January 14, 2013 by Darlene

Bring On Week 4

This has to be a good week. Why?

my hubby with MaryAnn

I’m going with my hubby to visit friends, MaryAnn and Bob, in Daytona Beach, Fla next Saturday though Wednesday. So this week will be short as well as next week.

Week 1 – 3, 3, 5 =11 miles
Week 2 – 3, 3, 0, 0 =6 miles
Week 3 – 4, 4, 6 =14 miles
Week 4 –
- Monday – tennis (only have played once since Oct 1.)
- Tuesday – run 4 miles
- Wednesday – rest (dinner with a friend)
- Thursday – run 6 or 7 miles ???
- Friday – pack, go to bed early
Week 5 –
- Thursday – run 4 miles
- Sat or Sun – run 7 or 8 miles??

I am a little nervous that I am only running 3x a week when I used to run 4x. But I am more nervous about getting injured again. I am also worried about training in the winter with snow/ice!! Treadmills don’t work for me on long runs.

The reality is that I will be in Florida with 3 non-running adults … it will be hard to run and not piss people off.

Happy Running! Do you keep up your training when on vacation?

December 28, 2012 by Darlene

Yak Trax To the Rescue

We got 8-10″

Our first major snowstorm arrived yesterday!! It snowed all day and I was depressed that I hadn’t run the day before.

I was supposed to go to a movie & then dinner to celebrate a friend’s birthday but she didn’t want to drive in the snow.

I had a dilemma because my treadmill at home is broken and where I work is closed and I don’t belong to a gym. I wanted to run!! My hubby said something to the effect “If you fall again, I’m going to kill you!!”

Last winter we had virtually NO SNOW!! And I couldn’t run because of my broken ankle. They say this winter will be different (My luck!)

Then I remembered that I had Yak Trax. I think I wore them once. I usually use the treadmill when the weather is bad or don’t run.

This winter I want to train for my half in March and I don’t want to over do so I have been running only every other day. Today is that day!

So I drove to where I have been running lately once the snow had stopped. I put on my Yak Trax and slowly ran 3 miles!! I loved the run! It was peaceful. I ran in the road which was mostly cleared and I didn’t slip at all! (if only my shoes were waterproof since they got wet and my toes were COLD!!)

Hooray for Yak Trax!

On another note, I went back to the park to show Richard & Matthew the lights on Wed. They weren’t as impressed as I was but loved the other activities in the boathouse.

Richard in front of a light display near the boat house

face painting (an “alien”)

free cookies from B95.5 radio station

Matthew & Elmo

Richard took his picture with every single character (I will not post them all…when he was little he used to be afraid of them)

the boys got balloon animals too

It was nice extending the holiday season. Tonight I have my annual tennis holiday party.

Saturday is my FIRST LONG RUN!! 4 miles!!

Happy Running! Did you get snow? Do you run outside when there’s snow?

December 26, 2012 by Darlene

Christmas Day 2012

ornament from CafePress

The perfect way to celebrate Christmas is to go for a run and I did!!

I woke up to this:

Snow!! Icy roads!

dressed for the holiday & a run

But I knew I had to run so I drove into town and ran 3 miles through the streets (avoiding the icy patches.)

Then I had to squeeze everything else into the day:

exchange gifts with my hubby

He loved his remote-controlled helicopter – played with it all day

and photos from this past summer on the lake, in addition to lots of clothes and the 1st season of Boardwalk Empire

visit my mentee and her sons & give them gifts

I gave Amanda my favorite new series – Divergent & Delirium

Richard is already playing with his new Transformer laptop

Baby Matthew also got an educational toy

They also got some new clothes

I just love them!!!

visit my mil and stepsons – Lasagna for dinner, what else?
go see Les Miserables – I am not a good critique because I love everything Les Miz – I’ve seen the show 12x (brought my students to NYC every year), know every song… so I had to see the movie the day it opened. I enjoyed it, of course (My hubby – not so much). The non-singers were better than I expected. Cosette and Eponine were the best vocally and the others adequate (I’ve heard better on stage.) The stage version was more emotional but that’s maybe because I knew the story so well. I would derfintely recommend the film.

les-miserables-jean-valjean-movie-poster

love Hugh Jackman!

Happy Running! Merry Christmas! What did you do special on Christmas Day? What was you favorite gift?

December 23, 2012 by Darlene

Staycation Has Begun

Not that I don’t love working but I can get used to this! It’s Sunday eve and tomorrow, there’s NO WORK for me!!

Usually when I take off from work, it is to go somewhere.

