Another Notch, Another Run

Ran a full 3m on the treadmill yesterday. "Strongest' 3-miler yet, well since I've been back anyway. I still get really tired but less so each time. I suppose it is all about conditioning. It's been about a month since my surgery so time to kick it in gear.

I am still running the Phila half on 11/20. My goal time is 2:10. We'll see how acheievable that is. SHould be nice weather at the very least. I am running the Staten Island half as my training test run. That is in October. I am also running the 5 miler kickoff in the park on marathon week- should give me some speed testing. Other than that. I need a real plan now that I can run so today, because it's Friday, I made one. I did it in Excel. Spent a lot of time on it. Can't post it here because my pc skills are lacking.

So I'll leave you with a beach pic of myself I love...

HAPPY WKD!


Want to run the Miami RNR marathon/half? Check out this blog:
http://www.runtothefinish.com/2011/08/win-entry-miami-beach-rock-n-roll-half.html?showComment=1313772167546#c5682708189736532317

First TNT run of the season... better late than never!

Tonight was my first TNT run of the season. Delicious.

We ran the NYCM finish line hill repeats. I ran 3. Beginners were to run 3-4. I figured first night back, why push it. I also should have taken my allergy meds before I went but I forgot so c'est la vie.

This year, my three repeats were 2:58, 2:58 and 2:52. I couldve run them a bit faster, but again, first night back.


Here is how it went last year... I was faster for sure. But not so much it's shocking. So, disappointing but OK. I think the workout before I ran 2:56's so I am overall not too disappointed.

We'll see how things go on a go forward basis. I am also heavier this year so clearly that plays into it. I also havent run outside since like, seriously, May? Unclear. Tomorrow we're meant to ride our bikes in the am and then we have my company BBQ in the pm.

I am proud people! Running has been my nemesis. I had a slight headache when I went to practice but am feeling OK! Hooray- maybe the surgery is worth it short term too!

bumble

I didnt run Sunday. It wasnt because of the torrential rain either. I tore up my calves with my new sneakers. Why is it that sneaker companies claim to make the same sneakers when in fact the newer models clearly are different? Or is it now that I'm adjusted to my old pathetic non supportive sneaks? Who knows. Needless to say, there was no workout Sat or Sun. Yesterday I did 20 min on the elliptical and 25 of weights.

Tonight is TNT hills int he park. I will be there with bells on, I will, really! I feel confident I can run because the pollen has all been washed away! HOORAY!

Update

Well  I have been obviously missing since my surgery.

I had septoplasty on 7/21 and boy is it a surgery. It was a Thursday and I did struggle to recover. My surgery was for 8 in the am on Thursday which was ideal because I was home by noon. And yes, I even managed to have a light lunch. It's really hard to do anything when your nose is impacted. You need your nose to do absolutely everything. I was breathing out of my mouth for quite a few days. Overall the surgery was uncomfrotable but not painful.

I did have anethesia, morphine and vicodin- who knew! Thursday/Friday were really tough with a whole lot of doing absolutely nothing. Saturday I finally started to get better and lo and behold, Saturday night came down with a fever. Sunday was awful. My fever spiked up to 102 and I was achey and just miserable. Monday was more of the same. At my post-op doctors appointment my lovely doc (who I do really like) let me know that I had caught a cold or more than likely a virus of some sort. I was on antibiotics and she calimed my nose was healing well so just to push fluids and rest. Monday night I seriously was in tears. So much pain, so much discomfort and a fever that wouldnt break from its 102/103 threshold even with ice packs on my head and under my arm pits. Monday night my fever finally broke and I ended up taking Tuesday off because I was exhausted.

Anyway last week was hell back at work... I consistently felt like I had walked into a shit show. Wednesday I was really quite out of it and Thursday was a 13 hour day. Friday I got home at 7 pm and got into pj's. I didnt get out of bed (for more than an hour) until 7 pm on SATURDAY! So yea, still recovering. I finally worked out yesterday. 25 min weights workout. The positive is that I was using my 18 lb kettlebells which is what I was up to 10 days prior. The bad news is that I was exhausted, sweating like a pig and had an abnormally elevated (for me) heartrate.

I think I am going to attempt our TNT hill workout tonight. I need to just throw myself back into it? right?

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

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!!!

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!!!

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. 

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.

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.

Hill repeats- NYCM finish line

You may remember that back in mid August we did a hill repeat workout at TNT which was the west side of the park from about Columbus circle to the finish line of the NYCM at Tavern on the Green. I wrote about it here.

My splits then (for the 0.31m 'hill') were: 2:31, 2:35, 2:36, 2:36, 2:40

Last night I ran 4 repeats instead of 5, mainly bc I was worried about blisters.  My splits were as follows:
2:15, 2:16, 1:58, 1:48

The 1:48 may be slightly inflated but boy were my arms pumping. I have arm pumping issues my friends. I don't pump. I run like a wimp. But, I am learning. I am pumping. I honestly think working out my arms and abs and upper back has helped me with this. I am a complicated bird though, given that my back is fused from my thoracic vertabrae 3 to 11. ISSUES!

