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Weekly Wrap for 1.1.18-1.7.18 – Baby, it’s cold outside…

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Last week – 

  • Monday –  New Year’s Day.  I was supposed to race but it was cancelled due to the cold temps. It got up to -8 and that’s not wind chill. So I waited until it warmed up. It was sunny and warmer but the wind chill just made it unbearable. Not the 6-7 miles I was hoping for but at least I didn’t resort to the treadmill.

  • Tuesday – A rest day because I was scheduled to play tennis in the evening. If you remember from last week’s post, the gym there was closed due to renovations. Well, it opened early and there was an available treadmill. Enough said.

the longest slowest 3 miles ever!!!

  • Wednesday – A scheduled rest day due to a long drive to Buffalo for work. After set up, I decided to give the treadmill another go. No improvement!!

This was at the hotel.

  • Thursday –  A rest day and yes, I am adapting to my new go with the flow running schedule.  No running and a long drive home after work. 5 hour drive became a 7 hour drive due to a mid-drive snowstorm.
  • Friday – I planned on a short run before Mah jongg but it didn’t happen. It was too cold and snowy outside and I couldn’t face the treadmill for the 3rd time in one week.
  • Saturday – I’m hardcore but it was even too cold for me (-25 windchill) to brave our arctic temps. One of the Wineglass ladies offered me a guest pass to the Y where I ran on the indoor track. Not a fan but at least I got in some miles. Afterward four of us met for brunch.

it was even more delicious than it lloks

  • Sunday –  An exciting day in NYC with a friend. In addition to the holiday windows (displayed for the last day), a delicious lunch, we had tickets to see the Downton Abbey Exhibit and it was amazing!!

We bundled up appropriately and din’t mind walking around the city.

Next Week –

  • Monday – 4 miles
  • Tuesday – rest day, tennis
  • Wednesday –  4 miles, mall walk with BFF
  • Thursday – 3 miles, dinner with a former co-worker
  • Friday – rest day, mah jongg
  • Saturday – 6 mile run
  • Sunday – HMRRC Winter Series #2 (3.5M) race

Please link up for the Weekly Wrap hosted by these wonderful bloggers Holly @ HoHoRuns and NEW host Wendy @ Taking the Long Way Home

Happy Running! How is your running going? What’s new with you? Any snow yet?? How are dealing with the frigid temps? Please share.

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Ultimate Coffee Date – January

Confessions of a Mother Runner

It’s that time of the month…

to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

Over coffee…

I’d tell you that as you may know, I HATE running on the treadmill.  I have successfully dragged myself out during the warmest part of the day (after work).  The problem is that it has been so cold that I can’t stay out long. I am worried that this will be one of those winters.  How will I ever do a run longer than 3 miles?? I do have to train for a half marathon in March!!!

Image result for running in the cold meme

Any advice on staying warm during the run?

I only lasted about 30 minutes.

Over coffee…

(related to above) I’d tell you that I was traveling for work and it was impossible to run anywhere. So I did run on the hotel treadmill.  HATED.EVERY.SECOND.

I can’t run fast and I can’t run long and it’s so hot.  I could go on and on.

How do you ladies do it?

Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I am trying to plan my 2018 races … at least the half marathons. I ran 6 halfs in 2017.  Not sure I want to run that many this coming year but we’ll see…

Singer Island Half on March 17, 2018

I registered for the one above. I booked my flights, contacted my friends so I have places to stay and booked my hotel for the night before the race.

I have my flight booked for Oct 6 to Paris but race registration for the race below doesn’t open until Feb 14.

Les 20km de Paris – October 14, 2018

Then there’s a RnR race.  Registration isn’t open for that one yet but I do have a hotel booked for the night before.
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September 23, 2018

I am still looking for a race in the spring and/or summer.Any inexpensive suggestions?

Over coffee…

I’d tell you that related to the above, I can’t decide on my May half marathon. I am wavering between three:

Brooklyn Half Marathon – it’s on my bucket list, my friend Sue wants to do it but it’s on a Saturday (I work Friday), I have to work in NYC the Monday after, it’s my hubby’s B-day weekend & boating….

or

Steel Rail Half Marathon – it’s driveable and my current half PR but I ran it last year and would be running it alone

or

Jog for Jugs Half Marathon – it’s nearby and a new race but it’s on a course that I can run on for free (not too exciting).

So which one??

Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I had worked in NYC for three weeks in a row.  But since I don’t go back until February, my friends and I planned a day trip there for tomorrow.

