December 14, 2012 by Darlene

For Miss Zippy: My 2012

Ms. Zippy asked us to tell her about our 2012. As you know, it wasn’t a great year but here it is in a blog post:

1. Best race experience?

Freihofer’s Run for Women – I was recovering from a broken ankle and wasn’t supposed to run it. At the last moment I decided to walk it but then when the gun went off, I started running & didn’t stop until I crossed the finish line with tears in my eyes.

Runners World 5K – This was a destination race and I was visiting my best friend from high school who was waiting at the finish line. Again, I was injured with a stress fracture but determined to run the race anyway. It was a really fun race and I hope to run it again (or even the 10K or the half) some day when I am healthy.

2. Best run?

Camp Chingachgook 10k – I would have to say this one because it was my longest run of the year, my first 10K and at my favorite summer destination – Lake George.

determined to break 30 minutes!!

MPBA 5K – Finally broke 30 minutes which I used to do easily.

3. Best new piece of gear?

Camp Chingachgook Challenge

Compression Socks – Now I have white (Saucony), black (runningskirts.com), blue, pink, green (procompression). They are really great to help recover from injuries.

me feeling short with the Running Skirts ladies

My Running Skirt – This new one is my favorite from runningskirts.com. I have worn it to many of my races this year.

4. Best piece of running advice you received?

From Runner’s World in January: “Injury is something that happens to you as an athlete. Others might tell you that you’re done. But if you keep at it, you might be able to get back…” –Abdi Abdirahman, third-place finisher in the men’s 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials.

5. Most inspirational runner?

AJH at Age Groups Rock – She is amazing. In her 50’s like me, she started doing triathlons this past year. She runs and bikes in all types of weather conditions. She is also a teacher which I know from experience is a tiring job. But she seems to have endless energy and enthusiasm. What an inspiration!!

Crista at Livin a Little Life – She lives with cancer (Stage 4) every day. Yet she doesn’t complain. She runs half marathons and 5ks. She even raises money for charity. She makes my health problems seem minor. She inspires me, too.

6. If you could sum up your year in a couple of words, what would they be?

Injured, Frustrated but Grateful – Two injuries and sidelined for 5 months, then 2 months. Frustrated when not running and even more when I couldn’t run at the level I was used to. Grateful that I was able to run at all. Grateful for my friends and family.

Happy Running! Feel free to share your answers to Miss Zippy’s questions.

December 13, 2012 by Darlene

I’m Back!!

I am too exhausted to write much… but I am glad I went on this vacation!! The weather wasn’t great. However, the company was. I didn’t feel 100% …but good enough to do what I wanted which was laugh, eat, drink, relax, run, read, rest, walk…

Here are a few (not good quality) photos that were emailed to me. I’ll post more later.

Since I wasn’t sure if I was going, I didn’t pay attention that 2 of my friends cancelled. So it was just the 3 of us (not too good for tennis). Mary & Suzy arrived first & picked up the car rental. Then they got me and we headed for Blue Tree Resort. It turned out to be just like the brochures…all the comforts of home and more.

The first night, we headed to Downtown Disney which was minutes from our resort. We had a nice dinner outdoors at an Italian restaurant. Afterwards, we walked around and even had ice cream (the start of my unhealthy but fun eating vacation).

Downtown Disney…so pretty at night.

For our first full day (Sunday), we decided to sleep in and spend the day at the pool. It was warm and sunny. (Little did we know that this would be the last of the sunshine.)

I decided that I would go for a run. And it was wonderful….love the heat!! I ran/walked 3 miles around the resort and beyond.

This was taken in the courtyard below our room (on the 3rd fl).

Unfortunately my foot is still sore. Not in the same way as with the stress fracture (I have no problem walking or running) but there is discomfort on the top of my foot 😦

Before dinner, they surprised me with a makeshift menorah (tea lites from the dollar store) and we facetimed on my iPad with another friend to celebrate the 2nd night of Hanukkah.

Suzy insisted we cover our heads LOL

Then we went out to dinner in CityWalk in Universal Studios.

This is the view from our table at the Hard Rock Cafe.

The next day, we decided to go to the beach. The ocean is my most favorite place to be!! Lucky for me, it was only an hour ride.

Here were are at Cocoa Beach...the sunshine was short lived, though.

Here we are at Cocoa Beach…the sunshine was short lived, though.

Unfortunately, it was cloudy for most of the day but warm. I walked along the beach and did a lot of reading. So relaxing.

Message in the sand for Suzy whose birthday it was that day.

We went out to dinner at a great seafood restaurant with a view of the Banana River to celebrate Suzy’s birthday further.

The restaurant even gave her a cake.

If you are wondering where Mary is, she is taking the pictures cuz she hates to be in them. I think I got one of her, though.

No more photos for this post.

A brief summary of the rest of the trip:

Tuesday using our hopper pass: Animal Kingdom for most of the day, shuttle for a brief stay at Hollywood Studios, boat to Epcot, dinner and dessert there, our friend Fonda arrived that nite from Delray
Wednesday (my last day): 3 mile run, day at Winter Park – shopping, lunch, scenic boat ride, Tiffany museum

You see that we never played tennis but I did run TWICE!!

Happy Running! Happy Hanukkah to those runners who celebrate!

December 9, 2012 by Darlene

2013 Bucket List of Races

January

maybe a free HMRRC race (Albany)

February

Polar Cap 4 mi (Lake George)

March

First Watch Half Marathon (Sarasota, Fla.)

April

Delmar Dash 5 mi Race

May

Sean’s 5k Run (Chatham)
Mother’s Day Race (Schenectady)

June

Freihofer Run for Women (Albany)
Kinderhook Bank OK 5K
Adirondack Distance Challenge (Lake George-Bolton Landing)

July

Jingle Bell 5k (Lake George)
Silks & Satins 5K (Saratoga)

August

Camp Chingachgook 10k (Lake George)
Jailhouse Rock 5k (Ballston Spa)

September

5 for fiVe (Saratoga)
MBPK 5k (Malta)
Helper’s Fund 5K (Chestertown)

October

Susan Komen Race for the Cure (Albany)
Lighthouse Loop Half Marathon (Ponce Inlet, Fla.)

November

Fall Frun 10K (Clifton Park)
Stockade-athon 15K (Schenectady)
Bethlehem Towne Turkey Trot 5k (Delmar)

December

Albany Last Run 5K

Most of these races I’ve run before but there are a few news ones (in BOLD).

Of course, I hope to have a healthy year.

It’s good to have goals. It keeps you motivated. For me this year, it’s to cross the finish line and have fun!!!

Happy Running! What races are on your bucket list for 2013?

December 7, 2012 by Darlene

Vitamin D Part 1

I have debated over the last 4 weeks on whether or not I should go on a Florida vacation. I was hoping to find out what was wrong with my kidney. But that isn’t happening. I was worried about being sick and being far away from home.

My urologist said to go so I am.

As I mentioned in a previous post, one of my tennis friends won 8 days at a Orlando resort (Dec 8-15) and invited 3 of us to go.

Mary (in the green shirt), Ava (in black hat & outfit), Suzy (in pink hat) are going.

Unfortunately, it is a very busy time for me at work and I cannot go for the whole time. (Well, I feel too guilty to and unexpected dr appts used up some of my pto.)

We will be at the Blue Tree resort in Orlando Fla.

So I am leaving tomorrow and will return on Wednesday.

Here’s what the resort has to offer:

4 Swimming pools
Game room
BBQ Grills
2 Outdoor Jacuzzis
Miniature Golf
Shuffle Board
Fitness Center
Daily Activities
Lighted Tennis
Activity center
Free Parking
Free Schedule Transportation to Disney, Universal and Sea World
Free Schedule Transportation to the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores
Wireless Internet service – FREE
Many Restaurants within Walking Distance

Are you jealous?

I am hoping to play some tennis, maybe even run, relax and soak up some Vitamin D.

(Vitamin D Part 2 will be in Jan, Part 3 in Mar and part 4 in May.)

Happy Running! Please send healthy vibes my way.

