January 4, 2015 by Darlene

Running and Bargain Shopping

My two favorite things–Running and Bargain Shopping

Although I wasn’t sure that my legs were recovered from my half marathon on Thursday, I decided to meet my FB friend Judy for a run.

We have been meeting in the Crossings, the same place and at the same time. This was to be the last time for a while since I will be going back to work. Each time the weather has been colder.

But nevertheless, it is always enjoyable to run with someone else. We chat abut running and racing and have basically the same philosophy on both.

The only problem with this run was that neither of us had a working watch or phone app. So I am guessing that it was more or less 4 1/2 miles since it seemed longer than our previous runs…but who knows?

After the run, I stopped at Starbucks to refuel. I got some Blueberry oatmeal which gave me 4 bonus stars.(I now have enough to free lunch item this week 🙂 )

oatmeal

Then I stopped at FleetFeet. I love my Mizuno Wave Rider 18s so I had ordered them in a different color.

Aren’t they pretty?

Guess what? I had a $25 off coupon? So I bought some of my favorite GU flavors (which were buy 10, get 2 free.)

Next, I headed to Joann Fabrics where I had 40% off coupon on one item and then 15% off the whole order. I bought a shelf that I plan to make into a medal hanger and some other stuff.

less than $1

I resisted going to Target that was in the same plaza since I can’t get out of the store for less than $200. Instead I went to Marshalls.

I don’t need another tech top but the neck will keep my face warmer & it was only $14

The best deal of the day was on socks. I get blisters and I was tempted to buy Feetures socks at FleetFeet but didn’t want to spend $15 on a pair of socks (when I don’t really need any socks.)

same socks but I found them in the men’s dept and they were only $4.50 so I bought 4 pair.

When I left, it was snowing.That was perfect. I left without being tempted to do more shopping.

I was so happy that I got my run in. Tomorrow it is supposed to rain and colder temps are forecasted for the week.

Happy Running! Do you shop for bargains?

January 3, 2015 by Darlene

December Recap

DECEMBER GOALS:

Run 3-4 times each week (no matter how cold it gets.) YES!

3-4 miles here a few time (unfortunately)

during Christmas break

Walk once a day while at work. YES on most days!

we’re inside now. 9 1/2 loops of the building

Run with a group when possible. Nope. Not this month. But did run twice with Judy.

Complete my 5k race(s) with under 10 min/mile pace. YES!

29:02 in the RAIN

Complete a 15K race. YES!

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HMRRC Winter Series #1 – 2nd fastest 15K

Do long runs on the weekend to train for half marathon on January 17. The last 2 weekends.

Run at least 80 miles. YES! 91 miles.

dec14

Go to the gym at least once a week. NOT REALLY. Lazy lazy lazy. I did a few times the last week.
Start back at yoga. Went Once!

new instructor, Maria; my former instructor Lisa has lyme disease 😦

Avoid gaining weight (while attending holiday parties). Not sure. Afraid to look at the scale!
Spend time with my mentee. YES! 3X.

celebrating Amanda’s 25th b-day

celebrating Richard’s 8th b-day

on Christmas Day

Also:

Spent 2 days in NYC!!

Dec 6 to see a Broadway show …

Dec 29 to see the Matisse exhibit

JANUARY GOALS:

Run 3-4 times each week (no matter how cold it gets.)
Walk once a day while at work.
Get some strength training or yoga done.
Run with a group when possible.
Do long runs on the weekend to train for half marathon on January 17.
Complete a 10K race.
Complete a 15K race.
Complete my10th & 11th half marathons.
Run at least 90 miles.

Happy Running! How was your December? Anything special planned for January?

January 2, 2015 by Darlene

Friday Five: Blogging or Fitness Resolutions/Goals

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 Blogging or Fitness Resolutions/Goals.

I will post in a few days all my 2015 goals but here are FIVE:

1. Walk Everyday

I used to be really good about this. A co-worker and I walked everyday at 11 am. Then it got cold. It’s not as much fun to walk indoors. Then it got busy at work. My co-worker still walked but I slacked off.

2. Exercise

I am good at getting out to run at least 3 times each week and playing tennis once a week. But that’s it. I have weights and a free gym where I can use the machines. I also can do yoga at home. There are so many video programs. My upper body needs help!

3. Eat Fewer Sweets

It’s no secret that I have a sweet tooth and prefer desserts to a meal.

I need to get more of this when I am hungry:

and less of these:

christmas cookie exchange at work

4. Do Speed Drills or Hill Repeats

When I was part of a running group, I had no choice but to do the drills. I plan to join again in March but on my own. They don’t happen.

