March 26, 2015 by Darlene

Run with Jess’ 5th Annual Jelly Bean Race

DATES: Race begins Friday, March 27. Ends on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015.

LOCATION: Pick your favorite local route or just hop on a treadmill.

EVENTS: Choose the event that works best for your current fitness level. You will earn one entry into the prize drawing for each of the four events that you complete in the 10-day time window March 27-April 5. Max of 4 entries per person; each race distance may only be counted once.

Run 5K (3.1 miles)
Run 10K (6.2 miles)
Run Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
Bike 21K (13 miles)

HOW THE JELLY BEAN WORKS:

No need to pre-register. Just mark your calendar, tell your friends, and organize a local group run in your area. This makes a great family event to get the kids active! Bookmark this webpage so that you can come back for updated information until race day. Join the Facebook event here to socialize with other participants.

Order an Jelly Bean finisher’s medal below (optional). Proceeds from these medals will be donated to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital as part of my fundraising for the Bartonville-to-Peoria St. Jude run. If you don’t want a medal, but would still like to participate in the Jelly Bean, a donation of any amount to St. Jude Children’s Hospital is much appreciated here.

On race week, PRINT A RACE BIB for each person participating. (Link activated on 3/23)

Finally, complete your Jelly Bean events… Run, Bike and have FUN!! Take pictures and please share them on my Facebook wall. Hint, hint… I always award one prize to my favorite picture. Share them on social media using hashtag #JellyBeanV
REPORT RACE RESULTS for each participant before 8 pm on April 7. You will earn one entry into the prize drawing for each event that you finish (4 max per person). Each event may only be counted once. (Reporting link activated on 3/27.)
PRIZES: When the Jelly Bean results window closes, there will be a random prize drawing from all finishers. Grand Prize is a Wireless Activity & Sleep Tracker for your wrist! Other prizes include: Starbucks gift card, BondiBand headband, and more… Check back often as she will continue adding prizes!

Follow Jess on Facebook for race updates… www.FB.com/runwjess

I will do the 5k as a weekday run and since I have a 5 mile race on March 29, I will probably add on more miles for a 10K or if I am really energetic, a half marathon (as a training run for my April 18 one.)

Here’s another opportunity to run a virtual 5K leading up to the opening of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas race registration on April 1st and you get a FREE tank or tee for participating.

It’s absolutely free-just submit your time here before April 1st.

Happy Running! Do you run Virtual races? Are you are going to do the Jelly Bean Race or RnRLV Kickoff Run?

March 25, 2015 by Darlene

Fabulous Fit Gear Swap

This month, for the first time, I decided to participate in a #FabulousFitgear Swap with Renee from Bendiful Blog.

This is how the program works: you register by the 5th of the month, Renee will send you another blogger, you check out their blog, get to know them and you send them some fabulous fit gear ($20 value) by the 15th of the month.

I love new gear and I love meeting new bloggers. A win-win.

I got paired with Sue at This Mama Runs For Cupcakes. She is currently training for the Paris Marathon. I couldn’t be more jealous as Paris is my favorite city in the world!!

I got her some headbands, socks, a tank top, and lock laces. I hope she liked them.

This is what I got:

I love this top. It fits perfectly and it matches my new running shoes, compression socks and skirt that I already have!

perfect, right?

even have purple shoes

I also love Experia socks – they are so comfortable and these are a perfect color. I have them in many colors but not this color.

I have never tried Nuun but if it ever gets warm here, I may try it on long runs.

Thanks Sue for the gifts!!!

Happy Running! Have you participated in this swap?

March 24, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Favorite Spectator/Race Signs

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: Favorite Spectator/Race Signs

Here are a few that I remember seeing:

sign

Happy Running! Do you have any favorite running signs?

March 23, 2015 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #8)

Monday – 3 mile group run with FRW training group

Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 4 mile run on the TM

too windy outside – 1st half of last episode of How to get away with murder

Thursday – ~~3 mile run~~ ~~at lunch~~ (too busy at work), hair appt
Friday- 3 4 mile run on the TM, mah jongg

snowing – 2nd half of last episode of How to get away with murder

Saturday – GOTR orientation, rest
Sunday – 5 mile race + 5 more miles

46:29 = PR & 3rd in my AG

so hard…so slow = 1:02

This Week: (AP Half Marathon Training week #9)

Monday – 4 mile group run with FRW training group
Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 3 mile run at lunch, dinner out with tennis ladies
Thursday – 4 mile run
Friday- 3 mile run, mah jongg
Saturday – proctor MPREs, rest, knitting group
Sunday – 5 mile race + 6 more miles

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

March 22, 2015 by Darlene

Shamrock Shuffle Race Recap

This was my 4th 5 mile race.

