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Goals for the Week and Brain Exchange #30

 

Finishing is Winning‘s Brain Exchange:

This Week’s Topic: Your First Kicks

This Week’s Question: All runners have a connection to their shoes.  Tell the story behind how you came to love the kicks you’re in- what were your first shoes?  What do you wear now?  Do you stick to one shoe or change it up?

I used to be a tennis shoe-aholic but now I am a running shoe-aholic. 

When I first started running 3 years ago, I went to FleetFeet and they recommended Sauconys.  I wore those until they wore out and then bought Sauconys again.

Since then I’ve worn Nikes because they hold the Nike+ chip.  I’ve also bought inexpensive Reebocks for the treadmill.

Then I switched to Mizunos which I loved until recently.  My feet started hurting!! I bought another pair a 1/2 size larger and my feet still hurt (anyone want a new pair  size 8.5??)

I switched to Asics for my half marathon and now I am sold on them.  I have 2 pairs. I wear one on my longer runs and the other that I am breaking in for my shorter runs.

I have come to realize that shoes are the most important running accessory!!!

Last week update:

 My goal was 21 miles and I ran 4 times for a total of   22  miles. YEA!
I played tennis 3 times. (a usta match & lost 😦  )

This was Week #7 of my 2nd Half Marathon training.  5 weeks to go!

Goals for this week:

This week’s schedule:

Mon – tennis after work
Tues – tennis after work
Wed – yoga
Thurs – FleetFeet workshop
Fri – mah jongg
Sat or Sun – boat show

This week’s running:

Tues – 3 miles before work
Wed – 3.5  miles before work
Thurs 3.5  miles before work
Sat  –  5k  mile Race + 8 miles
 
Weekly Running Goal = 21 miles 
March  Monthly Running Goal = 70 miles, a race, hm training

Yearly Running Goal = 1011 miles

Happy Running!

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Tennis & Running

Yes, both in one day!

I got up at 6 am in order to get to my first USTA tennis match.  I was acting captain so I had to set the lineup, collect the money, etc.  Our team is the defending champs but we lost our first match.  However, no one really wants to play at 8am on a Sunday (not even the captains) so we didn’t have our best players.  I paired myself up with someone I didn’t know (I’m too nice, I know).  The first thing she said to me was: “Did the captain tell you about me? I ‘m the weak link on the team.  I’m not very good.” Well, that wasn’t good way to start things off. Unfortunately although I tried to boost her confidence.  She was right.  She wasn’t very good and we lost.  I hate to lose!!!!!

After tennis, I went out to breakfast with some friends on the team.  I couldn’t wait to get home and go for a run to clear my head.

My hubby had other plans.  He wanted me to go to Lowes to help him pick out a new mailbox.  So I did.

Finally I got out there.  It was a gorgeous day.  In the 40s but felt warmer because of the sunshine. 

before my run

 I decided to just run straight for 5 miles or so and then run back to my car (that was parked at work).  I was fine for 4 miles until I hit a huge hill.  I could barely walk up it but it was fun running down it on the way back.  I ran my half marathon pace (11-12 min/mi) and was pleased that my first and last miles were the fastest. 10 miles in 1:48— I added on another 1/2 mile to get some coffee at Starbucks.

after my run

One thing I love about running is that you set your own goals.  You don’t have to depend on someone else to reach them.  I wanted to run 10 miles today.  I wanted to to do it in under 2 hours.  I wanted to finish it with a lot of energy and without any aches or pains.  So although at my tennis match I was a loser, at running, I won!!! (I decided to use today’s run for the 13K of the Shake Your Shamrock Virtual Race since I was wearing “Green.”)

On another note – I want to congratulate my best friend’s sister, Ellen who ran the LA Marathon today in the pouring rain!! (1000s were evaluated for hypothemia!!!)

Happy Running!

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Why Not Have Some FrUN?

Today is the Albany Running Exchange’s second annual Group FRUN Day! In 2010, members of the ARE held 64 events that day! In fact,  the city of Albany passed a resolution marking a date as “FRUN DAY” in the city of Albany.

I really wanted to do this!! There was even a group running at the Crossings at my speed.

But sometimes life gets in the way.

I had played tennis or ran 13 days in a row!!!

