December 13, 2013 by Darlene

DIY Cards

I have quite a few birthdays in addition to Christmas to celebrate in December. Instead of buying cards, I have been making them.

Thanks to Walgreens and Facebook, it is cheap and very easy.

I create a 4×6 collage print from photos in my Facebook account and/or photos from any from my Friends’ Facebook accounts. Cool, right?

It cost $.39 and recently there was a 40% off special (that’s $.23.)

Here is a sampling:

You can make bigger collages (5×7 or 8×10) and they very often have code for a “free collage.” You can also make single print with all kinds of cute borders.

I make these a lot and my friends think I am so techie. I do it for fun.

I didn’t create my Christmas cards this way. I ordered regular digital cards (with envelopes) from Shutterfly. But next year, I may even do it this way.

Happy Running! Would like this type of card over a traditional card?

December 12, 2013 by Darlene

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

I am a wimp when it comes to the cold. Last Saturday I dragged out my winter running hat, fleece-lined tights and thermal running gloves. And I ran and I was cold (mostly due to the wind.)

I haven’t run in the ice and snow yet but that will be coming, I am sure. Due to after work commitments, I sometimes have to run before work when it is even colder. (I take that back. Yesterday I ran alternating between the sidewalk and the road trying to dodge the ice. Scary!!)

and I have a race on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

There’s always the treadmill or will I be able to summon the BEAST in me and run outdoors.

I have done it in previous winters. It is always hard in the beginning. I envy you runners who live in a warmer climate.

Happy Running! How do you cope with running in the cold weather?

December 11, 2013 by Darlene

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. (Unfortunately, several of my races did not have official results like the Delmar Turkey Trot and the Stuff the Sleigh 5k).)

The Fall series is now running, with races from September 14th to December 31st.

Well, as you can see, I’m in 48th place BUT in my age group I am FIRST (out of 2)!

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!

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

So when 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? How many points did you earn?

December 10, 2013 by Darlene

#yearofrunning13

For the third year in a row, Miss Zippy has asked all running bloggers to take a look back at their year of running and share it.

I did it last year and I will do it again this year:

Best race experience?

March 17, 2013

This is an easy one. After 2012 when I had broken my ankle & had surgery, then had a stress fracture in the other foot, I worried that I wouldn’t be able to run longer races again. I trained for the First Watch Half Marathon in Sarasota, Florida and though I ran it very conservatively, I finished and I was ecstatic. It gave me the confidence to run other halfs (even after injuries.)

Best run?

November 17, 2013

I am a solo runner. it’s out of convenience and lack of self confidence. I am slow and I stop and walk when I am tired. To date, my longest non-stop run has been 5 miles and that was a race. I am now signed up for another half marathon on March 30, 2014. I am running it with 2 new runners who have never done one and they asked me to run with them one Sunday. Nervously I accepted and we ran 6 miles….without stopping! I haven’t done that since so I guess races and running partners motivate me.

Best new piece of gear?

Mizuno Sayonara

Brooks Adrenaline

These are my two new pairs of running shoes. I am picky about my shoes. I have problems with my feet from time to time (my right foot) and since wearing these, my foot has stopped hurting for the most part. I have worn the Sayonaras for short runs and the Adrenalines for long one.

Best piece of running advice you received?

Unfortunately, I got injured again in 2013 (broke my foot on June 1) so I am going to use the same quote from Runner’s World: “Injury is something that happens to you as an athlete. Others might tell you that you’re done. But if you keep at it, you might be able to get back…” –Abdi Abdirahman, third-place finisher in the men’s 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials. If you are a runner, you risk getting injured. You don’t stop running forever. When you are healed, you start again and you will slowly get it back!

Most inspirational runner?

November 5, 2013

Joy Johnson, age 86, died after completing her 25th consecutive NYC Marathon. I’ll quote her about running: “It’s energizing. You sleep better at night. And the best part for me is you can eat anything you want.” And about her last run: “I’ll be at the back of the pack, but I don’t mind. I just praise the Lord I can get out of bed each morning and run. A lot of people my age are in wheelchairs.” I hope I am am healthy enough to run as long as she did and enjoy it.

If you could sum up your year in a couple of words, what would they be?

July 28, 2013 – 8 weeks after a broken foot

I realized that injuries happen and I am grateful for every race that I can finish!

Happy Running! Feel free to share your answers to Miss Zippy’s questions.

December 9, 2013 by Darlene

RWStreak Update

Last Week:

Monday – 3 miles ~~before work~~ on the TM at work, tennis after
Tuesday – 3 4 miles after work

ran around the lights in Washington Park

Wednesday – trip to NYC, miles and 9.5 miles of walking (no running but I was going to count it in the Streak 🙂 )

fun in the city

Thursday – 3 4 miles after work

couldn’t resist going back to the park – didn’t take pics this time (colder, windier, rainy)

Friday – rest, 1 mile on the TM (rain), mah jongg
Saturday –proctor exam, 8 miles on the bike trail

8 cold windy miles on tired legs

Sunday – rest, THE STREAK HAS ENDED, movie & dinner out to celebrate my mentee’s b-day

I decided to end the Streak after 10 days. I was just running to get it done. On my rest days, I was only running 1 mile and it took longer to get dressed and undressed. After Saturday’s pathetic long run (with more walking than running), I decided that I do need my rest. My runs are suffering. My legs are tired when I run EVERYDAY. I think I prefer quality not quantity. So I am returning to running only 2-3 times each week plus a longer run on the weekend.

This Week:

Monday – 3 miles after work, mall walk with BFF
Tuesday – rest, tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, yoga after
Thursday – 3 miles before work, haircut after
Friday – rest, mah jongg
Saturday – 5K race
Sunday – 3 mile race + more, lights in the park

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

December 6, 2013 by Darlene

Foto Friday

Tis the season…fa..la..la..la…la..la..la…la

lots of snowmen at my house

stockings for the cats cuz they love Christmas too.

our puny artificial tree…still trying to talk my hubby into a bigger real one

spending time with friends in NYC

holiday lights in Washington Park, Albany

ice menorah on the last night of Chanukah in NYC

On the running front, the weather has been balmy but that it is ending. Today it is raining and tomorrow it is supposed to snow!! Oh no! I am not ready for YakTrax. I hope I can get a long run in. (I find it impossible to run more than 3 miles on a treadmill.)

Happy Running! What are your favorite holiday decorations? Does the winter weather put a damper on your running?

December 5, 2013 by Darlene

I <3 New York

Third time’s a charm.

My friends Eileen, MaryPat & I had planned to go to NYC last January and then I got the flu and couldn’t go. Then we planned to go in June and I broke my foot and couldn’t go.

So I kept my fingers crossed that nothing would happen and I could go yesterday.

We took the Megabus down (for $7 ea) and discussed our activity options on the ride. If the weather had been cold or rainy, we would have gotten tix to a show or Radio City. But it was forecasted to be 50 degrees. Yay us!

So we decided to be typical tourists and visit all the decorated windows and other decorated locations – Rockefeller Center, Saks, Trump Tower and walk around Central Park.

After a pit stop at Starbucks, we headed down Fifth Avenue and started by buying some touristy items (my friends not me).

buying tacky PJs

Then one of our many photo ops.

with a fake Statue of Liberty

We continued down Fifth trying on cheap hats & scarfs at every corner (I think we eventually all bought something.)

at Lord n Taylor’s

We looked at the windows at Lord and Taylor’s and then headed to Rockefeller Center. Unfortunately, there was equipment everywhere since the lighting of tree ceremony was to be last night (Featured scheduled guests to perform in the star-studded show included: Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Goo Goo Dolls, Ariana Grande and Jewel.)

A quick stop there and then off to Central Park for what else? A carriage ride.

After the relaxing ride, since we had reservations for a late lunch, we walked back down Fifth to do the rest of the touristy things on our list.

inside Trump Tower

We visited Trump Tower and then we went inside FAO Schwartz. MaryPat played the BIG piano and I stole a photo.

They take pics before you can play the piano and then they try to sell them to you. We didn’t want to spend the money so I snapped a pic of the screen with my iphone.

Then we looked at the windows at Saks –

Yeti at Saks

And all of a sudden, while we were on line, the tree at Rockefeller Center lit up!!! So cool. They were testing it and so we did get to see the lighting of the tree!!

no I didn’t take this

We continued our walk to Bryant Square, browsed in some of the shops and watched the ice skaters.

42nd & 6th

Then we headed back down Broadway towards Times Square to get to our restaurant, the Glass House Tavern (I ate there in October).

we did have some of these – I had duck w/quinoa & pannecotta for dessert

The meal was very good…just the right amount of food (I even had room for dessert.)

“Believe” was the theme this year at Macy’s

We had decided to take the train home instead of the Megabus to have more time in the city (an extra 1 1/2 hrs). So we headed toward 34th street to see the windows at Macy’s and of course, get our pic with Santa.

Finally, it was time to head to Penn Station.

view of the Empire State Building

A fun day in the Big Apple. We laughed a lot. The weather was awesome. A great time was had by all.

MaryPat has FitBit and it said that we walked 9.5 miles!! (Is my RWRunStreak broken cuz I didn’t run?? I think that it should count as a 1 mile rest day!!!)

I do hope that the next time I am in NYC, I will be running in Central Park!!!

Happy Running! Besides the NYC Marathon, what is the best race to run in Central Park? Can my 9.5 miles walking count as 1 mile in the Streak?

December 4, 2013 by Darlene

TeamRunnerd Photo-A-Day Challenge

: 1- NOVEMBER

: 3 – STRONG

: 4 – ORANGE

: 5 – PUMPKIN

: 6- FIND

: 7 – FALL

: 8 – MUSIC

: 9 – INSPIRE

: 10 – FAST

: 11 – SHOE

: 12 – MOTIVATE

: 13 – HAPPY

: 14 – TREAT

: 15 – RACE

: 16- RECOVER

: 17 – FUEL

: 18 – FAVORITE

: 19 – EASY

: 20 – MOMENT

: 22 – FAMILY

: 23 – RUN

: 24- STUFFED

: 25 – FINISH

: 26 – FRIEND

: 27 – PASSION

: 28 – TURKEY

: 30 -RUNNERD

This was fun. It was a challenge to remember everyday and to be creative (which I am not.)

Happy Running! Have you ever participated in a photo-a-day contest? (This was my 2nd one.)

December 3, 2013 by Darlene

November Recap

Still running (even with a sometimes painful foot)

NOVEMBER GOALS:

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

it’s getting colder…

Do not overdo and listen to my body…REST when necessary!! YES. At least 3x a week.
Start daily planks! I should give up on these. Only did a few.
Attend 2 yoga classes! YES. Attended 4!
Complete a 15k race. YES!

15K

Run at least one other race. YES. 2 others.

Delmar Turkey Trot

Stuff the Sleigh 5K

Continue running longer on the weekends. YES. 6-8 miles.

8 miles on the Nisky bike trail

Run a new route. Nope.
Run at least 50 miles this month. YES. Ran 79 miles!!

No theatre this month but I saw several movies (Enough Said, 12 Years a Slave, Philomena – all good)
Ate out fewer times this month, I think (2 Tuesdays after tennis, NYC,with mah jongg friends, with tennis friends, Thanksgiving)

Mah Jongg Chinese dinner

tennis dinner

Ran with some new running partners

Adrienne & Heidi

I got matched with a running buddy (through IRUN4)

a 9 year old with special needs – he is now my motivation to run

Went to Central Park & saw the NYC Marathon finish line as well as hiked the High Line.

at the finish line (closest I will get)

with my college BFFs

DECEMBER GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!!
Do not overdo and listen to my body…Do NOT run if foot pain gets worse.
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.
Start knitting again (socks or something else)
Run before work at least once a week.
Run a new route.
Continue to run some of my long runs with others
Run at least one race.
Continue running longer on the weekends (to train for January 10 miler)
Complete the RW Running Streak (run at least 1 mile everyday from Thanksgiving to New Year’s)
Run at least 70 miles this month.

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

December 2, 2013 by Darlene

RWStreak Update

Last Week:

Monday – ~~3 miles~~ ~~before work~~ 4 miles after work
Tuesday – 3 miles ~~before work~~ on the TM during work (cold and rainy), tennis
Wednesday – DAY OFF, yoga
Thursday – Thanksgiving 5K race (and the Streak begins), dinner out