September 1, 2012 by Darlene

Why Does Summer Go By So Quickly?

I can’t believe it’s September already!!

Here is what I had planned for August:

running (4 times per week)
faster running (fewer walk breaks)
longer runs (5 miles or more)
another 5K race (hopefully faster than the last one)
tennis (once a week)
boating on weekends
reading (when not watching the Olympics)
fun times with friends & family

oops…ran less than July

How did I do?

I have been running 3-4 times each week.

I am not sure if I am running faster but I am worrying about it less. It will come or it won’t (and I’ll deal with it.)

My runs are not necessarily longer since I have been running before work (to avoid fatigue & heat) which means I usually run only 3 miles. On the weekend, I have run 4 miles and I did complete my FIRST 10K RACE!!

I ran another 5K race and I finished under 31 minutes!!

I played tennis 3 times.

I have been boating most weekends — the weather has been perfect!

Yes, I have been reading my YA trilogies (Divergent & Delirium)
Yes, there have been fun times

and I ran with Joan Benoit Samuelson!!

What new goals do I have for September?

Higher weekly and monthly mileage totals. I ran fewer miles in August than July. If I stay healthy, I want to gradually increase. If the weather cools down, I should be able to add some after work runs that are longer (though it will also get darker earlier.)
Lower my 5K time.
Lower my 10K time
Start yoga.
Join a gym and work out. (If I keep saying this, maybe it’ll happen.)

Happy Running! Do you have any new goals?

August 31, 2012 by Darlene

5K Number 5

on Sept 1, 2012 in Saratoga

So I continue on my quest to do at least one 5K each month. And I ~~plan~~ hope to get faster with each one.

I actually only signed up for this one because it had a Groupon and only cost $10. I have never run this race but have run many in Saratoga (though the courses are all different.)

This one starts at the Warming Hut in the park so the route may be similiar to the Run for the Horses 5K that I did several years ago.

(Course Description: Starts at Warming Hut, travels down Avenue of Pines, let up route 9 passing the Dance Museum. Then course continues through a back trail in Saratoga State Park, exiting at Gideon Putnam Road. Loop around Theater, then head back towards Route 9 trail with nursery on your right. Ends at Warming Hut.)

Ave. of the Pines

MY RACE GOALS:

Have fun.
Finish.
Feel good during the race.
Run the whole thing
Only walk at water stop(s).
Run faster than my previous 5Ks this year (beat 30:58 ).
Run faster than my RFTH 5k time (beat 30:40)

(And they are in order of importance.)

Happy Running! Do you have any racing plans for the weekend?

August 30, 2012 by Darlene

The Elusive “P”

At Joan Benoit Samuelson‘s talk Tuesday night, she mentioned that there were several P words that were important in order to be a successful runner. She asked the audience to guess them. And we did except one.

Here are the ones I remember:

PASSION
PERSEVERANCE
PURPOSE

She was surprised that no one said one important one.

What is it??? Can you guess?

If not, it’s:

Yup, PATIENCE!!

As I was running this morning and my running was not good, I berated myself that almost 3 months ago, I ran 3 miles for the first time and today, I am still struggling to run 3 miles!!!

Shouldn’t I be farther along? Should I try harder?? If patience is a virtue, I don’t have it!!

Then I found the above quote.

I remember saying while I was injured and not running: “I just want to run again. I don’t care how far or how fast, just run!”

So I am going to try to remember that.

And another “P” word.

“Don’t push it. You were injured. You are still healing!”

Happy Running! Are you patient?

August 29, 2012 by Darlene

Running With Joanie

First I used my free ticket to see this film last night. The room was filled with women runners, of course – many of whom I recognized from races. I sat with some women from the SRMs. I also chatted with a professor that I work with, someone in my tennis contract and a former student at the law school. The room was mostly full but I am sure that many more people would have come if they had known about it.

