I finally have some time to sit down and reflect on running the NYC marathon. I wasn't nervous leading up to the race; in fact, I was psyched to run. I couldn't wait – I was jumping out of my skin. I didn't get to rest that much prior. I took a yoga class at lululemon and then worked till 2:30. For some reason, I just couldn't sit still and rest. Kristen made me a great dinner of brown rice and salmon. We topped it off with a huge chocolate chip cookie.
Woke up at 4:15am b/c it was very necessary to be at the start at 6:30 for a 9:40am start! Met Ashley and Michael at the Staten Island Ferry and we were off. Riding the ferry was a highlight -it was something I have been wanting to do for a long time. So check! It was freezing though. Thank god for throw-away clothes and Dunkin Donut's hats!
We sat around, eating donuts and holding hot water to stay warm! The start area is really impressive – 3 different color starts. I met up with Tony in the green wave area. I was starting to get a little nervous b/c my legs were stiff and tired but I had already decided to just have fun, run and enjoy the experience. We sat around in the coral and waited and waited and waited. Finally, we were set free and we all shuffled to the start line. It was amazing! The Verrazano bridge, the people, the city skyline.
Started about 2:30 off the official clock. I was in the green wave so we started on the lower level of the Verrazano bridge. It was cold and windy. Holy god was it windy. I just kept looking for big guys so I could tuck in behind them!
Flew off the bridge and was in BK. The crowds started to grow and I was psyched. So much energy and I was just eating it up. Got onto 4th ave and it was electric. Tons of people screaming and cheering for us. I was passed the lulu ladies and was feeling great at mile 7. I saw a bunch of friends which gave me huge boosts of energy. Saw Allison and Carl a little passed mile 8 as we turned onto Lafayette. I loved that road. Great crowds and energy and such a picturesque road.
Brooklyn was incredible – I don't remember every part but Bedford Ave was fun and then we were in W'burg. I was feeling great and was making great time. I hit the half way mark at 1:39 and cruised up the Pulaski Bridge. The weather was great and I was happy to check another borough off the list!
Queens is mile 13-15 and honestly, I don't really remember it. There were some music and crowds but I think I was too focused on getting to Manhattan and conquering the 59th St bridge. The crowds right before the bridge are great and pumped me up. Now, I walked 2 of the hills in Boston and I never felt like I was good on the hills during training so I was prepared to walk a bit. I didn't need to though. I felt good and strong and no one else was walking so I just kept plugging away. I turned on my music and rocked it out till the crest of the hill. That bridge, by the way, sucks. It never ends! I turned off my music when I got to the top; I was waiting to hear the roar of the 1st ave crowds. There was this wall of sound as we neared the end of the bridge and turned into Manhattan. It caught my breath.
First ave was awesome but not as crazy as I was expecting. I stayed closer to the middle so I didn't really feel like the crowds were helping me. I saw one friend but missed a few others. I loved the crowds closer to mile 18. I think I walked at mile 18 to make sure I got water with my Shot Bloks.
A little note – I think elevation charts lie! First ave definitely rolls and then the bridges to get in and out of the Bronx were inclines! I cruised though – no stopping me.
The Bronx was fun. It was quick but the crowds were awesome! Go Bronx!
I hit mile 20 and almost started crying b/c I knew I had 3:25 in the bag. I was feeling good and had my running buddy to look forward to. Came of the bridge, turned into Manhattan with Michael Jackson and Jess getting the crowds going!
I was doing well but definitely feeling the effects of 21 miles. I stopped to get water at every water stop past mile 20. I was cramping more than normal and knew I would need that water and Gatorade those last few miles. The lulu cheer station at mile 21.5 was incredible. I felt like a rock star running past them. I didn't even hear the music they were playing b/c they were screaming so loudly. I rounded a corner, saw Carl and Holly and mentally prepared for the 5th Ave climb. I don't remember it being that hard (Jess probably remembers differently- I'm sure I was complaining!) I just remember the crowds and the people being soooo close and loud. I loved how we were crowded in a bit. I do remember waiting to turn into Central Park. I think I asked Jess 5 times when we were turning.
Central Park was intense and fun. Saw Stacy (didn't know it was her until 3 days later though). All the runners were so psyched to be in Central Park. There was an Italian guy behind me who went crazy when we turned into CP - vamos, vamos, vamos!
So this is when the marathon hit me and hit me hard. My quads were really cramping and my knee was really hurting. I was really worried about being able to walk and put pressure on it. I knew I could run 9min miles the last 2 miles and still finish in 3:25 however, that was looking a little worrisome. Jess just told me to run and think about my knee later. I look her advice and blocked out the pain in my knee and pushed on. The little hill after the 72nd transverse was a nightmare and I had to walk a bit.
I saw the end of the Park and knew I only had .6 or .7 miles to go. I picked it up a bit and tried to look up and see the crowds on Central Park South. I then turned back into CP and couldn't believe it. I started to get emotional as I saw the 400 meters sign, the 300 meters sign and then the 200 meters sign. I think I tried to pick it up but I was beat. The video of me finishing is pretty funny – I don't look like I'm running really fast! I crossed the finish line and felt like crap! I was so happy that I made my goal but everything hurt. My knee was in bad shape and I just wanted to get some water. Stopped and got my picture taken to revel in my moment! Walking to 77th st was terrible. We all just shuffled onwards. I didn't want to stop in the medical tent b/c I just wanted to get out of the park and sit down!
Overall, the marathon was an incredible experience. I felt like a rock star and only have good memories. I'm not making plans to run a marathon for a bit. Looking forward to relaxing and doing some chill, fun runs this spring. Thinking my next goal will be a 1:35 half marathon. Run Meghan run!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
3:25 - check!
I did it. I ran the NYC Marathon in 3hr, 25 mins and 12 seconds. I felt like a rockstar the whole run, okay, that's a lie. I felt like a rockstar for 23 miles and then I started to feel the wear and tear.
More to come on my run but it was amazing, epic, wonderful, intense, crazy, fun, hard, and one of the best runs of my life.
i want to walk around with a sign that says "3:25" :)
More to come on my run but it was amazing, epic, wonderful, intense, crazy, fun, hard, and one of the best runs of my life.
i want to walk around with a sign that says "3:25" :)
Friday, November 5, 2010
last training run
I think I'm a little anxious about this race. Woke up at 2:30am and then at 7:45am totally awake-I didn't even want to sleep for that extra 15 mins. Got up, threw on my shoes and headed out the door for my last training run of the season. 45 degrees, humid and a little on the rainy side. I ran down to the water and along the new park area. 3 miles was meant to be easy but I felt so good and running 7:45s wasn't that hard so I banged out my last run at marathon pace. oops? nah, I have those MELT balls and a foam roller at my disposal so my legs will feel like new in about 15 mins.
The one thought I had in my head as I was running today, well, besides "kick ass meghan" was: thank god i'm not running the Philly marathon! I am over training!! :)
The one thought I had in my head as I was running today, well, besides "kick ass meghan" was: thank god i'm not running the Philly marathon! I am over training!! :)
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
MELT
Just got back from a MELT Method class with Zoe Levine (www.everydaybalancenyc.com) at lululemon Brooklyn and I feel GREAT. The class is amazing, seriously. If you haven't tried it, it's worth the money to try. There's a lot of foam rolling but instead of just plopping down and rolling out the muscles/areas that feel tight, she teaches you how to isolate areas in your leg and do different "rinsing patterns" to achieve more alignment and balance.
My favorite part is using the MELT balls (which I bought so anyone living in NYC who wants to try them out, come on down to BK and we'll MELT your feet!) There are 3 different size balls that you move across and up and down your feet in different patterns. My hamstrings completely release after using the MELT balls. I don't have the constant, nagging pain that I have in my left hamstring and glute. I feel so good and balanced and aligned.
I am a MELT fanatic!
My favorite part is using the MELT balls (which I bought so anyone living in NYC who wants to try them out, come on down to BK and we'll MELT your feet!) There are 3 different size balls that you move across and up and down your feet in different patterns. My hamstrings completely release after using the MELT balls. I don't have the constant, nagging pain that I have in my left hamstring and glute. I feel so good and balanced and aligned.
I am a MELT fanatic!
Monday, November 1, 2010
chills
I ran the Poland Spring marathon kickoff 5 mile race yesterday with the lululemon run clubs out of SoHo and Brooklyn. I got chills as I was coming around the bottom corner and could see the finish line! I am so pumped for the marathon.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
And now a word from our sponsors
I get a lot of questions about what I wear while running, what I eat, how I train, etc. So, here's the lowdown....
Clothes
I work at lululemon and love their clothes. I think they have some great products for runners, both male and female. I love the Speed Shorts (I have 6 pairs!) for warm weather running and indoor. For races and cooler weather running, I wear crops and long tights for the winter. All lulu crops/tights are made out of luxtreme so it's very moisture wicking and retains its shape. For tops, I love the Cool Racerback and the Swiftly Tech. I wear lulu socks and the hilariously names "smooth move" thongs when I run. For cold weather running, I layer a Swiftly Tech long sleeve with a long sleeve top made of our running luon (moisture-wicking yet warmer b/c it's brushed, so it feels like fleece). When it's really cold and/or rainy/windy, I wear one of our DWR jackets.
Caveat- I get cold very easily. I can run a full fall marathon in a long sleeve top.
Food while training
Cliff bar or oatmeal packet pre long run. A GU or Cliff Shot Bloks every 6 miles. Coconut water post run (O.N.E with passion fruit is my current fave). Sometimes a gatorade- just depends on where we end the long run. (if there's a dude selling gatorade and i'm dying, i buy it)
I drink Nuun post long runs for the electrolytes.