The week between Christmas and News Years, I am off (though I was tempted to go somewhere warm), and we decided to stay home. And I have nothing to do except:

Run – whenever I want (and not break my ankle on the ice!!!!)
Catch up with friends – celebrating my bff’s b-day on Thurs & annual tennis holiday party on Fri
Shop for bargains– love those after Christmas sales
Read – just finished Glass Castle & Gone Girl…any suggestions??
Knit – want to finish this pair of socks

Go to the Movies – I want to see Les Miz, Silver Linings, Guilt Trip…

I may do more of the above the rest of the week but I really should do grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, cleaning, re-organgizing…

Then I won’t mind going back to work next Wednesday!!! Ha Ha!

Happy Running! Do you have the week off? What are you going with your free time?

December 13, 2012 by Darlene

I’m Back!!

I am too exhausted to write much… but I am glad I went on this vacation!! The weather wasn’t great. However, the company was. I didn’t feel 100% …but good enough to do what I wanted which was laugh, eat, drink, relax, run, read, rest, walk…

Here are a few (not good quality) photos that were emailed to me. I’ll post more later.

Since I wasn’t sure if I was going, I didn’t pay attention that 2 of my friends cancelled. So it was just the 3 of us (not too good for tennis). Mary & Suzy arrived first & picked up the car rental. Then they got me and we headed for Blue Tree Resort. It turned out to be just like the brochures…all the comforts of home and more.

The first night, we headed to Downtown Disney which was minutes from our resort. We had a nice dinner outdoors at an Italian restaurant. Afterwards, we walked around and even had ice cream (the start of my unhealthy but fun eating vacation).

Downtown Disney…so pretty at night.

For our first full day (Sunday), we decided to sleep in and spend the day at the pool. It was warm and sunny. (Little did we know that this would be the last of the sunshine.)

I decided that I would go for a run. And it was wonderful….love the heat!! I ran/walked 3 miles around the resort and beyond.

This was taken in the courtyard below our room (on the 3rd fl).

Unfortunately my foot is still sore. Not in the same way as with the stress fracture (I have no problem walking or running) but there is discomfort on the top of my foot 😦

Before dinner, they surprised me with a makeshift menorah (tea lites from the dollar store) and we facetimed on my iPad with another friend to celebrate the 2nd night of Hanukkah.

Suzy insisted we cover our heads LOL

Then we went out to dinner in CityWalk in Universal Studios.

This is the view from our table at the Hard Rock Cafe.

The next day, we decided to go to the beach. The ocean is my most favorite place to be!! Lucky for me, it was only an hour ride.

Here were are at Cocoa Beach...the sunshine was short lived, though.

Here we are at Cocoa Beach…the sunshine was short lived, though.

Unfortunately, it was cloudy for most of the day but warm. I walked along the beach and did a lot of reading. So relaxing.

Message in the sand for Suzy whose birthday it was that day.

We went out to dinner at a great seafood restaurant with a view of the Banana River to celebrate Suzy’s birthday further.

The restaurant even gave her a cake.

If you are wondering where Mary is, she is taking the pictures cuz she hates to be in them. I think I got one of her, though.

No more photos for this post.

A brief summary of the rest of the trip:

Tuesday using our hopper pass: Animal Kingdom for most of the day, shuttle for a brief stay at Hollywood Studios, boat to Epcot, dinner and dessert there, our friend Fonda arrived that nite from Delray
Wednesday (my last day): 3 mile run, day at Winter Park – shopping, lunch, scenic boat ride, Tiffany museum

You see that we never played tennis but I did run TWICE!!

Happy Running! Happy Hanukkah to those runners who celebrate!

December 7, 2012 by Darlene

Vitamin D Part 1

I have debated over the last 4 weeks on whether or not I should go on a Florida vacation. I was hoping to find out what was wrong with my kidney. But that isn’t happening. I was worried about being sick and being far away from home.

My urologist said to go so I am.

As I mentioned in a previous post, one of my tennis friends won 8 days at a Orlando resort (Dec 8-15) and invited 3 of us to go.

Mary (in the green shirt), Ava (in black hat & outfit), Suzy (in pink hat) are going.

Unfortunately, it is a very busy time for me at work and I cannot go for the whole time. (Well, I feel too guilty to and unexpected dr appts used up some of my pto.)

We will be at the Blue Tree resort in Orlando Fla.

So I am leaving tomorrow and will return on Wednesday.

Here’s what the resort has to offer:

4 Swimming pools
Game room
BBQ Grills
2 Outdoor Jacuzzis
Miniature Golf
Shuffle Board
Fitness Center
Daily Activities
Lighted Tennis
Activity center
Free Parking
Free Schedule Transportation to Disney, Universal and Sea World
Free Schedule Transportation to the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores
Wireless Internet service – FREE
Many Restaurants within Walking Distance

Are you jealous?