Image result for downton abbey exhibit nyc

so excited to see this

Anyone love this show?  One of my favorites ever.

Over coffee…

I’d tell that I was excited about working in Liverpool where there would be lots of lights where I normally run.

Image result for lights in Onondaga lake state park

Well, the lights don’t go on until dusk and they close the park at dusk.  Yup, they wouldn’t let in to run.  You had to pay $10 to drive your car through.

I thought about sneaking in (and might have if I had brought my knuckle lights.)

Would you have?

Over coffee…

I’d tell you that I did it again. Saw a race on Facebook and on a whim, just clicked “Register.”

The deciding factor was that it only cost $30 for the half marathon.  I am working on talking my BRF into doing it with me. If I DNS, it’s not a lot of money wasted.

Pelham Half Marathon – November 24, 2018

Anyone else just register and then think?

Happy Running! Got anything to spill? Share it here!
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Wednesday Word – Choice

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The first Wednesday of each month, the Deb from Deb Runs will be providing a word about which to blog. Kind of like a nice little blog prompt. Posts can be fitness or health related, but don’t have to be, so really anyone can play along. Just be sure to link up with InLinkz on Deb’s main post, and share the love by reading and commenting on other’s participant’s posts.

This month’s word is CHOICE

Life and RUNNING are all about CHOICE.  Everyday we make CHOICES.  Sometimes we make the right CHOICES and unfortunately, sometimes we make the wrong CHOICES.

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So how specifically does RUNNING involves CHOICE?

  • RACES

There are a lot of races.  How do we choose which ones to run?

—Location – Local or Race-cation?
—Surface – Road or Trail?
—Distance – 5k or Half Marathon or even longer?
—Course – Flat or Hilly? Point to Point or Loop?
—FOMO –  Who else is doing it?
—Date –  Are we free that weekend?
—Swag/Bling
—Previous Experience or New one
—Goals – One in every state, PR, Half Fanatic
—Cost
—Sponsorships – Rock n Blogger or ZOOMA ambassador, etc.
—Food
—The Cause/Charity

I ran this half (Celebrate Life) because my good friend had been diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer.

  • RUNNING  PARTNERS

If we are lucky, we  have many options here.  Why do we choose to run with certain runners?

—Convenience – they work or live nearby
—Schedules – they run at the same time of day
—Speed – they run at our pace
—Training Goals – they help us get faster or help us slow down during long runs
—Style – they run/walk or they don’t walk or they run certain intervals
—Races – they are running the same race
—Friendship

I started to run with Alyssa because we worked close to each other but then I switched jobs. Now we run together because of many of the reasons above.

  • TIME OF DAY

If you work, you may have limited choices.  But still, you can choose to run before work or during lunch or after work. Weather may also be a factor such as running earlier in the summer and later in the winter. Or maybe your running partner influences at what time of day you run.

ONE of the very few times that I ran before work. I almost always run after work when I have more time.

  • HOW OFTEN

Do we choose to run everyday?  How many rest days each week do we choose to take? Again, there are factors that impact our choices:

–schedule
–injury prevention
–injury recovery
–racing plan or coach
–family obligations

playing tennis is often the reason why I do not run

  • LOCATION

Where do we choose to run? On the road, on a bike path, on a trail, on a track, on a treadmill?  What impacts our location choose?

–weather
–injuries
–type of run
–running partner
–convenience

there was a track where I used to work and sometimes this was the most convenient location to run especially during my lunch break

  • TYPES OF RUNS

Unlike me, you may have a racing plan or a coach which helps you choose whether to do a tempo run, hill repeats, progression run, intervals, easy run, etc.

when I was part of a running group, the coach chose our runs

  • FUELING

If you make a mistake in this category, it could be costly. Just sayin. So how do we choose what to eat?

–what others recommend
–what has worked in the past
–something new
—cost
–easy (who has time to make their own?)
–how far we are running
–what we like
–what we can carry

my new favorite – tastes good and has no caffeine

  • RUNNING ATTIRE

In the winter, this is my most difficult choice.  What do I wear to not be too warm but warm enough? What do we think about when we choose our running outfit?

—weather
—space in our bags/luggage
—comfort
—theme (in a race or for a holiday)
–-color (we have favorites)
—what looks good on us

I froze in this outfit for most of the race

Yes, there’s endless CHOICES that we have to make as Runners.

I’m also linking this post with Susie and Rachel and Debbie and Lora for the Running Coaches’ Corner.

