June 18, 2015 by Darlene

Racing with Doubts

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

I subscribe to Runner’s World magazine and finally sat to read it last week before my half marathon. I flipped right to “No Pity: It Takes a Lot of Courage to Run a Sucky Race,” by Lauren Fleshman. (I guess I thought that my upcoming half may be sucky…)

The title drew me in and I love Lauren Fleshman. I began to read Lauren’s article and proceeded to get teary-eyed.

She described pushing through doubt, facing failure head on in the wake of big goals, and embracing how important it is to try anyway during the Olympic Trials in 2012. The article led me to think about on my own personal courage.

I haven’t been feeling the “running” lately. I have skipped weekday runs. The ones I have done have been filled with walking and a pace of over 12 minutes. My longs runs since April have been non-existent other than the VCM relay. (That one was unplanned and so my goal was just to have fun.)

I doubted my ability to run another half marathon well. Yes, I could finish it. But I was embarrassed to just finish again. I am not injured and I have finished a half marathon this year in 2:09. So why attempt one when I knew the results in advance. I did not train well enough to do well. Should I still try?

On the fear of failing in a very public way and feeling sorry for herself well in advance of any failure, Lauren wrote:

“I would think, This is the very thing that holds people back from trying things. From having experiences. This fear that failing makes you a failure. In our core, we want to believe that trying matters, regardless of the outcome. That having the courage to see things through to their mysterious ends is worthwhile. That fighting well with what you have is enough.”

I realized after reading this article, that my race was more than just a finish time. It was an experience. Running 13.1 miles. Meeting new people. Seeing new places. Challenging myself.

If I didn’t try, I would miss all this.

So I ran the Walkway Half Marathon and gave it my best shot. And I didn’t have a PR. My time was even slower than my last half marathon (that I just ran for fun.) But that was okay and expected.

Trying is enough. Seeing things through to that mysterious end is worth it. Fighting with what I have is enough.

“…the reason we set big goals is not to achieve them, but to set ourselves on a road trip toward them, and that trip is where all the good loving is.”

Happy Running! Do you agree? Did you get a chance to read the article?

June 17, 2015 by Darlene

City Running Tours

I am going to Denver today for a work conference. I am staying in a hotel outside of the city.

I want to see the city of Denver and I want to run.

But I have very little time since I have to go to the conference sessions on Thursday, Friday & Saturday am.

I do have a little time after I arrive today so I found this:

City Running Tours

They have scheduled group tours several times a week in many cities, including Denver. It would be fun to run with others.

But unfortunately none are scheduled when I can go.

For a more expensive price, there’s this…

Our PERSONALIZED RUNNING TOURS are completely customizable to accommodate your needs and interests as both a runner and a tourist. You choose how far you want to run, which areas and sights you would like to see, and then we customize a run specifically for you. Your own personal running guide will meet you at the location where you are staying to take you on your run. We run at your pace, provide water, and even bring along a camera in case you’d like to capture the moment or the sights.

At the end of the run, our running guide will ensure you get back to where you are staying and provide you with a souvenir goody bag with other keepsakes to help your remember your run through the city.

These runs are perfect if you are a tourist looking to explore a new city, training for a race and interested in a running partner, or a business traveler eager to fit in a run and looking to avoid the hotel treadmill. We work with you to recommend specific routes that cater to exactly the kind of run and experience you are looking for.

Sounds perfect (except that the price is more than I paid for my last half marathon.)

I wish that I had the time to plan my own “running tour.” But I do not.

Denver

I will need a run after sitting on a plane for so many hours and I will not have run since Saturday (and I have a 10 mile race on Sunday when I return.)

So I plan to take the light rail from my hotel into downtown Denver and run for about an hour on a customized City Running Tour.

A 4 mile run on a Wednesday afternoon seeing the highlights of Downtown Denver seems worth it to me.

I’ll let you know how it went when I return.

Happy Running! Anyone ever take a “City Running Tour?”

June 16, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Running Solo Vs. With A Group

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: Running Solo Vs. With A Group

I mostly run solo so I’ll start here:

Advantages of Running Solo

You choose your pace.

You can run slow or push the pace. You can walk when you feel like it or just stop and take photographs. No pressure.

You can be flexible with regard to time and distance.

You can wait for the rain to stop or change your mind and run in the evening rather than the morning, You can cut short your run or if you feel like it, you can extend it.