December 5, 2012 by Darlene

My Last 4 Weeks

Date: 11/7/12

Symptoms: Blood in Urine

Tests/Procedures in the last 4 weeks:

Urinalysis to diagnose an infection (11/9)
CT scan: an X-ray but gives much better detail. (11/9)
Cystourethroscopy: a cystoscope (a thin, telescope-like tube with a light and tiny camera attached) is inserted into the bladder through the urethra to view the bladder and kidneys (11/21)
Cystoscopy & Biopsy (under anesthesia): A thin tube with a tiny camera on the end is passed through the urethra to visualize the right kidney. (11/28)
Ureteral stent: a thin tube inserted into the ureter to prevent obstruction of the urine flow from the kidney.Stent inserted (during above procedure) to reduce trauma (11/28)
Intravenous pyelogram, or IVP: X-ray of the urinary tract. A dye is first injected into your vein; the dye is filtered by your kidneys and provides contrast so the kidneys are easier to see. A series of X-rays is taken over a 30-minute period, looking for blockages or problems. (12/4)
Urinalysis. Stent removed. (12/5)

Results:

Negative – no infection
Negative – no tumors, no masses, no stones
Negative – normal bladder (no cancer), normal left kidney, blood source= right kidney
Negative – no biopsy needed – no polyps or abnormal cells found
…
Negative – nothing abnormal found – no malignant cells, no blockages
No infection. Antibiotics prescribed as a precaution

Next Steps:

There seems to be NO FOUND CAUSE for the bleeding.
Continue on as normal
Hopefully the bleeding will stop or be minimal.
Contact the doctor if the bleeding increases or there is pain.
Return for procedure #3 in 4 months.

So how does this relate to running?

For the most part, I was not in any physical pain during the first 3 procedures. When I went to my doctor for #1, the PA there told that I had bladder cancer & to go to the hospital for more tests. Test #3 revealed that the problem was not in the bladder. For test #4, the urologist was looking for evidence of kidney cancer. That has been ruled out for now.

So as you can see, it was pretty scary. And mentally, I could not focus on running…at all. (I was also very sore after test#4)

Running Post Stress Fracture:

11/11 – 1/2 mi
11/13 – 1/2 mi
11/15 – 1/2 mi
11/17 – 1 mi
11/19 – 1 mi
11/21 – 1 mi
11/23 – 1.5 mi
11/25 – 1.5 mi
11/27 – 1.5 mi
12/2 – 2 mi
12/4 – 3 mi

NO tennis yet. Yes, I am off my half marathon plan already. Not worried…

Here are some photos from my run/walk through the park yesterday. It definitely lifted my spirits.

Ready or not, I am doing my 12th race of the season (a 5K) in this park around these lights on Dec. 15!!

Happy Running!

December 1, 2012 by Darlene

Thankful November

I wasn’t organized enough to do this daily but I really was thankful each day of this month:

Thankful that my friend encouraged me to learn to knit. It keeps me focused and takes my mind off of my injuries.
Thankful for having learned to play Mah Jongg. I have met new people and it is a lot of fun and keeps my “old” mind active.
Thankful for our boat and the people who live in Lake George that we have befriended because of it.
Thankful for my tennis friends and although we don’t play tennis often together, we do other things to stay connected.
Thankful for my job. Besides the salary, I enjoy helping people and feeling appreciated.
Thankful for my right to vote.
Thankful that President Obama was re-elected.
Thankful for a new Grey’s Anatomy episode and no more political commercials to watch.
Thankful for USAir frequent flyer miles and being able to fly to Florida for free on December 8, Jan 19 & Mar 12.
Thankful for the bloggers that keep me entertained and motivated to run.
Thankful for beautiful weather and scenic places in my area to bike.
Thankful for my cleaning lady and that once a month, I have clean floors & bathrooms.
Thankful for only needing a painless cleaning from my dentist.
Thankful for working across the street from Starbucks and being able to run across for an afternoon pick me up.
Thankful for free flu shots at work.
Thankful for my Nov. Foodie Penpal and the delicious goodies that I received from her.
Thankful for my BFF Judy who has been my source of calm and advice for over 35 years.
Thankful for being able to run ONE mile (pain-free.)
Thankful for those who have been graciously subbing for me each week in my Monday tennis contract.
Thankful for the exercise bike & wifi at work so I can exercise & keep up the latest episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice & Nashville on my iPad.
Thankful for my hairdresser and hair dye – both which keep me looking young(er).
Thankful for the excuse to eat stuffing and pumpkin pie with a view & the company of my hubby.
Thankful for a Friday off from work. Time to catch up on laundry, shopping & decorating for the holdiays (EARLY!)
Thankful for UVA gel and now beautiful nails for the next month.
Thankful for the junk food and left overs from hosting mah jongg (we never have junk food at my house.)
Thankful for DVRs – now I can watch Sunday night’s Revenge & The Good Wife.
Thankful for our anti-Thanksgiving lunch at work esp the Oreo Cheesecake Truffles.
Thankful for hospitals, doctors, nurses and that soon, I will hopefully be playing tennis and racing again.
Thankful for my hubby and that we can put up with each other’s ups and downs.
Thankful for our annual work Christmas party…lots of food & drink and the opportunity to dress up.

knitting socks

playing mah jongg

me & my tennis friends at a restaurant

me & my Lake George friends

The Corning Bike Path (on the Hudson R.)

