September 22, 2010 by Darlene

Accidental Long Run

After my 5.5 mile run on Sunday and my impending race on Friday, I was anxious to get out there again last night.

I wasn’t scheduled for tennis this Tues so after I got home from work, had a bit to eat, I donned my running clothes and out the door I went. My hubby warned “Bring your cell phone! It gets dark early” but I ignored him.

The weather was very comfortable. I planned to do my usual 3.5 miles. I lamented as I ran that I am tired after working all day and the scenery (after the lake views from Sunday) is downright boring.

To spice things up, instead of turning around and repeating the route, I decided to continue and cut through the neighborhood and make a circle.

Except that I kept running into deadends and cul-de-sacs and getting nowhere but lost. Luckily I ran into another stroller jogger and asked him how to get to the road. He replied that a lot people think you can cut through but there is no direct route and the best thing to do would be to go back the way I came.

By this point, it was dark & I was tired but had no choice. I made it home but my 3.5 miles turned into 6 miles…by accident.

Happy Running! Has anyone ever gotten lost running?

September 20, 2010 by Darlene

Monday Goals

Recap of last week:
My weekly goal was 14 miles. I did 15! YAY!
I ran a 5K race.

This week’s schedule:
Monday – tennis after work
Thurs – tennis before work, mentoring after work
Sat & Sunday – boating ??

This week’s running :
Tues – 3.5 miles after work
Wed- 3.5 miles after work
Fri – 5K Race
Sun – 5 miles at the marina

Weekly Running Goal = 15 miles
September Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it!!)

Happy Running!

September 19, 2010 by Darlene

Awesome Weekend of Fun & Runs

The weekend started with the CRSS Race for Hope 5k. After the race, my follower colleague, Cheryl, picked me up and we drove up to Bolton Landing where my hubby was waiting to take us on the boat to meet up with our others friends (we had 5 boats tied together) to listen to jazz on the lake.

The weather was perfect and so was the music and the company!!

The next morning, it was cool (but not as cool as they predicted) and cloudy. I decided that my days on the boat were limited so I headed out for a LONG run. I always head up 9N and run around the Sagamore grounds. Today I went the other direction. It was hilly (maybe more like mountaneous) but I could see the lake on the left the whole way. I felt like I could run forever. I discovered some hidden roads & beaches and really enjoyed it — in all, I ran almost 5.5 miles!!!

Eventually the clouds turned to sun and we spent an enjoyable afternoon picnicking on Speakerheck Island.

Happy Running!

September 18, 2010 by Darlene

CRSS Race for Hope 5k Report

This is the 2nd year of the race and the second year for me. I planned to meet my running friend Mary at the race. I have met her at 2 previous 5ks but in the meantime, she has been running long distances (She even did a 1/2 marathon).

I remember this race as being hilly but my time last year was pretty good at 30:14. Again, my goal was to PR or at least come close.

The weather for this race couldn’t have been more perfect – sunny, high 50’s. Mary & I met in the parking lot and took some photos. I also bumped into the tennis friend who introduced me to running but she was walking the race.

The race wasn’t chipped timed so Mary & I started near the beginning. We were both hoping to finish under 30 minutes.

The race started with a BIG HILL!!! I was out of breath at the end and it took me the next mile to get my breathing in sync. I am usually several minutes ahead of Mary but she has more stamina now that she is running longer distances. Every time I looked she was on my right. I was struggling to stay ahead.

The rest of the race was hilly as well as we winded around the Slingerlands neighborhoods. At mile 1, the electronic timer said: 10:03. That was slow but the first hill slowed me down.

I tried to pick up the pace but at mile 2: the electronic timer said: 20:05 – not much improvement.

Now I was determined to run faster. At mile 3: there was no timer, but a volunteer yelled: 28:45 which made me happy though I had picked up speed but I knew it would not be a PR.

The last .15 mile was finally downhill. I saw the finish line in the distance read :29:5.. so I ran as fast as I could and crossed at 30:11 (at least that’s what the results said..I think I was faster!) Mary crossed 5 seconds after me.

Again I was disappointed because I felt great throughout the race and wasn’t tired at all at the end.

Mary & I took some post race photos. They had a band but were only giving award for the lst place in each age group so we took off.

My next 5k race is Friday after work. I remember it being flat so Mary has agreed to join me again on our quest to PR.

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Happy Running and Enjoy the Weekend!

September 13, 2010 by Darlene

Monday Goals

Recap of last week:
My weekly goal was 12 miles. I did 12! YAY!
I bought new running shoes and love them!

This week’s schedule:
Monday – tennis after work
Tuesday – tennis after work
Wed -mentor mtg after work
Fri – tennis before work, mah Jongg after work
Sat & Sunday – boating

This week’s running :
Tues – 3.5 miles before work
Thurs – 3.5 miles after work
Sat – 5K Race
Sun – 4 miles at the marina

Weekly Running Goal = 14 miles
September Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it!!)

Happy Running!

September 12, 2010 by Darlene

Partying & Running

Yes, they can both happen in the same weekend.

