JULY MONTH IN REVIEW

Month in review
It’s a tad early but I know what I am doing through Saturday and it is rare that I skip (and I won’t skip tonight and I will not let myself skip tomorrow!!)

This analysis covers the period between July 5th when I officially started marathon training (it’s only been a month!@?%@#*&#*?)

Total days worked out: 22/27 (does not include yesterdays lame stretch session)
Total Workouts: 25 (Note: sometimes I do weights in the am and yoga at night!)
Total Runs: 12
Miles Run: 65 (low month) (Assuming I run 4m tonight and 12 this wkd)
Average Pace: 10:50 (excluding tonight’s workout and Saturdays run
Strength dedicated workouts: 7 (includes arms and abs 20 min workouts too)
Yoga Workouts: 3 (includes back yoga on Fridays 2x and 1 vinyasa class)
Spin Classes: 2
Other workouts: 1 Elliptical

Thoughts: I need to be better about taking rest days and not feeling guilty. I also need to see if I can sneak in an extra recovery run day on Sunday. Overall, I am pretty happy. August should be a challenging month in terms of time. There’s a lot going on from a travel perspective and with work, so we shall see where I squeeze everything in !

another reflection

I am not quite sure why I am so reflective lately, perhaps I am trying to find meaning in my running and perhaps I am justifying why I want to push myself hard this season. What are my goals? Why am I pushing? Will I ultimately be happy with a 4:45 marathon or 4:30 marathon or whereever I end up come November 7th? I actually am worried I will be the most nervous this time around. I know waht is coming, I know what will be tough, and I know my goals are steep in terms of comparison times.

let's face it, it will be a battle.

In May 2009, I ran 5:23 at the NJ Shore
In November 2009, I ran 4:59:46 in NYC

The winter was rough for me with swine flu, chest infections, moving, losing my job. I was supposed to train all winter on speed and be a demon by now, speed demon that is.

I am no such thing. I am still in the slow Urban group. I still struggle in the heat (not sure hwo I thought that would be worked out over the winter, but I suppose I thought I would be stronger?).

I have had some positive workouts lately. In fact, Tuesdays TNT hill training (5 laps of 80th to 84th street heading counterclockwise) were EASY. No residual pain yesterday!! AT ALL! It was great weather and I actually had hoped for a harder workout. I did the intermediate workout. So that also was lame. GO FOR IT JEN! Do the advanced! Le sigh, I don't believe in myself.

Mrs Duffy (http://mrsduffysmarathonblog.blogspot.com) commented that I really beat my first marathon time by a lot my second time around on a harder course. This is going to sound funny, but I had never thought of that. I was so focused on how i BARELY made is under 5 hours and how I didnt do as well as others and thought I shouldve done better.... I failed to note my accomplishment. I PR'd by 24 min. This time around, I would love to PR by 24 min. That would be 4:35.

There's no time for goals at the moment. There is indication, but no firm goals.

Focusing on the wks ahead. This weekened we head to Cinnci for a wedding. I am running with TNT there. I think I am aiming for 10-12miles depending on weather. The week after I most likely will run a bit less in prep for the NY Bronx half. My goal time is at least 2:20. Thats my PR for a half. Which was set at my first half, grete's gallop. This year grete's gallop in October I hope to course PR by 5 min. I am excited to try!

Tonight: Urban. No idea what the workout will be. I'm hoping not tempo. I hate tempo.

why i run, a rant and reflection.

so i think a lot when i run. i probably overthink to be perfectly honest. i think about what i have to do later, i think about errands i need to run. i sometimes think about food or sleeping or a dream i had. sometimes my mind goes to work and tasks to be completed, and on occasion i get a really good idea for work stuff. more often than not though, running clears my head. i find clarity in decisions, both my own and others; i make decisions that i otherwise struggle with... and a lot of times i work through issues or thoughts or randomness that i never get to focus on.

quite often, esp lately with the advent of yet another marathon on the horizon, people ask me why i run. quite frankly, i don't know. do i run for the release? for the clarity? do i run for the fitness aspect? to lose the side fat that always melts right off when i run say 20m a week? do i run to release tension? escape the day? do i run to push myself?

today a co-worker called me driven and motivated after i told him i was up early saturday to run. i never really thought about it, but i suppose i am. i make a plan, and for the most part, i stick to it at all costs. i firmly set my running goals at the start of the week and i'm flexible with everything else in order to accomplish what i've set out to do. does that make me self motivated? i dont know... to me it's just following a plan.

it's funny to think about why i started running. that was clear. i started running to get my head off and out of my life. i ran when i was frustrated or upset. i ran to have a goal. i ran to lose weight. running now, has turned into a whole other beast. it has consumed the majority of my free time (esp if you count associated activities like hydrating, laundry, stretching, talking about running etc) and has dripped into all aspects of my life (diet, shopping, extra-c activities). if i retire from running after this marathon- what will i do? do i now run because i know nothing else?

