November 14, 2013 by Darlene

Back to 5ks

My next 3 races are 5Ks.

When all I did was race 5Ks, I used to love them.

Now I have a love/hate relationship with them.

I love them because there is no pressure to run lots of miles on the weekends.You don’t have to be out in the cold for a long time.

I hate them because there is pressure to run fast. I always want to PR.

November 28

November 30

December 14

So how do I cope?

I am going to try to run long on some weekends so I am ready for a 10 mile race on January 11. Then continue to train for my half marathon on March 30.

For now, I am going to try and relax and not stress out about how slow I am. My 5K times will not be where they were for these races in 2011.

Bethlehem Towne Turkey Trot – 27:58
Run Off That Turkey 5K – 28:11
Albany Last Run 5K – 30:47 (with a fall)

I want to be smiling like in this 5K (even though I finished in 39 minutes)

I will just try to get as close to 30 minutes as I can and stay HEALTHY.

Happy Running! Do you enjoy 5Ks?

November 10, 2013 by Darlene

The Stockade-athon 15k Race Report

15K
Nov 10, 2013

To save time, I picked up my bib yesterday.

we got a bag rather than a shirt

I was there early so I was able to take advantage of the sales.

last year’s long sleeve tech shirt for $5

Brooks jacket marked $55 for $25

As indicated in a previous post, this is a new course for me. It changed last year.

The race course starts in front of the Rose Garden and finishes at the Casino Restaurant overlooking Iroquois Lake in Central Park. Race participants follow park perimeter roadways for the first 1.5 miles of the course, and retrace this section of the course when they return to the park after their tour of the historic city. Runners follow a new course that proceeds through the historic GE Realty Plot neighborhood of 19th and 20th century homes laid out in a park like setting near the stately grounds of Union College prior to “Storming the Stockade”, an annual tradition for nearly 4 decades. After a brief half mile tour of downtown Schenectady, the course exits State Street at Clinton St. near Proctor’s Theater and head up Franklin Street to the newly constructed bike path in Vale Park. The Vale Park and Vale Cemetery corridor is part of an inner city greenway initiative between the city and the county to encourage safe recreational opportunities for walkers, runners and cyclists while highlight the city’s remarkable history.

This is my first fall-weather race. So it is always a challenge to be warm but not overdress. Plus, it looked like it might rain. I just wore layers and planned to leave them off. Hopefully, I would not be too cold for a skirt.

I left early. There were supposedly 2000 runners and not enough parking. I found a spot, used the rest room (real ones!) and then stayed warm near the fireplaces in the pavilion and chatted with some runners that I knew. There were some SRMs but we waited too long and didn’t get a photo.

It was cold…in the high 30’s and cloudy (no wind yet). I hesitated but left my jacket and pants behind. I kept my gloves. We had to walk quite a ways to get to the start and by the time we got there, they were already singing the anthem. It was very CROWDED. I was in the middle somewhere and even when the race began, it took a while to get moving.

photo by A. Bradley

I should mention that I had many stomach issues this morning. Not sure if it was something I ate yesterday or what. I was worried about needing a rest room during the race (there are NONE).

And the whole race I felt nauseous…ugh!

starting out in the park

The first 5 miles weren’t too bad. It was supposedly flat but there were at least 2 hills (what I would call hills.) I tried not to walk and to run at a constant pace. My annoying foot was annoying but it didn’t really hurt a lot until I started walking.

photo from last year

That was the water stop around 5 where I had a gel and then there was the HUGE hill around mile 5.5. After that there were rolling hills in the cemetery and on the bike trail.

running through the cemetery

I walked whenever I needed to. I ran for a while with a girl who recognized me from the Monster Scramble 10K.

someone I know posted this on FB…next to me is that girl from the Lake George race (This photo was late in the race…she got way ahead of me & I thought I never saw her again but I guess I did & passed her.

