My 12 miler is to be completed today.

And in TWO weeks, I’ll be towing the line for my first half marathon of 2023…. in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

It will hopefully be fun with ocean views, sunshine and warm temps (not too warm but warmer than up North.)

this same race 2 years ago.

Last Week:

• Sunday – After a 11 mile run the previous day, I signed up for the 5.5k race with my friends. It turned out to 3.8 (not 3.4) miles but a lovely day and lots bonding time with my racing friends.

I ran 1:1 intervals with Heidi until mile 3 and then I sprinted to the finish.

• Monday – #Nevermissamonday…. A little beat from last week’s stress but I had some errands to do at lunch so I also squeezed in a run.

another GRAY day… ran part on the rail trail (icy in too many spots) and part on the road.

• Tuesday – I try not to run so many days in a row but when it’s dry and the next day is booked, you just “do ‘it.”

Snow flurries and temps in the teens (with the wind chill) kept me inside during lunch.

I was happy to be able to get in a few miles right after work… it’s great that now it stays light until 5 pm.

it was cold but blue skies and sun finally

• Wednesday – Finally a rest day (sunny but FREEZING) and my dinner with my tennis friends (that got cancelled last week) happened. I do miss playing tennis with these lovely ladies.

• Thursday – Finally a great sunrise.  I wish I had time to go out for a run but I did not…

Believe it not, I skipped dinner out and a play in order to run.

FOMO – I heard the play was great!

I hadn’t run at UAlbany in awhile so I met up after work with a friend for a loop around the campus.

a blurry pic of Heidi but I was trying to capture the beautiful sunset

• Friday – Rest Day, a trip to the office, and the evening with my mah jongg ladies. Soooo cold and wind gusts up to 50 mph!!!
• Saturday – Long Run Day (12 miles). With negative temps predicted, I happily agreed to postpone until Sunday.

Definitely a day to catch up with things around the house. The weather forecasters were not exaggerating.

8 am this morning

And then take in a movie with the hubby.

The book and the original movie (A Man called Ove) were better but always enjoy a Tom Hanks performance

• Sunday – Definitely a warmer day. Not warm but better.  Luckily my running friends are able to join me for a run and then brunch.

This Coming Week on the Run– 

• Monday – DAY OFF – run (early), hike
• Tuesday – run (at lunch), b-day dinner w/stepson
• Wednesday – run (after work)
• Thursday – rest day, hair appt
• Friday –  rest day, mah jongg
• Saturday – the Taper (8-10 miles), pack
• Sunday –  early flight to Ft. Lauderdale, FL

This Coming Week on the Blog – 

• Tuesday – NYC Marathon 2023 – Yay or Nay?
• Friday – 5 Things to Love About Running

Happy Running! How is your year of running so far? Training for any winter big races?  Any snow or frigid temps where you live? Are you still getting outside for your runs? Please share.

I am linking up with Kim and Deborah for

I encourage you to do the same. Grab the graphic, drop your link on the host blogs and play along! Please be sure to always comment on the HOST’s blogs, as well as visit and comment on as many other blogs as you can.

As much as I LOVE NYC, it was nice after two weeks to sleep in my own bed.

Unfortunately, the weather played havoc with my running…but that is life in Northeast during winter.

And there was some cat drama this week.

Last Week:

• Sunday – I got a lot done today… it was catch up day.

Laundry, cleaning, nails, library, bank, grocery shopping….

I did made time for a hike… although it was muddy, it hadn’t started snowing or sleeting yet.

so peaceful walking along the Normanskill Creek

• Monday – #Nevermissamonday…. and the 1/2 DAY OFF!

My new work schedule has been working some Monday mornings… this was one of them. I had planned to drive to the office and then run at lunch at UAlbany.

But I woke up to this:

So I decided to work from home and then run at lunch in my neighborhood.

At lunchtime, it was still snowing hard but at least my driveway was cleared.

Finally I got run done in late afternoon. I drove into town thinking the roads would be clearer.  They were but so many puddles that I had to run through the slush on the sidewalks…  Wet wet feet!!

• Tuesday – Still working from home in the morning hopeful of getting in a dry run at lunch.

warmer and drier than the day before in my neighborhood

I went to the office in the afternoon and then after work, I met my BFF for a long walk around the mall.

• Wednesday – More snow predicted and a dinner was scheduled with my tennis friends.

The dinner was postponed until next week (even though we didn’t get much snow and it was mostly rain.).