Joanie & the winners before the movie (photo by Peter Thomas)

They announced the 3 grand prize winners and they were on stage to tell their stories:

a women who runs to raise money for LLS in memory of her young daughter who had died from the disease
a women who beat depression & breast cancer through running
a young women who had a serious brain injury…was in a coma, thought not to live, not to speak and of course, never walk…she is training for her 1st 5K

Everyone was moved including Joanie.

The movie was just as inspiring. Joanie has a great story to tell. I highly recommend seeing it if it comes to your town.

They gave out Nike water bottles randomly to some of the attendees. I got one and it had a $25 gift card to Hannaford supermarkets. Yay me!

And yes, I was inspired by the women on stage and by Joanie’s movie. I couldn’t wait to go out and run!!

The next morning, I headed out for my RUN with Joanie. It was held at the Corning Bike Trail (where I run often.) The weather was sunny and in the 60’s – PERFECT!!

They said to get there at 8:00 am for the event. I arrived a little early and walked around to stretch my legs.

early morning sun on the Hudson river

perfect weather for a run

Joanie was warming up before the run

I followed the signs for the run and waited for all the runners to arrive.

Joanie signing autographs

ME and Joanie!!

Eventually we started the run. There were a lot of photographers and videographers.

waiting to begin (photo by Hazel)

starting our run (photo by Peter Thomas)

I had wanted to run the whole thing! It was supposed to a flat out and back 3 miles.

Unfortunately, my body disagreed. My first mile was too fast and the 3rd mile turned into 3.27 miles with an ending UP over a bridge and back UP over it.

my splits

As you can see, I ran until about 2.75 miles and walked and then after mile 3, I walked up the hill over the bridge so that I could finish strong. (I finished the 3 miles in 30:59 and the run in 33 minutes)

The best part was that Joanie tried to run with each of us. And she did. She ran up to me and said “Your stride is really strong” and then she commented on my Freihofer shirt. So I told her about my injury and that shirt was symbolic of my return to running.

waiting for everyone to finish (photo by Hazel)

In the end, Joanie finished with Abby, the runner who had suffered a brain injury. It brought everyone to tears as we watched her complete her longest run ever!

Abby & Joanie

They took a lot of group photos (individual ones also at the finish)

Abby (nicknamed Bambi) gets a stuffed Bambi (photo by Hazel)

And I am so glad I had this opportunity. It was worth missing the US Open.

Happy Running! Have you ever run with someone famous?

August 27, 2012 by Darlene

The Running – Tennis Weekend

Running – Tennis…in that order.

This past weekend was my 2nd weekend with the tennis ladies this summer at my friend’s house on the Schroon River. These ladies are the ones we call our travel team. Since 2002, we go away together 1-2x a year to play tennis.

I had planned to get there early (as I did last time) and run before they got there and then play tennis.

Well, this group got there earlier than me.

I should have gone to play tennis with them but I ran instead. (There were 6 women there & 2 more coming…. need 8 for 2 courts of doubles, anyway)

picture perfect day along the Schroon R.

running down my favorite road

now the waterlilies have bloomed

I enjoyed my run, too.

When I got back, I changed and planned to join them on the courts…but they were hot & tired and didn’t want to play any longer 😦 (I think they were a little annoyed that I went for a run rather than playing tennis with them.)

Oh well.

We had lunch, spend the rest of the day by the river, playing scrabble, reading, gabbing. The evening including more eating, laughing and playing cards. So nice to be among friends.

Some women had to leave but there were 4 of us who stayed overnight.

The next morning, I didn’t make the same mistake. I got up early and went for a run.

sunflowere in bloom as well

looks like fall is peaking through

over to the bridge & back home

When I got back, we played tennis! Right, that’s why I was there. It was fun.

me after playing tennis

The afternoon played out just like yesterday. I relaxed in the shade in an Adirondack chair looking at the river with my friends. Perfect!

When everyone left, I hung out with my book (Pandemonium, sequel to Delirium). Then I went for a long walk (& of course, had my mandatory ice cream cone.)

Remember, my dilemma? My tennis friends convinced me to choose running, not tennis.

