May 11, 2013 by Darlene

My Birthday Week

Please let it end! I love my friends and my family but…. no more food, please!

It began on Saturday with our first boat ride on Lake George.

my hubby, the captain (wearing my race t-shirt)

We, of course, stopped for lunch. I insisted on a view of the lake.

celebrating with margaritas & bloody marys

We rode around the lake for most of the day. The weather was perfect!!

view from the marina where we keep our boat.

On the way home, we stopped for a root beer float (my favorite.)

On Sunday, after my race, I spent the day with Amanda & her sons. We started in Washington Park, then stopped for ice cream and finished up at the playground in The Crossings. (The race was 3 miles but I am sure I put in more than that running after a 9 month old & a 6 1/2 year old.)

On Monday, I walked to Starbuck’s to get my FREE birthday coffee

it was delish (got a Venti, of course)

and walked to the park to drink it (and I also played tennis after work).

On Tuesday, I got up early to run 3 miles before work and then went out to dinner and a movie to celebrate with my BFF.

On Wednesday, I ran again before work (since rain was forecast for the next few days) and walked to Panera’s to get my FREE birthday pastry

and then walked to the park again.

After work, I went to yoga & rushed home to finish watching Season 3 of Downton Abbey. (I am hooked….can’t wait til season 4.)

Thursday, my actual birthday was my REST day and unfortunately I had to work.

from a friend at work

I went out to dinner to celebrate with a former colleague. It’s a tradition. We go out for both of our birthdays to a restaurant where you eat for FREE on your birthday.

On Friday, I ran in the neighborhood before going to mah jongg. We celebrated there with more cupcakes.

Tonight, I am going out to dinner with hubby. At least, I can call it “carb loading” since I have a 5k race tomorrow.

I am really lucky to have such great friends. I do appreciate their efforts.

Let the diet begin!! (Oops, it’s Mother’s Day this weekend and then I leave for my Florida vacation on Wednesday!!)

Happy Running!

May 10, 2013 by Darlene

A Belated 5th Blogoversary

March 25, 2013

I’ve been blogging for FIVE YEARS!! That means I’ve been running for FIVE Years!

Year 1 – starting to run for the first time and completing many 5ks
Year 2 – after taking the winter off, running again and completing even more 5ks (Anniversary post)
Year 3 – running through the winter, completing 5ks (and a 5k PR), 4 milers and a Half Marathon (Anniversary post)
Year 4 – completing some 5ks, a 5 miler, 15k and FOUR more half marathons (plus an achilles injury and a broken ankle 😦 ) (Anniversary post)
Year 5 – recovering from a broken ankle, running my 1st 10k and some 5Ks, suffering a foot stress fracture, running my 6th Half Marathon

Freihofer’s 5K

Camp Chingachgook 10K

Sarasota Half Marathon

Year 6: ???

Optimistically speaking, I am hoping that this next year brings NO INJURIES and lots of running and racing…

Happy Running! Thanks for stopping by!!! How many years have you been blogging?

May 9, 2013 by Darlene

New Age Group

So that’s one good thing about getting older!

Love this quote too:

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” – Mark Twain

And this:

Also this Jimmy Buffet song:

As far as running goes, over the past 5 years, I have run:

over 70 5K races
several 3.5, 4 and 5 mile races
one 10K race
one 15K race
6 half marathons

(Even a strained achilles, broken ankle, foot stress fracture didn’t stop me… well, at least not for long)

first half marathon

Half marathon #6 (2 years later)

I’m growing older but not up.
My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck.
So let the winds of change blow over my head.
I’d rather die while I’m living then live while I’m dead.
~Jimmy Buffet

I don’t plan to stop running any time soon! My 5k times may get slower but I still think I can improve my Half Marathon times. I will run until it stops being fun. (Check out this article on Kathy Martin, age 61)

yup. that’ll be me (but not for a while!!)

So…

#60

Happy Running! Thanks for stopping by! How do you feel about getting older?

May 8, 2013 by Darlene

Yoga for a Runner

I think I have gone to yoga 7 weeks in a row.

Wed Yoga at HeartSpace with Lisa

Each week since I have time to kill between work and yoga, I run 2-3 miles around the park.

wed

I have talked my friend into going to some of the yoga classes with me. The evenings with Cheryl always ends up with this:

cheese board at The Point restaurant

and a glass of wine (and sometimes dessert!)

How has yoga helped me?

I don’t stretch after running. Yoga for me is an excellent cooldown. (I always run before the yoga class.)

Even after months of physical therapy, my screwed together ankle is still stiff. Yoga has helped a lot (though it still is not as flexible as the other ankle.)

I have very tight hip flexors. Some of the poses such as this one really feel good:

“Pigeon”

In yoga, we practice diaphragmatic breathing or “belly” breathing (your belly—not your chest—rises and falls as you inhale and exhale). Diaphragmatic breathing allows for deeper, fuller breaths and better oxygen delivery so this type of breathing is supposed to help you during running (it is easy to do when lying down but hard when running).

