do speed drills!)

Eventually the course looped around and you headed back to the start. I passed through the second water stop and then finally came the big hill. This time you were running down. These hills always scare me so I hold back especially with my falling history.

Then I think I walked once more before the final hill which led to the finish line.

can I catch her?

nope. she’s too fast

I tried unsuccessfully to pass a 10 year old.

but I will beat 30 minutes!

yes, I will!

But at least I finished under 30 minutes! 29:25

Splits:

mile 1 – 9:38
mile 2 – 9:44
mile 3 – 9:06
.14 – 8:43

At least, I was 24 seconds faster than last year but slower than last week’s 5k.

After the 5K, there was a one mile race. Not for kids but for everyone. It looked like fun last year so I signed up for this one too (I am crazy like that.)

Of course after the hilly 3.1 miles, my legs were too tired to run even ONE mile but I wanted to give it my best shot.

However, I never ran it before and I didn’t know where they would start the race. I was chatting with an older runner about injuries (what else?) and I noticed that they were not starting the second race and it was almost time.

So I asked and they said, the it started a mile into the course and finished in the same spot as the 5k. Well, that made sense.

Would I have enough time to get to the start? Probably not but I started running.

I ran and ran but unfortunately I wasn’t there yet when I heard the gun go off to start the race. So I moved over and let the runners go by and then continued to the start and started running.

I was last, of course, and tired since I just race a 5k plus an additional mile getting to the start.

But I did pass a few people.

relaxed…

now serious!

Garmin time was 9:46.

Then they gave out the awards and I won third place in my age group in both races.

betar byway 5k

moreau mile

Even a faster time wouldn’t have gotten me ahead the speedier ladies.

I will definitely do this race again. I loved the course and the scenery. Next time, maybe I’ll try to run up that hill and now I know where the Moreau Mile race starts.