March 5, 2013 by Darlene

2 for Tuesday

1. If you remember, the ankle that I broke started to hurt for the first time during my long 12 mile run on Sunday. It didn’t even hurt the first time I ran on it and it didn’t hurt during the 10 & 11 mile runs. So this was pretty scary. Things from stress fracture & bent screws to OMG, I can’t do this half marathon went through my head.

So my cure: ice, ibuprofen, recovery sock, prayers… then last night, I wore an ankle brace to play tennis. It was fine.

Today, at lunch I wore the brace and ran 3 miles on the treadmill… the ankle felt fine so after work, I ran 3 miles outside (the sun was finally out!!!)

The ankle was stiff but not painful! The real test will be on Sunday when I run 8 miles….

2. I am taking the day off and going to NYC.

Eileen & I with Anna in 2006…7 years ago!!

here we are again

Tomorrow the 3 of us will be re-united!!!

I get walk my poor ankle and foot around New York City. The forecast is for rain/snow…hope they are wrong.

Happy Running!

March 4, 2013 by Darlene

Getting Closer

Week 10 Update:

Mon- Tennis
Tues – ~~3 mile~~ 6 mile run after work
Wed – ~~6 mile~~s 3 miles on the TM after work (RAIN!!)
Thurs – REST
Fri – 4 5 miles on the TM (3 at lunch & 2 after work)
Sat – REST
Sun – 12 MILES

next to last long run in the COLD

Week 11:

Mon- Tennis
Tues – 6 miles after work ( or rest if my ankle still hurts)
Wed – day in NYC (lots of walking)
Thurs – 3 miles on TM at lunch, haircut after work
Fri – 4 miles after work
Sat – REST
Sun – 8 MILES… taper begins!!

Happy Running! How do you Taper?

February 25, 2013 by Darlene

The Countdown is On!

THREE MORE WEEKS = 2 MORE LONG RUNS!

Week 9 Update:

Mon- Tennis
Tues – 3 mile run on the TM at work
Wed – 5 windy cold miles after work
Thurs – ~~REST~~ 4 miles on TM after work
Fri – ~~4 miles after work~~ REST (on a nice sunny non windy day)
Sat – ~~REST~~ 11 MILES
Sun – ~~11 MILES~~ REST (BTW: the storm was an bust!)

twice in one coldy windy week

Week 10:

Mon- workin at the Bar exam, Tennis after

Tues – workin at the Bar exam, 3 miles afterwards??
Wed – 6 miles after work
Thurs – REST
Fri – 4 miles after work
Sat – REST
Sun – 12 MILES…oh my!

toe spacer & bunion pad didn’t work…tried skipping the top eyes when lacing

Happy Running! Anyone training for a big race?

February 18, 2013 by Darlene

Double Digits..Oh yeah!

The last time I ran at least 10 miles was November 6, 2011!!!

I was debating whether or not to run on my own or as part of the HMRRC Marathon Relay. The 1st leg of the relay was 9.7 miles so I would have company running (well, maybe not because I would probably be last..) on this boring course. There would be water on the course and refreshments at the end. Or choose a scenic bike path and run solo at my leisure.

When I got up, it was cold (in the teens) and VERY WINDY!. UAlbany tends to be windy even when it’s not windy so that decided it for me.

Instead I drove to the bike path that starts at the Colonie Town Park –I figured I would run 2.5 mi in one direction & back and then 2.5 mi in the other direction and back.

I headed toward Cohoes and quickly found that the path in this direction was not plowed and icy so I turned around and went the other way. I didn’t head in the direction that I usually go (toward Niskayuna) but in the other direction. It was about 20 degrees but the wind made it feel a lot colder. Not pleasant running weather at all.

I ran 2.5 miles and then turned around and headed back or at least I thought. Somehow I wound up in a neighborhood that I didn’t recognize & had no idea where I was.

I did find my way back to my car but not the way I had planned and had also added an extra mile to my run.

With 4 more miles to go, I got some GU & water from my car and warmed up inside.

The problem with that is that it’s hard to get going again.

I told myself that I had to do 10 miles so I headed out and this time I went in the direction that I was familiar.

bridge over the frozen Mohawk R.