3 mile planned run before boating

You choose the location.

You can leave for a run right from your house or from your work. No driving to a scheduled location is necessary.

right near work

You can be spontaneous.

You can decide to go for a run on a new route.

You can listen to music.

Just put on your headphones and zone out to your favorite tunes.

You can just be alone with your thoughts.

or just plan your day or figure out a solution to a problem.

Advantages of Running With a Group

It’s fun.

You’re never alone. There’s always someone faster and slower than you.

You will be motivated to run faster.

my long runs with these 2 ladies were faster than when I ran alone

You are less likely to cancel.

Especially if you’ve paid for the training. Or people are waiting for you.

You make new friends.

You will then bump into them at races or make plans to race together.

we met at the Turkey Trot Group runs

fellow Freihofer Challenge groupies

You may run at a location that you normally wouldn’t choose.

I’ve run at parks and in neighborhoods that I had never been to before.

path near Knickerbocker Area

It prepares for better for race conditions.

Yes, no one ever runs races solo.

Chatting with others make the miles go faster.

You may learn something new.

You’ll learn about new races or new gear and get running tips.

Happy Running! Do you run solo or with a group?

June 15, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday- rest, tennis
Tuesday – ~~3 mile run~~ (rain), movie instead

very funny

Wednesday – 4 mile run

Thursday – rest, walk at work

Friday – rest, walk at work
Saturday – HALF MARATHON, movie

I was slow but still got 3rd in my AG

Sunday – rest, boating

This Week:

Monday- rest, walk at work
Tuesday – rest, walk at work, pack
Wednesday – fly to Denver for a conference, 4 mile running tour
Thursday & Friday – rest, conference (would love to squeeze in a run)
Saturday – fly home
Sunday – 10 mile race, boating

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

June 14, 2015 by Darlene

Walkway Half Marathon Race Recap

Have you ever have a nightmare that these things went wrong before a big race?

The power went out so your alarm didn’t go off
You got stuck in traffic getting to the race start
Your Garmin wasn’t fully charged and said low battery when you turned it on
The humidity was 90%

And yes, all these happened to me for this race. More on that later.

The course for this inaugural race was described as:

an out-and-back course begins at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, located on the eastern banks of the Hudson River. The route continues southwest on the flat, tree-lined William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail, which winds through the Dutchess County towns of Poughkeepsie and Wappingers Falls. The stunning views from the elevated Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park offer runners a wonderful mid-race pick-me-up as they head across the river and onto the Hudson Valley Rail Trail in the Ulster County town of Lloyd. A return trip across the Walkway, and a final downhill sprint brings participants back to Marist and the scenic waterfront.

Believe it not, the race sold out with 2500 runners registered. Not bad for the first year of a race.

I was prepared for it to be hilly and the steepest ones seem to be on the 2nd half (when I always die.):

I don’t see any flat sections..gulp!

Of course, this is what they advertised & I wanted to believe:

Each of the three race courses is primarily flat (with a few gently rolling stretches and bridge crossings). Most of the marathon and half marathon is run on paved rail trails. All three races are fast; many participants can expect new PRs!

At the time when I registered, I thought I would be running better, longer and stronger. After my last two slow half marathon finish times and my achy feet, I knew not to expect much from this race.

Plus I had to leave at 4:30 am to get to the race start. Then meet someone I barely knew at 6:30 to get my race packet.

So now to race morning. Luckily I set all my clothes out the night before.

We had a thunderstorm during the night so I should have known better but I didn’t set my phone alarm in addition to my clock like I usually do when I have an early flight.

I woke up and it was light outside. Uh oh! The clock was flashing and I had no idea what time it was. I ran to get my watch and found out that it was 4:55!!!!

I scrambled and threw on my shirt & skirt and grabbed everything else. I made oatmeal and tea and took it with me to have while I was driving.

Believe it or not, I was in the car by 5:10.

Although my GPS wanted to take me on the back roads, I decided to take the Thruway because I could make up time.

I ate my oatmeal while I was driving (which wasn’t easy) and drank my tea (which scolded my mouth Oy!)

I was scheduled to arrive at 6:30 so not too bad, all things considered.

Then when I got to the entrance of Marist College, the traffic was backed up. That was the only entrance and it was not moving. It took my at least 20 minutes to get in. Yes, now I was really late but I texted my friend with bib that I would find her on the porta-potty line.

