by

Monday Goals & I’m on Break!

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 23 miles. I did   23 miles! Yay!
I won a giveaway – an iPod Shuffle

This week’s schedule: (off all week)
Mon – tennis
Tues – tennis
Wed – tennis party
Thurs – movie w/friend
Fri – tennis, New year’s eve in LG
Sat – New Year’s in LG

Monday am - 14" snow

This week’s running:
Tues– 4 miles 
Wed – 5 miles 
Fri – 4  miles 
Sun – 12 miles?? New Month & New Year!

Weekly Running Goal = 25 miles
December Monthly Running Goal = 70 miles, a 5k race, half marathon training schedule

Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it, New Goal is 600 and I passed it too!!!!)

Happy Running! Did you get any snow??

by

Why does it get harder?

Two weeks ago, I ran 10 miles – my first non-stop long run.  It took me about 1 hr 50 minutes – 11 min pace.  It was sunny & 40 degrees. I felt great afterwards.

Today, I went for a 11 mile run and it was horrible – it felt like 26.2!!! I was dragging… I felt like I would die!  It took me about 2 hrs 20 minutes…everything ached!! It was cloudy, 19 degrees & windy! I was wearing my new sneakers.

What gives?

My half marathon is in 3 weeks so that means 1 more long run and then taper.

I know I can walk & finish the half but you have to complete it in 2:45 in order to get a finisher medal – that’s 12:35 pace.

Today’s run won’t do!!

On a brighter note:

Christmas was good.  My hubby & I went to the movies Christmas Eve.  We saw True Grit – the remake was pretty good.

True Grit

I spent Christmas  morning with my mentee & her son exchanging gifts.

Richard & his new race car set

Then we went to Lake George in the afternoon. We had dinner, watched old movies, played pool…always a fun time!

 
dinner with the lg gang

 
me & my hubby

Our gifts were supposed to be our trip to Florida – my hubby visiting his sister & me to Naples for the HM. But he didn’t listen, he got me:

It’s the Garmin Forerunner 110.  If I were to get one, I would get the Forerunner 205 (or 305 or 405). He isn’t a runner and had no idea.  I’m going to return it.  It’s the thought that counts!!!

Happy Running! Hope your Christmas was Merry!

by

Merry Christmas

I just got this card in the mail and I love it!!! Thanks Erica!

So far, I’ve kept my promise to run outside – 4 miles yesterday (not so good) and 3 miles today (better). It’s been cold & windy but a welcome relief from the gym’s treadmill.

I stumbled into Mizuno Wave Alchemy 9 running shoes yesterday while I was out Christmas shopping.  $100, reduced to $69 and then 1/2 prize.  Can’t beat that!  I usually wear Mizuno Wave Rider 12’s but they felt good on my run today.  The test will be Sunday when I will run 9-11 miles!

Happy Running!  Happy Holidays!

by

My First Giveaway Winner & My Unscheduled Running

and the winner is….

Bikini Mommy – Congratulations!! E-mail me (dsc59@nycap.rr.com) your address so I can mail your items to you.

As I mentioned yesterday, I am on vacation til Jan 3, 2011!  I can leisurely RUN whenever and wherever I want! No schedules!!

What the forecast for today doesn’t show is: Wind: NW 20-30 MPH but I am planning to run 4-5 miles outdoors in Delmar today, 3-4 miles in Albany tomorrow, rest on Christmas Day and do my long run (9-11 miles) in Albany on Sunday —at whatever time I feel like it…

Happy Running!

by

Racing Advice

Lesley from Racing It Off was recently a featured runner on Run, Courtney, Run’s blog.  This piece of advice will hopefully help me complete my first half marathon.

She was asked: What is the best piece of running advice you ever received?

She responded: If you don’t think you can go that far, then slow down.  With many of my friends that start, it seems they are sometimes afraid of being too slow.  Being able to maintain a 13 or 14 min/mile for 3 miles is way more satisfying ultimately than only being able to get through ½ mile at 11 or 12 min/mile..

So today when I was running on the dreaded treadmill, every time, I wanted to quit, I just slowed it down for a while and then sped up and continued.  So it took me 50 minutes to run 4 miles…better than only 2 miles at a faster pace.

Now I know that during a 5k race, this won’t happen.  I am too competitive.  But during my first Half Marathon, a distance that I don’t know if I can complete, I will run SLOW and walk OFTEN.  My pace won’t matter.  I WANT TO FINISH!!

Finishing=Winning!

On another note, today is my last day of work until Jan. 3, 2011!!! I am home blogging because we have a power failure won’t open til noon!!! YAY!!!

I plan to run outside (if possible) and continue my Half Marathon training, play tennis, read, go to the movies, shop….(Pretend that I am retired!!!)

Happy Running! Today is the last day for my giveaway!!!

by

I Won an Ipod Shuffle!!!

Something in Your Stocking Giveaway from 26.2 is my cool down  –

Comments – This was the easiest way to enter the contest and I was a little surprised at the number of people who did not take advantage of this one. To enter, all you had to do was comment on one of the posts on this blog. There were a total of 208 comments made between the time I posted the contest and last Friday at midnight. I input 1 to 208 into the random number generator and this is what I got back:

26.2ismycooldown.com

This iPod Shuffle was won by Darlene C. who runs the My First 5K blog. In reading her blog for a few moments this morning, you owe it to yourself to read up on what she does in her free time. She is mentoring a young single mother right now. I think that is super cool. She has been emailed and I hope she claims her prize.

YAY ME!!!

Happy Running and Happy Winter Solstice (More Daylight!!!)

by

Brain Exchange #23 & Monday Goals

This week’s question:  Write a poem (any kind works) that sums up your 2010 year of racing. 

Answer:

There once was a runner named Darlene
     Who at every 5k race could be seen.
            Then she started to wonder
     If at longer runs she would blunder.
            So she signed up for a 10k
     But that day she did not feel ok.
Give up, she did not
And PRed at a Turkey Trot.
Now her goal for 2011:
Run a Half at age 57!!

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 22 miles. I did   22 miles! Yay!
I ran a 5K. (under 30 minutes!)

This week’s schedule:
Mon – tennis
Tues – tennis
Thurs – off from work
Fri – off from work, tennis, mah jongg
Sat – Xmas in LG

This week’s running:
Wed – 4 miles  after work
Thurs – 4 miles
Fri – 4 miles 
Sun – 11 miles

Weekly Running Goal = 23 miles
December Monthly Running Goal = 70 miles, a 5k race, half marathon training schedule

Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it, New Goal is 600 and I passed it too!!!!)

Happy Running!

by

Gift & Card Exchange and Half Marathon Training Updates

I got this charm in the mail.  I assume it’s from my secret buddy on Run with Jill’s Blogger Gift Exchange.  I don’t who it is…but a sincere THANK YOU.  I love it!!

My secret buddy will get hers soon.  I promise to mail it tomorrow!!

I mailed cards to my 3 matches in Finishing is Winning’s  Blogger Card Exchange.  So far, I have received one.

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)

Today’s long run was after a 5k race last nite.  I was tired.  The first 4.5 were fine but then I was dragging & walked off and on during  the last 4.5.

So……FOUR WEEKS TO GO!!! 

Happy Running! Don’t forget my giveaway that ends 12/22!

by

Albany Last Run 5K Race Report

Another new race for me. My first night race also. The route features a beautiful course through Capital Holiday Lights in Washington Park and a spectacular fireworks show so I thought it was be fun.  Even though today was my long run day, I wanted to be fresh for the race so I’ll do it tomorrow.

My blogger friend Amanda had signed up as well as my friend Mary. The race sold out at 1200 several weeks ago and I was glad I signed up early.

My hubby came and we got there early so waited inside where it was warm.

Before the race

Yes, I look like a giant pumpkin.  This was a Holiday race, why did they choose ORANGE? It was a nice wind shirt, though.

At 4:45 pm, we went outside for the fireworks display.  It lasted 15 minutes which seemed like forever when you are cold and anxious to run a race.

Then all of a sudden, they ended and I heard the mayor say “Start.” I was just watching the fireworks with my hubby and nowhere near the start.

I took off like a flash and tried to fight my way through the crowd and get into the race.  I even had to go on the sidewalk.  Obviously I lost a lot of time here but this was such a fun race, I didn’t mind.

It wasn’t cold.  In fact, I felt over dressed with my layers, hat & gloves.  Many of the racers were dressed as elves, Santas, etc.  We ran through the park which was  decorated with light displays.  I had recently  seen it through my car window but this was so much better.


The route was rather hilly, not steep ones but annoying ones.  I felt like I was running at a good pace all the same and taking in the scenery.

The mile 1 marker read 9:40 which wasn’t bad after the late start but mile 2 said 21:50 .  That’s slow, I said to myself but there were lots of hills.  Then all of a sudden, the race seem to be nearing the end. So that wasn’t really mile 2 – how deceiving!

The race which started uphill now ended downhill – Hooray!  I crossed at 29:15. Two minutes slower than my recent 5k PR but still a good effort! (I came in 456 out of 1200….4th in my AG)

After the race, I had been invited online to have drinks with 2 Daily Mile.com racers.  So I stopped by the restaurant. It was fun meeting them in person.  We chatted about running, of course.

So my year of racing has ended.  21 races in 2010!

Happy Running!

by

Busy Time of Year

for blogger card exchange

Things have been so busy lately that I almost forgot my hair appointment for this afternoon.  I was bummed when they called to remind me because I had planned to run 4 miles outside after work. 

 Instead I had to drag myself to the gym this morning to run on the treadmill.  It has snowed last nite & I’m still nervous about slipping & falling.  Actually running on the treadmill was a little better than the last 2 times but I know that I can’t do my long runs on it.

Dilemma:

I signed up for a 5k  on Sat nite – it should be fun but will it be slippery??? Will everyone be wearing Yak Trax?  Should I do my long run first & then do the race or wait til Sunday to do my long run?? (The weather is supposed to be better on Sat. but I don’t want to be tired for the race.)

I wish I weren’t so competitive.  I would just run and have fun…

Lucky for me, it’s just me & my hubby so there’s not much to do…just a little decorating which is done…a little baking (this Sun!)… and a little shopping (next week).

My cards have been sent… (We took these photos on lake George this past summer.)

Happy Running!  Stay warm! Don’t forget my Marathon Giveaway!