Anyway. I was really pleased with that. The largest differential was still about 42 seconds. Which is crazy. My average pace round I was 8:15. My average pace round II (excl the 1:48 which I think is a bit shy of what it should be) was 7:00. AMAZING improvement.

i think it was tapering the last days resting my foot. Maybe it was all the hill training. Maybe its all my strength training. Maybe my watch was wrong? Why does the doubt creep in?

I have another blister. Honestly this is insane. It's all on one foot. I've never had substantial blisters before. It's laughable. Today I'm goign to take off from running, inspired from yesterdays run. I am goign to paint my apt so avoid the charge when I move Friday (I painted a wall gray). So yea, there's that. I am running Grete's Gallop Saturday. I don't expect to PR given that I'll have moved Friday.

4m pacing run

Last night TNT's workout was this: Course: 4 mile loop. 72nd St. transverse up to the 102nd St transverse, cross over the west side, head south back down to the 72nd St transverse, back to Bethesda How to run it: You're going to warm up – nice easy pace – to Cleopatra's Needle (the obelisk right behind the Met). From there, run at your long run pace to E. 102nd St. Once you turn left onto the 102nd St. transverse, pick up the pace to your half marathon or marathon pace (if you're not sure what that is, run at about 75% effort), and continue that pace until W. 86th St. (traffic light at top of the hill). From there, try pushing it to about 80% effort level to W. 72nd. That part of the course is all downhill or flat, so it should be easier to push it and challenge yourself. Cool down back to Bethesda.

I ran in 39:12 which is faster than I normally run in general. Factor in that the first mile or so was definitely at talking pace, we definitely picked it up during the 3 bitches. Mentally it was tough for me given I had run the course how many times this wkd?!!?! I ran with TNT but also brought a guy from work who runs so that was very helpful. I did stop for water 2x.

My killer blister is back today and very very tender. I need nu-skin apparently. Right now I'm just trying to get through the week.

Today is an off day because of lack of time in general. This wkd is a mess. I have to pack my apt and my bf's apt and paint walls in each apt with respective paint (what BS!!!).

I like my ROCKED IT tag. Makes me feel good. Even if it was only 4m :)

Thursday is running after work. Friday is arms/abs and some legs in the am and then at night I have to pack and get organized. Saturday will be my long run- 16m-ish and Sunday will be yoga and a recovery run.

Yassos Round II

So last night I did my second set of Yassos. I skipped Urban because of the rain and thunder disaster! I would have been out after the bad part of the storm but there have been 3 deaths in central park this year (see here) so I am a scaredy cat and thought it best to stay inside. I actually found out the workout they did and wished I had gone, I like that workout. (Varying lenghts)

Instead I did yassos Round II. My round I was on 9/8 so it's about a week ago that I did them last. I added one yasso repeat this time (per how you're supposed to) and it was WAY easier than it was last time I did yassos thats for sure. Sometimes I wonder how much is mental and how much is physical. I am OK mentally this week. A little tired but ready to just focus on the schedule and go. No more over analyzing.

This am I did arms and abs. I really like my arms. My triceps still need work but otherwise I am happy. I am up inthe air about doing a short run tonight. I'm kinda tired. I am doing yoga tomorrow for sure and then running a bunch of errands. Sunday is the tune up. I need a race plan!!!

Where are you mentally right now? Are you ready for your event? Getting tired?

Hydration and last nights run.

Last night we ran lower loop repeats. The air was deliciously cool and not dense. Do I hear fall making a sly entrance????

The workout was meant to be as follows:
1st loop: Run your normal easy, long run pace.
2nd loop: Run about 15-20 seconds faster than the first loop.
3rd loop: Run 10-15 seconds faster than your 2nd loop (or 25-35 faster than the first).

I didn't quite accomplish this in the 2nd loop but made it up in the last loop. I decided I was running 10-15 seconds faster by mile forget 'by loop'.

My times:
1-18:01 (10:35 pace)
2-17:54 (10:32 pace)
3-17:00 (10 pace)

I was happy with those. I mean 10:35 isnt my long run pace but I'm trying to make it be. It's just not an easy pace for me. I definitely need more practice because obviously I can run at it. 5m isnt long by any stretch but its certainly not a sprint. The park was crowded. YOu know its marathon season.

This blog came up in another friends blog click here

So here's what I take from it. People judge the slower runners with fuel belts, and some people are lucky enough that their body mechanics are so stable they arent hydrating maniacs like yours truly. I hydrate. quite a bit actually.  I always run with water. Read: always. I happen to fuel 1x an hour for the most part. mostly with gels for convinience but sometimes with bars, bananas, oranges, etc. I am hypoglycemic and need the extra hydration/food to not feel super light headed. I need to eat pizza before a long run. Always. I can't eat peanut butter before runs or I feel sick. It's just how it goes. If I tried to run 10m with no fuel I wouldnt make it.

I get annoyed that people judge. Leave the slower peeps alone. Sometimes when I’m at the 5k race it’s really a run within a run and I’ve run 5m there and will run say 5 miles home. Can I have water for a half marathon? Sometimes I wear a fuel belt because I need to carry a bunch of crap with me and figure, hell, throw on the water. I have def felt judged at a shorter race that I’m fitting in.

