January 29, 2014 by Darlene

Me and the Treadmill

I do NOT look like this!

I saw this on Run with Jess’ blog last week (she got it from Marcia’s Healthy Slice) and couldn’t resist answering.

I don’t own a (working) treadmill and I don’t belong to a gym. There is one where I work behind the curtains on the stage in the gym. No windows, dark, dreary….

I really hate the treadmill. But I use it when I have no choice:

raining outside
no time after work (and I squeeze it in during lunch)
after a broken bone, when I am only allowed to run on the TM

That being said, here are my answers:

1. What’s your favorite workout to do on a treadmill?

I use a basic slow speed and when I am bored, I pick up the speed for awhile and then slow down.

2. How many miles, on average, do you run on the mill each week?

Usually 0-3. Sometimes up to 4. It depends how much time I have.

3. What was the most mileage you’ve ever completed on the mill in one workout? When? Why?

I think a few years ago, I did 6. It was on the weekend and I needed to do a longer run.

4. Do you mill at home, the gym or both?

At work. It’s convenient. No one else uses it. If I didn’t have one at work, I would buy one.

5. What distractions or entertainment (if any) do you use to help pass the time?

I always watch TV shows on my iPad.

6. If you have a treadmill at home, what kind is it? How old is it?

I have an old non-working one.

7. Do you fuel any differently for a treadmill workout than an outside one?

I drink more water. It is easy to reach and I get thirstier

8. Any treadmill mishaps to report?

Not yet.

9. Do you mill at incline to compensate for not being outside?

Nope.

10. Describe your perfect (if there is such an animal) treadmill conditions:

Not too warm. A window with a view of the ocean. A large tv with one of my favorite shows on (and no commercials.)

The Good Wife is on the screen probably

Happy Running! Do you run on the treadmill? Feel free to share any answers to the questions above.

November 4, 2013 by Darlene

Morning or Evening?

I am talking about running.

Do you prefer to run in the morning or the evening?

What factors influence the time of your run?

Schedule – I work, I play tennis, I play mah jongg, I go boating in the summer. I also have friend and family obligations. So I have to fit running in whenever I can. So sometimes it means I HAVE to run before work because that’s the only time I have. My after work times tend to be busier.

before work morning run

Distance – I work. I have to be at work at a particular time. So when I run in the morning, I don’t have time to run more than 3 miles (if I were faster or got up earlier, I could.) So if I want or need to run more than that, I choose after work.

after work run in the park

Daylight – I don’t particularly like to run in the dark. Before we turn the clocks back, it is dark in the morning. After we turn the clocks back, it is dark after work. So if it is dark, I don’t run in my neighborhood (there are no street lights.) If it is dark, I run after work on lit streets.

trying to run after work on the bike trail

Weather – I’m not a fan of the cold but I will run in it. I prefer the heat but extreme heat or humidity is a no-no. In the summer, I may run before work to avoid the heat and in the winter after work, when it is warmer. I WILL NOT RUN IN RAIN OR SNOW OR SLEET. So before I set my alarm, I check the weather so I can decide when to run.

after work run

Location – My neighborhood is boring. So if I am to do a longer run, I drive to a more interesting location (like a bike path, park, rail trail, etc.) after work.

after work on the rail trail

Running Surface – I don’t own a treadmill but there is one where I work. So I run after work if I want to use a treadmill. The same goes for a track. There is one where I work. For a trail, I would have to drive so that’s after work, as well. Running on the road I do either before (in my neighborhood) or after.

after work run on the track

Running Partners – I usually run solo. That way, I can choose where and when. But if you do run with others, you will have to agree on the time.

evening group run

Now on weekends and days off, it is perfect. I can run whenever I want. Running will be awesome where (if I ever) retire.

Yesterday I ran 8 miles and didn’t do it until noon. Today I have the day off and I may run or I may not…

8 cold windy mikes on the bike path

But on weekdays, truthfully, running before work is the BEST WAY to start the day. It gives you so much more energy. You feel like you’ve done something good for yourself. Now that it is lighter in the am, I hope to do more of those before work runs!!

Happy Running! When do you run? How do you decide?

August 1, 2013 by Darlene

July – Gettin Better All the Time…

I usually hate to rush the summer. But this year, the faster the time goes, the sooner I am running & racing again!!