this wkd

I ran 10 m on Saturday. Yes, on Saturday when it was 'feels like 90' at 545am. NO JOKE! It was so damned muggy so early it was quite insane really. I left Matt's at 6:05 in the am and after a quite stop at the Sbux on 33rd and 5th (to pee!!) I ran up to the park on 5th ave, up to the reservoir, ran along the bridle/resy path from the east to west side and at 90th street or so (top of the 3rd hill on the west side) I continued on West side drive down to Cherry Hill. It was about 5.75m before I met up with the team. I ran a 4m loop with the 11 min pace group and then about 1/2m more to get to 10.1 miles. I did have goosebumps at the end but I was pretty psyched. I was psyched I got out of bed and managed to do the run on 5 hours of sleep. I was proud that I hydrated so well (no dehydration headaches). I don't know, overall it was a good run. It was by no means fast (11:15 pace overall) but that included some walk breaks. So it is what it is but i was happy with it.

I drank 1 gatorade and 1 bottle of water PLUS my run with pack had a gatorade/water mix. I only took 1 gel though at about mile 6 which was a crank gel. I also ate these chews I got at Vitamin Shoppe. I don't know what did it but I will continue to do everything I did in hopes my long runs will continue to be 'good'.

I didnt get in a good nap (45 min max) and was EXHAUSTED by dinner. I literally fell asleep with my feet still out of the bed because I was just done.

Missed yoga Sunday (embarassing) so didn't work out yesterday. BLEH.

Today I did legs and abs for 30 min. Was proud I woke up. Proud of the sweat. Just proud to be sticking to my schedule really.

Urbans Thursday Class

What we did last night was horrendous. I was hoping for not tempo and what I got instead was a 5k sprint pace run with breaks. Basically we ran a 10 min warmup (at 9:30 pace) and then did a weird variety of 100's (200, 600m then 400m then 200m etc etc in no particular pattern). We took breaks after each effort (again which was sprinting) and at the end we had out '5k pace'.

I ran 24:12 which I was happy with because I also had to walk at one point because I was so naseous and by naseated I mean the vomit was almost in my throat. Gross? 100%!!! I came up the seond of the three bitches (the nickname of the 3 hills on the west side according to Coach Rob- and last night they sure were) which ends at the Reservoir and hit a vendor guy... well not hit but you know, caught up with.

And I smelt hot dogs. WOW. I love hot dogs but HOW GROSS when you're coming off of 2m of sprints. I can't even explain how gross I felt and how close I came to barfing.

All in all I am happy that I ran well. I think I def couldve been faster but c'est la vie. Next time!!!

Today I even made it to the gym for arms and abs and tomorrow even though the heat index is 105 I will be in the park running laps w the team. 9-10m is planned. How gross does that sound? Just to reflect... last year this weekend I ran just under 12m out in East Hampton. Last summer weas no where near as hot as this one has been. I would like to be a beach bum this summer!!!

Wk in Review

Tuesday I was supposed to run with TNT in the park and do a 5k at effort level 4 to see which long run group you're placed in. i think the strategy is a bit complacent however, because if I race at 9:50/mile speed I think tempo runs should be faster, not slower which is where TNT will place you. At that race speed the long run speed group is 11:30. I already run in teh 11 min pace group and want to move up to 10:30 to be aggressive in terms of training and what I need to get done.

4:20 is my ultimate marathon goal. 4:30 I will still be ESCTATIC about and 4:40 is my real goal.

Tonight is Urban Athletics running. I don't really feel up to it but I have to remember running is more mental than not and I need to hang in. I did really well last Thursday so I am excited to see if I do OK tonight when the humidity is down a bit. I don't know what the workout is which is a bit nervewracking but I know they did tempo on Tuesday as did TNT so it won't be that again (at least I hope not because I will die). I hope its dustbowl sprints (1000s repeats) or strides. Or reservoir. All of those I am OK with. Just not tempo please!!!

Tomorrow I need to get my butt out of bed in teh am and head to the gym for arms and abs. I havent done nearly enough this week. In fact I havent done them since Sunday since I've been feeling a bit under the weather. I'm not sure what exactly is wrong but I feel liek I need to spend the weekend in bed. Unfortunately it wont be this weekend either!!!!

really good wk

I had a really good week last week. Monday I did Gregg Cook's spin class. I slogged through a very humid practice at TNT on Tuesday (5m loop w sprints). Wed I took off. Thursday I did Urban's class and felt (and apparently looked) strong. Friday I did arms and abs in the am and then yoga in the pm. Sat I ran the CPC race is 39:36 which I was happy with given the heat and I felt in control. In fact it even crossed my mind that 'hey i think I could do this as marathon pace!!!' Sunday I made it to the gym for arms and abs in the am. Today I managed another spin class. Finally settling into a routine that I think works. It's a lot but it works. So far at least. Week 3 here we go!