Happy Running! What is the most difficult CHOICE that you deal with in your running?  Please share.

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2018. What’s the Word? & TOTR

Well, it’s that time of year.

Time to pick ONE WORD to focus on for the entire year.

(If you’ve never heard about the My One Word approach, here is a summary:

Lose the long the list of changes you want to make this year and instead pick one word. This process forces clarity by taking all of your big plans for life change and narrowing them down into a single thing. Your one word focuses on your character and creates a vision for your future.)

2014 was the first time that I tried it. My word was:

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In 2015, the word that I chose was:

I picked in 2016:

Last year, I chose the word:

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So what will it be in 2018?

My first thought was the word, SURVIVE (even though someone mentioned that I should choose a word with a more positive spin.)

I’m not talking about my running per se.  But how life (or specifically my job) will this year be getting in the way of my time with family, friends and yes, running.

Survival quote

In other words, adapt. You’ve heard the saying: “If life throws at you lemons, make lemonade.”

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It doesn’t look like things will change in the near future work-wise, so what I need to do is ADAPT!

Here’s one of my favorite quotes:

Image result for quotes about adapting
Back to my word for 2018..
It will be:

Adapt chalkart

According to the dictionary, Adapt means:

Change in order to survive better in a certain situation…

How will I focus on my word this year and how will it apply to running?

I will try to:

  • Change my attitude about my job. Be more positive. Stop whining. It is what it is.
  • Change my running preferences.  That may mean running fewer miles or running at undesirable times (before work gulp) or even using the treadmill.
  • Change my expectations. This may include not participating in running groups or volunteer opportunities or even cutting back on race-cations.
  • Accept that sometimes “less is more.” Quality runs, quality races instead of quantity.
  • Accept that there may not be enough time to train adequately for longer distances or faster finish times.
  • Stop comparing myself to others who have more time, more flexible schedules, etc.

Honestly, all of the above will be very difficult.  Maybe even impossible.

But there are people who have to ADAPT to much more difficult situations in their life (health, family, finances, etc.)

And to put a positive spin on the word ADAPT…

I will

  • adapt to races in new places

  • adapt to running on new scenic routes

  • use hotel, credit card, car rental and train points to take race-cations

As long as I can run and race, life won’t be so bad.

Since today is Tuesday, I’m also linking up with these wonderful ladies:

Erika @ MCM Mama Runs, Marcia @ Marcia’s Healthy Slice and Patty @ My no-guilt lifefor

Happy Running! If you were to choose ONE word for your focus throughout this year, what word would you choose?

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Running Update:12.25.17-12.31.17

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Last week – 

  • Monday –  Christmas Day and snow had fallen.  A lot of snow and it was windy. No running for me. Instead it was off to my mentee to exchange gifts with her and her two sons.

Amanda’s BF, Amanda, Richard (11), Matthew (6)

Of course, later in the day, it was time to celebrate with the family.

  • Tuesday – Another rest day because I was scheduled to play tennis in the evening.

that’s me in the far court

Besides it was freezing! I almost bit the bullet and used the treadmill where I play tennis. But the gym there was closed due to renovations. Guess it wasn’t meant to be.

they could renovate it in the summer when no one plays tennis indoors….

  • Wednesday – Single digits or not, I had to get outside for some miles. But my hands were so cold even with two pairs of gloves that I had to cut the run short.

  • Thursday –  Well, it was even colder today!! Didn’t let it stop me. “I will survive!!”

again I cut my run short for fear of frost bite or hyperthermia

  • Friday – The cold weather continued but it was a rest day and an evening out for mah jongg (finally)
  • Saturday – Although it was cold, there was little wind and it was lightly snowing. So it felt rather nice to be out there.

I could have run longer but didn’t want to be late for brunch and it turned out I was early. Mittens helped keep my hands warm today.

I tried to convince the Wineglass ladies to brave our arctic temps and run with me. Nope, they stayed local or indoors to run but we did meet after for brunch.

  • Sunday –  A rest day but celebrated New Year’s Eve with the hubby, tennis friends, good food, music and dancing.

Next Week –

  • Monday – HMRRC Winter Series #2 – 3.5M race   cancelled due to the cold temps, 4 miles?
  • Tuesday – rest day, tennis
  • Wednesday –  drive to Buffalo, rest day
  • Thursday – drive home from Buffalo, rest day
  • Friday – 3 mile run?, mah jongg
  • Saturday – 6-8 mile run
  • Sunday – rest day, day in NYC

https://hohoruns.blogspot.com/p/weekly-wrap.html

Please link up for the Weekly Wrap hosted by these wonderful bloggers Holly @ HoHoRuns and Tricia @ MissSippiPiddlin.

