February 4, 2017 by Darlene

Ultimate Coffee Date – February

Confessions of a Mother Runner

Since today is the first Saturday in February, I am joining up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

Over coffee or tea…

I’d tell you that I am excited for my third year as Skirt Sports Ambassador Captain. In addition to loving their products, I have never met such an enthusiastic and supportive bunch of women. If you’re not an ambassador yet, you should apply next year!!

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Over coffee and tea…

I’d tell you that at the moment I am running a hilly 4 mile race about an hour from my home. I probably should have skipped it and done my long run with Judy instead tomorrow.

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Over coffee and tea…

I’d tell you that to take my mind off the cold, I am planning my outfit for my March 5 half marathon in Florida. Cold or not, I am wearing a new skirt and new hat!!

: from Skirt Sports, of course

: Brooks

Over coffee and tea…

I’d tell you that I am trying to motivate myself to work out. So far, it is not working. So I am putting it on my calendar for one of my rest days. There are three each week. I am going to the gym TOMORROW!

Over coffee and tea…

I’d tell you that I will be sad when our FREE races are over. Now I need to look for long run partners, places to run and food to eat post-race.

only ONE more left

Over coffee and tea…

I’d tell you that it is Declare It Day and I declared…

2-4-17

For more info on this, go to: http://fellowflowers.com/declareitday/how-to-declare/

I have registered for FOUR half marathons already. Still need one more in the late fall. Hoping for a #holottafun girls weekend again.

love Sarasota so this one looks tempting.

Happy Running! Got anything to spill?

February 3, 2017 by Darlene

Friday Five 2.0: Where do you work out?

It’s Friday and 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.

This week, the topic is: Gym/Workout Space

You have heard whine about how I DO NOT work out. So you are probably wondering why or how I was going to write this post.

I do not have a workout space at home. My basement is a unfinished cellar full of my hubby’s junk. None of the other rooms are large enough to work out in (except for maybe the family room where my hubby’s hand is permanently attached to the remote.)

At my last job, there was a bike, treadmill and elliptical available behind the stage in the gym. And when the weather was so terrible that I could not possibly run, I did go there. and use them.

I have to pay to use the machines in the gym where I work now. But I do have access to a free gym.

workouts

So here’s what there is:

Treadmill

2. Exercise Bikes and Elliptical Machines

3. Machines to work on your arms

4. Machines to work on your legs

5. Weights and all other kinds of cools things:

KettleBells

But here’s the problem:

Happy Running? Do you belong to a gym? Or do you work out at home?

February 2, 2017 by Darlene

TOLT: Shoes, Deferrals, Long Runs, Work Travel, Cold Weather, etc.

Since it is Thursday, I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

thinking out loud

Here’s what I’m thinking about today:

Running shoes – Why do shoe manufacturers change their shoes?

I loved my Nike Zoom Vomero 10s.

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The 11s are tighter in the toe box and heavier. Grr…

Nike_Vomero_11_Vs_10
Now the 12s are out which makes it hard to find the 10s.

The good news is that thanks to Amazon, I found a new pair of 10s. I also have a pair that I found (at a great price) at a Nike Outlet when I was visiting Holly in Panama City Beach.) I will need to wear these sparingly.

Women's Nike Zoom Vomero 10 Running Shoes

Race Entry Deferrals – I have never deferred a race entry but I just deferred my 2017 entry into the Best Damn Race NOLA. I registered for it on a whim and spent a whopping $10. I doubt that I will even be able to run it next year. But who knows? I am still hoping to get into the NYC Half (in March 2018).

Image result for nola half marathon best damn

maybe someday??

Racing and Training – I am always thinking about the fact that I love to race but I am training for a half marathon.

At least our local free races have kinda fit into my schedule: 10k, 15k and next weekend 10 miler.

Well, this weekend, I need to run 10-11 miles but I signed up for a 4 mile race. I am running the race with a blogger friend.