Sneakers
Brooks! I have been wearing the Adrenaline series for 6 years. I just recently purchased the Mizuno Wave Elixirs and am in love. They are a light weight shoe that feels wonderful.
Training
My training schedules are a mixture of schedules from my previous coach in Florida, advice from runners/triathletes and a lot pf personal experience. I've learned that less mileage works better for but that I need 3-4 20ish mile long runs. I do a lot more cross-training and yoga now during my training. I roughly use the 4 week build up, 1 week drop off. I gradually build up my miles for 4 weeks and then drop down to a 13 or 15 mile long run. I've also stopped doing a medium long run in the middle of the week. I'll do 7 miles but it's broken up. Speed is a workout I try not to miss.
Clothes
I work at lululemon and love their clothes. I think they have some great products for runners, both male and female. I love the Speed Shorts (I have 6 pairs!) for warm weather running and indoor. For races and cooler weather running, I wear crops and long tights for the winter. All lulu crops/tights are made out of luxtreme so it's very moisture wicking and retains its shape. For tops, I love the Cool Racerback and the Swiftly Tech. I wear lulu socks and the hilariously names "smooth move" thongs when I run. For cold weather running, I layer a Swiftly Tech long sleeve with a long sleeve top made of our running luon (moisture-wicking yet warmer b/c it's brushed, so it feels like fleece). When it's really cold and/or rainy/windy, I wear one of our DWR jackets.
Caveat- I get cold very easily. I can run a full fall marathon in a long sleeve top.
Food while training
Cliff bar or oatmeal packet pre long run. A GU or Cliff Shot Bloks every 6 miles. Coconut water post run (O.N.E with passion fruit is my current fave). Sometimes a gatorade- just depends on where we end the long run. (if there's a dude selling gatorade and i'm dying, i buy it)
I drink Nuun post long runs for the electrolytes.
Sneakers
Brooks! I have been wearing the Adrenaline series for 6 years. I just recently purchased the Mizuno Wave Elixirs and am in love. They are a light weight shoe that feels wonderful.
Training
My training schedules are a mixture of schedules from my previous coach in Florida, advice from runners/triathletes and a lot pf personal experience. I've learned that less mileage works better for but that I need 3-4 20ish mile long runs. I do a lot more cross-training and yoga now during my training. I roughly use the 4 week build up, 1 week drop off. I gradually build up my miles for 4 weeks and then drop down to a 13 or 15 mile long run. I've also stopped doing a medium long run in the middle of the week. I'll do 7 miles but it's broken up. Speed is a workout I try not to miss.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Riding in a van with 5 strangers
My latest Ragnar adventure was completely different from my previous experience. 1) we had vans- big vans where we could stretch out and lay down, 2) I was with Ragnar employees and 3) we had hotel rooms instead of sleeping bags on pavement. It was a great whirlwind trip.
I arrived on thurs, picked up the 15 passenger van and promptly got lost. Ended up driving through the Vegas strip. Finally found my way out of town and headed to the Lowes Hotel in Lake Las Vegas. Met 2 of my teammates, who I was also sharing a room with, Trish and Ang. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow at 11pm. We met our team in the lobby at 4:20 and headed to the start, in the Valley of Fire. My van was: trish and ang (they are friends), Kevin (marketing dir at Ragnar), Bruce (safety and Ragnar course creator extraordinaire), his friend Garit and me. The park we started in was beautiful - the rock formations are very cool, very red and everywhere.
We started our 195 mile journey at 7am. I ran legs 4, 16 and 28. My first leg was 6.5 miles. I'm apparently not very adept at reading elevation charts b/c I didn't think I had to climb a lot but boy did I! Uphill for over 2 miles and I'm not talking about Park Slope inclines. This was a big climb. I had some relief with some flats and downhill but then another climb came. I had to stop and walk b/c I felt like my heart was about to pound out of my chest! I finished in 50mins. When I finished my leg I was bent over panting and trying to figure out why i was dying and then one of my teammates clued me in that we are at an elevation of 2500 which is significant for me coming from sealevel about 12 hrs prior. I forgave myself for dying on the uphills.
After our 6th leg, we met up with van 2 at exchange 6. Their van was 6 guys; 6 very funny guys. After our first leg of the race, we had time to go back to the hotel and rest. We ate and swam in the pool. Then, at 5ish, we were off to start our 2nd leg of the relay. Most of us had short, easy runs. Mine was 3.1 miles at 6:45pm and I did it in 21:40. I was flying and felt great. I slowed down at mile 2.4ish when the bike trail turned to sand and I had to jump down a 2 ft ledge. Kinda ruined my stride. I was psyched though for my time and how I felt.
After this leg we went to a hotel and got to sleep for about 2.5 hrs. I also got a lesson on how people from Utah speak and experienced my first Jack in the Box restaurant outing (although I didn't eat anything and use the term "restaurant" loosely).
Our 3rd leg began at 2:30ish. I had a 7mile trail run. It was incredible. A little rough on the feet b/c of the big rocks and uneven road but being out there alone in the desert with a near full moon was beautiful. I flew through my 7 miles and finished in 53:45.
At the end of our 3rd set of runs we got pancakes and I was a happy, happy camper! The finish line was at the Red Rock hotel. We lounged by the pool, got some food and drank some beer.
I'm now falling asleep on my red eye back to nyc. The trip was totally worth the tiredness and sore legs that are coming. I'm hooked on these races and can't wait to do another one!
I arrived on thurs, picked up the 15 passenger van and promptly got lost. Ended up driving through the Vegas strip. Finally found my way out of town and headed to the Lowes Hotel in Lake Las Vegas. Met 2 of my teammates, who I was also sharing a room with, Trish and Ang. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow at 11pm. We met our team in the lobby at 4:20 and headed to the start, in the Valley of Fire. My van was: trish and ang (they are friends), Kevin (marketing dir at Ragnar), Bruce (safety and Ragnar course creator extraordinaire), his friend Garit and me. The park we started in was beautiful - the rock formations are very cool, very red and everywhere.
We started our 195 mile journey at 7am. I ran legs 4, 16 and 28. My first leg was 6.5 miles. I'm apparently not very adept at reading elevation charts b/c I didn't think I had to climb a lot but boy did I! Uphill for over 2 miles and I'm not talking about Park Slope inclines. This was a big climb. I had some relief with some flats and downhill but then another climb came. I had to stop and walk b/c I felt like my heart was about to pound out of my chest! I finished in 50mins. When I finished my leg I was bent over panting and trying to figure out why i was dying and then one of my teammates clued me in that we are at an elevation of 2500 which is significant for me coming from sealevel about 12 hrs prior. I forgave myself for dying on the uphills.
After our 6th leg, we met up with van 2 at exchange 6. Their van was 6 guys; 6 very funny guys. After our first leg of the race, we had time to go back to the hotel and rest. We ate and swam in the pool. Then, at 5ish, we were off to start our 2nd leg of the relay. Most of us had short, easy runs. Mine was 3.1 miles at 6:45pm and I did it in 21:40. I was flying and felt great. I slowed down at mile 2.4ish when the bike trail turned to sand and I had to jump down a 2 ft ledge. Kinda ruined my stride. I was psyched though for my time and how I felt.
After this leg we went to a hotel and got to sleep for about 2.5 hrs. I also got a lesson on how people from Utah speak and experienced my first Jack in the Box restaurant outing (although I didn't eat anything and use the term "restaurant" loosely).
Our 3rd leg began at 2:30ish. I had a 7mile trail run. It was incredible. A little rough on the feet b/c of the big rocks and uneven road but being out there alone in the desert with a near full moon was beautiful. I flew through my 7 miles and finished in 53:45.
At the end of our 3rd set of runs we got pancakes and I was a happy, happy camper! The finish line was at the Red Rock hotel. We lounged by the pool, got some food and drank some beer.
I'm now falling asleep on my red eye back to nyc. The trip was totally worth the tiredness and sore legs that are coming. I'm hooked on these races and can't wait to do another one!
Monday, October 18, 2010
newfound love
I can't believe i'm writing this - wearing these sneakers is better than eating chocolate right now. I feel like i'm walking on clouds and running, oh my god, running is wonderful! My feet no longer hate me. I still run in the Brooks Adrenaline series shoes but these Mizuno's are my newfound love.
for all you NYC readers, I highly, highly recommend Urban Athletics (http://www.urbanathleticsnyc.com) for shoe buying. I went to the downtown location and Peter helped me (and Jess) buy fantastic shoes.
I'm racing in these - the Mizuno Wave Elixir 5. and yes, they are black and purple. total LOVE!!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
a blustery day
Last 20miler...um, well, 19 is close enough. I thought I rested enough this week but my first Capoeira class on Tuesday night reeked havoc on my thighs. I haven't had to squat and move like I did in Capoeira in a long time so my inner thighs were screaming at me.
We only ran 16 miles all week but I am feeling tired and a bit burned out. I thought I'd be okay to run my last 20miler on Friday with Jess (before her Puerto Rican bday weekend). However, I was feeling it by mile 7. The 3/4 of a mile uphill on 9th St was torture. Running down Vanderbilt felt good but it was slower and my legs felt really, really heavy. Plus, it was windy, windy, windy. We had to reroute a few times b/c it was so windy that we felt like we were standing still! Jess only ran 13 and I met her 2.5 miles in so at mile 15.5 I was on my own. I decided to run around Cadman Plaza track so I wouldn't have to think, just go in circles. I hit mile 19 right as I was about 2 blocks from my house and considering I felt like a drowned troll, I decided to stop and not push it. Knees, hamstrings, feet were all hurting.
I then had quite the adventure trying to track down my new sneakers - the Mizuno Wave Elixirs! I had to have a certain color so the store uptown sent them to me but they got the address wrong so I had to find Sami on Bergen St. After a few phone calls to UPS and lots of funny conversations with the bagel guys, the pizza guys, the hot dog place next door, I found Sami and my sneakers!
We only ran 16 miles all week but I am feeling tired and a bit burned out. I thought I'd be okay to run my last 20miler on Friday with Jess (before her Puerto Rican bday weekend). However, I was feeling it by mile 7. The 3/4 of a mile uphill on 9th St was torture. Running down Vanderbilt felt good but it was slower and my legs felt really, really heavy. Plus, it was windy, windy, windy. We had to reroute a few times b/c it was so windy that we felt like we were standing still! Jess only ran 13 and I met her 2.5 miles in so at mile 15.5 I was on my own. I decided to run around Cadman Plaza track so I wouldn't have to think, just go in circles. I hit mile 19 right as I was about 2 blocks from my house and considering I felt like a drowned troll, I decided to stop and not push it. Knees, hamstrings, feet were all hurting.
I then had quite the adventure trying to track down my new sneakers - the Mizuno Wave Elixirs! I had to have a certain color so the store uptown sent them to me but they got the address wrong so I had to find Sami on Bergen St. After a few phone calls to UPS and lots of funny conversations with the bagel guys, the pizza guys, the hot dog place next door, I found Sami and my sneakers!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
a showdown at the water fountain
Apparently, I was crowding some dude who, I'm not kidding, slurped water at a fountain in Prospect Park for over a minute. After about 30 seconds I stepped to the side so he could see I was waiting and, just barely moving his mouth from the water, turned his head and said to me "back up off me....fuuuuck." I just laughed. Probably not the best move b/c he was about 6'5" and 300 lbs but oh well, I had the run club there as back up.
Don't mess with thirsty big guys!
but, we got our water and finished our 3.5 mile run safely and without anymore encounters.
Don't mess with thirsty big guys!
but, we got our water and finished our 3.5 mile run safely and without anymore encounters.
a good long run
Saturday was one of our slower long runs and one that we actually hit our target time for a long, slow distance run. We met at 8:30, after I ran 4 and Jess ran 3 (she was unsure of how many miles she wanted to run). We reversed our normal route so we ventured into Manhattan first, down by South Street Seaport, around Battery Park and then up to Houston and across to the W'burg bridge.
That bridge SUCKS!!! holy cow - running from the Manhattan to BK side is a long, gradual hill whereas BK to Manhattan is a short, steeper hill. We were feeling good and knew we had a bunch of flat miles ahead of us. Water is a bit of a problem over in Williamsburg...there just isn't any! We opted out of running up Vanderbilt and just continued along Flushing to Dumbo to the new Brooklyn Bridge park.
I finished my 20 and with a strong last mile. It was hotter than we expected. We were in shorts and a t-shirt. We were pretty much dying for water b/c we didn't have that much over the last 5 miles of our run. Ending at the BK Bridge park is perfect for that expect when you have to wait for some rugrats to use the water fountain!
Today was a good long run. I had energy for my 6 hr shift at lululemon and even managed to go out and have fun that night - as opposed to crashing and burning in my bed.
That bridge SUCKS!!! holy cow - running from the Manhattan to BK side is a long, gradual hill whereas BK to Manhattan is a short, steeper hill. We were feeling good and knew we had a bunch of flat miles ahead of us. Water is a bit of a problem over in Williamsburg...there just isn't any! We opted out of running up Vanderbilt and just continued along Flushing to Dumbo to the new Brooklyn Bridge park.
I finished my 20 and with a strong last mile. It was hotter than we expected. We were in shorts and a t-shirt. We were pretty much dying for water b/c we didn't have that much over the last 5 miles of our run. Ending at the BK Bridge park is perfect for that expect when you have to wait for some rugrats to use the water fountain!
Today was a good long run. I had energy for my 6 hr shift at lululemon and even managed to go out and have fun that night - as opposed to crashing and burning in my bed.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
a few easy runs
Jess and I have strayed from our original training plan, opting instead to listen to our bodies as we get closer and closer to our races. We are fatigued and fighting off a some minor aches and pains and why push it? We both have goals and want to reach them but running ourselves into the ground isn't the way.
So, Tuesday, instead of doing a track workout, we ran 6 miles at a nice 8:15 pace. We then stopped at Cadman Plaza and did some core work.
Wednesday we ran a few miles before run club and then did some interval work with the ladies. Ended up with 5.5 miles and then we sped walked home and i'm not kidding! We got called out by 2 people for our speed walking. I felt like a Florida mom (aka Nancy!)
Then, we forced ourselves to meet at 7:30am for a walk/run. Tonight we are off for a pilates for athletes and injured people, aka, foam rolling and core work!
So, Tuesday, instead of doing a track workout, we ran 6 miles at a nice 8:15 pace. We then stopped at Cadman Plaza and did some core work.
Wednesday we ran a few miles before run club and then did some interval work with the ladies. Ended up with 5.5 miles and then we sped walked home and i'm not kidding! We got called out by 2 people for our speed walking. I felt like a Florida mom (aka Nancy!)
Then, we forced ourselves to meet at 7:30am for a walk/run. Tonight we are off for a pilates for athletes and injured people, aka, foam rolling and core work!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Learning the art of goal setting and failure
I've written down goals for years and I love going back through my journal and seeing that I have achieved many of my goals. What I have to realize when saying that statement is that I didn't achieve my goals over night. Many of them took years.
This weekend was a big reminder that failing to achieve a goal isn't really failure, it's just another step closer. My goal was to run a 1:35 half marathon. I ran a 1:40 and was dying. I started off to quickly, got caught up in the pace and then couldn't sustain it after mile 10. After a day or two of sulking, I realized that I'm getting closer and closer to my goal time!
My favorite example of "failing" is my 2008 Marine Corp Marathon. I had my sights set on a 3:35 time. I thought I was doing it correctly - eating well, doing track workouts, running lots of miles, sleeping well, etc - to get slightly injured 2 weeks before the race and thus not feel great during the race. I ended up running a 3:41:05 - yup, 6 seconds off qualifying for Boston (they gift you the seconds, so a 3:40 qualifying time is really 3:40:59). The next year, however, I ran a 3:34 and felt great. My body needed that step - that piece of the puzzle that reminded me to not overtrain, to listen to my body and to have fun! Because really, when it's not fun, it's not worth doing.
so, with my "failure" in my back pocket, i propose my new BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) for 2011 - run a 1:35 half marathon!
This weekend was a big reminder that failing to achieve a goal isn't really failure, it's just another step closer. My goal was to run a 1:35 half marathon. I ran a 1:40 and was dying. I started off to quickly, got caught up in the pace and then couldn't sustain it after mile 10. After a day or two of sulking, I realized that I'm getting closer and closer to my goal time!
My favorite example of "failing" is my 2008 Marine Corp Marathon. I had my sights set on a 3:35 time. I thought I was doing it correctly - eating well, doing track workouts, running lots of miles, sleeping well, etc - to get slightly injured 2 weeks before the race and thus not feel great during the race. I ended up running a 3:41:05 - yup, 6 seconds off qualifying for Boston (they gift you the seconds, so a 3:40 qualifying time is really 3:40:59). The next year, however, I ran a 3:34 and felt great. My body needed that step - that piece of the puzzle that reminded me to not overtrain, to listen to my body and to have fun! Because really, when it's not fun, it's not worth doing.
so, with my "failure" in my back pocket, i propose my new BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) for 2011 - run a 1:35 half marathon!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Physique 57, yoga and biking
These are all activities I like to do on my rest days...right, when I should be resting! However, torture seems to be my middle name so when someone suggests a class, I can't say no.
Monday was a rest day, just with an advanced yoga class and me teaching a class thrown in.
Today, I trudged over to Shambhala for a wonderful 7am class with Sarah S. My outfit told the story - I had on blue rain boots, blue lululemon crops and a purple Helly Hanson rain jacket. pretty stellar fashion show.
After run/walking there at 6:30 am, forgetting that it's 1.5 miles away, I proceeded to sweat the entire class. Then, i hopped on a train and met Jeremy at Equinox for an hr bike workout. He decided I wasn't sweating enough so he upped the anty and made me work harder - by standing up on the bike, going faster and and adding resistance. I, of course, listen and do what I'm told.
Then, I decided that since I'm in Manhattan, and it's rare to find me on the isle of Manhattan, that I should take a class that I can't get in Brooklyn. Romina was going to Physique 57 and I decided, sure, why not?
HOLY GOD!!!!!!! I haven't done Physique 57 in a few months and it showed. You think you have strong legs but you don't. it's crazy. it's a workout that involves small movements using a ballet bar, a soft volleyball size ball and pain. your legs shake and quiver and it's unreal.
off to bed for a 7:30am workout.
Monday was a rest day, just with an advanced yoga class and me teaching a class thrown in.
Today, I trudged over to Shambhala for a wonderful 7am class with Sarah S. My outfit told the story - I had on blue rain boots, blue lululemon crops and a purple Helly Hanson rain jacket. pretty stellar fashion show.
After run/walking there at 6:30 am, forgetting that it's 1.5 miles away, I proceeded to sweat the entire class. Then, i hopped on a train and met Jeremy at Equinox for an hr bike workout. He decided I wasn't sweating enough so he upped the anty and made me work harder - by standing up on the bike, going faster and and adding resistance. I, of course, listen and do what I'm told.
