February 5, 2014 by Darlene

Snow Day and Winter Running Mojo

It is definitely not as rewarding as when I was teaching but it still is awesome.

Though I was meeting my bff for dinner last night, I had to squeeze in a run before today’s big storm (who knows when I’ll be able to run outside again?)

I tried out the Nike+ app..not bad for fun but during a race or long run, I like the Garmin on my wrist.

Today I had the whole day free (and my hubby had to work). I got so much done:

did a plank (woo hoo!)
did my taxes (not happy about how much we have to pay 😦 )
worked on my knitted sock
read a bit
watched the last episode of Downton Abbey
made a casserole for dinner (I don’t cook much)
went to the movies (This month’s RW magazine made me want to see this Bruce Dern movie. Did you know he was a serious runner?)

it was good!

Quite a productive day. The snow has stopped…we have at least 12″ and tomorrow I will be back at work. I’ll probably opt for the treadmill and venture out on the road on Friday.

This weekend I have a long run planned…will the bike path be plowed?

so will it feel like 18 miles instead of 9?

So how to you stay motivated to run in the winter?

Buy proper winter running clothes – tights, hat, gloves, jacket. It is not fun running when you are too cold. Also, dress for warmer than it is. It is also unpleasant to run when you are overdressed. Wear layers so you can shed one if you are warm. New clothes that are fun and bright are motivating, as well.

my tights, jacket, hat & gloves were bought at Target

Run somewhere scenic – a park, a bike path. Vary your routes. Running on the same road gets boring.

love this bike path along the Hudson R

Grab a running buddy or join a running group. Chatting makes the miles go faster. Having to meet someone gets you out the door.

some new running partners that help get me out there

Put some new music on your phone or iPod. Playlists gets stale. It’s nice to have some new tunes to motivate you on those cold days.

music

Join a challenge such Run with Jess’ Winter Miles Challenge. They are free. You can also win prizes.

Screen shot 2013-12-20 at 8.24.21 AM

Sign up for a spring race. I signed up for a half marathon on March 30. Knowing that this race is coming up pushes me through these cold months to stay in running condition.

092713-loverun1

Have a plan B. I always bring outdoor clothes to run after work but I also have clothes there to run indoors on the treadmill. So I have no excuse. I can do either. So if the roads are too slippery, I run on the treadmill.

Use the treadmill for short runs only. Go outside no matter how cold to do your longer runs. More than 4 miles on the treadmill makes me go insane. The hardest part about running outside in the winter is the first step out the door.

Buy Yaktrax or something similar if you live somewhere where it snows a lot and often. They really work. You can run on snowy roads and you won’t slip.

Rewards work too. How about a hot Caramel Flan Latte at Starbucks and a cake pop after a cold run.

Yes, I ate both cake pops

Happy Running! Did you have a snow day? How you stay motivated to run in the winter?

February 3, 2014 by Darlene

Monday Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – rest
Tuesday – 3 miles on the TM at work, tennis
Wednesday – ~~rest,~~ 3 miles on the TM at work, dinner out with tennis buddies

this week: Revenge & Downton Abbey on the iPad

Thursday – 4 miles

finally got outdoors

Friday – rest, mah jongg
Saturday – Polar Cap 4 mile race, 4 miles in town, Winter Carnival in Lake George, Chinese New Year’s party

Sunday – HMRRC Winter Series #5 ~~4 mile~~ 7 K race

week 4- 22 miles

This Week:

Monday – tennis
Tuesday – 4 miles
Wednesday – rest, mall walk with BFF
Thursday – 4 miles
Friday – 3 miles, mah jongg
Saturday – rest, proctor LSATs
Sunday – 9 miles

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

February 2, 2014 by Darlene

HMRRC Winter Series #5 7K Race Report

during last week’s HMRRC ‘s COLD race (photo by Bill Meehan)

This week’s free HMRRC Winter Race Series offered 4 mile, 10 mile and 20 mile options.

Since I ran 8 miles yesterday, I decided to run the 4 miler. (I was tempted to choose 10 miles since I ran 9.3 last Sunday but I decided to be on the cautious side.)

To me these are just training runs with lots of people and free food.

When I woke this morning, my ankle ached, my foot was sore and my knee felt weird. Most normal people would stay home and rest.

