February 25, 2014 by Darlene

Next Race, Vacation, HM Training Break

lh5k

ALL NEW: This year’s Lighthouse Run is themed!! It’s Vegas Nights — (Ugh! I don’t like dressing up for races…especially if I am traveling.)

Unfortunately, there is NO time for running this week. I have been working at the NYS Bar exam for two days and TOMORROW I leave for Daytona Beach, FL.

visiting these folks who have a new house

this is their new house

I can’t wait to leave this Polar Vortex and hit some warm weather.

and run along the water

And then there’s the 5K race.

Here:

St. Augustine Lighthouse (we visited it last Jan.)

Unfortunately, this vacation falls right in the middle of Half Marathon training. (At least I have been running at least 8 miles on the weekend since early November and have run at least 10 miles already 4 times.)

In addition, I haven’t run a 5K since December 14 as I have been trying to run longer in preparation for my half.

The race also will be starting at 4:30 pm (fueling??) and I will be with friends.

So I guess I’ll just have to…

Happy Running!

February 24, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – DAY OFF, 3 miles, tennis

in town

Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 4 miles on the treadmill at work (snowy slushy roads AGAIN)

watched Olympic women’s figure skating 🙂

Thursday – rest, haircut
Friday – ~~4 miles~~, rest, mah jongg
Saturday – ~~rest~~ 11 miles

windy wet run on the Corning bike path

Sunday – ~~11 miles~~ rest

look at this running skirt I got at Walmart for $5 – 2 pockets in the front

and one pocket in the back

week 7- 18 miles

This Week:

Monday – rest, work at bar exam, 3 miles after ??
Tuesday – rest, work at bar exam
Wednesday -rest, fly to Daytona Beach
Thursday – 4 miles?
Friday – rest
Saturday – 5K race
Sunday – rest, fly home

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

February 22, 2014 by Darlene

Maybe I Should Have Skipped This One?

Maybe I should have skipped this one?

Ever feel this way after a run??

I hadn’t run since Wednesday and the sun was shining.

And it was 50 degrees! Yes, 50 and I haven’t left on vacation yet.

No way I was not running, right?

First I should say that I tried those yoga poses mentioned in this post. They were hard but then again I am NOT flexible. But they seemed to go well.

Not really. The next morning, my left quad was sore and my hip ached. (I am feeling OLD!)

So I haven’t tried yoga since nor have I run.

But I hate to miss a long run and I hate to miss a run in good weather so I drove to Colonie Town Park to see what I could do.

This park is one of my favorite places to run but I haven’t been at all this winter.

Guess what? They have NOT cleared any snow in either direction.

So I drive back and headed to the Corning Preserve where I was pretty sure that it would be clear.

It was so nice not to wear gloves or a jacket or even a hat!!

But I didn’t realize how windy it was…

I headed in the short direction into the wind first.

Even with 2 days rest, my legs weren’t feeling it. My foot was achy and my hip was not painful but I could feel discomfort. It seemed like this run maybe exactly like last weekend’s long run.

Anyway I continued to run and walk when I was tired.

I tried to extend the distance by running back and forth on this bridge

and around the parking lot of the USS Slater. The I headed back. It was very warm with the wind at my back. I didn’t mind sweating at all.

The other direction had puddles that were more like lakes. I also slipped several times when I tried to run so I tiptoed through them.

The river was pretty in spots where the ice was cracking. I enjoyed being outdoors but my legs were getting slower and slower.

Then the trail ended! What? I should have been able to run 5 miles. Not 1.5 miles! It was clear the last time I was here 2 weeks ago.

So I had to turn around. And run into the wind which had really picked up. There were times that I couldn’t even move forward.

I think the birds on the icy river were having more fun than me.

The worst part was that I planned to run 11 miles.This would only have given me 6.5.

my shoes are muddy and soaked and the snow is black as well

Yes, I really wanted to quit. I wasn’t enjoying it… it was too hard.. my foot & hip were bothering me…….

But I didn’t quit. I started over and headed in the other direction. I turned around and ran with the wind at my back and then turned around again and ran into the wind and FINALLY ran with the wind at my back until my Garmin said 11.

Now I walked .5 miles into the wind to my car.

DONE!

It took an embarrassing amount of time but it is over! (Next long run is in 2 weeks…let’s hope for better times.)

