July 20, 2013 by Darlene

Change of Scenery

I love love Lake George.

what’s not to love?

But my friend has a house on Schroon River and she organizes several weekends there every summer. We play tennis, hike, swim, play games and “bond.” She is a close friend so I get invited to all her planned weekends.

view of the Schroon from her house

A few weekends ago, she invited me to “The Monday Tennis group weekend.” I used to play tennis with them and I will again in the fall but I decided instead to spend the weekend on our boat (since my foot made me miss several weekends on it.)

floated around all weekend in my “chair”

This weekend is another one – she calls it this one the “Tuesday Tennis group.” This is another group I used to play with and I will again in the fall. (In August, there will be the “Travel Tennis” group and in September, the “Mah Jongg” group.)

pic from last year

What I sometimes do is split the weekend between the boat & the river house.

I am not playing tennis yet but it is a beautiful place to run/walk.

during a run last year

So I am headed North… to a place where there is water and pretty scenery. I am playing it by ear (and trying not to think about the races I am missing ..Silks and Satins 5K is today…boo hoo)

Plus… I HAVE MONDAY OFF!

Happy Running!

July 19, 2013 by Darlene

Listen to Orville Rogers and Strive to be Above Average

Orville Rogers’ 5 Rules for Running Forever

As far as training goes, listen to your body. Don’t go too fast or too far.
When you’re upping your training, increase your speed or distance, not both. If you overtrain, you risk your next competition.
Look at the records and then make a goal for yourself that you think you can do.
Visualize, and when you visualize, picture yourself breaking those records.
Never give up.

Oh yeah—and stretch.

at age 95, he has set 7 world age group records this year

Read the complete article here.

I agree with his advice especially #1 & #2 (except that I forget to stretch).

1. It is really important when injured to know when to run, how fast, how far and how often. That means listening to your body and knowing when aches & pains are serious or just part of life. It means being patient… (I am not good at this!!)

2. I usually concentrate on distance. Being older, I need to build up my stamina and fitness level. I need to be careful about overdoing. I used to worry about speed when I only ran 5ks. I also did more speed workouts when I was injury-free. Now I seem to always be coming back and I am glad to be running.

2011 stats from http://www.runningusa.org

3. My goals in the past have been PR or win a Age Group award. Again when you are constantly in recovery mode, PRing is NOT realistic. So a realistic goal may be to be ABOVE AVERAGE. It seems that I am way above average with regards to “AGE” and I am usually above average in my 5K time. So my new goal is to be above average in my 10k and half marathon times.

and I NEVER GIVE UP!!!!

Happy Running! Do you have any other running advice? Are you “Above Average?”

July 18, 2013 by Darlene

Who Wants to Run Anyway?

I do!

But is SOOOO HOT!

Now really!? This is the Northeast not Florida or California or Texas!!

But my doctor said I could try running 1 mile on the track!!

Being the impatient person I am and not having run for 45 days, I couldn’t wait…

this is what my car read when I left work

I rushed home, had dinner and waited for it to cool down to a mere 90 degrees and went back to the track at work.

I was a little nervous… my first run after an injury is always scary but I quickly forgot about my foot and concentrated on breathing in this HEAT. I stopped after each lap to grab some water and continued at an easy 11 minute pace (which did not feel easy) until I had run ONE MILE!!

Running on a track is pretty boring. But it is better than not running at all. I may try the treadmill if it cools down. I am not sure how long I can wait before hitting the road.

We’ll have to see how the foot behaves…

Happy Running!

July 17, 2013 by Darlene

X-Rays #5 with High Expectations

These are the x-rays scheduled 2 weeks early for reasons that I explained in this post.

Of course, I was the most nervous about these because of my high expectations and not wanting to look unreasonably impatient.

I am thinking …If my foot is healed, I can start running.

If I start running, I can run a race …

This one is Sept 7.

and I can start training for my October half marathon.

I can start playing tennis soon.

I can enjoy boating more!!

hiking at Log Bay

As I said— High Expectations!

So you are probably in suspense.

Good news: NO More X-rays!

Bad news: X-rays still show a FRACTURE!!!

My doc says that this is normal. A displaced fracture or one that needs surgery heals faster. A fracture such as mine will show on x-rays for a long time (even maybe until January) so there is nothing more he can do. Getting more x-rays will just make me more depressed.

So what can I do?

He says that I can return to normal activity but do it slowly. If it starts to swell or turn colors, cut back.

What does this mean for me?

I can wear shoes.
I can walk.
I can start to run but on a track for a mile (if it doesn’t hurt).
I can slowly increase the miles (on a track or treadmill).
In 3-4 weeks, I can try playing tennis.
It should heal fine if I don’t drop something on it or fall on it.
Eventually, I can run my normal schedule… (when I don’t know??)

YES, I AM DISAPPOINTED!!

Happy Running!

July 16, 2013 by Darlene

Two on Tuesday

Yesterday, I took an unplanned off-track walk. I planned to walk on the track but a field day was going on so I walked into town. It was very hot and it was also uphill on the way back (so I stopped at Starbucks as a reward).

I survived and it was a nice change from the monotonous track (hopefully my foot is no worse for wear.)

the lake in Washington Park

sunflowers, my second favorite after tulips

green tea frappuccino (minus the whipped cream)- getting addicted to these

2. I also saw a great movie last night: 20 Feet from Stardom –

In his compelling new film, director Morgan Neville shines a spotlight on the untold true story of the backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends. Triumphant and heartbreaking in equal measure, the film is both a tribute to the unsung voices who brought shape and style to popular music and a reflection on the conflicts, sacrifices and rewards of a career spent harmonizing with others.