July Goals:

Continue to heal the broken foot – YES but this is really out of my control.
Follow doctor’s orders and don’t overdo – YES for the most part.
Ditch the crutches – YES but I really did this last month.
Wear 2 of the same shoes – YES!

wore 2 running shoes all month

even wore sandals

Walk – Yes, started with the treadmill, then the track, then the road…

Bike – YES, started with the stationary bike and then ended with a regular bike
Run a little (yes, I am being optimistic) – YES, 1 mile, then 2 miles, then 3 miles… 🙂

running in Chestertown

even ran/walked a 5k race

hopefully the mileage continues to pick up…

I also spent more time on our boat and on the islands of Lake George than last month.

I spent the weekend with tennis friends and even hit the tennis ball.

Me on the left on the court in Chestertown

AUGUST GOALS (aiming HIGH):

RUN (regularly)!!!
Do not overdo and listen to my body…REST when necessary!!
Play TENNIS!
Start planks!
Attend a yoga class!
Start training for the Oct 13 half marathon
Run a race
Run at least 50 miles this month

Happy Running! How was your July? What do you have planned for August?

July 13, 2013 by Darlene

Week 6 – Making the Best of a Broken Foot

hot weather

The rainy, stormy, hot, humid weather has continued. No complaints here. (It’s cool in my air-conditioned office & house.)

I still go to the library and read real books

More reading – finished Revenge Wears Prada, Daddy’s Gone A Hunting (Mary Higgins Clark). Started Lone Wolf (Picoult)
Watched another episode of Call The Midwife while on the stationary bike at work

Wore sandals to work (have sneakers there, just in case)

need a pedicure. don’t think it’s a good idea with a broken foot…

Went to see a NY Sportimes’ WTT match – Andy Roddick was one of the players on the other team and our team won 22-21

believe it or not, he lost at singles

Walked 1 mile on Wed, 1.5 miles on Thurs and 2 miles on Friday on a track (There is brand new one at work.)

it was very tempting to “run” but I did not and will not until the broken bone has healed

Found a new tech tool – DragOnTape – you can make playlists of youtube videos:

Running Video Mix (Copy)

Another Running Video Mix

Heading back to the lake today.

It is supposed to be warm & sunny.

X-rays again next Wednesday!

Please, let my broken bone be healed!

Happy Running! How is your summer going? Hope you are having fun ( and running)!

May 25, 2013 by Darlene

Rain Rain Go Away

Rainy days and Saturdays always get me down.

It hasn’t stopped raining since I got home and it is COLD!!

90 degrees not long ago

Yesterday I even resorted to the treadmill after work. You know how I hate the treadmill.

Today, indoors again – laundry, unpacking, cleaning out closets, grocery shopping…. at least I was productive.

But I’d rather be boating, gardening, running, playing tennis, biking….anything but the above.

celebrating on a Lake George Island last year

The bad news is that tomorrow doesn’t look any better. I am hoping to squeeze a long run in between the raindrops. I may have to drag out my winter running gear.

I feel sorry for all those runners who are racing! I hope the weather is better than forecasted.

If we are lucky, the sun will come out on Monday.

and Lake George here we come!

Happy Running! What are your weekend plans?

March 28, 2013 by Darlene

Three Things Thursday: Run, Run, Run

1. I ran 3 miles on the treadmill on Tuesday at lunch so I could get to the Seder on time.

our Mah Jongg seder

2. I ran outside for 3 miles in the park on Wednesday after work and before my overdue return to YOGA.

It was windy but there were signs of spring & I loved yoga!!!

3. I plan to run 3 miles again today (hopefully the rain will stop & I can run outside). Yup. Three days in a row. (Tomorrow is a rest day!)

These feet are ready!

Happy Running! How many days a week do you run?

March 26, 2013 by Darlene

Healthy Eating and Passover Seders

Feb. salad

March salad

Yesterday, we had our second Salad Bowl Potluck Lunch. The first was so popular last month (due to the fact that we host a Weight Watcher’s Group here on Mondays) that we decided to have another.

I was raised Jewish and my husband is Catholic. Although I am not very religious, I love to celebrate Chanukah and Passover. My Mah Jongg group who are for the most part Jewish with Catholic husbands host an annual Seder. Everyone brings a dish as part of the meal. (I always bring charoset & wine.) It is a lot of fun.

here we are in 2011

Last night, I played tennis. Today I will try to squeeze in 3 miles on the treadmill at lunch so I can get to the Seder on time.

Happy Running!

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?

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.