I also have to be careful about my achilles having had a strain before. Many of the yoga poses such as this really stretch out your achilles and hamstrings:

downward facing dog

I also like poses that help strengthen your knees like this one:

triangle pose

Most importantly, it is very relaxing. No worries about time, distance, pace…

so for now, I will continue to fit yoga into my post-running schedule

I have heard that it is also a good warm-up before running (my pre-run routine is throw on clothes and run out the door…)

I’ll leave you with my favorite yoga pose:

Happy Running! Any other benefits of yoga?

May 7, 2013 by Darlene

Running Apps For Your iPhone

I was recently contacted by Jessica Clark asking me to share her blog post “10 iPhone apps to help you train for your first marathon (http://www.kenneymyers.com/blog/10-iphone-apps-to-help-you-train-for-your-first-marathon/) on my site.

listening to tunes on my iPhone

“Of course,” I replied.

I use my iPhone for music and my Garmin 205 for distance and pace but I have downloaded many running apps* that I am been meaning to try. (My problem is that I am not good about keeping my phone charged & the GPS on it uses a lot of battery power.)

my beloved Garmin

Here are the 10 iPhone apps recommended in her post. Please go to the post directly for more details on each app.

Here are a few more that I have heard of:

And some more that I have found:

Happy Running! Do you use any of these apps?

May 6, 2013 by Darlene

Huma Chia Energy Gel Review

As previously discussed, energy gels are my preferred choice of fuel when I run. I usually take one before any run that is longer than 40 minutes. If I am running a half marathon, I carry them with me to take during the race.

During my first 5 half marathons & training runs, I only bought GU (vanilla or chocolate). During my 6th half marathon & trainings, I tried Power Bar gel and Cliff Shot gel and although they are more liquidy, I do like them too.

Recently, I read about Huma Chia Energy gel on a blog but could not find it in a store. So I contacted the company. They sent me samples and asked me to write a review.

First a little background on how Huma Chia Energy Gel is different than the others.

GREAT-TASTING

ALL-NATURAL

TRADITION

So Huma sent me 2 samples. I tried the Strawberries first before a 4 mile run and then the Apple-Cinnamon during a 5 mile run.

I liked them both. They tasted good. I preferred the Apple-Cinnamon. But I had no digestion problems with either of them.

It is hard to say if they gave me more or less energy. I would have to do the same run at the same time. Every run feels different (so many factors figure into a good or bad run.)

POSITIVES:

all natural ingredients (this is an important one)
the taste
no caffeine (if using later in the day)

NEGATIVES:

cost – more expensive than the others
availability – not available in all states so you have to order online (& pay $4.99 shipping)
flavors – only 2 (and not my favorites)
does not contain caffeine (which I often need in the am before a race)

So if you are looking for a healthy alternative to your current energy gel, I would advise you to try Huma!!

Happy Running! Have you tried these gels? If so, what do you think?

_____________________
**Disclaimer: I was not compensated for my review. I contacted Huma and they provided me with two samples of Huma chia energy gel to try for my honest opinion.

May 4, 2013 by Darlene

Spring has Sprung

Although spring officially began March 20, it has seemed more like winter here.

freezing on April 21

Finally some temps in the 70’s and the flowers are starting to bloom.

ice cream on April 28

I love seeing this when I run.

these have bloomed early, most are not open yet

Washington Park

still not in bloom yet

except for one

now I can blame my slow running & walking stops on the beautiful scenery

Happy Running! How is the weather where you live? Does it affect your running?

May 3, 2013 by Darlene

A-Z is Over … Back to Whining … I Mean Running

I loved doing the A-Z Challenge – so much fun trying to think of something to post about each day. Most of the time I naturally related the post to running. But sometimes not.

So now it’s back to race goals, training updates, 2 for Tuesday, 3 things Thursday, etc.

This is what I currently need:

In December, I finished a post-injury 5k in 35:25. Then in March, I shocked myself (and my new Newtons) in finishing a 5k in 28:49!! (A confidence booster for sure.)

So in my mind I was back and I would be getting faster with each race.

WRONG!

I finished the Lake George 5k in 29:17 (ok, it was hiller) and then Sean’s Run in 30:31 (ok, I had a nose bleed).

So my 5K times has gotten SLOWER not faster:

28:49
29:17
30:31

I know I said that my times wouldn’t matter as long as I could run again. But they do!!

Happy Running! Are you speed-obsessed?

May 1, 2013 by Darlene

April Update & May Goals

GOALS

Start back at weekly yoga (now that half marathon training is over) – YES, I went every Wednesday!

I even talked a friend into accompanying me

Play tennis once a week – YES, I played every Monday and on 2 Tuesdays.

first half of the month was indoors and this place closed so then it was outdoors at UAlbany

Try to eat healthy (now that half marathon training is over, there is no need to eat a lot and eat often) – YES, I had fruit & yogurt for lunches and salads most nights, even cut back on my nightly ice cream addiction.

