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Chi Running & New Sneakers

Tuesday after 2 days resting my aching feet, I went to FleetFeet with the Saucony ProGrid Omnis (that I used to wear all the time & wore during my 12 mi run) and my Mizuno WaveRider 12s (that I was saving for the half).

Verdict:

  • Sauconys are worn & not appropriate for running longer distances
  • Mizunos run smaller than Sauconys & are 1/2 size too small.

I tried on Mizuno Waverider 14s, another pair of Saucony (similar to Mizunos) and a pair of Brooks.  All felt great. It was hard to choose but my gut feeling was to buy the Mizunos. So I did.

I tried them on the treadmill for 3 miles yesterday – no pain.  (Well, it was painful but not on my feet.)

This morning, although it was 20 degrees (10 with the windchill), I layered up and took my sneaks on the road – 4 miles – felt great!! Woo Hoo!

Tonite I went back to FleetFeet for the workshop described below.  My tennis friend/runner, MaryPat came too..

FleetFeet sponsored this workshop:

Does a simple walk tire you? Are you afraid to run because of past injuries? Want to get moving but don’t know how? Attend this interactive seminar to learn how ChiWalking and ChiRunning techniques, based on the principles of Tai Chi, can help you run or walk with increased energy efficiency and fewer injuries. Discover how focusing on your posture and relaxing your limbs can give you a burst of energy, without that post-workout slump.

The cartoon below about sums it up:

It was an excellent workshop. The teacher was very hands on.  We got up and down and tried everything she taught.  She critiqued each of us individually.  She also looked at our feet and told us to email her for personal  exercises.

Basically it’s:  posture, lean, loose ankles.  It’s supposed to prevent injuries and make running seem effortless.  I’m not sure I can do it but I’m going to try tomorrow (if it doesn’t snow).

Happy (Chi) Running!

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McMillan..McSchmillan

Someone mentioned that the McMillan Calculator can help you  figure out what your finish time & pace would be at different races.  So I tried it.

It says to put in your best time at a distance you run (which is 5k for me).  Here’s the results:

No way I will finish 13.1 miles in 2:07:07!!!

So I put in my average time over the course of my 5ks.  Here’s the results:

2:18:40? I don’t think so but it would be nice.

Then I put in the pace I think  I will run a 5k at this distance.  Here’s the results:

2:37:10. Now that’s more like it!!

Of course, I didn’t need the McMillan Calculator  to predict that!

Happy Running!

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It’s a Small World

It’s 11 days til my half marathon so I logged onto the website and checked out the list of participants and what did I find???

What are the odds that someone from Albany, NY (where I work & near where I live) is running a half in Naples, Florida??

So what did I do?  I googled him, of course.  I found the website where he works and it turns out that he lives in Albany, is originally from LI and is an avid Mets fan.  JUST LIKE ME!!!!!

Cool and the site had a chat room and he was even online at the time!!! We had a great online conversation!!! It is his first half marathon.  Hs wife is going but doesn’t run.  He normally does not run in the winter but thought this would motivate him.  He plans on running a 12 min mile (normally he runs 5ks at a faster pace) and his only goal is to finish!!

Who does that sound like??

 He ran 12 mi on Sun and is now tapering…. We exchanged phone numbers and hopefully we’ll meet up at the race.

Speaking of tapering…I’m giving my aching feet a rest & rethinking the shoes.  I’m playing tennis in the evenings and plan to return to running Wed. Thurs, Fri for short runs and then 8 mi on Sunday.

Happy Running!

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New Year, New Month, New Week

Recaps:

2010 – My goal was to run 300 miles and I ran 678.5 miles – Woo Hoo!
2011 – I have a lofty goal of 2011 miles – it’ll be fun trying!

December – My goal was 70 miles, a 5K race, half marathon training and I ran a month high total of 95 miles, ran two 5k races, hosted a giveaway, won 2 giveaways, and completed week 10 of  HM training – YAY!!

Last week – my goal was 24 miles and I ran 24 miles!!

This week’s schedule:
Mon – tennis
Tues – tennis
Wed – Mentor meeting
Thurs – ChiRunning workshop at FleetFeet
Fri – Mah Jongg
Sat – dinner & cards w/friends

This week’s running:
Wed– 3 miles 
Thurs – 4 miles 
Fri – 4  miles 
Sun – 8  miles

Weekly Running Goal = 19 miles
January  Monthly Running Goal = 50 miles, a half marathon

Yearly Running Goal = 1011 miles

Happy Running!

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It’s Over…Back to Work Tomorrow!!

Parties are over for awhile!

Last Wed, we had our annual tennis party – with lots of food, entertainment and a Chinese grab bag…(I got a martini glass & shaker.)

Thursday, I went out to dinner with a friend and then to play Mah Jongg.

Friday, I went out to lunch with friends and then for New Year’s Eve, we went out with some friends in Lake George – we had champagne, hors d’oeuvres, more champagne, dinner, danced and then more champagne…

I played tennis and danced Friday – that’s cross-training, right?

Yesterday was a recovery day. NO EXERCISE!!! My hubby & I went to the movies to see The King’s  Speech. It was really good!!! (I Love Colin Firth).  Then we went out to dinner.

Today was my last LONG run before my HM, my longest run EVER , my first run of 2011, and my first long run with my Garmin!!!

12 on 1-2! in 2:22 

 It was difficult but I survived— my feet hurt the whole time (I wasn’t wearing my Mizunos but my Saucony) – painful every step of the way.  It was almost 40 degrees and when the sun came out and the wind was at my back, I was warm and then when the sun went in and I was running into the wind, it was chilly.  I took it slow and whenever I was tired or running uphill, I walked.  It wasn’t about time, it was about stamina. I wanted to see if I ran/walked,  would I still be under 2:45.

I think I can do it!!

Feet don’t let me down now!!!

Update

 

 wk 1 – 18 miles – long run – 8
wk 2 – 21 miles – long run – 9
wk 3 – 11 miles – long run – 8 (strained quads)
wk 4 – 12 miles – long run – 3 (on vacation)
wk 5 – 18 miles – long run – 8.5
wk 6 – 21 miles – long run – 9
wk 7 – 21 miles – long run – 10 * (without stopping)
wk 8 – 22 miles – long run – 9 * (without stopping)
wk 9 – 23 miles – long run – 11
wk 10 – 24 miles – long run -12*
wk 11
wk 12

TWO  WEEKS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Running in 2011!

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Welcome 2011!


First, let’s look at my 2010 Running Goals:

  1. lower my 5K PR———YES! from 29:30 to 28:42 to 27:12
  2. run a 5k under 29 minutes——-YES! 4 times
  3. win my age group at least once——YES! on 11/11/10
  4. run new races——-YES! 11 out of 21 were new races
  5. run on the treadmill all winter (3x week)——YES! (unless I could run outside)
  6. run a longer distance on the treadmill (more than 2.75 mi)——– YES! up to 6 mi.
  7. motivate some of my friends to run————YES! 2 that started with me, stopped & are now running again
  8. increase the distance of my training runs (more than 3mi) at least once a week————– YES! 6-12 mi
  9. run at least 15 races———–YES! I ran 21 races
  10. run a 5k in another state (preferably Fla next fall)————–NO!!! but I signed up for a half in Florida in 2 weeks
  11. take more running pics—————— YES!  I took a photo at almost every race.
  12. keep track of how many miles I run this year————-YES! I counted  every run on this blog, dailymile.com & tickerfactory meter

SO 11 out of 12 ain’t bad!!!

And now my 2011 Running Goals:

  1. lower my 5K PR
  2. run 5ks under 28 minutes
  3. win my age group
  4. run new races
  5. run at least one race each month
  6. run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside)
  7. run a longer race than 5k (4 mi, 5 mi or 10K)
  8. run a half marathon race
  9. run at least 15 races
  10. run  a race in another state
  11. volunteer at a race
  12. take running pics & post on FB & this blog
  13. keep track of how many miles I run this year

I don’t think they are too ambitious… many are similar to last year’s…some are brand new.

Happy Running! Good Luck setting your goals!

