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HMRRC Winter Series #1 Race Report & a Birthday Celebration

This was my first HMRRC Winter Series race so I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I knew it was informal and that you could sign up for either distance.

I considered doing the 15K  but I HATE the cold so I signed up for the 3 mile one.

Well, it was I good thing since yesterday, I had a headache and was really nauseous all day. I stayed in bed til about 5 pm and forced myself to get up and eat something.

I got up this morning still feeling under the weather but at least my headache was gone.  So I decided to tough it out and go to the race.

It was cold (like 20 degrees) but the sun was out.

I was surprised at how many people showed up for this race.  I guess the weather and the cost had something to do with it. I bumped into many runners that I knew.  Most were doing the 15k.

This race was as I said pretty informal – no bibs or timing chips. It didn’t matter to me.  I just wanted to get through it.

Both the 3 milers & the 15kers run the same course for 3 miles & then the 15kers continue running.

Immediately after I started, my knee brace popped off.  I tried to pick it up without getting trampled.  It was hard.  No one would stop & help so I just waited.

That kinda killed my 1st mile time but who cares.  I put my brace in my jacket pocket and then during mile 2, it fell out.  I stopped and heard someone yelling,  “Indian Orange!”  I guess she meant me because she had found my knee brace.

The course was quite boring – around the campus and office buildings but no major hills, at least.

me running wearing "Indian Orange"

When I approached the end, I saw 29 minutes on the clock.  I then poured on the speed.  There was no way I was finishing 3 miles in over 30 minutes – sick or not!

My Garmin said 29:11 but the official clock was 29:21 and I finished 102 out of 175.

I stayed around for a little while.  I checked the times & saw that the fast women in my age group were there – no chance for an award even if I ran my fastest.

The refreshments were decent: cake, bread, fruit, soup…not bad for a free race.  I hope to run more of the HMRRC Winter Series Races.

I definitely needed to run more since today was my long run but still felt nauseous.  So I headed back home and to the Rail Trail.  There I dragged myself through a slow slow 4 more miles for a total of 7 for the day.

It has been a tradition to celebrate my mentee, Amanda’s birthday at the Melting Pot.  This is the 4th year we have done this.

Amanda turns 21

Here we are again a year older.

Unfortunately, my 7 miles today only burned off the calories in the Smores martini.

Happy Running!

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Why I love running…

“I always loved running…it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.” -Jesse Owens

I couldn’t have said it better…

the park in the spring

 

the park in the fall

 

 

the park in the winter

 

Happy Running?  Why do you love running?

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Half Marathon Envy

All the talk about the Las Vegas RnR Half Marathon last weekend makes me want to do one again sooooon!

2011 was the first year that I ever even considered running one and I did 5! (No photopgraper at #4)

1st

2nd

3rd

 

5th

Unfortunately, my first one was my most enjoyable and my last one, the least. In fact, the 5th one leaves me wanting a do over! I am hoping that I can do better or at least feel better doing it.

It’s not easy to choose one.  There are many things to consider: date, weather, travel distance, time off from work, elevation, etc.

Some possibilities:

  • 2/5/12 – Melbourne Half  (Fla.) – my sister-in-law lives nearby but would need to take time off from work
  • 2/19/12 – Half at the Hamptons (NH)- 3 3/4 hrs – cold?? (but have 2/20 off)
  • 2/25/12 – Lake Effect Half (Syracuse, NY)  – 3hrs – snow, cold – new race but flat
  • 2/26/12 – Hyannis Half (Mass) – 3.5 hrs away – too cold?
  • 3/11/12 – Celebrate Life Half – 1.5 hr away – hilly – no finisher medal
  • 3/24/12 – 13.1 NY Half (Queens, NY) – 3 hrs away – boring course
  • 4/7/12 – Race the Runways (Brunswick, Maine) – 5 hrs away – too cold? – supposed to go to Pa for Passover
  • 4/29/12 – Lake George Half – 1 hr away – hilly, did it last year
  • 6/17/12 – New Paltz Challenge – 1.5 hr away- but it’s Father’s Day

Gotta decide so I can start training…

Happy Running!  Any suggestions?  Housing invitations??

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Running & Tennis

Tennis for about 10 years was all I thought about. 

  • I was a team captain.
  • I played on many many teams.
  • I met my hubby while playing tennis.
  • My teams have gone to State championships 3x and Nationals once.
  • My best vacations are with my tennis friends.
  • Some of my most fun times are spent with my tennis friends.
  • Most of my closest friends are tennis players.
  • My tennis friends started me running.

Two interesting things happened this week:

  • While playing doubles, my partner, another player  & I were discussing races & running between points (My partner is a runner & is training for the Naples HM, the other just ran her 1st 10K.)
  • I turned down subbing in a tennis contract in order to get in a run!

Tennis is actually getting in the way of my running schedule and now I only play once a week and on one team (in the spring).  As a result, my tennis skills are slacking off but I don’t want to put more time & money into it.

Don’t get me wrong.  I enjoy playing tennis.  I love to watch the major tournaments on TV.  I even enjoy watching them in person.

But you can’t just fit it tennis.  It has to be arranged, coordinated, players’ abilities assessed, memberships secured, sub lists organized, etc.  You can’t control how well your partner will play or how well your opponents will play. Winning matters!!

Running has taken over the #1 spot for now and I am happy about it.

 

Happy Running! Any tennis playing runners out there?

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Blogging and the Holidays

my 2011 card

It’s so exciting to participate these exchanges/swaps. You get to read new blogs and meet new people (virtually).

Team Joy

Team Dasher

This one’s a secret!


2nd Annual Holiday Blogger Gift Exchange

This one’s a secret too!

Happy Running! Are you participating in any of these or other blogger exchanges?

 

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Free Races

I am a member of the Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club and for $15, you get a monthly newsletter, discount on their sponsored races as well as these FREE races.

I have never done them before even though I have been a member. 

However, this year, since I’m not training for anything, I think I will unless it is too cold, too icy or too snowy.  I am a winter wimp!

So it looks like this Sunday, I will run a 3 mile race.

Happy Running!  Do you belong to a running club? Do run non competitive fun races?

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Last Week in Review & Two Parties

Monday – 1.5 hours tennis
Tuesday – 1.5 hours tennis
Wednesday – 3 mile run, 1.25 hours yoga
Thursday – 5 mile run  (WON A MOUNTAIN BIKE IN A FREE RAFFLE – Xmas gift for my hubby!!)
Friday – 3 mile run – Holiday party
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 6 mile run – Holiday dinner

Happy Running!

 

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Let the Parties Begin…

Friday they let us out of work at 3:30 pm to get ready for a 7 pm party.  Cool!  Just enough time to squeeze in a 3 mile run.

The State Room

The party was fun.  I love a chance to get dressed up (which my hubby just hates!) The food was good & the DJ played just the right music to dance to. (Ouch…the feet…)

Yesterday was a rest day but I did visit a friend and we hiked around the lake where she has a house.

me on our chilly hike

Lake Elizabeth

Today before party#2, I did run 6 miles (in the wind!!!) The first 3.1 miles (with the wind at my back) was done for Courtney (and my former student Erin).  Courtney lost her daughter Ashlyn 3 years ago and Erin lost her daughter Angelina last year.

Then my mah jongg friends & I went out to celebrate our 3 year anniversary.

Since Mah Jongg originated in China, we always go to a Chinese restaurant. Our group started with 6 and now we have 12. 

most of the group at PF Changs.

We shared 4 appetizers, 7 main dishes and 2 desserts. Holy calories!!

 

1400 cal Great Wall of Chocolate

Happy Running! Do you worry about eating too much during the holidays?

