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Weather and Running

I was running after work because I could do more miles and didn’t have to rush.

This week, I’ve switched to getting up early and running at 7 am.  I am able to get in 3.5 miles. I even almost make to work on time.

The big difference is the humidity.  On Monday, it was super humid and I had one of my worst runs.  I stopped at least once every 1/4 mile and finished in over 42 minutes.  I never run fast on my own. My 3.5 race time was 33 minutes!  But 42 minutes!?

Today, there was no humidity and I felt GREAT during my run.  I finished in 37 minutes!! Five minutes faster than Monday with only a few walking breaks.

If you look at the weekend forecast, the cool dry weather is ending….but I will be on vacation Sat-Tues and hope to complete my runs by jumping into Lake George. 🙂

Happy Running!

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Mid Year Report Card

Six months have passed since I set my goals.  It’s time to take a look and see how I’ve done:

  • lower my 5K PR – B – I lowered it from 29:30 to 29:21 to 28:42 – hope to go lower
  • run a 5k under 29 minutes – B – one race at 28:42 – hope to have more
  • win my age group at least once – C – I came in 2nd & got a medal for Metroland 5k but there were only 19 racers, came in 2nd for Literacy 5k but 4th in10 yr groups, game in 2nd for Valley Cats 5K & got a cap
  • run new races – A – So far I have run 6 new ones with a few more planned
  • run on the treadmill all winter (3x week) – A – I joined a gym & ran all winter (at least 3x a week)
  • run a longer distance on the treadmill (more than 2.75 mi) – A – I ran 5K most of the time and even ran a 10K
  • motivate some of my friends to run – Fail – but I ran with a new runners group
  • increase the distance of my training runs (more than 3mi) at least once a week – A – I run 3.5 miles often and have run 4 or 5 mile on occasion
  • run at least 15 races – I – I have run 9 so far but most of my races are to come
  • run a 5k in another state (preferably Fla next fall) – Fail – this may not be possible this year
  • take more running pics – A – I have taken lots of photos (even learned to use the timer on my camera) & post on this blog & on facebook
  • keep track of how many miles I run this year – A – I record every mile I run on this blog, dailymile.com & on a tickerfactory.com ticker

Happy Running!

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Two for Tuesday

  1. Look what I won from an Endurance isn’t Only Physical blog giveaway – Ryders sunglasses!!!!!!!
  2. This sounds dorky but I ‘m excited about my new running friend – we met at the Valley Cats 5k and have become Facebook friends, exchanged several e-mails, and have signed up to do a race together (July 24 – Silk & Satins).  We are in the same age 10 yr group, were both French majors in college.  She wants me to a 10k with her….maybe some day!

Happy Running!

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Brain Exchange #14 & it’s Monday…Goals

Click HERE to participate.

Topic: Give-A-Ways- Love Em or Hate Em

Question: What are your thoughts on give-a-ways?  Do you enter them often?  What entices you to enter or turns you off from entering?  Have you run your own give-a-ways?

I love them.

I enter only those that offer items that I’d like to win. I always post the giveaways on my blog and on twitter (if required) but I do not post on Facebook – there are enough items that appear on people’s  Facebook news items & I don’t want to add to it.

Giveaways have given me opportunities to learn about new running products and they have introduced me to bloggers that I wouldn’t otherwise found.

I have been lucky to win some cool things.   I have never run my own giveaway.  I don’t think I have enough readers and a vendor hasn’t offered me anything to review and give away (Hint! Hint!)

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 10.5 miles. I did 13!!!
I ran in a 5K race! I came in 2nd in my age group!

This week’s schedule:
Monday – friend’s b-day dinner
Tuesday – tennis after work
Wed – tennis after work
Thursday – tennis before work, hair appt
Friday –  Census job after work, mah jong
Saturday & Sunday- boating on Lake George island

This week’s running :
Monday  – 3 miles before work
Wednesday – 3  miles before work – LAST DAY OF THE MONTH!
Friday – 3 miles before work
Sunday – 4 miles (while at the marina)

Weekly Running Goal = 14 miles
JUNE Monthly Running Goal = 54 miles
JULY Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles

Happy Running & have a great week!

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Sunday Funday

I’ve recuperated from my Saturday race and parties.

Today was my day to skip running and spent time with my hubby & my mentee.  I was fortunate to be able to do both at the same time.  We spent the day on our boat on Lake George and it didn’t rain until we were putting it away. YAY!!

On second thought, running after a 3 year old should count as running. I am exhausted!

Happy Running!

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Valley Cats Home Run 5K

Take me out to the ball park! Take me out to the crowd … This race began and ended at the home of the ValleyCats, a local baseball team that plays at Joe Bruno Stadium in Troy, NY, on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College.

Joe Bruno Stadium

I’ve never done this race before but I had heard that it was hilly, but fun. Amanda was doing it too. We agreed to meet before the race.