I knew from my Garmin that this would not be a PR so I just tried to enjoy it (which was tough with an upset stomach & foot pain.)

view of the pond after the race

Finally you come back into the park. At least here I got a second wind. You run around the duck pond and it seemed to take forever to get to the finish line (according to my watch it was 9.4 not 9.3) and I was able to sprint through it.

Here are some race photos taken as I was approaching the finish line:

finish line after

There was a long line to get back into the pavilion. I wasn’t that hungry but I needed to get my clothes. While on line I chatted with a nice older runner who took my pic.

happy to be done!! (my skirt was a hit…got at least 20 compliments from spectators!!

There was lots of food – bagels, fruit, candy, pudding, bars, soup, pizza, chocolate milk….

I took a little but I was freezing and anxious to leave and get into a hot shower.

Race Stats:

2013 Garmin time: 1:42:23 (2011 time: 1:35:31)

mile 1 – 10:18
mile 2 – 10:16
mile 3 – 10:25
mike 4 – 10:18
mile 5 – 11:00 – gel/water stop
mile 6 – 11:01 – hills begin
mile 7 – 11:48 – more hills & water stop
mile 8 – 11:58 – dying
mile 9 – 11:12
.4 – 10:09

(Official time:1:42:22)

Race Goals:

A: under 1:37
B: under 1:40
C: finish happy and healthy

So I didn’t meet my goals 😦 but I am glad that pushed through it and finished in spite of not feeling my best. This is a well-organized race with lots of enthusiastic spectators. The course is difficult but interesting. I will definitely try it again.

pretty park in the fall (photo by A. Bradley)

Realistically, I am not the runner I was 2 years ago. I am not sure I ever will be. I am running. I am racing. And that makes me happy.

Happy Running! How was your weekend?

PS.

I wasn’t aware at the time but there was a bomb scare. Apparently there was an unattended backpack at the start/finish line with wires. They considered cancelling the race. But they didn’t. It turned out to be nothing.

police pondering the situation (photo by A. Bradley)

November 5, 2013 by Darlene

Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – lunch out, 3 miles after work
Tuesday – 1 mile walk at work, tennis after
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, dinner and movie out with friends
Thursday – 1 mile walk at work, ~~lunch out, 3-4 miles after work~~, nails, REST
Friday – ~~REST~~, 4 miles after work on the rail trail

70 degrees!!!

Saturday – day in NYC with college friends – walk in Central Park, lunch in Chelsea market, walk on the Highline

at the NYC Marathon finish line

with 2 college friends on the High Line

Sunday – 8 (tough) miles on the Nisky bike trail

cold (38 degrees) and windy

This Week:

Monday – DAY OFF, tennis
Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, yoga after work
Thursday – hair appt after work
Friday – 3 miles before work, mah jongg after
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 15K race

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

November 4, 2013 by Darlene

Morning or Evening?

I am talking about running.

Do you prefer to run in the morning or the evening?

What factors influence the time of your run?

Schedule – I work, I play tennis, I play mah jongg, I go boating in the summer. I also have friend and family obligations. So I have to fit running in whenever I can. So sometimes it means I HAVE to run before work because that’s the only time I have. My after work times tend to be busier.

before work morning run

Distance – I work. I have to be at work at a particular time. So when I run in the morning, I don’t have time to run more than 3 miles (if I were faster or got up earlier, I could.) So if I want or need to run more than that, I choose after work.

after work run in the park

Daylight – I don’t particularly like to run in the dark. Before we turn the clocks back, it is dark in the morning. After we turn the clocks back, it is dark after work. So if it is dark, I don’t run in my neighborhood (there are no street lights.) If it is dark, I run after work on lit streets.

trying to run after work on the bike trail

Weather – I’m not a fan of the cold but I will run in it. I prefer the heat but extreme heat or humidity is a no-no. In the summer, I may run before work to avoid the heat and in the winter after work, when it is warmer. I WILL NOT RUN IN RAIN OR SNOW OR SLEET. So before I set my alarm, I check the weather so I can decide when to run.

