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Silks & Satins 5K Race Report

This was my 3rd year running in this race so I knew where the race was and that it was a flat course. I was pretty excited since I usually run alone but this race I was meeting 2 women — one who I met at my last race and one who I’ve only met online – both started running in their 50’s so we have a connection!!!

It had rained all night and when I left my house it was  very HUMID.  I was surprised that at 6:45 am it was already 72 degrees – Oh No!!

This 5k coincides with the opening of the Saratoga Racetrack which draws people from all over the world. I got there early enough to find parking.  Last year there were about 1200 people but this year only 800 or so…the weather??

I looked for AJH and luckily for cell phones, we found each other before the start.


Then I found Mary, as well.

AJH & I started near the front.  Since the clock starts when the first runners leaves, I don’t like to hang back.  Mary, however, headed toward the back.

I quickly lost AJH.  I knew that I couldn’t keep her pace. My first mile, however, was faster than it should have been in this weather (under 9 min).  I think I continued to get slower each mile, as a result. This is a flat course so I was hoping to PR.  As I approached the finish line, I saw 29… and  I was disappointed.  I wished I had kept my mile 1 pace & didn’t walk at the water stop.  My final time was 29:34.  At least I was under 30 minutes and faster than last year 🙂

There was a lot of food at this race but I was too hot to eat much. I found AJH who had a SUPER race. (26 minutes os so) Her fastest 5k this year!! She is amazing!!!

We hung around for the awards.  There were a lot of  FAST runners at this race (esp. in our age group).  AJH came in 6th and I came in 10th so no awards for us…  I never found Mary but I spoke to her on the phone later.  (She felt sick and was disappointed at her 31 minute time so left right away.)

AJH & I hung around for awhile watching the horses warm up and chatting about running. 

She may even have convinced me to run a longer race some day… Hopefully, we will connect again for another race in NY or VT…(Check out her blog for her race report.)

Mary & I made plans to run together this Friday and she signed up to do the Fasig Tipton 5k with me on Aug. 7.  She wants to do a 5k in under 30 min and I want to run a longer race..so I hope we can help each other.

Happy Running and Have a great Weekend!

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Rest Day & 5 Foto Friday

No running…No tennis…I slept til 7a.  It was raining so no lunchtime walk.   I’m playing Mah Jongg tonight and going to bed early.  Tomorrow is RACE DAY!

And now for Five Foto Friday, RunningLaur-style. I love flowers.  Here are some I took Monday in my friend’s garden:

Happy Running and Good Luck to all Those Racing this Weekend!

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3 Things Thursday

 

  1. We had a big storm last night and the rain cooled things down.  I was sick yesterday (headache, nauscea, etc) but I wasn’t going to waste this running weather.  I went out for an easy 3.5 mile run before work.
  2. Tennis is picking up.  My team won both rounds of playoffs and now we play the winner of the Oneonta division in the Regionals on July 31.  If we win, we go to Syracuse to play in the NYS Sectionals Aug 20-22.) Last year our team came in close to last place so the season ended early & I was able to focus on running. )
  3. My next 5k is Saturday. I’m excited because I’ll be meeting 2 other runners before the race and I’ve run this race 2x before. I’m not in peak condition so we’ll see how I’ll do.  Anyway, it should be fun!!

Happy Running and good luck on your weekend races!

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I played…I Lost…We Won…I Ran

From my captain’s email: Aces Wild were victorious tonight!!!

 We beat the number one team, Alley Cats 3-2 in a fierce competition!!  Darlene was really the unsung heroine who played first singles for our team and although losing, put up a great battle against the toughest player on the 3.0 league.  Thanks Darlene for being such a team player and really getting our team to victory!!

Julia held her ground at 2nd singles and blew away her opponent!! Donna and Nancy crushed the 1st doubles team in 2 sets. Karen and Catalina were the lobbing queens and really met their match at 2nd doubles, although losing they played great!!Annie and I had a tough 2 setter against the captains.. Karen Paratta and Deb Lawson, but won in 2 sets and took a definitive lead in the second set at 5–1- ultimately winning at 7-6, 6-3.

Thanks so much to everyone who brought us to this point.  We are all winners!!!!!!

It’s hard to go out and play knowing that the competition is so much better (My opponent even plays at the 3.5 level also).  I am so glad that the strategy worked and our team won!!! (I’m trying not to feel discouraged in not winning myself.)

This morning I got up and ran 3.5 miles before work.  I was actually running to get the frustation from tennis out of my system.  The weather was beautiful (just a little too humid).  I think it worked…

More tennis after work today, tennis tomorrow before & after work.  (Can I master 2 sports????)

Thursday will be my last training run for my 5K race on Saturday.

Happy Running!

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Weekend Recap & Monday Goals

It started Thursday with a reunion with some ladies I used to work with.  We had a picnic and then saw a play in the park – so much fun!!

Friday morning we headed to  Lake George to spend the weekend.  On Saturday we had 15 people on our site!!! The weather was perfect..so was the company (our friends and some Polish cousins, etc.)

Saturday evening I went to visit my tennis friends at Schroon River – it was tennis weekend #1 that I had to miss. (There’ll will be another in August.)

 I also missed the Mentors annual pool party and a blogger meetup in Schenectady & 5k.  Everything got scheduled for the same weekend!

On Sunday, my hubby’s sister & husband who were visiting from Florida came up to the lake. Another great weather day – so lucky this summer!!

The forecast for Monday was showers so even though I had the day off, we decided to head home.

YES!!! I did run 4 MILES in Bolton Landing on Saturday & Sunday mornings!!!!!  It was humid and my runs weren’t spectacular but I always enjoy this alone time as well as the scenery.  It’s my favorite time of the day!!!!!!!!!!

I’m looking forward to my next 5k on Saturday.  It’s one of my favorites and AJH from Age Groups Rock may race it too as well as another runner whom I met at the Valley Cats 5k.  I have been focusing on tennis rather than running so I’m not as prepared as I hoped.  This will be a fun race 🙂

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 14 miles. I did 11.5!!! I slacked off 😦
But I won my USTA doubles match!!!

This week’s schedule:
Monday – USTA tennis playoffs after work
Tuesday – tennis after work
Wed –  tennis before work & tennis after work
Saturday & Sunday- boating on Lake George

This week’s running :
 Tues  – 3.5 miles  before work
 Thursday – 3.5  miles  before work
Saturday – 5K RACE!!

Weekly Running Goal = 10 miles
Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it!!)

Happy Running and enjoy your summer!!

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Virtual Half & Half Race/Run

Boy am I glad I signed up for G’s Virtual 5k  at http://nofsahmof3.blogspot.com/2010/06/virtual-half-half-racerun.html

I hadn’t run since Saturday.  That’s unusual for me.  I usually run every other day.  But sometimes, life gets in the way. This week, it was tennis.

In fact, yesterday morning I was scheduled to play tennis but my husband gladly subbed for me.

He left to play tennis and I had my breakfast (hot cereal & latte) and some H2O.   It was very humid (95%) but not too warm and there was a light breeze.  I grabbed my iPod and set it to 5k and headed out for my favorite morning route – through my neighborhood and out to a main countryish road (fairly flat with a few hills) and then home.

starting my run in front of my house

I felt really strong (maybe I needed those 4 days off) so I went a little farther than 5k – 3.5 miles.  My lungs felt the layoff but my legs were great.  Too bad I had to go to work. My morning run kept me energized all day!!!

Midway through the day, I remembered that I signed up for this Virtual Race!

So here’s my 5k time – 32.30 – not my usual 5k race pace.  I always run slower by myself. I need  others to motivate me to speed up.

Thanks to G for getting me  racing.

Happy Running!

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Running…I’m Back!

Tennis has taken over my life lately. 

Sunday we left early for the lake and returned late. I ran 5 miles on Saturday so it was my rest day, anyway.

My USTA team was in the playoffs on Monday so I didn’t run so I could be rested.  It was worth it since I won & so did my team.

Tuesday am I was too tired to run and then Tuesday evening I went to see Martina Hingis and John Mc Enroe play WTT tennis.  Martina played great and the NYBuzz won its first match of the season.  Johnny Mac did not.

