March 11, 2013 by Darlene

Time to Taper

Week 11 Update:

Mon- Tennis
Tues – 6 miles (3 miles on the TM at lunch & 3 miles outdoors after work)
Wed – walking around NYC

at the Chinese Scholar Garden on Staten Island

Thurs – 3 miles on TM (hair appt after work)
Fri – 4 miles on TM after work –SNOW

at least we had a 2 hour delay in the am

Sat – REST
Sun – 8 MILES

Saturday was a PERFECT day for running, of course. Sunny, no wind and 52 degrees. Since I was not scheduled to run, instead I went up to Saratoga with my hubby. He visited with a friend & I went to the Summer Expo. There were some running booths but mostly tri-related ones. I couldn’t resist buying these Newtons since they were 40% off. I am not that fond of the color but the ones in the colors I liked (blue or pink) just weren’t as comfortable.

After the expo, I walked around the town and watched this guy practicing his tightrope skills in the park.

On Sunday, I went for my last long run. It was a nice day but very breezy and not as warm as Saturday. I decided to finally go to the Corning Bike Trail on the Hudson. I figured that the snow would finally be melted off the path…and it was.

Running into the wind I was chilly and then going back the other way, I was sweating. Oh well. I can’t complain. This was the BEST weather I’ve had for any of my training runs.

I can’t say that it was a good run. I took some Gu before I started but I ran out of gas at 6 miles (even though I walked a lot.) I didn’t bring anything with me (my fault) and running back was into the wind. I even struggled with my breathing for the first time ever. UGH!!

But I finished my 8 miles!

It took me 1:35:xx. SLOOOOW!!!

Still I know even at my snail’s pace, I can finish the half under the 4 hour time limit.

I can’t wait to do it! Enjoy it! Get my medal! And then train better for the next one.

Week 12:

Mon- 3 miles on TM at work, Tennis after
Tues – REST (fly to Florida)
Wed – REST
Thurs – 3 miles in sunny warm Florida
Fri – REST
Sat – REST
Sun – 13.1 miles!!!
Mon – REST (fly home)

Happy Running! How many miles do you run while tapering?

March 10, 2013 by Darlene

Getting Ready!

EVENT DETAILS:

Sunday, Mar. 17, 2013
7:00 am Start (B-Tag timing)
Start/Finish at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

I am lucky!! One of the women that I play mah jongg with on Fridays eves owns a condo that is across the street from the start/finish of the race. She was supposed to be moving but it has been delayed until April 1 and she invited me to stay with her!!! One less thing to worry about.

COURSE INFO:

The First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon & Relay Race features a fast and scenic course filled with Personal Record (PR) opportunities for both runners and walkers.

Yes, I have been to Sarasota and it is beautiful. But I know that you have to run across the bridge which is uphill and windy and then back over the bridge again so it will not be fast for the first 5 miles. Hopefully, it’ll get easier after that. (I am not looking for a PR in this race anyway!)

RUNNER & WALKER FRIENDLY EVENT:

Truly walker friendly with the course open for 4 hours (approximate 18 minutes/mile pace), allowing all ages and experience levels to take part in the fun-filled activities throughout the event.

Even I can handle that pace. If my foot and/or ankle starts to hurt a lot and I have to walk, I know that I will finish under 4 hours and get my MEDAL. No pressure!

RACE PERKS:

All participants receive a gender specific tech t-shirt, giant finisher’s medal, goodie bag, aid stations with Lemon-Lime Gatorade, medical support, a post-race refueling party sponsored by First Watch Restaurants (including Siesta Key Cocktails for all participants) and awards ceremony.

Who can argue with that? Sounds perfect! Provided that the weather cooperates. No rain, please!

RACE GOALS??

Pretty Simple: FINISH with a smile on my face!!

Happy Running! Ever run a race with NO FINSH TIME GOALS??

March 9, 2013 by Darlene

Time to Check the Weather…Daily

It’s less than 10 days until my Half Marathon in Sarasota, Florida.

The only thing I pray for is No RAIN and little WIND.

So I will be checking the weather everyday!! I will be checking numerous websites to find the forecast that I like.

Why?? I can’t change the weather. I will run the race no matter what.

And since I leave on Tues and the race isn’t until Sunday, I will have to pack running clothes for all weather conditions anyway. (At least it will not be snowing or freezing, right?)

13.1 miles in the freezing rain!!

7 of the 13.1 miles in the pouring rain

So far, it appears to be in the 70’s all week and CLOUDY and on

Happy Running! Do you obsess about the weather before a big race?

March 8, 2013 by Darlene

The Outfit

: Should I match the bling

: and the bib?

That means wearing BLUE.

Do I wear GREEN cuz it’s St. Patrick’s Day?

The outfit is important, right?

Here are my choices:

OUTFIT A: blue multi-colored skirt from runningskirts.com & a Nike tank (that I have worn to play tennis) & blue argyle compression socks from procompression.com (that I have worn many times)

OUTFIT B:green Nike shorts & mint Champion top (have worn for yoga) & black compression socks from runningskirts.com (have worn these many times)

Happy Running! Cast your vote now: Outfit A or Outfit B?

March 7, 2013 by Darlene

Rest Day in NYC

No running yesterday … too busy.

took the Megabus to NYC with my friend Eileen

I invited Eileen to go with me to meet my Russian friend, Anna because Eileen went with me on all my trips to Russia (2002, 2004, 2006) and she knows Anna.

Eileen & I with Anna in Russia in 2006.

As soon we got off the bus, we hopped on the subway to Battery Park to catch the ferry to Staten Island. It was not a nice day … cold, windy, cloudy but the rain and snow that they predicted never came 🙂

me & Anna on the ferry (& a view of the Statue of Liberty)

When we arrived in Staten Island, we had a delicious lunch at a Spanish restaurant called Beso.

raspberry mojito & pear martini…yum!

Then we took the bus to Snug Harbor and walked around the Botanical Gardens & Chinese Scholar Center.

Anna & Eileen at the entrance

it was amazing…I took so many pictures…

in a field of bamboo

It was so beautiful and that we ran out of time and couldn’t take the bus to visit the Alice Austen Cottage. (Eileen & I are planning a return trip.)

Instead after we arrived by ferry back in Manhattan, we stopped by the 911 Memorial.

Then it was time to catch the subway and take the long walk to our bus stop.

The day flew by. We had a great time inspite of the miserable weather. I will certainly miss Anna!! I have no idea when I’ll see her again.

her first Peeps!

Well, at least I got to rest my legs on the bus ride home.

Now, it’s back to the treadmill at lunch … hair appt after work. Believe it or not, another storm is coming tonight!!

Happy Running!

March 6, 2013 by Darlene

Wordless Wednesday: HM #6

13.1 miles on October 13, 2013!!

Can’t believe I signed up for this? (I haven’t even completed my 5th yet?)

It sells out quickly. (And it did – in 6 days!!)

It’s nearby so I should do it, right?

Happy Running! Do you ever impulsively sign up for a race?

March 5, 2013 by Darlene

2 for Tuesday

1. If you remember, the ankle that I broke started to hurt for the first time during my long 12 mile run on Sunday. It didn’t even hurt the first time I ran on it and it didn’t hurt during the 10 & 11 mile runs. So this was pretty scary. Things from stress fracture & bent screws to OMG, I can’t do this half marathon went through my head.

So my cure: ice, ibuprofen, recovery sock, prayers… then last night, I wore an ankle brace to play tennis. It was fine.

Today, at lunch I wore the brace and ran 3 miles on the treadmill… the ankle felt fine so after work, I ran 3 miles outside (the sun was finally out!!!)

The ankle was stiff but not painful! The real test will be on Sunday when I run 8 miles….

2. I am taking the day off and going to NYC.

Eileen & I with Anna in 2006…7 years ago!!

here we are again

Tomorrow the 3 of us will be re-united!!!

I get walk my poor ankle and foot around New York City. The forecast is for rain/snow…hope they are wrong.

Happy Running!

March 4, 2013 by Darlene

Getting Closer

Week 10 Update:

Mon- Tennis
Tues – ~~3 mile~~ 6 mile run after work
Wed – ~~6 mile~~s 3 miles on the TM after work (RAIN!!)
Thurs – REST
Fri – 4 5 miles on the TM (3 at lunch & 2 after work)
Sat – REST
Sun – 12 MILES

next to last long run in the COLD

Week 11:

Mon- Tennis
Tues – 6 miles after work ( or rest if my ankle still hurts)
Wed – day in NYC (lots of walking)
Thurs – 3 miles on TM at lunch, haircut after work
Fri – 4 miles after work
Sat – REST
Sun – 8 MILES… taper begins!!

Happy Running! How do you Taper?

March 3, 2013 by Darlene

LSD Run

Long and Slow Distance run…12 miles to be exact.

As they say: “If it were easy, everyone would be doing it!”

And it wasn’t easy!

I always seem to struggle with What is the weather going to do? and Where should I run for a good 12 miles? And of course, Will my foot hurt worse? and Will my ankle be more stiff?

I thought running was supposed to be enjoyable!!

And it is when the weather is nice & I have no pain. Unfortunately, this half marathon training period has not gone as hoped.

So the positive is that the half marathon will be so much more fun!!! I can’t wait!!

I want to run here!

not here…

Of course, it was cloudy & cold and windy…like every LSD I have done this winter. The forecast was for snow showers. Fun fun.

So to mix things up, I wanted do run the route that I used when I was training for my other half marathons (running from my house into town and back I did not discover the bike trails until Nov 2011.)

When I got up it was in the 20’s, the teens with the wind chill and snowing! My hubby convinced that it would be too dangerous to run in the road with the snow so I drove to the Corning bike trail.

Though the snow wasn’t sticking to the roads, it was sticking to the trail and it was snow-covered and very slippery.

So Plan B: back to Delmar and run in the roads.

not too thrilled with this weather

I ran on the roads for 3 miles and turned around.

pretty dreary – the road was wet but clear of snow

I usually run shorter distances in these neighborhoods so this run took me to roads I had never been on.

saw farms

who knew?

After 6 miles, I was half done but felt totally done. I stopped at my car for water & fuel and then headed out for 6 more. This time I ran in the other direction for 3 miles before turning around.

I must say that the first 6 miles were painless but now my right foot started to hurt. As always, it was bearable and the pain would come and go. But at mile 9 (my turn around point), my ankle started to hurt… a lot. It hurt in the front and was getting stiff so it was hard to run without limping. Yes, I should have walked at this point but somehow I made my way back to my car.

12 painful slow miles done!!! It took me 2:26:xx and the 2nd half was a lot slower than the first.

This long run made me wonder whether I was capable of doing a half marathon. Was I in lala land about my ankle??? Could I really run long races ever again??

I went home, took ibuprofen and iced it… it was still sore.

To take my mind off of it, I went to the movies with my running friend Mary (she is running the same half). She tried to boost my confidence. And she did. If my ankle hurts, I’ll rest until the half and then the for the race, I will walk as much of it as I have to. I will get that medal!!

we saw it because we love French movies but it was SOOO depressing!

On a shopping note – look what I picked up yesterday:

look what I picked up yesterday...I was supposedly stopping to buy dinner!

…I was supposedly stopping at Hannaford’s to buy dinner! They came in handy today (a change from my GU) I liked the cliff shots gel but the powerbar energy busts made me nauseous.

a new shirt...it was on sale & I had a coupon...at least I didn't buy another pair of running shoes

and a new shirt…it was on sale at Olympia Sports & I had a coupon…at least I didn’t buy another pair of running shoes

Happy Running! Did you do LSD this weekend?

March 1, 2013 by Darlene

Bring on March!

March is supposed to be the windy month but it seemed to me that it was February this year!

February Update:

2 Races – one 4 miler and one 7K

AJH got 2nd place...we won a lunch bag which matches the race shirt

AJH got 2nd place…and I got 3rd!!

I finished knitting a pair of socks

so what if it took almost a year…

I played tennis every Monday…that’s 4 times in one month!

I did a better job of following my half marathon training plan by adding an extra day of running…

in Jan, I was worried about my foot & only running every other day

This month I ran 84 miles! The most miles in a month since 2011!

Nisky Bike Trail – one of my favorite places to run

I tried to eat fruit and vegetables everyday!

love mandarin oranges & craisins in my salad

I even used the treadmill several times when the weather wouldn’t cooperate.

ipad & water required

I read quite a few books. In addition to my YA fixation (I finished Insurgent & started Matched), I read 3 Joy Fielding mystery thrillers.

I did not do any yoga…I did not use the exercise bike during lunch…I did not see my mentee… oh well, there’s March!

Hope we have nicer weather in March (and an early spring!!!)

GOALS

Complete my 6th Half Marathon (and 1st since the 2012 injuries)
Take a running break to heal my aching foot (only a week or 2…next race is a 5k on Mar 30 or a 5 miler on April 14)
Do yoga instead each week
Continue tennis once a week
Sign up for another half marathon
Continue to eat healthier

Happy Running! How was your February running? Anything new planned for March?