running

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Morning Runner Wannabe

With the time change, it seems logical to run in the morning before work.  I love the way it feels to start the day with a run.  I hate to have to run in the dark…and it’s always dark when I get out of work.

But this week, I’ve run TWICE after work!! Duh!

Why can’t I motivate myself to get out of bed???

Well, today I did it!!! It was cold.  I even saw snowflakes.  But it was a great way to start the day!! 

However, I know next week, I will have the same problem…

Happy Running!  Anyone else have a problem getting up early enough to run?

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Tentative Races for 2012

Some oldies but goodies and some new ones on the horizon:

*HMRRC Winter Series Run – 1/?
Polar Cap 4m – 2/2
Runnin of the Green 4m – 3/17
Delmar Dash 5m – 4/8


*Spring Run Off 10K – 4/28

*NY-VT Champlain Bridge Race 5K – 5/20
Freihofer’s Run for Women (5k) – 6/2


*New Paltz Challenge Half Marathon – 6/17 (REVIEW)

*Adirondack Distance Run 10m – 6/24
Silks & Satins 5K – 7/?
*Jingle Bell Run (5k) in Lake George – 7/28
Camp Chingagook 10K in Lake George – 8/?
Jailhouse Rock 5K – 8/?

*Helper’s Fund 10K – 9/21
Komen Race for the Cure (5K) – 9/29


*Divas Half Marathon on LI – 10/7
Falling Leaves 5K – 10/14
*Great Pumpkin 5k or 10K – 10/21


*Frun Run 10K -11/3
Stockadeathon 15K – 11/11
Our Towne Turkey Trot – 11/22
Run Off That Turkey 5K – 11/24
Albany Last Run – 12/15

* = NEW races
in RED = pretty definite
in black = tentative (could be deleted or substituted for another)

Happy Running! Do you have 2012 racing planned yet?

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Last Week in Review & an Unplanned 15K

Monday – 5 miles walking in Van Nuys, Ca
Tuesday – many miles walking in Santa Monica, Ca
Wednesday – REST
Thursday – 4 mile run (day off from work)
Friday – 3 mile run after work
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 9.4 miles – Stockeade-athon 15K

Happy Running!

 

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Santa Clarita Half Marathon Race Report

 

I got up at 4:30 am and had my traditional race breakfast of coffee and hot cereal. Ellen quickly informed me that weather.com was wrong… it was already raining!! After uttering a few obscenities, I got dressed and tried to remain positive. I secretly wished I had some rain gear.

I was also COLD – yes it was warm before I got here! In fact it was 80 last weekend for LA RNR Half.

I decided to wear a short-sleeved tee, arm warmers (cut off knee socks), skirt, cap, gloves, windbreaker. I added a jacket & sweats that I would ditch at the start. Ellen (an experienced racer in the rain) also brought an umbrella.

We left about 5:30 to get to the race early. As we drove, it was raining harder & harder. WE WERE NOT HAPPY CAMPERS!

We parked in the Hilton lot and hung out there until the start. Hotel bathrooms YAY! Everyone seemed to be putting on plastic bags YUCK!

getting ready to head out into the rain

As planned, I hid my jacket, sweats & umbrella and we headed out in the rain to start the race.

the start

Ellen & I had hoped to have our best half finishes for this race but since we run different styles & at different paces, we separated and planned to meet again at the finish.

It was raining very hard. I had nothing on that was waterproof & I got soaked! Nevertheless I was running at a good pace… In fact probably too fast, but I thought I has trained well and could keep it up.

There was water at every mile but I grabbed a cup and walked at every two & took a GU at every four miles.

Unfortunately, this half panned out like the last two. I had no energy for the second half so my pace got slower and slower. When a PR was no longer possible, I started to walk.

The good news is that the rain did stop around mile 7. It was cool out and I was wet so even when the sun peeked out, I was never sweaty. I finally took off my jacket and wrapped around my waist toward the end.

pic from last year, obviously

The course was great – scenic, varied, rolling hills but very doable and many downhills. I should have been able to have a better finish time… I was very disappointed!

