April 12, 2013 by Darlene

K is for Kicks or running shoes

I used to be obsessed with shoes. (and my hubby looks in my closet & thinks I still am because I haven’t gotten rid of shoes that I can’t wear anymore.)

Now it’s Running Shoes.

It’s not that I need to have every style or color. It’s just that I am trying to find the perfect running shoe. The one where my feet won’t hurt and will give me PRs (ha ha!)

I started with Sauconys and then came back to them.

Then it was Nike.

And then Asics a few times.

Briefly after my injury, I wore New Balance.

Then I switched to Mizunos.

I even tried Reeboks.

Of course, I also bought Brooks several times.

Now the latest choice of kicks is Newtons.

Still haven’t run in Hokas… (Give it time…)

But seriously, the proper shoes are the most important part of your running gear!

When I first started running, I went to FleetFeet, a local store which specializes in running shoes. They watched me run and analyzed my stride, etc and then recommended several shoes. I picked the one that I liked the most (either by comfort or color). I would say that I have bought most of my shoes there. (Some I have bought on sale elsewhere.) After running awhile or after an injury, your feet do change. It is good to not buy the same shoes every time but to try different ones. Unfortunately, sometimes a shoe you love is no longer available and the newer model isn’t right for you. It is important NOT to run in worn out shoes. It is not just the sole but the cushioning that wears out. Some say replace after 400 miles but it is an individual thing. It depends on how heavy you are on your feet (I drag!!) and what surfaces you run on. Obviously, running indoors does not wear your shoes out as fast as running outside on a trail.

Tips for buying running shoes:

For your first shoes, go to a store that specializes in running shoes. They will watch you run to determine if you underpronate or overpronate. They will examine your feet to determine if you have high arches or flat feet.
Allow a thumbnail’s length of space in the toebox to allow for normal swelling and running downhill (If you have bunions, chose a shoe with a wide toebox)
Try on shoes at the end of the day when your feet are their largest. You will usually wear a larger size running shoe than a regular shoe (I wear a 7 shoe & 8.5 running shoe.)
If you wear orthotics, bring them when you try on running shoes.
If you need more stability, buy a custom insole such as SuperFeet.
If you have chosen a different type of running shoe, break them in slowly. (Don’t run a race in new shoes.)
Replace your shoes when you need to. Some people alternate two different pairs to preserve their favorites.

Happy Running! What running kicks do you like? And why?

March 31, 2013 by Darlene

March Update & A-Z Blogging Challenge

My goals for the month:

Complete my 6th Half Marathon (and 1st since the 2012 injuries)
Take a running break to heal my aching foot (only a week or 2…next race is a 5k on Mar 30 and then a 5 miler on April 14)
Do yoga instead each week
Continue tennis once a week
Sign up for another half marathon
Continue to eat healthier

So how did I do?

YES!!

13.1 miles on march 17, 2013!

2. Didn’t run for 2 days and then only ran a little on the treadmill to break in these:

mine have yellow laces

3. Did it once.

after an outdoor run in a nearby park

4. Played tennis 3 times (once it was cancelled due to a snowstorm)

5. YES!

13.1 miles on Oct. 13, 2013!!!

6. Kinda…. I was on vacation in Florida…. did my best!!

Aren’t martinis healthy?

What else happened in March?

81 miles for March

I ran in the snow & ice a lot. The winter in the NE never did end.

I ran in the nice weather too (obviously not in the NE).

I spent time with friends.

with Pat

Susan, me & Robin at Lido Key beach...can you guess which one of us does not live in Florida??

with Susan and Robin

I got a surprise visit from Anna from Russia.

a day together in Staten Island

I spent time with my mentee and her sons.

pre-Easter celebration

I ran a 5K race.

post injury 5k PR

I actually gave up flour for Passover (I did it as a kid but as an adult I always cheat.)

one more day & I can have my bagel, cereal, poptart, rice, pasta, etc.

The A-Z Blogging Challenge has been put on every year since 2010 by Arlee Bir d over at Tossing It Out and the idea is to blog every day (except Sundays) and to do it Thematically/Alphabetically.

Every day you blog (starting with the letter A on April 1st, B on April 2nd and so on) according to what letter of the alphabet you are on.

Sounded like fun!! So I signed up. I will be posting on my running and running related thoughts. We’ll see if I can keep it up.

Feel free to join … just go over to The A-Z Challenge blog and follow the directions.

Happy Running! How was your March? Are you participating in this challenge?

March 25, 2013 by Darlene

Training Over… Recovery Over…Now What?

or rather 2 weeks in review…

Week 12 Update:

Monday – 3 mile run on the treadmill at lunch, tennis after work

Tuesday – REST – flew from Albany to Ft Myers, Fl.
Wednesday – REST – walking around Cape Haze, sitting at the beach & pool

Thursday – 3 mile run outside, walking around Venice, sitting at the pool

Friday – REST – sitting at the beach, walking around The Meadows

Saturday – REST – walking around the Meadows, sitting at the beach

Sunday – 13.1 mile race, walking around Sarasota

The TAPER was completed nicely and I finished the race!!!!

Recovery Update:

Monday – REST – walking around Cape Haze, sitting on planes and in airports

Tuesday – REST – tennis cancelled due to snowstorm
Wednesday – 3 mile run on the treadmill after work (Testing out my new Newtons)

Thursday – REST
Friday – 3 mile run on the treadmill after work (still testing the new sneaks)
Saturday – REST (running after a 19 mos & 6 yr old at the mall)

Sunday – 4 mile run outside

Recovery completed nicely.

Now what?

Monday – tennis
Tuesday – 3 mile run on TM, Passover seder
Wednesday – 3 mile run in Albany, YOGA
Thursday – 3 mile run near home
Friday – REST, mah jongg
Saturday – 5K race + 2 more
Sunday – Rest

Happy Running! Anyone else experience post training letdowns?

March 24, 2013 by Darlene

A Relaxing “Spring” Weekend

Yes, you did. There was No Early Spring!!!!!!!!!!!

It is the end of March and it is still in the 30’s and windy. Like it has been for the last few months. I am so over winter.

The only good thing about this weekend is that my half marathon was over and I did not have to worry about fitting in a long run.

During my training, I have been obsessed with my miles and I have been ignoring Amanda, the girl I mentor.

So yesterday I planned to spend the day with her and her sons. Usually we do an Easter Egg hunt, play in the park, eat ice cream…

And usually it is warm enough to do so.

Not this year!!! So we headed for the mall where there was an Easter egg hunt.

Amanda helping Matthew in the 0-3 yr old group

Richard is on his own with the 4-6 yr olds

Then I took some photos (the line was too long to have them sit on the bunny’s lap.

And we had lunch.

McDonald’s – what else?

Afterwards the kids played in the mall playground.

The tradition is to end the day with ice cream and we did. But it was too cold & windy to eat it there so we took it home to eat.

On Sunday, it seemed a little warmer (still in the 30’s) and less windy so I went for a run. Not because I had to but because I felt like it. I went to the Corning bike trail to run an easy 4 miles.

not quite like I was dressed in Florida!

I wanted to run outside for the first time in my new Newtons.

mine have yellow laces

I also wanted to run the course for my 5k next weekend.

path is clear but still snow on the grass.

So far I really like the Newtons. At least for short distances. This was the first time since last September that I tried to run at a faster pace. And it seemed easier with these shoes. I walked at least 3 times and still I had a decent time (at least for me).

splits were 9:51, 10:37 and 9:49 for 3 miles.

I walked several more times but finished 4 miles (last lap was 9:50). A far cry from my 12 min. miles. Definitely a morale booster even if it is a short distance.

After I got home, my hubby & I went to a boat show. It makes us think summer is around the corner.

It cost $8 each to get in but I had $2 off coupons but they didn’t take credit cards. Neither my hubby or I had enough cash 😦

Guess what? They let us in for FREE!

It gets even better. I filled out 2 raffle coupons and we both won!

a “Go Boating on Lake George” long sleeved shirt

and a “Pirate Girl” flag for our boat

We climbed in and out of boats for fun & I picked up some good freebies.

All in all, a no-stress weekend.

Happy Running! How was your weekend? Did you run or race?

March 11, 2013 by Darlene

Time to Taper

Week 11 Update:

Mon- Tennis
Tues – 6 miles (3 miles on the TM at lunch & 3 miles outdoors after work)
Wed – walking around NYC

at the Chinese Scholar Garden on Staten Island

Thurs – 3 miles on TM (hair appt after work)
Fri – 4 miles on TM after work –SNOW

at least we had a 2 hour delay in the am

Sat – REST
Sun – 8 MILES

Saturday was a PERFECT day for running, of course. Sunny, no wind and 52 degrees. Since I was not scheduled to run, instead I went up to Saratoga with my hubby. He visited with a friend & I went to the Summer Expo. There were some running booths but mostly tri-related ones. I couldn’t resist buying these Newtons since they were 40% off. I am not that fond of the color but the ones in the colors I liked (blue or pink) just weren’t as comfortable.

