September 22, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: I Won’t Run Without…

Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!

This week’s topic is I Won’t Run Without…

A Running Skirt

I don’t like the way I look in shorts or capris. A skirt is so much more comfortable. Of course, when it gets cold, I”ll wear a skirt over tights.

A Baseball Cap

My hair is very thick and unruly so I always wear a cap and in the winter a wool hat.

My Phone

It’s a safety thing. I got burned once when I got injured and didn’t have my phone. So now, I always carry it.

Comfortable Running Shoes

You can’t run when your feet hurt. I know that all too well.

Happy Running! What won’t you run without?

September 21, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday– It almost felt like Fall. Went for a windy 3.5 miles after work and then met my BFF to walk around the mall (over 15,000 steps on my newly acquired Fitbit)

Tuesday – Temps were warming back up. Went for a walk to the park at lunch. Played tennis after work for 1 1/2 hours indoors.

still lots of flowers in the park ❤

Wednesday – Knowing it was going to be warm again, I decided to run before work. I was tired from going to bed too late the night before but managed 3 miles in the neighborhood. It was even kinda chilly.

In the afternoon, I went for another walk to the park.

feeling more like summer than fall

Thursday – More warm weather predicted for the afternoon (mid 80s for Sept??) got me out of bed early for another before work run. This time for 4 miles. I took a new route but there was so much traffic that it wasn’t a good choice for this time of day.

so foggy

Took of advantage of the sunshine and warm temps for a walk in the park. Those flowers will eventually be replaced by snow.

Friday -Just a normal work day. My Fitbit (and the weather) has succeeded in getting me out of my chair with a walk to the park.

Saturday – I was really torn on what to do today. I ended up getting up early and running 11.5 miles. Judy was nice enough to accompany me. Then since the boating season is winding down, I drove up to spend one more day on the lake with my hubby. Afterward I headed up to Schroon River to spend time with my mah jongg friends. (Unfortunately, there was no water at the house so they headed home and I headed back to the lake.)

best long run of this training session!!

Sunday – Spent the day on Lake George with friends. Starting to feel like fall… sad to see the summer go!!

22 miles for the week with only 3 rest days and 4 days of running. Half Marathon is 3 weeks away!!! Getting excited!

This Week: (Week #10 of HM training)

Monday- 3 mile run (first run with the Turkey Trot Training group)
Tuesday – rest, tennis after work
Wednesday – 3 mile run after work (first time mentoring the STEM -survivors of domestic violence group)
Thursday – 4 mile run after work
Friday – rest, DAY OFF from work
Saturday – 10K race + more miles
Sunday – rest, boating

I am linking up for the Weekly Wrap hosted by Holly @ HoHoRuns and Tricia @ MissSippiPiddlin. See rules here.

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ?

September 18, 2015 by Darlene

LSD, Boating & Mah Jongg

It was a busy weekend but I got it all in.

First what I thought would be a long solo long run on Saturday turned out to be with a nice run with Judy. She decided not to run with her running group so I lucked out.

We picked the Nisky Bike Path since it was convenient for both of us. Judy thinks that she runs too slow for me but for long distances, I struggle with speed so I was fine with her company.

before our run

The weather was perfect for running – sunny but not too warm.

We started in the opposite direction from my last long run here.

I was running naked – no Garmin, no running app on my phone. Nada. I had no idea of my pace. No idea of distance. So relaxing. Judy was in charge. I did what she planned. We ran 4 minutes and then walked for 30 seconds.

I am used to running a lot faster and walking more often and longer. So sometimes I just slowed up to take photos and ran fast to catch up to her.

Running with someone else and chatting definitely made the miles go by faster.

At 4 miles, we turned around and headed in the opposite direction.

We passed our starting point and continued about 2 miles before we turned around again.

Finally we were done – 11 miles!

We walked a bit and chatted and then I asked Judy to take my photo running.

Yes, I chicked these guys.

Since we still weren’t at our starting point yet, I decided to run some more to get closer to my planned 12 miles. I think I got to 11.5.

Then we took photos at this NEW gazebo.

So happy to finally have a good long run!

