June 11, 2014 by Darlene

Another weekend, another race

poster

Yup, that’s me.

I’ve run a race almost every weekend since March 30:

3-30-14 – LoveRun Half Marathon
4-06-14 – Delmar Dash 5m
4-12-16 – Bacon Hill Bonanza 5k
4-19-14 – Rabbit Ramble 4m
4-27-14 – Cherry Blossom 5k
5-03-14 – Spring Run Off 10K
5-11-14 – Mom’s Day 5K
5-17/18-14 – ON VACATION in Florida
5-31-14 – Freihofer’s Run for Women
6-08-14 – Betar Byway 5K
6-14-14 – Strawberry Festival 5K
6-22-14 – Adirondack Distance 10m

And I love it!

ME on page 2

Why do I race so much?

Racing keeps me running. I know that I cannot slack off. If I do, then the race will be painful (physically and mentally).
I usually run alone and when I run a race, I see and meet other runners. So much more enjoyable.
I am competitive so when I run a race, I don’t stop and walk as much and I run faster.
I only get that runner’s high when I cross a finish line.

Lighthouse 5K

So this weekend, I have a 5k – Strawberry Festival 5K. Supposed a fast course so I hope to have a better time than last weekend. (But you never know.)

The problem with racing every week:

It’s gets expensive.
You miss out on social activities with family and friends
You skip long training runs.
You cannot adequately prepare for a longer distance race.

Yes, and I have a 10 mile race coming up that I am NOT prepared for. Gulp!

Happy Running! Have you ever run a long race that you hadn’t trained for?

June 10, 2014 by Darlene

Beaten by a 10 year in his first race

It was nice that the race photographer captured my loss:

: rounding the turn

: we’re still even

: he turns to his mom for advice

: and he’s off

: gaining on me

: yup he’s faster

: relieved to see the finish line ahead

: and he’s got it

: can I still beat 30 minutes?

: First Place – WooHoo!

Yes I did lose to the cocky kid but finished in 29:49 and I won FIRST PLACE in my age group. (He only got 3rd.)

bbresults

Happy Running! Did you ever race anyone to the finish line?

June 9, 2014 by Darlene

Monday running update

Last Week:

Monday – walk at work, 4 miles, mall walk with BFF

around Washington Park

Tuesday -walk at work, rest, ~~tennis~~ (rained out)

Wednesday – 3 mile run, ~~yoga~~
Thursday – rest, dinner with old friends
Friday – 4 miles, mah jongg
Saturday – rest
Sunday – 5K

This Week:

Monday – 8.5 miles (off in the am), proctor LSATS
Tuesday -rest
Wednesday – 3 miles, yoga
Thursday – 4 miles
Friday – rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 5k + 6 miles, dinner party at work
Sunday – rest, boating

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

June 8, 2014 by Darlene

Betar Byway 5K race report

betarbyway

This race sounded interesting so I signed up.

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:

1921076_10202200083624377_6234300149028232830_o

10262013_10154116862290174_5052375707743752709_n

10295224_10202200045743430_818599984312150476_o

finish line view

The weather was warm. It was about 70 degrees when I left the house. Not a day to think PR. Pressure gone.

I left early since I wasn’t sure where I was going. I used my GPS and arrived at a location that was obviously wrong. I thought I was going to Glens Falls but actually the race was in South Glens Falls. I went to Facebook on my phone and got the correct directions.

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

cute shirt but it is cotton

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

waiting to begin

Finally everyone walked down to the water for the start.

I started near the front since there were no timing chips or start line.

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

156009868.26Pr4i9P.BetarByway14149

I tried to focus on the scenery since I knew that this one would be tough due to the heat and the course. (Note to self: playing 2 hours of tennis and weeding for many hours does not constitute a rest day before a race.)

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 was very warm so I walked through the first water stop. Thank God the course was shaded by trees or it would have been worse.

Eventually the course looped around and you headed back to the start. I walked 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.

