2013 is in the books…

report-card1

I must say that things were looking up until June 1 and then I broke my foot.  I started getting back on track in August and the year ended pretty well.

2013

  • Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside)- YES, except for June & July.
running in Naples, Fla.

even ran 3 times while on vacation in May

  • Continue fitting in tennis and yoga at least once a week (as cross-training) – YES, until June 1. I started tennis again in Sept.  I didn’t start yoga again until late Oct.

tennis1

  • Finish my 5K races under 30 minutes and not stress about a PR (though getting one would be super!) – YES. Sure I stressed but finished Ice Breaker, Lake George, Mother’s Day, and Freihofer’s –  all under 30 min. Post broken foot, I finished the Malta 5K, Race for the Cure, Delmar Turkey Trot and Stuff the Sleigh under 30. NO PR this year!! (I think my 5K PR days are over.)
ice breaker

Ice breaker 5k – 28:47

  • Get an Age Group award (in May I will be entering a new AG!!) – YES. 3rd at the Polar Cap 4m, in the correct AG I finished 1st at Lake George 5K and 1st in my new AG at the Mother’s Day 5K, 2nd in the Biggest Loser 5K & Helper’s Fund 10k, and 1st in the Race for Hope 5K, the Monster Scramble 10K and Stuff the Sleigh 5K. Getting older rocks!

Polar Cap 4m – 3rd in 50-59

lg 5k finish

Lake George 5K – 1st in 50-59

motherday13a

Mother’s Day 5K – 1st in 60-69

hf10k-4

Helper’s Fund 10K – 2nd in 60-69

heading to the finish line

Race for Hope 5K – 1st in 60-69

done!

Monster Scramble 10K – 1st in 60-69

20131130-133334.jpg

Stuff the Sleigh 5k – 1st in 50+

  • PR in a 10K race (I have only one injured 10K under my belt.) – YES, both of my 10ks were faster.  My PR was at the Helper’s Fund.
happy to see the finish line

Helper’s Fund 10k

  • Run a 10 mile race (the one from Lake George to Bolton Landing is on my bucket List) – NO (broke my foot). I hope to run my first in January.
  • Run at least one half marathon (a spring and/or a fall one) – YES, I ran 2 – the Sarasota Half Marathon in March and the Mohawk Hudson in October.
finish

Sarasota Half Marathon 3/17/13

finish

Mohawk Hudson River Half Marathon – 10/13/13

  • Run at least 12 races (one per month, if possible) – YES, 22 total races – at least one per month except for August (when I decided to cautiously recover from my broken foot.)
at least I am smiling!  (J. Berkeley photo)

one of 3 April races

Helper's Fund 10K

one of 3 September races

Stockadeathon

one of 3 November races

  • Run a race in another state – YES, I ran in Florida and Vermont.
Sarasota Half Marathon

Florida racing

Register for The Biggest Loser RunWalk at www.biggestloser.com/runwalk

running in Vermont

  • Run a NEW race (hopefully one in NYC) – YES, 11 out of 22 were new ones – Hmrrc #3 & #5, Sarasota Half, Ice Breaker 5K, Lake George 5K, Mother’s Day 5k, Biggest Loser 5k, Helper’s Fund 10K, Mohawk Hudson Half, Monster Scramble 10K and Stuff the Sleigh 5k. (NYC hopefully next year)
Mother's Day 5K in Schenectady

Mother’s Day 5K in Schenectady

Register for The Biggest Loser RunWalk at www.biggestloser.com/runwalk

The Biggest Loser RunWalk (including a ride on a chair lift)

  • Listen to my body and slow down when necessary (In other words, do not get injured…) – YES. I broke my foot but I cannot blame overuse on that one.
  • Continue blogging regularly (to keep track of miles, as a motivator, to meet new runners…) – YES!

So I think I did pretty well during my 10 healthy months.