Then, I decided that since I'm in Manhattan, and it's rare to find me on the isle of Manhattan, that I should take a class that I can't get in Brooklyn. Romina was going to Physique 57 and I decided, sure, why not?
HOLY GOD!!!!!!! I haven't done Physique 57 in a few months and it showed. You think you have strong legs but you don't. it's crazy. it's a workout that involves small movements using a ballet bar, a soft volleyball size ball and pain. your legs shake and quiver and it's unreal.
off to bed for a 7:30am workout.
week 12
The week started off great. I think i was on a high from the a great long run and having a fun weekend. The week ended pretty poorly.
Mon: 4 mile run - a solo run which was very much needed. However, then I did a Bikram yoga class and holy shit, all i can say is GROSS! It smelled and there was so much sweat. I didn't really get what we were doing and couldn't get into it b/c I was so hot and the room was so stuffy. Not to mention the fact that every time I looked forward, i saw the crotch of the woman in front of me and the old dude next to me was sweating like the river Nile. Not my favorite way to sweat but I did it. check!
Tues: Track workout - glorious last track workout topped off with ice cream and getting lost in the Red Hook projects. (7.5 miles)
Wed: 4 mile run with Jess around Dumbo, Flushing and up Vanderbilt to the lululemon Showroom. Then we met the lulu run club and did about 2.5 miles.
Thurs: bike ride! i finally got back on my bike. rode 15 miles around Prospect Park. My legs were happy.
Fri: 3 mile run to pilates class. Jess and I took an Ellie Herman pilates class. Highly recommend her - if you don't know where your core is or how to engage it, she'll show you.
Sat: 21 miles. Ugh, this felt pretty crappy. It was hot and humid and by mile 16 I was done. I had to walk every 10 mins or so. Finished it and then rushed off to work. Didn't help that i was on my feet for the next 12 hrs.
Sun: One Mile Continental Race. I had a goal here, a BHAG (big, hairy, audacious goal) around this race and I didn't make it. I didn't even come close. I knew it was going to be a rough race when I woke up and then when I was warming up and my legs weren't turning over. I ran it in 6:19minutes. Okay, but not my goal, which was sub 6 minutes.
The race is awesome and I love it. It's one mile along 5th Ave, from 80th-60th St.
rounding out the week: 44 miles, 2 yoga classes, one pilates class and 1 bike ride
Mon: 4 mile run - a solo run which was very much needed. However, then I did a Bikram yoga class and holy shit, all i can say is GROSS! It smelled and there was so much sweat. I didn't really get what we were doing and couldn't get into it b/c I was so hot and the room was so stuffy. Not to mention the fact that every time I looked forward, i saw the crotch of the woman in front of me and the old dude next to me was sweating like the river Nile. Not my favorite way to sweat but I did it. check!
Tues: Track workout - glorious last track workout topped off with ice cream and getting lost in the Red Hook projects. (7.5 miles)
Wed: 4 mile run with Jess around Dumbo, Flushing and up Vanderbilt to the lululemon Showroom. Then we met the lulu run club and did about 2.5 miles.
Thurs: bike ride! i finally got back on my bike. rode 15 miles around Prospect Park. My legs were happy.
Fri: 3 mile run to pilates class. Jess and I took an Ellie Herman pilates class. Highly recommend her - if you don't know where your core is or how to engage it, she'll show you.
Sat: 21 miles. Ugh, this felt pretty crappy. It was hot and humid and by mile 16 I was done. I had to walk every 10 mins or so. Finished it and then rushed off to work. Didn't help that i was on my feet for the next 12 hrs.
Sun: One Mile Continental Race. I had a goal here, a BHAG (big, hairy, audacious goal) around this race and I didn't make it. I didn't even come close. I knew it was going to be a rough race when I woke up and then when I was warming up and my legs weren't turning over. I ran it in 6:19minutes. Okay, but not my goal, which was sub 6 minutes.
The race is awesome and I love it. It's one mile along 5th Ave, from 80th-60th St.
rounding out the week: 44 miles, 2 yoga classes, one pilates class and 1 bike ride
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
graduation day
Tonight was our last track workout. 10 mind-numbing, chest throbbing, puke inspiring workouts. Jess and I had set a goal to run with the A group by the end and we did it! Our times were in line with the A group and we are thrilled.
After, we went for ice cream at Louie G's in Red Hook and then got a little lost on the way home. We got a nice tour of the Red Hook housing projects....
For some reason, i can't remember all of my times. It was dark by 7:30, when we were running our last lap. I have no idea why those 2 thoughts go together but I feel like the darkness has something to do with me not being able to remember my times. haha.
2x600: 2:20, 2:18
2x800: 3:04, 3:06 (i think...)
2:600: 2:14, 2:16
Now we have to do a few more weeks of track workouts by ourselves....stay tuned.
After, we went for ice cream at Louie G's in Red Hook and then got a little lost on the way home. We got a nice tour of the Red Hook housing projects....
For some reason, i can't remember all of my times. It was dark by 7:30, when we were running our last lap. I have no idea why those 2 thoughts go together but I feel like the darkness has something to do with me not being able to remember my times. haha.
2x600: 2:20, 2:18
2x800: 3:04, 3:06 (i think...)
2:600: 2:14, 2:16
Now we have to do a few more weeks of track workouts by ourselves....stay tuned.
glorious rest day
well, it was a rest day for me - yoga and walking. I dragged my sister to lululemon's last outdoor yoga class in the Prospect Park on Sunday morning. It was a beautiful day and my legs enjoyed the stretch and mini vinyasa flow. Kathryn, on the other hand, wasn't too thrilled. She's a runner as well but hasn't gotten into yoga yet so the poses were a tad challenging.
Also, it felt great to walk 4-5miles. My knees didn't hurt after the run but they definitely didn't want to run on Sunday so walking was good and kept me loose.
Also, it felt great to walk 4-5miles. My knees didn't hurt after the run but they definitely didn't want to run on Sunday so walking was good and kept me loose.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
20 miler
Jess and I finally did it - we completed a long run feeling strong and without being bitch-asses. We are extremely proud of ourselves. We did the 20miles in 2:53 and finished the last mile at a good clip. Another aspect of this run to point out is that half of it was uphill. And not the kind where you see the end; the uphils were the slow, gradual kind that gives Park Slope it's name.
We choose to keep the run in Brooklyn this weekend for a change of scenery. I've heard that people run around the Greenwood Cemetery and it's a decent loop so we went for it. Starting at Borough Hall, we looped down to Dumbo and the Brooklyn Bridge Park and then down Furman to Atlantic to Henry. At 9th we cut over and thus began the gradual uphill climb to Prospect Park. One loop in the Park and then we were out Ocean Parkway and over to Greenwood Cemetery. The entire flipping loop is uphill!! Stopped at mile 13 to buy some water - the dude at the gas station seemed impressed that we were running.
Ran back into the Park, up the hill on the east side (for the second time) and then ran out at 9th. We choose this route to end so we benefited from the downhill. I like to forget about the up and downs in Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill. The roads (Henry, Clinton, Court) start uphill and then a slight downhill and then they incline again before hitting Atlantic.
We ended at the Brooklyn Bridge Park and then hobbled up the world's steepest (after a 20 mile run) hill and treated ourselves to Gatorade and a coffee.
Sidenote - do not run in grey running crops or colored tops! Stopping to stretch on the sidewalk, Jess pointed out my crotch and boob sweat. It looked like a peed my pants. Gotta talk to lulu about their colors and sweat. the Swiftly Tech wasn't helping my situation out either...i was a hot, sweaty mess and it showed.
We choose to keep the run in Brooklyn this weekend for a change of scenery. I've heard that people run around the Greenwood Cemetery and it's a decent loop so we went for it. Starting at Borough Hall, we looped down to Dumbo and the Brooklyn Bridge Park and then down Furman to Atlantic to Henry. At 9th we cut over and thus began the gradual uphill climb to Prospect Park. One loop in the Park and then we were out Ocean Parkway and over to Greenwood Cemetery. The entire flipping loop is uphill!! Stopped at mile 13 to buy some water - the dude at the gas station seemed impressed that we were running.
Ran back into the Park, up the hill on the east side (for the second time) and then ran out at 9th. We choose this route to end so we benefited from the downhill. I like to forget about the up and downs in Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill. The roads (Henry, Clinton, Court) start uphill and then a slight downhill and then they incline again before hitting Atlantic.
We ended at the Brooklyn Bridge Park and then hobbled up the world's steepest (after a 20 mile run) hill and treated ourselves to Gatorade and a coffee.
Sidenote - do not run in grey running crops or colored tops! Stopping to stretch on the sidewalk, Jess pointed out my crotch and boob sweat. It looked like a peed my pants. Gotta talk to lulu about their colors and sweat. the Swiftly Tech wasn't helping my situation out either...i was a hot, sweaty mess and it showed.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
1:30
Tonight's track workout is proof that i have gotten faster after 8 weeks of track workouts. I ran our first set of 400s (4x400) in 1:41, 1:38, 1:40, 1:41, then I did a mile in 6:38 AND then I ran 4x400 in 1:30, 1:29, 1:30, 1:30!! i felt sluggish on the last 2 but kept up the pace. very happy with myself.
now i'm icing and stretching my legs.
now i'm icing and stretching my legs.
Saturday in SoHo
Due to a hectic weekend, Jess and I moved our long run to Monday. That left Saturday open for a "fun" run. I miss the SoHo run group so I joined them on Saturday. Romina, Jess and Jeremy - I miss running with you!
We ran 7 miles along the West Side Highway and then I raced back to Brooklyn for an outdoor yoga class with Derek Beres. It was the best thing for tired, sore legs.
We ran 7 miles along the West Side Highway and then I raced back to Brooklyn for an outdoor yoga class with Derek Beres. It was the best thing for tired, sore legs.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
track
we've got 2 more left and they are not getting easier.
this week we did 3x2k (5 laps around the track) at 10k pace. My 10k pace is faster than I thought. I ran them in 8:59, 8:40, 8:54.
Felt pretty good and stayed consistent. Jess beat me the second and third set by about 5 seconds. She loves the longer set workouts.
the weather is getting cooler and I love it!
this week we did 3x2k (5 laps around the track) at 10k pace. My 10k pace is faster than I thought. I ran them in 8:59, 8:40, 8:54.
Felt pretty good and stayed consistent. Jess beat me the second and third set by about 5 seconds. She loves the longer set workouts.
the weather is getting cooler and I love it!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Dedicating this one to Hurricane Earl
We didn't get rain, just wind and beautiful weather. Earl, you're my favorite hurricane. Jess and I banged out 18 miles (on a sweet tour of Manhattan) this morning and feel great.
Needing to switch it up a bit, we took the A train up to 125th St and Morningside Heights to start our run. Jess has been having some back issues since I forced her to do box jumps and burpees with me (you can't do those torturous activities alone). However, she toughed it out to run 18 with me - and stay on marathon training schedule.
After a quick stop at McD's (where the women working were so nice and let us use their bathroom) we were off. Ran around Morningside Heights park and then out to Riverside Park before cutting into Central Park via 97th St. So nice to run in a different part of the city.
Ran around Central Park, ignoring Harlem Hill and happy to do it. Exited after a loop and a half at 59th St and finished up our run in Battery City via West Side Highway.
We both felt really good...well, I slowed down around mile 15 or so while Jess killed it! and that was AFTER her fall. Yes, Jess took a major digger on our run. We'd just had our 2nd GU and needed to find a water fountain asap. There's an area of WSH just north of Chelsea Piers that has a bit of a speed bump crossing the sidewalk. Mind you, it's painted red and there's a sign AND we've run past it before - both commenting on it. Jess tripped on it. I heard a yell and when I looked back, there she was, flat on her back. She got up and kept going. I didn't want to laugh and I think I was too tired to laugh so we just kept going. Enjoying a good chuckle now though.
We both finished strong this time and i'm feeling great, even after working for 7 hrs at lulu. So, I dedicate this run to Earl and his cool, breezy nature.
Ran around Central Park, ignoring Harlem Hill and happy to do it. Exited after a loop and a half at 59th St and finished up our run in Battery City via West Side Highway.
We both felt really good...well, I slowed down around mile 15 or so while Jess killed it! and that was AFTER her fall. Yes, Jess took a major digger on our run. We'd just had our 2nd GU and needed to find a water fountain asap. There's an area of WSH just north of Chelsea Piers that has a bit of a speed bump crossing the sidewalk. Mind you, it's painted red and there's a sign AND we've run past it before - both commenting on it. Jess tripped on it. I heard a yell and when I looked back, there she was, flat on her back. She got up and kept going. I didn't want to laugh and I think I was too tired to laugh so we just kept going. Enjoying a good chuckle now though.
We both finished strong this time and i'm feeling great, even after working for 7 hrs at lulu. So, I dedicate this run to Earl and his cool, breezy nature.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
tall boys=reward for running
Jess had a great idea on Monday night - let's run and then grab a beer. She ran the Hood to Coast Relay Race out in Portland, OR on Fri/Sat with family and friends and rocked it - running 3 legs of 6, 5 and 7 something miles, uphill, in the dark, backwards, with a monkey on her back. Okay, just kidding on the last two, but you know what I mean. Those relay races are tough and not just physically b/c you are in a van with 5 other people and racing around 200 miles to run and then sit for hours on end. Totally fun just totally draining and a great reason to celebrate our 6 weeks of intense training!
It was so hot during the day that we decided to run at 8:30pm in hopes of not melting on the sidewalk. We put on our speed shorts and coolracer tanks, grabbed our IDs, some cash and were out the door. We ran across the Brooklyn Bridge, bought tall boys (Big Joe style) and walked across the bridge with our well-deserved beers.
It was so hot during the day that we decided to run at 8:30pm in hopes of not melting on the sidewalk. We put on our speed shorts and coolracer tanks, grabbed our IDs, some cash and were out the door. We ran across the Brooklyn Bridge, bought tall boys (Big Joe style) and walked across the bridge with our well-deserved beers.
Week 7: 8/30-9/5
Started off this week determined to feel good, eat well, and not crash like I have been on the past couple of long runs. The focus this week is hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
Monday: Joined Mary for a kick boxing class on Monday morning. Jess and I were going to run around 5pm but it was hot, hot, hot so we put off the run till 8:30, after I taught yoga.
Jess just completed the Hood to Coast Relay Race with her friends and family on Fri/Sat. She ran 3 legs, 6 miles, 5 miles and 6 miles, and mostly uphill and in record time!! She's a badass and we needed to celebrate. She had a great idea - run and then drink! So, we ran across the Brooklyn Bridge and then bought tallboys and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. Stay classy Brooklyn.
Tuesday: Started off the morning with a yoga class at Mala. It was a bit more intense than I thought it was going to be. We were up in handstands and forearm stands! It was fun but hoping it wouldn't affect my track workout. It didn't - thank god! It was a pretty hot day; hot and humid but being in Florida for a week changed my idea of what is hot and humid. It's gross up here but it's GROSS down there. Drank tons of water and ate really well all day so I was excited for track.
Workout was: 4x600 with 200 recovery and 6x400 with 200 recovery. I was very excited about my running/performance. I ran the 600s: 2:27, 2:24, 2:21, 2:24 and then my 400s were totally consistent!! 400s: 1:34, 1:34, 1:33, 1:34, 1:33, 1:34. And I actually followed my coach's advice and ran the 400s slightly faster than my 5k pace instead of all out sprinting. I'm hoping this translates well for my goal of a sub 6 min mile in 3 weeks at the Continental One Mile race.
Wednesday: We switched it up this morning and did a short run with some boot camp type exercises. My co-worker and friend, Mary, gave me some great exercises for us to do so we did our own outdoor boot camp on Cadman Plaza. gotta love burpees, pushups, box jumps, sit ups, lunges.
We ran that night with the lululemon Run Group. Jess took one group on a long run so she got in about 7 miles, 8 total for the day. I ran 7 total for the day and hung back with the beginner runners. Who, by the way, I'm really proud of - they made it up the Prospect Park hill without a problem! Coconut water by O.N.E revived us. Highly recommend Coconut Water with Passion Fruit. It's very good and not too sweet.
Thurs: 4 mile run and it was rough. I felt tired. Yoga later that night in Prospect Park
Fri: rest day!
Sat: Good long run-for all of us, finally!!!!!! yah 18 miles in 2:34 hrs and we felt great!
Sun: 3 miles on a treadmill and a spin class.
total miles: 42 and I was hydrated the whole week.
Monday: Joined Mary for a kick boxing class on Monday morning. Jess and I were going to run around 5pm but it was hot, hot, hot so we put off the run till 8:30, after I taught yoga.
Jess just completed the Hood to Coast Relay Race with her friends and family on Fri/Sat. She ran 3 legs, 6 miles, 5 miles and 6 miles, and mostly uphill and in record time!! She's a badass and we needed to celebrate. She had a great idea - run and then drink! So, we ran across the Brooklyn Bridge and then bought tallboys and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. Stay classy Brooklyn.
Tuesday: Started off the morning with a yoga class at Mala. It was a bit more intense than I thought it was going to be. We were up in handstands and forearm stands! It was fun but hoping it wouldn't affect my track workout. It didn't - thank god! It was a pretty hot day; hot and humid but being in Florida for a week changed my idea of what is hot and humid. It's gross up here but it's GROSS down there. Drank tons of water and ate really well all day so I was excited for track.
Workout was: 4x600 with 200 recovery and 6x400 with 200 recovery. I was very excited about my running/performance. I ran the 600s: 2:27, 2:24, 2:21, 2:24 and then my 400s were totally consistent!! 400s: 1:34, 1:34, 1:33, 1:34, 1:33, 1:34. And I actually followed my coach's advice and ran the 400s slightly faster than my 5k pace instead of all out sprinting. I'm hoping this translates well for my goal of a sub 6 min mile in 3 weeks at the Continental One Mile race.
Wednesday: We switched it up this morning and did a short run with some boot camp type exercises. My co-worker and friend, Mary, gave me some great exercises for us to do so we did our own outdoor boot camp on Cadman Plaza. gotta love burpees, pushups, box jumps, sit ups, lunges.
We ran that night with the lululemon Run Group. Jess took one group on a long run so she got in about 7 miles, 8 total for the day. I ran 7 total for the day and hung back with the beginner runners. Who, by the way, I'm really proud of - they made it up the Prospect Park hill without a problem! Coconut water by O.N.E revived us. Highly recommend Coconut Water with Passion Fruit. It's very good and not too sweet.
Thurs: 4 mile run and it was rough. I felt tired. Yoga later that night in Prospect Park
Fri: rest day!
Sat: Good long run-for all of us, finally!!!!!! yah 18 miles in 2:34 hrs and we felt great!
