The weekend started with Friday evening at the Lake George Winter Carnival Gala at the The Georgian in Lake George. We had a great time, eating, drinking and dancing to the music of Bobby Dick & the Sundowners (our favorite band).
Saturday am I watched my favorite tennis player, Kim Clisters, win the Australian Open. Then went out for a 6 mile run in the neighborhood. The sidewalks were in better condition than in Albany but there aren’t many of them so I had to run in the road. Not too treacherous around where I live.
I did it in a little over an hour. My pace is still slow but getting better.
Then 2 friends that I used to work with suggested Yoga, dinner & then a movie. Sounded like fun. I haven’t done yoga in ages and wanted to get back into it.
The yoga session was De-Stress Yoga and it was really slow & relaxing. It was Sat night so there were only 4 people in the class. I am really stiff & have no flexibility at all. So I think yoga will be good for me.
Guess what I signed up for next Thursday there-
I am psyched!
The movie we saw was “Blue Valentine.” Although the acting was great, it was pretty depressing. Not sure I’d recommend it unless you enjoy watching a marriage gone bad.
Sunday was very low key – laundry, grocery shopping. I did my taxes (got depressed about how much $$$ we owe the govt), watched figure skating on TV while making chicken soup.
Next up 12 weeks away is the Lake George Half Marathon on April 23, 2011.
I haven’t signed up yet. But I think I will. I know it won’t be as warm or as scenic as Naples, Florida. I know that it is HILLY!! I’m not proud & I can walk up the hills and now that I know I can run 13.1, I want to do another and another and another.
Crazy, huh?
I think I like not being pressured about time. I like all the excitement. I like the finisher medal.
Goals for the week:
Last week update:
My goal was 15 miles & I ran 16.5 miles
This week’s schedule:
Mon – tennis
Wed – dentist, fleetfeet workshop (good form running)
Thurs – yoga
Fri – mah jongg
Sat – winter carnival in LG
Sun – time with mentee
This week’s running:
Tues – 3 miles before or after work
Wed– 4 miles before work
Thurs – 3 miles before or after work
Sat – 4 mi Race
Sun: 4 mi
Weekly Running Goal = 18 miles
February Monthly Running Goal = 60 miles, 4mi race, half marathon training
Yearly Running Goal = 1011 miles
Happy Running!
Guess what? My blog made Brokenhearted Runner’s list of top running blogs for the 2nd year in a row.! He has put together a comprehensive list of some of the best in the business and I’m honored to have been included.
#44 – My First 5K Blog: She writes, she listens to her readers and keeps me interested.
I may not have many followers but someone thinks my blog is worth a read.
Last year I was listed 2nd:
My First 5K Blog– A great blog from a woman who’s not afraid to share her running experiences.
Anyway, I recommend that you go check it out!!! You’ll see plenty of familiar names there and maybe even find some new ones to add to your Blogroll.
Happy Running! Happy Blogging!
The Happy Runner has tagged me for the Stylish Blogger Award! Thanks so much!!
You should check out her blog. She is training for a Half Marathon (after just having a baby in Oct.)! On her blog, she is tracking her training and offering helpful tips for others who are also doing so.
There are 4 duties to perform to accept this award:
1. Make a post + Link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 5 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them they’ve won!
About ME: (Since this is my 2nd tagging, I’ll add 7 more tidbits to the original 7):
If you are reading this, consider yourself tagged.
Happy Running!
Another balmy 32 degree day in Upstate, NY!! Just in case, this was my last run of the month, I decided that my after work run would be my participation in Baby Weight My Fat Ass’ Virtual 5k.
I lugged all my running gear to work again: Turtleneck, fleece, windbreaker, gloves, tights, shorts, headband, socks, sneakers, ipod, headphones, Garmin, water bottle, banana….(Did I miss anything?)
I think it took me 15 minutes to change and get the show on the road.