5. Be more positive and confident.

In work, life and running, I do not always believe in myself. In 2015,I will try to be more optimistic. I will accept my flaws but not dwell on them. In other words, a happier 2015. Of course, let the PRs keep coming!!

Runners World 5K

Happy Running! What are some of your resolutions?

January 1, 2015 by Darlene

Hangover Half Marathon recap

January 1, 2015

Every year, the Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club puts on the Winter Series, a series of free races for its members ($5 for non-members). On New Year’s Day, starting at noon, they offer the Hangover Half or 3.5 Bill Hogan Run as Winter Series #2.

I had planned to run the 3.5 mile race. That was before the 15k that went surprisingly well. Since then I have run 11 mile and 12 mile long runs (which didn’t go as well.)

So I decided that 13.1 miles would not be a stretch and that it would be motivating to have people around (and food after.)

For New Year’s Eve, my hubby and I had a quiet evening – just dinner out and a movie. We usually go Lake George on New Year’s Day but my hubby didn’t want to and I was fine with it.

So when I arrived at the race on New Year’s Day, I switched my registration to the half marathon.

We had been enjoying unseasonably warm winter weather. Well, that ended. It was cold today and WINDY so back to those layers.

I arrived at UAlbany early and was surprised at how many people were running on New Year’s Day. There were over 300 running the half marathon.

I bumped into to several SRMs, some runners from the Turkey Trot training group and Judy whom I have run with recently. Judy & I hung out and chatted util the race began.

at the start

As I have previously mentioned, the course is horribly boring (and ugly) and there is no crowd support.

It is pretty much 13.1 miles of me with my own thoughts and nothing to look at besides the backs of the fast runners lapping me. Yes, three laps of the same boring loop for the whole 13.1 miles.

Sounds like torture?

And it was.

hhm

I ran without walking until the first water stop at around 4 miles. It was so tough running into the wind. There were times that I was barely moving forward. My lips were getting wind burned and I was cold.Then when the wind was at our backs (not often enough), I unzipped my jacket and took off my gloves. This was the story of the whole race.

Unfortunately after mile 5, my lower back and left arm started bothering me. My legs were fine but the wind was slowing me down and I began to walk.

As in the previous HMRRC Winter series race, I was running alone most of the time.The speedy runners kept passing me but each one seem to say “Good job or you’re doing great.” That was nice. I, however, did not pass anyone.

I just kept plugging along trying to maintain good running form and minimize my arm & back ache.

The last 4 miles were the hardest. It seemed that every runner that passed me by was on their last lap but I had to run one more grueling lap.

This is when I start counting my steps to keep up the pace.

Finally the end was near but 279 runners (out of 309) were done and when I came to the next to last turn, there was no volunteer and I went straight instead of turning left. Luckily I realized my mistake and turned around. To make mattes worse, at the last turn, I had no idea whether to turn left or go straight so I waited until the next runner (an old guy) came so I would not run the wrong way again.

I tried to make up time for my mistakes and sprinted across the finish line at 2:18:33.

Believe it or not, that was a PR!!

Although, this was a tough race for me with the wind, I was happy that I didn’t quit.

done!

Inside, I had some soup, bread, pizza and hot chocolate before I ventured out into the cold again. I knew I didn’t win a age group award. The majority of the runners finished under 2 hours and the slowest, I think finished in 2:30.

hhm

Race Splits: (my Garmin actually worked)

mile 1 – 9:54
mile 2 – 10:05
mile 3 – 9:52
mile 4 – 10:04
mile 5 – 10:54 (water & gu)
mile 6 – 10:32
mile 7 – 10:36
mile 8 – 11:28 (water & gu)
mile 9 – 10:32
mile 10 – 10:54
mile 11 – 11:03 (water)
mile 12 – 10:54
mile 13- 10:47
.23 – 8:44

If only I was strong enough to run without walking, I would have a faster finish time.

My goal was to get through the race without too much pain and boredom. A PR was a plus!

I am glad that I started the new year with a race.

Now I have to stay healthy for 16 more days!

Happy Running! Did you run on New Year’s Day?

December 31, 2014 by Darlene

Back to the Big Apple

A friend went to the Matisse exhibit at MoMa during Thanksgiving break.

