July 11, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Fitness Snapshots

Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mary at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC to host the Friday Five linkup. Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!) They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!

This week, the theme is Fitness Snapshots:

Here are my five snapshots of being active this week:

1. Running on a trail – On Monday, I ran 4.5 miles on several trails at the Five Rivers environmental center.

2. Walking – I walked one mile every morning with a co-worker.

3. Running on the road – I ran 3 miles before work Wednesday and today Friday.

4. Tennis – I played tennis on Tuesday – 2 hours of doubles after work.

5. Yoga – I went an 75 minute yoga class on Wednesday after work.

Wed Yoga with Lisa

Happy Running! How were you active this week?

July 7, 2014 by Darlene

Monday running update

20140625-122436-44676505 Last Week:

Monday – 3 mile run before work, walk at work

early morning run

AM walk

Tuesday –4 mile run before work, walk at work, tennis

so glad I did it in the am…a sweaty one!

AM walk

PM walk

Wednesday – ~~3 mile run before work,~~ ~~after work~~ (RAIN – should have done it before work), walk at work, yoga

AM walk

Thursday – ~~rest~~, 4 mile run before work, walk at work

Friday – DAY OFF – 3 miles, on the river, hanging with friends, mah jongg

in Williamstown, MA

Saturday- 12 miles, dinner with former college roommates

on the Nisky Bike Path & the Crossings

restaurant on the Hudson

Sunday -rest, boating

my friends first ride on the lake

This Week:

Monday – DAY OFF – 4 mile run
Tuesday -walk at work, rest, tennis
Wednesday – 3 mile run before work, walk at work, yoga
Thursday – 3 mile run before work, walk at work, dinner out for a friend’s bday
Friday -walk at work, rest, mah jongg
Saturday- rest
Sunday –Saratoga Half Marathon!!!

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ?

June 30, 2014 by Darlene

Monday running update

20140625-122436-44676505 Last Week:

Monday – DAY OFF, 3 4 recovery miles

on bridges & trails

I love my new NB 870s. These 770s were on clearance at DSW for $45 – had to buy them! Love them too!

Tuesday -2 walks at work, rest, tennis

AM walk

PM walk

Wednesday – 3 mile run ~~at lunch~~ before work,walk at work, ~~concert~~ (rained out), yoga

first run in my new shoes. It was a HUMID one!

AM walk

PM walk to the park & then the rains came

Thursday – 3 mile run before work, 2 walks at work, movie

beat the rain – boy was it humid

AM walk

PM walk – picture tells all

not as good as the show but still enjoyable

Friday – 2 walks at work, ~~4 miles~~, rest, mah jongg

AM walk

PM walk

Saturday – 11 miles

what a God awful run

Sunday – boating

perfect day!

This Week:

Monday – 3 miles
Tuesday -rest, tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles , yoga
Thursday –4 miles
Friday – DAY OFF – rest, boating
Saturday- 4 miles, boating
Sunday -rest, boating

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ?

June 29, 2014 by Darlene

We’re halfway.

report-card1 6 months down and 6 to go. How am I doing on my 2014 Goals?

1. Do not get injured. So far, so good.

happy legs and feet!

2. Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR. Yes!

in the freezing cold

in the spring

during my vacation

3. Continue fitting in tennis and/or yoga once a week upper body & core strength exercises (planks & weights). Tennis YES, Yoga Rarely, Planks & Weights SO SO

my instructor returned from maternity leave on May 7.

when I can remember to use them

4. Finish all races (except 15ks & half marathons) at under 10 min. pace per mile. Almost all.

: 5k – 30:10

: 4 miler – 38:07

: 5 miler – 48:14

: 4 miler – 38:06

: 5k – 28:56

: 5K – 27:51

: 10k – 1:00:52

: 5K – 28:14

: 5K – 28:51

: 2014

: short 5k (2.25 m) – 20:19

5. Run at least one race per month and at least 20 for the year.Yes! 14 races so far.

: HMRRC 15K – January

: Polar Cap – February

: Runnin of the Green 2014

: 3rd

: Betar Byway – June

6. Run a race in another state or even a NEW state. Yes, Mayor’s Wellness 10 miler in CA, Lighthouse 5k in FL and the Love Run Half in PA. But they are not new states.

Lighthouse 5K in FL.

7. Run at least 10 NEW races. 11 already!- Mayor’s Wellness 10m, HMRRC Winter Series #3 15K, Lighthouse 5k, Love Run, Bacon Hill 5k, Rabbit Ramble 4m, Cherry Blossom 5k, Spring Run off 10k, Mom’s 5K, Betar Byway 5K, Strawberry Fest 5K, Adirondack Distance Run

first annual Love Run

Bacon Hill 5k

Spring Run Off 10K

Strawberry Fest 5K

8. Run in NYC. No, not yet.

This is as close as I have gotten

9. Get an Age Group award. Yes! 9 of them – 3rd at the Mayor’s Wellness, 1st at the Lighthouse 5K, 1st at Bacon Hill 5k, 2nd at Rabbit Ramble 4m, 2nd at Cherry Blossom 5k, 3rd at Spring Run Off 10K, 1st at Mom’s Day 5k, 1st at Betar Byway 5K, 1st at Strawberry Fest 5K

Mayor’s Wellness 10m

Cherry Blossom5k

Mom’s Day 5K

Spring Run Off 10K

Betar Byway 5K

10464192_905772132782587_8976828319425984868_n

Strawberry fest 5K

10. Run a 10 mile race. Yes! Mayor’s Wellness 10m and Adirondack Distance Run

Mayor’s Wellness 10m

11. Run at least one half marathon. Yes! The Love Run.

12. PR in a half marathon. Yes! at the Love Run.

4 sec PR

13. Run over 800 miles. 4 miles so far. I’m on my way.

14. Continue to blog almost everyday. Yes! So I am doing pretty good so far. Things to work on the next 6 months:

Go to yoga regularly
PR in a 5K
race in a new state
run in NYC
continue to race each month
continue to sign up for new races
STAY HEALTHY

Happy Running! Do you have yearly goals? If so, how are you doing so far this year?

June 9, 2014 by Darlene

Monday running update

Last Week:

Monday – walk at work, 4 miles, mall walk with BFF

around Washington Park

Tuesday -walk at work, rest, ~~tennis~~ (rained out)

Wednesday – 3 mile run, ~~yoga~~
Thursday – rest, dinner with old friends
Friday – 4 miles, mah jongg
Saturday – rest
Sunday – 5K

This Week:

Monday – 8.5 miles (off in the am), proctor LSATS
Tuesday -rest
Wednesday – 3 miles, yoga
Thursday – 4 miles
Friday – rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 5k + 6 miles, dinner party at work
Sunday – rest, boating

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ?

June 1, 2014 by Darlene

May’s over! Bring on June and summer!

my birthday month!

MAY GOALS:

RUN at least 3-4 times each week. YES!

in Albany, NY

even on the track

Continue planks. Occasionally – when I remember.
Start back at Yoga. Only went once.

May 7

Walk at least once a day at work. When I worked.

to the park

around campus

on the track

Continue to use those 5 lb weights on my desk. Sometimes.
Run my 5k races under 30 minutes! YES!

28:14

28:51

PR in a 10K race (under 1:06:10) – YES!

1:00:51

Run during my tennis vacation in Florida. – YES! 5 times

13.5 miles

Run at least 75 miles this month. Nope. Slacking off. Only 68.

do you see a trend?

Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy. YES!

I had a wonderful vacation in Florida where I spent a lot of time at the beach and on the tennis courts.

I spent a day with my mentee and her sons.

I celebrated my birthday with several dinners out with family and friends.

I went boating on Lake George for the first time this year.

JUNE GOALS:

RUN at least 3-4 times each week.
Continue planks.
Go to Yoga at least 2x.
Walk at least once a day at work.
Play tennis outdoors once a week
Continue to use those 5 lb weights on my desk.
Add a long run each week to prepare for 10 mile race.
Run any 5k races under 10 minutes per mile!
Run a 10 mile race and finish under 2 hours.
Run at least 75 miles this month.
Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy.

Happy Running! How was your May? Anything special planned for June?