Again I had a sleepless headachey night and woke up nauseous and exhausted. I felt better after coffee and headed off early to the race. Amanda wasn’t there when I arrived. I  found some new friends & we took each other’s pictures.

new running friends – Kelly & Mary

me before the race

I found Amanda right before the start.  The race began with a steep hill.  I was tired after that.  Amanda had a great pace and I soon lost her.  The course continued to be one hill after  another.  I finally relented around mile 2 and walked a bit.

My mile 1 time was 9:30 so I knew I was not on a PR pace on this course.  I felt better after my walking stint.  The race ended by running around the inside of the ball park.  The finish was shown on the marquee screen in the outfield if anyone was watching.

I was surprised that I could finish under 30 minutes so I sprinted as fast as I could.  I did it – not a PR but under 30 minutes!! 29:40!

I went back to my car to get my camera & bumped into my 2 new friends and an ICE CREAM truck – They gave out free ice cream and 4 tickets toThursday’s Valley Cats game.

They were happy with their times

so was I

Yum

I finally caught up with Amanda after the race.  She had a PR!  Yay Amanda!! I had an ice cream cone! Yay me!

me & Amanda after the race

In addition to a tee shirt, we got 4 free tix to an August Valley Cats game and the refreshments were hot dogs, bagels, cookies, watermelon…

We hung around for the awards.  I was lucky & came in 2nd place in my age group!!! I won a baseball cap.

Again, I’m glad I did the race and can’t wait for the next one…

On to the rest of the day’s activities: gardening and 2 parties!!!

Happy Running and enjoy your weekend!

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Friday and a Small World

There was an article in our local newspaper recently about a girl named Laura who was the youngest to complete 50 marathons in 50 states.  She’s not even 25. In fact, the almost-25-year-old completed 55 marathons in just over two years.  (You can read about it HERE.) I was impressed! And she’s from my area.

She was even on NBCNews. (Watch HERE!)

I told my best friend (since college in 1974) about Laura and she said: “That’s Danielle (her daughter)’s friend Skwig!”  They went to high school together and then Cornell.  They both even lived in NYC.

Small World!

Then today, I was looking over my Blogroll and clicked on a blog that I hadn’t read lately – Absolute(ly) Fit.  This was one of the first blogs that I subscribed to when I started running in April 2008. (You can read her blog HERE.) Yes, you guessed it – it was Laura’s blog.

Small World!

Back to me and running:

They say a bad run is always followed by a good run.

I hope so.  I had a lousy run yesterday!!!!  I didn’t run in the morning and then it rained on and off all day.  It was humid and I had a headache all day.  When I got home from work, it had stopped raining so out I went.  It felt like I had never run before.  I had to walk at least once every 1/4 mile…finally finished 3.5 painful miles in 42 minutes.

I had a headache all nite and barely slept at all.  My husband subbed for me in tennis this morning.  My headache is finally gone but I still feel tired & nauseous.  I am skipping Mah Jongg tonite and resting up for my 5K race tomorrow.

Happy Running and good luck to all those racing this weekend!

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Three Things Thursday

  1. Never believe the weather forecast. I was planning to run this morning but the weather forecast was for rain overnight and into the morning so I didn’t set my alarm for 6 am.  I got up at 7 am this morning and NO RAIN. I’ll have to run this afternoon in the heat and humidity instead. That is, if it doesn’t rain!
  2. I’m excited about the ValleyCats 5K this Saturday.  The weather is supposed to be cloudy and in the high 60’s – PERFECT! I think it’s hilly so I’ll try for a PR in one of my many upcoming 5ks.
  3. There’s a 10 mile race this Sunday – Lake George to Bolton Landing and a 10k/Half in Lake George on Aug 7… someday (maybe)!!!!!!

Happy Running!


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Wednesday & End of the Year Mentors Picnic

I’ve mentioned many times that when I’m not playing tennis or running, I am spending time with the girl I mentor and her 3 yr old son. Tonite was our annual picnic.  Unfortunately 4 of the mentees (including mine) couldn’t attend.  It was nice to see the girls, their kids & the other mentors.  The organization (Mentors & Moms)  is losing most of their funding so we talked about how to continue.  It will change to a volunteer organization with hopefully donations to fund some of the activities and the 2 organizers’ duties will be shared by the mentors.

Here are pics of those who came:

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I skipped running for this but it was worth it.

Happy Running!

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Tuesday & Cancellations

  1. Monday tennis match – cancelled – opponent couldn’t play.  I won by default 6-0, 6-0
  2. Tuesday tennis – cancelled – rain. We went out to dinner instead.
  3. Thursday – Census job – cancelled – not enough work. I willl get together with a friend.

Now about running:

I could have run Monday after work but it was hot & I was tired from the weekend.  So I got up early today and ran 3.5 miles.  It is so nice to start off the day with a run. The weather was perfect. I plan to do the same on Thursday unless it rains then I’ll run after work.  My next 5k race is Saturday – Valley Cats Homerun 5k.

Happy Running!