Nope. Not me. It was most 40 degrees! We may never have temps this warm until April.

So I wore compression socks and a band under my knee and off I went.

I left early enough to get a parking space in the nearest lot. And I did.

There were a lot more people this week at the races compared to last week. Weather-related, I am sure.

I immediately bumped into Brigid, a fellow SRM. I also saw Sue, who reminded me that I beat her yesterday.

Brigid & I chatted until it was time to head to the start.

The 4 milers and the 20 milers started together (though in between they ran a different course). The 10 milers had a different starting line.

I knew that I should take it easy on this race. I didn’t even attempt to keep up with Brigid on her speedy pace.

It was interesting when all of a sudden while I was slowly running my race, the 10 milers sped by me. Then during the race, there were times that the 20 milers were speeding by me.

(photo by Bill Meehan)

As I was running, I was reminded about how much I hate this course. Besides being all concrete and parking lots, it seems that you are constantly going uphill but never enjoy a downhill.

I walked quite a few times during the course…more times as the race went on…even stopped for water. Nothing really hurt, I was just worried about overdoing.

Approaching the campus, when they said 4 milers go left and 10 milers go straight, I was happy that I had chose the shorter race.

the finish line in the distance

Well, it turns out that the race like last year was really a 7K or 4.34 miles.

me & Brigid afterwards

I crossed the finish line at 44:24. This was, of course, slower than yesterday but it was faster than I did last year on the same course.

Splits:

mile 1 – 9:56
mile 2 – 10:42
mile 3 – 10:30
mile 4 – 10:39
.4 – 8:51

I definitely enjoyed yesterday’s race and felt a lot better. But I got free food and company running. I never regret a race.

chicken noodle soup – yum!

The rest of my day will be grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning and maybe a movie before the Super Bowl.

Happy Running! Are you watching the Super Bowl? If so, who are you rooting for? (Me, I watch for the commercials & the half time show.)

February 1, 2014 by Darlene

Polar Cap 4m Race Report

I ran this race with blogger AJH 3 years ago and it was a tough hilly one but still fun.

Here we are winning AG awards

Then I ran it again last year.

AJH got 2nd place...we won a lunch bag which matches the race shirt

AG awards again

AJH is running it again and I was looking forward to seeing her.

This year, however, they changed the course. A different start and end..to me it looked hillier, too especially at the end.

All week I have felt that I was coming down with a cold…sneezing, teary eyes, head achey. Yuck!

Also the weather forecast wasn’t great – snow flurries/snow but warmer (high 20s-30s). I was hoping that the heavy snow would hold off till later in the day since I had to drive 1 hour to the race.

But when I got up, my cold was gone (must have been allergies) and the weather looked good. 22 degrees…heat wave! And no snow or rain…yet.

I left early for the race in case it started to snow.

When I got there (at the new location), AJH was already there. (She is hard core – drove all the way form VT with her hubby.)

We chatted and hung out inside until the race was about to start.

cute tech shirt if you registered early

I felt a little pressure to run fast since I won an AG award in my 2 previous Polar Cap races. But you never know what will happen when you enter a new age group (AJH enters too.)

2011: 40:11
2013 – 41:40

I have not been doing any 5ks or any speed work at all. I was prepared for a slower time.

Andrea left me in the dust from the start but it was expected.

photo by AJH’s hubby

The race started going uphill and my legs felt sluggish. Luckily they felt better as the race went on.

polarcapa

I walked after the first mile when there was a steepish hill but then I didn’t walk again till near the end.

the frozen lake

I just plodded along admiring the scenery and trying for a consistent pace.

the national park

At some point during mile 3, I was running next to a familiar face…a local lady(Sue) in my age group who runs a lot of the same races. We chatted for a while then she ran ahead. She was ahead of me for quite a bit but I could still see her.

it’s steeper than it looks

Unfortunately, the last half mile of this race is straight uphill!

here comes AJH (photo by her hubby)

I think I walked twice on that hill because I wanted to finish strong.

Sue is the one in green

Believe it or not, I caught Sue, passed her and finished several seconds ahead of her!!! Yay me!

polarcap1

polarcap2

I crossed according to the clock at 40:10.