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

156009593.PJVMvhOP.BetarByway14437

I was pretty surprised when I saw that I would finish under 30 minutes! (29:49)

Splits:

mile 1 – 9:56
mile 2 – 9:27
mile 3 – 9:19
.14 – 8:23

Negative splits which I am happy about. A hilly course on a hot day makes for one of my slowest 5k times of late. (I will try to redeem myself next weekend.)

After the 5K, there was a one mile race. Not for kids but for everyone. It looked like fun.

bbresults

Then they gave out the awards and I won first place in my age group. (This is one good thing about getting old.)

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.

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

Very relaxing. Racing+Boating=Perfect Sunday

Happy Running! What did you do this weekend?

June 7, 2014 by Darlene

New shoes!

This is my current collection of shoes:

4 Brooks, 1 Saucony, 2 Mizuno

But I haven’t bought any new shoes since Oct-Nov. I usually alternate my pink/white Brooks Adrenaline (long runs & races) and my blue/white Mizuno Sayonara (short runs). My previous favs, the purple/white Brooks Adrenaline & yellow/white Saucony Guide are very worn. The others in the pic are usually just worn for walking.

So I think it is time for new shoes.

I went to FleetFeet and tried on quite a few.

They all felt good. I was tempted to get an Adidas pair but I didn’t want black & pink (how shallow!). I could have gotten an pair of Brooks Adrenaline in a different color but the store clerk convinced me to try a light shoe.

I ended up buying these:

New Balance 870W B3

Here’s what they about them:

The evolution of the 870 series continues to deliver the fastness of Revlite and security of the foot during every day runs. Intelligent geometries of the 870V3 allow for a stable footprint with flexibility, torsional stability and a mild post at midstance. Enhanced features such as Tbeam, aid in the stability quotient of a surprisingly light and flexible shoe.

A larger Abzorb crash pad extends from the heel into the midfoot area, ensuring shock absorption for a variety of foot strikes. When transitioning into midstance, the runner is met with ground contact as well as TBeam technology for increased torsional stability and arch support. Dynamic midsole shapes not only create a beautiful sidewall design, but lend themselves to the inherent stability of the shoe.

The 870v3 upper is constructed of a secure, breathable mono mesh and thin film overlays to lock the foot in place and ensure any slight movement is controlled. Dynamic material choices and construction are complimented a range of bold, inspiring colorways. Grounded in performance – the 870v3 is the ideal shoe for runners in need of mild support seeking an exciting, REVlite experience.

You’ll notice that there are no New Balance shoes in my photo. I was hesitant & I will probably still use my Brooks for long training runs.

I ran in them yesterday and they felt fine. My run was the worst. I could hardly pick my feet up, I was so tired. I planned on 4 miles and barely made it to 3. I can’t blame the shoes. They are lighter than my Brooks. I haven’t been running or playing tennis a lot so I am not sure why? Maybe the heat & humidity??

My real test will be tomorrow in my 5K race.

Happy Running! Do you replace your running shoes frequently? Do you rotate your shoes or wear just one pair until they wear out? Does color matter?

June 6, 2014 by Darlene

Foto Friday

These were taken on Memorial Day:

view of Lake George while running

nature trail at the Sagamore hotel

view from the Sagamore

me & my hubby picnicking on a island on Lake George

This was taken our boat last Sunday:

hanging out in Shelving Rock Bay

Happy Running! Have a great weekend!

June 5, 2014 by Darlene

Summer racing

is coming!

I love to run races in the summer.

It’s always a challenge to fit them in around our weekend boating.

But I wouldn’t give either one up.

I am hoping that this summer I am free of injuries.