Happy Running! How was your 2013? Do you set goals?  

runner-sig

December Rundown

DECEMBER GOALS:

  • RUN (regularly)!!! YES! At least 3x week!
20131219-075051.jpg

in the park

20131215-143156.jpg

in town

20131214-112038.jpg

in the neighborhood

20131220-144518.jpg

on the bike path

  • Do not overdo and listen to my body…Do NOT run if foot pain gets worse. YES!  Only ran 1 mile on rest days of the streak and then added my rest days back. Foot pain is much improved.
  • Attend at least 2 yoga classes! YES! Attended 3 classes!
  • Walk or run at least 1 mile a day while at work. YES on most days! Thanks to my co-worker Sherri.
  • Cut back on the sweets and eating out. I doubt it.  It is the holiday season!
christmas cookie exchange at work

ate lots of cookies

20131219-075027.jpg

and desserts

  • Start knitting again (socks or something else)
20131223-192912.jpg

working on a pair of socks

  • Run before work at least once a week. Not often! Too cold!
20131217-090159.jpg

would you run?

  • Run a new route. Yes, sorta. I haven’t run this route in 3 years.
20131230-122314.jpg

in town and around the golf course

  • Continue to run some of my long runs with others. Nope.  Just couldn’t coordinate our days. I usually run on Saturday and they run on Sunday.  Definitely plan to do it next month!
  • Run at least one race. YES! 

20131214-200207.jpg

  • Continue running longer on the weekends (to train for January 10 miler) YES!
20131207-155147.jpg

8 miles on the Corning bike trail

  • Complete the RW Running Streak (run at least 1 mile everyday from Thanksgiving to New Year’s) NO! I decided to quit after 10 days straight.

streak

  • Run at least 70 miles this month.  YES! 86 – my biggest month this year!

dec13

I also visited NYC with 2 friends.

20131206-085026.jpg

I spent some time with my mentee Amanda and her sons. In fact I saw them 3 times this month.

20131216-073543.jpg

20131225-183802.jpg

I celebrated quite a few dinners out – 5 birthdays, 2 tennis parties, Christmas & New Year’s Eve. Holy waist line!

suzy

tennis friend Suzy’s b-day

20131219-075035.jpg

former co-worker Cheryl’s b-day

1488042_10152467092564428_654303785_n

college friend Judy’s b-day

tennis party

tennis party

I went to see several very enjoyable movies: Philomena, Catching Fire, Book Thief, American Hustle, Saving Mr Banks.

 I also read some good books including What Alice Forgot, the Aviator’s Wife, the Orphan Train.

JANUARY GOALS:

  • RUN (regularly)!!!
  • Do not overdo and listen to my body!
  • Attend at least 2 yoga classes!
  • Walk or run at least 1 mile a day while at work.
  • Cut back on the sweets and eating out now that the holidays are over.
  • Run before work at least once a week.
  • Continue to run some of my long runs with others
  • Complete my first 10 mile race.
  • Run at least one other race.
  • Continue running longer on the weekends (to train for January 10 miler and March half marathon)
  • Run at least 70 miles this month. 
  • Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy.

Happy Running! How was your December? Anything exciting planned for January?

runner-sig

Another Destination Race

vacation

Yup, that’s me.

staug

Our good friends that moved to Florida live not far. I visited them last January and we went to St Augustine which I loved.

775122_10151662596864428_800437467_o

St Augustine lighthouse

740058_10151662597354428_266939393_o

at the top

Anyway, I found this race and it sounds really cool:

A celebration of historic preservation, community gatherings and family outings from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Night Fest begins at 4:30 p.m. with the 5k Walk and Fun Run starting at 5:30 p.m.. Then, at dusk, the French lens comes alive with light at the top of the tower. A special presentation on navigating by the stars will be presented via the Smithsonian Institutions Affiliates Program. A local cooking contest will also be featured with voting from attendees. Plus, there will be boat building, a crafts tent and a new shipyard play area for children.

staug map

the course

 The timing is not great.  I have to take Feb 24 & 25 off to work at the NYS bar exam. But I am going to try to make it work  (and I convinced my hubby to come along.)

