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Book Giveaway

Vanessa Runs,  a fellow runner recently wrote a book that I think you’d enjoy, The Summit Seeker. It’s a memoir about her transition from non-running to long-distance trail runner.

Here’s the Amazon description:

Some people run for weight loss, general fitness, or the ability to eat whatever they want. In The Summit Seeker, Vanessa Runs explores trail and ultra running on an emotional, psychological, and spiritual level. 

Vanessa started running to battle her demons, to heal her deepest wounds, and ultimately, to find her peace in the mountains. Her vivid descriptions of spectacular trails call you into wild places where you will find rugged beauty, expansive wilderness, and deep personal insights.

Weaving her personal stories of struggle, hunger, and adventure, Vanessa tugs at our heartstrings and appeals to our most primitive drive as a species: to survive.

Author’s Bio:

Vanessa Runs is an ultra endurance trail runner and journalist. She has written for UltraRunning Magazine, Trail Running Magazine, and Active.com A 100-mile nerd, an elevation junkie, and a mountain-loving nomad, Vanessa lives and travels in a Rialta RV with her boyfriend, dog, and cat. Read her full bio, check out her articles, and follow her travels at: vanessaruns.com.
Although I am not a trail or an ultrarunner, I am excited to read this book.
If you’d like to win a copy of this book:
Required:
  • Leave a comment with the name of your favorite running-related book.
  • Follow my blog. (Leave a comment that you do.)
  • Tweet, blog or post on Facebook about this giveaway. (Leave a comment on how you did.)

For extra points:

  • Follow me on twitter. (Leave a comment that you do.)
  • Follow My First 5K and More on Facebook. (Leave a comment that you do.)
  • Follow me on Instagram. (Leave a comment that you do.)

The deadline is Monday, January 13 at  midnight.

Happy Running! 

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New and Improved National Running Challenge

Do you like FREE things and do you like to run RACES? Then you need to check out the National Running Challenge!

The National Running Challenge is a challenge for runners who run races. Each challenge series runs for several months.  All you have to do is after each race, enter your stats to earn points. Your finishing time does not matter! The longer the race, the more points you get. However, there needs to be an official results page.

The Fall series is now over and believe it or not, I won my Age Group!

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If you are leading  in the standings, whether it is overall or age group, you may win prizes! The prizes can be anything from gift cards to running related items!

My prize is worth a big $5 but at least I won something. (The number of winners and prize values in your age group is dependent on the total number of participants in your age group.)

So you may win a prize even if you are not fast.  That is cool!

The Spring series goes from January 1, 2014 to June 30, 2014. The prize pool has gone up from $575 to $1150. You can also find and register for races through Active.com from this site.

So if you sign up, be sure to put me down as your referral, Darlene Cardillo! (That’ll give me 5 more points!)

Happy Running!  Did you sign up?  

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Foto Friday

I am currently in Palm Springs, CA where the weather does not resemble the photos that I took last weekend:

I love NYC during the holidays!!

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I don’t love running in the ice and snow but I do enjoy looking at it while I am running.

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Happy Running! Have a nice weekend!  What are your running plans?

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One Word Resolution for 2014

The My One Word approach seems to be very popular this year.

Here is a summary:

Lose the long the list of changes you want to make this year and instead pick one word. This process forces clarity by taking all of your big plans for life change and narrowing them down into a single thing. Your one word focuses on your character and creates a vision for your future.

I know this has been around for several years, but for the first time, I am going to try it.

My word for 2014 is:

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What is Acceptance?

Acceptance is “a person’s assent to the reality of a situation, recognizing a process or condition without attempting to change it, protest, or exit.”

Why did I choose Acceptance?

I think on the whole that I am too critical of myself.  My expectations of others are too high.  I focus too much on the negative.  I get disappointed and/or hurt too easily.

How will I focus on my word?

  • Accept my weaknesses.  I may not be the fastest runner, best tennis player or most flexible yogi. I am me.
  • Accept that other have different priorities than I do.  Do not try to change them.
  • Accept the good with the bad.  Not every run or tennis match will be a good one.  Not everything I attempt will turn out well.
  • Accept my family, financial and work situations.  They may not be the best but they could be a lot worse.
  • Accept that sometimes your best effort is not enough.
  • Accept that life is flawed and so are people.
  • Accept failures. But don’t give up.  Try again.

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Happy Running! If you were to choose ONE word for your focus throughout the year what word would you choose?

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My Next Race and First of 2014

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My latest excuse for a vacation is that a friend moved to Palm Springs, CA in August and she invited me to come visit.

Remember Mary, my running, ice cream buddy?

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So guess where I am going January 8-13, 2014? PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA!!

It is not an ideal time to take off from work since I just had 2 weeks off and it’s is the start of a new semester. But it sounded like a nice race, Mary is still on vacation & I was able to use my frequent flyer miles.

So off I go… to run this race:

jan11 Here’s the race description:

Join the Mayor of Palm Springs for one of the most scenic runs you will ever experience. The race is part of Mayor Steve Pougnet’s commitment to health and reducing childhood obesity. See the uptown, downtown, historic buildings, parks and the scenic mountain views. There is a race for everyone of every age. Come join the fun! Every registrant receives a hot breakfast and finisher’s medal! Raffle prizes, food samples, and a fun flat course make this one of the best! Prizes for every age division. Commemorative photo and medal for every 5K and 10 Mile finisher! Breakfast is included! Join us at the Pre-Race Spaghetti Dinner the night before.

5K or 10 miler??

We are both running the 10 miler.  My first so a PR!!

I am really excited to see Mary again.  To run with Mary! To leave the cold weather!

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view from Mary’s patio…she lives on the 12th hole

I am excited! My only goal for this race is to have fun and finish healthy.

Happy Running! Do you plan your vacations around races??

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Weekly Running Update

 

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Last Week: (Off from work ALL WEEK!)

  • Monday –rest,  3 miles, tennis
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in town and around the golf course

  • Tuesday – 4 3 miles (tennis cancelled), New Year’s Eve dinner out
  • Wednesday –  rest, 3 miles, cruise on Lake George, (yoga cancelled)
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in the neighborhood

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on Lake George

  • Thursday – 4 miles rest – too cold and snowy
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we got about a foot but the temps were sub-zero

  • Friday – 3 miles on the treadmill at work, mah jongg
  • Saturday – rest, bus trip to NYC with the hubby for the Boat Show, lots of walking miles in NYC

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  • Sunday – 8 slow slippery miles
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on the Corning Bike Path – just did it slow as to not fall.

This Week: (Back to work 😦 )

  • Monday – rest
  • Tuesday – 3 miles on TM at lunch, tennis
  • Wednesday –  rest, fly to Palm Springs
  • Thursday – 3 miles?
  • Friday – rest
  • Saturday – 10 mile race!!
  • Sunday – rest
  • Monday – rest, fly home

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any races to start off the new year?

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I am a RunNerd.

Yes, I keep track of everything…running.

Miles Run Monthly
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Jan 0 38 72 0 67
Feb 0 44 68 0 84
Mar 0 53 90.5 0 81
Apr 12 47 83 3 66
May 19 53 57.5 21 50
Jun 12 55 59 46 3
Jul 23 54 26 64 17
Aug 33 45.5 56.5 59 56
Sept 33 59.5 76 65 79
Oct 31 68.5 106 10 70
Nov 17 66 67 9 79
Dec 29 95 86 46 86
Total 209 678.5 849 322 738

(I didn’t keep track in 2008. But it was probably around 100 since I only ran April-Oct. and very few miles at a time. Injured months are in red.)

Races Run Monthly
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Jan 0 0 0 1 0 1
Feb 0 0 0 1 0 2
Mar 0 0 1 2 0 2
Apr 1 0 1 2 0 3
May 2 4 4 4 0 2
Jun 1 1 3 2 2 1
Jul 2 0 1 0 1 1
Aug 1 3 2 0 2 0
Sept 3 3 3 1 4 3
Oct 3 4 2 2 2 3
Nov 0 1 2 4 0 3
Dec 0 1 2 2 1 1
Total 13 17 21 21 12 22

So although I started running in April of 2008, I didn’t seriously train until 2010.

Types of Races Run Yearly
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Total
5K 12 16 20 11 10 14 83
3.5 mi. 1 1 1 1 0 0 4
4 mi. 0 0 0 2 1 2 5
5 mi 0 0 0 1 0 1 2
10K 0 0 0 0 1 3 4
15K 0 0 0 1 0 1 2
10 mi. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Half Marathon 0 0 0 5 0 2 7

I only ran 5ks until January 2011. After that, I added half marathons and other distances and continued to run 5ks.

I plan to continue this running/racing schedule.

At my age, I don’t see myself running over 1000 miles or running marathons or ever doing a triathlon.

I LOVE running!   I LOVE racing even more!

I enjoy tennis and yoga!

I also enjoy boating and spending time with my family and friends!!!!!

Happy Running!  Do you keep track of your running?  Have your running goals changed through the years?

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Long Runs

I found this on Pinterest and thought it appropriate to post here:

Long Runs… 
….at times, a confidence booster,
and other times
…..an ego crusher

….show you how far you’ve come,
or how much farther you need to go
….a chance for mental cleansing,
or a time for “chatter brain” to be unleashed

….time to connect with running buddies, 
or much needed “me” time
….done just as the sun is rising,
or chasing the sun to bed 
….allow you to shed all the roles you wear in life,
except for one
….Runner

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last summer

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last Saturday

Happy Running! How would you describe your long runs?

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Foto Friday

There’s no better way to look back on the good things that happened than by looking through your blog photos.

So here’s a month by month look at the highlights of 2013:

January:

running over a bridge while on vacation in Daytona Beach, Florida

February:

winning an AG award with AJH at the Polar Cap 4 mile race

March:

finishing the First Watch Half Marathon in Sarasota, FL.

April:

running Sean’s Run 5K with Mary

May:

running the Mother’s Day 5K with my tennis buddy, MaryPat and winning lst place in my new AG.

June:

not a good month but this was taken BEFORE the Freihofer’s Run for Women (the race where I broke my foot)

July:

recovered enough to complete the Biggest Loser 5K

August:

no races this month but several trips to scenic Chestertown to play tennis and run

September:

winning an AG award at the Helper’s Fund 10k where I met a new running partner, Heidi

October:

finishing the Mohawk Hudson River Half Marathon and seeing a lot of familiar faces

November:

running the Stockade-athon 15K

December:

running the Last Run 5k in a snowstorm (just for fun)

It was definitely hard to choose just one memory from each month.  I feel very fortunate.

Happy Running! What were some of your highlights of 2013?

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2014 Running Goals

14 Goals for 2014:

  1. Do not get injured.
  2. Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR.
  3. Continue fitting in tennis and/or yoga once a week.
  4. Finish most of my 5K races under 30 minutes.
  5. Run at least one race per month and at least 20 for the year.
  6. Run a race in another state or even a NEW state.
  7. Run at least 10 NEW races.
  8. Run in NYC.
  9. Get an Age Group award.
  10. Run a 10 mile race.
  11. Run at least one half marathon.
  12. PR in a half marathon.
  13. Run over 800 miles.
  14. 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?

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