I am running with Joanie on Wednesday!

Happy Running! How was your running this weekend?

August 24, 2012 by Darlene

The Tennis – Running Dilemma

I have played tennis for years and have many friends that I have met through tennis. We do lots of things together.

heading out to see a play

Then I discovered running. My love for running surpassed my love of tennis.

Usually I can fit them both in.

First:

a run in Chestertown

and then:

MANY sets of doubles

So this weekend is Tennis Ladies at Schroon River.

our group last summer

It will be a lot of fun. I plan to run AND play tennis!!

Now here’s the BIG DILEMMA:

Every year, I go to the US Open.

Me & Catalina

This year, I have tickets for Wed, Aug 29. It is always a good time. You get to see all the GREATS playing tennis (in person.) I hope to even watch my favorite guy play:

Roger. ❤

Several weeks ago, I submitted my story for this:

And I got an email that I was one of the 25 selected to RUN WITH JOANIE!!!

In Albany on Wed, Aug 29!! (Yeah, right?! What are the odds??)

Sooooooooooooooooo what do I do?

I tried to find someone to buy my US Open ticket. No success! I don’t want to waste $98!!!

But I want to RUN WITH JOANIE!!!

See we wore the same color bib.. and we’re around the same age…she’s a little faster!! LOL

Happy Running! What would you do if you were me?

August 23, 2012 by Darlene

Garbage Miles?

At last week’s seminar, the speaker mentioned that it is quality not quantity that matters when running. You can run 3 times a week if make all your runs count…which means, he said, “No Garbage Miles!” He defined quality runs as: hill repeats, tempo runs and long runs.

I hate to admit but most, if not all my miles, are “garbage miles.” I don’t do hill repeats or tempo runs. Every now and then, I run up a hill. Every so often, I run as fast as I can. I do long runs when I am training for a half marathon but they are the same as my weekday runs, only shorter.

Nevertheless I have improved my 5K time 10 minutes in 3 years and have completed 5 half marathons.

I am not fast but have won many AG awards.

I am not a professional athlete and have to squeeze all my running around my full-time job, my family, my friends, tennis, yoga, etc. (and it ain’t easy to find the time.)

So I run in the morning before work, (even at lunch), I run after work, I run while on vacation, I run when I can and wherever I am.

Yes, I run “Garbage Miles” and I am proud to be running them. I enjoy running. It makes me happy. It makes me feel good.

I’m not saying, don’t train and don’t take your running seriously.

Just do whatever works for you.

Just running

Happy Running! Do you run Garbage Miles?

August 22, 2012 by Darlene

Wordless Wednesday

Matthew turns ONE, McDonalds & rainbow…what could be better?

and of course, I ran.

Happy Running!

August 21, 2012 by Darlene

Can’t Resist a Bargain

Last week, Olympia Sports was having a sale – buy one and get 1/2 off the second pair. (Like I really needed running shoes!!)

pair #1

pair #2

As a result, I received $15 in rewards. No, I didn’t buy another pair of shoes.

I bought instead 5 vanilla Gu & 5 chocolate Gu – my favorites

Then I got an e-mail saying that CompressionPro socks were on sale – $30 instead of $50 (w/ free shipping) in purple. I have them in pink & argyle blue and love them! They match my new shoes so I had to buy them!

Last but not least, was a Groupon for $10 (instead of $30) for a local 5K race. Who could not resist? $10 to run and support a charity!! Of course, I signed up!

on Sept 1, 2012 in Saratoga

Happy Running! Are you a bargain shopper?

August 20, 2012 by Darlene

It Never Gets Old

I mean being on Lake George and running in Bolton Landing.

our favorite lake dog

After my race on Sunday, I spent the rest of the day on our boat, hanging out with friends. We also went out to dinner in Lake George village (& ate WAY too much.)

our friends hanging out in Basin bay

Sunday morning, I decided to go out for a run. The summer is winding down and who knows what the weather will be in coming weeks. So I decided to run 4.5 miles around Bolton Landing… first through town: