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Reprieve from the Heat

If you’ve been listening to the news, the Northeast has had the hottest weather in the country. It’s been over 95 degrees (over 100 heat index) all week. It was still in the 90’s in the evening and in the 80s in the morning.

I ran 4 miles at the lake on Sun, Mon, Tues. At home, I got up early on Thursday to run.  It was still hot and I could only muster 3 miles. It was raining this morning when I got up.  At last  a cool down!!  When it stopped around noon, it was in the 70s so I decided to attempt a 5 mile run.  Yes, it was cooler but the humidity was so high, it felt like a sauna. I walked a lot  but finished it at a slow pace in 59 minutes.  I’m obviously not ready for a 10 k yet.

My evenings are busy all week so I’m going to try to get up and run several mornings before work.

Happy Running!

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Running, the Heat & My Vacation


As predicted, it was hazy, hot and humid during my four days on Lake George and hotter each day. I love hot weather but this was a little much!

We arrived on Saturday morning and set out for our island spot (Log Bay #3).  Five of our friends arrived on their boat and we spent the day, swimming, eating, drinking and socializing.

our boat(s) at the dock

eating at our site

staying cool

At the end of the day, we headed back to sleep at the marina and went to our friends who live in Lake George to play cards.

heading back to Bolton Landing

Sunday morning, I got up and had coffee and breakfast and then headed out for my 4 mile run.  It was hot.  I should have left earlier but this is vacation.  Anyway, it is definitely cooler near the water and it is SO beautiful here.

When I got back, 4 friends had arrived and we headed back to our island site.  Two of our friends arrived also with 8 more people.  What a crowd and so much fun!  I floated on the lake, went on dinghy rides and tried to stay cool.

our friends arrive on their pontoon

still staying cool

Again at the end of the day, we headed back to the marina so we could all watch the Bolton Landing fireworks.   Our boating friends headed back to their marinas in Lake George and then drove up to ours.

Bolton Landing fireworks

even the dog enjoyed them

Monday was started exactly like Sunday except it was even hotter.  I got in my 4 mile run. YAY!  This time we only had 10 people on our site.  Our activities were staying cool, of course.

our dinghy pulling tube riders

I was glad that I had decided to take an extra day off on Tuesday.  It was very quiet.  Everyone else went back to work.  The heat was incredible so I only ran 3 miles and my hubby was getting impatient at the marina, sitting in the heat.  Today we spent a peaceful day riding around in the boat and reading at the site.

saying good-bye to our site

Unfortunately, we finally had to leave and put our boat away.  We ended the day with dinner at our favorite lakeside restaurant.

Happy Running and Stay Cool!

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Brain Exchange #15 and Monday Goals

Click HERE to participate.

Topic: Favorite Athletes

Question: Who are your Top 5 favorite athletes? And why?  They can be famous or infamous, to do with your sport or be in a completely different sport.

  1. Kim Clisters – Tennis – I really admire her comeback after taking time off to have a baby and then winning the US Open. ( I just to see her play at the US Open that year, too)
  2. Roger Federer – Tennis – I love to watch him – he makes it look so easy – and he’s not afraid to show his emotions
  3. John McEnroe – Tennis – he’s from my era – he’s so much fun to watch – a great commentator (& still a great double player) – I’m going to see him play on July 13.
  4. Chris Evert – Tennis – she’s from my era – she’s such a class act – she still looks amazing (I watched her play at a charity event last November)
  5. Kara Goucher – Running – I read about her in Runner’s World magazine & began a fan
  6. Joan Benoit Samuelson – Running – another oldie – I saw her at the Freihofer’s Run recently & WOW  she can run

I have only recently become a runner so most of my favs are tennis players.

Recap of  last week:
My weekly goal was 15 miles. I did 14!!! Close enough!!
I won a giveaway!!! Ryders Sunglasses! YAY!

This week’s schedule:
Monday & Tuesday – boating (on vacation)
Wed – Census job or tennis
Friday –  tennis before work, mah jong after work
Saturday & Sunday- boating on Lake George island

This week’s running :
Monday   – 4.5  miles at the marina
Thursday – 4  miles after work
Friday – 3.5 miles
Sunday – 4 miles at the marina

Weekly Running Goal = 16 miles
Monthly Running Goal = 55 miles
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles

Happy Running & hope you had a great 4th!

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July 4th Weekend and Boating (and a little running)

We are leaving this morning for FOUR days on our boat.  The weather is supposed to be hot and sunny EVERY DAY! I am psyched!  We booked a site on Log Bay Island and we have friends coming to party every day.

I am glad that I already ran 3 mornings this week just in case we can’t get a dock at our marina.  You can’t run on these islands!!

Happy Running and Happy Independence Day!

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Great Run & Long Weekend Ahead

For the third time this week, I’ve gotten up early to go for a run. Each time, my runs have gotten better so has the weather. I guess there must be a message there.  I love hot weather but I realize it’s not the best for running.

Today, I got up a little late so could only squeeze in 3 miles before going to work. It was sunny and in the low 50s.  I hardly stopped at all and felt like I could run forever!!! Darn job!!!

My next race is not until July 24.  It’s one of my favorites – Silks and Satins 5K.  This race  marks the opening of the Saratoga Race Track.  It’ll my 3rd time running in it. I may even have company running this race!!!

That’s a month between races which is a lot for me.  There’s one on July 11 but the age groups are under 14 and over 14.  That’s doesn’t motivate me.

Anyway, we have a lot of Lake George boating planned: July 3-6, July 16-19 and July 31-Aug 2.

In August and September, I have so many 5k races planned on Saturdays so boating will be limited to Sundays. (Please understand, Hubby!)

Happy Running!


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June is Over!!

2010 totals so far

June Update:

  • 55 miles (highest monthly total so far)
  • 3  5k races (Freihofer’s, OK, Valley Cats)
  • 2 new races (OK, Valley Cats)
  • 3 giveaway wins (Nathan water bottle, bag, Ryders sunglasses)
  • 5k PR (OK – 28:42)
  • 2nd place in age group award (Valley Cats)

June (-3.5 for May)

Happy Running and Welcome July!

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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!