My Delmar Dash times:

2014 – 48:14
2013 – 47:39
2011 – 47:08 PR

The Delmar Dash which is next Sunday is the only 5 miler that I have run. As you can see my times have gotten slower. I’d like to turn that around.

I was hoping that the weather would be a little more springlike and I could wear my new green skirt. But it was not. It was COLD, even colder than last week. So I just wore tights under my skirt and the usual layers.

ss15

Not knowing anything about the course (though it claims to be fast and flat) and Delmar is absolutely flat, I was hoping to finish under 50 minutes and maybe beat last year’s 5 mile time (48:14).

I also wanted to have enough energy to run 5 more miles afterward since I did not do my long runs the last 2 weekends.

The race was about an hour drive from my house and again I left early not knowing exactly where I was going.

Well, when I left it was around 20 degrees. The winds were 25 mph and it was predicted to get up 40 mph wind gusts. Did not sound like fun to me.

Yesterday, it was nice out. All day long, I felt like doing my 10 mile long run and DNSing this race. So I went into this race with a crappy attitude.

My attitude changed as soon as I arrived. Although the parking lot was full, I found a spot on a nearby street. Everyone hung out in the gym waiting for the race to start.

cold short sleeved tees shirt (that I will send to my running buddy)

I chatted with a runner about the Schroon Lake Half Marathon. She noticed my jacket.

I though I was going to wear my Schroon Lake Half jacket

Then I bumped into Laurie from my Turkey Trot training group. We talked for a while being entertained by bag pipes.

With a late start (11 am), I was already hungry for lunch by the time the race began so I took a GU.

Soon, we headed for the start. We waited until the last minute so we didn’t have to stand outside long in the cold.

I changed my mind several times about what to wear. Eventually I settled on a fleece vest under my 2 shirts instead of the windbreaker. I was hoping that the sun would keep me warm.

Well, this supposedly fast flat course was not flat for the first 2 miles.

And as usual, I went out too fast thinking I was Super Woman.

over the highway bridge

By the first water stop around mile 1.75, I was pooped. The wind, the hills and my fast pace had killed me so I walked for a bit.

Then I slowed it down until we got the downhill portion. Mile 3’s downhills gave me a boost but again at the second water stop around mile 4, my speed caught up to me. This time I walked for even longer.

The bad thing about wearing a watch is that I knew my pace was faster than last week and fast enough to PR. So I felt comfortable walking instead of pushing myself to do even better.

the course went down main roads as well as old neighborhoods

Finally, I saw the finish line and tried to sprint but I didn’t have much left.

iI wish someone had mentioned that my skirt was tucked into my belt

I crossed at 46:29. A PR! This made me very happy!!

other runners heading to the finish line

happy to be done..ignore my skirt that is scrunched up into my belt

I went inside and I must say the refreshments left a lot to be desired…bananas and some stale cookies.

So I went back into the gym and waited for Laurie to finish and the results to be posted.

When I looked at the results, I noticed that my name was not listed!!! I was pissed…my fastest 5 miler and a probable age group award!!

So I talked to the director when they were reading the men’s awards and she remembered me and asked for my name and my time.

I hoped my Garmin was correct and it turned out to be.

Yup, I got third. Some of the fast women did not run this race…YAY!

And I got a beer glass.

out of 338

Splits:

mile 1- 8:55
mile 2- 9:31 (walk #1)
mile 3- 8:58
mile 4- 9:35 (walk #2)
mile 5- 9:19
.04 – 8:17

I enjoyed the race (I enjoy them all) and was happy about how I did considering the wind and my walking. I’m not sure if it was worth the hour ride so I may not do this one again especially if I am training for a spring half marathon.

I get another shot at a 5 miler next Sunday – the Delmar Dash!!

Though I was tired and cold, I drove back and stopped along the way to run some more miles.

First I stopped at Colonie Town Park but the bike path in both directions was snow/ice covered so I drove the Nisky Bike Path.