After the expo, I walked around the town and watched this guy practicing his tightrope skills in the park.

On Sunday, I went for my last long run. It was a nice day but very breezy and not as warm as Saturday. I decided to finally go to the Corning Bike Trail on the Hudson. I figured that the snow would finally be melted off the path…and it was.

Running into the wind I was chilly and then going back the other way, I was sweating. Oh well. I can’t complain. This was the BEST weather I’ve had for any of my training runs.

I can’t say that it was a good run. I took some Gu before I started but I ran out of gas at 6 miles (even though I walked a lot.) I didn’t bring anything with me (my fault) and running back was into the wind. I even struggled with my breathing for the first time ever. UGH!!

But I finished my 8 miles!

It took me 1:35:xx. SLOOOOW!!!

Still I know even at my snail’s pace, I can finish the half under the 4 hour time limit.

I can’t wait to do it! Enjoy it! Get my medal! And then train better for the next one.

Week 12:

Mon- 3 miles on TM at work, Tennis after
Tues – REST (fly to Florida)
Wed – REST
Thurs – 3 miles in sunny warm Florida
Fri – REST
Sat – REST
Sun – 13.1 miles!!!
Mon – REST (fly home)

Happy Running! How many miles do you run while tapering?

January 30, 2013 by Darlene

Bunions Anyone?

I have that familiar feeling again…pain on the inside of my right foot. ( I even got interviewed for Good Houskeeping about it.)

Although I have a bigger bunion on my left, it never hurts. Just the right foot.

it feels worse than it looks

The last time it hurt was while training for the FIRST half marathon (in January 2011). It started feeling pain once I went over 6 miles. It gets inflamed and then needs to be rested.

For some reason after that race, it never hurt again (and I ran 4 more halfs) UNTIL NOW!!!

It started to hurt toward the end of my long run on Sunday and has continued to be sore!!!

I haven’t run since Sunday and will try today wearing an older pain of Asics. Wish me luck!!

Happy Running! Anyone else suffer from bunion pain?

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.

Bye bye boot!!

Hello running shoes!

Happy Running!

September 25, 2012 by Darlene

Sof Sole Review

According the website:

The Athlete™ features a neutral arch position, making it suitable for most foot types, as well as additional gel cushioning in the heel and forefoot without any extra bulk. Built with our exclusive IMPLUS® foam, the Athlete™ also provides superior moisture management.

I received a pair of these in the mail and they couldn’t have come at a better time.

I am particularly hard on my running shoes. I either stomp or drag my feet – who knows?? But I go through shoes. After a few months, they no longer feel cushiony and the bottom of my feet start to ache.

Saturday after 5 miles or so, my feet felt the way the do at Mile 12 of a half marathon – that achy burning feeling on the bottom of my feet. And my shoes are only a few months old.

So I decided to try out the Sof Sole insoles. I was a little hesitant since I usually wear orthotics but I put them in my Brooks Ghost neutral shoes and my hubby & I went hiking on Sunday. They felt great.

Yesterday morning was the real test. I ran 3 miles before work. My feet felt super. I could have run more if I didn’t have to rush off to work.

I may have to ditch my expensive orthotics in flavor on these insoles.

Last night, I played tennis and used this opportunity to test out Coolmax Lite socks by Sof Sole. Although I don’t need cushiony support for playing tennis (as I do for running where I wear compresson socks), an hour and 1/2 of running around on the court makes your feet sweat. In the past, I have gotten blisters from wearing heavy non-breathable socks. However, these socks were very comfortable. They are light but not too light.

Thumbs Up for Sof Sole!

Happy Running!

______________

*I was sent these products free of charge. I have not been compensated for my review, my opinions are my own.

August 21, 2012 by Darlene

Can’t Resist a Bargain

Last week, Olympia Sports was having a sale – buy one and get 1/2 off the second pair. (Like I really needed running shoes!!)

pair #1

pair #2

As a result, I received $15 in rewards. No, I didn’t buy another pair of shoes.

I bought instead 5 vanilla Gu & 5 chocolate Gu – my favorites

Then I got an e-mail saying that CompressionPro socks were on sale – $30 instead of $50 (w/ free shipping) in purple. I have them in pink & argyle blue and love them! They match my new shoes so I had to buy them!

Last but not least, was a Groupon for $10 (instead of $30) for a local 5K race. Who could not resist? $10 to run and support a charity!! Of course, I signed up!