vacation

by

Christmas Comes Early on Lake George

Past celebrations:

2010 – brr!

2011 – hot!

This year, on the day before Labor Day, the weather was perfect – not too hot, not too cold.

boats lined up and tied together

floats tied together and pulled around the bay

This is an annual party in Log Bay on Lake George.  It’s like a tailgating party but on boats. Everyone comes out and there is even a live band.

me & my hubby hanging out on top of our friend’s boat

some of our friends dressed up for the holidays

having fun on a beautiful day

There were maybe 100 boats!!  Some stayed until dark.

We went back to our marina.  There was live music followed by fireworks.  Afterwards, we went out for dinner & drinks.  A long fun day.

On Labor Day, I got up early planning to run.  But we had decided that we were going to get a site on an island rather than hanging out in a bay.  A little more coordination involved.

So like last year, I decided to forego the run in favor of a hike.

last year’s hike to the top of Vista

We got to the site on Commission Point early and I set off on my hike.  To make a long story short, I never found the path to go up to the hike so I just continued on the trail north along the east side of the lake.

view along the trail

The trail was very flat and I could have gone forever (except that my hubby was waiting for our guests back where I started.)

another view

Eventually (2 miles later), I arrived at Black Mountain Point where several couples from our marina were  picnicking.

with Mike & Chris (I’m the one with running clothes on..ha ha.)

Then my hubby called saying that our guests had arrived and they wanted to started cooking.

I had to run the 2 miles back to our site!

So I did get in a 4 mile trail run/hike!!

I was able to enjoy lots of good food (including lobster rolls) and good company (more friends showed up.)

me & the hubby on Commission Point

So the summer ends….hopefully there will be a lot fall boating adventures!!

Happy Running! How did you celebrate the long weekend?

by

It Never Gets Old

I mean being on Lake George and running in Bolton Landing.

our favorite lake dog

After my race on Sunday, I spent the rest of the day on our boat, hanging out with friends. We also went out to dinner in Lake George village (& ate WAY too much.)

our friends hanging out in Basin bay

Sunday morning, I decided to go out for a run. The summer is winding down and who knows what the weather will be in coming weeks.  So I decided to run 4.5 miles around Bolton Landing… first through town:

the only chair left (I missed them this year)

Then, up 9N to the park:

at the Municipal Park

and finally around the Sagamore Hotel grounds.

at the Sagamore

Then the rest of the day was spent reading (I’m on a YA kick…Delirium is my latest read.)

view from my chair

and back again at Basin Bay. The day ended with a late dinner out in Bolton Landing.

I will be sad to see the summer end…I will miss my runs and my boating friends 😦

Happy Running?  What will you miss about summer?

by

New Shoes, Boating & Running

Thanks to the SRMs for the gift card.  They sent it to me when I was first injured and I saved it until I needed it.  I have lots of running shoes but psychologically I needed a new pair.  So I went to FleetFeet and tried on all brands. They all felt good but none were pink so I choose these funky turquoise ones (Mizuno Wave Inspire 8s).

Then I was off to spend FIVE days on Lake George.  We sleep on our boat at the marina each night.  During the day, we hang out on our boat or on the islands with different groups of old friends and new friends. Sometimes we barbecue on the island, other times, we eat on the boat and also we eat in restaurants and cookout at the marina.  So far this summer, the weather has been almost PERFECT.

Here are some highlights:

me & my hubby on the 4th

a patriotic boat

view of the lake from our July 4th site

view of the fireworks from our marina

our boat pulling a tuber

view of the lake from Log Bay Is

my first jetski ride on the lake

I am still struggling with my running.  But I am trying to be patient and not get depressed.  I didn’t have time to run on July 4th but I did run/walk 4 hilly miles on Thursday.  SLOW!!! My big toe felt strange in my new shoes (after running.)  Not sure with all my foot issues, I can blame the shoes.

running in Bolton Landing (down 9N)

view while running

another view

Thursday night, I decided to go home so I could (believe it or not) run at my leisure (my hubby is always impatiently waiting to go out on the boat)  and on a flat shady trail. I chose the Colonie Town Park bike trail and it was so much better!! Even my foot felt better.

I got dressed to run on Saturday but it started to rain so I changed my clothes and then the rain stopped.

Sunday, we left early to get a picnic site and then we went back to the marina so I could run.  I only got in 3 miles since it was getting late and HOT.

Today, I had planned to run but woke up exhausted and  with a headache.  Maybe later….

Happy Running!  Congrats to all the Boilermaker racers!  That’s on my bucket list too!

by

Boating and Running

Two of my favorite things!!

the gang toasts the 1st boating weekend of the season

my hubby enjoying the view

enjoying a Memorial Day lunch on the island

a visitor to my chair

I am still working on running.  I didn’t leave my Garmin behind as suggested. I dodged the storm yesterday and ran ONE MILE on the dirt path of Washington Park (with some walking) at an amazing pace of 12:33!!

As soon as I got in my car, the rain came and boy did it rain!!!

Today is a PT day and tomorrow, I hope to try some more running. 

I have an Un-Race on Saturday and then a trip to NYC on Sunday.

Happy Running!

by

Re-Learning To Run

I’ll start with this quote:

“Everything will be all right in the end… if it’s not all right then it’s not the end.”

It’s from The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.  I absolutely loved this movie. (Go see it if you haven’t!!)

Anyway back to my first running experience.

My PT guy said I could run on a track.  I decided that this would be boring so on Friday after work, I parked near Washington Park, walked to and from the park and ran on the dirt paths around the lake and the gardens.