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2010 Running in Review

                2009——-2010

  • Jan – 0 mi——38 mi
  • Feb – 0 mi——44 mi
  • Mar – 0 mi——53 mi
  • Apr – 12 mi—–47 mi
  • May – 19 mi—-53 mi
  • Jun – 12 mi—–55 mi
  • July – 23 mi—-54 mi
  • Aug – 33 mi—-45.5 mi
  • Sept – 33 mi—-59.5 mi
  • Oct – 31 mi—–68.5 mi
  • Nov – 17 mi—-66 mi
  • Dec – 29 mi—–95  mi
               209 mi —– 678.5 mi

    •  

    RACES

          2008—–2009—–2010

  • Jan – 0——0——-0
  • Feb – 0——0—— 0
  • Mar – 0 ——0——1
  • Apr – 1——-0—-  —1
  • May – 2——4——4
  • Jun – 1——–1——-3
  • July – 2——-0—–1
  • Aug – 1——–3——2
  • Sept – 3——-3——3
  • Oct – 3——–4——2
  • Nov – 0——-1——2
  • Dec – 0——-1——-2   

    •                 13——-17——21

    Yup, I’m running more!!!!! and I love it!

     
                     lst in AG

    Happy Running!  Happy New Year!

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    2010 in Photos

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    I tried to select one photo for each month (which was very difficult).  Not all are running-related but of course, most are.

    Highlights of the year:

    • 21 races
    • 5K PR
    • Running almost 700 miles
    • Training for a Half Marathon
    • New running friends
    • a great boating season in Lake George
    • playing on a great tennis team
    • 2 tennis vacations in Florida

    Happy Running! Hope you had a great year too!

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    Wednesday Winning & Buying

    Look what I won from Running to Health! The BondiBand will be perfect to wear during my 2 Dec races next year. The Sports Beans are something I’ve wanted to try during my long runs. Thanks Stephanie.

    I returned the Garmin Forerunner 110 that my husband bought me for Christmas.  It was $265 at Dick’s and it wasn’t what I wanted.  I bought the Garmin Forerunner 205 from Walmart.com for $114.

    Unlike AJH, I do not like the cold or running in the snow. So yesterday I went to the gym and ran 4 slow miles on the treadmill.  It was nice not to have to rush out before work. It was 10am before I got going!! I watched The Good Wife on my iPod. I decided to rent episodes from the lst season of Glee to watch next.  I feel out of the loop not having ever watched the show.

    Today, it is warmer and I hope the sidewalks are shoveled because I’m heading outside…

    Happy Running!  I can’t wait to try my Garmin!!!!

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    Tagged, Sorta

    I haven’t been personally tagged (I don’t have that many followers) so I’ve tagged myself.

    1. What are you most proud of accomplishing in 2010?

    Running wise – I’m most proud of  lowering my 5K time.   I’ve finished under 28 minutes!! (That’s 10 minutes faster than my lst in 2008.)  I also have run consistently all year – completing more than 600 miles.

    Non Running – My USTA 3.0 tennis team competed in State Sectionals.  I won my doubles match in the playoff and in the regionals (which was crucial to our team).

    2.  What are your goals for 2011?

     First I want to run a half  marathon!! I also want to run in different races in addition to lots of 5ks – 4mi, 5mi, 10k. Of course, I want to stay remain injury-free

    3.  What is your favorite race?

    There are several.  Our Towne Turkey Trot was one because it was a 5k PR – 27:12 and it was so unexpected!! Another favorite was the Freihofer Race for Women because I was part of a group of 1st time racers and it was so exciting to train with them and see them do the race. I also enjoyed the Silks & Satins 5K because I met fellow bloggert, AJH. Of course, I loved winning lst place in my age group at the Veteran’s Day 5k. Lastly, the Home Run 5k because I met Mary who I’ve raced with several times since and has become my biggest fan & she mine.

    4. What is your most embarrassing running moment?

    I’ve had no real embarrassing moments yet. There was only the Great Pumpkin 10K that didn’t happen because I got sick right before & ended up in the ER. It was going to be my first long distance race.

    Anyone who hasn’t been tagged, tag yourself.  I would love to hear your answers.

    Happy Running!  Do you have a lot of snow?