Yes, I did get my hair cut on Thursday but also 10 of my closest friends (all tennis players) got together to see the musical “Hair.”
We thought it would be fun since we are all old enough to remember the original although we hadn’t ever seen it.
We had a blast singing and dancing to the nostalgic music.
Afterwards we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner (Yay, carb loading for me!) and then on to one of my friend’s house for dessert,drinking and more partying.
3 of us were planning to run in the Mother’s Day 5k tomorrow which put a damper on the drinking aspect of it but it was fun to all hang out together.
Last night, Fleet Feet held its 4th annual Diva Night. I think I went to the lst one and wanted to reconnect with some running friends so I went this year, too. I also feel a sense allegiance to the store because they gave me my start to running with the No Boundaries program.
I had a hair appt so I arrived an hour late. I had signed up on Facebook instead of rsvping via email so I wasn’t sure they’d let me in. (A lot of people were turned away!!)
Well, I was on the list. Phew!
They had champagne and healthy food – cheese, crackers & fruit. Everyone who came got a Brooks makeup bag when they arrived and a bouquet of fresh flowers when they left.
I immediately bumped into Felice & Suzy, 2 local bloggers & runners. I haven’t seen them in person since the running group ended its runs. We had all done a half marathon since then & chatted about our experiences and future running plans.
Felice & I are chatting, Suzy is looking at the camera
I met my new “Fan” Liz in person. She is excited about running her 1st race – the Freihofer’s in less than one month!
Throughout the evening, the called names of those who rsvped and you spun the wheel to win a prize. I won 2 containers of Nuun. (I’m a Gu fan so I’m a little skeptical about drinks. Anyone use Nuun???)
Felice wins a Brooks Shirt
I felt a little bad that they were so strict about rsvping because many who said they were coming and didn’t. Several of my friends wanted to come and when they called, FleetFeet said it was full.
As far as running goes this week, I ran 3 miles after work and before tennis and the rain (without my garmin 😦 ) on Monday, 3.5 miles and an episode of “Off the Map”on the treadmill at work (because it was raining) on Wed and this morning, I took my 1st pre-work run (3.5 miles) since we turned the clocks ahead. I have had a hard time getting out of bed & have been running after work.
This run felt GREAT – it was in the 30’s so a little chilly at first but the sun warmed me up. I need to get back in the habit of running early as the temps rise.
Next race is Sunday, a 5K!! I’m looking forward to it!!!!!!! It’s supposed to be dry… YAY!
If AJH can tell her embarrassing story, I can tell mine.
My hubby thinks I’m absented-minded and lose things. I tell him it’s an age thing. But really, it’s always been like this. I multi-task and am always doing and thinking about too many things at once.
Now that I am running, he’s worried. He may be right.
During the winter, I put my credit card in my zipped jacket pocket and it disappeared while I was running. Seriously it vanished!! I refused to cancel the card because I do auto bill pay for everything and it’s too complicated. I checked my account online everyday and no one ever used it so I ordered a replacement. (I’m embarrassed to add that it also happened once before!!)
I don’t carry my credit card running anymore!!!
I do always carry my car key. I tuck it safely in a my jacket or shorts pocket.
So last Thursday, I ran my usual 3 mile run after work. And my reward as always is Starbucks. I went back to my car. Of course, I had my key and opened the car to get my credit card to go to Starbucks.
I put my key back in the same pocket inside the front of my shorts, went to Starbucks, had a frappuccino and returned to my car.
NO KEY in my pocket!!! Holy Cow! I forgot to mention that I do not carry a phone when I run…
So I retraced my steps to and from Starbucks several times …and … no key to be found!!!
What should I do? I waited in the parking lot until someone showed up. The students were gone (no classes) but luckily there was a faculty meeting going on late.
Finally I spotted a professor and asked him to borrow his phone and called my hubby.
I begged him not to yell but to come to school with my spare car key.
It took him what seemed like forever. I forgot that he was going to be playing tennis so had to shower, change, etc.
He too scoured the area to no avail and grumbled that another car key would cost about $300 and left.
Feeling stupid, I got in my car and headed home.
But my car seat felt uncomfortable like I was sitting on something. I reached under and there was nothing there.
Then a light bulb went off in my head. I reached inside my shorts and…
Yup…my car key!!!!!!!!!! It had escaped my pocket and got lodged in my shorts!!
I called my hubby excitedly and said “Guess what? I found my car key!! It was up my butt (I may have said a$$)”
I used my Spi Belt to keep my key during my race on Sunday! Lesson Learned!
I BLOG because it motivates me to run, to continue running and to improve my running.
Does it matter if anyone reads my posts??? Not really, but it’s so cool when someone does read what you have to say and you actually inspire them to run.
This is an email that I received yesterday:
Hi Darlene!
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now and I must say THANKS for the inspiration. I’m just getting into running. I turned 46 a month ago and am one of those “adult-onset” runners. I’m following the Couch-to-5k program (in Week 6 now) and I’m really enjoying it! I’m trying to absorb all the info and advice that I can. I came across your blog one day while looking for info on running in the Albany area. Thanks again! I hope to say “hi” to you at Diva Night.
So now I guess I also BLOG to inspire others to run, to continue running and to improve their running!!!!!!
I won another giveaway – some GU – YAY! I really like the Gels (esp Vanilla). I always take them during my long runs. I even took one before my 5k on Sunday.
Does this weather look familiar? I see treadmill in my future!!!!!!!! And yes, rain is predicted for Sunday – my next 5k!
Happy Running! Enough of the showers…bring on the May flowers!
This Week’s Question: In celebration of (belated) Earth Day, tell us how you help the earth by running green.
I am embarrassed to say that I’m not that environmentally conscious. But I want to be. I usually carry a small water bottle if I run a long distance or just drink from the tap before & after my run. I rarely buy bottled water.
Last week update:
My goal was 10 miles and I ran 4 times for a total of 11 miles. Slowly recovering. I ran a 5K race. I played tennis once and did Yoga once.
Goals for this week:
This week’s schedule: (A BUSY ONE!!)
Mon – tennis after work
Tues – tennis after work
Wed – yoga
Thurs – hair appt, Diva Night at FleetFeet Fri – mah jongg
Sat – “HAIR” and dinner out w/friends
Sun – Mother’s Day dinner out w/family
This week’s running (if I have time):
Tues- 3 miles after work
Wed – 4 miles after work
Fri – 3 miles after or before work
Sun – Mother’s Day 5k race Weekly Running Goal = 13 miles
May Monthly Running Goal = 60 miles, a race
Another new race. There were several to choose from yesterday that were closer to my house (and flatter) but I thought that an extra day of rest for my legs would be a good thing. Also my friend Mary promised to be there and run.
My race goals:
Run the whole thing
Finish under 30 minutes
Have fun!
The weather was predicted to be nice. But you never know:
However, the weather report was right again. Yesterday the weather was perfect. We hung out on Lake George with friends.
first boat ride of the season
where last weekend's half was held
Today was also a beautiful sunny day and even warmer than yesterday. I decided to wear my Half Marathon outfit!
The race was schedule to start at 1 pm. (I prefer an early morning race!). By 11 am, I was hungry but didn’t want to eat too much. I had a Honey Milk & a banana.
I left early because I knew that it would be crowded. There were supposed to be about 1500 runners.
I got there around 12:30. Just in time to watch Meghan’s Mile, a kids race. Boy were these kids fast. The boy who won finished under 6 minutes and the girl winner just a little over 6 minutes.
Mary arrived around 12:45 and we snapped a pre-race photo.
She is recovering from a stress fracture & pneumonia and I warned her to take it easy!
It was very crowded. We started in the middle of the pack but I started my Garmin when I crossed the starting line.
cool pic from the Register Star
I immediately started weaving in and out of the crowd. This was not an easy course and it was hot! I tried to keep a good pace and was doing great until the steep hill after mile one. I starting slowing down, and was very warm & thirsty. As a result I stopped for every water stop and there were like 5 or so. I even had to stop and tie my shoe . UGH! I tried to run a little faster the last mile but again, it ended with a hill. At least, I sprinted through the finish line. (watch me at 3:24 below:)
The official time was listed as 29:45. I came in 4th in my Age Group (50-59). Darn if I didn’t have to stop to tie my shoe, I may have gotten an award.
Anyway, I waited for Mary to cross so I could take her picture. I was so proud of her. She did great…she is on the road to recovery!!
They had a lot of food – apples, bananas, bagels, cookies, Greek yogurt but we opted for the free Stewarts ice cream cones. YUM!!!
All in all, I enjoyed this race. I didn’t expect to PR and it was so nice to run outside in the warm weather. I even got some sunburn.
On the way home, I took a detour through Washington Park. Although the tulips will be in peak bloom for next weekend, the weather was so gorgeous (and rain is predicted for most of the week), I decided t stop to take some pics. And I took about 40!!
Happy Running! Hope you had a nice weekend of running!
Since last October, I have been training for 2 half marathons. That means distance not speed. I never thought I’d like it but I do. This comes from someone who has run about 50 5k races and said she would never run farther.
Since last October, I have only run five 5ks:
11-11 -Valatie Veteran’s Run – 28:59
11-25 -Bethlehem Towne Turkey Trot – 27:30 PR
12-4 -Jungle Bell Run – 29:31
12-18 -Albany Last Run 5K – 29:15
3-26 -Run 4 Your Life 5k – 29:22
Look what’s coming:
5-1 – Sean’s Run 5k – TOMORROW!!!
5-8 -Mother’s Day 5K
5-19 -CDPHP Workforce Challenge 3.5 m
5-22 -SPAC Rock & Run 5K
6-4 -Freihofers Run for Women 5k
6-11 -Kinderhook OK 5K
7-23 -Silks & Satins 5K*
8-13 -Jailhouse Rock 5K*
Fasig Tipton 5K*
9-10 –CRSS 5K*
9-15 Schenectady ARC 5K*
*Then it’s back to half marathon training for my third on 9/25 and fourth on 11/6.
So how do I adjust? How do I not succumb to PR pressure?
Happy Running! Good Luck to all those racing this weekend!
My First 5K and More... 