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Albany’s Last Run – the Early Version

Before yoga last Wed, I ran near Washington Park where thousands of holiday lights were on.  I didn’t have time to run through the park where Albany’s Last Run 5k on Dec 17 will take place.  The park opens to cars that pay $15 to view the lights at 6pm also & I wasn’t sure I would be able to run through the park.

So after work on Thursday, I headed out as soon as I could. I parked my car where I go to yoga class.  I wore my bright orange Last Run jacket.

me & MaryPat at the Delmar Turkey Trot

 I intended to do an early version of Albany’s Last Run. I had planned on 3.1 miles but when I got there, there were no lights on!

So I just ran around the park in the DARK!!! It was kinda eerie but cool! 

Little by little, the lights went on.  So I just kept running around the park.  When they were finally all on, I expected to get kicked out but no one said anything so I ran & took photos (lots) of the lights. 

Here’s just a sampling:

I wound up running 4.5 miles & losing one of my gloves. I stopped in the lakehouse for some hot cocoa to warm up. Then I ran back to my car.

Not bad.  It normally costs $15 to ride around the park in your car.  I did it for free, got a better view of the lights and got some exercise!!

I get to do it again on Dec 17 for the 5K race but now I can run fast & not look at the lights. Ha ha!

Happy Running! Any holiday races coming up for you?

 

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21 Things About Me

I haven’t been tagged but I have read quite a few of these so here goes nothing:

  1. I am a coffee snob… I make a latte every morning…I won’t drink instant or bad coffee.  Starbucks is my fav coffee shop.
  2. I am a cat person.  I have five.  I do love dogs but they are too much work.
  3. I hate to swim because I don’t like to get my hair wet.  I have unmanageable frizzy hair.
  4. I don’t change jobs often.  I’m on my third job & I had the first for 22 years.
  5. I hardly ever cook.  Fortunately I don’t have to now that the kids are out of house. I am lucky that my hubby doesn’t mind fending  for himself.
  6. When I do cook, I go all out.  I search out gourmet recipes online & make new complicated dishes.
  7. I love photography.  I am never without my camera.
  8. I am not very athletic.  In fact I am pretty uncoordinated.
  9. I started playing tennis in my 40’s and my tennis team came in 3rd in the nation in the 2002 championships in Palm Springs.
  10. I tried learning golf several years ago and I was really bad at it so I gave it up.
  11. My favorite board game is Scrabble.  My friends & I play it at the beach on vacations.
  12. I am hardly ever home.  I work during the day & in the evening I either play tennis, run, yoga class, shop, go to a movie or play mah jongg. (Thank God for Tivo.)
  13. I am a closet teenager.  I love the Twilight Saga, Hunger Games and have even watched 90210, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Everwood on TV.
  14. I usually run by myself because I have to squeeze it in when I can and I run so slow that it would annoy serious runners.
  15. I am very competitive.  This is why I run better in a race.  So I sign up for a lot of races. (Yeah, like 20 a year!)
  16. I am obsessive about matching my clothes.  I mean colors, brands, everything.  It doesn’t matter whether it’s work, dress up, tennis, running…
  17. I hate to clean but I hate when things aren’t tidy.  So I have a cleaning lady.  I wish I could afford her to come more often. (And I don’t want my cleaning lady to think I’m messy so I straighten up for the cleaning lady!)
  18. I have a great memory but only for numbers.  Yes, I know all my credit card numbers by heart.
  19. I love desserts.  I always look at the dessert menu first to make sure I have room.  I have even just had desserts for a meal.
  20. I love to travel.  I visited France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Spain, Austria (while in college) and since then France, Holland, Greece, Israel, Russia.  I would love to go to Alaska, the Orient, and on an African safari.
  21. I love being near the water.  It could be the ocean, river, lake… I don’t care. I find it so relaxing.

That was fun.

Happy Running! If you haven’t been tagged, just  do it. I love  getting to know more you.