John Mc Enroe playing for the NYSportimes

Wed am it rained and then Wed evening I played tennis with friends. No running for day number 4!!!

This morning I was scheduled to play tennis before work.  I needed to play since the 2nd round of playoff is Monday and I am going to be playing.  We are leaving for 4 days on Lake George tomorrow so it will be my last opportunity to practice.

The runner in me said “You haven’t run since Sunday…you have to get out there again!!!”  And I did.  I dragged my husband out of bed at 6 am and had him play tennis in my spot and I went out and ran 3.5 miles. (Hopefully I don’t regret this next Monday when I playing tennis in the playoffs!!!)

There was 95% humidity but it was not too warm yet and there was a slight breeze. It felt great to be running again though my lungs felt out of shape after only a 4 day layoff. When I was done, I had more energy than I’ve had in days!!

Tonight I’m off to see a play in Washington Park with folks I used to work with.  We go every year and it’s always fun!

This weekend, it supposed to be hot and humid again…so I was be…

floating on Lake George

Happy Running! Stay cool!

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Tennis Victory but a Rained Out AM Run

 


My team (Aces Wild) won 4-1 so we advance to next round and play again next Monday. YAY!

My doubles partner & I won too. Not easily…my partner was very nervous and playing very poorly!!! We were down 1-5 in the lst set and about to lose. It was my job to boost her confidence & get her to relax. I told her to just think about making ONE POINT not winning the match. We joked around each time we made one point. Eventually, one by one we won the next 6 games or 24 points! In the 2nd set, we were playing much better. We were up 5-2 & I was serving for the match. My head took over and I started to think about winning and guess what, they won the next 3 games and we were tied at 5-5. They were now the confident ones and we had to return to our original plan – just win points. So we won the next 8 points and it was over. The other team cried. We were incredulous. We couldn’t believe that being so close to defeat that we won!!!!!!

Tennis is sometimes in addition to skill such a “mind game.”

Back to running. I was mentally and physically drained after my match last night so I didn’t sleep well. I set my alarm to get up and run. IT WAS RAINING!!! Reprieve…we’ll see if I have time to get a run when I get home and before I go see:

and

John McEnroe’s team is playing the NYBuzz (Martinis Hingis plays for our team) tonight in Albany.

Happy Running!

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The Morning Run that wasn’t

another day in paradise

I spent Saturday cleaning, shopping, doing laundry & running so yesterday, I deserved a break!  Not really but our friends booked the site above….so we had to go to Lake George. 

fun times with friends

We got home late and I had all the intentions in the world to run this morning.  When the alarm went off, I procrastinated and then it was too late!!! I was really pissed that it was beautiful outside – no humidity, cool and the heat and humidity is returning!!! 

Tonight my tennis team is playing in the playoffs.  It’s really important so maybe that’s why I chose not to run.  Hope we win…. 

 

 and tomorrow morning, I’m getting up to run!!!! 

Happy Running!

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Brain Exchange #16 & Monday Running Goals

Topic: Pre-Race Rituals

Question: Do you have pre-race rituals?  Bizarre OCD’s?  If so, what are they?

The night before: I try to go to bed early.  I do not drink any alcohol. I try to eat carbs (pasta, if possible) & drink water.
The morning of:  I eat 2 hours before the start of the race. I have hot cereal and coffee.  I drink water on the way. My clothes have to be comfortable and be color coordinated.  I wear my best sneakers.  I bring my iPod for music.

Nothing too bizarre!


Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 16 miles. I did 16!!! YAY!
IT WAS HOT!!!!!!!!!!!

This week’s schedule:
Monday – USTA tennis playoffs after work
Tuesday – seeing John McEnroe playing NYBuzz (WTT tennis)
Wed –  tennis after work
Thurs – theatre in the park w/ friends after work
Friday, Saturday & Sunday- boating on Lake George island

This week’s running :
Monday or Tues  – 3 miles  before work
Wed or Thursday – 3 miles  before work
Saturday – 4 miles at the marina
Sunday – 4 miles at the marina

Weekly Running Goal = 14 miles
Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it!!)

Happy Running and enjoy the weather!