I was generally happy with the race. I ran it faster than I thought I would.

happy to be done!

We hung out and ate waiting for the age group awards.

There was soup and fruit and baked goods – I am a sucker for home-made stuff and ate quite a few cookies.

3rd!

We moved up to a new age group and AJH won 3rd which meant that I was 4th… It wasn’t close. I am happy that one of us won and AJH kept up her winning streak.

Splits:

mile 1 – 9:39
mile 2 – 10:14
mile 3 – 10:12
mile 4 – 9:57

Garmin time – 40:03 (I beat both my 2011 & 2013 times.)

After AJH left, I was debating on changing my clothes and leaving or running more.

But the weather was too nice not to run. It was now in the 30s. So I decided to run to the Winter Carnival in town.

This was the first day of the event which is held every weekend in February.

I visited with friends who were volunteering.

The outhouse races were beginning but I didn’t stay to watch.

I ran around the lake and through the town and then back to my car.

4 + .97 miles can count for this race too

I covered 4 miles in total – but there was stopping and walking and for the last mile even my foot started hurting. Still I was glad I hung around and added some miles (in case it rained the next day.)

view from the highway heading into BL.

Next, I drove north to Bolton Landing.

I had considered going back to the Sagamore to the ice bar but the parking lot was very crowded. (The nice weather must have attracted a lot of people.)

Instead, I parked in town and stopped at Bolton Beans for a latte and something to eat and then I stopped at another store. (I bought a bathing suit for 50% off!)

I would normally stop at the outlets on my way home but I had to get home in time to go to a Chinese New year’s party (My wallet is relieved!)

Tomorrow there is another free race. I may do the 4 miler or I may just run on my own or I may REST… We’ll see how these old legs feel and what the weather is like.

Happy Running! Did you run or race this weekend?

February 1, 2014 by Darlene

January Update

JANUARY GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!! Yes!
Do not overdo and listen to my body! Yes!
Attend at least 2 yoga classes! Nope.
Walk or run at least 1 mile a day while at work. Some days but not every.
Cut back on the sweets and eating out now that the holidays are over. I think so (except for in California.)
Run before work at least once a week. Nope.
Continue to run some of my long runs with others. I did once.

8 miles with Adrienne

Complete my first 10 mile race. YES!!!!

1:49:55 and 3rd in my AG

Run at least one other race. Yes!

Continue running longer on the weekends (to train for January 10 miler and March half marathon) Yes! Ran at least 8 miles each weekend.

Run at least 70 miles this month. Yes! 78!

January 2014

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

What else?

I spent New Year’s Day on Lake George.

cruise with my hubby & friends

I went to NYC for a day.

to the NY Boat show & other holiday sites (with my hubby)

I visited La Quinta, CA to see my friend Mary.

at Indian Wells Tennis Garden

I went to an Ice Bar in Lake George.

I read many good books including Wild, Eleven Minutes, the Alchemist, Gold, My Husband’s Secret…
I played tennis at least once or twice each week and went out to dinner with some of the tennis ladies (that I don’t get to play with regularly.)

I finally finished knitting this pair of socks!

FEBRUARY GOALS:

RUN at least 3-4 times each week.
Start back at planks (Do it at least once per week.)
Take the stairs at work rather than the elevator.
Finish knitting another pair of socks.
Continue to run some of my long runs with others.
Run while on my mini-vacation to Florida.
Run at least one race.
Continue running longer on the weekends to train for my March half marathon.
Run at least 75 miles this month.
Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy.

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

January 31, 2014 by Darlene

Half Marathon Training

I am usually so anal about training that I would normally be posting about my progress week to week.

This has been my typical training plan for my previous half marathons:

However, the last 2 half marathons that I ran came after injuries so just finishing was the goal.

Well, this is where I am on the plan for Half Marathon #8:

1-3

So I am currently on week 4 but you can see that my long runs did not start at 3 this time.

Since my last half marathon in October, I have continued long runs of 6-8 miles. This was basically due to the fact that I wanted to be prepared for a 10 mile race on Jan 11.

I guess the rest of the plan may look something like this:

4-12

Hopefully having more long runs will make a difference in my final results at the race on 3/30/14.

I want to PR but I want to remain healthy. The 2nd being more important.

