March 9, 2014 by Darlene

A Great Ad Campaign

That’s the question Mizuno Running posed to MBA students at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Kenan-Flagler Business School.

The analysis brought interesting figures to light for the U.S., including:

$130 billion in health care savings
An increase of more than $47 billion to the national GDP, with lost productivity due to sick days reduced by 50 percent, from 2.3 percent to 1.5 percent.
Nearly 2 billion pounds of total weight loss
10 percent increase in household earning potential
5 million fewer hospital visits
7 billion more hours spent outdoors
18.7 percent fewer divorces annually, and 29.3 million happier marriages.
10 percent improvement in self-esteem among kids.
200 million inches lost from waistlines.
116,000 fewer hip replacements annually.
48.1 million fewer cigarettes smoked daily.
63 million happier dogs (because many running dog owners would take their pets for jogs, too).
135 million fewer hours of TV watched each week, and 14 billion fewer hours spent online each year.
135 million more bananas consumed.
$4 billion increase in donations to charities

The “What If Everybody Ran” site – www.ifeverybodyran.com – takes individuals on a running journey to see the potential of a world of runners. The campaign anthem video, “What If Everybody Ran” campaign poster (above) and the analysis white paper further highlight the findings and reasons for Americans to run.

I wish I had these stats when I was on vacation in Florida. My friends whom I love dearly are not very active (well, not active at all) and overweight. When we were waiting for my race to begin, my friend repeated several times: “This just isn’t my cup of tea.” I know she preferred to be out having a drink rather than waiting for me to run a 5K evening race.

My hubby who is not a runner (but plays tennis) normally does not defend my running. In fact, I know he thinks I am crazy but actually said: I MAY TRY TO RUN A RACE!! A SHORT ONE.”

I was shocked. I thought that he was just trying to make me feel better. But he said he would do one with me.

I call this major progress!

At the time, I was a little upset at how unsupportive my friend was but when everyone’s phones were dead, her hubby ran back to the car to get my camera to take this photo:

And then when we got home, she took out champagne to toast my award.

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Happy Running! Are you non-running friends supportive of your running? Does your hubby run with you?

March 8, 2014 by Darlene

I Am Featured

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I am honored to be featured on The Happy Runner‘s blog.

Check me out here.

Felice, on the left, at the 2010 Mother’s Day race

Felice, a local blogger, is the creator of the Strong Running Mamas group. When she asked me in 2010 to help organize a group for new runners, I eagerly accepted.

It was a lot of fun. These women are awesome and have inspired me.

Now the group has migrated to Facebook and has grown to over 100 members

I am SICK of this cold weather…

Literally and figuratively…

Feb 1 race

Mar 1 race

Which one was more enjoyable?

I was accepting of the cold. I was running in it. If it weren’t windy and icy, I was doing okay.

See: smiling

Then I went to Florida. I got spoiled for a short time.

Now I am dreading putting on the extra layers.

Plus I came down with a COLD!! Do you know how hard it is to run when you are sneezing and wiping a runny nose??

I didn’t run on Monday because I was tired and I had run 4 days in a row. I didn’t run Tuesday cuz I was playing tennis and then Wednesday, the dreaded cold arrived.

I felt like bailing but instead I googled “running with a cold” and this is what I found out:

Follow the general rule of thumb that if all your symptoms are above your neck (sniffles, sore throat, minor cough) you’re okay to exercise. “Exercise neither helps nor hurts the symptoms of a moderate cold,” says Nieman. “Don’t do anything too severe, and it should be okay.” But know your limits. Over-exertion can make symptoms last longer, he warns.

So I cut my run from 5 miles to 3 miles. And I didn’t feel any worse.

Hopefully, my cold will go away by the weekend when we turn our clocks ahead.

Maybe the weather will warm up sooooon!!!

Happy Running! Are you as sick of winter as I am?

March 6, 2014 by Darlene

Lighthouse 5K Race Report

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Well, this race took place during my vacation in Flagler Beach, Florida.

All of my running before this trip had been in temperatures between 0 and 30 degrees. So this definitely would take getting used to, especially the humidity.

Also the race took place at 4:30 pm. Again different than I was accustomed to.

The theme was Las Vegas Nights so the racers were asked to dress in costume. Not being local, I decided to forgo the costume and wear normal running clothes.

I started the day getting up to see the sunrise. My friends live 2 blocks from the ocean so that was easy.