I needed a REST day!!!!

So I did laundry, cleaned out some more closets, went out to breakfast with my hubby.

Then I spent the afternoon with Amanda, my mentee, and her 4 yr old son Richard.  We went to the Crossings so he could play on the playground.

It was cool but sunny. I had to go to the mall and buy Richard a toy in order to get him to leave the park.  Then we went to Kurver for ice cream.

When I got home, I immediately left with my hubby to go see Lord of the Dance 3D.

Michael Flatley is amazing.  He is almost 53 years old!!!! Hooray for us”older” folks still in good shape and keeping up with the kids!!  We’ve seen the show many times and it is still better to see the performance live on the stage than in a movie.

Afterwards we went out to eat – PIZZA!!!!!!! I had fig, goat cheese & broccoli pizza.  My hubby had pepperoni!! This explains perfectly our eating preferences…

That was my REST day – no tennis, no running– just family time!!

Tomorrow is my first USTA tennis match and at least a 10 mile run!!

Happy Running! Good Luck Ellen!

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Look What I Won…

Congratulations, Darlene!!

As the independent judging organization for the Ford Training Team Reward Program Challenge, we are pleased to inform you that your entry has been randomly selected as a Holiday Mixer Random Prize winner:


Timex IRONMAN Sleek 150 Lap Tap Screen Full Size Watch

Do I remember entering this?? NO!

But I looked it up on DailyMile.com:

Combine your favorite cardio exercises (running walking, biking, aerobics) to amass the most time you can from December 15 to January 15. The most time accumulated will win a Timex watch!

I didn’t accumulate the most but won in the random drawing…

Hope I’m as lucky in Mah Jongg tonite and in my 1st USTA tennis match on Sunday. But now I’m off for a short run.  The weather is still nice in Albany!!

Don’t forget to enter my Yak Trax giveaway!  (You can use them next winter.)

Happy Running! TGIF!!

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Shake Your Shamrock Virtual 7k Run (for Ice Cream)

Thanks to My Running Bucket and Beyond Destination 26.2 for sponsoring this race.

What a beautiful day in the NE!!! Finally…

Albany, NY

I wish I had the day off but I had to wait until 5 pm to run my race.

Here’s my bib:

The only green shirt I could find my the race shirt from last Saturday’s race (which was much too big):
 

I took my usual out and back 2 mile route from work with a little extra to make it 4.35 miles or 7K. I can’t remember the last time I ran and there was no ice or snow on the sidewalks or street. I had to push up my sleeves because I was warm. I could have even worn shorts instead of capris.

So I had no excuses for running slow and stopping and walking except that it wasn’t a real race just a virtual one. My time was 48:36.  (A far cry from last week’s race).  I ran a little more to make it an even 4.5 miles.

It was totally enjoyable.  I’m glad that My Running Bucket and Beyond Destination 26.2 got me out there.

Afterwards I headed to FleetFeet where I bought my Mizunos a few months back.  That was the period when my feet really hurt so I bought them in a size larger.  They still hurt and I never wore them.  Instead I bought a pairs of Asics that I wore to run my half marathon and every run since. Well, FleetFeet refunded my money (over $100).  I love FleetFeet!! (Thanks Mary for telling me to go back there.) While I was in the store, I stocked up on some more Gu.

Today was also the opening of Kurver Kreme, my favorite soft ice cream place (not far from FleetFeet) – you know where I’m going with this…

You wouldn’t believe how long the line was for ice cream…Instead I went to Stewarts – 50 cents for a cone if you are wearing green.

My 7K cone!!

Happy Running and Happy St Patty’s Day!!

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Happy Anniversary “Running Mamas”

Janis, Jen M, Felice, Jen F, Bridget, Lisa & me

A year ago (actually March 14, 2010) Felice (The Happy Runner) organized a group of young mothers who had NEVER run before.  She asked me and several local bloggers to help out.

I participated in the group training runs and got to follow them from the “wondering  if they could run 2 minutes without stopping” stage to finally running a 5K race.

at the Freihofers Run for Women 5K

Well, they didn’t stop there!! They ran more 5ks and got faster!!! They ran a 10k!! Then they signed up to run a Half Marathon –  in their first year of running!!!!!

Whoa!