Dark Chocolate bar from my Foodie Pen Pal

BOGO for 3 days!

Thanksgiving with a view & my hubby

oreo cheesecake truffles

Happy Running! Did you participate in Thankful November? What were you most thankful for?

November 30, 2012 by Darlene

November Foodie Pen Pal Reveal Day

This is my second Foodie PenPal.

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 loved my apple cinnamon pancakes and syrup from last month so I decided to try it again. I actually enjoyed the shopping as much as the eating.

I was assigned to Maechelle at This is the Stuff. Head over to her blog to check out what I sent her!

I received my package from Emma at DISH52.

front of her holiday card

tea for relaxing in the evening

trail mix for energy in the afternoon & I love cranberries

granola for breakfast or a snack and it’s my favorite flavor

jelly beans for my sweet tooth – in great flavors

dark chocolate – what can I say? Love it!

thoughtful note inside

A big thanks to Emma for the goodies. It was great to try foods that I wouldn’t have otherwise bought! All were perfect! We both shopped at Trader Joe’s, too!

For December, instead of matching people up to send FPP packages in December, Lindsay is going to use this group for good and raise some money for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. There are two ways you can get involved:

1) She will be setting up a paypal account to accept donations. Please consider donating the $15-$25 you would have spent on purchasing items and mailing your FPP package in December. Donations will be accepted from December 3-7th and she will make one big donation to a recovery organization in the name of Foodie Penpals at the end of the week.

2) With the holidays approaching, if you’re in the mood to shop instead of just donate money, she will provide an address that you can mail gifts to and encourage you to spend $15 to purchase some gifts and send them out so they can be distributed to families.

If you’re interested in participating, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form!

The regular FFP for January will return on December 18 and the deadline to sign up will be January 4th.

Happy Running! Happy Eating!

November 22, 2012 by Darlene

Thanksgiving 2012

No for the first time in several years, I did not participate in a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot!

last year

2011 – Bethlehem Towne Turkey Trot 5k (new course)
2010 – Bethlehem Towne Turkey Trot 5K (5k PR)
2009 – Cardiac Classic 5k

I was tempted…but I am only up to running 1 mile and it would be stupid to do it (even though I am known to do stupid things like running a 5k with a stress fracture). I did not want to end up with another stress fracture.

Since it was just my hubby & me, I decided not to cook and instead go out to eat. We decided to go to Lake George Village. Two restaurants there had Thanksgiving Buffets and although both of the menus looked great, I chose The View at Dunham’s Bay (because it had a better view.)

It was beautiful day for a ride.

the view from our table

The food was good. Not as good as mine…ha ha. But certainly more relaxing than shopping…cooking…and cleanup.

The desserts were the best. I had French Silk pie and apple pie. My hubby had strawberry shortcake & pumpkin pie.

We couldn’t resist after dinner taking a ride north to our marina.

it looks odd without any boats

We ended the day at the movies – Life of Pi. A little sad and definitely leaves you thinking. I recommend it. (now I want to read the book – which I usually do first.)

Happy Running! Did you run a Turkey Trot? Hope you had an enjoyable day.

November 8, 2012 by Darlene

What the Doctor Said

Tuesday, I went to see my foot doctor. (In case you haven’t followed my latest injury – my foot started to hurt 5 weeks ago. I ignored the pain and ran two 5k races but stopped tennis & running for 3 weeks, then went to the doctor who prescribed a boot for 2 weeks since the xrays revealed a healing stress fracture of the 2nd metatarsal…probably caused by overuse of the right foot due to a broken left ankle.)

Here’s what the Doctor said on Tuesday:

Start weaning yourself off the boot…wear a shoe several hours a day and increase it each day.
On Sunday, start running a 1/2 mile every other day (if it does not hurt.)
The next Sunday, increase the running to 1 mile every other day (if it doesn’t hurt) and then increase running gradually.
Can play tennis once I can run 2 miles every other day without any pain.
Biking is allowed now.

So that’s that… I can’t wait to take my first running steps…Fingers crossed.