was hoping my new kicks would be an instant fix

20. November 2014 · Write a comment · Categories: labradoodle, running · Tags: , , , , ,

I got these lovely kicks as a birthday gift from my sister-in-law last month and had been planning on saving them until the new year but today I thought I’d try them out to see if they had any impact on my knee issue.

Asics Cumulus 16

Asics Cumulus 16s in bright blue. Apparently I’m supporting Prostate Cancer Awareness and had no idea. When I selected this color it was just because I liked it

Well, the verdict is they didn’t help. 🙁 As a matter of fact about 2 1/2 miles into this run I felt that strange sharp knee pain and had to stop and stretch for a bit. But after that I was totally fine again. This knee thing is so strange. It will be totally fine until I make a turn or get to a part of the road that is uneven and then I’ll get that tweak but then it’ll go back to being fine again. I’m curious to get it looked at but honestly the thought of primary care visits and referrals and $50 copays etc just makes me say forget it.

Well, I managed to get in another solid 3 miles.

photo 3

And then I took the doodle in the car to run errands with me…

photo 5He’s been so cute in the car lately. He likes to lean back on the seat and rest his head. Love this boy.

After the errands I took him to the park by the water for a little walk.

photo 4

And now I’m typing this post and Duncan is just staring at me. Not sure what he wants. Maybe just my attention.

photo 1Tomorrow I’m going to work at the Philadelphia Marathon Expo. I’ll be at the New Jersey Marathon booth. We’re raffling off a free race entry so come by if you’re planning on attending. =) I’m loving my part time job working for the New Jersey Marathon! I dropped off some postcards at Jackrabbit Sports’ community bulletin area yesterday =)

photoAfter the expo I’ve got to hightail it home because I’m going to the Blue Gala fundraiser event again this year. It’s to raise money for a fairly large animal rescue. I’ll be back at the expo ALL day on Saturday too. I’m exhausted just thinking about the next 2 days.

Have you ever been to Philadelphia? It’s a great city to visit. I seem to do a lot of running there but someday I’ll go just for the culture and good eats. 

What’s on your weekend agenda?

 

 

 

Related posts:

  1. A new walking PR!

3 mile runs are becoming my favorite and some pretty colors

19. November 2014 · 6 comments · Categories: running · Tags: , , ,

I mentioned the other day that since I’m trying to get all these (running related) kinks to finally disappear before I go full speed ahead into marathon training this January that I was going to keep my mileage light through the end of the year. So I just keep opting for 3 mile runs. And guess what? I really like this distance. Maybe I should abandon distance running and just run 5ks? OK I’m being dramatic. But seriously, I can run 3 miles any day of the week.

This morning, at 6am, it was freezing and windy. I think my weather app said Real Feel: 12°. It was still dark and I wasn’t feeling too hot so I opted to snooze and decided to just pack a gym bag. I’d hit up the dread-mill on my lunch break. Well, that’s exactly what I did and I’m so happy with that decision:

New York Sports Club Tuesday 5k

New York Sports Club Tuesday 5k

I rocked sub 9 minute miles! Did I mention I’m loving these 3 mile runs?!!!! I especially love that my knee doesn’t bother me at all for these short runs.

I’ve been enjoying some pretty colors of the Empire State Building the last few nights while I freeze my butt off at the bus stop.

Purple for the March of Dimes

Purple for the March of Dimes

Turquoise for the Alzheimer's Foundation

Turquoise for the Alzheimer’s Foundation

And speaking of pretty colors, I got a mani/pedi on Sunday and opted for this pale pinkish, lavenderish, silverish, nudish color.

twinkle toes and fingers and paws

twinkle toes and fingers and paws

I’m going to make it a point to try not to get all Bah Humbug on everyone this year as the holidays (and the tourists) arrive in NYC. The department store windows will start being revealed in the next week and then there’s the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which I’m actually going to participate in this year. My office building is along the route so we have the option to get passes into the building to watch the parade from our suite which is on the 8th floor (EYE LEVEL with the balloons!). And then the Rockafeller Center tree gets lit and traffic snarls will become a daily nightmare. Oops, I did say I was going to try NOT to get all Bah Humbug. I am so lucky to live in New York City…..but sometimes I just wish I wasn’t here. 8 million people…

Well, enough of that tangent. It’s late and I’ve got unglamorous things to do like laundry and packing my lunch for tomorrow.