It was clear.

clear for 2.25 miles

But it seemed to have gotten colder and the wind gusts were incredible. I almost quit several times.

out of luck…can’t get to Blatnik Hill

I really struggled to get 5 more miles done. I walked a lot. In fact, it took me over one hour!! (That’s over a 12 minute pace.)

Oh well, at least I got my 10 mile long run done. It just had a 2 hour break in the middle.

When I got home, my friend called and wanted to know if I wanted to go get soft ice cream.

how could I say “no”…another mint cone..yum!!

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

Happy Running! How was your weekend? Any running or racing?

March 21, 2015 by Darlene

Spring Races

It’s almost Spring (although it doesn’t feel or look like it) and time to fill up my racing calendar.

a 5 miler and a new one for me.

March 29, 2015 – in my neighborhood – my 4th time running it

April 11, 2015 – loved this last year – hope to win a pie again

half #12 – along the ocean – yay & a visit to a college friend in NJ

enjoyed this one last year too – hopefully there will be cherry blossoms this year

yes, that’s me on the website – I ran the 10K last year – this year I signed up for the 15K

May 7, 2015 6:30 pm…wasn’t planning on this but a FB friend started a team for this 5k and…

May 9, 2015 – My Birthday – running the 15K, a new race for me

GOTR event – I am volunteering in this program and will be doing it with my new buddy – otherwise I would run this for the 2nd time

May 24, 2015 – I am doing the relay with AJH – my 13th half

This is the only race that I have never missed – so this will be my 8th time. My favorite 5k!

Half Marathon – June 13, 2105 – my 14th half – get to see the new bridge over the Hudson

June 20, 2015 – my 2nd year – loved it last year – this year I will be jetlagged.

Happy Running? Do you have your spring races planned? Which race(s) are you looking forward to?

March 20, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Spring

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 Spring

Here are 5 things that I am looking forward to this spring:

1. Running in a skirt and without a jacket

I am sooo tired of layers…

Bacon Hill Bonanza

best cone ever!

2. Flowers

It’s hard to imagine the snow melted but it will happen. Seeing flowers in bloom always brightens my mood.

3. Returning to my usual running routes

My running has been restricted due to the ice, snow, puddles. I have had to run in the road or around UAlbany campus. I am looking forward to running in the parks and on the bike paths again.

4. My Next Half Marathon

I can’t believe it will be here in a month. No, I’m not training well at all but I am still excited .

5. Annual Tennis Vacation

This is female bonding at its best. We’ve been traveling together since 2002 and to Naples, Florida in May since 2005.

we always take a picture outside this restaurant each year

group photo on our last day of tennis lessons

Happy Running! What are you looking forward to this spring?

March 19, 2015 by Darlene

Thinking Out Loud Thursday

This Thursday is for thinking… so I am linking up with Running With Spoons…

And most recently I have been thinking about “what kind of runner I am”

When I was chatting on Saturday with runners around my age who run marathons, even qualify for Boston and think that an 8 minute pace is not that fast, I wondered whether I was serious enough. Could I be faster? Should I train more? Should I try to run 26.2 miles? They invited me to join them on a long run the next day. Run the day after a race? I don’t do that. I don’t run the day before a race. Give up my weekends in the summer to train for a long race? I won’t do that.

But I PRed at age 61 and I was happy.

the not so fast, not so driven but happy runner

Then Monday at the first Freihofer’s Training Group run, I was chatting again with women around my age who haven’t raced since the Turkey Trot in November and haven’t run much all winter because it was cold. In training runs, they run faster than me and were shocked when I beat them all at the Troy Turkey Trot. They were amazed that I ran all winter and how many races I ran and that I even ran a half marathon.

11060303_573497442753146_4725648863226627838_n

This was the complete 5 pm group… I was part of the Advanced group – they gave us free water bottles

I’m the bored looking one at the left (pink shirt hanging out my black jacket)

I felt like a “rock star” and when after 20 minutes, they wanted to quit running, I made them run 10 more minutes.

11034374_573335232769367_7486910653494000969_o

When it was over, I felt like running more but didn’t say so. Nobody wants to labelled an “overachiever.” Of course, on the way home, I decided that I may run a few miles next Monday before the training and if the weather is nice, run more after. Who cares what they think. I AM a serious runner.

Thumbs up to me…another PR and I am fast for me!

So what is serious for one runner may not be not serious for another. We all have different goals.

I am not putting down anyone who obsesses about drills, farleks, strides, intervals, hill repeats and laments about not PRing at every race.