When I got there and it was cloudy and hazy. I feared “no sunrise” pictures.

But yes, the sunrise was stunning as usual.

Then I walked home and had breakfast. And I went out for a walk. I was tempted to run but decided to keep my legs fresh for the race since I ran 4 miles the day before.

I walked on the road along the beach. The weather was similar to the day before…cool (50s) and breezier as the day progressed…but so nice to be outdoors with NO WIND CHILL and NO SNOW!!

I stopped at the pier for awhile to watch the surfers and painters and then headed home.

In the wind, it felt chilly. Unfortunately, the back of their house which is on the water was in the shade and wind. But in the sun, it was gorgeous. So I sat outside in the front of their house knitting and soaking up some Vitamin D.

Eventually my hubby joined me and we decided to go for a walk. This time in the neighborhood where all streets bordered on the water (Halifax River.)

Then we went out to lunch. I had to carb load, right? We walked back to the ocean where I had spotted a French bakery/restaurant.

Everything looked delicious. I chose a vanilla latte and marsipone strawberry grilled cheese.

with bread pudding for dessert (I shared!)

We returned home and hung out in the sun some more (This is what happens when a race is at 4:30 pm.)

Here is when it gets interesting.

My friend’s hubby & my hubby decided to go somewhere for a little while and discovered that the car had a dead battery. So they had to call AAA to get the car started. (Lucky for me that they did since we had time to spare for the race.)

With the car now running, we left for the race which was about 30 miles away. We got a great parking spot and we were there in plenty of time.

before the race

with my hubby & our friends (taken by Daybreak Studios)

We walked around near the water but it was chilly and windy.

You can see that I am wearing a jacket and so were other racers. You also should note that people were not dressed in costume either. (Glad I didn’t spend time getting one.)

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I decided to leave my jacket off to run the race. And I was glad I did!!

Elvis started the race (taken by Daybreak Studios)

I was actually warm running. I tried to tell myself that this was fun but if you know me, I wanted a sub-30 finish as soon as I started (At least I have given up the thought of a PR for now.)

That means that I started out fast and couldn’t keep it up.

The course was flat. And scenic. There were water views. I was getting tired as I ran. I refused to stop, even for water and just willed myself to finish strong (though I felt like I was dying & nauseous.)

I’ll blame it all on the my lack of speed work, running long and slow, the wind, etc etc.

Splits:

mile 1 – 9:28
mile 2 – 9:54
mile 3 – 9:53
.14 – 8:28

So of course, when I approached the finish line and saw: 30:XX, I was disappointed. (I finished under 30 on a hilly course with a broken foot!!) The lady pushing triplets in a stroller finished 3 minutes ahead of me as well as lots of young kids. They even stopped taking photos after 29:37. So depressing!!

officially 30:17

Anyway, my friends were thrilled with my time. They are not runners (and could not understand why I would even want to be there.) When we checked the finish times, it turned out that I came in FIRST in my age group.

lh5kresults

I was happy but they were not giving out the awards until 6:30 pm. UGH! My friends were hungry and didn’t want to stick around. I didn’t want to impose so we returned to the car. And guess what?

It didn’t start!! We called AAA again and they were going to take an hour to come.

You can guess the rest.

I went back to the lighthouse to hang out with other racers. (I even met 2 men & their wives who live near me at home. And they were in my age group. Go figure!)

When it was time for awards, I asked if I could get mine first since I had to leave. They were agreeable and handed me my gold medal.

I got back to my friends just as the car was being started and off we went to get a nice dinner.

So all in all, it was an enjoyable day.

I love racing!

I love bling!

Happy Running! How have your destination races gone?

March 5, 2014 by Darlene

My Race-cation

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My friends would be upset if they knew this.

Anyway, my hubby & I returned Sunday from 5 days in Flagler Beach, Florida where our friends moved and bought a new house. I was excited to see their house, spent time with them, enjoy the warm temps and RUN A RACE. (We visited them last January in their old house and did all the touristy things in the area.)

We left the polar vortex of upstate New York on Wednesday and arrived to RAIN in Florida.

Rain is better than snow.

We spent time catching up in their house – which is GORGEOUS – 5 bedrooms, multimedia room, boat house, overlooks the river & is 2 blocks from the ocean, etc. I LOVE IT!!