Running is not easy right now.  Since my ankle is still stiff, I have to focus on running correctly (if that is possible).  It’s much harder than on a treadmmill since the treadmill is already moving.  Pushing off, that is moving forward is tough.  So my pace for run/walk was about 14 min/mi.

2.5 miles

after my lst run in 5 months

I’m not giving up.

On Sunday, in Bolton Landing, I walked a mile to the Sagamore Hotel and ran a mile on the Nature Trail and then walked back to the marina.

in front of the Sagamore Hotel

my view from the Nature Trail

Still running at a slow 13.39 min/mi pace. UGH!! (Maybe I should ditch the Garmin until I am healed!!)

But “it’s not the end.”

And I will be fine… (just don’t know when???)

Happy Running!

by

Back to Boating and Biking

the marina – our boat in the center left

Saturday was a PERFECT day weatherwise and my first day on Lake George in our boat.  It was great seeing all those familiar faces (I had to repeat my broken ankle story many times.)  We spent the whole day on the lake and then went out to dinner in Bolton Landing with friends. We even stopped for a root beer float on the way home.  Summer fun has begun!

The weather on Sunday was even better.  Unfortunately, I had to go to a bridal shower so we couldn’t go to Lake George.

I started off the day with a bike ride on the Corning Trail.


It was great but I had to rush home to get ready for the shower.


The best part of the shower was seeing my tennis friends again.

It was very warm!! But I have been eating a lot lately…I mean a lot.  So I decided on bike ride #2 in the evening.

This time I went to the Nisky Trail to ride on the Mohawk River.

Old photo – now there is a lot of green

I really enjoyed the peace and quiet of biking alone. (Not as much as running but that will come….).

Today is my hubby’s birthday!  We will celebrate at the lake next weekend.

Tonight I go out to dinner AGAIN…with a bunch of women I used to play tennis with on Mondays.

Happy Running!  Did you enjoy your weekend?

by

It’s All About the Ankle

Yes, I had a great time eating, drinking, socializing, laughing, shopping, tanning… and just plain relaxing.

But…

Doesn’t this look like a nice place to run??

and

isn’t this even more inviting??

I just wanted to be running!!!! 5 months of NO RUNNING!!

I’ve had enough!  Anyway, enough said…

  • I rode a bike every morning  between 8:30 and 10:30 am. 
  • There was a gym with an elliptical, bike and treadmill but the weather was too nice to be indoors.  I kept waiting for rain but it never happened.

  • I hit the tennis ball one day between lessons and it felt fine so I hit with the instructor for 45 minutes on another day!! Of course, he didn’t make me run for the ball.
  • I found  2 paths with crushed stones and then one with clay (hard tru) and I ran out and back on them everyday…not sure how far (maybe 1/2 mi?). My gait is still awkward since my ankle is not fully bendable but I RAN!!!!
  • I walked a lot…in town…on the beach.

  • I wore sandals…yay!

Yesterday I went to PT for the first time in 2 weeks.

They said they saw a big improvement…I ran on the treadmill for 20 minutes as usual but I was able to run for 3 min and 4 minutes at a time without walking!!!! 

They said:  “You are no longer sounding like a Clydesdale!!”

Of course, I replied, “When can I run outside?”

The answer: “We’ll watch your ankle on the treadmill next Wed and maybe you can run on a track!”

It’s all about the (still stiff) ankle!!  Arghhh!

Happy Running!

by

Vacation is Over!

I’M

8 days of vacation went by so fast!!  Here are the highlights:

bike riding every morning around World Tennis Center

my birthday – 59 on 5-9

birthday dinner at my favorite restaurant – The Turtle Club

cooling off in the pool

shopping trip in Saint Armand’s Circle – Sarasota

playing Scrabble at the beach

It feels great to hold a racquet

heading out to see a play – Steel Magnolias

our annual group photo at The Dock

hitting a few tennis balls

hosting a dinner party in our villa

group photo with our tennis instructor

More details in my next post.

Happy Running! It’s good to be back blogging!

by

Vacation Time is Here!

This is our 8th trip together to Naples, Florida. (For some of us, this is our 16th tennis trip – 1 Palm Springs, 5 Las Vegas, 1 Dominican Rep, 1 Delray Beach)

our group & our coach – May 2011

There are 10 of us and we rent 2 villas (from the same lady) in World Tennis Center.

They will be playing tennis everyday from 8-11 am.  I will be bike riding, walking, swimming, photo taking and a combination of these activities while trying not to be depressed.

The highlight of the vacation used to be running every morning and then playing tennis & taking lessons from Billy Bob (love him!)

getting ready to go for a run

 playing tennis

I considered not going but staying home & working while my friends are away having fun would be even worse.

If I get though the mornings, we will be busy the rest of the day with a variety of fun activities such as shopping, eating, theater and of course, hanging out at the beach.

So my vacation will not be perfect but I will be away and with my friends and in a sunny warm climate.  What could be better?? (You know what I would say…)

I won’t have a computer so no posting on this blog for 8 days but I will bring my iPad and if there is wifi, I will be able to post to FB and read your blogs.

I will post pics here when I return.

Happy Running! I will Miss you all!

by

Recovery Monday

Not from running … but

  • from a day in NYC
  • and a day on the lake….
  • from nervously tracking my marathon running friends (and THEY ALL DID GREAT!! WooHoo!)
  • and from trying to get things done at work so I can leave tomorrow for my 8 day vacation

Here are the highlights from the weekend:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Happy Running!  How was your weekend?