Happy Running! Are you planning any destination races?

runner-sig

Currently

Currently

Being off from work for more than a weekend is very strange for me. I am not used to having so much free time and yet, not getting things done.

Watching: TVs shows on my iPad.  I have to catch on missed episodes of my favorite shows – The Good Wife, Revenge, Grey’s Anatomy and Nashville

Reading: The Orphan Train. A friend recommended it and so far it is very good.

Listening: Pandora.  I usually only listen to music in the car and my drive to work is very short.  I love listening to oldies – Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Jim Croce, Jackson Browne, Carole King, etc.

Making: Socks.  I have the wool so but I kinda have lost interest in knitting.  It reminds me of the time I knit because I couldn’t do anything else.

Feeling: Relaxed and rested.

Planning: Dinner.  Not working makes me feel guilty about not cooking dinner for my hubby.When I am working, I don’t have the time.  No excuse today.

Loving: Being able to run at any time of the day I want.  I can run in the daylight and can wait until the weather improves. I can run as far as I want and where I want. Unfortunately, this only happens once a year.

Happy Running! What’s on your ‘Currently’ list?

runner-sig

Weekly Running Update

running update logo

Last Week:

  • Monday – tennis
cookieswap2013 001

modeling our “ugly” holiday sweaters

christmas cookie exchange at work

Christmas cookie exchange at work

  • Tuesday – tennis, dinner out (snowed out), 4 miles on the treadmill instead
  • Wednesday – 3 miles before work (too cold & snowy), 3 miles after work, yoga, dinner for a b-day
20131219-075051.jpg

snowy run in the park

20131219-075035.jpg

birthday dessert

20131219-075027.jpg

my dessert – ice cream and pumpkin bread pudding – yum!

  • Thursday – rest,3 miles on the treadmill at work, movie, birthday dinner out
1488042_10152467092564428_654303785_n

cinnamon ginger creme brulee for dessert

really enjoyed this!!

  • Friday –  3  8 miles (Staycation Began), tennis dinner party
20131220-144518.jpg

warmer but rainy run at the Corning Bike Path

1530593_10152469405259428_601415895_n

the partying tennis gang

  • Saturday – 8 miles 2 miles in town (before the rain)
  • Sunday – REST, day trip with the hubby to Lee, MA (WARM but rainy)

This Week: (No work all week – I can run whenever I want…)

  • Monday – 4 miles, tennis cancelled
  • Tuesday – rest, tennis cancelled
  • Wednesday –  4 miles, CHRISTMAS activities, yoga cancelled,
  • Thursday – rest
  • Friday – 4 miles
  • Saturday – rest
  • Sunday – 9 miles

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

runner-sig

14 in 2014

5KButton_WEB

I had no problems running 13 in 2013. In fact.  I ran 22 races even though I was out with a broken foot for 2 months.

I even ran 12 in 2012 when I was out for 5 months with a broken ankle and then 2 months with a stress fracture.

So of course, I am committing for 14 in 2014!  I usually run at least 20 races (barring injury.)

I would like this year to run 14 NEW races.

Here are the races that I am thinking about:

1.  Mayors Race & Wellness Festival 10 miler in Palm Springs, CA

jan11

2.  Lighthouse 5k in St. Augustine, FL
staug

3. LoveRun Half Marathon in Philadelphia, PA

092713-loverun1

March 30, 2014

4.  Cherry Blossom 5k in Niskayuna, NY

April 27, 2014

5.  Spring Run Off 5 K or 10k in Albany, NY

springrunoff

May 3, 2014

6.  Mom’s Day 5K in Albany, NY

May 11. 2014

May 11. 2014

7.  Adirondack Distance 10 m in Lake George, NY

June 22, 2014

8. CARE FOR KIDS 5K Run in Chestertown, NY

August 30, 2014

9.  Flashlight 5K in Lake George, NY

flashligh5k

September 21, 2014

10.  Race the Train (8.4 mi) in North Creek, NY – if it is held

August 4, 2014

August 4, 2014??