Official time: 2:30:13

The infamous photos that I will not buy:

heading to the finish

 
 

crossing the finish line

 

Done!

After I finished, I was cold but waited for Ellen to cross. I was hoping that one of us had a good day. NOPE! She also did not have a good race.

at least I got a medal!

I found my discarded stuff & went to car to get a dry shirt and socks. It didn’t feel so great over WET underwear. Then we went back out to cheer on the marathon finishers.

This guy has run over 200 marathons!

We spent the rest of the afternoon lamenting over our half marathon failures. Even the “best bloody Mary in the world” only helped a little.

The day ended with a fancy gala where Ellen’s daughter was being honored.

Half Marathon #5 completed.

Happy Running! How do you deal with a bad race?

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Last Week in Review & Another Half Completed

Monday – 1.5 hours tennis after work
Tuesday – 3 miles during lunch, 1.5 hours tennis after work
Wednesday – 3 miles after work, 1.25 hours yoga
Thursday – REST
Friday – REST
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 13.1 miles – HALF MARATHON #5 – DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2:30:12 – the short version: rain the first half…ran too fast..died…nice course..should have done better…

(Race Report coming when I return East…)

Happy Running!

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My Half Marathon Nerves

I am running in my 5th Half Marathon this weekend and I am VERY NERVOUS.  Here’s why:

1st Half in Naples, Florida

My 1st Half was 1-16-11 (my wedding anniversary).  My longest race to that point was a 5k.  I trained well.  I was healthy.  I was so excited.  My hubby was waiting at the finish line.  My goal was to cross standing up and finish under 2:45 so I could get a medal. I DID in 2:28.

My 2nd Half in Lake George, NY

My 2nd Half was 4-23-11. Now I had already run a half marathon so I knew that I could. I trained well & was healthy.  My goal was to run faster but not too much since I knew that it was a hilly course. It was freezing and raining hard the whole 13.1 miles (& I didn’t wear my Garmin) so I was shocked that I was faster (2:22) and won an award for 2nd in my AG.

 

My 3rd Half in Schroon Lake, NY

 

My 3rd Half was 9-25-11.  Unfortunately I got hurt in June and did not run most of the summer.  My goal was no goal – Just finish it in under 5 hours and not re-injure my Achilles. The course was tough but I was able to run the lst half & then I walked most of the 2nd half to finish in 2:44.

my 4th Half Marathon in Rhinebeck, NY

My 4th Half was 10-23-11.  I signed up for it on a whim and planned to use it as a week 10 of 12 training run. It was scenic and a race was just the motivation I needed for a good last long run.  Unfortunately, I was not prepared physically for the HILLS and although I ran a very good first half of the race, I walked a lot during the last few hills and finished around 2:31.  At least I was faster than my 3rd half and I did not get injured by not pushing myself on the hills.

The Santa Clarita Half this weekend is my 5th Half.  I am running with my best friend’s sister (who runs marathons.)  Of course, I want to do well.  My nagging achilles has prevented me from training well.  My running has been very cautious for fear of re-injury.  The speed has not been there and the long runs have been mixed with walking.  These half marathons have been getting harder  NOT easier!!

Hopefully I will do OK. Maybe it’ll be flat…

I’m nervous!

Happy Running!  Heading to LA!

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Welcome November!

Wow, October flew by!  But I am happy to say that I ran my most miles ever!!! (Previously it was 95 in Dec 2010) I have also surpassed my total miles for 2010 with 2 months left to go!!!

Here were my October Goals:

  • Continue to run pain-free :) – YUP!!
  • Continue tennis & yoga once a week – YUP!!
  • Run 3-4 times a week – YUP!!
  • Join a gym & start to cross-train ??? NOPE. Not yet!
  • Increase weekly mileage by adding long runs to prepare for Half Marathon #4 – YUP! Actually ran it and now it is HM #5
  • Run a 5k or 10K or both – YUP! A 5K on 10-1-11

    10-1-11

10-10-11


10-16-11


10-22-11

10-23-11

10-30-11

 


GOALS

  1. Hope to continue to run pain-free
  2. Continue tennis & yoga once a week
  3. Run 3-4 times a week
  4. Survive Half Marathon #5
  5. Run a 5k  (& finish under 30 min.)
  6. Join a gym & start cross-train

Happy Running!

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Last Week in Review & Getting Ready for the Taper

Monday – REST
Tuesday – 3.5 miles during lunch, 1.5 hours tennis after work
Wednesday – 2.5 miles (on the treadmill), Yoga 1.25 hrs
Thursday – REST
Friday – 5 miles
Saturday – REST
Sunday –  9.5 miles

ONE week to go… until Half Marathon #5!

my cat, Honey

 

Happy Running! Happy Halloween!

 

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Last Long Run

It’s funny to say that I am officially in Taper mode.

I started training on August 15.  In those 12 weeks, I have run 2 half marathons.  I also have had long runs of  10, 10.5, 12, 13. That’s six 2 digit runs!!!

On the surface, it appears that I am so much better prepared for this half marathon than my first two. (1-16-11 & 4-23-11)

Not so!!! 

It’s deceiving because  all of the long training runs this time have been mixed with walking.  All except the last half marathon (10-23-11) have paces over 12 min/mile. 

I feel that because of my injury, I have been tapering during all of the training runs. 

I am pain-free now so I am okay with that.  Running slowing is much better than not running at all.  (I will repeat this to myself often.)

So today was my last long run.

We had some snow on Thursday and some yesterday.  Yes, it’s still October.  Those are the joys of living in the Northeast.It was unseasonably cool today (in the 30’s) but at least it was not snowing or raining!!!

4" on the ground this morning

So I headed into town to do at least 8 miles.  However, the sidewalks were still snow-covered and slippery so I decided to go some place new.

I heard that the Corning Trail was an awesome place to run – flat & scenic.  I usually do not feel like doing extra driving but today I had the time.

I parked at Riverside Park and headed toward Troy.  The whole way you had a view of the Hudson River.

It was chilly but I definitely was overdressed.  I started with a hat & gloves & jacket.

The trail was indeed flat. The sun came out and melted the snow on the trail.

It was neat to see snow on the ground & leaves still on the trees.

I turned around at the 4 1/4 mile mark and little by little took off my hat, gloves, & tied the jacket around my waist.

I haven’t reached a verdict about the new shoes – yes, they have more support & the bottoms of my feet don’t ache but they are heavier & it feels like running in cement boots (unless I was just tired & hungry).

warm enough for boating

When I got back, the weather was so nice & the scenery so beautiful that I continued in the other direction.

Done!!

I wound up doing 9.5 miles (though there was walking at the end & lots of photo stops). I’m definitely going to add the Corning Trail to my list of running routes.

I’m not sure how much or if any running I’ll get done this week.  Tennis 2x, yoga, nails, hair appt, flight to LA …NO TIME!!

Happy Running! Do I need to run this week?

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Eight Days Out

That’s means it’s time to stress out about the Weather and the Outfit:

I have no control about the weather.  I’m fine as long as it doesn’t rain.

Santa Clarita forecast

But do you see a trend??? California must know that an Upstate New York girl is coming West. What they don’t know is that it is cold in the Northeast & I HATE it!!  I like warm weather…. 

The outfit? 

Definitely compressions socks and a cap.  Those are a given. Possibly the outfit that got covered up during the rainy cold Lake George Half last April.

Maybe this outfit instead:

However, given that the temps will not be the 70’s or 80’s that I had hoped for…I will  have to bring  a short-sleeved shirt…either white, pink or green and a jacket. (I know will over pack!!)

Other important things:

book to read on the plane

 

new toy for blogging

Happy Running! Any advice in packing for destination races?