June 8, 2012 by Darlene

Inspired by a Discount

Wednesday was National Running Day and I got an e-mail offering $10 off a variety of races so I registered for:

It’s far off but now I have to do it, right?

Happy Running! Anyone sign up for any races on Wednesday?

June 7, 2012 by Darlene

So Now What or 4 Races Thursday

What do you do when you’ve accomplished all your June goals on June 2?

Run/Walk a 5k in less than 45 min. – did FRW in 35:39
Run a mile in less than 12 min/mile – all 3 miles in FRW were less 12 min/mi
Run 3 miles (with few walk breaks) – Did FRW with only 2 water walk breaks
Sign up for a 5k- ran the FRW 5K

NEW GOALS:

Run more 5Ks!
Run faster!
Run stronger!

4 Possible 5k races:

July 21, 2012

at the Great Escape, Lake George
July 21, 2012

Aug 25, 2012

Happy Running! What summer races do you have planned?

June 6, 2012 by Darlene

Why Do You Run?

Since today is National Running Day, it seems like a good time to think about why I run? I think it became even clearer to me when I couldn’t run.

I RUN…

because it makes me feel good
because it makes me feel healthy
because it makes me feel active
because it gives me time to be alone
because it gives me a sense of pride and accomplishment
because it makes me feel young
because it makes my day start better
because it makes a bad day end better
because it helps me enjoy the fresh air and the scenery
because I have met awesome people who are runners
to inspire others to become runners
so that I can eat more ice cream and desserts
so I can listen to music I like as loud as I like
as fast or slow as I want
until I feel like stopping
wherever I choose
alone or with thousands of others
to support a cause
to get a medal
to a get a tech shirt
because I can

It is raining and I have a cold but I hope to at least run on the treadmill at PT today.

Happy National Running Day! Why do you run?

June 5, 2012 by Darlene

Two for Tuesday: The Good and Bad

1. The Good:

Still reveling in the after glow of my great weekend…

running for the lst time in over 5 months

spending time with my favorite kids

going to NYC to see “Once” on Broadway

2. The Bad:

It has been raining since my race on Saturday. Things aren’t looking good for the rest of the week either.

I have a miserable head cold!!! Yuck!

So my running has been on hold.

Happy Running!

June 4, 2012 by Darlene

The Cat is Out of the Bag

This photo was published on the front page of the sports section of our local paper yesterday.

I am the one in the purple shirt front and center.

No, my doctor did not clear me to run yet. My Pt guy told me I could only walk it.

Oops!

Happy Running? Ever ignore an injury and run in a race?

June 2, 2012 by Darlene

Freihofer’s Run for Women Un-Race Report

I got a medal

Obviously not a PR…but this medal is meaningful in a different way.

On Dec 29, 2011, I thought I may not ever run again.

Today, I know I will but I am not sure how fast I will get or how long a distance I will run

But it’s okay. I definitely appreciate being able to run a lot more.

My new favorite quote:

I made a pact with myself to never complain about an event I’ve successfully finished. No matter what my finish time or pace, I will cross the line with a pocket full of gratitude. Records are meant to be broken, but those moments are far and few between. Every adventure offers an opportunity to evolve, explore, and celebrate life. And that is the gift that keeps on giving. — Jenny Hadfield

So now about the race.

Yesterday, I took my daily lunch walk to pick up my bib, tee-shirt (& goodies – loaf of bread, box of cookies, lots of free samples). It’s about a 5k there and back. However, going back is UPHILL.

It was tough; my ankle HURT and I wondered how would I do this race. Why was I doing this race??

I woke up early today to RAIN!! I toyed with not going since I wasn’t racing anyway and walking in the rain would take twice as long.

But I put on pants over my skirt, grabbed a jacket and umbrella and drove to work.

The rain let up a little and the walk to race was a good warm up for my ankle.

this year’s banner along the route

I love the ENERGY of this race!! All women! Elites and first timers!

As I approached the race start, I knew I made the right decision to WALK this race.

I bumped to many people I knew…and finally some of the SRMs for our photo shoot.

some of the group

It was now drizzling but looked like it would rain at any moment. I decided to hide my pants & umbrella but tie my jacket around my waist & wear the cap. (It was very HUMID so I should have left the jacket behind too.)

I squeezed in with the other YELLOWs (though I thought that I should go to the end with the walkers but it was too far to walk!)

view from above

As soon as the gun went off, off I ran.

Yes, I ran!

I ran up the hill. I kept running and running and running.

