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Hakuna Matata

“It means no worries
For the rest of your days
It’s our problem-free philosophy”

Wouldn’t that be nice??

My worry-free week:


Monday & Tuesday I worked for Examsoft providing tech support to those students taking the NYS Bar exam on their laptops. That meant getting up at 5:30 am (even on my day off) and sitting all day.  No worries since I was NOT taking the bar exam!!

Tuesday after work, I rushed to my tennis contract.  4 of us have a clinic for an hour and then play doubles.  Again no worries, the tennis was just for fun!

 

Wednesday morning, it was 0 degrees outside.  No worry – I headed to the gym to run on the treadmill and I got to watch Fairly Legal on my iPod Touch.

 

After work Wedsnesday, I went to Beginning Yoga with 2 friends.  Although no one seemed to be beginners, it was more relaxing than Runners Yoga.

After yoga,  we went out for coffee and dessert – even more enjoyable than the yoga!

Tonight I am going to see The Lion King with some friends.  I had always wanted to see it on Broadway and can’t wait!!

First we’re going out to dinner to Cornell’s  – it’s famous for Italian cuisine – MMMM! And I’m not worried because I’ll run it off tomorrow morning!

Happy Running! Hakuna Matata!!!

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Wednesday Words

So this is my blog — miles…Running…work…run – yup, that’s me!!!

Happy Running! Happy Hump Day!

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Tuesday Tune

If you haven’t ever heard this song, LISTEN! (It starts around 2:45)

It brings tears to my eyes everytime it comes on while I am running.

It makes me appreciate my health and the ability to run (no matter how slow). 

Yesterday & today I am working at the NYS Bar exam…no running til tomorrow.

Happy Running! Run For Life!

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Monday Goals and Brain Exchange #27

 Finishing is Winning‘s Brain Exchange:

This Week’s Topic: Racing & Vacations

This Week’s Question: Do you make vacations out of your races when they are far from home?

I have only participated in one race far from home.  That was my first Half Marathon in Naples, Florida.  I definitely made a vacation out of it.  The race was on Sunday.  I flew out after work on Friday and stayed until Tuesday evening.  My hubby met me there and we did a lot of sightseeing, relaxing on the beach… It was fun!

If I do another, I would do the same.

Goals for this week:

Last week update:

 My goal was 18 miles and I ran 19  miles.

This was Week #3 of my 2nd Half Marathon training.  9 weeks to go! (Although I haven’t registered yet.)

This week’s schedule:

Mon – work at Bar Exam
Tues – work at Bar Exam, tennis after
Wed – yoga
Thurs – see The Lion King musical
Fri – mah jongg
Sat – hair appt

This week’s running:

Mon – 3.5  miles after work
Wed– 3.5  miles before work
Thurs or Fri – 3  miles before work
Sat or Sun –  9 miles

Weekly Running Goal = 19 miles 
February  Monthly Running Goal = 60 miles, a race, hm training

Yearly Running Goal = 1011 miles

Happy Running!

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Winter’s Back!

So it was 60 degrees on Friday.  I ran in SHORTS after work! It felt like spring was around the corner…

bonfire on Lake George

Yesterday we went to Lake George for the Winter Carnival and it was FREEZING!!!!!! In the teens with 50 mph wind gusts! We hung out with our friends watching some of the events but got cold and went out for lunch to warm up.

my hubby on the lake

Then we took a ride up 9N to Bolton Landing.  I wanted to see the Half Marathon course.  Yes, it is hilly!!! But not as steep as the last 3 miles to Bolton Landing (my usual summer running route!)

Bolton Landing

Then we went back to the village to watch the fireworks!  Brrrrrrr!

waiting inside for the fireworks to begin

Today it was warmer and less windy.  Still while I was dong my 8 miler, I felt at times that my face would freeze off.  Thank God for the sun!! It wasn’t a great run.  I was hungry & tired & didn’t have any energy.  I also chose a hilly route.  So my 8 mile run took almost 1 1/2 hours!! At least I got it done…

before heading out

Happy Running!

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What causes a”Runner’s High”?

According to this recent NYTimes article, studies showed that exercise causes increased levels of endocannabinoid in the bloodstream, inducing a euphoria similar to the high experienced by marijuana users.

Unfortunately, I’ve never felt this way DURING a run but I always feel this way AFTER a run. I feel relaxed.  I feel happy. I want to run again.

I never regret a run I’ve taken even those on the treadmill, even those in the extreme cold temps and especially not those in the very warm weather.

So this week:

 Wed am it was cold so I went to the gym and ran 3.5 miles on the treadmill.  Yesterday I slept in and ran 4 miles outside after work.  It was almost 40 degrees so I left off the hats & gloves.  YAY!

Today, I brought shorts with me. It’s only February but it’s supposed to be: 

I hope it stays warm. Wish me luck!

Tomorrow it’s going to get cold again – 20’s and 50 mi wind gusts!!! 😦  😦

Happy Running! Enjoy your runner’s high!

 

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Random Tuesday

  • Valentine’s Day has come and gone.  Financially we are not doing so great so I told my hubby to get me JUST a card and NO Gifts!  Tough love because I love GIFTS.   I got him a cute card & some chocolate (He loves candy!!).  He got me a card & a stuffed teddy bear with candy (I gave him the candy.)  It’s the thought that counts!! Unfortunately he’s hates shopping & I always have to tell him what to get me (like a Garmin for Christmas, etc.) Next year, I’ll tell him to get me a Starbucks gift card instead of candy!!
Nike Air Max 95 Valentines Day 2008

What do you think of these?