Do I add on more miles after the race? The race is in a very hilly area and one that gets lots of snow and ice. Do I drive home and run more miles? (I also have a party to go to that night…)

Do I run the extra miles the next day? Or all the miles the next day? Remember that party…it would be easier to enjoy it if my long run were done, right? Plus I have another party on Sunday.

Work and Travel – I was supposed to start traveling for work next Tuesday. That meant that I had to cancel tennis and skip 2 days of running.

The good news is that they switched me to a local site. No travel or hotel stay. I do have to set up a mobile lab from 4-6 pm on Tuesday and work from 8 am-6 pm on Wednesday. But I can run in the evenings if I have the energy.

The bad news is that I won’t be earning points for hotels and rental cars. You now where I am going with this, right?

Race-cations!!

Winter Running – I don’t like it. And it really hasn’t been cold – no sub-zero temps (yet). But I am trying to embrace it. It’s mind over matter. But after being indoors all day, it’s not so bad freezing your buns off while running.

15 with the windchill felt revitalizing

What I will hate is when we get ice and snow and there’s no safe place to get in a long run.

Happy Running! What’s on your mind today? Please share. Do you have problems finding running shoes? Do you defer race entries? What about long runs and race – how do you do both? How are you coping with winter temps?

February 1, 2017 by Darlene

Wednesday Word is back: Derail

WednesdayWordScrabbleButton

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 week’s word is DERAIL.

So what does the word mean?

to cause to be deflected from a purpose or direction, permanently or temporarily

What can derail your running?

Weather

Especially if you live in an area where there is ice and snow all winter or in an area where it is too hot or humid to run all summer.

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Health

It’s no fun running with a cold, the flu or a fever.

Time Commitments

Work, family and other important things can get in the way of you getting out there to run. Sometimes it may even be impossible to run under these conditions.

Overuse Injuries

These are the aches and pains that you caused by too many or too frequent runs and they keep you out of commission for several days or weeks.

Serious Injuries

These are broken bones or surgeries that could possibly end your running.

The things mentioned above are out of your control. You have to accept them and move on.

Image result for derail quotes

But there are many excuses that derail a runner but should NOT:

Too busy.

Prioritize things. Make a schedule. Be creative. Fit it in anytime of day. You know, before work, at lunch, after work, etc.

Too tired.

Getting out there is the hardest part. You’d be surprised that after a run, you have more energy than before.

No place to run.

Again be creative. Look for bike paths. Ask other runners. Use a treadmill in a gym.

bike trail on the Hudson River

No running partner.

Try social networking venues to find someone to run with. Sign up for races. You may find a partner there. Join a local running group.

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Not enough money to race often.

Be selective about the races you do run. Look for race entry give-aways. And not every runner has to run a lot of races. Do a “virtual” race.

Too slow.

As they say “you are lapping those on the couch.” No one is too slow to be a runner. Your pace is your pace.

A bad race.

Everyone has them. Quickly sign up for another race and another after that. You will soon forget about that bad one.

You are not getting any PRs.

Not every race can be a PR.

If you haven’t been running a long time, you may need to train differently or even get a coach.

Eventually as we age, we will slow down. Our running goals will no longer be PRs.

Happy Running. Have you had to deal with any of the above running derailments?

January 31, 2017 by Darlene

January Recap (& TOTR)

Image result for january

Cannot believe that the first month of 2017 is over already (and that Donald Trump is now the President)!!

Anyway, here’s how January went:

Weekday Runs:

We’ve been lucky and it’s hasn’t been cold or snowy of a January or a winter. So I was able to run at least 3 times outdoors each week which is great because I do not have a treadmill at home.

I ran mostly at UAlbany (near work). It’s easier than driving to run. But I’ve been getting bored and have been also running in the town where I live.

I ran mostly alone. Barbara was still injured. Alyssa was busy until the last half of the month.

: in Delmar

: at the Corning Bike Path on a day off

: at UAlbany

It’s definitely more fun running with friends. I hope I get to do that more next month.

Long Runs:

They have begun. They are not double digits yet but it’s coming.