The day ended better with dinner out to celebrate a friend’s birthday. We ate at a new Chinese restaurant. We had dumplings as an appetizer..then I had:

shrimp with Asian pears …yum

blood orange marsipone mousse…delish!

Happy Running! Did you run this weekend? How did it go?

February 21, 2014 by Darlene

Foto Friday

lots of icicles

clock in my town – and it’s the same time as it is now!!

snow and a little blue sky

just trying to remember the feeling…

or so they say???

I have lost my running mojo this week…Snow..slush..sleet..rain…oh no.

I haven’t run in 2 days….

Tomorrow is another day!

Happy Running! What do you have planned for the weekend?

February 20, 2014 by Darlene

My Next Half Marathon?

I haven’t even run my March Half Marathon and I am planning more.

So many to choose from.

I have decided that running a half marathon is HARD and I want it to be special so I am NOT going to run the same one more than once.

That’s makes my choice a little easier.

I will not run the Lake George (in April) or the Adirondack (in Sept) or the Fall Foliage or Mohawk Hudson (in Oct) again. Tough decision because they are all local.

There are a few more that are nearby:

not this year – too close to the March half

would love love to do this one- it is in my town but I am away on vacation on this weekend every year

will it be too hot to train for & to run??

Sept 27, 2014 – a possibility but it would mean summer training

As you can see I have not decided.

Maybe a destination half marathon in the fall?

NYC? California? Florida??????

Happy Running! Do you repeat big races?

February 19, 2014 by Darlene

I Broke Up With Yoga Class

yogaforrunners1

It’s Wednesday and it used to be my Yoga Day. I used to run 3 miles and then go to Heart Space for 75 minutes of heaven. (I haven’t been since before Christmas…)

Wed Yoga with Lisa

I don’t dislike yoga but…

This yoga class starts now at 5:45 pm instead of 6:00 pm (less time to run before class.)
The instructor, Lisa, is on Maternity leave. (I am particular about my yoga teachers and comfortable with her.)
The weather has been lousy this winter so if it’s is decent outside, I want to run 4 miles. (Hard to fit if I go to yoga class.)
The class is not expensive..$15 but it adds up. (Money is tight & I want to prioritize my spending and using this money for races, travel, etc.)
I could practice yoga on my own… (Oh but I don’t)

What’s the solution?

Since my priority is running right now (with tennis squeezed in 1-2x a week), I will try do the following 6 yoga poses after each run:

from Divas Run for Bling

I don’t know if I will be disciplined enough to do this each time I run. (Maybe occasionally which it better than never.)

So in the spring I may be back at Heart Space for my weekly yoga classes with Lisa.

Happy Running! If you do yoga, do you go to yoga class or do it on your own?

February 18, 2014 by Darlene

Day Off and Icicles

PresidentsDay-w

It was President’s Day yesterday.

Normally I would be so excited for the long weekend but due to the snow, I already had 3 1/2 days off.

I play tennis on Monday nights and I ran an awful 10 miles the day before.

So this was a REST day! No Running!

I did some errands and then was glued to the TV to watch the Olympics free skate program for Ice Dancing….Loved it and especially the outcome.

Gold for the US!!

Then I read for awhile but the sun was shining….

So forget about the rest day. I wanted to go for a run…short a slow, short one.

I don’t really enjoy running in my neighborhood because of the traffic so I drove into town.

I parked at Stewarts (near the rail trail) and ran on the back roads. I used to run here all the time before I discovered the bike paths. It is pretty flat and hardly any traffic.

The roads were fairly dry. The sun was out. It was very cold but less windy than on Sunday.

There are sidewalks but they were not clear. So I ran in the road. Hardly any cars went by.

What really fascinated my was the icicles hanging from all the houses.

This kept me entertained. It seemed that some were very very long….

Then I went to the main road and noticed this clock. It is on the shirts for own town races but I never really noticed it before.

turkey trot logo (with that clock)

new half marathon logo (with the clock)

Too much traffic on the main road so I returned to my car on the back roads. I ended up with 3 miles for the run! (And yes, my legs were tired playing tennis…glad it was doubles.)

Today it is snowing so I am glad I got out there to enjoy the sunshine.

Happy Running! How’s your winter running been?