  • I’m running smart.  I keep hearing about running injuries and I don’t want it to be me!  I’m no spring chicken!  Since my foot is not great…I am NOT running on days that I play tennis.  I will run on the treadmill 3 times before work or outside after work (when I have nothing scheduled) Wed, Thurs & Friday.  I will then do my long run on Sunday outside. When I don’t play tennis on Mon and/or Tuesday, I will run and then take Friday off and do my long run on Saturday.  That’s the plan!

  • Yesterday it was 52 degrees outside in the morning.  Today it is 12 degrees!!  Crazy weather!  I hope the worst of the winter is over and the snow melts! I can’t wait for SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • 

Happy Running!

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Monday Goals & Brain Exchange #26

 Finishing is Winning‘s Brain Exchange:

This Week’s Topic: Extreme Weather & Keeping it Fun

This Week’s Question: Do you deal with any types of extreme weather where you live?  Heat warnings, a lot of snow, frequent tornados?  How do you keep your workouts fresh and fun when you are stuck indoors?

We are having a tough winter where I live. A lot of SNOW!!! When I first started running 3 years ago, I didn’t run at all in the winter.  Then last year, I joined a gym and ran on the treadmill.  To make it bearable, I downloaded TV shows to my iPod Touch (Criminal Minds, Law & Order) and watched them while I ran.  I was only running 3 miles or 4 at most.  Then this year, I was training for a half marathon.  Impossible for me to do long runs on the treadmill.  So I braved the cold.  I don’t enjoy it but I found it not as bad as I thought. I found a route that was interesting & mostly flat.  I listen to music on my iPod Nano. I always reward myself with Starbucks when I’m done.  I recently even bought Yak Trax.  However, during the week for my short runs when it is dark or snowing or raining or windy, etc., I still go to the gym.  I am now watching The Good Wife and Fairly Legal.

Goals for the week:

Last week update:

 My goal was 17 miles and I ran  17 miles. YAY!!

This was Week #2 of my 2nd Half Maraton training.  10 weeks to go!

This week’s schedule:

Mon – tennis
Tues – tennis
Wed – webinar
Thurs – yoga
Fri – mah jongg

This week’s running:

Tues – 3 miles before or after work
Wed– 4 miles before work
Thurs or Fri – 3  miles before or after work
Sat or Sun –  8 miles

Weekly Running Goal = 18 miles 
February  Monthly Running Goal = 60 miles, a race, hm training

Yearly Running Goal = 1011 miles

Happy Running!

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R.I.P. Little Plane

at the airport in Mechanicville, NY

It’s been a tough winter!  And it just got tougher!  My hubby’s plane got destroyed.  The snow & ice on top of the hangar got to be too much and it collapsed and crushed the plane…no insurance either 😦

We got it 12 years ago and until we started boating on Lake George we used it a lot!  And had a lot of fun!

landing on Lake Champlain

on Saratoga Lake

flying over the Hudson River

So it could be worse as my hubby said: “It could have been destroyed while I was flying in it!” But I know he is feeling a lot of pain.

While he went to his mother’s who consoled him with eggplant parm, I went out for a long run.

It was my first since the half marathon – 7.25 miles!! The weather warmed up a little – 25 degrees (but felt colder when the breeze picked up.)  I followed my long run route but couldn’t run on the sidewalks (since no one shovels) and had to stop repeatedly when the road got too narrow & cars were coming at me.  I discovered a hilly detour around a park & golf course which was pretty.

I can’t say it was painless.  My feet continue to start to hurt after 5 miles (first left then right) and I even got my first blister ever. 

Then I spent my pre-Valentine’s Day evening with my mentee – dinner & a movie – it was nice to hang out together.

Happy Running & Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Three Things Thursday

  1. Boy, this has been a really long week!  At least it has seemed that way. Maybe because there have been no snowstorms and I’ve had to work everyday! I played tennis Mon & Tues evenings and bailed on my morning runs!!! I did return to the treadmill yesterday & today 🙂
  2. I’ve also had some bad news.  A good friend’s father died and another good friend’s younger sister was diagnosed with a rare rapidly spreading form of breast cancer (3-5 yrs to live even with mastectomy, chem & radiation). So I’m NOT going to complain about my left foot (last time it was the right one) that started hurting Sat and hurt Sun & Mon. The pain is gone now and it seems pretty trivial. It also reinforces my decision to go from running a 5K race to completing a Half Marathon.  You never know what life will bring. CARPE DIEM!!
  3. My credit card was burning a hole in my pocket so I registered for some races.

Mar 12 – Runnin of the Green 4 mi Run – Green Island, NY
Mar 26 – Firefighters Run 4 Life 5K – Schenectady, NY
Apr 10 – Delmar Dash 5 mi – Delmar, NY
May 8  – Mother’s Day 3.5 – Delmar, NY
Jun 4 – Freihofer’s Run for Women (5K) – Albany, NY

 I haven’t registered for my second Half Marathon yet – Apr 23 in Lake George. I want to run it but it’s hilly and I’m chicken.  I’m training for it. 

I like to run races & those long runs don’t seem to fit in (for example, my 12 mile run is scheduled for Apr 10!) .  I work so I can’t do them during the week.  I know I can add miles on after or the next day but it doesn’t feel the same as a non-stop long run.  I also like to rest the day before a long run.  I like to do my best in a race (I’m competitive!) so it’s hard to have it just be a training run at half marathon pace.  DILEMMAS!  I guess it was easy when I just ran 5ks!!  But I really enjoyed that Half Marathon experience!

I’ll figure it out… What’s more important is staying healthy and enjoying life!

Happy Running!