: + 3.5 miles = 6.5 (at Ualbany)

: on the Zim Smith Bike Path

Total Mileage:

I ran 85 miles so far this month – an improvement over last month (69). .Although last January, I ran 101.

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Races:

I ran three races this month – 3.5, 10k, 15k. They were all free and part of the HMRRC Winter Series.

I was generally happy with how they all went. I won my age group in the 3.5 miler and the 10K and 15K were just fun training runs.

Cross Training:

I still play tennis (indoors, of course.) I am scheduled to play two Tuesdays a month but do get called to sub on some of the other weeks.

I NEVER went at all to work out at the gym but I did plank a few times at home!

I did walk almost every day at lunch for 30 minutes – Either around the outdoor shopping mall or to get a Starbucks coffee.

Other News:

I signed up for three more Half Marathons – April and October are with other ladies (Girls Weekend!!). We even have our hotel rooms booked.

Shape Women’s Half Marathon – April 30 in NYC
Steel Rail Half Marathon – May 21 in Adams, MA
Wineglass Half Marathon – October 1 in Corning, NY

January was not an especially busy month.

I attended a post-inauguration march where I live. It was a great experience. Though, I wish that I had gone to NYC or Washington.

We had a surprise 70th birthday party for one of my tennis friends.

I got to see a few more movies – Lion, LaLa Land, Hidden Figures and Twentieth Century Century Women. I loved Lion and Hidden Figures. All the good ones seem to come out before Oscar time.

Feeling healthy so Life Is Good.

Looking Ahead:

My next half marathon is March 5 in Florida where I will be visiting a few friends.

I only have a few races coming up. Things slow down around here in the winter.

This is my list so far for the next 2 months:

2-04-17 – Polar Cap 4m
2-12-17 – HMRRC Winter Series #5 10m
3-05-17 – Treasure Coast Half Marathon (in FL)
3-11-17 – Runnin’ of the Green (4m)
3-26-17 – Shamrock Shuffle (5m)

No monthly goals.

This motto worked for 2016 so I’m sticking with it in 2017!

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

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

Today’s Topic is: Give your running month a letter grade.

I’d say a B+

What do you think?

Happy Running! How did your January turn out? Anything exciting planned for February? What grade would you give your running month?

January 30, 2017 by Darlene

Race Link-Up – January

Race Linkup is a linkup hosted by Deb Runs to help facilitate runners finding each other at races.

A new Race Linkup will open on the last Monday of every month and run for four weeks. You can link up your race schedule every month or only when you register for an additional race – you choose how often you want to get your schedule out there for other runners to see. The goal is for everyone to see who else will be your next race so you can arrange meet-ups with other bloggers and our readers.

What a cool idea?

Speaking of cool or “cold,” remember I live in Upstate New York. Come visit if you like to ski or snowshoe.

Anyway here is my February racing schedule:

2-04-17 – Polar Cap (4 mile) Race in Lake George, NY

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2-12-17 – HMRRC Winter Series #5 – 4M, 10M, 20M and Marathon options (I’m running the 10 miler) in Albany, NY

So my schedule is wide-open.

Feel free if you live in a warmer climate to invite me to come run with you in February 2018. LOL.

Here is also a link to the rest of my 2017 planned races – https://myfirst5k.wordpress.com/my-races/

Happy Running! Anyone running either of these two races?

January 30, 2017 by Darlene

Running Update – 1.23.16-1.29.16

Last Week:

Monday – Storm on the way. Boo! Got my run in! Yay!

Loved watching the geese skating on the pond

Tuesday – It was a miserable rainy day so I was glad it was a rest day. I did play tennis after work.

Matched my clothes to the grey skies.

The good news of the day was that I was picked as an Ambassador Captain for the third straight year.

Love this company.

Wednesday – a crazy day at work and Alyssa had to cancel on our after work run. So I stretched my 3 miler into 5 cuz I needed it.

Thursday– Another scheduled rest day. In the evening, some tennis friends and I celebrated our friend’s 70th birthday. Doesn’t she look great?

had 2 pieces of that cake (& I don’t even like chocolate.)

Friday – I did go for a 2.5 mile run during lunch because my evening mah jongg game was scheduled at my house.

The wind made it feel colder than it was but felt good to get some fresh air.

Saturday – A scheduled rest day to do errands, get things done around the house. I actually went through my running clothes and got rid of a lot of items that I no longer wear. Felt so good!!! Even did some knitting. Then went out to dinner with the hubby.

Pre-race fuel

Sunday – Today I ran in the Winter Series 15k Race. It was a fun race. For the first time I ran part of a race with someone- the last 4 miles with Alyssa.

After the race, I rushed to the mall to participate in Athleta’s STEM swap. They were collecting clothes to be given to the STEM runners.

20.3 miles done with 4 runs and 3 rest days

This Week:

Monday – 3 mile run, mall walk with BFF
Tuesday – rest day, tennis
Wednesday –6 mile run with Alyssa
Thursday – rest day, hair appt.
Friday – rest day, mah jongg
Saturday – 4 mile race + 6-7 more miles, Chinese New Year’s Party
Sunday – rest day, knitting party

Once again, I am linking up for the Weekly Wrap hosted by these wonderful bloggers Holly @ HoHoRuns and Tricia @ MissSippiPiddlin. See rules here.

Happy Running! How is your running going? How is your running weather?

January 29, 2017 by Darlene

Winter Series #4 15k Race Report

This same race in 2015

Once again the Hudson Mohawk Runners Club sponsored a FREE race for its members and this weekend, they offered distances of 3M, 15K and 30K.

Since I have a half marathon in 7 weeks, I chose to run the 15K since 9 miles was on my “schedule.”

I have run several 15Ks (including 4 on this same course):

2016 – 1:33:13, 2015 – 1:34:29, 2014 – 1:34:55 & 1:42:40 (At least I’ve gotten faster.)

My 15 PR on a harder course is actually 1:31:25.

But I was continuing with my “relaxing” and go with the flow race plan – run and enjoy. Besides, this race was just part of my training for my March 5 Half Marathon.

These Winter Series races start at 10 am so you don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn. I always leave early to get parking since these races are often crowded and there may be other events going on at UAlbany at the same time.

I was surprised when I got there that the parking lot was empty. The weather was perfect for racing. Sunny for the first time in over a week, 30 degrees or so and a little breezy.

What I love about this local race is that you get to see a lot of people that you know.

last year meeting up with Judy & Barbara

And I immediately bumped into many different running friends.

My two age group competitors were there. Oh well.

Anyway I hung indoors until the last minute and then made out way outside.

basically a few loops around parking lots

This week I made sure that my Garmin was charged and got a signal.

All three distances started at the same location this week. As usual, I started pretty close to the front and let the speedy runners pass me by.

For most of the race, I felt overdressed. I unzipped my jacket and took off my gloves but my turtle neck was a mistake. (Of course, the wind picked up toward the end and I was happy to have worn the jacket.)

As in all my recent races, I tried to relax and run at an even pace. But as usual, my first mile was the fastest and I fizzled with each mile after.

I walked through the first water stop around mile 3.5 and took a Gu as well as the second water stop. I ran most of the rest of the race.

This was due to fact that Alyssa caught up to me around mile 5.5. We chatted the whole time. I’ve never run a race with someone before.

Did it slow me down? Probably. Alyssa is a faster runner for the early miles. In long races such as a half marathon I’ve finished 20 minutes faster.

Nevertheless it made the miles go by faster. I didn’t walk where I normally would. I just ran at an easier pace. But it certainly was a lot more fun having company.

Eventually as we neared the finish line, I took off and finished at 1:34:00 (25 seconds ahead of Alyssa.)

A happy runner

Alyssa left to run a few more miles and I waited around for Judy to finish.

After Judy finished, we went inside had some refreshments. There was vegetable chili, bread fruit and hot cocoa. Free race..free good food. Win-win.

