NYCM #2

I didn't think I would ever have the energy to really write about what happened yesterday. But I feel as if perhaps I just write it will all come flooding out... I can't believe its just yesterday. I didn't go to work today 1) because I needed a day of wallowing and 2) because I can't quite walk. HA! I can walk, don't worry, but I certainly hobble along at a pace that is not quite NYC ready. I will have to leave myself 15 extra min to get to work, FOR SURE!

In summary it was a disappointing day. Not only did I not come close to my A B or C goals, I felt like crap through most of the race.

I took a car service to South Ferry at 6:15 marathon morning. I had been assigned the 7 am ferry. I really am a firm believer that one bad act sets off another and was desperate to break the chain by the time I stood in the corrals at 10:40 Sunday am. The car went to the wrong address. Then they tried to blame me. Why did I get a car you ask? Well I was nervous about getting a cab because there aren't many up where I live nowadays. I figured I would sleep more soundly if I ordered a car service. So when I finally called the car service about being nearly 10 min late the woman corrected their mistake and the car picked me up on Broadway, not even the street I lived on. I huffily made my way to the car only to have the guy slow down at 35th and the WSH and say 'WHERE IS THIS PLACE YOU'RE GOING TO' Uhm hello? South Ferry? marathon day. Girl wearing sweats carrying a clear bag. Haven't you seen this marathon army which is gathering all around the borroughs??? What does this have to do with 34th street? And why are we driving 30 mph while other runners in hats, sweats and gloves carrying their clear bags go whizzing by!! By the time I got to the ferry station, shuffled along to Door 1, was denied, Door 2 was denied because the Ferry arrived at Door 1 and shuffled my way to Door 2 again I was mildly annoyed and ready to go back to bed.

Staten Island was whatever. I made it to the TNT tent even though I had no charity bracelet- I still dont know if thats my fault or not. I sat with some TNT friends and we chatted about the race, ate breakfast #2 and got ready. The tent, short port a potty lines (significantly so vs last year), the corrals worked well for me even though they closed insanely early and we barely made it. I found a girl from TNT who I had run with before and we set out together with no promises to stay together. I definitely appreciated the company at the start. I always have too much nervous energy and I was scared I would race out again... I started off slow (as you saw) and even though my legs felt super heavy I chalked it up to nerves and taper. I knew I wanted to go slow and I wouldve rather lost a minute off my total time to that vs feeling shitty at the end. M2 was in control especially for a downhill. Slow and steady wins the race had already been nominated as my mantra. M3,4,5 were fine, on pace and I saw my first group of friends at m5 and had a few pretzels and took a few pics. I had decided pretzels were going to save me, save me from dehydration and my salt issues, save me from sloshy belly and save me from boredom/sweetness of gels; little did I know what was ahead. M6 felt like it was a mountain I had to climb. I don't know how you can deteriorate at m6 in a freaking marathon when you've trained well, BUT, whether it be the salt, the antihistamines, the oral steroids, who knows, I did. By m8 when I knew I would see my bf I was about to cry. I saw his parents first who were violently shaking a sign in my face and all I could say is 'Where is he?' I really needed to see him at that point. I needed someone rational to tell me whether or not I should drop out or stay in. It shouldnt have been that hard. For crying out loud it was m8!! I had 18 more to go. I seriously wanted to quit but I thought DNF was really too lame to call at m8. I mean, I do live in this city, there would be permanent scarring. I ran 9,10,11 and 12 half heartedly. I kept trying to tell myself I could save this race. I took (count them) 3 salt tablets between m6 and m11. One I had and two I took from the next aid station. I've never taken 3 salt packets back to back. I took one and when it didnt work I didnt know what else to do. I felt naseated and a bit dizzy and I know in my gut thats dehydration or too little salt. Since I was so well hydrated I had peed 4 times that AM I knew it was the latter. I also had had 2 gels by m9 and had had pretzels and gatorade and water. No sloshy belly though which I guess was good. I saw a group of TNT'ers that I knew ran 11-11:30 pace ahead of me, pretty significantly so, at about m9. I caught them at m10 and again, almost burst into tears. I needed someone to pace me. Some group to hold onto. I knew it was that, or take the subway home in Queens, honest, it was that bad. I made myself a mental deal to just run with them. I let my 4:53 dream die in Brooklyn and for that I will always resent/be grateful. I ran with this group of women until about m12 when I left them (not even on purpose, it was just hard to run their pace).

At m13 I saw Julie from TNT who wanted to run a 4:45. I had run 16m with her in the park a few weeks before. I told her to have the run we were both meant to have. I hope she did. I kept looking for Coach Wanda hoping she could boost my spirits but never found her even though she was supposed to be policing the Pulaski. I saw my mom, brother and cousin at m14 and I knew she was worried because I was about 10 min behind my pace AND I had started 6 min after my wave time. I told her I was feeling better but the racing part was over. I walked the Qboro bridge (arguably pretty quickly) and jogged down into Manhattan. I ran into Kelli again and saw 2 sets of friends right away. I stopped to eat my pretzels and have an extended chat- hey might as well enjoy it right? I started to feel like myself on the Qboro. Sure I had just 'run' through 16 miles but I felt better than I had at m6,7,8,9,10,11 and 12. How sad is that?