Sun: 3 miles on a treadmill and a spin class.
total miles: 42 and I was hydrated the whole week.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Florida style running
Essentially, running in Florida is about getting up early so you don't pass out due to heat stroke. It's also very flat running which I love. I was back with my old running partner, Ashley, for a 6 miler through downtown St. Pete. Our old stompin' grounds, with plenty of water fountains and bathrooms. She and I make out quite well on these runs, so far, I have found $220 while running with her in St. Pete. On Tuesday, I found a soggy $20 bill on the Pier. We treated ourselves to coffee.
I was going to do my track workout on Tuesday but the lovely rain prevented me from going outside. (All I wanted was a few days of R&R on the beach or at the pool and instead, I got 3 days of rain. boooo!) So, I ran my track workout on Wednesday morning. I still haven't mastered the art of track workouts, i.e., not going out too fast. This week's workout was a fun one: 2x400 with 200 recovery, 2x600 with 200 recovery, 2x800 with 400 recovery and 1x1600 (one mile).
I did okay. I ran the mile in 7:13. I'm shooting to run the One Mile Continental Race in NYC in under 6mins. So that time actually bodes well for me.
Thursday, I did yoga at my favorite yoga studio, Yoga From the Heart, and then ran 4 miles.
Friday, 3.5 miles before I flew back to NYC.
Sat, got up and had ZERO desire to run even though the weather was gorgeous. I was dehydrated and my muscles hurt from running my normal pace in the humidity and not stretching properly - yikes! So I ran 11 miles and called it a day. I had to work all day so I took it easy.
I was going to do my track workout on Tuesday but the lovely rain prevented me from going outside. (All I wanted was a few days of R&R on the beach or at the pool and instead, I got 3 days of rain. boooo!) So, I ran my track workout on Wednesday morning. I still haven't mastered the art of track workouts, i.e., not going out too fast. This week's workout was a fun one: 2x400 with 200 recovery, 2x600 with 200 recovery, 2x800 with 400 recovery and 1x1600 (one mile).
I did okay. I ran the mile in 7:13. I'm shooting to run the One Mile Continental Race in NYC in under 6mins. So that time actually bodes well for me.
Thursday, I did yoga at my favorite yoga studio, Yoga From the Heart, and then ran 4 miles.
Friday, 3.5 miles before I flew back to NYC.
Sat, got up and had ZERO desire to run even though the weather was gorgeous. I was dehydrated and my muscles hurt from running my normal pace in the humidity and not stretching properly - yikes! So I ran 11 miles and called it a day. I had to work all day so I took it easy.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
moral support and speed shorts
thank god for Jess, and my speed shorts, on the long run today! I nearly quit but she wouldn't let me. To quote: "you can only quit if you puke". One of these days we'll both feel good on our long runs but for now, the support is appreciated and needed. The speed shorts are just fantastic. if i were stranded on a desert island, i'd want them with me. so, thank you speed shorts and to the designer that made them. I heart you.
Week 5, Aug 16-22
Started this week with waaaaay too many classes. I was pumped to try this new kickboxing gym and go to the beach but the combo created a nasty, pukey feeling on the track. Won't repeat that mistake again.
Wed: 6.5 miles with Jess and the lulu run club. Great run, legs felt great after resting all day. No classes for me today! Ended the evening stopping by the Green Grocer Deli across the street from my apt. Love the dudes who work there - Kaiser and some guys from Mexico (I practice my Spanish with them). Kaiser is a local celebrity - he knows everyone. He also gives away samples of their fruit every afternoon and evening. Jess and I have stopped by to grab some peaches and watermelon after runs. He saw me coming and exclaims, "Still running! All this crazy running! You run as much as I work here!" I explained my OCD with fitness, that I;m training for the NYC marathon and that I work at a store that sells yoga/fitness clothes. He didn't really get it - "all this crazy running!" He laughed and told me to keep eating. I ate a whole raspberry plum in sample sizes. highly recommend it. yummy.
Thurs: Tempo run around lower Manhattan with Jess. We ran 5 with about 2 miles of tempo running at 7:45 pace. Good run, we felt good.
Fri: NADA! yes, people, I didn't do anything all day..except travel to East Hampton to work in the lululemon store out there. no celebrity sightings....although, not sure I'd recognize anyone! Was really hoping for a Real Housewives or some other trashy reality tv star but no such luck.
Sat: Found a new route through Brooklyn. Ran down Court St, across 9th St (UP the Slope - damn that's hard!) and around Prospect Park. Exited at Grand Army Plaza and ran down Vanderbilt to Flushing and then around to the Williamsburg Bridge. That is when it all went downhill for me. Started to feel pretty bad and my legs tightened up. Not a fun feeling. Had to walk a few times. Ran over to Lafayette St and up Summer Streets to 31st St. We had to loop back around lower Manhattan a bit and then I almost took a huge digger crossing Broadway. The road had a dip in it and being so tired, I didn't see it and not picking my feet up, I nearly took a huge digger in the middle of Broadway. Very nice for the pedestrians crossing to say 15 times, "be careful, be careful". Not what I wanted to hear. Thanks for the advice Captain Obvious! I must of looked like a crazy person, dripping in sweat, feet shuffling along, and glaring at the tourists telling me to be careful. however, it was a weird feeling b/c I stopped myself from actually hitting ground so suddenly, I felt like I got the wind knocked out of me!
Then, the bridge was a shit show so we ended up running the whole damn thing just to get off of it faster! So, instead of running 17 miles, we ran 18 miles. looking forward to a coconut water, a bagel and a nap.
Wed: 6.5 miles with Jess and the lulu run club. Great run, legs felt great after resting all day. No classes for me today! Ended the evening stopping by the Green Grocer Deli across the street from my apt. Love the dudes who work there - Kaiser and some guys from Mexico (I practice my Spanish with them). Kaiser is a local celebrity - he knows everyone. He also gives away samples of their fruit every afternoon and evening. Jess and I have stopped by to grab some peaches and watermelon after runs. He saw me coming and exclaims, "Still running! All this crazy running! You run as much as I work here!" I explained my OCD with fitness, that I;m training for the NYC marathon and that I work at a store that sells yoga/fitness clothes. He didn't really get it - "all this crazy running!" He laughed and told me to keep eating. I ate a whole raspberry plum in sample sizes. highly recommend it. yummy.
Thurs: Tempo run around lower Manhattan with Jess. We ran 5 with about 2 miles of tempo running at 7:45 pace. Good run, we felt good.
Fri: NADA! yes, people, I didn't do anything all day..except travel to East Hampton to work in the lululemon store out there. no celebrity sightings....although, not sure I'd recognize anyone! Was really hoping for a Real Housewives or some other trashy reality tv star but no such luck.
Sat: Found a new route through Brooklyn. Ran down Court St, across 9th St (UP the Slope - damn that's hard!) and around Prospect Park. Exited at Grand Army Plaza and ran down Vanderbilt to Flushing and then around to the Williamsburg Bridge. That is when it all went downhill for me. Started to feel pretty bad and my legs tightened up. Not a fun feeling. Had to walk a few times. Ran over to Lafayette St and up Summer Streets to 31st St. We had to loop back around lower Manhattan a bit and then I almost took a huge digger crossing Broadway. The road had a dip in it and being so tired, I didn't see it and not picking my feet up, I nearly took a huge digger in the middle of Broadway. Very nice for the pedestrians crossing to say 15 times, "be careful, be careful". Not what I wanted to hear. Thanks for the advice Captain Obvious! I must of looked like a crazy person, dripping in sweat, feet shuffling along, and glaring at the tourists telling me to be careful. however, it was a weird feeling b/c I stopped myself from actually hitting ground so suddenly, I felt like I got the wind knocked out of me!
Then, the bridge was a shit show so we ended up running the whole damn thing just to get off of it faster! So, instead of running 17 miles, we ran 18 miles. looking forward to a coconut water, a bagel and a nap.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Pukey Feeling
Track did not go so well for me this week. Jess, on the other hand, had a great track workout. I felt like I was going to throw up on our warm-up mile down to the track and i was complaining from the first step -not a good sign of things to come. I'll spare you all now - I did not throw up, but I was on the verge!
The workout was 8x400 and then a 2000 (5 laps). I did 5 of the 8 and had to stop. Felt lightheaded and dizzy and pukey.
I had spent the afternoon at the beach out in Queens and probably didn't drink enough water so dehydration set in and it sucked. Stayed to watch everyone's misery through their 8x400s and then walked back with Jess.
So, after a great day of kickboxing, yoga and the beach, my day ended on a pukey note. Resting on Wed - no classes/exercise for me until 7pm run club.
The workout was 8x400 and then a 2000 (5 laps). I did 5 of the 8 and had to stop. Felt lightheaded and dizzy and pukey.
I had spent the afternoon at the beach out in Queens and probably didn't drink enough water so dehydration set in and it sucked. Stayed to watch everyone's misery through their 8x400s and then walked back with Jess.
So, after a great day of kickboxing, yoga and the beach, my day ended on a pukey note. Resting on Wed - no classes/exercise for me until 7pm run club.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
rest day =kickboxing
Jess and I met on Monday morning to run but we were both tired and it was grossly humid outside - floridaesque. We ran for about a mile and then walked around Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo.
I skipped CrossFit last week and since it is my intention to go at least once a week, I decided to go to the noon class, plus Shane was teaching (www.crossfitsouthbrooklyn.com). It's usually a smaller class and I can baby out of doing heavy weight if I have to. However, today's WOD was made for me! Headstand practice and 20 minute partner rowing competition. Basically, we had to row as many meters as possible in 20 minutes between 2 people, not doing over 500 meters per turn. Whit and I ended up rowing 4400 meters. Kinda felt like I was going to throw up during my last 500 meters.