So tell me. Is it cold where you are? Do you like the holidays or do you want to just hit the fast forward button and get to January 2nd?

 

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  1. Bring on the Rain and a Hamstrain
  2. NYRR Mini 10K…Don’t let the “mini” fool ya
  3. testing out new shoes and a twisted knee in my sleep

Visiting Cape May in November

16. November 2014 · Write a comment · Categories: labradoodle, running, Uncategorized, vacation · Tags: , , , ,
I have been taking an annual road trip with the doodle for one long weekend a year at this rental house in Cape May, New Jersey for the past 5 years (except for last year).
The backyard is one of Duncan's favorite things about the house. I love the porch.

The backyard is one of Duncan’s favorite things about the house. I love the porches.

I found it on Bringfido.com when I was looking for a pet friendly place and road trip destination for me and the doodle back in 2010.

This is how Duncan travels. 2+ hours in this exact position. I'm so lucky!

This is how Duncan travels. 2+ hours in this exact position. I’m so lucky!

I love it here! And especially this time of year. It’s empty. The dogs are allowed almost everywhere and there are lots of scenic options for running too. I also love the colder weather. It’s been colder than normal for this time of year. It even got below freezing last night (31F).

I arrived on Thursday afternoon and settled in while preparing a lovely dinner. The boyfriend and his doodle dog Chester came down in the evening to join Duncan and I.
Every now and again I actually cook!

Shrimp and pasta. Every now and again I actually cook!

And then there was a lot of relaxing.

the boys!

the boys!

Friday morning we took the dogs to the beach. Chester and his person played football with an indestructible destructible Nerf ball and Duncan just enjoyed the fresh, and might I add COLD air.
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Touchdown!

10409593_10205148935744693_3040272652462362187_n

Waiting for the ball

10608502_10205148937224730_5704362287967841347_o

Out of bounds!

10629248_10205149167630490_65918548222787129_o

Perfectly Coiffed doodle!

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in dessert terms they would be a blondie and a brownie

After a little bit of shopping and a couple more meals, the boyfriend and Chester headed home.
Yesterday was another gorgeous crisp Autumn day. Rather than return to the beach, I took Duncan to the Cold Spring Bike Path for a 3.5 mile walk and we enjoyed the last of the Fall Foliage.
Cold Spring Bike Path

Cold Spring Bike Path

It’s a 3 mile stretch and is just a quarter mile walk from my rental house. After our walk, I dropped him home and set out on the same route for a run. Since I knew it was flat and mainly away from traffic and traffic lights I went out faster than norm.

photo 4I’m still trying to work out some kinks with the knee and a few other tight spots but 3-4 miles seems to be my sweet spot for distance right now. No pain occurs during these shorter runs. So I figure I might as well try and run faster knowing my mileage each week is a lot lighter. Come January I’ll start building back up my base for marathon training.
Later on in the afternoon I took Duncan to a unique spot known as Cox Hall Creek.
Cox Hall Creek WMA

Cox Hall Creek WMA

It is a 253-acre state wildlife management area that used to be a golf course. So all the paved paths that the golf carts used to ride on are still there but there’s just the most majestic jungle of greenery and wildlife all around you. A friend that used to live in the area told me about it and I’m glad I had a chance to spend some time there. Duncan loved it too. Lots of scents to track.

Today we went for a short walk and now I’m packing up the car to head home. It’s been really relaxing and just what I needed. Before you know it Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here and life will be quite hectic.
He loves looking out the french doors.

He loves looking out the french doors.