We went out to dinner at a restaurant on the water. I had an appetizer and dessert (of course).

shrimp and lobster risotto

delicious cannoli

Thursday morning, I went out for my first run — cool and cloudy but it felt super not to wear a jacket, gloves & tights. I ran on the path along the beach heading south and then on the bridge over the river and then back – 4 fabulous miles.

I tried running ON the beach but the sand was so soft…

view from the bridge looking North

We spent the afternoon with some other friends in St. Augustine (the location for my RACE). We strolled in and out of shops, along the water and then out for a drink.

Tini Martini Bar

creme brulee martini yum

The we went to a French restaurant for dinner.

seafood crepes & this eclair for dessert

Friday, I got up to sunshine. I went for a run again. Just had to do it. Only 3 miles but on the same path but in the opposite direction (North this time).

In the afternoon, I sat on the beach for a while but it was windy so I went back to my friends’ house and sat in the sun there. (The front of their house blocks the wind.)

In the evening, we went out to a restaurant where our friends’ favorite group was playing. The singer was a cross between Jimmy Buffet and John Prine.

our friends

me & the hubby dancing to a slow one

I’ll skip Saturday because that was RACE DAY and write about it in a separate post.

Sunday was my last day so I started it by watching the sunrise over the ocean. It was perfect!!

Then I went for a sloooooow run. My legs were tired from the race but the weather was so nice. This time I ran around the neighborhood and then over the bridge on the opposite side from Thursday’s run.

Here are some hints that I was running SLOW!

view from the bridge looking south

When I came back we all went to Jungle Hut Beach to stroll and see the famous rocks.

Afterward, we went out for our final ocean view meal.

margaritas followed by a burger & fries

Our day came to a perfect ending. We sat out in the back of the house got a show by 2 dolphins!!! So awesome!

you can’t see them but I swear, they were there…

A very nice way to escape the cold…good friends…good times…good food..

and I ran 4 times:

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Happy Running! Do you plan Race-cations?

March 4, 2014 by Darlene

February Rewind

FEBRUARY GOALS:

RUN at least 3-4 times each week. YES! (though there were more 3 times than 4 times.)

around the park

around my town

around work

Start back at planks (Do it at least once per week.) YES, several times a week (1 minute before getting in the shower in the am)
Take the stairs at work rather than the elevator. Yes, most of the time.
Finish knitting another pair of socks. No but I finished one sock of the pair.

Continue to run some of my long runs with others. NO. Hard to coordinate so I have done them solo.
Run while on my mini-vacation to Florida. YES!

Feb 27

Feb 28

Run at least one race. Yes, 2 races!

Feb 1

Feb 2

Continue running longer on the weekends to train for my March half marathon. YES! Every weekend.

10 miles on the Nisky bike path

10 miles on the Corning bike path

Run at least 75 miles this month. YES! 82 miles!

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Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy. YES!

MARCH GOALS:

RUN at least 3-4 times each week.
Continue planks (Do it at least once per week.)
Finish knitting that pair of socks.
Spend some time with my mentee, Amanda. (I haven’t seen her since Christmas)
Run a 5k race under 30 minutes!
Run a 4 mile race under 40 minutes!
Continue running longer on the weekends to train for my half marathon.
Complete my 8th Half Marathon.
Run at least 80 miles this month.
Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy.

Happy Running! How was your February? Anything different planned for March?

March 3, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – rest, work at bar exam, 3 miles after, tennis sub
Tuesday – rest, work at bar exam
Wednesday – fly to Daytona Beach
Thursday – 4 miles along the ocean

Friday – 3 miles along the ocean

Saturday – several long walks along the ocean, 5K race

Sunday – ~~rest~~ 4 miles in Fla, fly home

week 8- 14 miles

This Week:

Monday – rest
Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 4 miles,
Thursday – rest, dinner out
Friday – 4 miles, mah jongg
Saturday – rest, car appt, expo
Sunday – 11 miles

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

February 28, 2014 by Darlene

Wear Jeans Today!

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This is John Anthony. He is my 9 year old running buddy. I was paired with him on 11/27/13 though the IRUN4 program.

John Anthony has several rare genetic diseases – a skin biopsy showed he has SCAD which is an inborn error of metabolism. a metabolic disorder. His current geneticist thinks he also has glycogen storage disease type O and 2 of his specialists thinks he has Mito.

He is in and out of the hospital and sick so often.

When I get them, I send him my race shirts: