Here are some photos from my last 5K race that I won’t have to buy:

is this you?
These are the photos where I walked most of the race (and they were a free download.) Go figure.
Happy Running! How do your race photos come out?
It is the first time I have worked a full week in awhile.

On Wed, I ran before work to avoid the heat & humidity (& possible thunderstorms). I did the same today.
Happy Running! Are you having crazy weather as well?
and can’t believe it’s been 12 years…
So much as changed in my life.
I have a different job. I am now a boater, runner and blogger but I remember it like it was yesterday.

Happy Running! Do you remember what you were doing when it happened?
Last Week:
I have a Love-Hate relationship with tennis. I love.love my tennis friends. When I am on the court I enjoy the exercise, competition, social aspect of it but I HATE having to take time away from running and I HATE that since I don’t put any priority into it, my skills are lacking. I HATE that it is expensive.
Unfortunately, you can’t just go out and play (which is why I haven’t made the effort to play since my Naples vacation in May.)
So if I want to keep it up at all, you have to join a club and pay to be part of 35 week contracts.
So I did. I will be playing in a half contract on Mondays and a half contract on Tuesdays. (Ideally only once a week not 2x and then 0x.) I don’t plan to join any teams. (Gone are the days when I played 6x a week and on 3-4 teams.)
Next Week:
Happy Running! How is your running going? Any upcoming races?
After my 5K, I felt energized by my performance and decided to run some more.
I still hadn’t decided about running 13.1 miles on Oct. 13 so I figured that since the weather was so nice, I should at least walk /run as many miles as my feet could handle.
I picked the Mohawk Towpath since it is on my way home and I ran there once before (but only several miles) as well as watched a Duathlon there in the rain.
Where I parked seemed to be the beginning.

stop#1 – you can listen to the tour on your phone
I ran the short way first and then back to my car. This was about .9 miles total.
Then I headed in the other direction for about 3 miles. First I ran along the road along the river and then I crossed the street and ran through a trail in the woods.
When it ended, I crossed the street again and ran around Krause’s grounds. This is where the Duathlon started. It used to be a nice restaurant/catering facility but now it is very rundown.
I then continued up the road of this scenic byway until I got to a marina.
I turned around at this point. I stupidly did not bring any water and was hot & thirsty. I followed the same route back except I didn’t turn into Krause’s.
I wanted to get to 6 miles or 10 for the day so I continued the route past my car and to Stewarts:
I should say that although I wrote “ran”, I didn’t run it all. I walked a lot. My pace was about 14. But as they say “I was lapping those people on the couch.”
Sunday, it was cooler, breezy but the sun was shining. My hubby was already at the lake with his buddies (there was a car show in the village this weekend.)
I decided to drive up. The plan was be to get a dock on an island, hang out and barbecue and hike instead of this:
We left the marina and it was beautiful. We made plans with another couple to dock at Black Mountain Point
After we set up our site, Christine & I decided to take a hike while the men started a fire.
We walked to Commission Point which about 2 1/4 miles and then headed back. (We had such a good time, we made plans to do it again but from Commission Pt to Shelving Rock Pt.)
Perfect weather and great views made the hamburgers & hot dogs taste even better.
We hung out as long as possible but Monday’s a work day – BOO!
Happy Running! Hope you had a nice weekend!
I ran this race last year so I registered again on a whim.
However last summer, I had run 4 5K races and a 10K. This summer – zippo. I was hoping that a race would light a firecracker to my running.
Luckily it was beautiful weather for a race. Sunny and cool (50’s) and little humidity. I opted to wear a summer outfit with compression socks and brought my DIY arm sleeves and a windbreaker.
I left nice and early but decided to use my iPhone rather than my Garmin GPS to locate the race. BIG MISTAKE!! It told me to get off the highway an exit earlier than I thought (I shouldn’t have listened.) and then took me on back roads to who knows where. When it finally told me to turn into my destination, there was no road. I think the Google maps had not been updated since Global Foundries was built. So I wandered around and found an entrance to Global Foundries. But then I encountered a road block for the race. They told me to go out and back to the next exit and go in the other entrance. GREAT! So instead of arriving nice and early, I rushed to get my race packet and put all the stuff they gave us back in my car and got to the start with 5 minutes to spare. Phew! No time to even use the rest room (yes, there were real bathrooms!).
There were a lot more runners than last year. Especially those running for the sponsor, Global Foundries (where coincidentally my stepson works.) probably about 600 or so. The race was chip timed so no need to start in the front. I started with my sleeves on but quickly got warm from the sun and rolled them down.
The course is very boring…you are running around chip plants but the loops let you see the fast runners and all those runners that are behind you twice during the race.
My goal for the race was to run as much of it as I could. There were some inclines but not what you call hills. At mile 1.5, I succumbed to walking at the water stop. Then I walked even longer at the same water stop which was at mile 2.5. In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t but who knows maybe I finished faster because of it.
I knew from the clocks and my Garmin that I could unbelievably finish under 30 minutes.
And I did… gun time 29:56, chip time 29:49
I was very happy.
I grabbed some food ..the usual food, bagels, etc and hung around talking to a nice lady who just started running a year ago and another familiar face from many races.
Did I win an award?
The lady that I crossed the finish line with was in my AG but she started 6 sec. after me.
Oh well. Maybe next time.
Split times:
mile 1: 9:29
mile 2: 9:56
mile 3: 9:54
.10: 7:45
(all under 10 min. woo hoo!!)
I am happy and I met ALL my goals for the race.
This race was just what I needed.
I was on a runner’s high so I stopped on my way home to run some more. More about that in my next post.
Happy Running! Anyone racing this weekend?
Tomorrow is the deadline to defer my registration for the above half marathon until next year.
I can’t decide what to do. I keep going back and forth. I have 3 choices. (see below.)
I am definitely NOT IN SHAPE to run 13.1 miles.
YES, JUST DO IT
NO, SKIP IT
NO, DEFER IT
Happy Running! Ever have this dilemma? What would you do?
Sounds funny, right?

The info on Fleet Feet’s Next Top Model contest was posted by someone in my running group.
On September 25, 2013 at 7:30 p.m., Fleet Feet Sports, in conjunction with the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon and Half Marathon, will host MARATHON NIGHT and the OFFICIAL 2013 FALL/WINTER FASHION SHOW. We need three men and three women, who are ready, willing and able to model new running apparel and Mohawk Hudson River Marathon and Half Marathon logo merchandise from adidas®.
STEP 1 – Submit a photo of you sporting your favorite adidas® running apparel.
STEP 2 – The top model entries will be posted on Fleet Feet Albany and the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon and Half Marathon Facebook pages for voting. Photos will be posted starting on September 3 and voting will end on September 10 .
STEP 3 – Fleet Feet’s next top models will be announced on September 13. Each model will receive a Fleet Feet Sports Gift Card, complimentary entry into the 2014 Mohawk Hudson River Marathon or Half Marathon, as well as be a model at our Official Fashion Show 2013 on September 25, 2013.
I thought everyone would send in a picture and at the last moment, I did too. (And it was easy to find one since almost all my running clothes are Adidas.)
Well, there weren’t many entries and only one other from my group.
I don’t have a prayer…look at all those cute young women but if you are on FB and want to vote for me, click HERE!
Happy Running!
Last Saturday, I had wanted to run a 5K race. I printed out the registration form & filled it out. I picked out my outfit, set my alarm and…… chickened out.
Why? Because my running sucks. I mean my 3 mile times have been almost 40 minutes!!, Yeah, seriously sucky!

I didn’t run this 5k in Saratoga
I did what ever runner would do, checked the race results. And guess what? The winner in my age group ran it in 37:xx!! Even with my sucky running, I think in a race, I would have beat that. (I ran a 5k with a broken foot in 29:xx) I could have won an AG award.
On Monday, my 3 mile run was a sweat fest but I did it in 35 minutes. I plan to run again today and tomorrow and if I am lucky it will be less humid and I will run faster. (Actually it’s just walk less often and I will have a faster time.)
Yep, this time I paid for the race and I plan to run it even if I suck.
Last year, I ran this race while recovering from a broken ankle and it was my first 5k under 30 minutes since the injury. I don’t plan to repeat that feat…yet.
GOALS:
I don’t plan to go all out since I want to stop on the way home and add some more miles.
Happy Running! How competitive are you?
Last Week:
This Week:
Happy Running!