I guess my point is, don’t judge. I always used to be annoyed by people flying past me on the trails, now I think, whatever this is my recovery run, maybe it’s their tempo. While I agree it’s an interesting debate, I’m cool with it until the judging begins

Yassos Round I

So I've never officially done Yassos but I've read a lot about them and decided to try them as an addition to my workouts if I ever have an 'off' day in terms of not being able to make practice. This week my schedule is a shit show. I am going to Vegas with some girl friends leaving at 6 pm tomorrow so I'll have to leave the office at 3:45 and won't be in on Friday. I have massive amounts of work plus so much extra with the working out, running and the move (and breaking my lease etc). SO MUCH GOING ON.

Anyway. So last night was a 5-k 'race' with TNT. I bombed. 31:00 was my time but that included a bunch of walking. Way to hold the pace Jen. I think I was running 8:30 pace. WHY can't I hold on. I know it was hot, but still! Frustrating.

So yes, this am I decided Yassos were the way to go. Just 4- how hard can it be??? Here is how you do a YASSO 800 workout

I warmed up for 7 min (my tolerance for treadmill warmups is measly) and then did the following:
Yasso 1- 7.1mph, 8:30 pace, 4:15 goal marathon time (WHOOPS)
Yasso 2- 6.7mph, 8:57 pace, 4:28 goal marathon time (alright alright!!)
Yasso 3- 6.7mph, 8:57 pace, 4:28 goal marathon time (alright alright!!)
Yasso 4- 6.7mph, 8:57 pace, 4:28 goal marathon time (alright alright!!)

I made it through all 4 repeats. I suck at math in the am apparently because after I finished the first round and was like 'wow this is goign to be hard' I realized why that was.

Total time was 30:54 which means each break was less than 3 minutes which is too short!!! UGH. Ok something to watch for next time. Oh well. I was running out of time anyway and didnt want to be late to work.

Tomorrow is an off day for me because I have an 8 am meeting and 6 pm flight, it literally doesnt fit!! Friday I intend to run 12 miles on the treadmill and then do abs. Saturday I migth take off, we shall see. Sunday I intend to run 4-5m and Monday as well :) I will be in Minnetonka Monday. Holy travel!

Good luck to all of you on your long runs this weekend!

18-miler, first, but not last of the season

Friday was my scheduled 18-miler.

It was supposed to rain and be icky and be terrible and with Earl on the way I didn't know what to expect. I am not a girl that deals with change or is very flexible. So.... I resigned myself to a treadmill run. To be honest, i do think it helps with mental fitness, it's pretty terrible.

I got to work early Friday and plowed through massive amounts of work before departing at 2:30. I was on the treadmill and ready to start at 3:20. Yes, I moved pretty slowly to get to Equinox.

I had my gels, my huge water, my gatorage and my phone. On the treadmill I went. I broke the run into 3 6-mile segments. The first was tough in terms of getting into a groove, I felt like I was bored and dying to just fall into it. The second half I wanted to run 10:30 pace. That's my goal for the NYCM I think. I just don't think I'll be able to do better, however, i will not set my full goals until closer to the event. We're not done yet, right?!!?

1st 6-miles: 69:44, like I said, just trying to get through it
2nd 6-miles: 63:30, struggled in the last mile to hold the pace, was bored
3rd 6-miles: 66:05, was just happy to be finished.

Conclusion: treadmill runs are awful. Theyre really boring and there was nothing on tv! I usually switch treadmills but this time I just reset every 6-miles. It was interesting to me how many people gravitate to the same treadmills! I guess because the gym was relatively empty you could really gather perspective on the treadmills that were more often used. The good thing about treadmill running is that i drink more and feel less awful at the end. I even stretched my poor legs right after and showered at the gym to put on my compression socks. For whatever reason it was super uncomf to run in them.

I went to bed after visiting Eataly (which had awesome pizza and dessert) and passed out rather early. I woke up extra early Saturday (630ish) and headed home to pack for our trip. We had a great weekend but I forgot my shorts so didnt get in any running. My back has been TERRIBLE lately. Ever since I was sick I've been in uber pain. Very sucky.

Today I worked out at Equinox this am. My yoga teacher Jennifer wasnt in this am so I did weights instead, why waste being late to work on a new teacher (ironically I  was late anyway!!). My workout was the following all with12.5 lbs weights in each hand:
(2 sets each)
1 arm chest pull on bench
regular squats w weights on shoulders
chest press
skull crushers
bended back rows
1 armed weight above head lunge
side to side jumps
woodchopper w 4 kg ball w squat
sump squat w pull up
bent over row
tricep dips
mountain climbers (30 each time)
weight ball roll down and up
side plank with raise
plank

I was exhausted! Tonight is Test #2 with TNT. I am doing the beginner course again for time constraint purposes but hope to beat my 9:50 pace from late July. I am not very hopeful but we shall see.

Tonigth I need to pack up my valuables from the apt as its goign to be shown when I'm not there (for ease , because really people, when am I ever home?)