May 26, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Updates

Two Weeks Ago:

Monday –~~4 miles~~, 2 walks at work, tennis

AM walk

PM walk

Tuesday – rest, 1 walk at work, tennis

AM walk

Wednesday – fly to Naples, FL., lunch, pool, dinner out
Thursday – 3 miles, (tennis rained out), shopping, pool, dinner out

around World Tennis Center

Friday – 3 miles, tennis, beach, dinner out

around World Tennis Center

Saturday – 3 miles, tennis, beach, dinner out, show

around WTC & along Airport-Pulling Rd

Sunday – rest, tennis, lunch, beach, shopping, dinner out (road trip to Longboat Key)

Last Week:

Monday – 2.5 miles, tennis, beach, dinner out

around WTC and along Airport-Pulling Rd

Tuesday – 2 miles, tennis, beach, dinner out

around WTC

Wednesday – rest, tennis, fly home

Vacation is over 😦 It was great! Lots of tennis, lots of eating and female bonding

even some slow but scenic runs

Thursday – 3.5 miles on the tm at work

Thank God for “Revenge”

Friday – 1 walk at work, rest, mah jongg

Saturday – 7.5 miles

on the Nisky bike path

Sunday – rest, gardening

This Week:

Monday – DAY OFF, 4 miles, boating
Tuesday -rest, tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles, Paint & Sip
Thursday – 4 miles, mall walk with BFF
Friday – rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 5K race + 5 miles
Sunday – rest, boating

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ?

May 24, 2014 by Darlene

Running while on vacation

im_back Well, I got back late Wednesday night from my annual TENNIS vacation in Naples Florida.

The schedule was that every morning we play doubles for 1.5 hours and then have a tennis lesson for 1.5 hours.

our group with our instructor

Did I run?

Yes! I made it a priority to do so.

In order to run, I would skip part of the doubles play and run. After my run, I would change my clothes and join them to play. After playing we would have our lesson.

After the first 2 days, I realized that it was faster to run in my tennis clothes and have someone bring my racket & shoes to the court.

Often?

Yes! 5 times.

Thursday before tennis that got rained out – 3 miles halted by rain in the middle
Friday before tennis – 3 miles again
Saturday before tennis – 3 miles barely
Monday before tennis – 2.5 miles
Tuesday before tennis – 2 miles

I did not run Sunday since we were going to Longboat Key to visit friends and play tennis. I did not run on Wednesday since we moved our tennis lesson to an earlier time.

Were they good runs?

Nope. None were.

It was very humid on the first few runs and of course, much warmer than I was used to. Then it got even warmer. It was tough to breathe and run. My running got to be walking/running and slower and slower.

I also found for the first time that I was missing tennis. Everyone else was playing tennis. I wanted to be with them And I wanted to be warmed up before our lesson.

So my runs got shorter.

Did I enjoy them?

Yes. Immensely.

I loved the scenery – the trees, flowers,etc. I loved the sunshine and even the heat.

During each run I took a different route. I ran around the neighborhoods of World Tennis Center (WTC). I ran around the pool area and tennis courts. I ran outside the WTC along the main road in one direction and then another day in the other direction.

What will I do differently next year?

I could get up earlier. But it’s hard when you go out to dinner late and you are hanging out with friends after that.

I could run every other day. But you never know in Florida when it will rain. You have to take advantage of the beautiful weather.

I could just play tennis but I would have been upset with myself for NOT running.

I could run after tennis but I know I would have been too tired and would be making others wait for me to go to the beach.

So next year, I will probably do nothing different from this year.

Views from my Naples runs:

one of the bridges along themain road

path at WTC to the tennis courts

another bridge on the main road

in WTC

our villa in WTC

one more bridge along the main road

the main road in the other direction

more views of WTC

thought the SLOW sign was meaningful

Suggestions for running while on vacation:

Be prepared. Bring clothes for all weather conditions.
Schedule your runs. If you leave it to chance, it won’t happen.
Be flexible. Sometimes other persons’ needs or desires will come before your running.
Find a scenic route. Pretty views make all the difference.
Lower your expectations. Distance & speed goals will probably not happen.
Register for a race in the area, if possible. Then you will definitely run.
Have fun.

Happy Running! Do you run while on vacation?

May 13, 2014 by Darlene

Gonna get me some vitamin D

Tomorrow I leave for the tennis ladies’ 10th trip together to Naples, Florida. (For some of us, this is our 18th tennis trip – 1 Palm Springs, 5 Las Vegas, 1 Dominican Rep, 1 Delray Beach.)

There will be only 7 of us this year (usually 10) and we are renting 2 villas (from the same lady) in World Tennis Center.

This is my second trip to Florida this year. (Remember, it was cool and windy on my last trip). This purpose of this trip is to play tennis and do some female-bonding. (There are no races this time of year in Florida 😦 )