“It is the most extensive exhibition of this period of Matisse’s work ever mounted,” … The exhibition follows Matisse as he begins with small works of dancers twirling and leaping and figures in bright colors, using paper which was more expedient and less labor intensive than paint. It follows with Jazz, a series of works for a project for publisher Teriade, and continues with larger works such as “The Thousand and One Nights,” which depicts the story of fictional Queen Scheherazade from the Arabian Nights, and his four “Blue Nude” studies of the female form….The MOMA show … also includes “The Swimming Pool,” which fills a room in the exhibit with cut-outs of ultramarine blue swimmers, divers and sea urchins. Inspired by a visit to a favorite pool in Cannes, Matisse made the expansive work pinned on white paper on walls lined with tan canvas in his dining room in Nice. Other highlights include “The Parakeet and the Mermaid,” a massive cut-out work covering an entire wall with bright blues, greens, reds and blues; and “Ivy in Flower,” a large maquette for a stained glass window.

When I heard about it, I knew I had to go. I love French art. I spent my junior year of college in Nice, France where there is a large Matisse museum.

So I called my friend, Eileen, and we planned to a trip to NYC for during my holiday break from work.

As usual, we took to Megabus down.

It was chilly but the sun was out (though the tall buildings blocked the sun but at least shielded us from the wind.) It was nice walking in a part of the city that I don’t often see. I love all the different kinds of buildings you get to see.

From 7th & 28th, we walked to have lunch in a restaurant on 39th & Park Avenue

It was a change from the theater district where we normally have lunch.

The food was wonderful.

mac n cheese, pumpkin croquettes, butternut squash risotto, beef, stew – we shared them

After lunch, we walked to the Museum of Modern Art with a brief stop in Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center.

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We had Matisse tickets for 2:00 pm. The line was a mile long but luckily we didn’t have to wait since we had bought tickets ahead of time.

The Matisse exhibit was amazing. (Unfortunately you couldn’t take pictures.) It was unbelievably crowded. I was surprised at how any people were at this exhibit.

After the Matisse exhibit, I wanted to also see Monet’s waterlilies as well as Van Gogh’s Starry Starry Night.

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I forgot how much I liked this museum. There was a whole floor of post-impressionists such as Cezanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh and modern painters such as Matisse, Chagall, Picasso, etc.

I accidentally stumbled upon a whole floor on Toulouse-Lautrec’s posters of Paris.

We could have stayed for hours but we wanted to get back outdoors and go to Rockefeller Center & Saks to catch the holiday lights that we missed on our last visit.

Before we left, we did visit the sculpture garden.

wishing that I could go back to Paris

Of course, it was crowded everywhere in the city especially at Saks. The windows were very creative and worth a view and it was getting dark so Rockefeller Center was lit up.

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Then we headed to another bucket list item for me…a rooftop bar in NYC.

We fought the crowds on the sidewalks and walked to the Refinery Rooftop on 38th & 6th. We had an awesome view of the Empire State Building while having a drink and some appetizers.

view from the inside

The best part was that I got to visit with a former student, fellow runner & blogger and NYC resident. She brought her friend and the four of us had a great time chatting. (I can’t believe that she graduated HS over 15 years ago.)

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From there, we walked to Penn Station to catch our train home…a long day…lots of walking…but

Happy Running! Anyone else share my love for NYC? And I still plan someday to race there!!

December 30, 2014 by Darlene

Tuesdays on the Run: Wrap-up – A Look Back at 2014

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: Wrap-up – A Look Back at 2014

2014 was probably my best year of running. NO INJURIES!!!!!!!!

Here are some highlights:

4 Destination races in 4 different states

10 miler in CA.

5k In FL.

a Half Marathon in PA.

10 miler in NJ

PRs at 5 distances

half marathon PR in March

10 mile PR in October

15K PR in November

10K PR in November

5K PR in September

Many many Age Group Awards (18, I think):

one of my favorites

$50 gift card to a restaurant

Ran lots of races (over 30) of which 20 were new races. Most of these I want to run again next year.

Troy Turkey Trot 10K

Great Pumpkin Challenge

Run for the Roc 5K

Adirondack Distance Challenge

Ran in some new places and met new faces

Uncle Sam’s Bikeway & RPI Campus in Troy

Blatnik Hill (part of Nisky bike trail)

Union college campus & the STEM group members

Prospect Park with the Turkey Troy Training group members

ran in Central Park, NY for the first & hopefully not the last time

new running buddy, Judy that I met on FB

Happy Running! How was your 2014?