The parking was no problem but I had to walk toward the river which was quite far.

I guess this was my race warm up.

I sprinted to the race start to find out that they were having day of race packet pick up (since so many runners did not pick theirs up the day before) and that because of the traffic, they were delaying the start of the race.

I found my friend who had my bib and shirt and went to bag check. Well, they couldn’t have put it farther away from the race start. They said that they were afraid of a bomb disturbing the race. Really?

looks like rain

Although it wasn’t raining, it looked like it would at any moment. So so humid!! I was sweating already and I don’t sweat.

ready to begin

It was finally time to line up and wait until they decided to start the race. The announcer played music and an obnoxious train whistle each time he wanted to get your attention.

I turned on my Garmin and it said “Low battery.” Great!! I charged it but obviously it didn’t charge. I wondered how long it would last.

photo by Nin Lei

This was the course. wwhmmap

Right after you start, there is a hill and then there is another hill and another.

Photo By: Martin Weiner

Photo By: Martin Weiner

After you leave the campus and you pass through the tunnel under the rail tracks, there is a fairly significant, steep uphill climb for about .25 mile.

Photo By: Martin Weiner

Photo By: Martin Weiner

Finally you are on the rail trail which is rolling hills but not too bad of an incline. You were on the bike path until around mile 6. You got to see the lead runners. And you turned around and went back. It was now nice to see how many runners were still behind me.

photo by Nin Lei

The bike path was nice because it was shady and the rain never happened. Instead, the sun came out and it was warm.

photo by Nin Lei

There was great crowd support. I was surprised at how many people were along the course. They were very enthusiastic.

My favorite sign was “Don’t trust a fart after this point.”

Eventually we hit the famous Walkway Over the Hudson. It was beautiful. However, it had no shade and it was very windy (which actually felt great.)

Photo By: Martin Weiner

I didn’t realize how long it was – at least 2 miles and we had to run it in both directions. The biggest problem was that it was concrete – painful on the feet and even my back started to ache at this point in the race. On the way back, I bumped into someone from Albany. She had fallen at the turn around and was taking it slow. I ran with her which may have slowed me down but I didn’t care since it was nice to chat with someone.

the runner to my right looks like I felt

Finally we were heading back toward campus.

Now came those same hills. This time they were torture. I thought the race would never end.

I finally saw the finish line. I was relieved that I finished under 2 1/2 hours but a little sad that I was even slower than my last half.

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on their FB page – I must be a photo magnet

My official time was 2:25:53.

More thoughts on the race:

There were also a lot of water stops. They started at mile 1.5 and were at least every 1.5 miles or more. There were signs announcing them in advance. At each stop, there was Nuun and Gatorade in addition to just water. I made sure in this heat and humidity to walk through every one! I also ate 3 GUs and walked quite a ways while I ate them.

I also walked up every single hill – so several times during the first and last 2 miles. I just don’t have the strength or stamina to run up them.

Photo By: Martin Weiner

My Garmin did die at little after the halfway point. So I had no idea of my time or place for the second half of the race. And it made me more relaxed. I know it made me slower because I didn’t care if I walked since I had no time to beat.

Surprisedly, my feet were OK until about mile 8 or 9 and I felt blisters forming around mile 10.

After I got my medal and my chocolate milk, I limped all the way to bag pick up. I changed into flipflops and inspected my feet. A slight blister on my right foot but a huge one on the bottom of my left. (I did put moleskin on my feet but not where the blister was.)

So I went to the medical tent to get a band aid. They seem to be bored and several people put antiseptic on my feet, bandaged them and gave me tylenol & gatorade.

Then I walked back to check out the results. Believe it or not, I was 3rd in my age group. Now I had to stick around for the awards ceremony. And I am glad that I did.

pretty cool replica of the bridge

Now I had to trudge back to where I parked the car. It seemed like an even farther walk this time, of course.

Even with all the things that went wrong with this race, I am glad that I experienced it. My half marathon times are getting slower with one but that’s ok. I can run 13.1 miles and that’s all that matters.

Splits:

mile 1: 11:16
mile 2: 10:28
mile 3: 10:17
mile 4: 9:59
mile 5: 10:43
mile 6: 11:29
.62: 9:57
First Half: 1:08:25
Second Half: 1:17:28

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

I am also linking up with Jessica from The Silvah Lining for the Race Recap Link Up.

Happy Running! Do you race this weekend? If so, how did it go?

June 13, 2015 by Darlene

The Big Apple for a Rest

Last Saturday was my rest day.

So I rested.

NOT.

I traipsed around New York City.

I loved this movie:

So I wanted to see the real painting and its exhibit.

It was at the Neue Galerie on 86th & 5th.

Gustav Klimt and Adele Bloch-Bauer: The Woman in Gold” is an intimate exhibition devoted to the close relationship that existed between the artist and one of his key subjects and patrons. Included in the exhibition is a display of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, paintings, related drawings, vintage photographs, decorative arts, and archival material.

I did get to see the painting but you couldn’t take photos.

here I am with the fake painting

I also a big fan of Van Gogh and Impressionist art. My friends wanted to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the new Costume Institute. But I wanted to see Van Gogh’s Irises and Roses.

Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) brought his work in Provence to a close with exuberant bouquets of spring flowers—two of irises and two of roses, in contrasting formats and color schemes—in which he sought to impart a “calm, unremitting ardor” to his “last touch of the brush.” Painted on the eve of his departure from the asylum at Saint-Rémy and conceived as a series or ensemble on a par with the Sunflower decoration painted earlier in Arles, the group includes the Metropolitan Museum’s Irises andRoses and their counterparts: the upright Irises from the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, and the horizontal Roses from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

This exhibition will reunite the four paintings for the first time since the artist’s death and is timed to coincide with the blooming of the flowers that captured his attention. It will open 125 years to the week that Van Gogh announced to his brother Theo, on May 11 and 13, 1890, that he was working on these “large bouquets,” and will provide a singular opportunity to reconsider Van Gogh’s artistic aims and the impact of dispersal and color fading on his intended results.

Irises are also one of my favorite flowers. I try to walk or run in a local park to see them in bloom.

Of course, I like roses too.

So we went to the Metropolitan. My friends are members so the tickets were free.

I got to the VanGogh’s 4 paintings and after we had lunch with a view of Central Park.

All I could see while we were eating were runners going by. I so wanted to be one of them.

Then we checked out the Costume Institute’s new exhibit on China.

This exhibition explores the impact of Chinese aesthetics on Western fashion and how China has fueled the fashionable imagination for centuries. In this collaboration between The Costume Institute and the Department of Asian Art, high fashion is juxtaposed with Chinese costumes, paintings, porcelains, and other art, including films, to reveal enchanting reflections of Chinese imagery.

From the earliest period of European contact with China in the sixteenth century, the West has been enchanted with enigmatic objects and imagery from the East, providing inspiration for fashion designers from Paul Poiret to Yves Saint Laurent, whose fashions are infused at every turn with romance, nostalgia, and make-believe. Through the looking glass of fashion, designers conjoin disparate stylistic references into a pastiche of Chinese aesthetic and cultural traditions.

The exhibition features more than 140 examples of haute couture and avant-garde ready-to-wear alongside Chinese art. Filmic representations of China are incorporated throughout to reveal how our visions of China are framed by narratives that draw upon popular culture, and also to recognize the importance of cinema as a medium through which to understand the richness of Chinese history.

It was amazing.

We actually went to the Neue Galerie second and had dessert.

Afterwards, we walked back to the Metropolitan and went up to the Roof top.

I love New York City. I am already planning a return trip.

I had fun at the museums but I so wanted to be running!!!

Happy Running! How do you feel on your rest days?

June 12, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Favorite Summer Activities

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 Favorite Summer Activities.

Here are my 5:

1. Racing on the Weekends

I know I could just run for free but I only get that “Runner’s High” from races. I am lucky to have many choices. I can choose by location, course, distance, bling, etc. I pretty much race every weekend.

2. Playing Tennis Outdoors

This I can do for free. I usually play every Tuesday. If I didn’t go boating, I could also play on Saturdays and Sundays. I’ve given up playing in USTA and WTT league matches so that I can run more.

3. Boating on Lake George

This is one thing that the hubby & I do together. We both love it on the lake…whether it be docking on the islands, tying up with other boats in a bay or just hanging out at the marina.

4.Weekend getaways with friends

Schroon River

NYC

We go on day trips to museums and plays. We also go up to my friend’s who has a house on Schroon River. We love to swim, hike, play tennis, shop, eat out, play games, etc.

