1/2

Oh, hey- so I ran a 1/2 on Sunday and totally forgot to post about it- oops!  It was great!  Although, I’m feeling really worn out, beaten down, blue, just blah today and I’m wondering if it is related… anyway- on to the fun stuff!

So as I posted about, I was excited for this race, I wasn’t nervous for this race, and that really continued.  Normally when I race, well for the past year, I don’t get very anxious and the only negative result is that my stomach completely flips out with anxiety from expectation of it happening while I’m waiting for the races to begin.  As soon as that whistle blows/gun goes off/horn is sounded I’m in my groove and feeling great.  With this race, it was different, which is great.  I had so few expectations of results on top of a desire to run my stress away that I remained calm, cool and collected.  This is a good recipe for racing.

The day was a beautiful one, although I could have done with more cloud cover, I’m not going to complain too much about the weather.  I’m sure the weather had a little something to do with all the supporters who were cheering along the way- all you readers who go out and cheer people on when they’re racing- Thank You- it really does help!

The course was hilly, but I found I really liked it.  The hills push me, they change up your pace and stride and do help break up the course a bit.  I found the part of the course I struggled with most was the straight flat part we ran that wasn’t lined with people cheering (the road was too busy/doesn’t have houses on it).  There was one piece of the course that took us through a short (1/4 mile?) park trail very reminiscent of my cross country days and not so suprising for this city runner, it slowed me down.  I am so used to my pavement!  However, as soon as I came out of the woods I was in a transition zone (there was a marathon being run in conjunction and some relay teams running it) and there were masses of people cheering.  I was so encouraged and pumped up that I ran too hard coming out of the park and up another hill!  Oh well.

It was at about this point and into mile 8 that I realized how fast it was all going by.  I couldn’t believe it when I hit mile 10 and there was less than a 5k left.  “I can so do this in under 2:00 hours, ” I thought as I looked at the clock.  At about mile 11.5 and in to 12 I started to get the mind warp.  The, “Oh man, I don’t know, can I really do this?”  and the, “Hmm, I’m starting to really feel this in my legs, maybe I should slow down, what if I can’t really make 2:00?”  So I took a deeper breath and told my self to shut up and run and that of course I could do it.  And I did.

At mile 12.1ish I decided to leave it all on the course, that’s how you should race, right?  I was cognizant of not giving it all away too soon, however I knew there were no more hills (the amount of people talking about this was kind of humorous), that the mile would go by a lot more quickly than I thought, and lastly that if I didn’t really push and get a great time I’d beat myself up.  So I pushed, hard.  I passed 2 women that I had hung behind for the last 4 or so mile, and after when I heard one breathing hard behind me I pushed even harder and shook her off.  Sorry!  (not really).  I had seen at mile 12 that I was at 1:44 and I figured I’d easily be able to finish at 1:55 but really wanted to do it at 1:53- 9 minutes for 1.1 miles after 12 down.

As I neared the finish the clock came in to view, and of course I don’t accurately remember the time now- but it was about 30-20 seconds away from 1:53 so I put on the after burners and sprinted towards the finish.  I crossed just as the clock struck 1:53 and right behind a woman who had used my sprinting to push her along harder, I was happy to let her “beat me” because I’d just beat my expectations… to a pulp!

Boy it felt good.  I couldn’t believe how fast I’d done it.  I really can’t believe how different of a runner I am this year, and I truly do believe I have yoga to thank for a lot of that.  Open up those hips and watch yourself fly!

So what’s next?  Well- I am so lucky to have NYRR to keep me running through the winter and I will happily keep blogging about my work outs- good, bad, ugly and braggy.  Some fun upcoming races:

Damon Runyon Cancer Research 5k- in Yankee Stadium!  The link takes you to my fundraising page, I’m happily fundraising for this race, although I typically don’t for my races, because cancer research is an important place to donate funds.

Race to Deliver

Joe Kleinerman 10k- not signed up yet, but will most likely do this race- it can be a chilly one!

Emerald Nuts Midnight Run – If we’re in the city I would totally do this race- sounds so fun!

And back to the topic at hand- I need to find a good winter training schedule to keep me Tri Ready- and on track- however I’m going to give myself a couple weeks “off” a schedule- I need it!

I think I said it best

Over here- so go check that out so I can get a good night sleep tonight, I hear that is important in a training schedule….

NYRR: Marathon Kick Off Race

Alison clued me in to this fun and festive race NYRR does every year, the week before the Marathon and I excitedly signed up.  I figured it would be a great way to begin my tapering week and a fun run to boot.  Last night and this morning after waking up way earlier than I would have chosen I was feeling nervous.  I was starting to not want to do it anymore, I was anxious about it, I was putting pressure on myself.  Then I realized what was happening, in my head I was focusing on running at an 8 minute mile pace and that was the cause of my stress.  So I decided this morning to stop stressing myself out and just go run it at whatever pace Alison was running it, so we could do it together.

I felt so much better.

It was fun to be surrounded by all the Marathon set up, you can feel the excitement in the are as the Marathon approaches, New Yorkers really get behind this fun, festive and historic race that is for “anyone”.

We started out fairly slowly, there were a lot of people and it seemed like no one was really pushing hard as they typically are.  I started out chatting about some recent stresses in my life and when I was finished with my story, or vent, or whatever you want to call it, we were approaching mile 3.  Alison was starting to slow down a little bit and I was starting to really get in to my groove.  She encouraged me to go ahead, but I didn’t want to- I set out to run this with her and there was no one to prove anything to, so why not stay together?  I’ve fallen in to this role of being the running buddy that is encouraging those I run with to keep pushing and keep at a pace they may not be as comfortable with, I do it in pretty sneaky ways so that it isn’t an uncomfortable thing, and I’m not coming off as “pushy”.  So, I knew that Alison needed something to keep her going, besides the end being near, so I thought of something else to chat with her about and got started.  It was great- we finished just as my story did and came in under 9 minute miles- awesome.

It was a fun, and easy race and I’m feeling strong for next week.

Woot!

Rain and Raccoons on a fRiday

If I wasn’t a seasoned blogger and didn’t fancy myself a writer I would probably have some variation of “I was runnin’” for every post about, running. But thankfully for all of us, I get more creative than that. But really tonight, we were runnin’. We started out slowly, which was smart because we were in for a long one. I left work an hour early so we could do the Harlem Hills in the evening light, I just didn’t get in to the idea of doing the 5 mile loop followed by the 4 mile loop, something about it just seemed boring- and when you are setting out to run 9 miles, or more, you have to keep it interesting, am I right?

I was feeling good for the first 1/3, and around the bottom of the park I started to feel some pull in my plantar and my knees were getting achey. Great, just what I need to start feeling aches and pains going in to mile 5. But I pushed on, of course. For the last 1/3 I knew I needed to keep us focused, so I chatted away about boring work stuff, and it worked. It flew by and all of a sudden we were running through the part of the Park that I had thought as we passed through the first time, “It is going to feel good to get here again.” And it did. The 9 mile loop I’ve done 3 times now, includes finishing along the bottom of the reservoir. Normally, I do not like running the reservoir- it’s my achilles. However, on this lovely rain spitting evening, it was quite pretty and so dead I didn’t mind. It felt eerie and lovely all at once. As we rounded the corner on the east side and I saw the straight away that led to the finish, I knew what I had to do. I had to sprint it out. It felt great.

I kept in mind what I’d learned last Friday on our long run- open up your stride at the end and you’ll feel much better for it. As we reached our 7th and 8th mile I used the downhills to help stretch out even more, it worked really well. Of course, once I started stretching and as we walked away from the park I felt some of the aches and pains you’d expect to feel. I stretched some more when we stopped, and now I’m happy to say I’m feeling good! Wow- I got through the 9 miles, now I have to start tapering. One week of that isn’t bad, right?

Funny story of the night- Matt is terrified of the raccoons in the park- and there are a lot of them. As we cut through the 102nd street transverse one popped out of the woods ahead of us, on Matt’s side of the road and then climbed back up on to the grass as we passed- and just stared at Matt. He kept looking back over his shoulder for a good 500 feet after we ran by him. “He’s not going to come after you!” I declared. But, I really think he thought he might. Oh city boys!

2 in 1

I really should have written over the weekend- but alas I did not- so you get two posts in one!  woohoo!

Friday:

Dude, we were so hardcore Friday night!  I had planned all week to run a long one on Friday- rain or shine, not that the sun would still be out.  So as I made my way home Friday eve, I hoped and prayed that Matt would join me, and he did!  Thank God, because the park was DEAD.  Seriously- we passed maybe 15 other people on our run.  Anyway- to the good stuff, the run stuff.  We did the 5 mile loop, I refuse to do the Harlem hills at night, way too quiet up there and way too many dark and scary places.  So, the plan was to just add on at the end of the loop by running back up to the 102nd street transverse.  I figured it was at most 1 mile and I’d get in 6 miles and feel good.  The whole run felt good.  I was happy to be stretching my legs out, I had loads of emotional angst to work out and my beloved was right by my side.  Perfect.  As we neared the end of the run I turned to Matt and said, “Wanna sprint it out here?” And he did, and off we went.  Let me tell you something I learned in that moment.  You get to a point on long runs where your stride has shrunk greatly, and sprinting actually is a great thing to do for your knees, open your legs back up, pick those knees back up, it feels GREAT.

