January 2, 2014 by Darlene

2014 Running Goals

14 Goals for 2014:

Do not get injured.
Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR.
Continue fitting in tennis and/or yoga once a week.
Finish most of my 5K races under 30 minutes.
Run at least one race per month and at least 20 for the year.
Run a race in another state or even a NEW state.
Run at least 10 NEW races.
Run in NYC.
Get an Age Group award.
Run a 10 mile race.
Run at least one half marathon.
PR in a half marathon.
Run over 800 miles.
Continue to blog almost everyday.

I think my goals are pretty conservative. I think they are ALL achievable.

The toughest will be #12. The most important will be #1. If #1 happens, then #3 and #13 can follow.

Happy Running. Happy New Year! What is your biggest goal for 2014?

January 1, 2014 by Darlene

2013 is in the books…

I must say that things were looking up until June 1 and then I broke my foot. I started getting back on track in August and the year ended pretty well.

Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside)- YES, except for June & July.

even ran 3 times while on vacation in May

Continue fitting in tennis and yoga at least once a week (as cross-training) – YES, until June 1. I started tennis again in Sept. I didn’t start yoga again until late Oct.

Finish my 5K races under 30 minutes and not stress about a PR (though getting one would be super!) – YES. Sure I stressed but finished Ice Breaker, Lake George, Mother’s Day, and Freihofer’s – all under 30 min. Post broken foot, I finished the Malta 5K, Race for the Cure, Delmar Turkey Trot and Stuff the Sleigh under 30. NO PR this year!! (I think my 5K PR days are over.)

Ice breaker 5k – 28:47

Get an Age Group award (in May I will be entering a new AG!!) – YES. 3rd at the Polar Cap 4m, in the correct AG I finished 1st at Lake George 5K and 1st in my new AG at the Mother’s Day 5K, 2nd in the Biggest Loser 5K & Helper’s Fund 10k, and 1st in the Race for Hope 5K, the Monster Scramble 10K and Stuff the Sleigh 5K. Getting older rocks!

Polar Cap 4m – 3rd in 50-59

Lake George 5K – 1st in 50-59

Mother’s Day 5K – 1st in 60-69

Helper’s Fund 10K – 2nd in 60-69

Race for Hope 5K – 1st in 60-69

Monster Scramble 10K – 1st in 60-69

Stuff the Sleigh 5k – 1st in 50+

PR in a 10K race (I have only one injured 10K under my belt.) – YES, both of my 10ks were faster. My PR was at the Helper’s Fund.

Helper’s Fund 10k

Run a 10 mile race (the one from Lake George to Bolton Landing is on my bucket List) – NO (broke my foot). I hope to run my first in January.
Run at least one half marathon (a spring and/or a fall one) – YES, I ran 2 – the Sarasota Half Marathon in March and the Mohawk Hudson in October.

Sarasota Half Marathon 3/17/13

Mohawk Hudson River Half Marathon – 10/13/13

Run at least 12 races (one per month, if possible) – YES, 22 total races – at least one per month except for August (when I decided to cautiously recover from my broken foot.)

at least I am smiling! (J. Berkeley photo)

one of 3 April races

one of 3 September races

one of 3 November races

Run a race in another state – YES, I ran in Florida and Vermont.

Florida racing

Register for The Biggest Loser RunWalk at www.biggestloser.com/runwalk

running in Vermont

Run a NEW race (hopefully one in NYC) – YES, 11 out of 22 were new ones – Hmrrc #3 & #5, Sarasota Half, Ice Breaker 5K, Lake George 5K, Mother’s Day 5k, Biggest Loser 5k, Helper’s Fund 10K, Mohawk Hudson Half, Monster Scramble 10K and Stuff the Sleigh 5k. (NYC hopefully next year)

Mother’s Day 5K in Schenectady

The Biggest Loser RunWalk (including a ride on a chair lift)

Listen to my body and slow down when necessary (In other words, do not get injured…) – YES. I broke my foot but I cannot blame overuse on that one.
Continue blogging regularly (to keep track of miles, as a motivator, to meet new runners…) – YES!

So I think I did pretty well during my 10 healthy months.