It was dark as it usually is when I run after work so I wore a bright white windbreaker over my fleece. Luckily, the streets around where I work are pretty lit up.
I was prepared after yesterday for a slow run. Some of the sidewalks are shoveled, others are icy & slushy. I have to weave in and out. When I have to run in the road, the snowbanks are high and I sometimes have to stop when a car goes by because there is not enough room to run.
Nevertheless, I felt that I ran at a faster pace than yesterday. Even my splits were negative. Final time according to my Garmin – 33:53
Still running at my half marathon pace – that’s OK because I start training again on Monday for my 2ND HALF MARATHON!! (April 23, 2011 in Lake George).
Happy Running!
Monday, the thermometer read -14. That’s not with the wind chill!!
I draw the line under 10 degrees! So Tuesday morning I went to the gym and ran 3.5 miles on the treadmill. I watched a new show on my iPod Touch called “Off the Map” – jungle version of Grey’s Anatomy.
Today, the weather was almost balmy – 32 degrees! So I brought (winter) running clothes to work.
I had signed up for a workshop at FleetFeet on “Common Overuse Injuries to Runners: Plantar Fasciitis & Achilles Tendonitis” but although, I have foot issues (not these per se), I decided to run instead.
For once, the snowstorm hit south of us and there was no wind. At onr point, I was too warm to wear my hat & gloves! One thing I forgot is that in Albany, they don’t shovel the sidewalks and when you run in the road, the cars practically run you down.
Anyway, I ran a treacherous 4 miles and after went to have my nails done and they give you a free hot pad for your back and a free back massage!!
Before heading home, I stopped at Olympia Sports & bought 2 pairs of Adidas running shorts & 2 matching tops (that I don’t need) because they were on sale.
black w/green & pink trim and black w/white & lt blue trim
pink w/white trim and white w/ lt. blue trim
A very productive evening!
Happy Running!
It’s not written in stone but I need a plan OR I won’t get out of bed to run:
Jan 16 – Naples Half Marathon – Naples, Fla.
Feb 5 – Polar Cap 4 mi Run – Lake George, NY
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
Apr 23 – Lake George Half Marathon
May 1 – Literacy 5k – Troy, NY
May 8 – Mother’s Day 3.5 mi Race – Delmar, NY
May 22 – SPAC 5k Rock & Run – Saratoga, NY
Jun 4 – Freihofer’s Run for Women (5K) – Albany, NY
Jun 11 – OK 5K – Kinderhook, NY
Jun 25 – Valley Cats Home Run 5K – Troy, NY
You can see I’ve added some new races.
Once it gets warm and the days get longer…I think it will be warm by July, I may change my long runs to during the week. That way, if I want to do another Half Marathon, it’s won’t interfere with 5k Sat races or weekend boating plans.
There are 3 HM possibilities:
Happy Running!
After 12 weeks of training and anticipation, it’s OVER!!
I signed up for a Half Marathon, I trained for it, I ran it and met all my Goals.
What’s Next?
No, not a Marathon!!!!!!!!!
But I’m the kind of runner that needs goals.
I have always planned my weekly runs based on an upcoming race. When you run only 5ks (I ran 21 in 3 yrs!!), it’s not too difficult. I ran 2-3 times during the week (3 miles at a time) and ran a 5k on the weekend (almost every weekend from May-Oct).
I really enjoyed the 5ks and tried to improve each time. I met a lot of great people. But at age 57, how much faster can I get?? (I’ve improved my PR from 37 something to 27 something)
I ran a Half Marathon.
On the weekends, I had added a long run of 6-12 miles to my 2-3 weekly 3 mile runs.
This is my dilemma…the 5k races don’t really fit into another Half Marathon training. I can add on the extra miles from time to time but it’s not the same as a real Long Run.
What do I do???