• Thursday – Still no sun but dry so I hoped to get my run done at lunch.

Work got in the way but after work, I drove into town and finished my run before dark.

it was actually very pleasant… with some light snow falling.

However the day took a turn for the worse…

My hubby accidentally let my kitten outside…

Macch’s latest pic… he is still very skittish but is gradually warming up to both of us...

I hence spent ALL night outside (in the cold) looking for him.

• Friday – Of course after a sleepless night, I woke up to sunshine for the first time this week. (However, it did cloud up by lunchtime.)

It was a rest day but not very restful.  Though I was working ALL day, at least it was from home so I could continue to search for my kitty at breaks and lunch..

The evening was spent with my mah jongg ladies (after 2 Fridays away.)  Boy was it needed.

• Saturday – Guess who made an appearance at 4am this morning. What a relief!!

Even though I was exhausted after sleepless night #2, it was Long Run Day (11 miles).

How I hate winter running… not the cold temps but the icy snowy paths.

As always, we planned our brunch time and location and did own own thing.

I ran 3 miles on my own and then met Stan and Sherry for 8 more miles followed by brunch with the others.

the sun finally came out at the end of the run…

In the afternoon I met my mah jongg friends for a movie date:

It was very entertaining. I did skip dinner out for a trip to Trader Joes and evening at home.

• Sunday – Winter Series #3 – 5.5k, 15k or 30k.

Obviously after the long run on the previous day, I plan to run/walk with my friend Heidi for the shortest distance.

This Coming Week on the Run– 

• Monday – run
• Tuesday – rest day
• Wednesday – run, dinner out with friends
• Thursday – run
• Friday –  rest day, mah jongg
• Saturday – Long Run (12 miles)
• Sunday –  rest day

This Coming Week on the Blog – 

• Tuesday – What I am Looking Forward to in 2023
• Friday – Ultimate Coffee Date

Happy Running! How is your year of running so far? Training for any winter big races?  Any snow where you live? Please share.

I am linking up with Kim and Deborah for

I encourage you to do the same. Grab the graphic, drop your link on the host blogs and play along! Please be sure to always comment on the HOST’s blogs, as well as visit and comment on as many other blogs as you can.

My co-worker was still out sick so that meant that I had to go to NYC and work in Queens all week!!

Last Week:

• Sunday – Winter Series #3. Though there were 3 options:  5.5k, 10k or 25k, I choose the shortest one (since I had run 9 miles the day before).

It was windy with feels like 10 temps but still fun.  I ran/walked with my running friend (until the last 1/2 mile or so) and we finished with a 2 minute PR over Winter Series #1 (same distance.)

After the race, I went to my office to get things ready for my week in NYC, then went grocery shopping, cooked and finally the hubby and I went out to dinner to celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary (which was the next day.)

• Monday – #Nevermissamonday…. and the DAY OFF!

Although it was my 3rd day running in a row, I never know what the week will bring. So I decided to drive to the other end of the rail trail and go for a short run.

the sunshine and flowing water made up for the vey chilly temps.

Then I had to pack before heading to Manhattan by train

sunset on the Hudson R.

I checked into my hotel and relaxed.

• Tuesday – First I had to check out of my hotel and then head by subway to Jamaica, Queens to work.

I was staying in a different hotel for the next three nights so after I returned to Manhattan, I had to retrieve my luggage and then check into my new hotel (The one I usually stay in).

By this point, I decided to call it a “rest day.”  That makes me laugh since the day was anything but restful.

Coincidentally, my friend Cari also decided not to run so we met for dinner instead.

• Wednesday – Up at 6am and on the 7am subway to Jamaica.

sunrise was more impressive in person

Another long work day but as soon as I returned to Manhattan, I changed into running clothes and headed out for a “needed” run in Central Park.

I thought I might have to run solo but I was so lucky that Cari had postponed her run until after work. She ran from home and I ran to Cat Hill and then we completed the rest of our run together (which included a visit with Fred and the Onassis Reservoir.)

We both indulged in a cookie for dinner (bought in different Chip City locations. lol)

Talk about a small world… walking down the streets of Manhattan (sweaty from my run), I bumped into the President/Dean of the law school where I used to work.

• Thursday – Working all day and if it was not raining, I was planning another run in the evening.

Nope, it was POURING so Plan B was cheap tix to a Broadway show.

It had a good mixture of serious issues and comedy.