I was so proud of them!! But at the same time, a little jealous… This is my 3rd year of running and I’m still entering 5ks!! (51 of them….) And I am happy when I break 30 minutes.

These ladies made me realize that I could push myself.  So I did!!

 I finished the Turkey Trot 5k well under 28 minutes!! 

 Then believe it or not, I ran a HALF MARATHON.

So thanks “Running Mamas” for lighting a fire under my feet! 

Let me know when you sign up for a Marathon. I have no plans for running one…but you never know…

Happy Running!

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My First Marathon

small_Cupcake-Marathon.png

Gotcha!

It’s Virtual and I have from March 14-March 26, 2011 to run 26.2 miles. I think I can do that….

After 3 days off (but 3 days of playing tennis), I ran today.  The Daylight Savings Time is killing me because when I have after work commitments, it is too dark in the morning to  run outside.  Today it was raining, too.

So off to the gym to run 3 miles on the treadmill (23.2 to go).  The Good Wife is on hiatus so my new favorite show is Fairly Legal.

Happy Running!

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Two (Half Marathons) for Tuesday

  1. I finally registered for the Lake George Half Marathon yesterday that I have been training for for the past 6 weeks…(it’s on April 23)
  2. I haven’t run my 2nd half yet and I signed up for a 3rd Half Marathon (Adirondack Half Marathon)- it’s on September 25, 2011 and it goes half way around Schroon Lake. (The Half Marathon will begin at the 13.1 mile marker and will end at the Full Marathon Finish Line. The runners will run on the easier section of the marathon course.  The first five to six miles are flat; then there are long, gentle hills on Route 9. Time to complete this race will be 5 hours.)

Am I nuts? Have I been possessed by the Ides of March?

At least I will have 2 months off before training for my 3rd half marathon. I will have to change my long runs to Thursdays after work to accommodate the boating season of July & August and I will be able still fit in my Sat 5k races. Yay!!!

(On another note – I haven’t run in 3 days!!! I am recovering from Daylight Savings Time and playing tennis 3 days in a row. Running begins tomorrow or else!!!)

Happy Running!

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Monday Monday & Another Half!

Last week update:

My goal was 21 miles and I ran 4 times for a total of 20 miles.
I ran a 4 mile race! a PR of 38:02 – YAY!
I played tennis twice and did yoga once.

I also won this magnet:

This was Week #6 of my 2nd Half Marathon training.  6 weeks to go!

In honor of my friend Mary, I registered for my 2nd Half Marathon today!!!!!!!!!!!! (I hope to run it with her…)

Goals for this week —

This week’s schedule:

Mon – tennis after work
Tues – tennis after work
Wed – Mentors meeting
Thurs – St Pat’s dinner
Fri – mah jongg
Sun – USTA tennis match

This week’s running:

Wed – 3 miles before work
Thurs – 4  miles before or after work
Fri – 4 miles before or  after work
Sun – 10 miles


Weekly Running Goal = 21 miles 
March  Monthly Running Goal = 70 miles, a race, hm training

Yearly Running Goal = 1011 miles

Happy Running!

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Sunday, My Day of Rest

Yesterday, I ran a 4 mile race and then 6 more miles, watched a tennis match, went grocery shopping, did laundry and went out to dinner.

I deserve a day to just relax.

So today I got up at 6:30 am (which was really 5:30am) and played tennis for an hour and a 1/2 with 3 guys.  My hubby has a tennis match today and he begged me to sub for him.  I thought I would be intimidated but the guys were nice and I had fun.

I went home & changed and then went to Paneras to have brunch with Mary, my running friend.  I haven’t seen her since Nov.  She has had a pulled calf muscle, hip problem, and now a stress fracture in her leg.  She is so depressed but vows to run the half with me in Lake George on Apr 23.

After I got home, my mah jongg friend called to remind me that I promised to go to a new intro yoga class with her. So I changed my clothes again.  The yoga class was just OK.  Too much emphasis on breathing and not enough stretching.  I’m going back to my Wed nite class.

I went home and changed my clothes for the 4th time to go watch my hubby’s tennis match.  He won in a 3rd set tie breaker.  YAY!! (He’s not a good loser!)

I can’t wait to go to work tomorrow.  This rest is exhausting!!

Happy Running!