Coming off the Qboro was the same disappointment as last year. It's just really not that loud. I saw my friends on the south side of the Bridge and took gatorade and pretzels and then stopped just a few blocks north to visit with friends on the West side of the Ave. Hey, I hadnt seen them in a while and I needed to eat more pretzels. Now I realize I hadn't eaten a gel since m12? I dont know. I know I took 1 at m3 shot blocks... (yes, lame) and 1 real gel at m7. I took another margarita shot block at m10/11/12? On 1st ave I even stopped to sponge my face. It wasnt as awesome as last year but I was super salty so I was glad.

Heading up first ave was awful. I felt MUCH better but my poor form in the earlier miles had taken its toll, my hips felt the beginning of the end. Little did I know the next day (today) I would feel as if my legs were shredded). There were SO MANY drunk fans lining the bars that my name (jen) was ringing through the air. It's an easy name, sure, but OMG annoying. I saw my BF and his family at 89th and 1st after a few waves to other friends on the Ave and picked up Nicole at m19. She graciously accompanied me (and distracted me) through the trek uptown and into the Bronx. I really quite frankly wasnt in the mood. I walked up the Willis Ave bridge (hey, if you can walk almost as fast as you would run, why waste the energy running?) We smiled and hopefully took awesome pictures, although I do miss the orange carpet!  I knew the race was gone and while I suppose in retrospect I shouldve pushed more, I just didnt see the point in injuring myself (again little did I know how I would feel today). I even stopped to pee!! We made it through the Bronx, back into Harlem, saw the parents and BF again AND learned that Jared the subway guy was less than a mile ahead of us.

Now, I respect Jared for losing weight. But as an able bodied, healthy female woman, I wanted to beat his lame ass. I couldnt tell if Matt was kidding but I kissed him, took my long sleeve shirt (with a new name (my last) on it, HALLELUJAH) and we went on our merry way. Running up 5th Avenue is pretty tough. It always is and always will be, but it wasn't that bad lung wise, just hip wise my left especially felt like a creaky old door. I was really really glad to have my last name on my shirt. I was done with JEN and done with runners calling out my name in general but take what you can get. I also had started to get a bit cold, which happened last year too, so it was nice to be prepared. Ironically runners kept saying my full name (meaning my first and then my last) which really threw me for a loop. We then figured out that apparently you could see through my shirt to my first name which conveniently was displayed above my last. GRRR. Nicole left me at 93rd (post hill thank you very much) and really I can't thank her enough. I was in piss poor spirits (imagine) and she was doing her damnedest to help me along! I saw my mom right before Nicole left me and took a huge swig of gatorade which I think really helped me get through the last few miles. Arguably I shouldve had another gel but I am terrible at remembering late in the race.  I did at some point take my last gel (I think m20?) and that was 6 'gels' but clearly it wasn't enough.

As I entered the park, I felt awesome. Unfair or thankfully, I felt pretty damned good for having run 24 miles. My legs were not happy but that's to be expected. I felt in better spirits than at the beginning, I mean, hell, I pulled myself out of a really big hole. Like honestly, for that I am proud. I was running along right before the bottom of the reservoir and I heard a voice in a thick French accent 'hey, you're the girl I started with last weekend'. When I turned my head it was the woman with whom I had spoken about the marathon with just the Sunday before at the 5-miler KickOff race start line. She had wanted to run 4:50-5 as well and was trudging along with me on pace for a 5:10-5:15.... It was nice to see her even though by all standards she was a complete stranger. We chatted a few sentences and then it happened.  I started hearing people on the sidelines talking about Jared... and I realized.... the sucker was right in front of me.... I started asking people in the crowd how far ahead of me he was and people kinda just stared and said 'a bit' or 'uhmmm not much' In retorspect it must have been ridiculous. Here I am, sweaty, gross, marathoned out, screaming back at the crowd 'WHERE IS JARED?' But people, I needed to know if he's catchable or no chance in hell. Finally some guy on Cat Hill (can I also mention thank God we went down and not up at that point? Theres no way I couldve made my legs do that!!!) told me Jared was walking about about 50 yards ahead (see football does come in handy)... I decided then and there I was going for it. Eff you Jared and your stupid subway and weight loss ads. Eff you for thinking you're so in shape and talking crap about how you're going to run a 4:30 marathon and Eff you for not giving the NYCM course the respect it deserves! (I got all this off some blog which said Jared wanted to run a 4:20-30 marathon and how it was work but not too bad blah blah) Finally at the m25 water stop I saw him. Jared. He wasnt walking. He was, however, as sick of having his name called as I was. Now mind you, the guy is tall. Way taller than I expected with a huge NAME plate on his shirt and subway signs all around. He was running with two guys, I assume his bodyguards? or trainers. Major props to him for running and training. I just don't like the shit talk. I flew by him and any time I wanted to stop from there on out, I just kept thinking, don't let Jared beat you.