5.Barbecues

Nothing beats a hamburger or hot dog on a grill. Usually I do this on the lake or at a friend’s house.

Happy Running! What are your favorite things to do in the summer?

June 11, 2015 by Darlene

Half Marathon #14

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

June 13, 2015 7:30 am

Every time, I run a half marathon, I like to look back at my previous races. I can’t believe that this will be my 14th. And 9th after my ankle surgery. (So Dr. Ortho, I can run again!!)

1. My first and BEST was the Naples Half Marathon in January of 2011. My goal was just to finish and I did in 2:28:27 (gun time, no chip timing).

2. I immediately registered for the 1st annual Lake George Half Marathon in April of that year. Unfortunately, I had to run in sleet & freezing rain for 13.1 miles & without my Garmin. My time was 2:22:39 (gun time, no chip timing) and a PR until this year.

3. Out with strained Achilles for 6 weeks during the summer of 2011 delayed my training for the Adirondack Half Marathon (so I walked the 2nd half of the race.) I finished in 2:44:59. It was still fun because I was running it with lots of friends.

I see the finish line!

4. Again impulsively, I decided to sign up for the inaugural Fall Foliage Half Marathon as a training run. This was my hilliest half but I finished in 2:32:50.

my 4th Half Marathon 10-23-11

5. My goal race of that year was the Santa Clarita Half Marathon that I was running with a friend in California. This time it only poured for half the race and I finished with a disappointing 2:30:12.

After 5 half marathons in 2011, there were NONE in 2012. (The year of the broken ankle & foot stress fracture.)

6. My next Half Marathon, the First Watch Half Marathon in Sarasota, Fla came in 2013 16 months after serious ankle surgery and 5 months after a foot stress fracture. I was just glad to be running again. The course was beautiful, my friends were waiting at the end and I was happy with my 2:33:59 time.

7. The Mohawk-Hudson Half Marathon in the fall of 2013 was supposed to be the one where I would be seriously training and hopefully get a PR. Then I broke my foot. With a late start to my training and my weekly miles not what I would have liked, again this half marathon was just “I’ll be happy to finish.” So I did in 2:24:14. I enjoyed it since it was my first half where I slept in my own bed the night before.

Mohawk Hudson Half Marathon

8. For the Love Run Half Marathon in the Spring of 2014, I was injury-free for the whole training but I trained during an awfully cold, snowy winter. Despite running in monsoon rains, I managed to PR at 2:22:35. I made new running friends and we had fun during our weekend in “wet” Philly.

loverun

9. Last summer, after running a 10 mile race, I impulsively registered for the Saratoga Springs Half Marathon. This taught me to never run one in the summer. It was very humid & I felt sick so I struggled to a 2:26:00 finish.

sshm4b

10. Impromptu and free. I registered for the Hangover Half Marathon this past New Year’s Day and ran it as a training run on a cold, windy, lonely, boring course. And it was my fastest at 2:18:33. Go figure?

hangover-059

11. Training in frigid temps and running in Florida in January I thought would give me problems but the stars were aligned and I had the BEST.HALF.EVER in West Palm Beach. Beautiful weather, awesome scenery, a big PR and age group win. I sprinted to a 2:09:40 finish!!!

race_697_photo_14838692

12. I had awesome aspirations for the Asbury Park Half Marathon this past April. But foot pain ended that and I had a disappointing 2:20:18 finish time.

13. The Vermont City Marathon Relay on Memorial Day weekend was an unplanned race. Although, my finish time of 2:25:24 was slow, I thoroughly enjoyed the race.

14. This race on Saturday should be scenic and a good time. I have not trained much since April so I will not be disappointed with a slow time.

Fingers crossed for NO rain and NO pain! (The forecast is for showers & thunderstorms…)

Here are my Goals:

A. Finish Faster than my previous half (under 2:25:24 )

B. Finish under 2 1/2 hours

C. Beat my slowest time (under 2:44:59)

D. Finish happy & uninjured 🙂

And what will I wear?

A combination of the last two outfits – hat, SkirtSports skirt, shoes from Asbury Park and SkirtSports shirt, socks from VCM

Happy Running! Anyone else running this race?

June 10, 2015 by Darlene

Betar Byway 5K and Moreau Mile Race Report

I ran this race last year and remembered it being fun (even though there were hills) so I signed up again.