Do Planks (I hate to exercise so maybe I can do this for one minute everyday.) – Yes, I did a plank for ONE MINUTE almost eveyday.

Lose some weight. (not a lot – 5-8 lbs – my clothes are tight and it is bugging me.) Even signed up for this challenge from Slowing Tri-ing. YES, I lost 5 lbs but will probably gain it back during my May vacation.

talked my friend into just sharing a cheese board after yoga

Run at least 3 times per week. (at least 3 miles for each run) – YES, I ran three times each week, 3 miles and once a week (if outdoors) even 4 miles.

66 total miles for April

love my Newtons!

Run longer on the weekend (4-6 miles) – YES, I ran at least 5 miles on most weekends (which was difficult with 2 5ks scheduled.)

Spring is finally here! Got to see flowers on my runs.

even wore shorts once or twice

Try to get some speed back in my upcoming races (have 2-3 planned: 5 miler & 2 5Ks). YES, I tried … finished the Lake George 5k in 29:17, Sean’s Run in 30:31 and the Delmar Dash 5 miler in 47:38 (still not as fast I had I hoped.)

crossing the finish line at the Lake George 5K

at least I am smiling! (J. Berkeley photo)

while running the Delmar Dash 5 miler (J. Berkeley photo)

celebrating after Sean’s Run

Do the A-Z Blogging Challenge (it seems pretty easy since you can schedule posts in advance….) – YES, I did not miss a day!! (You can read them all HERE)
Pay attention to my body and do not get injured. (That means not running if there is a sign of injury) – YES, I am still healthy (just a little twinge in the left knee and right heel).

GOALS

Continue to run regularly (outdoors unless it is raining then on the treadmill at work).

this park is near work

Continue to fit in tennis & yoga in my schedule (once per week).
Take a lunch break – we get an hour but I eat at my desk – now that the weather is nice I should go for a walk.

last year, we had a walking contest so I did do it.

Get up early and do some runs before work.

this was a few years ago so I know I can do it.

Eat healthy & keep a reasonable weight.

Soft Serve Ice Cream (esp. coffee) with sprinkles

limit the number of soft ice cream cones consumed

Don’t let my running schedule take over – make time for family and friends (and mentees).

hang out in the park with these guys

Add longer runs on the weekend with the goal being a 10 mile race in June.

the bike paths are the best place to do longer runs

Run at least one race.

this will be my first 5k in a new age group

Run several times during my tennis vacation in Florida.

I did several years ago (last year I was injured) while on vacation in Naples

De-clutter the running gear – go through clothes and get rid of those tops & shorts that don’t fit or I don’t wear.

Yes, I still own that cotton tank & shorts from 2008! I didn’t know what wicking was back then nor can I fit into those shorts.

Happy Running! How was your April? Any interesting goals set for May?

April 30, 2013 by Darlene

April Foodie Pen Pal Reveal Day

The Foodie Pen Pal program is organized by Lindsey over at The Lean Green Bean. In case you’ve never heard of this program, here’s what it’s all about:

On the 5th of every month, you will receive your pen pal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your pen pal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail.
On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your pen pal!
The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
Foodie Pen pals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your pen pal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month.
Foodie Pen pals is open to US & Canadian residents. Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only.

It seemed like fun and maybe another way to meet new bloggers and to focus on healthy eating. I actually like to do the shopping as much as the eating.

This is my fourth Foodie PenPal. (I enjoyed the first & second, but for the 3rd one, I never got my food so I stopped for 3 months & now I decided to try once more.)

I was assigned Nikki from The Pink Lady. I bought most of her goodies at Trader Joe’s. Head over to her blog to check out what I sent her! (According her e-mail, I choose the perfect food goodies!)

I received my package from Rochelle at Aprons and Stilettos. (Check out her blog…she has some AMAZING recipes!!!)

Look what I got:

never heard of these before but what a great snack!

you know I love good coffee and this is good!

didn’t think I’d like this but it tastes good on pizza, in chili – but just a little LOL

French roast, my fav

perfect for energy before & during a run

A big thanks to Rochelle for the goodies. It was great to try foods that I wouldn’t have otherwise bought! All were delicious! (The hardest part was keeping my hubby away from them!!)

If you’re interested in participating, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form! The deadline to sign up will be May 4th.

Happy Running! Happy Eating! Anyone else participate?

My First 5K and More…

An "Older" Runner's Blog

running

My Birthday Week

A Belated 5th Blogoversary

New Age Group

Yoga for a Runner

Running Apps For Your iPhone

Huma Chia Energy Gel Review

Spring has Sprung

A-Z is Over … Back to Whining … I Mean Running

April Update & May Goals

GOALS

GOALS

April Foodie Pen Pal Reveal Day

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GOALS

GOALS

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