Go see this movie if it’s playing in your area!! You’ll listen to songs differently.

Tonight I plan to take my first bike ride (since my last injury.) Yes, I only ride when I can’t run. I don’t hate to ride…it’s just a distant 4th after running, tennis, yoga…and there’s no time for everything.

Happy Running! Have you seen any good movies lately?

July 13, 2013 by Darlene

Week 6 – Making the Best of a Broken Foot

hot weather

The rainy, stormy, hot, humid weather has continued. No complaints here. (It’s cool in my air-conditioned office & house.)

I still go to the library and read real books

More reading – finished Revenge Wears Prada, Daddy’s Gone A Hunting (Mary Higgins Clark). Started Lone Wolf (Picoult)
Watched another episode of Call The Midwife while on the stationary bike at work

Wore sandals to work (have sneakers there, just in case)

need a pedicure. don’t think it’s a good idea with a broken foot…

Went to see a NY Sportimes’ WTT match – Andy Roddick was one of the players on the other team and our team won 22-21

believe it or not, he lost at singles

Walked 1 mile on Wed, 1.5 miles on Thurs and 2 miles on Friday on a track (There is brand new one at work.)

it was very tempting to “run” but I did not and will not until the broken bone has healed

Found a new tech tool – DragOnTape – you can make playlists of youtube videos:

Running Video Mix (Copy)

Another Running Video Mix

Heading back to the lake today.

It is supposed to be warm & sunny.

X-rays again next Wednesday!

Please, let my broken bone be healed!

Happy Running! How is your summer going? Hope you are having fun ( and running)!

July 12, 2013 by Darlene

My Next Half?

Well, this would work.

Oct 13, 2013

I registered for this half marathon even before I ran the Sarasota Half in March…even before I knew than I could ever run 13.1 miles again. (It always sells out right away.)

The race is local. Last year I watched with a stress fracture and vowed to run it this year.

The course is also where I do my long runs.

starts at the Colonie Town Park and ends at the Corning Bike Path.

I will know so many runners at the race.

This is the shirt we are planning to all wear.

After I finished the Sarasota Half, I decided that I wanted to do better.

So happy to have finished!!

Well, guess what? Another injury and it would be dumb to do this race. Right?

I usually train for a half for 12 weeks. That means running 3 miles comfortably by July 22 to start the PLAN.

It is July 12 and I still have a broken foot. So I obviously cannot do that.

I want to run it well. I do not want to get injured.

So…… I should not run it this year.

Or maybe I’ll walk it??

Decisions…Decisions!

Time will tell…. (If you know me at all, you know that if there is any way I can do this race, I will….)

Happy Running? Ever have the “Should I do it dilemma”?

July 10, 2013 by Darlene

Wordless Wednesday for the Older Runner

Saw this on FB and it made me smile.

Happy Running! Have a great “Hump Day.”

July 9, 2013 by Darlene

DNSing

Normally I have all my summer weekends booked with 5Ks. In my healthy days, I did one every Saturday and then drove up to Lake George afterwards.

at the Silks & Satins, one of my favorite 5ks

This summer I did not book any. I was planning to do long runs and a lot of boating on the weekends.

running on the Sagamore bridge over Lake George

So I only have THREE DNSes.

June 23: Adirondack Distance Challenge 10 miler

This is the end before you turn into the park (next to my marina.)

At least I was able to pick up my race shirt.

July 28: Biggest Loser 15K in Killington, VT

The 15k course travels through the heart of the Green Mountains and ends with an exciting ride on the chairlift to the finish line. Enjoy breathtaking views of Killington Peak and the surrounding area while winding through wooded roads and Killington’s downtown with a long time limit allowing runners and walkers to complete the race at their own pace. (So this is 8 weeks post-injury. It is a long drive & my doc would probably kill me if I tried to walk 9.3 miles while recovering from a broken foot??)

Oct 13: Mohawk-Hudson Half Marathon (I can defer my registration on this one to next year…)

I am very sad about this. These are 3 races that I was really looking forward to.

Happy Running! Any advice?

July 8, 2013 by Darlene

Broken Foot – Weeks 4 & 5

Many people are blaming me for the weather. It has rained almost every day +since I broke my foot. (Sorry no sympathy here).

So what’s new in my exciting life?

a girls learns some secrets while her sister, a famous runner, lies in a coma

Finished reading The Kitchen House, While My Sister Sleeps, Firefly Lane. (Does reading sad books make you feel better when you are depressed??) Started The Paris Wife & Revenge Wears Prada.
Finished watching PBS’ Call the Mid-Wife season 1 and started season 2. (not as great as Downton Abbey but the characters do grow on you)
Actually watched a live TV show (that never happens thanks to DVR and ipad apps) – America’s Got Talent – highlight: an amazing singing trio who met online and performed for the 1st time on the show – Anyone see it?
Found out that my foot is not completely healed but got permission to wear real shoes, use a stationary bike and treadmill.
Won a $50 gift certificate at work (to a local restaurant)
Went out to dinner at a new neighborhood buffet and there was a power failure (don’t really like buffets…you eat too much because you feel that you have to get your money’s worth)
Started knitting again – Socks – what else?
Used the stationary bike TWICE at work and I sweat (yes and that is huge.)
Walked to Starbucks during a work break (yes, walked all the way across the street)