December 29, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week: (Week 9 of HM training) – OFF FROM WORK

Monday – 6 mile run, errands, nails

3 miles with FB friend Judy & 3 miles solo

Tuesday – ~~3 mile run~~ (rain), 1 mile run at the gym, tennis

14 times around= 1 mile Torture

2 week trial membership

Wednesday – ~~rest~~, 3 mile run, gym, holiday party

Thursday – Christmas visit to mentee & mil, dinner, movie

Friday- 12 mile run, mah jongg chez moi

a tough one 😦 on a beautiful sunny day

Saturday – rest, gym, cooking (2 quiches, meatloaf, apple sauce, soup), shopping

Sunday – 3 mile run, tennis holiday party

This Week: (Week 10 of HM training) – OFF FROM WORK

Monday – rest, DAY IN NYC
Tuesday – 3 mile run, lunch out, tennis
Wednesday – rest, gym, dinner out for New Year’s Eve, movie
Thursday – Hangover Half Marathon
Friday- rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 3 mile run
Sunday – rest, gym

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

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

December 28, 2014 by Darlene

2014 was a good year

report-card1 Yes, it was a very good year:

ZERO injuries
5 PRs
many races including three 10 mile races, four 10k races, two half marathons, three 15k races, fifteen 5k races and more…

So let’s take a closer look at my 2014 goals…

1. Do not get injured. No injuries, YAY!

happy legs

happy feet

happy body

2. Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR. Yes!

in the freezing cold

in the spring

during my vacation

in the summer

in the fall

3. Continue fitting in tennis and/or yoga once a week and upper body & core strength exercises (planks & weights). Tennis YES, Yoga Rarely, Planks & Weights SO SO, Gym occasionally starting in October.

my instructor returned from maternity leave on May 7 and then went out on leave for lyme disease in July…

when I can remember to use them

indoors except the summer

4. Finish all races (except 15ks & half marathons) at under 10 min. per mile pace. Almost all. Even a few under 9 min!!!

: 5k – 30:10

: 4 miler – 38:07

: 5 miler – 48:14

: 4 miler – 38:06

: 5k – 28:56

: 5K – 27:51

: 10k – 1:00:52

: 5K – 28:14

: 5K – 28:51

: 2014

: short 5k (2.25 m) – 20:19

: 5k – 30:47

: 5k – 28:25

: 2016 – – 28:47

: 5k – 28:16

: 5k – 27:11 – PR (Sept. 2014)

: 5K – 27:47

: 5K – 27:46

: 10K – 58:28

: 10K – 57:03 – PR

: 5K – 58:16

: 5k:29:02

5. Run at least one race per month and at least 20 for the year. Yes! 33 races.

: HMRRC 15K – January

: Polar Cap – February

: Runnin of the Green 2014

: 3rd

: Betar Byway – June

: Turning Point – July

: Camp Chingachgook – August

: Run for the Roc – September

: Apple Run 2014

: Stockadeathon – November

: Albany Last Run – December

6. Run a race in another state or even a NEW state. Yes in FOUR states! Mayor’s Wellness 10 miler in CA, Lighthouse 5k in FL, the Love Run Half in PA and the Perfect 10 Miler in NJ (which is a NEW state).

Lighthouse 5K in FL.

7. Run at least 10 NEW races. Yes. 20!- Mayor’s Wellness 10m, HMRRC Winter Series #3 15K, Lighthouse 5k, Love Run, Bacon Hill 5k, Rabbit Ramble 4m, Cherry Blossom 5k, Spring Run off 10k, Mom’s 5K, Betar Byway 5K, Strawberry Fest 5K, Adirondack Distance Run, Saratoga Half Marathon, Turning Point 5K, Run for the Roc 5K, Apple Run 5K, Great Pumpkin Challenge 10K , Perfect 10 Miler, Troy Turkey Trot 10k, HMRRC#1 15K

first annual Love Run

Bacon Hill 5k

Spring Run Off 10K

Strawberry Fest 5K

Saratoga Half Marathon

Run for the Roc 5K

Great Pumpkin Challenge 10K

Troy Turkey Trot 10K

8. Run in NYC. Yes! Not a race but I ran there.

9. Get an Age Group award. Yes! 18 of them – 3rd at Mayor’s Wellness, 1st at Lighthouse 5K, 1st at Bacon Hill 5k, 2nd at Rabbit Ramble 4m, 2nd at Cherry Blossom 5k, 3rd at Spring Run Off 10K, 1st at Mom’s Day 5k, 1st at Betar Byway 5K, 1st at Strawberry Fest 5K, 2nd at Saratoga HM, 3rd at Turning Pt 5K, 2nd at Jailhouse Rock 5k, 3rd at Malta 5k, 2nd at Run for the Roc 5k, 1st at Apple Run 5K, 1st at Falling Leaves 5K, 1st at Run off that Turkey 5K, 3rd at Albany Last Run 5K

Mayor’s Wellness 10m

Cherry Blossom5k

Mom’s Day 5K

Spring Run Off 10K

Betar Byway 5K

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Strawberry fest 5K

Turning Point 5k

Malta 5k

10. Run a 10 mile race. Yes! 3 – Mayor’s Wellness 10m, Adirondack Distance Run and Perfect 10 Miler.

Mayor’s Wellness 10m

Adirondack Distance Run

10 miler - 1:38:45

11. Run at least one half marathon. Yes! 2 – The Love Run and Saratoga Half Marathon

Saratoga Half

12. PR in a half marathon. Yes! at the Love Run.

4 sec PR

13. Run over 800 miles. Yes! Over 900 miles!

most miles ever

14. Continue to blog almost everyday. Yes!

Goal added for the second half of the year:

PR in a 5K. Yes!