Do you have a place you go to every year at the same time of year? What season do you go there?

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why you should run the 2015 New Jersey Marathon

13. November 2014 · Write a comment · Categories: running, Uncategorized · Tags: , , , , ,

I have run the New Jersey Marathon twice now and I’m already registered to run for the 3rd consecutive time this coming April 26, 2015.

Running the 2014 NJ Marathon

Running the 2014 NJ Marathon

Just a few feet from the finish line of the 2013 NJ Marathon

Just a few feet from the finish line of the 2013 NJ Marathon

When I signed up for the first time back in 2013 it was a total random decision but one of the best decisions I’ve ever made since becoming a runner. signedupOut of the 5 full marathons I’ve completed to date, my 2 NJ Marathon finishes were my fastest and this year I made it the entire 26.2 without ever hitting the wall! And I also met Jane through this race back in 2013. You know Jane….she’s responsible for convincing me to run the Jersey Girl Triathalon =)

2014-sallyjane

Sally and Jane: 2014 New Jersey Marathon finishers…woot woot!

The course happens to be a fast, flat one that is very BQ (Boston Marathon Qualifier) friendly. It also takes you on the iconic Jersey Shore boardwalk in two locations. Now that the repairs have been done following Superstorm Sandy’s destruction 2015 will be the first year back on the boardwalk at mile 20 in Asbury Park. And the final 1/2 mile is on the boardwalk in Long Branch. Nothing more exhilarating than the view of the ocean to your right! 2013-njmarathon-finish The medals are pretty fabulous too! And you can count on there being a unique spinner in the center of the medal each year. I can’t wait to see the 2015 medal. I hear it’s in the works!!!

Up and Running

The medallion in the middle spins!

Let Your Star Shine!

Another spinner! The star spins. Let Your Star Shine!

And how sweet was this post the night before the race… 10301047_10203650056393646_1716213564321201525_n OK, so let me tell you about some of the details. There are 3 races to choose from:

  1. Marathon
  2. Half Marathon
  3. Half Marathon Relay (2 runners split the distance)

So basically that gives you the option to run 6.5 miles, 13.1 or 26.2. The races are held on April 26, 2015 and start in Monmouth, New Jersey at the iconic Monmouth Race Track. The weather in New Jersey in the Spring is usually great running weather. 50 degrees on average. The full marathon has a stretch from mile 16-24 that is an out and back so it’s very spectator friendly. My family waits at mile 17 and then at mile 22. There are lots of local residents who come out and cheer in front of their homes. Many blasting Bruce Springsteen! Even a few local bands set up along the course. And I’m happy to report that each year I’ve run I’ve seen so much progress in the restoration of the shore towns since Superstorm Sandy. So basically just think of the definition of the word resilient when you think of this race….resilient residents AND resilient runners. Am I getting you excited yet? Well great news! A few weeks back through social media I discovered that NJ Marathon was looking to hire some “street team members”. Basically street team members represent the NJ Marathon at vendor booths/tents at other races and race expos (Yep, I’ll be at the Philadelphia Marathon Expo in 2 weeks so if you’re running, come by the expo and say hi!). I inquired and within a day I found I had a new part-time job! How awesome? I get to share my love and knowledge of the race with other runners. And get paid for it! (Disclaimer: I’m being compensated to write this post as part of my job but all opinions and love of this race are purely my own I promise you that!)

And what does this mean for you? You can save 10% off the current race price by using the code NJM15Sally when registering. You can register here.

Below are some links to other posts I’ve written about my experience running the New Jersey Marathon. And if you have questions about the half or the half relay please comment below or shoot me an email. I have some friends who have run the half and would be more than happy to answer questions. 20 mile training run before 2014 NJ Marathon 2014 NJ Marathon Recap 2014 NJ Marathon Race Day post http://www.sweatoutthesmallstuff.com/nj-marathon-expo/ So now you know why you should run the New Jersey Marathon in 2015. =) Have any of you already run it? What year? How did you do?

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