Boats by George, where we bought our boat, has an annual Customer Appreciation Party at the Lake George Club. It was held Sat eve. Two years ago, I went home after the party in order to run in a 5K the next Sunday. This year, I decided to enjoy the event and not race. And I did…

We went home on Sunday. I hadn’t run since Wed. and I forced myself to do a long run. That’s 5 miles for me. The weather was cloudy and cool. In fact, it started to rain halfway but stopped. I wore my new Mizunos and I love them. I focused on my breathing which took my mind off the fact that I was starved. I ran most of it (walked intermittently) but felt good.

The weather is getting cooler – dark in the mornings, darker earlier at the end of each day…I may have to head to the treadmill, oh no!!

Happy Running!

September 9, 2010 by Darlene

3 Things Thursday

After reading AJH’s post, I ordered a Gorillapod. I can’t wait to use it.

I am blog inspired again. After reading Endurance Isn’t Only Physical (Running is Hard & I am Slow) confessions, I ran yesterday even though I didn’t want to…it was hard and I was slow.
I met my friend at the mall. She had to buy tennis sneakers. She didn’t but I bought another paire of running sneakers that I don’t really need (I have an old Brooks pair, my favorite race Saucony, 2 Nike+ for training, Reebok treadmill pair and now…Mizuno Waverider 12). I put them on and they felt GREAT!!!! They were on sale at DSW for $59 (normally $100). I just read about them and found out that because I have a high arch, these are NEUTRAL which is perfect for me. I always thought I needed stability for support…I can’t wait to run in them!!

Happy Running!

September 6, 2010 by Darlene

Is Summer Over?

The weather seemed like Fall…but we went up to the lake anyway.

After my race on Saturday, I went home to relax and pack for the weekend and then headed up to join my hubby.

That evening we went to an outdoor concert (Bobby Dick & the Sundowners) at Schroon Lake and watched the fireworks afterwards. It was chilly, felt like fall.

Sunday morning, I did my usual 4.5 mile run around Bolton Landing and the Sagamore…beautiful but cool. After my run, I went to the craft fair and listened to some folk music in the park.

The plans for the afternoon included hanging out at the Christmas in Log Bay party. We decorated out friends’ boat and dressed up in our Christmas outfits. Good thing – it was windy and COLD!!!

At sunset, the boats that were decorated with lights, formed a line and paraded around in front of Bolton landing. We watched the fireworks from the boat. It was so much fun!!! (Last year, we watched it from land.)

Sunday morning, it was sunny and chilly. I went out for my run but cut it short at 3.5 miles. I decided it was a perfect day for a hike. Several years ago we did this one in the fall and the view was spectacular.

The hike is called “The Vista” – I ran the flat part and then waited for my hubby to hike to the top.

It was so nice once we got there. Someone put up a flag to commemorate Labor Day (You can see I’m still wearing my running clothes.)

I took so many photos.. and then we had to leave since friends were waiting for us at our picnic site. Again, I ran the flat part.

The rest of the day was spent with friends…eating…chatting…eating… Normally it would have been swimming but it was too cold!! Is summer over??

Finally as the sun was setting, we had to leave 😦

Happy Running! Hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend!

September 4, 2010 by Darlene

Run For the Horses 5k Race Report

This was a new race for me but I love races in Saratoga – It’s my 4th of the season. It was also the first year of this race.

I haven’t been running as much as I should so this race was in a sense just training and I wanted to have fun (At least, that’s what I told myself.)

The race was supposed to be starting at the Race Track but at the last minute, they changed to the Warming Hut in Saratoga State Park.

I left early and thought if I entered the park, I could find the Warming Hut. Well I went in the first entrance and I saw lots of runners, I could not find the race start. I ended up leaving and going in the 2nd entrance & found it right away.

There were about 125 racers. They only expected 100 since this was the first year and they ran out of tee-shirts.

The weather was absolutely perfect!!! High 60’s, sunny and breezy!!

Though the race was small, there were a lot of fast runners that I recognized from previous races. The race left the Warming Hut and went down Ave of the Pines (uphill but not steep) and then down to the Gideon Putnam hotel and back .

As usual, the runners passed me by. I tried to keep an even pace. When we turned at the hotel, I happily saw a lot of women behind me.

Unlike the last race, I felt good the whole race and did not stop.

When I approached the finish line, I heard them say “You can finish under 31 minutes!”

I was upset – that’s TOO Slow!!! Too late now. I guess that’s why I felt so good. I wasn’t running fast enough.

I finished in 30:24. I haven’t run that slow since last summer!!!!!

Oh I forgot, this was supposed to be fun and it was. They gave out prizes in 10 year age groups and I was 6th! (see below).

Next race is in 2 weeks!! I better get out there and train!!!

Happy Running!

September 2, 2010 by Darlene

A HOT Day at the US Open

Yesterday I went on my annual bus trip to the US Open. I had to get up at 4:30 am and didn’t get home until 11 pm. It was sunny and about 100 degrees. All in all, we saw GREAT tennis!!