I felt great after this run. Not tired at all. I didn’t even break a sweat. Nothing hurt. (I did get a blister but didn’t notice it until I took off my sock.)

passed this twice so had to take a pic

Maybe the pace was too slow but it felt so nice to not feel like dying during a long run and to not to have to worry about pace or distance. Thanks Judy!!

After the run, I was off to meet my hubby who was waiting for me on our boat.

In front of marina, there were wood boat races so we hung out for awhile and watched.

Then we headed out and hung out and relaxed on an island.

The plan was for we to head up to Schroon River to spend the rest of the weekend with my mah jongg ladies. But when I got there, they were leaving. There was NO water! My hubby came up to see if he could fix it but he could not. So we went out to dinner and headed back to our boat. So disappointing!!

Today, it was sunny again but a lot cooler. I think swimming on the lake is over for the season.

we are following our friends boat

We decided to get sites on a picnic island with 2 other boats, barbecue and spend the day there.

No mah jongg but still an enjoyable day.

Happy Running! How was your weekend?

September 18, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite songs to pump up a workout

Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mar at Mar On the Run, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?! and Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC to host the Friday Five linkup. Anyone can join with their own Friday Five post (yes, it must be a Friday Five!!) They encourage you to visit other blogs on the linkup, comment, share and engage!

This week, the theme is 5 Favorite songs to pump up a workout:

Here are my top 5 motivating songs to run to since I don’t work out:

1. Fight Song (Rachel Blatten)

I recently downloaded this one onto my phone. I love these lines:

Starting right now I’ll be strong
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care
If nobody else believes
Cause I’ve still got
A lot of fight left in me

Perfect for those tough miles.

2. Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey)

Any oldies but goodie. At my age, if you want to keep running and even run half marathons, you “gotta believe!”

3. Don’t Stop (Rolling Stone)

Another song to keep you going when those legs want to stop.

4. Running Down a Dream (Tom Petty)

Every race that I enter, I am “running down a dream.)

5. Best Day of my Life (American Authors)

Any day that I am healthy enough to get out there and run is “the best day.”

Happy Running! What are your favorite running or workout songs?

September 17, 2015 by Darlene

Think Out Loud Thursdays: Weekend Plans

Thursdays are for thinking… so I am linking up with Running With Spoons…

So here’s what I’m thinking…

How can I fit it all in this weekend?

My friends have scheduled a Mah Jongg weekend at a house on Schroon River.

Unexpectedly, we have summer weather in mid-September.

So boating season continues. It’s so short and the winter so long that I really want to be out on the lake one last time.

And then there’s half marathon training…3 weeks to go before my race.

I was planning to run 11-12 miles….

I even considered running a local half marathon on Sunday but quickly decided that it was stupid to spend $65 for the company of other runners (and there was also a chance of rain on Sunday.)

So what am I going to do?

All three!!!

Get up early on Saturday and do my long run.
Drive up to the lake and spend the day on our boat.
Afterwards, head up to Schroon River and join the ladies for mah jongg.
Spend Sunday with the mah jongg ladies.

Yup, it should be a busy, fun weekend!

last year’s Sunday group

Happy Running! What are you thinking about this Thursday?

September 16, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Cautious

Every Wednesday, 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 CAUTIOUS

According to the dictionary, cautious is someone who is “careful to avoid potential problems or dangers.”

That is not one of my strong points.

I usually do and then think later.

I don’t do crazy things like jump out of an airplane (…yet.) but I have run in ice and snow.

I have traveled to Europe alone several times.

I have taken many race-cations on my own.

in West Palm Beach, FL

In fact, I have 2 upcoming races where I am staying in Air-BNB apartments by myself – one in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan.

And yes, I have raced with a stress fracture – actually twice.

why am I smiling??? it hurts!!

I have completed a race with a broken foot.

post Freihofer 5k

I have run a 5k after being sidelined after ankle surgery and not having run at all for 5 months.

definitely not cautious

Do I stretch for or after a run?? Of course not. Do I use a foam roller or stick? Nope. And yes, at my age, I should be more cautious and think about preventing injuries…

But that’s not me.

I grew up with a cautious Jewish mother who worried about EVERYTHING. Maybe I am rebelling.

Happy Running! Are you “cautious?

September 15, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Fitness Trackers

Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!