I saw my friend on CPS and at that point was running a good clip. I ditched my long sleeve shirt coming into the park and a park worker casually yelled 'yay jen you can do it girl'. I know I looked strong and happy and healthy anddddddddddd way better than most runners I was passing. AND I passed a lot of people let me tell you. I had a great time in the park, the support was nice but the bleachers were empty which was disapointing and yet another reason I want to be faster... At one point I went to check a chafed spot (why I had to do that then, I do not know) and some guy was like 'JEN YOURE NOT CHAFED KEEP RUNNING' very funny- I had no intention of stopping but I suppose 200 yards from the finish line, why check for chafing? I was just very comfortable in the pace I was running. I mean why not right? I ran hundred of miles at an 11 min pace to train! I finished in 5:13 which ironically ended up being 8 seconds slower than Jared (a-duh I have last years time too!!!). I got my medal, pic, heat blanket and bag and ran into Rich, the older guy from TNT. We death marched it out of there and I met up with my family on Columbus. I didnt think the death march was nearly as terrible as last year but perhaps that was because I was expecting it and because I wasnt feeling as much as crap as I did last year. I drank the recovery gatorade and had more pretzels.

We took the subway home which was brutal. Stairs=brutal. I had an apple, 2 slices of pizza, champagne, a choco covered apple and some mango plus a chocolate milk, a gatorade and 2 bottles of water when I got home/before bed. Not a ton given the day's activities.

Today, my legs are shredded. I don't know why I keep using that term but that's what they are. I can hardly walk. Never mind curbs. HA. I remember after NJ Shore I couldnt sit on the toilet. This time thats no issue. Funny how the same run can be so different. This year I remember all of the park and the last 3 m, last year I didnt. Last year I loved Brooklyn, this year I cheered the guy on the Pulaski with the Get out of Brooklyn sign.

I saw all my peeps this year, I can't say I had fun, but I'm in great cardiovascular shape and while I'm not happy I refuse to say I regret it. I know a lot of people who PR'd yesterday and of whom I'm very proud. It was not my day. My PR came a week too early at the 5-miler Kickoff Run.

positives:
-I met my mentor and go to coach this season, both of whom I hope to stay friendly with
- I pulled myself out of a gargantuan hole and have not shed one tear
- salt tablets no longer make me gag.
-no blisters after all the blister drama this summer
-my friends and family (more of them) got to see me run
-perhaps i inspired people i dont even know
-i raised money for tnt
- i have yet another medal

yea so that's about all I've got. I'm trying to focus on the positives and just go with it. this week will be all about recovery (esp my legs! yikes!) and next week I'll look to set some goals, both in terms of future runs and also in terms of general fitness. I am pretty sure I am done with marathoning. This really was the ultimate defeat. I am humbled, embarrassed and ultimately defeated by the greatest event the greatest city has to offer and I don't know if I'll look to fight this beast without knowing I will dominate.

NYCM Non race report

I don't quite have the energy to post a full race report.

I had a bad race.  By M6 I knew it wasnt happening. I almost dropped out at M8 I felt so terrible. I've really struggled this season with salt and electrolytes. I finally started feeling normal by M14 and kept running with a lot of breaks to see my friends, pose for pictures and just make it through.

5:13 something is my official time. I didnt even check because I don't really care.

Yea, I ran another marathon, it feels like a waste.

I really dont know what happened. M1 was purposely so slow, my legs were lead. My 2 was right on pace. M3 and 4 average out. M5 I saw my friends and slowed down. M6 was where I started to not feel well... m7 I couldnt keep it together M8 I sped up because I knew I would see Matt. m9 I almost quit. I felt like I was running through molasses. m10 I walked a bit but finally caught up with some TNT'ers that I knew. m11,12,13,14 was just trying to hold onto a race that wouldnt be a complete mess. I saw my mom before I walked up the Qboro (m15,16). M17 I stopped to talk to Ali and Kelly, in retrospect not my best idea. M18 I saw Matt. M19 I stopped to pick up Nicole. I felt like we were flying when we obv we not. M20 was the Bronx, we walked up the Willis Ave bright. m21 I went to the bathroom, m22 started the hill, m23 I just was slow. M24 I was trying, m25 and m26 I didnt want Jared to pass me. What a day.
The splits:
1-12:37
2-11:01
3-11:47
4-10:21
5-12:03
6-11:33
7-11:50
8-10:39
9-11:50
10-11:46
11-11:29
12-11:40
13-11:50
14-11:45
15-13:18
16-12:20
17-13:04
18-12:01
19-12:15
20-12:24
21-13:15
22-13:15
23-11:54
24-12:23
25-11:19
26- 11:15
0.2- 2:19

Expo and a wonderful dream

I went to the expo this am as tomorrow and this pm I will be at a work conference.