Later, I met 2 other lulus for a kickboxing class (CKO Kickboxing in Carroll Gardens). You know it's serious when you have to buy your own gloves. Joe, the owner, taught us the basic punches and kicks and we were off. He promised us 10 minutes of jump roping during class and abs. He wasn't kidding. Our rest was in plank pose (military style pushup)! We were all dying but it was so fun and I felt kinda bad-ass walking around with my red boxing gloves afterward. I suck at jump roping though - Rocky would be disappointed.
Ended the evening teaching yoga the rock climbing gym. Arms were exhausted but any lurkers better watch out b/c I throw a mean jab cross combo.
I skipped CrossFit last week and since it is my intention to go at least once a week, I decided to go to the noon class, plus Shane was teaching (www.crossfitsouthbrooklyn.com). It's usually a smaller class and I can baby out of doing heavy weight if I have to. However, today's WOD was made for me! Headstand practice and 20 minute partner rowing competition. Basically, we had to row as many meters as possible in 20 minutes between 2 people, not doing over 500 meters per turn. Whit and I ended up rowing 4400 meters. Kinda felt like I was going to throw up during my last 500 meters.
Later, I met 2 other lulus for a kickboxing class (CKO Kickboxing in Carroll Gardens). You know it's serious when you have to buy your own gloves. Joe, the owner, taught us the basic punches and kicks and we were off. He promised us 10 minutes of jump roping during class and abs. He wasn't kidding. Our rest was in plank pose (military style pushup)! We were all dying but it was so fun and I felt kinda bad-ass walking around with my red boxing gloves afterward. I suck at jump roping though - Rocky would be disappointed.
Ended the evening teaching yoga the rock climbing gym. Arms were exhausted but any lurkers better watch out b/c I throw a mean jab cross combo.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
pictures...some of my favorite runners
Ragnar Adult Slumber Party team. Ready to race.Below and right: training runs in Central Park with GoodBodyFitness, Carl, Jeremy, Matias, Adam. The girls: Allison, me, Erin and Holly. Jess was in the background, skipping our Central Park March run :)
16 on a Saturday
Yup, just another Saturday for me, getting up at 5:30am to run 16 miles around the island of Manhattan. Checked the weather the night before and was psyched to see that it was going to be high 60s!!!!! What? Cool weather? I love it. For all of you non-New Yorkers, it went from freezing cold, raining to hot, hot, hot as we moved from winter to summer.
Jess and I started at Borough Hall and ran over the BK Bridge, down around South Street Seaport, passing by a few people just walking home from their Friday night out, to the West Side Highway. I personally love the WSH but it's not Jess' favorite place. We ran up to 45th St (where the Intrepid is docked) and then over to Park to run down Summer Streets.
a word about Jess - love her and have known her since my Ham Tech (hamilton college) but she's a good 3 inches taller and, thus, a few steps ahead of me usually so I have to really pick it up to keep pace.
Needless to say, she was killing me this am! We did well and finished the 16 miles in a respectable 2 hr 16 mins. Definitely couldn't run anymore and loved the walk breaks (which I'm a HUGE fan of!)
Went to yoga at work - lululemon Brooklyn (www.lululemon.com/brooklyn). Sasha taught and it was perfect - a nice flow class that opened my hip flexors and hamstrings.
Can't wait for a nap at 4pm when i'm off work! And a bagel :)
Jess and I started at Borough Hall and ran over the BK Bridge, down around South Street Seaport, passing by a few people just walking home from their Friday night out, to the West Side Highway. I personally love the WSH but it's not Jess' favorite place. We ran up to 45th St (where the Intrepid is docked) and then over to Park to run down Summer Streets.
a word about Jess - love her and have known her since my Ham Tech (hamilton college) but she's a good 3 inches taller and, thus, a few steps ahead of me usually so I have to really pick it up to keep pace.
Needless to say, she was killing me this am! We did well and finished the 16 miles in a respectable 2 hr 16 mins. Definitely couldn't run anymore and loved the walk breaks (which I'm a HUGE fan of!)
Went to yoga at work - lululemon Brooklyn (www.lululemon.com/brooklyn). Sasha taught and it was perfect - a nice flow class that opened my hip flexors and hamstrings.
Can't wait for a nap at 4pm when i'm off work! And a bagel :)
Friday, August 13, 2010
Week 4, Aug 9-15
Week 4 is starting off with the complete opposite of a bang....my legs and body were tired from last week so I'm dialing down a bit with the number of classes I do and relaxing more. Deena Kastor takes a 2 hr nap daily when she's training...i'm following her.
Mon: 5.5 miles with Jess. We ran around Brooklyn and then did hill repeats up the BK/Dumbo hill. I then had to run to yoga class since I was late so I tacked on an extra 1/2 mile. Yoga with Aarona at Park Slope Yoga was just what I needed. We did her Basics class and thank god - I don't think I would have made it through a full Vinyasa class.
Tues: Woke up with a slight crick in my neck and was hoping yoga would fix it. Felt great in Robyn's class - she's wonderful with alignment and opening up the hips and shoulders. Perfect way to stretch out before TRACK! and yes, that is how I say it to myself - with a combination of dread and excitement. I have to psych myself up for the workouts. There are a lot of fast people and part of me wants to beat them.
Since Jess couldn't go, I biked down.
Workout: 4x 1200 (3 laps of the track) with 400 recovery and 3x300 with 100 recovery. The Dreaded 1200s!
Went slow on the first one and then consistently got faster over the next 3. However, my group went out so fast on the 300s that I was dying, dying, dying on the last one. The coach said I had bobble-head - meaning, i was flailing all over the place just trying to finish.
Went home and slept!
Wed: Jess and I skipped the morning run and I relaxed -ahhhhhhh glorious. Didn't go to yoga or any other type of class. We ran in the evening, about 6.5, for me.
Thurs: Tempo Day. We've decided to make Thursdays our Tempo Run, which is about 20 to 30 seconds slower than 5k race pace. Since neither of us have any clue what our true 5k race pace is right now (I have an idea) we picked 8min/mile as our starting tempo pace. We are hoping to increase to 7:15s. We took the subway to Bowling Green and ran up the WSH. We did a 2 mile tempo run at 7:45 and 7:44. So, we are faster than we thought. Rewarded ourselves with a smoothie, for Jess, and a beet/carrot/kale juice for me.
Added a body conditioning class to my schedule for the day which was great b/c I got in my sit-ups, push-ups and squats that I conveniently forget about.
Fri: Rest day! Going to restorative yoga at Shambhala after work. Looking forward to resting my legs and having a good Saturday long run.
Sat: long run and yoga
Sun: yoga in Prospect Park and 2 miles easy. That's about all i had in me to do after working and yoga. Ate pizza and enjoyed every bite of it.
mileage: 40.5
classes: 5 yoga classes and 1 conditioning class
Mon: 5.5 miles with Jess. We ran around Brooklyn and then did hill repeats up the BK/Dumbo hill. I then had to run to yoga class since I was late so I tacked on an extra 1/2 mile. Yoga with Aarona at Park Slope Yoga was just what I needed. We did her Basics class and thank god - I don't think I would have made it through a full Vinyasa class.
Tues: Woke up with a slight crick in my neck and was hoping yoga would fix it. Felt great in Robyn's class - she's wonderful with alignment and opening up the hips and shoulders. Perfect way to stretch out before TRACK! and yes, that is how I say it to myself - with a combination of dread and excitement. I have to psych myself up for the workouts. There are a lot of fast people and part of me wants to beat them.
Since Jess couldn't go, I biked down.
Workout: 4x 1200 (3 laps of the track) with 400 recovery and 3x300 with 100 recovery. The Dreaded 1200s!
Went slow on the first one and then consistently got faster over the next 3. However, my group went out so fast on the 300s that I was dying, dying, dying on the last one. The coach said I had bobble-head - meaning, i was flailing all over the place just trying to finish.
Went home and slept!
Wed: Jess and I skipped the morning run and I relaxed -ahhhhhhh glorious. Didn't go to yoga or any other type of class. We ran in the evening, about 6.5, for me.
Thurs: Tempo Day. We've decided to make Thursdays our Tempo Run, which is about 20 to 30 seconds slower than 5k race pace. Since neither of us have any clue what our true 5k race pace is right now (I have an idea) we picked 8min/mile as our starting tempo pace. We are hoping to increase to 7:15s. We took the subway to Bowling Green and ran up the WSH. We did a 2 mile tempo run at 7:45 and 7:44. So, we are faster than we thought. Rewarded ourselves with a smoothie, for Jess, and a beet/carrot/kale juice for me.
Added a body conditioning class to my schedule for the day which was great b/c I got in my sit-ups, push-ups and squats that I conveniently forget about.
Fri: Rest day! Going to restorative yoga at Shambhala after work. Looking forward to resting my legs and having a good Saturday long run.
Sat: long run and yoga
Sun: yoga in Prospect Park and 2 miles easy. That's about all i had in me to do after working and yoga. Ate pizza and enjoyed every bite of it.
mileage: 40.5
classes: 5 yoga classes and 1 conditioning class
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Week 3, Aug 2-8
Week 3:
This week is going to be big - a 14miler for my long run and a whopping 35 miles total. I know that's a bit of a jump from last week's but since I slacked and went to Colombia and went out a few too many times last week, I have a little mileage to make up. We'll see how my legs do midweek and adjust if necessary. FYI: the best way to increase mileage is to go up by about 10% a week.
Mon: Ran 6 miles total. About 5 to get to a yoga class (which kicked my butt, thank you very much Jyll at Shambhala!), 1 mile to get to CrossFit and then a slow 1/2 mile after CrossFit.