Happy Running! How was your 2013? Do you set goals?

December 31, 2013 by Darlene

December Rundown

DECEMBER GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!! YES! At least 3x week!

in the park

in town

in the neighborhood

on the bike path

Do not overdo and listen to my body…Do NOT run if foot pain gets worse. YES! Only ran 1 mile on rest days of the streak and then added my rest days back. Foot pain is much improved.
Attend at least 2 yoga classes! YES! Attended 3 classes!
Walk or run at least 1 mile a day while at work. YES on most days! Thanks to my co-worker Sherri.
Cut back on the sweets and eating out. I doubt it. It is the holiday season!

ate lots of cookies

and desserts

Start knitting again (socks or something else)

working on a pair of socks

Run before work at least once a week. Not often! Too cold!

would you run?

Run a new route. Yes, sorta. I haven’t run this route in 3 years.

in town and around the golf course

Continue to run some of my long runs with others. Nope. Just couldn’t coordinate our days. I usually run on Saturday and they run on Sunday. Definitely plan to do it next month!
Run at least one race. YES!

Continue running longer on the weekends (to train for January 10 miler) YES!

8 miles on the Corning bike trail

Complete the RW Running Streak (run at least 1 mile everyday from Thanksgiving to New Year’s) NO! I decided to quit after 10 days straight.

Run at least 70 miles this month. YES! 86 – my biggest month this year!

I also visited NYC with 2 friends.

I spent some time with my mentee Amanda and her sons. In fact I saw them 3 times this month.

I celebrated quite a few dinners out – 5 birthdays, 2 tennis parties, Christmas & New Year’s Eve. Holy waist line!

tennis friend Suzy’s b-day

former co-worker Cheryl’s b-day

college friend Judy’s b-day

tennis party

I went to see several very enjoyable movies: Philomena, Catching Fire, Book Thief, American Hustle, Saving Mr Banks.

I also read some good books including What Alice Forgot, the Aviator’s Wife, the Orphan Train.

JANUARY GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!!
Do not overdo and listen to my body!
Attend at least 2 yoga classes!
Walk or run at least 1 mile a day while at work.
Cut back on the sweets and eating out now that the holidays are over.
Run before work at least once a week.
Continue to run some of my long runs with others
Complete my first 10 mile race.
Run at least one other race.
Continue running longer on the weekends (to train for January 10 miler and March half marathon)
Run at least 70 miles this month.
Dedicate all my runs to John Anthony my running buddy.

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

December 30, 2013 by Darlene

Weekly Running Update

Last Week (No work all week):

Monday – 4 miles, (tennis cancelled)

I had hoped to run in the daylight but it rained all day. Never get tired of the holiday lights, anyway

Tuesday – ~~rest~~, 4 miles, (tennis cancelled)

colder and windier but at least the sun came out

Wednesday – ~~4 miles~~, rest, CHRISTMAS activities, (yoga cancelled)

Thursday – ~~rest~~ 4 miles, mall walk with BFF

Friday – ~~4 miles~~, REST, mah jongg at my house (won 4 times! including two 50 cent hands!!)

Saturday – ~~rest~~ 9 miles

on the Nisky bike path

Sunday – ~~9 miles~~, REST, movie, dinner out

another good one to see

This Week: (No work all week)

Monday – tennis
Tuesday – 4 miles (tennis cancelled)
Wednesday – rest, cruise on Lake George, (yoga cancelled)
Thursday – 4 miles
Friday – 3 miles
Saturday – rest, trip to NYC with the hubby for the Boat Show
Sunday – 8 miles

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

December 29, 2013 by Darlene

Here Comes the Arctic Freeze

Yup, it’s going to get cold around here. And you know who much I love cold weather…

The good thing is that I am on vacation and I don’t have to run in the morning when it is at its coldest and I don’t have to run in the dark after work.

Today it was forecasted to rain so I blew off my new running friends and did my long run solo yesterday. (As it turns out, it isn’t raining yet and I should have run with them.)

I have been going to the Corning Bike Path lately for my long runs and to change things up, I drove to the Nisky Bike Path.

The snow has mostly melted and the path was clear.