Once we reached the end I knew we’d gone further than 6, probably more like 7, awesome.  Funny story- because we’d run longer than planned, we were going to be late for opening night of Where the Wild Things Are- so instead of showering- we just headed to the movie with clean clothes instead of clean bodies, and instead of a nutrional dinner, we ate popcorn.  Oh well.  You win some…

Later that night I mapped our run- 7.4 (I think) woohoo!

Let me tell you another thing, that I already knew but is just reinforced every time Matt and I run together, running with your S.O. is awesome.  Being able to share in that time together is a wonderful feeling.  I am so proud of Matt that he’s gotten to a place psychically where we can run together.  It is such a great feeling to finish a run together.  Also- when you’re making major huge life decisions running and talking is often a really great way to think it out.

So Saturday- you didn’t think I’d take a day off did you?  I hoped on an Expresso bike and pounded away- and my knees survived.  Hurray!

Sunday- yeah that was my day off.

Now on to the second part of this post.  This week!

Monday- oh sweet Yoga how I needed you.

Tuesday- I was supposed to run with a friend and she was going to bring along 2 other friends, more running buddies- yay!  But she had to sit this week out so lucky me I was able to trot on home and take my husband out with me.  Again, so fantastic to be able to do this together.   Also- I almost didn’t want to go because I was in one hell of a foul mood, but having someone expecting it to happen and ahving that someone be your husband who knows how to get you to do things when you dont’ think you want to?  Perfect.  We headed out in to the lovely non-fall night (Hello, Spring?) and ran away.  We got in a good 4 mile run together and then I decided I wanted to add some on.  I headed North past Engineers Gate with a group of guys chatting about their marathon pace behind me.  “They’re running at their marathon pace, eh?” I thought to myself.  “Well then, I’m just going to stay ahead of them!” And I did.  Then, as I was turning around, a big pack of runners was just starting out.  So I decided, well, I don’t want to deal with all of them passing me, so I’ll just stay ahead of them too!  Readers, I was booking it to keep ahead!  It was awesome.  I could hear them breathing just behind me and it pushed me harder.  I love that feeling.  It is why I put up with the overwhelming anxiety I get just before a race.

Anyway, as you probably guessed- I finished strong and my knees didn’t even hurt that bad!  Victory.  I’m feeling good, I’m still feeling excited and I get to push myself hard on Sunday at the Poland Spring Marathon Kick off 5 Mile race.  woohoo!

Tonight- spinning, and then 8 or 9 miles on Friday night.  Sweet.

Transitioning Indoors

It has probably been 2 months since I’d been on a spin bike.  I won’t like, the class tonight was hard for me.  Not phsycially, thankfully, but definitely mentally.  Around minute 20, out of 45, I was ready to be done.  I was bored.  The class was pretty empty.  I wonder if more people had been there for me to be distracted by it would have been easier?  I’m not sure.  I’ve been on the expresso bike, sure, but they really do a fantastic job making you feel like you’re outside, and even if you don’t feel like you are- you have to be focused on the screen to make the most of it.  The time flies.  I need the time to fly.  I don’t work out because I love the actual physical activity usually.  I workout because I love how it makes me feel, mentally and phsycially.  I workout for a lot more reasons than the actual physical process of it.  I don’t love that.  Sometimes I do, but that’s usually when I’m outdoors doing it.

I’m glad I got back on the spin bike, I’m glad I’m back in the glass. I need to be.  I have to keep up my spinning this winter, because I will not be biking outdoors and I keep hearing everywhere I turn how important biking is for runners.  Running is great for the front muscles, but does nothing for the back ones.  Biking, it builds them, strengthens them, makes you a better runner.

Next to check off my To-Do list- get back to a regular Yoga routine.  Pure- here I come!

Lovin’ It

I’ve been really loving running lately.  Despite perhaps being unprepared, I’m really looking forward to this 1/2.  I’m going to focus on that.  I love the cooler weather, I feel so good getting out there with a little chill in my bones and then at the end when I’m warm and the cool air feels like a glass of ice water, and then I have a glass of ice water and life is perfect.

It is times like these, that I know that I”m a runner.  It is what I love best, I flirted with biking this summer, but really I’m a runner.  I wish my knees felt like they were runners.  They’ve been hurting lately, and I probably should have gotten new shoes a month ago, even though the time wasn’t up on them yet.  I’ve finally gotten a new pair of shoes and last night after my run they felt much better.  Phew.

I really am feeling good, despite my lack of posting.