This week’s topic is: Fitness/Running Trackers & Watches

I’ll categorize my use of trackers:

For Tracking Miles When Running

I use Daily Mile to keep track of my miles.

You can view them daily and

and weekly

and of course, monthly.

aug2014

You can link to FB or Twitter and comment other people’s posts but I do not.

For Tracking Distance When Running

I used to use Nike+ on my phone when I ran.

This app is easy to use and keeps track of distance, time and pace. But I only care about distance.

It also shows you a map of where you have run.

You can even add pictures.

even on the track

I recently deleted it and its the data because it took up a lot of space and switched to Runkeeper.

Runkeeper is easy to use, as well. It calls out your distance and pace. You can set walk/run intervals. You can also set goals and you can save a route. I only use it for distance and then delete the run. (So it doesn’t take up space on my phone.)

For Racing

I use my Garmin 205.

I know that it’s big and clunky but it tells me distance, time, pace…everything I need to know on one screen during a race.

I love it and I hope it never dies!!!

For Tracking my Steps Daily

I just joined the world of tracking my steps. I bought a Fitbit Flex.

The jury is still out on it since I’ve only used it for one day.

work + 3.5 mile run + walk in the mall

Ideally I would have liked one that showed the steps without syncing to my phone but I didn’t want to spend the extra money until I decided if it was useful.

It can also track my sleep but that would be very depressing.

Right now, I am hoping that it will motivate me to be more active when not running.

Happy Running! Do you use any trackers? Which ones?

September 14, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday– Day off from work and I was recovering from my partying on the lake the day before but I did drag myself out for 4 scenic slow miles before spending the rest of the day on the lake.

Tuesday – Played tennis for 1 1/2 hours indoors and then watched the USOpen on TV with friends, pizza, wings & beer.

Wednesday – Knowing it was going to be very warm, I decided to run before work. I was tired from going to bed to late the night before but managed 3 miles in the neighborhood.

Thursday – Another warm day and forecast for storms got me and a hair appointment after work out of bed early for another before work run. This time 4 miles and I finished before the rain started.

Friday -No work today. I met my college BFF in Williamstown, MA to see the Van Gogh & Whistler’s Mother exhibit at the Clark Art Institute.

It was great and we also enjoyed a nice lunch and hike.

may have been too much walking for a day before a long run… but so worth it

Saturday – I ran one of my favorite 5Ks

28:56 – not a PR or an AG group but still fun

and then added more miles to make a total of 11.5 for the day.

may have been my slowest long run ever – tired…humid…but enjoyed the scenery

After watching a great US Open women’;s final on TV, we went out to dinner and then I ordered a new phone (iPhone 6s!!!)

Sunday – The boating season is winding down so I thought that we would drove up to spend one more day on the lake. But the weather didn’t cooperate so I spent a day catching up at home.

22.5 miles for the week with only 3 rest days and 4 days of running. Half Marathon is 4 weeks away!!! Gulp!

This Week: (Week #9 of HM training)

Monday- 4 mile run
Tuesday – rest, tennis after work
Wednesday – 3 mile run before work, yoga?
Thursday – 4 mile run before work
Friday – rest
Saturday – 12 mile run, boating?
Sunday – rest, mah jong at the Schroon River House

I am linking up for the Weekly Wrap hosted by Holly @ HoHoRuns and Tricia @ MissSippiPiddlin. See rules here.

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ?

September 13, 2015 by Darlene

Malta 5K Race & LSD Recap

This was my 4th time running this 5k. So you can say that I was familiar with this course.

The course is very boring…you are running around chip plants but the loops let you see the fast runners and all those runners that are behind you twice during the race. And it’s pretty flat so no complaints.

In 2012, I finished in 29:53 (recovering from a broken ankle). In 2013, I finished in 29:49 (recovering from a broken foot). Last year, I was healthy and finished 3rd in my AG with a time of 28:47.

last year getting my award

So the trend is for me to get faster. However, this year I am training for a half marathon and have been doing slow long runs on the weekend. (Even my races haven’t been fast.) So my goal was to get my splits in the 9s and finish under 30 minutes and have enough in the tank to run more miles after the race.

Luckily the hot weather that we had been having took a break.

It was in the 50s when I left the house so I dressed like this:

it was a comfortable shirt that matched my shoes but I was too warm when I was running

I got there early to get parking. This race has really grown. There was 250 runners from Global Foundries alone (where the race took place) and almost 900 total racers.

It is very well-organized – signs for the race, indoor bathrooms and waiting area, etc.

As I was waiting, my stomach started to feel the effects of the spicy food that I had eaten the day before and my legs were already tired from the walking and hiking, as well.

Soon I bumped into Holly, a friend from previous races and the Turkey Trot and Freihofer’s training group. We walked to the start together. She is now in my age group and FASTER!

They had said that they were going to have net times this year but I they did not. So Holly and I started near the front but not too close to the speedsters.

The race started and Holly took off. I knew that I couldn’t keep up with her but I tried to keep her in my sight for as long as I could.

My first mile is always my fastest. I usually give it all I got and I did today but I guess I didn’t have that much. I just couldn’t keep it under 9 minutes. (Could it be my new Nikes??)

Since I knew that I would slow that for the next 2 miles, I knew that my time would not be spectacular so I just tried to enjoy the run.

There were 2 turn arounds so you got to see the faster and slower runners. It was amazing to see how fast the leaders were running – 2 runners finished with a pace under 5 minutes.

The first water stop was around mile 1.5 and I couldn’t wait to walk. I walked longer than I should have while drinking my water slowly and then you passed the same water stop around mile. I think I walked even longer.

But the walking gave my energy that I needed to finish strong. I was determined to break 29 minutes and I did – 28:56 (28:52 (Garmin time).

I found Holly and got some chocolate milk, fruit & bagels and chatted while waiting for the results.

And no, neither of us won an award.

Still I was nice seeing Holly and I love racing. So it was all good.

Race Splits: (positive, as usual)
mile 1 – 9:08 (8:51 last year)
mile 2 – 9:27
mile 3 – 9:33
.14 – 7:22

race swag

After a 2 hour break, I was ready to continue my long run. Since I run them each weekend in a different locale, I decided on Colonie Town Park and the bike path heading toward Cohoes.

I changed into a tank top (since it had gotten so humid) and into my Hokas and headed into the park.

and then I continued the rest of the run on the bike path.

4 tunnels like this

I already see signs of fall

I had wanted to run to the end but I misjudged the distanced and had to turn around.

view of Cohoes from the trail

No water view for this route but it was still very scenic.

I had planned on 7-8 but I didn’t turn around in time and ended with 8.5 of the slowest miles I have ever run (or actually walk/run). Nothing hurt and I didn’t get blisters. I just had no energy.

I’m linking this one up with Jessica at The Silvah Lining–she hosts a Race Recap linkup every Tuesday. Please head over and linkup a race recap you’ve written, new or old. And check out some of the other posts!

Happy Running! How was your weekend?

September 9, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Carefree

This week’s Word is CAREFREE

Don’t I wish…

In life, I am definitely not carefree.

I plan my days and I plan my nights and I plan my weekends. My hubby, on the other hand, is a go with the flow kind of guy. It drives me nuts. But because he doesn’t care, I make the plans and I am in control.

1508071_10153802254859428_8318378114823220880_n

love him and he is “carefree”

My friends are the same way. Nothing would happen if it weren’t for me. I plan our trips to NYC, our dinners out, our annual Florida vacations, etc. Again, I ask for ideas, but they always respond “What ever you choose is fine.” Again, I am in control which is nice but it is also exhausting.

on one of my planned trips to NYC

Another problem about not being carefree is that I have trouble sleeping. I just can’t turn off my problems even if they are minor.

relaxing in the sun at Boca Grande beach

I could be carefree here, I think

But running is a different story.

I run when I can, where I choose, the distance that fits into the time I have and I never care about my pace. I use an app for distance and as soon as I am done, I click “delete.”

running carefree

Yes, I am a “carefree” runner. No tempos, intervals, hill repeats, speed drills …too much to worry about.

Not so much for racing…

I wear always wear my Garmin for a race. I check my pace frequently and then I post my splits in my race reports on my blog. I care about my times for a race because I want to do well and improve. And I am competitive.