“The hay is in the barn,” as they say..

Good thing because this was a very busy work week. Two days of live teaching (that means standing ALL DAY!)

ONE WEEK TO GO!!! Time to start weather stalking?

so far so good…

Last Week –

• Sunday – My 12 mile long run was postponed one day due to rain. Luckily my friends were still available to accompany me on the run and after at brunch.

pretty colors on the path for this cool breezy run

• Monday – Running long the day before messes up my schedule for the week (that and work).

So I skipped the morning run and went to the gym instead.

Then I decided to do a few miles at lunch.

chilly with the wind but then warm when the wind stopped… I will never be dressed right… and that cat (not mine) just laid down at my feet and demanded to be pet.

Knowing that the week would get busy, I opted to go out again after work to get my long mid-week run done. (6 miles for the win in my Marathon shoes!)

the other end of the rail trail.. the creek was really flowing

• Tuesday – A little tired so I waited until after work to do my run. But I did go to the gym on this chilly (30s) morning.

beautiful sky.. the picture doesn’t do it justice.

After work, I headed for 3 miles to the opposite end of the rail trail from yesterday. Gotta mix things up (esp. when you are solo.)

can you spot the deer?

• Wednesday – After 3 days in a row of running, I needed a rest day.

I made a quick pre-work visit to the gym (since I wouldn’t getting there until next week.)

Since the temps have been warming up, I did get out for a post-work walk.

Pumpkin Frosty -thumbs up. Thanks Lisa @techchickadventures for the tip.

• Thursday –  A tiring work day but I did drag myself out for my last run of the week.

felt like summer but still looked like fall along the Hudson R.

• Friday – Another tiring work day but at least it was a rest day.

cat life…

So only mah jongg in the evening.

• Saturday – Long Run Saturday. 8 miles! No sweat!

A few of my friends were running their virtual NYC marathon (so they could run the real thing next November).

I met them for first part of their 26.2.

a little warm… very strange weather for this time of year.

Then we met some others for brunch.

I went home and showered and headed back out to greet them at the end of their marathon.

• Sunday – Gym and then planning on a hike if it doesn’t rain.

This Coming Week on the Run (1 Week until NYCM)– 

• Monday –  AM run, DAY OFF, hike
• Tuesday – GYM, run (PM) – HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
• Wednesday –GYM, rest day
• Thursday – PM run, hike
• Friday –  GYM, rest day, mah jongg
• Saturday – rest day, train to NYC, expo, carb load
• Sunday – MARATHON DAY!!!!

the upper level of the bridge (where I’ll be starting)

This Coming Week on the Blog – 

• Tuesday – Goals for Marathon #2
• Friday – Ultimate Coffee Date

Happy Running! How is your year of running so far? Training for any big or small races this fall?  How’s the weather where you live? Any marathon nerves out there? Please share.

I am linking up with Kim and Deborah for

I encourage you to do the same. Grab the graphic, drop your link on the host blogs and play along! Please be sure to always comment on the HOST’s blogs, as well as visit and comment on as many other blogs as you can.

20 miler done… so I guess it’s taper time…

Two weeks until the big day!!

I hate to whine and complain but this fall has been MISERABLE!!

I’m not talking about the colors but if you only have weekends for leaf peeping, hiking and running, you’re screwed.

And it’s supposed to rain next weekend too!

Last Week –

• Sunday – I was surprised how good I felt after that 20 miler the day before…

I started the day at the gym..

new me = haircut, new capris & tank (on sale)

Then I did some errands, laundry and weeding (yes, the dandelions are still growing).

The weather was so nice that I decided to spend more time outside and went for a hike.

• Monday – My DAY OFF!

I went for a 5 mile run but not as early or as rushed.

it started out chilly but was really a perfect morning for a run

Afterward my running friend and I went on a hike. We chose a new one in Williamstown, MA but when we got there. it started to rain. So we went out to lunch and then returned.

It was still raining so we decided to grin and bear it… Glad we did because the trail was beautiful.

After over 4.5 miles, we returned to that same restaurant for dessert and to warm up and dry off.

• Tuesday – Still in training mode so I have long runs to do mid-week.

I squeezed in a few miles before work

sporting my fall colors…

and a few more at lunch

such creativity in my ‘hood

and finally finished them up after work (8 miles total)

interesting to watch crew teams on the river… otherwise I was dragging by this point.

After dinner, I met my BFF for a long chat/walk at an outside mall..

some pumpkin sculptures there (leftover from the weekend fall festival)

• Wednesday – Rest Day.

I had to teach live and then after work I met a few of my tennis friends out for dinner. (I was supposed to go to the Monet exhibit with them but couldn’t get out of work in time.)

Sorry no pic… too busy chatting and eating (wine, shrimp n grits, dessert).

• Thursday –  Only 4 miles to complete today.  But it was Thursday and the cookie truck was in town that evening.

Because it gets dark so early, I ran on the rail trail, then met my friend for a walk (so we could justify the ice cookie sandwich.)

yes, it was as good as it looks

• Friday – Another Rest Day. And a rainy one.

No time for much since I was hosting mah jongg that evening and worked all day.

Since I hadn’t been at the gym all week, I did go there very early.

• Saturday – Long Run Saturday. Only 12 miles! 