That hasn’t been the case in recent years:

2011 – 6 wks off for a strained achilles
2012 – slowly recovering from ankle surgery (started running too soon & wound up with a 2nd metatarsal stress fracture)
2013 – 6 wks off for a broken 5th metatarsal

So far, this is my summer racing schedule:

June 8 – Betar Byway 5k
June 14 – Strawberry Festival 5K
June 22 – Adirondack Distance 10m
July 13 – Saratoga Half Marathon – doubtful but maybe
July 26 – Turning Point 5k
August 2 – Race The Train (8.4m) – maybe?
August 9 – Camp Chingachgook 10k
August 16 – Jailhouse Rock 5k
August 30 – Care For Kids 5K Run – maybe?
September 7 – MBPK 5K
September 14 – Biggest Loser 10k

I am also looking for a fall half marathon. I have a few possibilities and they are Sept 21 or 27 or Oct 5. That will mean long runs starting this summer.

Happy Running! Do you race a lot in the summer?

June 4, 2014 by Darlene

National Running Day

jun4

I am older than most, if not all, running bloggers.

But when I run or race, I feel that we are on an equal playing field. Of course, younger runners usually run faster. (So do some older runners.) However, I do beat many runners that are younger than me. And that makes me feel good. At the ripe old age of 61, I feel that I can still get faster and stronger.

a recent 10K (PR of 1:00:51)

a recent 5K (course PR of 28:14)

So today, I will definitely run. I am not sure where or how far or how fast. But I will run.

A few years ago on this day, I posted the reasons “WHY I RUN”:

I RUN…

because it makes me feel good
because it makes me feel healthy
because it makes me feel active
because it gives me time to be alone
because it gives me a sense of pride and accomplishment
because it makes me feel young
because it makes my day start better
because it makes a bad day end better
because it helps me enjoy the fresh air and the scenery
because I have met awesome people who are runners
to inspire others to become runners
so that I can eat more ice cream and desserts
so I can listen to music I like as loud as I like
as fast or slow as I want
until I feel like stopping
wherever I choose
alone or with thousands of others
to support a cause
to get a medal
to a get a tech shirt
because I can

They are all still valid.

strong

proud

happy

Happy Running! Did you run today? Why do you run?

June 3, 2014 by Darlene

Huma Chia Energy Gel review

As discussed in many of my previous, energy gels are my preferred choice of fuel when I run. I usually take one before any run that is longer than 40 minutes. If I am running a half marathon, I carry them with me to take during the race.

A year ago, I read about Huma Chia Energy Gel on a blog but could not find it in a store. So I contacted the company. They sent me samples and asked me to write a review.

At the time, Huma Chia Energy Gel only came in two flavors: strawberry and apple-cinnamon. I tried both flavors and liked them both, preferring the apple-cinnamon.

A year later, one thing has changed. I no longer drink coffee. I have pretty much given up caffeine. Gu is my energy gel of choice and only the peanut butter is without caffeine.

So I was very excited when I was contacted by Huma and asked if I would try their two new flavors – mango and blueberry.

Huma Chia Energy Gel is all-natural and does not contain caffeine!

On Monday, I had eaten breakfast about 3 hours before my run along Lake George so I took the Mango Huma Chia Energy Gel. It tasted really good and gave me just the energy I needed.

On Wednesday, I decided to run during my lunch break so I took the blueberry. I hadn’t had lunch and the Huma Chia Energy Gel got me through the miles.

I love mangos in general and am so-so on blueberries.

But I liked both of Huma Chia Energy Gels’ new flavors. They tasted great. Mango, however, is my new favorite Huma Chia Energy Gel.

And I had no digestion problems with either of them!!

POSITIVES:

all natural ingredients (this is an important one)
the taste (you don’t even need to wash it down with water)
no caffeine

NEGATIVES:

cost – more expensive than the others
availability – not available in all states so you have to order online (& pay $4.99 shipping)
only 4 flavors – they taste good but fruity is not my preference.

So if you are looking for a tasty healthy alternative to your current energy gel, I would advise you to try Huma Chia Engery Gel!!

Be sure to check them out:

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest

Happy Running! Have you tried these gels? If so, what do you think?

_____________________
**Disclaimer: I was not compensated for my review. I contacted Huma and they provided me with two samples of Huma chia energy gel to try for my honest opinion.