February 17, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – tennis
Tuesday – 4 miles on the treadmill

this week I watched Downton Abbey

Wednesday – 3 4 miles

got it done before dark – the days are getting longer

Thursday – ~~4 miles –~~ another SNOWSTORM (work closed early)
Friday – rest , ~~mah jongg,~~ 4 miles, SNOW DAY!

in my neighborhood

Saturday – ~~10 miles~~ rest, lunch out
Sunday – ~~rest~~ 10 miles

2 loops on the Nisky bike path

week 6- 22 miles

This Week:

Monday -DAY OFF, 3 miles, tennis
Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 4 miles
Thursday – haircut
Friday – 4 miles, mah jongg
Saturday – rest
Sunday – 11 miles

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races ? How are you surviving this winter?

February 16, 2014 by Darlene

When Does It Get Easy?

Today I ran 10 miles for the third time.

Each time, it seems harder! WHY??

Jan 11 – 1:49
Feb 9 – 1:55
Feb 16 – 1:59

I am not hurt. I always have a rest day the day before. I fuel before and during. What gives??

Anyway, it was cold today but very sunny. It looked like a great day to do my long run.

I was tired of running on the Corning Bike Path so I decided to go to the Nisky Bike Path for a change.

As I said, it was cold in the teens but lately that seems ok & I know exactly what to wear.

The plan was to run 2 miles west (toward Schenectady) and turn around and then go 3 in the other direction and turn around.

Well, though for the most part the path was clear, I wasn’t prepared for how WINDY it was. At least the way back I would have the wind at my back.

Right from the beginning my legs felt heavy. I didn’t want to walk but I did when I felt I could no longer pick them up. (With no running partner, there was no one to shame me into not stopping to walk.)

Then there were spots on the path that were completely snow-covered which made it hard to maintain any running pace. But I continued on until the end which was the lock.

That was where 2 large dogs (one being a pit bull) came running toward me UNLEASHED. It was pretty scary. I just froze and let the dogs jump on me. The pit bull bit my hand but I thankfully was wearing heavy gloves. The couple who owned the dogs eventually got them under control and apologized profusely.

I then continued some more on a road near the lock before I turned around I headed back.

Now the sun was pretty warm and the wind at my back but my legs wanted to quit.

I was at 5.5 miles when I was ready to head in the other direction.

No…. they did not clear the path!!! I remember that this happened last winter too. I guess it is for snowshoers and skiiers.

I was ready to call it a day. Repeating the same path was not appealing nor was heading into that wind.

But I knew that I would be disappointed in myself if I quit.

So I kept going. The wind seemed even stronger and my legs even more tired. I walked more and more but I finished.

And yes, I was glad to have done it.

Next week I plan on 11 miles.

Will it be easier?

To reward myself, I stopped at Target on the way home. I had a Starbucks Latte and bought groceries & jeans. I saved lots on the sale items & the discounts on my Cartwell app.

I may have even forgotten about my “bad” run.

Happy Running! Do you have bad runs?

February 15, 2014 by Darlene

A Snowy Valentine’s Day

1939776_10152607411314428_1975068685_n

I sent this to my running buddy, John Anthony.

We’ve had another snowstorm…this time a BIG one.

Thursday my work closed at 1:30. I had planned to run on the treadmill after work so this foiled my plan.

this is my driveway

Then yesterday, we were closed again. I don’t own a treadmill or belong to a gym. What’s a runner to do??

I tried to keep busy and not think about it.

I did some laundry. I started packing for my Feb 26 trip to Florida. (Optimistically I packed shorts & a bathing suit.)

Then I went online. Both Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Buffet concert tix went on sale yesterday. I love The Boss but Jimmy Buffet just reminds me of summer so I waited online for an hour and I GOT TICKETS!!!

I went on at 10am (when they opened for sale) and still only got open air seats (and they weren’t cheap!!)

Happy Valentine’s Day to me and my hubby (who really loves Jimmy Buffet.)

Then I read on FB that my hardcore blogger buddy AJH was going out to run in the snowstorm.

I waited a bit until it looked like the wind has calmed down and out I went.

It was tough going in my neighborhood…slushy slushy. My feet got very wet immediately and then numb from the cold.

Out on the main road, it was clearer but the wind picked up. So much so that it was hard to move forward. I kept turning around and changing my route.