It was pouring rain, although I will not complain about the weather today. If this was Sunday, I would be really unhappy.

Anyway it was pretty uneventful to say the least. I have my number, my shirt and I bought a cute asics shirt just because (I dont know- retrospectively it was dumb- however I am turning all my running shirts into a quilt so I will need more?). Work got me a hat and a long sleeve zip up which was super nice of them. I am here with my poland spring huge bottle and a gatorade. bulk up baby!! I also got some signs at the expo for my friends! HA! I have friends flying in from FL and GA for the weekend. I'm just looking fwd to some fun :)


Last night I didnt take my prednisone but I slept 8 hours straight through so it was worth being a bit stuffed this am. I've also been wearing my contacts so my eyes dont panic Sunday when I try and put them in. I never wear contacts anymore and never for any length of time but I'll wear them today tomorrow and Saturday in preparation. Anyway I had a very realistic (melatonin induced) dream about breaking 4:53. My time in the marathon was 4:42. I would die of happiness I think. Anyway I picked up a 4:50 pace band at the expo.

Nothing else to report. Massage tonight. Conference from 730-4 tomorrow but with an hour plus for lunch. I might skip the lunch and go on a quick run using the Equinox at 63 and Lex as home base (the conference is in the 60s and 5th). So we'll see. Otherwise I will have run my last run my friends.

Funny story and a run

I work in an office in midtown in NYC... conservative finance... blah blah...all I've been thinking of is marathon.


Today I got in the elevator after lunch and held the door for some older guy. He said 'thank you' and asked 'how my day was going'. When I said 'fine', he asked me if our office was quiet today'. I said, 'yeah it is' and he said 'yea its just that time of year' and I said 'oh yeah marathon week' and at the same time he says......................'elections'. Awesome. I felt like such a tool. I have been talking marathon all day to anyone who will listen. I'm less nervous now. Feeling pretty confident. Not sure where that came from.

Tonight was a TNT run. We ran 3.8m in 39:16. Works for me but was too fast again. Was supposed to be 11 min marathon pace. I think that's my largest concern being able to run 11 min miles. Because really that's all I want and I will be happy. So I need to think SLOW JEN SLOW and not RUN JEN RUN :)

Was nice to get some nervous energy out though. Next concern- how in the hell to get downtown and what time I should go at with all the talk that theyre going to be strict this year!!!

If this is taper madness, no thank you please

I feel like I lost my head. All of the sudden I can't concentrate. About 2 minutes passes after each concentrated task before I need to flip to the next one.

Caffeine cutback begins asap. Obviously is not helping.

I made a list of what needs to get done and its hardly anything. I'm just anxious and no workouts are not helping me.

UGH

Poland Sping 5m Kick Off Run

I had been told that the race course is notoriously crowded and that it was for the first mile at least. I had in the back of my head that I wanted to PR and that it wouldnt be too difiicult given that I've only run 2 5m races previously as follows:
-Fathers Day 5m- 52:48 and I pushed a bit
-Hope and Possibility 5m- 55:48 that's more of my normal pace

Both races were this summer, 6/20/10 and 6/27/10 so the weather was much much different than today which was sunny and 54 degrees.

Regardless, I was psyched with my final time. 49:01. YAAAAHOOOOOO!!!! A PR by 3 min 47 seconds unofficially.  The course was a clockwise loops starting right before the NYCM finish line.

Spilits:
10:30
9:57
9:53
9:29
9:11

When I started and saw 10:30 given the west side hills I figured 'Hey! Maybe I'll break the 52:48 I set in the summer, that would be nice'... When I hit the second split right by the 102 transverse I was like, Huh sounds great. I did mess up the splits a bit so m1 and m2 were more like 10:23 and 10:04 but whatever. I decided then I wanted to pick it up a bit and saw the 9:53 for m3 and decided that I wanted to break 50 min. 49:01 is a dream!!! I think my ultimate 5m goal is going to be 45min but we'll get there with training etc. 2011 is the year of training runs. I am going to set 4m, 5m 10k goals and we'll hopefully get to 9 min pace for the 10k, 8:45 pace for the 5m and 8:30 pace for the 4m.

YAY SUNDAY! Here I come NYCM!

So much for a 6m slow run paced run

I didnt feel like getting out of bed this am. I had wine and cuban last night and was up until 1 am with friends. I slept to 9 am which felt so incredulously late and skipped the TNT last Saturday run. Instead I lounged all day, did laundry, made my pile for next Sunday and finally, an hour before sunset decided to drag my butt out of bed to run. I ran 3.83m which was 1 lap of the reservoir and to and from the park. The perfect weekday am or early pm run to be honest. I like living so close to the park.

Without realizing it I ran a 9:44 pace. Uhm OK. I dont think its possible, honest. But the watch and runningahead dont lie, right? Even if I was off witht he mileage it would have to be quite a bit to move it to an 11 min pace.

Oh well.

Tomorrow I am running the Poland Spring 5-mile kick off. I will not run too fast!!!