after work run

Location – My neighborhood is boring. So if I am to do a longer run, I drive to a more interesting location (like a bike path, park, rail trail, etc.) after work.

after work on the rail trail

Running Surface – I don’t own a treadmill but there is one where I work. So I run after work if I want to use a treadmill. The same goes for a track. There is one where I work. For a trail, I would have to drive so that’s after work, as well. Running on the road I do either before (in my neighborhood) or after.

after work run on the track

Running Partners – I usually run solo. That way, I can choose where and when. But if you do run with others, you will have to agree on the time.

evening group run

Now on weekends and days off, it is perfect. I can run whenever I want. Running will be awesome where (if I ever) retire.

Yesterday I ran 8 miles and didn’t do it until noon. Today I have the day off and I may run or I may not…

8 cold windy mikes on the bike path

But on weekdays, truthfully, running before work is the BEST WAY to start the day. It gives you so much more energy. You feel like you’ve done something good for yourself. Now that it is lighter in the am, I hope to do more of those before work runs!!

Happy Running! When do you run? How do you decide?

November 3, 2013 by Darlene

Living the High (Line) with Runner’s Envy

As I mentioned in my previous post, on the day before the NYC Marathon, I was heading to NYC for a college roommate reunion.

us in 2010

in 2000 (love those LONG dresses)

in 1977 (WIDE-LEGGED pants) and so skinny

My friend Judy and her husband, Mike were driving down & let me hitch a ride rather than taking the bus. We left Albany at 7:30 am and I was hoping that we would be lucky to get there without hitting traffic.

I was hoping to at least have time to stalk the finish line in Central Park before heading to Chelsea for lunch.

Well, we were lucky, we arrived there in no time – around 10:00 am.

They dropped me off at 67th and Columbus so I could walk into the park. (They went off to visit a sick aunt in the hospital). They would pick me up at the same location at 11:15.

There was a 5K just finishing up in the park. There were runners with numbers on. I started to get RUNNERS ENVY.

me a the finisher’s wall – so cool

Then I walked to the marathon finish line. It was very crowded. There were lots of visitors who wanted to catch a glimpse. Friends and relatives that were here to watch the race. Of course, there were runners who were racing tomorrow. Runners and people from all over the world.

just had to get a photo near the finish line

I walked around the area for awhile just soaking up the excitement.

bleacher area near the finish line

Then I strayed and walked around the park more.

That’s when RUNNER ENVY got really intense. No matter what path I took, there were runners.

I tried to ignore them but they were everywhere.

Why didn’t I wear my running clothes? Well, of course now I know that I should have. But not knowing what my friends were going to do, if they would drop me off near the park, how much time would I have, where would I run in the park….

So I just walked around admiring the fall foliage.

There were a lot more leaves on the trees than where I live.

Eventually, it was time to go and I said a sad good-bye and vowed to return…and run next time!!

Fred Lebow’s statue was moved near the finish line.

I returned to the corner where I was supposed to be picked up. I waited and waited. Eventually my friends called to say that their car was either towed or stolen!!! They said would call me back when they found it!

Well, we had noon reservations in Chelsea Market for lunch. My friend Andrea & their daughter Danielle (from California) would be waiting there. I called Andrea and they told me to take the subway instead of waiting. (I was at 67th, Chelsea is 15th.) It seemed like a good idea but I had no idea where to get the subway, what subway, where to get off. Eventually I found out that I had to walk to Columbus Circle (Broadway & 60th) and take the A train to 14th.

I have NEVER taken the subway in NYC alone. But it was really easy. I was pretty proud of myself. When I got off the subway, I walked a few blocks & quickly found the entrance to Chelsea Market (which was super interesting) and found the Green Table.

