March 17, 2013 by Darlene

I Did It!

More details when I return…

March 12, 2013 by Darlene

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Vitamin D Part 3

Yep, I am leaving Albany, NY today (where it is raining & chilly) and flying to Fort Myers, Florida (where I hope it will be sunny & warm.)

I will be playing catch up with my good friend Pat for a few days who now lives in Placida.

Pat is on the right. We started running together. I hope to motivate her to start up again.

Then I plan to drive up to Sarasota to visit another friend, Robin (who is renting a condo there for the winter).

Robin is on the right. She plays tennis & I play mah jongg with her.

I will do dinner & show with her Friday and stay at her place. On Saturday, she is playing tennis, then mah jongg. I plan to go to the beach.

Siesta Key beach is calling me!!

Afterwards, I will probably pick up my race packet and then head to my mah jongg friend, Susan. Susan owns a condo in Sarasota that is located across the street from the start/finish line. (She has since sold it and is moving to another on April 1 – boy did I luck out!!)

So Sunday morning, I can walk to the race and then limp back afterwards wearing this:

I will most likely spend the rest of the day at the pool or beach before heading back to Placida.

I fly home to Albany on Monday. Hopefully when I arrive the snow will be gone…

Happy Running! Full race report when I return…

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!!