I am hoping to play some tennis, maybe even run, relax and soak up some Vitamin D.

(Vitamin D Part 2 will be in Jan, Part 3 in Mar and part 4 in May.)

Happy Running! Please send healthy vibes my way.

November 7, 2012 by Darlene

Wordless Wednesday – The Plan

I have a plan:

(The white cells are when I am on vacation in Florida. CT or Cross Training is tennis.)

Happy Running! Do you have a half marathon training plan or do you wing it?

November 3, 2012 by Darlene

Vitamin D Needed

With 2 broken bones in my ankle and a stress fracture within 9 months, I questioned my doctor about why this happened? He first asked: “Have you had a bone scan?” I replied that I had and it was normal. Then he said: “No one in the Northeast gets enough Vitamin D.”

Since then I have started taking a Calcium with Vitamin D supplement every morning.

However, sunshine is my preferred source of Vitamin D.

Blue Tree resort in Orlando Fla.

A tennis friend won 8 days at this Orlando resort in December (Dec 8-15) and invited 3 of us to go. Unfortunately, it is during exam week at the law school. But I am going to try to go for 4 days (if my boss oks it.)

Daytona Beach, Fla

Last year our best boating friends moved to Daytona Beach. My hubby & I may visit them for a few days in January (around Martin Luther King Day).

Sarasota Fla

Last summer one of my close tennis friends moved to Sarasota. I also have 2 mah jongg friends that vacation there in the winter. I am definitely going March 12-18. And if things work out I will run a half marathon there on March 17!!

Naples Fla

For the 8th spring, 10 of us are spending a week playing tennis in Naples. The projected dates this year are: May 15-22.

So there you have it … my plans for an increased source of Vitamin D until boating season starts in June.

Happy Running! Do you worry about getting enough Vitamin D?

September 27, 2012 by Darlene

Destination Races

Half Marathon in Naples, Florida

My first Destination Race was in January 2011. It was my first half and I was VERY NERVOUS. I went with my hubby and arrived late Friday for the Sunday race. Saturday, we got settled, picked up my bib, and went to the Pasta dinner. After the race on Sunday and until Wed, we were able to relax and leisurely enjoy the sites of Naples.

My second Destination Race was last November in California. I was staying and running it with a friend. So we stressed out together before and after whined about how we did. PERFECT!

Ellen & I with our Santa Clarita Half Marathon bibs

I decided to do a third Destination Race. This one is March 17 in Sarasota, Florida. It is my first half marathon since my ankle injury and I am VERY NERVOUS. I am traveling alone for this one. I arrive on Tuesday for the Sunday race and leave on Monday. I am staying with a good friend who lives about 1/2 hour away and I have 2 other friends who live closer whom I may stay with the night before & after the race.

The problem is that I will be nervous the days preceding the race and those who do not run probably will not understand my anxiety, my need to run and rest and eat properly. Poor planning on my part (but it was due to work scheduling & cost.)

What is the solution?

Schedule another half marathon before the one in Sarasota. If I am successful, at least I will be less nervous, right?

So I thought I may run this one:

Our good friends recently moved there (Flagler Beach – 11 miles away) so we will get the chance to see them. My hubby & I would arrive Saturday (the day before the race) and leave Wednesday. (I even have Jan 21 off from work.)

But…good thing I checked before making the plane reservations.

THEY CHANGED THE DATE!!

I am totally bummed. Jan 6 is not a good time for me to take off work.

Here is another possibility:

Half Marathon & 5K on Jan 19, 2013 in Amelia Is, Fla.

But it is not as convenient and is more expensive..

Change the date or change the race… or skip it????

Happy Running! Do you do destination races? Any advice?

September 17, 2012 by Darlene

From Russia With Love

Where I left off my last post was that I was happy that I ran those 4.4 miles. Now I had to get to Bolton Landing with Anna (from Russia). The reason she came to visit me was to go on a boat not to watch a race 🙂

My hubby was waiting on the boat when we got there.

We headed out to get a picnic site so we could have a barbecue.

her first time barbecuing and she made hotdogs

After lunch, we hiked a bit.

Then we left the site and my hubby taught her how to drive the boat.

she loved it…she didn’t want to stop!

We did stop on one of the islands so she could put her feet in the water.

Then we drove to Roger’s Rock before we headed back to Bolton Landing.

We ended the day with dinner & a view.

Unfortunately, Anna returned to NYC the next morning and me & the hubby headed back up to the lake (where the weather was even better than the day before.)
I’ll leave you with one last photo that she sent me from NYC.