Run for the Roc – 19 sec PR over 2011 PR

Achievements that weren’t goals:

PR in a 10K

Troy Turkey Trot

PR in a 10 mile race

Perfect 10 miler

PR in a 15K

Stockadeathon

Yes, at age 61, I PRed at every distance this year. I’m not getting older, I’m getting better!!

Happy Running! Do you have yearly goals? If so, how did you do this year?

December 27, 2014 by Darlene

My Airia Running Shoe Experience

According to the website, Airia One is:

a new running shoe designed like nothing you have seen – or felt – before. Solid tests reveal that runners wearing Airia shave their running times by 1-2 percent (and some of them up to 7 percent), regardless of ability or running style. Perhaps more importantly, it provides a stronger running feel. Airia is the result of more than two decades of development, over 5,000 test runs, and a persistent will to create a running shoe that unleashes the natural power of the human body.

I received an e-mail several months asking me if I wanted to try these shoes made in Sweden. I responded “Of course.” Who doesn’t want to run faster and who doesn’t want free shoes?

Well, they finally arrived.

I’ll give them an A+ on marketing.

The box says all the right things:

But they aren’t very good-looking. How long will this shoe stay white? Especially in the winter.

And the toe curls up so they look very strange.

I tried them on and the toe box felt very wide. But that’s a good thing for me.

They also felt big. I wear a 7 shoe and 8.5 running shoe because I like them big (and I have not yet lost a toenail!). These shoes felt bigger than my others.

They have a weird sensation when walking. You can feel a hard lump under the front.

I do pronate a little and this shoe gave me no support in that area. In fact, they seem to make me pronate even more.

I was a little nervous about a shoe with not a lot of support. I have tried Newtons and loved them until I turned my ankle & broke my foot. (I stopped wearing them and when back to a more supportive shoe.)

However, I was willing to give them a shot.

In all fairness to the shoe, wintertime is not the best time for me to test these shoes. I am not running any short races and my weekday runs are slow due to the wintery conditions on the roads and sidewalks. Plus I am training for a January half marathon.

But I did take them out on a 4 mile run before work last week.

The awkward feeling eventually did go away. It was impossible to land anywhere but on your forefoot when running. However, this isn’t a problem for me because I am not a heel striker. (If you are, these shoes may be worth a try.)

I didn’t feel faster but then again, I am never fast on my runs unless I’m in a race.

I wore them again on several short runs.

The biggest problem comes from my fear of these lighter shoes causing injury. I would hesitate to run often and anything longer than a 5K wearing them.

Am I running faster in them? I couldn’t really say until I wear them in a race this summer or fall. And I am not sure that I trust these shoes enough to wear them to race.

But if you’re looking for a running shoe that is quite different from other running shoes available in the market today, and one that says that it will make you run faster, check out the Airia One. It retails for $190 and is available for online order for now.

Happy Running! Have you tried Airia running shoes? If so, what did you think?

These shoes were provided by Airia Running, but all opinions are my own.

December 26, 2014 by Darlene

Friday Five: Off From Work Actvities

This week, the theme is Free Friday. So since this is my only stay at home vacation of the year, I’ve chosen to post about My Top 5 Off Work Activities.

1. RUNNING

Of course, what else? I can run in the morning, in the afternoon or in the evening. I can run when the sun comes out or it has stopped raining. I can run near home or drive to a bike path or to a park. I can even run with a non-working friend. It is so delightful!!

at the Crossings Park at 10 am with Judy

2. EXERCISING

I don’t enjoy it but I know it good for me to do something other than running. However when I work, I don’t have (make) time for it.

3. COOKING

I do enjoy it and before I started playing tennis and running, I used to cook a lot.

2 of my favorites things to make

This week, I’ve made eggplant parm, tuna noodle casserole, meatloaf, vegetable soup…my hubby’s favorite dishes since he has to work.

4. KNITTING

and I did finally finish this scarf

I started knitting when I couldn’t run or go to work. I find it relaxing and I like to make things for others. I used to quilt but knitting is portable and I can bring it anywhere.

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