My foot had bearable discomfort until mile 7. Then it started to hurt (bunion pad & new sneakers were failing me). I pushed on because I will do it during the half marathon…pain or no pain, I am running 13.1 miles.

Actually the pain got bearable again and I finished the 10 miles.

It was not a great run or a fun one. It took me 2 hours which is what I tried for (It was faster than last week’s 9.5) I walked from time to time and all but 3 of my miles were over 12 min/mi. The first and last were the fastest at 11:30.

But I am very happy that I got it done.

My cool down was the usual grocery shopping at Target with a Starbucks latte & cheese danish thrown in 🙂

Week 8 Update:

Mon – tennis
Tues – 3 miles after work (on the sloppy sidewalks & streets of Albany)
Wed – 6 miles after work (in less traveled cleaner neighborhoods of Delmar)
Thurs – walk at lunch
Fri – 3.5 miles after work, MJ
Sat – rest (proctored the LSATS, went to a funeral, went out to dinner)
Sun – 10 miles

4 weeks to go!!

Week 9:

Mon – day off, tennis in the evening
Tues – 3 miles after work or before or at lunch (webinar at 6 pm)
Wed – 5 miles after work
Thurs – stationary bike at lunch
Fri – 4 miles after work, MJ
Sat – rest
Sun – 11 miles

Happy Running! Are you enjoying your day off?

February 4, 2013 by Darlene

Six More to Go

I’m halfway….

Week 6 Update:

Mon – stationary bike, ~~tennis~~ (cancelled – snow/ice)
Tues – ~~stationary bike~~ (cancelled – soup potluck at lunch), tennis
Wed – 4 miles on treadmill at lunch & 2.5 miles in the rain after work (6.5 miles total)
Thurs – 1.75 miles on treadmill at lunch, haircut
Fri – ~~stationary bike~~ (cancelled – farewell lunch for boss)
Sat – 4 mile race
Sun – 7K race + .6 miles

AJH got 2nd place...we won a lunch bag which matches the race shirt

after Saturday’s race

after Sunday’s race

Week 7:

Mon – stationary bike, tennis
Tues – stationary bike, 5 miles after work
Wed – stationary bike, 3 miles after work
Thurs – stationary bike, mall walk with a friend
Fri – stationary bike, 4 miles after work, MJ
Sat – rest
Sun – 9 miles

I hate running on the treadmill so I hope the weather cooperates. I don’t mind the cold…it’s the snow/sleet/freezing rain/rain that I hate.

Though I am starting week 7, I really haven’t been looking at the plan…

and when I do, I realize that I am running less than I should (except for my vacation week) but then again, I would rather run less than be injured and not run at all…

Week Totals: Long Runs:

1 – 11                             5
2- 6                               3
3- 14                              6
4 – 14 75 6
5 – 26.5 8
6 – 17.25 6.5

So for week 7, I added an extra day of running. My next race is March 17…gulp!

Happy Running! Do you strictly follow a running plan?

February 1, 2013 by Darlene

January Update

The Highlights:

6 weeks of Half Marathon training completed (with 6 weeks to go.)
ran 4 days in a row while vacationing in Florida
67 total miles run (despite 2 missed runs during my bout with a cold/flu)- YAY!!

ran a 10K race (even PRed)
bought a new pair of Brooks
played tennis twice
did yoga once

Running over Granada Bridge

Running on Nisky Bike Trail

I just realized that I didn’t set any goals for January so I will for February:

Run regularly (at least 3x per week)
Train for my March Half Marathon (one long run per week)
Play tennis (at least once per week)
Do yoga (when I can, at least once per month)
Run a race
Stay healthy!!!!

Happy Running! How did your January go? Anything new planned for February?

January 31, 2013 by Darlene

Crazy Weather & A Mid-Week Long Run Attempt

Sunday – 18 degrees & sunny – 8 miles done
Monday – snow & sleet – tennis cancelled
Tuesday – 30 degrees & cloudy -tennis
Wednesday – 55 degrees and rain – NEED TO RUN!!
Thursday – 30 degrees & cloudy – haircut scheduled
Friday – 20 degrees – Mah Jongg scheduled (race on Sat)

As you can see, only one day free to run this week!!! And it was forecasted to RAIN!!!