I ran 2.25 miles to Lock 7 and then turned around.

closed for the season

When the sun was out, I was sweating. Then the sun went in and the wind picked up and I was cold again.

frozen enough for hockey

I stopped at my car for some GU and water and it was hard to get back out there.

But I did and ran 2.75 miles ion the other direction and turned around.

9 miles for the day…not all running…some walking…too much walking…I think I need those running partners to motivate me to not stop when tired.

Today is my rest day…cleaning up the house, some knitting, reading and a movie later.

I think I will enjoy this one.

Happy Running! How are you handling the cold?

December 28, 2013 by Darlene

Another Destination Race

Yup, that’s me.

Our good friends that moved to Florida live not far. I visited them last January and we went to St Augustine which I loved.

St Augustine lighthouse

at the top

Anyway, I found this race and it sounds really cool:

A celebration of historic preservation, community gatherings and family outings from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Night Fest begins at 4:30 p.m. with the 5k Walk and Fun Run starting at 5:30 p.m.. Then, at dusk, the French lens comes alive with light at the top of the tower. A special presentation on navigating by the stars will be presented via the Smithsonian Institutions Affiliates Program. A local cooking contest will also be featured with voting from attendees. Plus, there will be boat building, a crafts tent and a new shipyard play area for children.

the course

The timing is not great. I have to take Feb 24 & 25 off to work at the NYS bar exam. But I am going to try to make it work (and I convinced my hubby to come along.)

Happy Running! Are you planning any destination races?

December 27, 2013 by Darlene

Winter Miles Challenge 2014

Run with Jess has created the Winter Miles Challenge to help keep us all on track through the toughest 8 weeks of winter (January 6 – March 2) so that we have a successful spring!

All you have to do is pick a goal and then at the end of every week, report back your completed mileage. If you hit your weekly goal, you are entered into the weekly prize drawing.

These are the goals:

Beginner: 10 miles each week

Intermediate: 20 miles each week

Trainer: 30 miles each week

Advanced: 40 miles each week

Ultra: 50 miles each week

Every week that you hit your mileage goal, you earn one entry into that week’s prize drawing sponsored by these great companies…

Week 1 (Jan.6-12) – YakTrax
Week 2 (Jan.13-19) – ProCompression Socks
Week 3 (Jan.20-26) – Milestones Jewelry & Apparel
Week 4 (Jan.27-Feb.2) – Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Bonus week! There is an opportunity to earn TWO entries into the prize drawing)
Week 5 (Feb.3-9) – Fitsok Socks
Week 6 (Feb.10-16) – FlapJacked Protein Pancakes
Week 7 (Feb.17-23) – 110% Compression Socks
Week 8 (Feb.24-Mar.2) – Hydrapak & GU Energy

Best of all, the Winter Miles Challenge is FREE to participate so REGISTER HERE!

I signed up. I’m all into FREE and motivation to run in the winter.

I chose the Beginner goal of 10 miles per week. I am not a beginner but I don’t usually run 20 miles each week. I am actually going to try for at least 15 miles each week.

Happy Running? Are you up for this challenge?

December 26, 2013 by Darlene

Currently

Being off from work for more than a weekend is very strange for me. I am not used to having so much free time and yet, not getting things done.

Watching: TVs shows on my iPad. I have to catch on missed episodes of my favorite shows – The Good Wife, Revenge, Grey’s Anatomy and Nashville

Reading: The Orphan Train. A friend recommended it and so far it is very good.

Listening: Pandora. I usually only listen to music in the car and my drive to work is very short. I love listening to oldies – Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Jim Croce, Jackson Browne, Carole King, etc.

Making: Socks. I have the wool so but I kinda have lost interest in knitting. It reminds me of the time I knit because I couldn’t do anything else.

Feeling: Relaxed and rested.

Planning: Dinner. Not working makes me feel guilty about not cooking dinner for my hubby.When I am working, I don’t have the time. No excuse today.

Loving: Being able to run at any time of the day I want. I can run in the daylight and can wait until the weather improves. I can run as far as I want and where I want. Unfortunately, this only happens once a year.

Happy Running! What’s on your ‘Currently’ list?