The luck of the orange

I lurk in the Runners World forums. I post as well, but more lurking than posting (although I have been posting over the last week a ton I must admit). Apparently there is a myth of sorts associated with running in Orange at the ING marathon (imagine who couldve planted that?!!?)

Anyway. I might pick up some orange laces at the expo AND I might run in the bib I ran in last year which was orange (see side pic). Even if I didnt have my best race ever- it was pretty good for coming down with Bronchitis exactly 30 days before the race. AAAAAAAAAAAND I had the best time (I really did!!!) so maybe there is luck to the orange. Now I want to iron over my letters and recreate last years look. I just have a good feeling about that.

Tonight I ran in CP, just about 4m at a 10:00 pace (ish). I ran with a partner here at our firm who is also running the marathon. It was a nice change and I was able to air some issues out which was nice. Plus, honestly the company was nice. We ran from the East drive at 65th street up to 85th cut into the bridle path then reservoir at engineers gate and then looped the reservoir continuing on the bridle path at 86th/85th street and ran back down the west drive to 6th ave. It really was a nice change up from what I do (which has been sporadic but a lot of lower loops for safety and laziness. I remember how much I used to like running on the bridle path so perhaps I will do a loop of it this weekend and ditch the TNT people. I suppose my only concern would be uneven ground and tripping. I am paranoid after my trip last weekend!

My foot is a mess still. It's comical. My plantars wart was cut out deeply and feels a tad infected. There are still 9 days so I am not worried. I am more worried that I'll walk/run weird and put strains on my calves etc. All in all I need to worry a little less.

So I sit here with my bagel, fall weather in the air (and on the menu today is pizza and more pizza with salad) so marathon season is in full bloom. I know I'll be sad when it's over so I really need to give it my all. Stick to my race plan (to be divulged next week) and just feel good about it. Mental prep people!!

Happy weekend! I am running 6 tomorrow, recovring through 4 on Sunday (still debating whether or not to do Poland Spring which I did sign up for) and then did weights (Arms and Abs!!) this am. I am really happy with my arms. I am looking forward to post marathon where I can try new moves and not worry so much about hurting my back (which I'm concerned with now bc it has been soooo good, too good almost).

On the sickness front I am definitely getting much better. I'm still on Xyzal and Nasonex and rinsging my sinueses 2x a day but the ears are better and I'm hardly stuffy in the am anymore. I am still coughing a few times to clear out my throat but nothing like before where the coughs would last until lunch, in fact I dont even cough after 9 am anymore.

The monster that lurks within

Yesterday I ate something in the ballpark of 3,000 calories. I am not quite sure how this happened, except to say that I had eaten 1,000 calories before lunch. I was just insatiable. And that's not to say I didn't try to stop it, oh my friends, I did. I drank 10 bottles of either Pelligrino or Vitamin Water Zero and a few cups of tea in between to try and stop the hunger. Literally, I ate every hour. Popped chips, cereal, yogurt, dried fruit, egg whites on a wrap, banana, mango. For lunch I had olives, cheese, tomatos, I tried to kick up the fat factor wondering if that's why I was so hungry. NOTHING worked!!! I was giggling at myself by mid-pm because I was for real hungry. Not made up, not comforting myself, I was just plain hungry.

And so I ate. What the hell, right?Mostly healthy things but really, when you eat that much, some is unhealthy. Yes, I had cookies... and a roll... and some hersheys. Grand scheme it didnt make a dent.

Yesterdays workout perhaps took more out of me? I am not sore today but I did have issues dragging myself out of bed this am. I was late, as per usual.

I am starting to check out the accuweather forecast- It's obviously way too early. It incites no emotion when I see the day surronded by rain- perhaps I am getting wiser. I will not waste energy panicking about something I can not change.

Tonight is an easy 3m run. I feel as if I will participate even though I had another podiatrist treatment and the bottom of my foot is burned (literally) raw. I will be fine. Tomorrow yoga in the am. I must get in bed early.

Recovery Run and Monday am gym workout

I woke up this am with a clear head and a full breath. Wow, it's been a while, hello air! I am feeling better but still have icky post nasal drip. Apparently that can just hang around for well, forever. Let's hope thats not the case.

Saturday I rested long and hard before a few errands post run. Sunday was a day of rest too. Brunch, facial, rest rest rest. I did manage a 3.25m recovery walk with the bf. We walked all the way up Riverside. It's freaking gorgeous. I wouldve moved to be close to that park alone!

This am I woke up early and went to the gym. 35 min of arms, some squats and lunges for added strength and abs. Last night the bf told me I looked thinner. Hey, I'll take it.

We're now officially into taper. I'm not quite sure what that means as my mileage was never oh so high.

What do you do to taper?

Last long run

Today was our last long run before the marathon. We ran from the Mall to the Q'boro bridge, up 1st Ave to 115th then over to 5th and back into the park to finish the marathon course. We were supposed to run up to 125th but the guy with whom I ran and I went to Starbucks to pee on 1st ave and lost the group. We decided to make up time but cutting out part of the route.

