I am so looking forward to the 261 Fearless Train the Trainer Certification course in Boston – and you do not have to be a 261 Fearless ambassador to apply! I cannot wait to start a 261 Fearless Club in Western New York! Join me the end of October!
August was a tough month. Like most, we suffered from unrelenting heat and humidity that made every day living, not to mention running and exercise, pretty much unbearable. I tried to keep up with my training but some days it was just hard to breathe, the air was so hot and humid!
There were a few bright moments, starting with the Drake Well Half Marathon in Titusville Pennsylvania. This would be state number 9 for me in my quest for a half marathon in each of the 50 states, plus D.C. The Drake Well Half is a small race at a beautiful park at the Drake Well Museum. It was a very hot day but luckily the latter part of the race was on a paved, shaded path which was heaven! For much of the path it seemed like I was running by myself but for the chipmunks and deer that ran across my path, and whatever other critters were lurking nearby. Since my headphones were not working, I was very aware of the many sounds coming from the woods! I ended up 2nd in my age group (thank you small races), and I was glad I chose this for my Pennsylvania race.
one lane bridge leading to the Drake Well Museum
seen on my run
The following Friday evening after work I ran a 7.7k along the Buffalo waterfront called the Soaker to raise awareness of the importance of hydration. We were squirted by hoses and fire trucks all along the route, and it felt good! My husband, still recovering from surgery, was a real trouper and came along to be my cheering section.
I’m a little soaked from the Soaker!
The best of course was traveling to New York City to visit my daughter and see Jorge Posada Day at Yankee Stadium. My favorite Yankee! Unfortunately it was so hot that we just could not stay for the entire game. My daughter was sunburned after the 2nd inning!
Hip Hip Jorge!
Also that weekend I got in 2 fabulous runs in lower Manhattan. If I could only train in New York!
Run with a view
the inspiring Statue of Liberty
I love NYC
In my run around the South Street Seaport, I came across this yoga party!
My first virtual run of the month was a 5k to benefit an organization I learned of in one of my Facebook running groups. I really enjoy virtual runs, it’s like training with a purpose.
The month closed out with two more races; one road and one virtual. The road race was a 10k to benefit the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. I was on a team with some of my in-laws, as my late father-in-law had been a patient at Roswell. I also ran in memory of my own sister. The event was good except for the race itself; two loops on newly paved (i.e. smelly) roads with no scenery whatsoever. It is fun to run as part of a team, though.
The virtual race was organized by Gone For a Run, the 7 mile Sole Sisters race. I ran this the day after the 10k, and decided to use it for speed training. I ran 1 minute slow, 1 minute fast intervals, and the miles went by very quickly. My sisters from Virginia and Oklahoma also ran this virtual, so we kind of ran it together.
So that’s my month in review. I’m very glad the weather is changing. I have a ton of fall races and now know that I really need a more structured schedule to stay healthy and run well. Stay tuned for a more disciplined me!
Posted in Health and Fitness, Running
Tagged 261Fearless, half marathon, runner, running, sweatpink, virtual run
I still have trouble calling myself a “runner.” I’m slow, I have bad form, I breathe like I’m about to collapse. But a few months after I completed C25K, I ran my first 5k. It was a blustery, rainy day in Buffalo NY, and the wind was coming right at us for the first half. My goal was to finish under 36 minutes, and I did it, coming in just over 35.
The following weekend I ran another 5k (in the rain and wind again!), and this time I ran under 33 minutes.
A few weeks later, with my daughter visiting home from college over the Veteran’s Day weekend, she and my husband (a UAW worker) joined me for an UAW race in honor of veterans. It was really, really cold, and someone snuck a big hill in at the end, but Morgan even got a medal (and it was her first ever race)!
Needless to say I had the race bug! I began researching various races in the Buffalo area when it hit me — why not find races outside of Buffalo and do some traveling as well?
“If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.”
― John Bingham
SeeLindaRun 