I cautioned myself to go slow so that I would be able to finish the race.

Everyone was running. I felt that if I stopped to walk, I would be trampled. Yes, runners were passing me but for the most part I was keeping up at my slow pace.

There were timers at every mile and every K. I left my Garmin home (not on purpose – I forgot it.) My pace was consistently between 11-12 min/mile…I was happy and I was not struggling to run at that pace. My ankle did not hurt.

I stopped at both water stops to walk not because I had to but because I was thirsty and felt I should walk some.

As we approached the end…it was downhill. I slowed as to not FALL and then I sprinted (yes sprinted) across the finish line.

I had TEARS in my eyes. The last time I felt like this was after my FIRST HALF.

5th FRW

I’m not sure what the chip time was but the gun time was 35:xx. I far exceeded all my goals!!!!!!

It is my second slowest 5K time (my first 5k was my slowest) but I am SO HAPPY!!!!!!

As soon I finished, it started to rain.

I have to admit, that my ankle really hurt afterwards. I struggled to walk back to my car.

It was worth it.

So it seems that the cure for a stiff weak ankle is a RACE!!

Happy Running! Enjoy your weekend!

June 1, 2012 by Darlene

Hopping and Racing

I found out at PT why I am having trouble running. I cannot hop!

Of course, I can hop on my good foot but I can’t on the other. As a result, I can only push off on one foot and I am sorta dragging the other … so my running is slow, painful and awkward.

I was told to keep trying to hop.

I know it will come because there was a time when I couldn’t stand and couldn’t walk and couldn’t run.

So when I can hop, I think I will be able to race.

Speaking of racing, tomorrow is one of my favorite races.

Hopefully, it will not rain as predicted. The SRMs are planning a group photo. Many of the recent SRM marathoners will be cheering.

SRMs in 2011

Obviously, I cannot race it but I am doing it anyway.

Goals:

Walk fast and finish in under an hour
Run some and finish under 45 minutes
Have fun

Happy Running! Are you racing this weekend?

May 31, 2012 by Darlene

My Favorite Month Has Ended…

May was a pretty good month:

went on my tennis vacation to Florida

turned 59 on 5-9

got to visit with my Russian friend Anna

started boating on Lake George

did a lot of biking

ran my first mile

Here were my May Goals:

Continue PT 1-2x per week. Yes, except when on vacation.
Do exercises on my own, as well 1-2x per day. Yes, but not a diligently as before.
Use exercise bike and/or treadmill at work on days with no PT. Yes, when raining bcause I have been walking outside.
Go biking outdoors 1-2x per week. Yes and everyday when on vacation.
Go for walks outside. Yes, everyday at lunch.
Run outside (at least a few steps or maybe on a track.) Yes, one mile on dirt/sand 4 times so far
Hit a few tennis balls (maybe practice serving or volleying) Yes, while on vacation.
STAY POSITIVE!! Trying but it is tough!

So I think I’ve met all my goals in recent months so it’s time to switch things up.

June Goals:

Run/Walk a 5k in less than 45 min.
Run a mile in less than 12 min/mile
Run 3 miles (with few walk breaks)
Sign up for a 5k

How’s that for optimism?

Happy Running! How did you do in May?

May 30, 2012 by Darlene

Boating and Running

Two of my favorite things!!

the gang toasts the 1st boating weekend of the season

my hubby enjoying the view

enjoying a Memorial Day lunch on the island

a visitor to my chair

I am still working on running. I didn’t leave my Garmin behind as suggested. I dodged the storm yesterday and ran ONE MILE on the dirt path of Washington Park (with some walking) at an amazing pace of 12:33!!

As soon as I got in my car, the rain came and boy did it rain!!!

Today is a PT day and tomorrow, I hope to try some more running.

I have an Un-Race on Saturday and then a trip to NYC on Sunday.

Happy Running!

May 29, 2012 by Darlene

Re-Learning To Run

I’ll start with this quote:

“Everything will be all right in the end… if it’s not all right then it’s not the end.”

It’s from The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. I absolutely loved this movie. (Go see it if you haven’t!!)

Anyway back to my first running experience.

My PT guy said I could run on a track. I decided that this would be boring so on Friday after work, I parked near Washington Park, walked to and from the park and ran on the dirt paths around the lake and the gardens.

Running is not easy right now. Since my ankle is still stiff, I have to focus on running correctly (if that is possible). It’s much harder than on a treadmmill since the treadmill is already moving. Pushing off, that is moving forward is tough. So my pace for run/walk was about 14 min/mi.