July 9, 2015 by Darlene

Thinking Out Loud Thursday: That Elusive Speed

So I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

I have been thinking about running goals and speed.

I was getting faster for awhile..

and then things slowed down for whatever reason.

Of course as we age, we slow down.

But what if we started running when we were old. Do we still slow down?

So it seems that if we don’t slow down then it’s a Win-Win.

After a few months of running, my 5k finish times went down to a consistent 29-30 minutes.

Then all of a sudden, I was able to run 27-28 minute 5ks.

Now, I am back to finishing at 29-30 minutes.

Did I slow down or is that where I should be for my age??

Am I going to get even slower? If so, I need to adjust my goals!!

The same thing happened with Half Marathons.

I finished my first one in around 2:26.

Of course, eventually I got faster and finished one in 2:09

Now, I am back to finishing close to 2:26.

So will I continue to run at this speed? Or can I get faster? Or as I age will I get even slower?

Just food for thought.

On another related topic….

I decided to run some 5ks this summer.

TEAM Sarcoma 5k on July 11 (this Saturday)
Silks & Satins 5k on July 24 (in 2 weeks)

Both take place in Saratoga – the first one in the park and the second in town starting at the race track.

How fast will I be? Who knows?

Happy Running! Do you struggle with race goals related to speed?

July 8, 2015 by Darlene

Wednesday Word: Humble

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 HUMBLE

I looked up the definition of HUMBLING and this it what I found:

causing awareness of your shortcomings
making you realize that you are not as good as you thought

I have not found anything as humbling as running!!!

RUNNING IS HARD!!

Running up hills is humbling!

This was at the beginning of my last half marathon (and at the end)!!

Running injured is humbling!

I hadn’t been diagnosed yet but I was in pain and it turned out to be a stress fracture in my right foot. I ran 2 races with that injury. I have also run with a broken foot in addition to other less serious injuries.

Running in adverse temps (cold, hot, rain, etc.) is humbling!

I ran the Love Run Half Marathon in Philly in cold monsoon-like rain. I also ran 2 other halfs in the rain, one in the freezing temps of January and one in the heat and humidity of July. All were very tough, to say the least.

Running after a long layoff is humbling!

This photo was taken after finishing a half marathon in March 2013. It was 16 months after serious ankle surgery. My previous half had been in November 2011. It was definitely harder than I thought it would be.

Falling during a race is humbling!

Unfortunately it has happened to me twice. Both times, I was just cut up and not seriously injured.

Trying to run fast is humbling!

A flat course where it all just went wrong!!

Often, you get spoiled and when you have a good race, you think all of the ones after will be.

Not so!!

I ran a half in 2:09 and then the next one I struggled to finish in 2:20, and the 2 after that were even slower. Humbling!!

I’ve had the same experience with 5ks lately.

and I think MOST DAYS RUNNING IS HARD and sometimes IT IS also HUMBLING!

Happy Running! What do you find humbling?

July 7, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Social Media Share

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 Social Media Share

Of course, this blog – https://myfirst5k.wordpress.com
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/darlene.cardillo (personal) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-First-5K-and-More/114412881903283 (running)

Instagram – http://www.instragram/dsc59
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/dcardill0
Google+ – http://www.google.com/+DarleneCardillo
Daily Mile – http://dailymile.com/DarleneC
Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/dsc59
LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com/in/darlenecardillo (work)

But the best place to follow me is HERE!

Happy Running! Are you active with Social Media?

July 6, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday- 3 4 mile run before work, dinner out for friend’s bday

Tuesday – ~~walk at work~~ (rain), dentist after, gym

15 mins – better than nothing

Wednesday – 3 mile run before work (rain), 2 mile run at work, hair appt, mall walk with BFF

got rained on or may have gotten another mile in

Thursday – 4 3 mile run after work

with Judy, new Hokas and ice cream afterwards = good run

Friday – off from work, 4 3.5 mile run, ~~nails~~, gardening, errands, mah jongg

Saturday – boating

it wasn’t sunny but it was so much fun

Sunday – 3 5 mile run, boating

slow, hilly but scenic ❤

warm, sunny day in the bay

This Week:

Monday- 3 mile run
Tuesday – walk at work, tennis
Wednesday – 4 mile run
Thursday – walk at work, rest
Friday – 4 mile run, mah jongg
Saturday & Sunday – 5k race, boating

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

July 5, 2015 by Darlene

Boating + Running Weekend

Yes, I had a THREE day weekend.

For Friday, I sent my hubby up to the lake and I stayed home.

It was a beautiful day but I knew I needed some alone time to get things done so I could fully enjoy the weekend.

So I did a lot of tree trimming and weeding, grocery shopping, laundry and of course, even squeezed in a scenic run.

On Saturday morning, I drove up to the lake with my friend Cheryl in the RAIN.

Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate for July 4th. But, it never really rained so I consider myself lucky.

We hung out on one of the islands, lit a camp fire and ate, drank and laughed. They were about 15 of us and we had a great time despite the clouds and chilly temps.

never thought Id be wearing jeans a sweatshirt on the 4th of July – crazy weather.

the first course, steak came next

Then we went back to the marina and ate some more, sang and danced to oldies music while waiting for the fireworks to begin.

and we ate a lot of Ben & Jerry’s

the fireworks didn’t disappoint and the rain held off

The next day I woke up to fog which would burn off.

I ate my breakfast and set off on a run.

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I saved the donut for after

I decided to take a new route…up to the golf course.

However, it was so steep that I could barely walk up the hills.

At the halfway point, I turned around. Boy was the way down fun!!

Then, I continued my run where I normally go…the Sagamore Hotel grounds.

this yoga class looked fun

And then headed back to the marina.

It was a very slow run with lots of walking and interruptions but thoroughly enjoyable.

By the time I got back, everyone was ready to head out on the lake. We decided to not go to an island but just tie our boats together in the bay. I think we had about 8 boats tied together.

People moved back and forth but often congregated on one boat.

The water was cold (by my standards) but there were plenty of things to do.

Sadly, the day had to end and we put our boats away. We then headed out to a local restaurant for dinner and to watch USA beat Japan!!

I’m linking this post up with Tara at Running n’ Reading for her Weekend Update!

Happy Running! How was your weekend?

July 4, 2015 by Darlene

Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

Yes, I know that you must be in shock. You never see recipes on my blog nor do I ever mention meal preparation or cooking.

But I was inspired by Chocolate RunsJudy and I was bored. Last Sunday, I had done my errands and the laundry. It was still raining and was forecast to rain all day. I don’t have a treadmill so I had to skip my run. (I don’t run in the rain unless it’s a big race,)

So I decided to make overnight oats.

I can’t find the chocolate anymore 😦

Oatmeal is my favorite pre-race food. I usually buy the re-packaged variety and add raisins and sometimes chia.

I looked around my kitchen for ingredients that I already had and came up with this recipe (based on a recipe from My Whole Food Life with some additions):

1/2 cup of gluten-free steel oats (you can use regular steel oats or rolled oats)
1 tsp chia seeds
1 tsp flax meal (I didn’t have any so I didn’t add it)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp vanilla extract or 1T whey vanilla protein powder (I used protein powder)
1/4 tsp nutmeg (I also didn’t have this either)
2T unsweetened apple sauce
2 tsp maple syrup
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

Throw all the ingredients in a jar or container and mix well. Cover and stick in the fridge overnight.

You can eat it cold or heat it up in the microwave.

I ate it warm before my run on Monday morning and yesterday. I liked it but I didn’t love it. So the verdict is still out (Packaged oatmeal tastes better and it is easier.)

I may have to try some other varieties before I give up on the idea of eating healthy oatmeal.

Happy Running! Do you make overnight oats? What is your favorite kind?

July 3, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: July 4th

Every Friday, three DC area bloggers Mary 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: July 4th/Independence

If the weather cooperates, my holiday includes these 5 things each year:

1. Boating on the Lake

2. Barbecues with Friends

eating at our site

3. Getting Patriotic

4. Fireworks

5. Squeezing in a morning run

Happy Running! How do you celebrate July 4th?

July 2, 2015 by Darlene

Thinking Our Loud Thursday: Becoming a Morning Runner

So I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

A Morning Runner???

Who me?

I like to run in the morning but I just can’t get motivated to get out of bed early enough.

I like read at night instead of going to bed early. Then morning is my watch the Today show, read blogs, and relax time of day before having to go to work. Yup, work gets in the way of everything!!

Here are some tips:

Schedule it. Put it on the calendar. Make it a priority.

Set your running clothes out the night before. It will save you time (and you can sleep longer.)

Don’t hit the snooze button. (or the next thing you know, it will be too late to run.)

Vary your route. Make it interesting.

Find a friend to run with. It will keep you accountable.

I don’t live near any runners but Barbara lives the closest so maybe I coax her into running with me.

Why run in the morning?

You will feel better for the rest of the day.

You may even get to see some interesting morning creatures.

In the summer, it is much cooler and in the winter, it is lighter outside.

Happy Running! Are you a early morning runner or do you prefer to sleep in and run later?

July 1, 2015 by Darlene

#31daysofSkirtSports

Today, July 1, 2015 kicks off a fun month with Skirt Sports and Instagram:

I don’t have 31 outfits but I plan to be as active as I can every day this month and wear SkirtSports as often as I can.

Join us on Instagram for the fun! (And make sure to check out Skirt Sports’ account on July 14 when I take it over for a day!)

Want to add to your collection? Use code SSMFK20 to get 20% off!

Happy Running! How will you be moving this month? Do you wear SkirtSports?

July 1, 2015 by Darlene

June Update & Wednesday Word

June Goals:

Run 3-4 times each week. YES! except for taper & recovery week

even ran before work twice

Get some strength training or yoga done. NO!!! Not yet…
Go for a walk several times a week at work. YES!

Run a 5K. YES!

not fast but won 3rd in my AG

Complete Half Marathon #14. YES!

again very slow but won 3rd in my AG

Complete a 10 mile race. No! My flight got cancelled.
Lose at least 5 lbs. Doubt it!
Run at least 80 miles. No, not even close.

took a week off after my half marathon

What else?

I went to NYC with friends

to the Neue Galerie

and the Metropolitan Museum of Art &

I went to Denver for a work conference and took a City Running Tour

I went boating several times

I read some good books and saw some movies

and Mary Coin, the Ape House and others that I can’t remember

and Spy

July Goals:

Run 3-4 times each week.
Get some strength training or yoga done.
Go for a walk several times a week at work.
Run a 5K race or two.
Improve my speed.
Keep my weight in check.
Run at least 70 miles.

This week’s Word is INDEPENDENT

Here’s what “Independent” means:

not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct,etc.; thinking or acting for oneself:

not subject to another’s authority or jurisdiction; autonomous; free:

not influenced by the thought or action of others:

not dependent; not depending or contingent upon something else for existence, operation, etc.

not relying on another or others for aid or support.

rejecting others’ aid or support; refusing to be under obligation to others.

Hmmm…am I independent?

Yes and no. But more Yes than No.

at a Jimmy Buffet concert

I am married so of course, I can rely on my hubby for support. He will tell that I am stubborn and don’t listen to his advice. Although we enjoy boating and tennis, we have many different interests. This results in spending a lot of time doing things separately. (Some people might think this odd because many married couples do most things together.) For example, I don’t expect him to accompany me on vacation and to races.

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solo at a tennis tournament in CA

I do have a lot of friends. I love being with them.

But if I can’t find someone to do something, I will do it alone. I will go to the movies alone. I will go on a trip alone. (I have flown to Europe several times alone.)

in Fla solo running a half marathon where I knew no one

So how does “Independent” relate to running?

not influenced by the thought or action of others – I don’t care when people say “Isn’t that bad for you knees?” “Should you be doing that with your ankle?” (Runners don’t care what others think.) We also can run at whatever pace we are capable of.
not relying on another or others for aid or support – I drive to my races by myself and run by myself most of the time (Running is a great sport because you don’t need others to do it.)
not depending or contingent upon something else for existence, operation, etc – All you need are running shoes (and some cute outfits LOL) and you can run.

Happy Running! How did you do in June? What’s planned for July? Are you independent?

My First 5K and More…

An "Older" Runner's Blog

Thinking Out Loud Thursday: That Elusive Speed

Wednesday Word: Humble

Tuesdays on the Run: Social Media Share

Monday Running Update

Boating + Running Weekend

Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

Friday Five: July 4th

Thinking Our Loud Thursday: Becoming a Morning Runner

#31daysofSkirtSports

June Update & Wednesday Word

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