With the forecast for rain/thunder & high winds after work, I set my alarm for early Wednesday morning (hoping to squeeze 4 miles in) but woke up to darkness, drizzle, and 25 mph howling winds…I went back to bed 😦

Plan B- Maybe I’ll run 4 miles outside at lunch or maybe on the dreadmill and then run 4 more miles after work…

It was drizzly and very windy around lunchtime. So I suffered through 4 miles on the treadmill (while watching an episode of Revenge on my iPad).

After work, some friends were planning a run at 6 pm at the Corning bike path.

When I got out of work at 4:30 pm, it was not raining and the wind had died down but it looked like it may not last. It was 55 degrees. I had to get outside. I hurried, got changed & took off to do 4 more miles.

I ran about 1 1/4 miles and the wind picked up and it started to pour. I mean in minutes I was DRENCHED!!! So I turned around and headed back to my car. I was dripping wet and guess what? The rain stopped. Grrrrr! (I guess I should have waited to run at 6 pm.)

Not me…it makes me feel WET.

As for my foot, it didn’t really hurt on the treadmill. I did hurt outside but not worse. I think I’ll try a few more miles tomorrow at lunch. Friday is my rest day before a race on Saturday.

Happy Running! Anyone like running in the rain?

January 28, 2013 by Darlene

Week 6 – Almost Halfway

after climbing 219 steps

Week 4 update:

Mon – tennis
Tues – 4 miles
Wed – stationary bike, yoga
Thurs – 6 miles
Fri – stationary bike
Sat – rest
Sun – 4.75 miles, 438 steps

someone took my pic to prove that I duid run over the bridge.

after running 3 miles to this bridge

Week 5 update:

Mon – 6 miles, 406 steps
Tues – 5.75 miles
Wed – 3.75 miles
Thurs – stationary bike
Fri – stationary bike, 3 miles
Sat – rest
Sun – 8 miles

running 8 miles on the Nisky bike trail

Week 6:

Mon – stationary bike, ~~tennis~~ (cancelled – snow/ice)
Tues – ~~stationary bike~~ (cancelled – soup potluck at lunch), tennis
Wed – stationary bike, yoga or 8 miles?? (depends on the weather)
Thurs – stationary bike , haircut
Fri – ~~stationary bike~~ (cancelled – farewell lunch for boss)
Sat – 4 mile race (& add some if 8 not run on Wed)
Sun – 4 mile race (if 8 wasn’t run Wed or Sat)

So here are my issues:

Running in the cold dark morning hours is not appealing!!!

But energy-wise, I run better in the morning.

Running on the same day as tennis is not good for the foot & ankle.

Running a race infers with long runs but I love racing!

Weather such as snow and ice impacts my running.

But as Miss Zippy says: I signed up for this!! A March Half Marathon means training in the winter!!!

I need to believe this!!!

Happy Running! Do you have any of these issues?

January 18, 2013 by Darlene

Back to Normal

It is cold and there is snow on the ground. That is normal (unfortunately.)

But the good news is:

Indoors, of course. And I won both both sets!!

I played tennis…doubles in my Monday tennis contract for the first time since Oct 1. I don’t get the same endorphins as with running but I had fun and it’s good exercise.

This was on the car next to mine in the restaurant parking lot …was it a hint?

I ran twice this week (Tues & Thurs) !! Four miles on dry land and 6 miles on snowy/icy/clear streets. I had dinner plans on Thurs but my friend agreed to wait until I was done running. So I parked at the restaurant and headed downtown for 3 miles.

Albany Corning Tower & the Egg at night

Not an easy run. It was downhill on the way out and dark (and ended up in a not too safe area) and of course, uphill & windy on the way back. But I definitely enjoyed my dinner more after this run.

I rode the stationary bike during lunch twice (Wed & Fri.) — watched Private Practice & Grey’s Anatomy on my iPad.

Wed Yoga with Lisa (yes, that’s me on the right.

I went to YOGA for the first time since I broke my ankle in Dec 2011. I used to go every week but have hesitated to start due to my ankle and then due to my foot. I really enjoy it and find it relaxing. My ankle is still stiff which makes me clumsy but the instructor is so supportive. Love her! vacation