Lots more running friends healthy and in town so that was great!

Not great was the RAIN!!!

I went to the gym instead.

We may have gotten the run done between the rain but it was too iffy.

I did errands… my granddaughter came to visit.

Eventually it did stop running and I got in a walk.

• Sunday – Re-scheduled 12 mile run with my running pals (followed by brunch). I do hate to do a long run on Sunday since it messes up my whole week’s running schedule.

it only drizzled a little (and I’m wearing new shoes – the same ones Jenny bought)

This Coming Week on the Run (2 Weeks until NYCM)– 

• Monday –  gym, run (PM)
• Tuesday – GYM, rest day
• Wednesday -run (PM)
• Thursday – run (PM)
• Friday –  rest day, mah jongg
• Saturday – Long Run (8 miles)
• Sunday – Volunteer at a Trail Race, hike

This Coming Week on the Blog – 

• Tuesday – National Food Day
• Friday –  Runfessions

Happy Running! How is your year of running so far? Training for any big or small races this fall?  How’s the weather where you live? What day do you do your long runs on? Saturday or Sunday? Please share.

I am linking up with Kim and Deborah for

I encourage you to do the same. Grab the graphic, drop your link on the host blogs and play along! Please be sure to always comment on the HOST’s blogs, as well as visit and comment on as many other blogs as you can.

If you’ve ever trained for marathon, you know what I’m talking about..

Yup, the 20 mile long run.

Because after you complete it, you are supposedly ready to finish 26.2 miles!?

and you can start your taper…

Last Week –

• Sunday – It was perfect running day. Very happy for those running our local marathon and those running Chicago. Unfortunately I had to suffer through my rainy 14 mile run the day before.

The good news was that I had the whole day free.

First I went to the gym.

Then I was glued to my phone tracking my friends who were running the Chicago marathon. My friend PR’d and BQ’d (by a large margin).

It was too nice a day to stay indoors and so I went for a hike.

And after I finally baked that pie.

’tis the season

• Monday – A day off from work for the Columbus Day holiday… love days like this.

Of course I went for a run (5 miles) and I didn’t have to get up early and rush.

I decided to run somewhere I hadn’t been for a while… I needed a change of scenery.

I had gloves and arm warmers on when I started but they didn’t last long.

I went for  short hike nearby (no pics) and then headed home.

I made pumpkin chili and corn bread… (but back to my normally scheduled program tomorrow so my hubby doesn’t get used to home cooked meals).

• Tuesday – A rest day so I started with a visit to the gym and then after work, I met some friends for a walk at the Y.
• Wednesday – 10 miles on my plan but no way to get it done before work and so I split it up.

I woke up to rain.  What else is new?  Miraculously, it stopped and I headed to the rail trail for 5 miles before work.

I was surprised at how many runners were out there by 7 am and that it was in the 40s and I was OVER DRESSED (no wind and humid made the difference so back to the tank and arm warmers)

and then after work, I ran 2 miles solo and then met Heidi for 3 miles more at UAlbany.

due to decreasing daylight… there were so many groups of runners here.

• Thursday –  Another early morning run. I met Deirdre on the rail trail for 5 miles before work (our last weekday run together as she leaves for Florida soon).

love the sky…

It seems to be a Thursday thing – walk and then eat ice cream sandwiches from the Cookie Truck.

Except that today, I visited with my granddaughter first.

excited to see grandma?

• Friday – Resting up for the next day.

I started the day at the gym and ended it with mah jongg.

For no apparent reason, we lost power all afternoon so I was forced to go to the office.

• Saturday – Long Run Saturday. 20 miles.

I was very lucky to have the support of my running friends and that they took rain out of the forecast.

I ran/walked the first 10 miles with Deirdre, Deb & Heidi and then Deb & Heidi got on their bikes. I ran 7 more with Deirdre and then sprinted 3 back while another friend came to finish up with Deirdre. Phew. Glad that’s over.

After a quick brunch, I headed to my hair appt.

And then in the evening, I drove up to Lake George for a reunion with some boating friends.

at a race in St. Augustine, FL (March 2014).

They moved to Florida and I hadn’t seen them in years.

My other friend still lives in Lake George but she and her hubby sold their boat and I haven’t seen them in years as well.

It was fun catching up… lots of boating memories.

• Sunday – I have plans to return to the gym and maybe a hike if the weather cooperates… or maybe just REST!!

This Coming Week on the Run (3 Weeks until NYCM)– 

• Monday –  DAY OFF, run, hike
• Tuesday – run
• Wednesday – rest day, dinner with tennis pals
• Thursday – run, hike
• Friday –  GYM, rest day, mah jongg chez moi
• Saturday – Long Run (12 miles)
• Sunday – GYM, hike

This Coming Week on the Blog – 

• Tuesday – Halloween. Yay or Nay?
• Friday – Five Fitness Challenges

Happy Running! How is your year of running so far? Training for any big or small races this fall?  How’s the weather where you live? Did you run, watch or track the Chicago marathon? Do you run more than 20 miles when you train for a marathon? Please share.

I am linking up with Kim and Deborah for

I encourage you to do the same. Grab the graphic, drop your link on the host blogs and play along! Please be sure to always comment on the HOST’s blogs, as well as visit and comment on as many other blogs as you can.