What I am sure of is:
But’s Monday and it’s time for this week’s goals:
Last week update:
I ran only 6 miles (but I was resting after my Half Marathon)
This week’s schedule:
Mon – tennis
Tues – tennis
Wed – FleetFeet workshop
Thurs – mall w/bff
Fri – gala in LG
Sat – tennis dinner
Sun – cards w/friends
This week’s running:
Tues– 3 miles before work
Wed – 4 miles after work
Thurs – 3 miles after work
Sun: 5 miles
Weekly Running Goal = 15 miles
January Monthly Running Goal = 50 miles, a half marathon
Yearly Running Goal = 1011 miles
Happy Running!
Sun, Jan 23
Sun, Jan 16
The pictures tell it all!!!
I haven’t run all week. I got back late Wed. eve. Too tired to get up Thurs, it snowed 5 in Fri am. Thurs eve, I had signed up for a Garmin class at Fleet Feet & Fri eve, I played Mah Jongg.
Yesterday, it was freezing but I had no excuse so I dragged myself to the gym and ran 3 sweaty slow miles while watching the latest episode of The Good Wife.
Today although, it was 10 degrees and below 0 with the wind chill, I got dressed with a multitude of layers and planned to run a race at UAlbany, the HMRRC Winter Series #4. I was hoping to see fellow blogger AJH who was running there. I got dressed and went into the garage and saw that my car was gone. My stepson’s car had died & my husband lent him his truck and so my husband went to play tennis & took mine!!! Sorry AJH!
Since I was dressed and ready to run, I went out in my neighborhood and ran 3 miles. No sidewalks and the roads were not heavily traveled on so it was quite slippery. Maybe I need to buy Yak Trax. Anyway, I tried to run in the middle of road where there were tire tracks, however every time a car came, I had to stop & move off the road into several inches of snow. I didn’t fall and even with all the stopping, it was still faster and more enjoyable than the treadmill.
Happy Running!
The next day I had to pinch myself because I was not sore. Did I really run a Half Marathon? I found my medal and smiled!!!
my bling
We decided that we would go for a long walk while the weather was good. (They had predicted showers for the afternoon).
First we headed down 9th St No (or Rte 41) to the Porsche/Bentley/Mazerati car dealer. My hubby LOVES cars!!
Then we turned down a street that went toward the Gulf and walked through the neighborhoods.
It started to cloud up so I decided that it would be a good idea to take a trolley tour so my hubby could see ALL parts of Naples and learn about the history of the town (and stay dry in case it started to rain.)
We bought lunch in Tin City while we were waiting. I even found a bar that sold my favorite drink, a CHELADA!!! (it’s Bud light & clamato juice – sounds gross but I love it!)
We had a really nice time and when we got back to the hotel, it started to rain. So we sat on the balcony and chatted with our neighbors (from Ohio.)
Tonite I made reservations to go out to celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary. (It actually was yesterday but I was afraid I would be dead after the race!!)
We went to my favorite spot on the Gulf, the Turtle Club, at Vanderbuilt beach). It was still raining and overcast when we got there so it wasn’t crowded and they gave us a table looking out onto the beach.
Then suddenly, it cleared up and the sunset was awesome!!!
After the sun had set, we enjoyed our dinner.
a turtletini - yum!
anniversary key lime pie
After dinner, we walked around Fifth Avenue and even, had ice cream.
When I got up the next day, I though about running but opted to be cautious and REST!!
We decided to go to the Naples Dock, walk around the Bayfront area and eat in Tin City and then take a boat ride on the Naples Princess.
Bayfront area
After the boat ride, we headed to the beach to soak up the sun on our last day.
On the way to the airport, we drove through some more sections of the city for one last look.
Pelican Bay
Fifth Ave
When we got to the airport, I found out that our flight from Charlotte to Albany was cancelled due to an ice storm. We ended up getting a beautiful suite at the Hilton (distressed rate of $89) for the night and then had a huge breakfast at the hotel.
We arrived home that night to snow and frigid temps!!!!
But all is good. I AM A HALF MARATHONER!!!
Happy Running!
My First 5K and More... 