11.  Great Pumpkin Challenge 5K or 10K in Saratoga, NY

greatpumpkin

October 18, 2014

12.  Troy Turkey Trot 5k or 10k in Troy, NY

November 27, 2014

13.  a fall half marathon (Palio in Sartagoa, NY, Smuttynose in Hampton, NH, Seacoast in Portsmouth, NH, Hartford in CT, Diva on LI, NY??????)

smuttynose

October 5, 2014

14.  a race in NYC (Melissa Fund Sun Run 5k??)

sun run

May 18, 2014 – date change

All 14 may not happen but I know that I will run 14 races where most of them will be new.

If you interested in this challenge, click here for more details.

Happy Running?  Did you participate in the 13 in 2013 Challenge? Are you going to do the 14 in 2014? Do you run new races each year?
runner-sig

Snowy & Cold…Now Warm & Rainy!.. What The…?

Well, I said I hate the cold but I definitely prefer it to rain.  In fact, I will run in the cold and snow…

20131215-143156.jpg

but I will not run in the rain!!

dec20

So my 16 days of vacation started with RAIN!!!! Wah! Wah! Wah!

My running was planned for Friday, Saturday and Monday with a long run of 8 miles in there somewhere (preferably Saturday.)

However, when I looked at the forecast on Friday morning, it looked like Friday would be the best day to try to squeeze in a dry run so I did my long run then.

I went to the Corning Bike Path because I thought there was a good chance that the path would be plowed.

I was right.  It was pretty dry.  My run wasn’t great.  I walked a lot.  But that seems to be the norm these days.  Unfortunately, I got rained on and the wind picked up for the last 2 miles.  Not fun…but got it done.

20131220-144518.jpg

Today, it was even warmer but drearier than yesterday.  I got a lot of stuff done in the morning and then dragged myself out for a 2 mile run in town.  The snow was melting and there were lots of puddles.  Then it started to rain so I got my nails done and went grocery shopping.

Tomorrow it’s supposed to be even warmer and rainier.  I think I’ll skip my run and hope for better weather next week.

Happy Running! Anyone else having crazy weather?

runner-sig

My 16 Day Staycation

Starting today, I am off until January 6, 2014!

Usually when I take time off from work, it is to go somewhere.

But for this vacation, I am staying home. (Although going to a warmer climate where there is a beach does sound tempting.)

And I have nothing to do except:

  • Run – whenever I want
20131130-133413.jpg

wait until the sun comes out

  • Catch up with friends 

  • Shop for bargains

  • Watch TV

have to catch up on the last few episodes of my favorite show

  • Read  

hope to read this among many others

  • Knit
DSC03061

I haven’t done any since last Christmas vacation

  • Go to the Movies

maybe this one or Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I will do a lot of the above but I really should do grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, cleaning, re-organizing…

Then I won’t mind going back to work!!! Ha Ha!

Happy Running! Do you have time off for the holidays? If so, what are you going to do with your free time?

Third Annual Secret Santa Sock Swap

Christmas_background_by_missiet

Thanks to 3x A Charm Runner for organizing this.

I was paired with Judy from Confessions of an Empty Nester.  She and her sister have an amazing blog.  She is not a runner but a fantastic cook which I am not.  What we do have in common is that we both like to read, quilt, knit and of course, blog. I am glad to have been introduced to her blog and I hope to try some of her recipes.  (If you need some recipes for Christmas cookies, go there now!)

This is what I bought her:

20131213-092001.jpg

I was also paired with Julie from Healthy Wealth and Wise Not but Learning. She is from COLD Minnesota and is just getting back into running. She loves to sew and make jewelry and sounds like a really interesting person.

She sent me the gifts below:

20131213-174354.jpg

Julie  really outdid  herself.  I can’t believe that she  made some of the gifts–crocheted the potholder, made the soap & made the paper cutouts.  I have already worn the socks and the gloves and used the coffee mug.

Thanks Julie for the awesome gifts.

Happy Running!  Did you participate in any holiday gift exchanges this year?

runner-sig