The 5K is a out and back and has one hill just before the 1 mile mark, with the rest being flat and the down hill at about 2.25 and a slight increase at the finish. Course is both paved (along Hudson River) and packed dirt path in wooded area, for approx 1.25 mile.

bb elevation

It is about an hour north of my house (and on the way to my boat.)

And most importantly, I love scenic. Here are some views of the course:

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10295224_10202200045743430_818599984312150476_o

finish line view

The weather was cool and cloudy. It was about 50 degrees when I left the house. It was predicted to warm up to the 70’s later. Actually perfect running weather for a change.

I left early and arrived in plenty of time. I parked nearby and got my race packet.

ready to race in purple

Then I used the restroom – yes, there were real ones.

Believe it or not, I didn’t know anyone at this race.

So I just patiently waited until it was time for everyone to walk down to the water for the start.

Of course, while waiting for the gun to go off, I wound up talking to some older runners… about future races and running shoes.

I planned to start near the front since there were no timing chips or start line but I was chatting and forgot.

I must say that this was one of the prettiest course I have ever run. It was along the water most of the time or on a paved trail through a park.

I tried to focus on the scenery since I knew that this one would be tough due to hilly course.

The first mile had a small hill which I ran up and then came the monster hill. I walked up the whole thing and had trouble doing that it was so steep. I think I did the right thing since it was early in the race.

It wasn’t warm but I walked through the first water stop anyway but very quickly.

Lately I am having trouble running fast. I am trying but my breathing is labored and my legs just won’t go. ( guess that’s why runners do speed drills!)

Eventually the course looped around and you headed back to the start. I passed through the second water stop and then finally came the big hill. This time you were running down. These hills always scare me so I hold back especially with my falling history.

Then I think I walked once more before the final hill which led to the finish line.

can I catch her?

nope. she’s too fast

I tried unsuccessfully to pass a 10 year old.

but I will beat 30 minutes!

yes, I will!

But at least I finished under 30 minutes! 29:25

Splits:

mile 1 – 9:38
mile 2 – 9:44
mile 3 – 9:06
.14 – 8:43

At least, I was 24 seconds faster than last year but slower than last week’s 5k.

After the 5K, there was a one mile race. Not for kids but for everyone. It looked like fun last year so I signed up for this one too (I am crazy like that.)

Of course after the hilly 3.1 miles, my legs were too tired to run even ONE mile but I wanted to give it my best shot.

However, I never ran it before and I didn’t know where they would start the race. I was chatting with an older runner about injuries (what else?) and I noticed that they were not starting the second race and it was almost time.

So I asked and they said, the it started a mile into the course and finished in the same spot as the 5k. Well, that made sense.

Would I have enough time to get to the start? Probably not but I started running.

I ran and ran but unfortunately I wasn’t there yet when I heard the gun go off to start the race. So I moved over and let the runners go by and then continued to the start and started running.

I was last, of course, and tired since I just race a 5k plus an additional mile getting to the start.

But I did pass a few people.

relaxed…

now serious!

Garmin time was 9:46.

Then they gave out the awards and I won third place in my age group in both races.

betar byway 5k

moreau mile

Even a faster time wouldn’t have gotten me ahead the speedier ladies.

I will definitely do this race again. I loved the course and the scenery. Next time, maybe I’ll try to run up that hill and now I know where the Moreau Mile race starts.

One of the reasons for choosing this race was that it was on the way to our marina so I could join my hubby who was patiently waiting.

my hubby on our boat

This was my view from a lounge chair for most of the rest of the day.

in my happy place

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with lots of post race snacks

Several boating friends joined us.

and an insect friend

Very relaxing.

We ended the day with a nice dinner at a new restaurant in town.

Racing+Boating=Perfect Sunday

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

I am also linking up with Jessica from The Silvah Lining for the Race Recap Link Up.

Happy Running! What did you do this weekend? Did you run or race?

June 9, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Hot Weather Running Tips

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: Hot Weather Running Tips

What to wear:

Skirts, of course. You stay cooler in them than capris or shorts and they just look good.

Especially SkirtSports skirts!

Tank tops or tech tee shirts

lighthouse 5k mother-147

Baseball caps – they keep the hair off my neck and the sun off my face

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Cool Max socks – I am blister prone so this is important for me.

Sunglasses – I wear contacts so my eyes are really sensitive. I wear sunglasses all the time (even if it is not sunny) except when it is dark out.

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