Nor am I criticizing any runner who runs just several times a year and whose race goal to just to finish.

Just thinking out loud.

I have to remember this…

Happy Running! What are you thinking about today?

March 18, 2015 by Darlene

My California Trip Recap

The highlight of my trip was supposed to be my 5K race with Mary. But if you’ve been reading my blog, you know that my flight last Friday was cancelled and re-booked for Saturday. That meant that I missed the race!

DNS

Since Mary signed up because of me, when I didn’t arrive, she decided not to run it either.

After many delays, 14 hours later I arrived in Palm Springs!

After feeling the sunshine and warmth, I immediately changed from a bad to a good mood. And it remained that way, the whole stay.

view in Mary’s community

Saturday morning, we set out early to hike up the Bump N Grind Trail. It was forecast to be 90 degrees and was already warm when we left. Fortunately, it is the dessert and a dry heat.

on the way up

Mary climbs this all the time but me, I was doubtful that I was in good enough shape.

I struggled and we went slow but I did it!!

at the top

Then came the fun part. We ran down it!!!

It was awesome. This was the most fun I’ve ever had (almost as good as running a half marathon along the water.)

After our hike, we went to La Quinta Art Festival. it is supposed to be the best in the US.

It was really interesting. I saw a lot of beautiful art.

Then we took a drive because I wanted to see the wind turbines. There are thousands of them!!

That evening and all the rest of the evenings of my stay, we ate in, Mary cooked something healthy (followed by ice cream) and we went to bed early.

Unfortunately Mary had to work all week. She teaches Special Ed in Cochanella Valley.

So each morning, I went out for a run. On Monday, I ran 2 laps of her community which was about 3 miles.

On Tuesday, I ventured outside the community for 3 miles also.

It was so nice to be running in the sunshine with a skirt & tank top on.

how appropriate to see this on a run

Mary lives across the street from the Indian Wells Tennis Center which was hosting the BNP Paribas Open. I love tennis so this was perfect.

The downside is that there is a wall around her community so you have to walk almost a mile to get out and then another mile to the Tennis Center. Good exercise, right? (But it was sooo hot!!)

So Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I walked over and watched the tennis pros practicing, some qualifying matches and on Wed. the women’s round one.

Kei Nishikori whose coach is Michael Chang

Stan Wawrinka

my favorite Roger Federer

cool, huh?

It was awesome!! Much bigger and better than I could have imagined.

Tuesday, it was so hot that I walked home and sat by the pool.

Mary worked until 8 pm so I walked back to watch more tennis in the evening.

On Wednesday, for my last day, Mary & I went back to the Bump N Grind Trail in the evening.

It was a little easier this time.

And we celebrated with French desserts!

Thursday, I left and it only took 8 hours to get home with no airport waiting time and no flight delays.

Despite missing the race, it was a great trip. Mary was a super hostess and I hope next time, we can run a race together.

Happy Running! Have you had any fun vacations lately? Did you run or race during them?

March 17, 2015 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Rituals for Races

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: Rituals for Races

I’m not really superstitious so I have no lucky charms but below are my must-do and must-haves on race day:

Breakfast

I always have oatmeal–2 or 3 packages with almond milk. I try to eat 2 hours before the race.

Fuel

I always eat one packet of Gu before the race and one after for each 4 miles of running and only drink plain water.

Running Skirt and Compression Socks

10850299_900162136661683_7867448503968640806_n

race_697_photo_14838692

Apple Run - October

No matter what the season or weather, I wear a skirt. They are the most comfortable for me. And because I still worry about my ankle, I wear compression knee socks.

My Garmin

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

My Road ID

Half in Naples, Florida

I got it for my first Half Marathon (in case I was found passed out on the side of the road) and have worn it every since. Once I lost it so I bought another and then found the first one. So now I have 2 pink ones (one velcro, one rubber).

race_697_photo_14832070

My iPhone

iphonerun

I carry my phone everywhere. I got burned once and I will never run without it. I also use my phone to take pictures instead of a camera.

Race Belt

stock15k

I have two different ones. I don’t like to put pins in my shirts so I attach my bib to the belt. It also allows me to carry a phone.

a Hat

You’ll never see me run without one. A wool or fleece hat in the winter and a baseball cap the rest of the year. I don’t like headbands and hats keep my hair out of the way.

Run for the Roc - September