The awards were for 10 year age groups and just top 2.

I finished 128 out 174.

After the awards, I changed my clothes and Judy, Alyssa and I headed to the mall.

stem

The Athleta store was holding a clothing drive for participants in the STEM program. It motivated me to clean out my closets and get rid of any running clothes that I no longer wear.

I was very happy with how I ran this 15k race as a training run – I pushed myself just enough but not too much. It wasn’t a PR 15K and not even a course PR (1 minute slower than last year.)

Race splits:

mile 1 – 9:09
mile 2 – 9:34
mile 3 – 9:42
mile 4 – 10:13 (water & Gu)
mile 5 – 10:15
mile 6 – 10:32
mile 7 – 10:38 (water)
mile 8 – 10:34
mile 9 – 10:42
.3 – 8:39

Finish Time – 1:34:00

So obviously the second half of the race was much slower than the first. It always is for me so I won’t blame Alyssa. But it is hard to run your own pace when you are running with another runner and you are talking. However, it made the race more enjoyable and “relaxing.!!”

Next weekend, I signed up for a 4 mile race in Lake George. It should be fun. Fingers crossed for no ice or snow.

AJH (from VT) & I at this race in 2015. We try to do this one together every year.

I am sharing in the support love by linking up with a Sunday Fitness and Food Linkup hosted by

Ilka from Ilka’s Blog and Angela from Marathons & Motivation

Happy Running! How you are enduring the winter? Did you run this weekend?

January 28, 2017 by Darlene

Runfessions – January

It’s that time again (or a day late.) Time to get things off my chest with Marcia’s Runfessions at Marcia’s Healthy Slice…

I runfess…

My running routes are influenced by my post race food options Aren’t yours?

I ran here:

I am very sad that I won’t be able to run here until spring

because of this:

Leah’s Cakery

I ran here:

because of this:

Cider Belly Donuts

I need all the motivation I can get. But do I really burn off all those calories?

I runfess…

I participated in a march last Saturday. It was for what I believe in. But why did it happen on such as perfect running weather day?

50 degrees and blue skies (the weather was awful the next day (when I did run)

As I walked, I kept thinking that it was a similar route (reverse direction) as for the Freihofer’s Run.

I runfess…

I really wanted to participate in Kim’s plank challenge. But I only did it once and for 1 minute.

Sorry. I am such a slacker when it comes to working out.

I runfess…

I schedule my blog posts. That means that sometimes they are not accurate or current. Like “loving that we’ve had good weather for running.” By the time I posted that, we had two days of ice and snow. Blogger fail.

This may be why many bloggers take a respite from blogging. It takes up so much time!!

I’m not even talking about inspiring, creative posts. Just posting running updates and race reviews…

Maybe I need to join the blogging vacationers and just post on Instagram?? But who can get out more than a hashtag using your phone keyboard??

Happy Running! Anything to Runfess?

January 27, 2017 by Darlene

Friday 2.0 – Slower Running Partners

It’s Friday and 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.

This week, the theme is FREE so I chose How to Run With a Slower Partner

It’s no secret that Judy, a frequent running partner, is slower than me. She runs about 2 minutes per mile slower. I don’t think she will be upset that I say this because she mentions it all the time.

after one of our summer runs together

But that doesn’t mean that I don’t run with her. I do and here’s what I recommend:

1. Run Slower

and it is easy to run slower when there’s snow on the ground…

It seems like a no-brainer. If you run with someone who runs slower, you have to run slower. Just consider it an easy run or a recovery run.

2. Split up the Run

I ran 2 more miles after our recent run together.

You can start earlier and get some faster miles done. Or you add some speedy ones afterwards.

3. Enjoy the scenery

Running with a slower runners is relaxing. You can walk and take photos and then sprint to catch up.

4. Make it the Exception not the Rule

If you run with a slower runner all the time, you will probably get slower yourself. So do your own thing most of the time. Do your strides, intervals or whatever you need to do improve your speed when you run by yourself.