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?

December 25, 2013 by Darlene

Playing Santa

My priority for the day was to make sure Amanda (the girl I mentor) and her sons have a nice Christmas.

So my hubby and I went there to give them gifts.

Matthew is 2 and loves Sesame Street. Everything I bought him – books, clothes, etc was Elmo-themed.

Richard is 7 and is obsessed with Teenage Ninja Turtles. I bought him Ninja puzzles, books, dvd, etc.

Mom Amanda is 24 and loves to read.

It is definitely better to give than receive.

Afterward, we went to the movies.

very enjoyable. Jennifer Lawrence is great in it.

and then to dinner with my hubby’s family. Unfortunately, they are not into the holiday so no decorations or gifts.

I was glad to be able to celebrate with Amanda and her kids.

Happy Running! How was your holiday?

December 24, 2013 by Darlene

Merry Christmas!

to all my blogger/running friends!

Happy Running! Enjoy your holiday! Hope your 2014 is a healthy one!

December 23, 2013 by Darlene

Weekly Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – tennis

modeling our “ugly” holiday sweaters

Christmas cookie exchange at work

Tuesday – ~~tennis, dinner out~~ (snowed out), 4 miles on the treadmill instead
Wednesday – 3 miles before work (too cold & snowy), 3 miles after work, yoga, dinner for a b-day

snowy run in the park

birthday dessert

my dessert – ice cream and pumpkin bread pudding – yum!

Thursday – ~~rest,~~3 miles on the treadmill at work, movie, birthday dinner out

cinnamon ginger creme brulee for dessert

really enjoyed this!!

Friday – 3 8 miles (Staycation Began), tennis dinner party

warmer but rainy run at the Corning Bike Path

the partying tennis gang

Saturday – ~~8 miles~~ 2 miles in town (before the rain)
Sunday – REST, day trip with the hubby to Lee, MA (WARM but rainy)

This Week: (No work all week – I can run whenever I want…)

Monday – 4 miles, tennis cancelled
Tuesday – rest, tennis cancelled
Wednesday – 4 miles, CHRISTMAS activities, yoga cancelled,
Thursday – rest
Friday – 4 miles
Saturday – rest
Sunday – 9 miles

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

December 22, 2013 by Darlene

14 in 2014

I had no problems running 13 in 2013. In fact. I ran 22 races even though I was out with a broken foot for 2 months.

I even ran 12 in 2012 when I was out for 5 months with a broken ankle and then 2 months with a stress fracture.

So of course, I am committing for 14 in 2014! I usually run at least 20 races (barring injury.)

I would like this year to run 14 NEW races.

Here are the races that I am thinking about:

1. Mayors Race & Wellness Festival 10 miler in Palm Springs, CA

2. Lighthouse 5k in St. Augustine, FL

3. LoveRun Half Marathon in Philadelphia, PA

March 30, 2014

4. Cherry Blossom 5k in Niskayuna, NY

April 27, 2014

5. Spring Run Off 5 K or 10k in Albany, NY

May 3, 2014

6. Mom’s Day 5K in Albany, NY

May 11. 2014

7. Adirondack Distance 10 m in Lake George, NY

June 22, 2014

8. CARE FOR KIDS 5K Run in Chestertown, NY

August 30, 2014

9. Flashlight 5K in Lake George, NY

September 21, 2014

10. Race the Train (8.4 mi) in North Creek, NY – if it is held

August 4, 2014??

11. Great Pumpkin Challenge 5K or 10K in Saratoga, NY

October 18, 2014

12. Troy Turkey Trot 5k or 10k in Troy, NY

November 27, 2014

13. a fall half marathon (Palio in Sartagoa, NY, Smuttynose in Hampton, NH, Seacoast in Portsmouth, NH, Hartford in CT, Diva on LI, NY??????)

October 5, 2014

14. a race in NYC (Melissa Fund Sun Run 5k??)

May 18, 2014 – date change

All 14 may not happen but I know that I will run 14 races where most of them will be new.

If you interested in this challenge, click here for more details.

Happy Running? Did you participate in the 13 in 2013 Challenge? Are you going to do the 14 in 2014? Do you run new races each year?

December 21, 2013 by Darlene

Snowy & Cold…Now Warm & Rainy!.. What The…?

Well, I said I hate the cold but I definitely prefer it to rain. In fact, I will run in the cold and snow…

but I will not run in the rain!!

So my 16 days of vacation started with RAIN!!!! Wah! Wah! Wah!

My running was planned for Friday, Saturday and Monday with a long run of 8 miles in there somewhere (preferably Saturday.)

However, when I looked at the forecast on Friday morning, it looked like Friday would be the best day to try to squeeze in a dry run so I did my long run then.

I went to the Corning Bike Path because I thought there was a good chance that the path would be plowed.

I was right. It was pretty dry. My run wasn’t great. I walked a lot. But that seems to be the norm these days. Unfortunately, I got rained on and the wind picked up for the last 2 miles. Not fun…but got it done.

Today, it was even warmer but drearier than yesterday. I got a lot of stuff done in the morning and then dragged myself out for a 2 mile run in town. The snow was melting and there were lots of puddles. Then it started to rain so I got my nails done and went grocery shopping.

Tomorrow it’s supposed to be even warmer and rainier. I think I’ll skip my run and hope for better weather next week.

Happy Running! Anyone else having crazy weather?

December 20, 2013 by Darlene

My 16 Day Staycation

Starting today, I am off until January 6, 2014!

Usually when I take time off from work, it is to go somewhere.

But for this vacation, I am staying home. (Although going to a warmer climate where there is a beach does sound tempting.)

And I have nothing to do except:

Run – whenever I want

wait until the sun comes out

Catch up with friends

Shop for bargains

Watch TV

have to catch up on the last few episodes of my favorite show

Read

hope to read this among many others

Knit

I haven’t done any since last Christmas vacation

Go to the Movies

maybe this one or Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I will do a lot of the above but I really should do grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, cleaning, re-organizing…

Then I won’t mind going back to work!!! Ha Ha!

Happy Running! Do you have time off for the holidays? If so, what are you going to do with your free time?

December 19, 2013 by Darlene

Third Annual Secret Santa Sock Swap

Thanks to 3x A Charm Runner for organizing this.

I was paired with Judy from Confessions of an Empty Nester. She and her sister have an amazing blog. She is not a runner but a fantastic cook which I am not. What we do have in common is that we both like to read, quilt, knit and of course, blog. I am glad to have been introduced to her blog and I hope to try some of her recipes. (If you need some recipes for Christmas cookies, go there now!)

This is what I bought her:

I was also paired with Julie from Healthy Wealth and Wise Not but Learning. She is from COLD Minnesota and is just getting back into running. She loves to sew and make jewelry and sounds like a really interesting person.

She sent me the gifts below:

Julie really outdid herself. I can’t believe that she made some of the gifts–crocheted the potholder, made the soap & made the paper cutouts. I have already worn the socks and the gloves and used the coffee mug.

Thanks Julie for the awesome gifts.

Happy Running! Did you participate in any holiday gift exchanges this year?