I arrived the restaurant to find Andrea & Danielle already there.

an organic restaurant that Danielle chose

It was a little stressful because we feared that the car was stolen, my Ipad and car key was in the back seat, we would have to take the train home and Judy & Mike would probably be in a bad mood for the rest of the day.

me and Danielle using the Find My iPhone app to locate my Ipad

But we ate anyway.

an egg casserole – small but healthy

When we were done, Judy & Mike arrived. The car had been towed, they found it (paid $185) and this time parked in a parking garage.

The rest of the day was spend leisurely walking on the High Line.

Judy in pink

The High Line was quite crowded since the weather was PERFECT.

me & Andrea on a rolling lounge chair

It was quite interesting looking at all the views, plants, art work and people.

reminds me of the statue in Sarasota, FL

There were lots of places to sit.

here folks are watching traffic?

It was a fun time for the 3 of us and we did a lot of catching up while we walked.

2013 group photo (I’ve been friends with Andrea for 40 years & Judy for 39 years)

Andrea had to return to NJ but Mike, Judy, Danielle & I decided to return to Chelsea Market. It was fun to walk around it – differnt shops and lots of restaurants. I bought a cannoli (my lunch was way too small and way too healthy).

Finally we had to leave Danielle and drive back up North.

I usually go to NYC with my tennis friends just to see a Broadway show. This was a nice diversion.

I hope to return maybe in the spring or next fall to run in Central Park.

Happy Running! Do you ever go to NYC? If so, what do you do there?

November 1, 2013 by Darlene

@TeamRunnerd

If you use Instagram, it’s not too late to join the Runnerd Photo-A-Day Contest.

Anyone who posts at least 15 days in November will receive an oval runnerd sticker.

Don’t forget to tag @teamrunnerd on all your posts!

Everyone who posts every day will be entered into a drawing for the item of your choice (up to $25 value) from the Runnerd Shop. There will be two winners selected by random.org. These winners will each receive a runnerd keychain.

There will be three category winners, one for each of the following:

most creative
funniest
most runnerd

The nominees will be selected by @teamrunnerd and then voted on by you!

Happy Running? Will you be joining? You can follow me @dsc59

October 31, 2013 by Darlene

October Recap

Still running and still healthy! YAY!

october-month-halloween

OCTOBER GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!! YES

in the neighborhood before work

rail trail runs

park runs

Do not overdo and listen to my body…REST when necessary!! YES, 3-4 days each week.
Start daily planks! NOT EXACTLY. I did a few.
Attend a yoga class! YES, I went to 2…it’s a start!
Complete a half marathon. YES!!! Mohawk Hudson River Half Marathon.

Run at least 2 other races. YES!! Race for the Cure 5K and Monster Scramble 10K.

Race for Cure 5K

Monster Scramble 10K

Continue running longer on the weekend. YES!!
Nisky Bike Path for long runs
Run at least 50 miles this month. YES!! 70!

back to healthy running

Unfortunately boating season on Lake George ended. But we had quite a few good fall weekends.

It was also a theatre month. I went to NYC to see Matilda on Broadway and saw Les Miserables TWICE locally.

October was also a month for eating out in restaurants. I usually do not eat out much. But this month I ate out quite an inordinate number of times and in new restaurants:

Helsinki in Hudson, NY

Barrettas in Warrensburg, NY
Smiths in Cohoes, NY
Glass House Tavern in NYC
The View in Lake George
Milanos in Latham (3x)
Recovery Room in Albany
Hidden Cafe in Delmar
Caseys in Rensselaer, NY (this one was not new)
Burger King (not new obviously)

I am playing tennis on a regular basis since I am in 2 half contracts. So, it is no longer a goal. This month I played 6 times!! I find it more a social thing. I like the ladies I play with but it is doubles so not that much of a workout. However, I am sometimes annoyed that I have to schedule my running around it. So far, I haven’t done both in one day.

Now that boating and half marathon training is done, I was able to get together with my mentee, Amanda and her sons. We went on our annual excursion to Ellms Family Farm.

NOVEMBER GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!!
Do not overdo and listen to my body…REST when necessary!!
Start daily planks!
Attend 2 yoga classes!
Complete a 15k race.
Run at least one other race.
Continue running longer on the weekends.
Run a new route.
Run at least 50 miles this month.

Happy Running! How was your October? Anything exciting planned for November?

October 28, 2013 by Darlene

Love to Run?

Yes, I do and guess what I did today??

I made an impromptu decision and registered for another race.

While running up a hill during the Helper’s Fund 10K, I chatted with a runner named Heidi. We then became friends on Facebook and she encouraged me to register for this race. The lowest price deadline was today so I had no time to think about it.

Hence, I will be running a half marathon in Philly on March 30, 2014! Yikes! (At least Heidi registered too.)

ABOUT:

Philadelphia introduces The Love Run. The City’s newest, premiere Spring half marathon. Your love of running combined with all the great sights and sounds you love about Philadelphia.

NON TRADITIONAL PERKS:

VANITY (TAGS) BIBS
Always wanted a vanity tag? Now you can have it. Put your message on your bib whether it’s your nickname, a cause or your name (boring). That’s the spirit!
COMMEMORATIVE COFFEE MUG
Every finisher gets a celebratory coffee mug, filled with some sweet treats, to be used at the Finish Line Coffee & Hot Chocolate Bar. “I LOVE to finish”
FREE RACE PHOTOS
Now that’s enough to make anyone smile.

TRADITIONAL PERKS:

Superior performance technical shirt
Unique Finish Medal
Free Training Plans
Finish line party featuring our new Coffee & Hot Chocolate Bar

My tentative plan is to fly out early Saturday, March 29 and fly back late Sunday, March 30. This destination race is just a race…no vacation!

Now I will be motivated to train in the COLD winter NE weather.

Happy Running! Anyone want to join me?

October 27, 2013 by Darlene

Mentoring and a Day on the Farm

For 5 1/2 years, I have been mentoring Amanda. (I got paired up with her in a program (that has since lost funding) called Mentors & Moms. Unfortunately, with working and running & other social things, I haven’t had the time to see her as much as I’d like.

Recently Amanda has been depressed. She cannot work her job as a EMT (because of the hours) and is working in store for minimum wage. She just broke up with her boyfriend (and baby daddy) whom she had been with for 3 years. She is all alone trying to survive and take care of her 2 sons. (Richard is almost 7 yrs old & in first grade, Matthew is 2.)

Every fall we go to Ellms Family Farm which has a lot of things to do for kids – games, rides, mazes, etc. So today was the date we settled on. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t as nice as the past few weekends. (I selfishly gave my weekends to running and boating 😦 )

In fact, it was downright COLD!!! And windy and cloudy and it even sprinkled at times. But we made the best of it. We went on every ride and in every maze. We had lunch and bought pumpkins.

Eventually when we couldn’t stand the cold anymore, we headed for the mall. We walked around, I bought the kids new sneakers. Then we had dinner at Burger King.

we all felt like this at the end.

We all had fun and I really need to spend more time with them. (However, she already found a new guy. I actually like this one, though).

Happy Running!

October 26, 2013 by Darlene

What Happened to Indian Summer?

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Last weekend, I was dressed like this:

Today I pulled out my capris, fleece vest, windbreaker, fleece headband and gloves.

I am trying to still do longish runs on the weekend. So I headed for the Corning Preserve where I finished my half marathon 2 weeks ago.

and sweating in a tank top

It was very windy and in the 40’s. Since I ran 6 miles last weekend, the plan was for 7 today. 3.5 out and then back. The path which is usually full of runners and bikers was pretty empty. Too cold!!!

I wore my new Brooks and I was cruising on the way out. On the way back, it was a different story. Walk…run…walk…run. Blech but I was running into the wind.