Happy Running! How is your running going? What’s new with you? How did you celebrate New Year’s Eve? How are dealing with the frigid temps? Please share.

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Looking Back on 2017

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In a post last January, after a stressful 2016, I talked about my plans for 2017. (Read about them here.)

To summarize that post, I basically said that in 2017, I planned to “enjoy each race and focus on what is good about each one.” In other words, try not to dwell on negatives or stress out about the paces, the miles and the finish times.

And my chosen word for 2017 was “RELAX” 

Image result for relax and run

So let’s see how the year went… and if the “relaxing” plan helped.

With a new job that as the year progressed, added more and more travel, running became my therapy.

I made it a priority that after work I would run, no matter where I was, so I would be in racing shape for all those races that I signed up for.

And yes, that happened (most of the time).

I ran along Onondaga Lake in Liverpool, Lake Ontario and on the Erie Canal Trail in Rochester, at Canalside in Buffalo and along the East and Hudson rivers and in Central Park in Manhattan. Most times I was exhausted and hungry and it was late but I always felt better when I was done with my run.

Along Lake Ontario (Rochester)

I ran 35 races with only one DNS (due to a backache).

There were 6 Half Marathons, 13 5ks, 4 10ks and a variety of other distances.

I won’t go into detail about every race here but except for two strugglefest half marathons, I was happy with how I ran ALL the other races!!

yes, the Shape Half Marathon was not easy…

I didn’t have any time goals for my races. I just wanted to run well and have fun! And I did just that.

July – Brooklyn 5k

That being said, TEN of the 5ks (all the ones that I actually raced) had finish times under 28 minutes!!  Woo! Hoo! There were MANY age group awards earned, too.

Plus, I had a half marathon PR. Even more exciting (and shocking)!!

May 21 – Steel Rail Half Marathon

Almost all my races were run with friends. They say “Running is better with friends.” And ain’t that the truth?

Wineglass pre-race dinner

RnR Vegas Half Marathon

The only negative about my year was that this past fall, I wasn’t able to participate in my favorite running group or volunteer with STEM. I wasn’t able to play tennis every Tuesday. I rarely went to gym and never hit a yoga class. Work, work, work.  Darn work schedule!!!

Otherwise, I think my year went very well. I proved to myself that to have good running year, it’s not all about PRs and paces but it’s about relaxing, having fun and finding good in every race.

So moving forward...

What’s in store for me in 2018???

Well, long work days and more travel are likely.

I haven’t picked a word yet. But I can tell you this for sure:

I will be running.

I will be racing.

Happy Running! Have you looked back yet on 2017?  Did you have any goals? Did you meet them?  Anything to share about 2018 yet?  Please do…

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2017 By the Numbers

Anyone else besides me like numbers??

Here are some of my 2017 running stats:

Highlights:

Although running achievements are personal. You cross the finish line on your own and your time is what you earn yourself.  However, my most memorable racing experiences this past year were those that I shared with others.

Paris 8K 2017
2017

Having fun is much more important than the numbers.

And 2017 was a good year for me!!

Happy Running! How did your year turn out by the numbers?  What were your most memorable running experiences?

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Friday Five 2.0 – Runfessions – December

It’s that time again. Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

1.I runfess…

I travelled every week for work this month. I refuse to let it get in the way of my running but winter running clothes take up so much room in a suitcase.

What to do?

Just wear the same clothes on every run…at least it’s too cold to sweat.

Anyone else re-wear their winter running clothes?

2. I runfess…

The holiday eating has gotten out of hand… party after party after party. I probably should increase the number of miles I am running during the week but I have no time…

Anyone else out eat more carbs that they are running off?

3. I runfess…

I booked my non-refundable flight to Paris for Oct 2018 BEFORE I asked for the time off from work.  Fingers crossed that I get those days approved…

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I plan to spend a week in Sanguinet with a friend’s friends before racing in Paris

4. I runfess…

I caved.  There was a big sale and I bought the photo…

5. I runfess…

I forgot that I had applied to be a Rock n Blogger…

Imagine my surprise when I got the acceptance!!!