Overall the run was fine. I had forgotten how freaking difficult the last 10 miles are. They really are insanely hard. The elevation is all over the map and its just hard.

I was a bit upset today. I really dont feel like I have it in me. Then my mentor wrote me this. I heart her. She is so right. And with that, and a few tears, I am excited for Nov 7th.

Enough of the negative self-talk! You are a marathoner. You have completed multiple marathons, which is more than approximately 90% of the population. That, in itself, is a huge accomplishment.

It's easy to get hung up on PR's and times, but we both know that all the Excel spreadsheets, bib analyses, etc. don't mean anything when it comes down to race day. Some days are better than others. Some days PR's come easily. Other days they don't come at all. That's part of being a runner (and something I am working hard to accept). 

But in the grand scheme of things, your time doesn't matter. What matters is that you've devoted almost six months to training, running, fundraising and preparing for the NYC Marathon. You've put your heart, time and effort into your runs and races this season. And some were better than others. You were sidelined with bronchitis, head colds and the like, but you continued to train. You ran those hill repeats and intervals without complaining, and you showed me how much heart you have. 

On November 7th, we get to be superstars! We get to run on a course run by world-class athletes, and the spectators will cheer for us as though we are. In their eyes, what we are doing is crazy, insane, unbelievable, inspiring, powerful (insert additional adjectives here). And yes; it's all of those things.

I am proud of you. I am honored to be your mentor this season (yes; it sounds cheesy...sorry; it's who I am). So what if you don't PR? It doesn't matter to me. It doesn't matter to the spectators cheering. It certainly doesn't matter to your coaches and teammates. What matters is that you run the race with your heart and your head and you finish. 

Cars in Central Park

So I have always been anti cars in Central Park. Why do they need to be there? Who needs to drive through the park? Don't people know this is a pedestrian city?

And then today happened. I was tired and stuffed up from my event last nigth and from my lovely head cold (no infections!!! just pressure!!) and decided to take a cab. Well, he entered the park on the west drive at 85th street and what a treat! In NYC you never see trees when you're in a cab. It was a pre-fall wonderland. I loved it. I want to take a cab through the park daily. I'm sure it wasnt the quickest, but I was at peace when I got to work.

I was supposed to run today but I'm stuffed up, overtired and cry-y. I am getting a massage instead. Whatever, its taper right? No junk miles? They wouldnt have been junk miles, but at this point, do I even really care?

Pacing Run

The workout tonight was as follows:

Course: 3 lower loops, starting and ending at Bethesda

How to run the workout: For your first loop, you'll start with a warm-up by running easy until W. 64th St., then pick up the pace to about 75% effort. For your second loop, you're going to hammer it -- push it to 85%+ effort for the entire loop. You should be tired once you finish this loop. For the third loop, you're going to try to run the same pace as you did for the first loop. This is not a recovery loop -- the purpose of this loop is to run a decent pace on tired legs.
 
I really fail the whole pacing exercise as a whole, however, tonight was an OK night. What is 75% effort to you?  To me, it means MP. So, I ran as follows: (lower loop =1.7153 miles)
Lap 1: 18:42 (11 min pace)
Lap 2: 17:55 (10:28 pace)
Lap 3: 17:52 (yay us! although that wasnt quite the point!!!) (10:27 pace)
 
My legs were pretty beat up from my pyscho no rest workout yesterday. I did about 30 min of arms/abs with squats and lunges instead of rest (dont ask I don't really know why I did this- one last hard leg workout???) and then ran 1.25 m at a 11:30 pace to loosen up my tired from the wkd run and recovery run legs. Overall was a good workout and stretch. Tonight felt good. Not easy, but good. I am still post nasal drippy. It's gross. It's def not bronchitis or an infection, in fact, I feel better post run which my doc says is 100% indicative that I need rest, fluids and good nights sleep to feel better. I do feel better, for the record, but I am also panicky over being sick given how I got sick last year the month before the marathon. So take everything I write about being sick with a grain of salt as its been overanalyzed twelve times.
 
Anyways. I ran with 2 girls I had never met before which was fun, I like meeting the new people. I really want to keep up with TNT. I really fell into it this season, I guess going to the practices helps. The mission moment tonight (a 5 min blurb where someone explains what TNT means to them) was a girl who when her mom was doing through radiation for melanoma (or something) she went out and actually got hit by a car 12 blocks from her house. Of course her mother was called and her mother, who had raditation that DAY, RAN to her daughter. It's just a story but at the same time it shows the human spirit and what you can do AND how thankful we should be that we CAN run and DO run. Every time I run I am running for those who can't. Sometimes it really just resonates with me. She also (coincidentally) is cousins by marriage with the Rutgers football player in the news this weekend after being paralyzed in the game vs Army. Read about it here. Just makes me think we're lucky we can run and lucky that we do, in the largest, greatest city in the world (IMHO).
 
Tomorrow my friends and I who run a charity are throwing an event. So no working out. Thursday will be another run. I really need me some yoga, perhaps this weekend.

Monday Blues

Mondays just suck. With long runs on Saturdays the weekend never feels long enough.

I slept a lot last night and didn't have the energy to get up to the gym this am. I am going this pm FOR SURE and am going to do weights and perhaps a short run. Tomorrow I hope to wake up early for yoga and will run with TNT (pacing workout) in the pm. Wednesday I hope to do weights in the am. Thursday is a pm run. Friday is am weights and Saturday will be the last 10m of the marathon. Sunday will be another fitness walk.

Last night Matt and I went on a 4.5m fitness walk along the Hudson near sunset. It's so gorgeous! I love the UWS, have I mentioned that???

My legs arent tired or sore today which is nice. I wish I wouldve gotten up this am but honestly, was just tired. I think the melatonin makes me groggy. I should stop taking it but I sleep so much better when I do!!

I am hacking today. WHAT IN THE HELL!?

PIckle juice and a long run...

So this am I woke up to my last long run before taper! I was so excited!!! I honestly am just over these long runs- I don't get into the groove until about 1:30 HOURS into the run. It's miserable until then!!! Luckily I really enjoyed the first 8m of the marathon last year so I'll be OK. Anywho I ran in CP even though our initial plan (after having run extensively in the park this season) was to run up the WSH. It was really windy this morning! It was about 48 at the start of my run (730) with winds gusting to 25-30 mph. I wore my Nike wind jacket which really is just so versatile. At the finish it was approx 58 degrees and just as windy!

I ran from the apt to the Mall, did a 6m loop counterclockwise, crossed over at 72nd street and did a 5m loop. From the apt to the Mall its about 2m which when I measured it for the first time it was 2.7m so I'm kinda confused over what I did. I ran for 2 hours and 48 min and felt OK. I was pretty tired by the end.

I spoke to the doctor last night- he thinks I have post nasal drip (I mean its like a cold) and acid reflux (which I'm had issues with in the past).... I have been taking maalox and wow my throat doesnt hurt anymore. I am coughing still after the run which is troublesome. The doc told me to rest, push fluids and told me to not take the zpak. He doesnt think I'm sick enough. So we'll see.

Oh and the post is called pickle juice because I drank some post run. Headache isnt really there (I did take tylenol preemptively) so I say success.

What kind of sick am I?

So as I've said quite a few times, I'm sick. First it was a cough, (last week) I was so scared it was bronchitis, I coughed for almost a week, I went to the doc (Monday), I'm clear of bronchitis. I got a flu shot (Monday) and Tuesday and Wednesday the cough is worse, the spasms are back.... Today I wake up congested, slightly sore throat, clogged ears. Awesome. Different sickness. I went to work late and came home early.

My back was starting to be achey so I decided that before I took my nap this pm I was going to go to the gym... maybe just walk a bit, stretch, etc... so I get on the treadmill and remember the workout from TNT was warmup, 2m at MP, 2m at 1/2 MP, cooldown. So I decided to go for it... figured if it sucked I would stop, no big deal. Well, I ran the whole thing. What in the hell? What kind of sick am I? I felt BETTER when I was done with the run... which went as follows:

0.5m warm up, slow walking-- fast walking...
2m at 10:42 pace (ideal MP)
1m at 10:20 pace
1m at 10:10 pace (started to feel tough and my HR was up at 166 supposedly according to the machine so grain of salt people)
0.5m at 11 pace
cooldown 0.25m

So yea, workout, pretty much done. Better than nothing. TOmorrow, weights. Saturday 15m, Sunday something!!

MP-ish run

Tonights run was meant to be 3 lower loops (so 1.7m x3) at MP (marathon pace) then MP-15, MP-30. I decided to only do 2 loops and a little (for 40 min) to make sure I didnt stress out my chest.

To recap, the doc said no Z-pack but if I don't feel better by tomorrow pm I am going to start it. I can't afford to be sick.

Anyway back to the run.

I didn't track the splits because we were having such a great time running. I ran with Heather, who is my fabulous mentor. In fact, shes the only mentor over THREE seasons that I've bonded with. I hope we stay friends. SO, that was a wonderful luxury, to be able to run with her- we chatted the whole time and at one point were running 9:45. OOPS. Def not MP or MP-30. I was supposed to run 10:50, 10:35, 10:20. OOPSIE.

Anyway I wasnt following the workout so why do I even care!!! I am goign to go for a qiuck run tomorrow and then will do weights in the am if I can fit it in or will do it tomorrow before dinner with Nicole. I am going to a conference in the pm so it's OK if I spend 90 min tomorrow working out. I should really sleep in but I hate running indoors at this point so who knows. It makes more sense to let myself sleep in, so again, we'll see. I really want to be better. I am so terrified of being sick.

So that's all I've got. I ran into Danny leaving the park. OH, and random, I was walking out the 73rd street exit and a guy came bounding down and told me to not go up that way because there was a pack of raccons! yikes!