I got back to the expresso bike tonight- wow- what a feeling.  I left feeling rejuvenated and like I’m finally back.  I feel like I’ve been in a rut the last few weeks, sickness, laziness, not getting enough rest on the weekends, blah blah blah.

I’m loving this feeling.  This feeling of wanting to be running, wanting to be working hard.

And the subject doesn’t make me want McDonalds- healthy eating too!

1 Month!

Goddammit!  I have not trained, at all, for this upcoming 1/2.  We just got an email alerting us that it is one month away, and that we should start tapering.  I haven’t even started adding!

So- here I will plan out what I need to do over the next 2.5 weeks so that I feel like I can do the right thing and taper.  Maybe putting it out there will help me actually do it.

Saturday 10/3 Run 6 Miles

Sunday 10/4 Bike 10 Miles

Monday 10/5 Run 3 Miles, Yoga

Tuesday 10/6 Spinning

Wednesday 10/7 Swim in AM or Off

Thursday 10/8 Run 6 miles

Friday 10/9 Yoga and Swim

Saturday 10/10 Run 7 miles

Sunday 10/11 Off or Yoga

Monday 10/12 Run 4 Miles, Yoga

Tuesday 10/13 Spinning

Wednesday 10/14 Swim in AM or Off

Thursday 10/15 Run 6 miles

Friday 10/16 Yoga and Swim

Saturday 10/17 Run 9 miles

Sunday 10/18 Off or Yoga

Monday 10/19 Run 5 Miles, Yoga

Tuesday 10/20 Spinning

Wednesday 10/21 Run 7 miles

Thursday 10/22 Off

Friday 10/23 Yoga and Swim

Saturday 10/24 Run 5 miles

Sunday 10/25 Off or Yoga

Monday 10/26 Run 3 Miles, Yoga

Tuesday 10/27 Spinning

Wednesday 10/28 Off

Thursday 10/29 Run 4 miles

Friday 10/30 Yoga and Swim

Saturday 10/31 Off

Sunday 11/1 RACE

Okay- that felt good.  Really good.  The next month I will have no social life, unless my friends are exercising with me.  I’m resolved!

The Cycle

And no, not that kind of cycle.  You know sometimes when you don’t work out for a small or long stretch, it can be really hard to get back in to a work out routine?  Even though you know that once you just get started again you’ll be rolling.  It is just so hard.  Well, at least for me and most of the my friends I’ve talked to who work out regularly.  And you know how in addition to feeling more lazy, you also can start to feel more tired and just worn down by everyday?  How strange is that?  I guess not that strange when you think of what exercising can do for you, mentally and physically.

Well, I’ve reached that point.  I’m completely exhausted, I haven’t worked out since Saturday and I don’t want to work out because I just feel to worn down.  But I know, and not just in that the little voice is whispering know, I know-know, that if I just got my butt in gear I’d feel immensly better.

I have no more excuses, my body is feeling good, I feel strong, I don’t need to rest anything. I just need to get back out there.

Couple all this with some anxiety about my lack of mileage training for our Nov. 1st 1/2 marathon and you have a girl who is paralyzed right now.  Ugh.

It is dark out, it is cold out, I just want to zone out, I’m too hungry, I’m strong I’ll be okay.

Enough excuses girl!

And just so this is not all woe me- but some go me- I did a 4k in 18:40 on Saturday!  Woohoo!  I’m fast!  I can run hard!  Also, because it wasn’t a NYRR race, when I finished I was like one of the first 20 or so, that felt cool no crowds of people yet.

Let’s see if it works…

Run to it

So on Tuesday night, I was kinda hardcore.  I ran from my apartment on East 92nd, along the East River until I couldn’t anymore and then through the crowded East side Streets to Union Square to do a Yoga for runners event at lululemon.

I started out the run with Matt, here is where I’m so not hardcore, because I was scared about running on the East River by myself- as I’d never done it.  I”l admit it, I don’t like to do things for the first time by myself.  I was so freaked out about riding a bike in the park alone and of course after doing it I was like, umm what took me so long?

Anyway- the Park along the East River is lovely!  What a great little sanctuary- seriously.  I met Alison at the Queensboro Bridge and waved goodbye to Matt as he ran back up.  Back to being hardcore- Alison and I had to navigate several blockades and a large number or protesting Hassids to get South.  But we made it, just in the nick of time!  Running on Manhattan streets is not easy, actually I often shake my head at people who do it, but it is kind of fun and you definitely feel hardcore.

The Yoga session was great, I really enjoyed the teacher and I got a fantastic stretch.

The greatest thing about this, I think, was the fact that in order to get someplace, I ran there.  How cool is that?  Where else can you do that but in NY?  Right?  I’m so hardcore.