PR???

Happy Running! Do you follow a strict plan when you train for a big race?

January 30, 2014 by Darlene

Pin It Party

Today I am joining up with The Lean Green Bean blog for her Pin It Party.

Here is how it works:

All bloggers are welcome to participate!

Here’s what you do:

Round up 5 blog posts you’ve written that you would like to see on Pinterest.
Make sure there is a nice, pinable image or photo included in each post.
Write a short post featuring the posts you chose- ie, put 5 nice images & links to the posts all in one place, along with a short description of each post.
On Thursday, publish your post, then visit The Bean and add your post to the linkup! (If you’re just reading this today and still want to participate, just publish in the next few days…I’ll leave the linkup open for about a week!)

The only rule is this:

If you add your post to the linkup, please take a few minutes to visit at least three other posts and pin some of their images!

So here are 5 links I would like to see on Pinterest:

Click on each image to Pin them.

https://myfirst5k.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/guest-post/
I started running at age 55. It’s the best decision I ever made. This post tells you why you should too.

https://myfirst5k.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/h-is-for-half-marathons
I have run 7 half marathons. I took me awhile to convince myself that I could. This post gives you some reasons to run a half and some tips to consider when you do.

https://myfirst5k.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/what-i-am-reading-wednesday/
I love to read and I love to run. This post includes the titles of some running-related novels.

https://myfirst5k.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/yoga-for-a-runner/
I haven’t been doing yoga long but I think it has helped me as a runner. This posts explains how.

https://myfirst5k.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/11-good-things-about-being-injured/
Unfortunately, I had a serious injury two years ago and I could not run for a long time. This post lists 11 things good about being injured (Sarcastically, of course. Not be able to run sucks!)

Happy Running!Are you participating in the Pin It party?

January 29, 2014 by Darlene

Me and the Treadmill

I do NOT look like this!

I saw this on Run with Jess’ blog last week (she got it from Marcia’s Healthy Slice) and couldn’t resist answering.

I don’t own a (working) treadmill and I don’t belong to a gym. There is one where I work behind the curtains on the stage in the gym. No windows, dark, dreary….

I really hate the treadmill. But I use it when I have no choice:

raining outside
no time after work (and I squeeze it in during lunch)
after a broken bone, when I am only allowed to run on the TM

That being said, here are my answers:

1. What’s your favorite workout to do on a treadmill?

I use a basic slow speed and when I am bored, I pick up the speed for awhile and then slow down.

2. How many miles, on average, do you run on the mill each week?

Usually 0-3. Sometimes up to 4. It depends how much time I have.

3. What was the most mileage you’ve ever completed on the mill in one workout? When? Why?

I think a few years ago, I did 6. It was on the weekend and I needed to do a longer run.

4. Do you mill at home, the gym or both?

At work. It’s convenient. No one else uses it. If I didn’t have one at work, I would buy one.

5. What distractions or entertainment (if any) do you use to help pass the time?

I always watch TV shows on my iPad.

6. If you have a treadmill at home, what kind is it? How old is it?

I have an old non-working one.

7. Do you fuel any differently for a treadmill workout than an outside one?

I drink more water. It is easy to reach and I get thirstier

8. Any treadmill mishaps to report?

Not yet.

9. Do you mill at incline to compensate for not being outside?

Nope.

10. Describe your perfect (if there is such an animal) treadmill conditions:

Not too warm. A window with a view of the ocean. A large tv with one of my favorite shows on (and no commercials.)

The Good Wife is on the screen probably

Happy Running! Do you run on the treadmill? Feel free to share any answers to the questions above.

January 28, 2014 by Darlene

The Alchemist and Running Dreams

Paulo Coelho‘s book is currently one of my favorites.

Here are some quotes:

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
“The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”
“The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.”
“People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.”
“Everything that happens once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.”
“I don’t live in either my past or my future. I’m interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living now…
“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.”
“When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.”
“Every blessing ignored becomes a curse.”
“If you start by promising what you don’t even have yet, you’ll lose your desire to work towards getting it.”
“making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.”
“Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him.”
“There is only one way to learn. It’s through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey.”
“At a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.”
“People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don’t deserve them, or that they’ll be unable to achieve them.”
“Never stop dreaming.”