• Friday – Rest Day since I was working in Queens all day and then had to take an evening train back home
• Saturday – Long Run Day (10 miles).

It’s always a challenge in the winter to figure out where to run that is not icy. So I planned on 2 miles with Barbara on the Nisky bike path and then the rest of the miles with Sherry and Stan.

Icy in too many spots but Sherry & I added on some road detours and got it done. Then we joined the others for brunch.

yes, that’s an eagle!

• Sunday – TBD – laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning…. short hike?

This Coming Week on the Run– 

• Monday – 1/2 DAY OFF, run
• Tuesday – rest day
• Wednesday – run, dinner out with tennis gals
• Thursday – run
• Friday –  rest day, mah jongg
• Saturday – Long Run (11 miles)
• Sunday –  rest day

This Coming Week on the Blog – 

• Tuesday – Winter Racing
• Friday – Runfessions

Happy Running! How is your year of running beginning? Do you have to travel for work?  If so, how do you fit in your running? Ever run in NYC? Please share.

I am linking up with Kim and Deborah for

I encourage you to do the same. Grab the graphic, drop your link on the host blogs and play along! Please be sure to always comment on the HOST’s blogs, as well as visit and comment on as many other blogs as you can.

I’m still working remotely except when I’m not…

This past week, I was supposed to teach live Wed, Thurs & Fri with set-up on Tues. Then it was changed to only Wed and remote on Fri.  THEN a maybe of going to NYC (to substitute for an ill co-worker) Wed-Fri was added…

How’s a girl supposed to schedule her runs!?

Last Week:

• Sunday – It’s been a while since I hit the trails… I had a lot to do and almost didn’t think I’d have time… but late afternoon, I did get out for a short one…

a little muddy but worth it for the waterfall views

• Monday – #Nevermissamonday…. and the DAY OFF!

I got up early and went for a run in the neighborhood.

not a great sunrise but the lack of wind made the 20 degree temps feel not so bad

I rushed home so my running friend and I could take off to go hiking in MA.  But at the last minute, her son was sick so I was left solo.

I procrastinated and wound up choosing shorter and closer hikes

This was a surprise seeing how I love waterfalls.

On my way home, I stopped off a few places to hike some more… nothing picture worthy

• Tuesday – Rest Day due to a dentist appt, possibly going to set up my computer lab or possibly pack for a trip to NYC.

At 4pm after setting my lab, I was informed that I would indeed be going to NYC…

Hotel and train reservations scramble and then pack….

• Wednesday – Off on a early morning train..

view of the Hudson R.

After checking into my hotel, and going to Queens and back, I was able to take a run around Central Park and then back to my hotel.

always enjoyable to run here even if I had to climb “cat’ hill

• Thursday – Working all day and if it was not raining, I was planning a short run along the Hudson…and then meet a friend for a drink.

rainy am

Unfortunately lot’s of work drama (I’ll spare you the details) and rain so no run and no meet-up.  Just a late dinner in the hotel.

• Friday – Rest Day since I was working in Queens all day (for a millisecond I thought of running on the hotel treadmill) and then had to take an evening train back home
• Saturday – Long Run Day (9 miles)

So rain and snow the evening before kind a derailed (literally) our plans to run on the rail trail.

Sherry joined me in the nearby neighborhoods (love that tree) and the rest of my friends ran on treadmills but everyone showed up for brunch

• Sunday – Winter Series #3 race – 5.5k, 10k or 25k. Again I plan on choosing the shortest distance and run it for fun.

pic from Winters Series #2

After I need to go to the office, do some grocery shopping and pack for my week in NYC.

My 24th wedding anniversary is tomorrow so we may go out to dinner tonight to celebrate…

This Coming Week on the Run– 

• Monday – HOLIDAY – DAY OFF – run – train to NYC
• Tuesday – run (in NYC)
• Wednesday – run (in NYC)
• Thursday – run (in NYC)
• Friday –  rest day, train home
• Saturday – Long Run (10 miles)
• Sunday –  rest day

This Coming Week on the Blog – 

• Tuesday – My Word for 2023
• Friday – 5 Struggles to Meet Your Fitness Goals

Happy Running! How is your year of running beginning? Any races planned? Please share.

I am linking up with Kim and Deborah for

I encourage you to do the same. Grab the graphic, drop your link on the host blogs and play along! Please be sure to always comment on the HOST’s blogs, as well as visit and comment on as many other blogs as you can.