running

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Valatie Veterans 5K Race Report


I’ve been going through withdrawal – no 5k races in over a month. I’ve been doing longer runs on the weekend in preparation for the 10k that didn’t happen. But this race fit right in because it was on a Thursday when I usually run 3 miles anyway.  The problem was that I work and we don’t have Veteran’s Day off like most offices.

So I asked for the morning off and contacted my runner friend Mary and asked her to run with me (& taper for her half/recover  from her 15k).  She was skeptical about the idea but finally agreed.

Another new race and a new course:

The Course: Run will begin at Glynn Square and proceed up Church St. and north onto Route 203. A right onto Garrigan Rd. and a right on County Route 28A brings the runners onto Main St. with a final right up Church St. (the only hill on the course) to the finish line.

I had decided not to have a goal for new races but just go out and enjoy the experience (even if the race ends going up a hill!)

This race also counts for
Average Adventure Virtual Race Logo

I hadn’t run since Saturday.  I can’t remember the last time I had 4 days off.  But my quads hurt so much, I thought it was best to rest them.

They felt so better this morning but not 100% and I decided I would run cautiously.

Unfortunately, my friend Mary pulled a calf muscle running on the treadmill and is out for 2 weeks.  Her friend Kelly would be there, though.

The weather was beautiful!!!! Sunny and cool (37 degrees when I left).  I wasn’t sure what to wear but decided that the sun would keep me warm and wore a running skirt and a long sleeve cool max shirt. 

Although my GPS got me to the right street in the wrong town, I managed to still arrive early. I immediately bumped into Kelly and we took a photo before the race.

This was a small race – probably about 100 racers. 

Getting ready to start the race

 

And we're off...

I was cold at first but other than my hands (which I tucked into my sleeves), my rest of me was fine after the race started.

I said that I would run the race cautiously and not try for a PR – That’s a lie!  Though Kelly immediately left me in the dust as well as did other runners, at mile 1, they called out: 8:35!  That’s fast for a 10 minute mile girl!  I tried to slow down but there were no water stops or any other timing available so I just ran.

The course was supposed to be flat but it always seemed that we were running up hill (not steep ones) until the last mile.  The last mile we had 3 real hills and then the steepest one was the END.

I yelled: “What race ends with a hill?” They replied: “This one!”

I was struggling but refused to walk and figured that my time would be slow.  I was shocked when I saw that it was under 29 minutes.  I am sometimes under 30 minutes but only once before under 29 minutes!!!

I don’t know my official time but it seemed to be around 28:53 or so.  Not a PR but close and it could have been. (At my 1 mile pace, I would have finished at 26:40)

(The official time is 28:59)

I was supposed to be working today.  Only a real runner, takes time off from work for a race!

Since my time was decent, I hung around.  There were Veteran’s Day ceremonies followed by the awards and raffle prizes.

 

 

waiting for the results

I WON FIRST PRIZE IN MY AGE GROUP!!! I got a ribbon – not a medal but it still made me feel good.

 

I love races!

 Happy Running and Happy Veterans Day!

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Brain Exchange Week 17 and Monday Goals


This week’s  Question: Where was the best place you have ever raced and why?  Where is your dream place to race?

I’ve only done 5ks at this point but my favorite place is race is Saratoga.  The State Park is beautiful.  I’ve run several races there.  The horse race track is very famous and the old mansions in the city are beautiful.

Silks & Satins with AJH

I also really enjoyed my 2008 Boilermaker experience.  It is a very famous race and although, I ran the 5k not the 15k, it was fun being in the midst of the festive atmosphere – the music, the beer, the food, etc.  This was the race that FleetFeet Albany’s No Boundaries program was training us for and they rented a bus for us, had a pasta party the nite before, etc.

 Dream race – I’m hoping to run a half marathon some day in another state maybe Florida. I love the warm weather.

me approaching the finish line at the Boilermaker

 

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 20 miles. I did 21 miles! Woo Hoo!

This week’s BUSY schedule:
Mon – tennis after work
Tues – tennis after work
Wed – dinner w/friends
Fri eve – Mah Jong
Sat – hair appt
Sun – leave on vacation

This week’s running:
Tues– 3 miles before work
Thurs – 5K Race
Sat –  9  miles

Weekly Running Goal = 15 miles
November Monthly Running Goal = 65 miles, a 5k race, a PR
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it, I even passed 500 – New Goal is 600)
 
Happy Running!

 

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Volunteering on World Run Day

 

Well, this was my first volunteer experience. The Stockade-athon is a big event – the oldest 15k in the country!

 It was a chilly morning and since I wouldn’t be running, I dressed warmly. I arrived about 15 min. before the start of the race, and Schenectady’s Central Park was packed.  I had to park quite a distance away.

I immediately ran into my friend Mary and gave her a good luck hug.  I then walked around looking for information on what to do as a volunteer.  I bumped into another finish volunteer and we chatted and waited together.

After the race started, we finally were given a free tee shirt (long sleeve coolmax 🙂 ), our clipper, collection bin and instructions.

And we just waited… We were able to see the runners at mile 1 and I spotted Mary:

Mary & others at mile 1

Finally the elite runners came into view!  The winner ran it at a 5 minute mile pace WOW!  It was fun to see him cross as well as all the others.

The Winner

I even got to cut the chip off of the winning female! 

I never realized how important a volunteer is until now.  These runners were drained at the end of the race and I can’t count how many said “Thank you for volunteering!”

One guy said to me: “This is my 1st long race & my 70th birthday.”

Finally I saw Mary and she ran to me to cut off her chip & then I took her photo:

Mary & Kelly after the race

I met Mary in June when she was struggling to finish a 5k.  We have run 5 5ks together since then.  She used to call me her “inspiration” because I was faster & could finish in under 30 min.  She finally did that too in Oct.  Since then, she has run several 10ks, a half marathon and a 15k!!!! Now she’s my inspiration.

After all the runners had crossed the finish line, we left and were invited to the Fireside Pizzeria for free pizza, wings & drinks!

I highly recommend volunteering!  It is so rewarding!  It does make you wish you were a runner in the race.  For me, the decision was easy: I haven’t run this distance before and the times were fast.  However, next year, I may run it but I will definitely volunteer again at some race!

Since today was World Run Day and I signed up for it & got a tee shirt.  My REST day turned into a 1 mile neighborhood loop:

before my 1 mile "World" run

 

The day ended with a dinner to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of my Mah Jongg group:

dinner celebration at PF Chang's

Happy Running! Congratulations to all those NYC Marathoners!

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Lady Gaga & Running

Last night, my hubby & I went to a Black Velvet Party fundraiser for the Lake George Arts Project.  The theme was GaGa:

GaGa version 1


GaGa version 2

Today, I had planned to run 9 miles.  I ran 5 miles and stopped at Brueggers for a bagel & cream cheese, a cookie & a bottle of water to give me enough energy to get home.  At 7.5 miles, it is up hill & I still ran out of gas and had to walk.  But I made it home!!!

Stats:

5k – 33
10k – 1:04
9 mi – 1:34

GaGa runner version

Tomorrow I’m volunteering at the Stockade-athon 15K.  I know a few people running it and may be I’ll run it next year.

Happy Running and Good Luck to those running in the NYC Marathon tomorrow!

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Bloggers are Great!

This is why I read blogs:

Check out these motivational quotes from Lesley –  http://racingitoff.blogspot.com/2010/11/time-to-motivate.html

Check out this post on Why I Run Races from Jen –  http://www.jenisgreen.com/2010/11/02/why-i-run-races/

I’m wordless today.  These two bloggers said it all!

Happy Running and Happy Blogging!

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Two for Tuesday

1. Brr………It was 30 degrees this morning!  Frost on the grass. What to wear to run after work?  Tights, long sleeve shirt, jacket, hat, gloves… It’s hard to pack and bring the right gear!

2. Well, I did it – I ran from work.  This way I beat the darkness & ran 4 miles!  Of course, I started out being COLD but by the end, I had taken off my gloves & jacket. 

 I hate running during the COLD weather months. So much simpler to grab a shirt & shorts….but the TREADMILL is a worse alternative.

Happy Fall Running!

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Brain Exchange is Back (Week 16)

     

This Week’s Question: 

What do you miss most when you are in the heat of training or gearing up for a race?  Do you skip late nights out?  Do you give up goodies and alcohol?  What is the first thing you crave when training is over?

Answer:

I really haven’t done a lot of training but I hope to start.  However, the day before a race (even a 5k), I try to eat pasta and drink a lot of water, go to bed early.  If I go out, I don’t drink alcohol.  This is a little tough, since I play mah jongg on Friday evenings.  My friends play until late & I always go home early. Sometimes, I don’t go at all. They drink wine & I drink water. It’s worth the sacrifice!!

Happy Running!

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New Week…New Month…New Goals

Recap of October:
 Goals – 60 miles,  a 5K race & a PR , a 10 K race – I ran 68.5 miles (the most ever in a month!!). I ran 2 5k races, no PR but 29:10 (my 2nd lowest time!!).  I signed up & trained for a 10K but was too sick to run it.  I won 2 giveaways!

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 18 miles. I did 18 miles!

This week’s schedule:
Mon – tennis after work
Fri eve – Party in LG
Sun – volunteer at 15k race, mah jongg dinner

This week’s running:
Tues– 4 miles after work
Wed- 3  miles after work 
Thurs – 4 miles after work
Sat –  9  miles

Weekly Running Goal = 20 miles
November Monthly Running Goal = 65 miles, a 5k race, a PR
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it, I even passed 500 – New Goal is 600)
 
Happy Running!
 
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Happy Halloween

This was a fun weekend. Saturday night, my hubby & I went a party in Lake George. I was a witch & he was a judge.

me

my hubby

at the party

our friends Ed & Kathi

our friend Jim

This morning, we went out to breakfast with our friends and then headed home.  I had promised to take my mentee, Amanda, her boyfriend & her son Richard out trick or treating.  Richard was Iron Man.  He was so CUTE!!

Eichard, Amanda & Matt

Richard

I took them to our friends in Slingerlands who had their great niece & nephew coming over and because their neighborhodd is popular for treat or treaters.  We all had dinner afterwards.  A good time was had by all.

Happy Running.  Hope you had a great day!

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Virtual Pink Dress Run

sponsored by Dutch Girl Gets Healthy :

As October is breast cancer awareness month I think it is a good idea to do a virtual run together for Pink Ribbon.

The “rules” are simple:

  • Run on Saturday October 30 or Sunday 31.
  • The distance is up to you.
  • It doesn’t have to be a race, a training counts too.
  • Mention on your blog or in a comment on my blog when you ran, the distance you ran and the time you ran.

And the most important rule: Wear something pink and post a picture of you in your running outfit.

and I did (see photo below) wear pink (pink skirt, pink socks, pink running shoes, pink RoadId wristband, pink  Nathan’s belt, pink sweatband) on my 8 mile RUN on October 30.

Running in pink

Happy Running and thanks to Fran for the challenge.