I never would have planned that France trip.  Because now I have to find a Rock n Roll race or two to run…. With no vacation time left, it has to be driveable. They cancelled RnR Brooklyn. So guess who will be running…

Image result for rnr montreal half marathon

Anyone else want to join me???

It’s also Friday so I’m linking up with Running on Happy & Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five 2.0 linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostesses and visit some other bloggers.

Happy Running! Anything to runfess this month? Please share.

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2017 – My Year in Pictures

Are you tired of my 2017 recaps yet?  I hope not because I have a few more coming…

One of my most favorite things to do is look back at my photos.

It makes me remember why I love running.

JANUARY

cold temps but still happily running and racing

FEBRUARY

even colder temps but running with friends helped

MARCH

A race-cation in Florida helped get me through this long winter

APRIL

a new running companion and a race in Central Park were the highlights

MAY

my birthday month, an annual tennis vacation in Florida and of course a race

JUNE

the racing season began as well as boating on the lake

JULY

warmer temps meant less racing and more hiking

AUGUST

Lots more racing including a trip to NYC and an attempt to beat the train

SEPTEMBER

Fall in the NE got me out racing every weekend

OCTOBER

the long awaited girls racing weekend arrived (for Wineglass HM in Corning, NY)

NOVEMBER

running down the Vegas strip at night…who can beat that?

DECEMBER

so it got cold again but friends were what has motivated me to get out there and pound the pavement.

I realized that after picking those pictures above that they had nothing to do with age group awards or finish times.

Obviously, running for me is not about getting faster.

In fact, many of them were not stellar running/racing efforts yet they were memorable for many other reasons.

Happy Running!  What is memorable for you in your running?  Does it show up in your photos?

 

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My Award Picks for 2017


Last year I linked up with Montana from Pretty Lil Mudder and bunch of other bloggers to give out some awards to the races that I ran. It was fun so I decided to do it again. (Soon it will be 2018 and my posts about 2017 were be over…LOL)

Since I ran 35 races, I had no problem finding a race for each category but it was sometimes difficult to just pick ONE race.

Most Scenic Course –

I loved having views of the Atlantic Ocean while running the Treasure Coast Half Marathon (in Stuart, FL).

TCMarathon_2017_0030

Most Challenging Course –

Hills are not my friend so I’d say that the most challenging course was the Shape Half Marathon (two loops in Central Park meant running the hills twice!)

Best Course Support (aid stations, volunteers, people cheering you on, etc) –

The crowds came out in mass along the Vegas strip to watch and support the runners during the RnR Vegas Half Marathon. People were out there cheering during the whole nighttime race and there was an abundance of water stations and volunteers.

Best Expo –

Hands down, the RnR Vegas Half Marathon had the best expo.

Best Swag –

The Wineglass Half Marathon definitely had the best swag.

half zip, bottle of champagne and a wine glass

Most Unique Medal/Award –

The most unique medal I received was from the Wineglass Half Marathon because it was actually made of glass. (The region is famous for hand blown glass.).

I get tons of medals for age group awards so I was excited to get something different. I loved winning a tea cup at the Polar Cap Run.

I also like to get practical things. So winning a drink tumbler at the Tropicool 5K was great. I’ve used it many times.

Best Post-Race Food/Beverages –

Definitely one of the reasons I run the Bacon Hill Bonanza 5k is the food. They have chocolate milk (from a nearby farm), homemade cookies & muffins, chili, pizza, vegetarian rice dish, etc.

Best Race Shirt-

The Wineglass Half Marathon had the best shirt. I’ve worn it a few times and it is so comfy.

My second favorite shirt was the one from the Shape Women Half Marathon. I liked the bright color and the women’s fit.

Favorite Overall Race –

That’s a tough one. I enjoyed ALL of my races this year.

I’d have to say the Freihofer Run for Women because it’s local, I know so many of the runners, it’s all women and this year I actually ran it well.


And of course, the Wineglass Half Marathon. Running and spending the weekend with new and old running friends was so fun.

Race You Are Most Proud of Yourself for Completing –

I am proud of completing ALL my races. None ever seem easy. I am especially proud that I can run 13.1 miles!!

But I would have to say that I am the most proud that I finished the RnR Vegas Half Marathon because of how difficult it was for me (all due to the stupid mistakes I made beforehand.)

It was also my first challenge (two races in two days.)

And the Steel Rail Half Marathon because my GPS watch was not working and I did not feel properly trained for the race. (Yet, I pr’d. Go figure!)

Happy Running! What awards would you give to the races you ran in 2017?

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