Blister side note: my entire heel is like the remnants of a blister/dead skin. SO gross. I'm jsut letting it stay there- which is even more gross. My plantars warts are still alive and kicking (apparently running makes them spread- so disgusting) I went to get it acid-burned today and I hate running on it after- so painful!!

Also- side note. when we went to Cooperstown over Labor Day I tried a bunch of Ommegang beers which is a micro brewery up there. They sell it at Whole Foods. If you like beer, try them. I love Hennepin. YUM!

the land of air parenthesis

It’s funny. This weekend I have to run 15-16m. This is hardly different from the 18+ I ran last week yet I am SO pumped to ‘only’ have to run 15-16m. Pretty lame huh? I suppose perhaps I am more excited that it’s going to be the last ‘long’ run before NYCM. I am running the ‘last 10’ with TNT the weekend following and after that running 6m Saturday and an easy 5m at the Marathon Kick-Off. All my runs after this Saturday’s seem manageable and doable without falling under the elusive ‘Marathon Training’ umbrella which seems to be suffocating me.


In other news, I am trying to mentally prepare for the race. I know what I’m wearing (baring weather issues- pink tank top with arm warmers and shorts, debating compression socks but might just put them on after? I will run with them this wkd and see how I feel), I’m trying to stay positive re my finish time. In fact, I am going to run this weekend with the 10:30 pace group and see how that goes. I’m a little panicked over the idea so perhaps I need to ask Mike about it. Maybe run some slower miles at the start and then meet up with the group to run 10:30s?

Tonight is a pacing workout. I am still coughing although I’ve taken the inhaler about 3x since yesterdays doctors visit. I am still coughing. I need a day in bed is really what it is at this point. I have a conference tomorrow pm so I might be playing hooky in the am.

Monday blues

I hate that today is a half holiday and I am at work. It's nonsense.

I went to the doc this am since I'd been coughing for over a week and just feel like I need a day in bed. Unfortunately with my job, that won't happen and we have another busy week and weekend ahead.

Long story short he gave me a flu shot, told me to use my inhaler (which I've been saddled with since I had swine flu this past spring, I have gotten bronchitis 2x since then!!!) and rest up and push fluids. I have no fever and no real issues besides a slight wheeze, but I don't have asthma. The inhaler is steroidal in nature and allows your bronchials (the small ones that havea  different name) to relax and stay open which alleviates the wheezing. It's no big deal but still, sucky.

Hey, at least I got a flu shot!!! All included in my $15 co-pay. I was happy!

So today as a result is an off day- which means Wednesday I now have to wake up early, bummer.

Schedule:
M: off
T: pacing run at TNT- 5.1m at MP or faster
W: 45 min cardio, 45 min strength (uhm yeah, who has time for this?)
T: tempo run (5m all in)
F: arms and abs
S: 15m, no more, no less, although I keep feelign like I should do 16. I've done 2-16's and 3-18s. Is that enough???
S: recovery run-3/4m(yawn I hate recovery runs!)

2nd to last long run

Yesterday I ran just over 18 miles in Central Park. It was my first run from my new house which was kinda neat. I really liked the convinience. I took off around 7:30 and headed into the park at 90th street going clockwise to hit up Harlem Hill and beyond. I met up with TNT at the 72nd street transverse and turned around to run counterclockwise (ugh back up HH!!!) I had to slow significantly to run at the 11 min pace the group I always run with was running. I'm not sure if that is good or bad, its my newest 'problem': comfort at the 10:15/30 pace for quite a few miles (less than a half marathon though!!!).

We ended up doing 2 full loops of the park and then a lower loop. Should be approximately 4.43+12+1.7. Then I walked home from 72nd street which is another mile and a half or so. I'm not sure why I walked home, in retrospect it was pretty dumb, I didnt drink until I got home, well I did, just not a ton. I did have a bagel at practice after the run though.

I ran with a girl I met, Megan- she was super cool so that was fun.

My head yesterday- oy vey. It was the worst headache I've ever had. Like honestly, the worst. I bought pickles today and before the run tomorrow I am going to drink pickle juice before and after the run whcih apparently is supposed to help. APparently the vinegar used to brine (sp?) the cucumbers really helps with hydration. I don't know whats up with me. I don't know if its too much salt, not enough salt, too much water, not enough water. who the hell knows. Its really frustrating. I don't know what or when this took over my life. Swollen fingers, but not too bad yesterday, headaches... etc. AND I have been drinking water/gatorade/gelling/eating etc. Like I am not NOT drinking enough, if that makes sense.

Overall the run went well. I was tired at the end but hey, I hadnt run long lately AND I think I went out too fast because I was later than I thought. Overall I felt ok. Today my IT band is iffy- its very chicken cutlet-ly if that makes sense. I went for a 2 mile recovery fast walk. I tried to run but honestly it sucked. So then I walked and then I ran a few errands.

My blisters (the remnants/areas of) were ok after the run. theyre slightly sore but theyre OK which is super positive.

Nothing else to report. Ready for another weekend, not a week of work!!