That was a bit of a crazy day! I had made a commitment to get to at least one CrossFit class a week and as a store, we agreed to hit a certain number of studios before Aug 15th. Working for lululemon gives me the opportunity to go to yoga and fitness classes throughout Brooklyn. It's actually part of my job! And if you know me at all, you know that this is the perfect job for me!
So, Shambhala was suppose to be restorative but it wasn't; Jyll cranked it up a notch! CrossFit was Clean and Jerks. It was a manageable WOD (Workout of the Day) for me so I was happy. And I got to see the fun CrossFit dudes!
I think I spent the rest of the day laying in my bed.
Tues: TRACK! I think the track workouts define my tuesdays now. However, that didn't stop me from going to a yoga class in the morning and then climbing with Jess Yip at Brooklyn Boulders. Love climbing but it is tiring. My quads were definitely feeling it during the track workout.
Today's workout was a long one so my miles were higher than I anticipated.
Workout: 2x 1200, 2x 800, 4x400
Times: 1200: 5:17; 1200: 5:10; 800: 3:33; 800: 3:19; 400: 1:31; 400: 1:39; 400: 1:36; 400: 1:35;
Not sure where that 1:31 400 came (oh, a 400 is one lap around the track; 4 laps=1 mile) from. We started like a crazy killer clown was chasing us! WAY too fast for me.
Wed: 3 miles in the morning with Jess and 3 miles in the evening with run club. Run Club was so fun! We had 11 runners with 8 beginners so we did a run/walk workout. Perfect recovery for my legs after track.
Classes: CrossFit (back squats and a tortorous WOD: 15 box jumps (20in) and 12 dumbbell thursts) and pilates
Thurs: Rest day! Took 2 yoga classes. First one was a very nice flow with Judy at Jaya in Brooklyn. Rode my bike there so I was sweating like a pig before class even started. Second class was Yoga in Prospect Park with Angela Arnold of Bend and Bloom. Lovely outdoor class! Perfect afternoon for yoga in the park.
Fri: I don't even want to talk about this run. Hopefully this will be the worst of all my long training runs. Had to run on Fri b/c of weekend commitments. Jess bailed on me so I was solita. It was hot and humid. Ran 3 miles and was already feeling it/dreading it. At mile 5 I had to stop and stretch and walk it out. (Stopped at mile 3 and 4 for quick sips of water). I have no idea what the temp was but it felt like Florida! I had to stop every mile to talk and stretch my legs. The week's activity came crashing down on my legs and I felt like crap. I was dehydrated, annoyed at myself and tired. On the bright side, I saw two friends on the WSH and got to run on the newly opened Pier 64-66! What matters is that I made it - all 14 GD miles of it. I rewarded myself with a salt bagel WITH butter and cream cheese. mmmmm, so good.
I then worked for 5 hrs - STANDING! So while my plan was to go to a restorative yoga class that evening, it did not happen.
Sat: rest-ish day! lululemon sponsored Salutation Nation so I got up early to work it and then got to take the yoga class. It was gorgeous and probably one of the most memorable yoga classes I have ever taken. We were in Bryant Park (42nd St at 6th ave) in NYC on a Saturday morning. The sun was shining but it wasn't too hot and the teachers, Dechen Thurman and Matthew Lombardo (of Jivamukti) led a fun, hilarious class.
Spent the rest of the day at Central Park with Stacy and Justin. Got about a 3 mile walk in.
Sun: 5 mile run; met up with my fave NYC yoga teacher, Holly Horvath (http://www.hollyhorvath.com) and we went for a run/coffee date. Then I worked all day - standing again.
Week 3 mileage: 39 - a little more than i anticipated b/c of Tuesday's long track workout and Sunday's 5 miler.
Classes: 5 yoga, 2 CrossFit and 1 pilates.
This week is going to be big - a 14miler for my long run and a whopping 35 miles total. I know that's a bit of a jump from last week's but since I slacked and went to Colombia and went out a few too many times last week, I have a little mileage to make up. We'll see how my legs do midweek and adjust if necessary. FYI: the best way to increase mileage is to go up by about 10% a week.
Mon: Ran 6 miles total. About 5 to get to a yoga class (which kicked my butt, thank you very much Jyll at Shambhala!), 1 mile to get to CrossFit and then a slow 1/2 mile after CrossFit.
That was a bit of a crazy day! I had made a commitment to get to at least one CrossFit class a week and as a store, we agreed to hit a certain number of studios before Aug 15th. Working for lululemon gives me the opportunity to go to yoga and fitness classes throughout Brooklyn. It's actually part of my job! And if you know me at all, you know that this is the perfect job for me!
So, Shambhala was suppose to be restorative but it wasn't; Jyll cranked it up a notch! CrossFit was Clean and Jerks. It was a manageable WOD (Workout of the Day) for me so I was happy. And I got to see the fun CrossFit dudes!
I think I spent the rest of the day laying in my bed.
Tues: TRACK! I think the track workouts define my tuesdays now. However, that didn't stop me from going to a yoga class in the morning and then climbing with Jess Yip at Brooklyn Boulders. Love climbing but it is tiring. My quads were definitely feeling it during the track workout.
Today's workout was a long one so my miles were higher than I anticipated.
Workout: 2x 1200, 2x 800, 4x400
Times: 1200: 5:17; 1200: 5:10; 800: 3:33; 800: 3:19; 400: 1:31; 400: 1:39; 400: 1:36; 400: 1:35;
Not sure where that 1:31 400 came (oh, a 400 is one lap around the track; 4 laps=1 mile) from. We started like a crazy killer clown was chasing us! WAY too fast for me.
Wed: 3 miles in the morning with Jess and 3 miles in the evening with run club. Run Club was so fun! We had 11 runners with 8 beginners so we did a run/walk workout. Perfect recovery for my legs after track.
Classes: CrossFit (back squats and a tortorous WOD: 15 box jumps (20in) and 12 dumbbell thursts) and pilates
Thurs: Rest day! Took 2 yoga classes. First one was a very nice flow with Judy at Jaya in Brooklyn. Rode my bike there so I was sweating like a pig before class even started. Second class was Yoga in Prospect Park with Angela Arnold of Bend and Bloom. Lovely outdoor class! Perfect afternoon for yoga in the park.
Fri: I don't even want to talk about this run. Hopefully this will be the worst of all my long training runs. Had to run on Fri b/c of weekend commitments. Jess bailed on me so I was solita. It was hot and humid. Ran 3 miles and was already feeling it/dreading it. At mile 5 I had to stop and stretch and walk it out. (Stopped at mile 3 and 4 for quick sips of water). I have no idea what the temp was but it felt like Florida! I had to stop every mile to talk and stretch my legs. The week's activity came crashing down on my legs and I felt like crap. I was dehydrated, annoyed at myself and tired. On the bright side, I saw two friends on the WSH and got to run on the newly opened Pier 64-66! What matters is that I made it - all 14 GD miles of it. I rewarded myself with a salt bagel WITH butter and cream cheese. mmmmm, so good.
I then worked for 5 hrs - STANDING! So while my plan was to go to a restorative yoga class that evening, it did not happen.
Sat: rest-ish day! lululemon sponsored Salutation Nation so I got up early to work it and then got to take the yoga class. It was gorgeous and probably one of the most memorable yoga classes I have ever taken. We were in Bryant Park (42nd St at 6th ave) in NYC on a Saturday morning. The sun was shining but it wasn't too hot and the teachers, Dechen Thurman and Matthew Lombardo (of Jivamukti) led a fun, hilarious class.
Spent the rest of the day at Central Park with Stacy and Justin. Got about a 3 mile walk in.
Sun: 5 mile run; met up with my fave NYC yoga teacher, Holly Horvath (http://www.hollyhorvath.com) and we went for a run/coffee date. Then I worked all day - standing again.
Week 3 mileage: 39 - a little more than i anticipated b/c of Tuesday's long track workout and Sunday's 5 miler.
Classes: 5 yoga, 2 CrossFit and 1 pilates.
Week 2, July 26-Aug 1
Week 2:
Mon: rest - feeling really tired. learned to listen to my body.
Tues: track: 5x 1k: 4:25, 4:16, 4:13, 4:20, 4:24
7.5 miles total with warmup/cool down
Track felt easier today - more manageable and I kept my times pretty consistent.
-Classes: CrossFit and yoga
Wed: Got up and ran 4 miles with Jess. We did a Brooklyn loop with the BK side of the Brooklyn Bridge for a hill. Ran at 7pm with the run club - about 3.5 miles. Very tired today.
Thurs: Ran 4 miles with Jess and did 5 hill repeats up the Brooklyn Heights hill - pretty steep and about .1 of a mile.
Fri: Chilled with Yogasana yoga (Iyengar in the morning) and Mala yoga in the afternoon. Just what my body needed.
Sat: 12 miles and felt great! did yoga in the store afterwards.
Sun: no running again, just yoga in the store. Lovely day but feeling tired.
Week 2 total mileage: 30.5
Classes: 5 yoga and 1 CrossFit class
Definitely feeling the 2 3o mile weeks. But not overly sore and my legs are recovering quickly.
Mon: rest - feeling really tired. learned to listen to my body.
Tues: track: 5x 1k: 4:25, 4:16, 4:13, 4:20, 4:24
7.5 miles total with warmup/cool down
Track felt easier today - more manageable and I kept my times pretty consistent.
-Classes: CrossFit and yoga
Wed: Got up and ran 4 miles with Jess. We did a Brooklyn loop with the BK side of the Brooklyn Bridge for a hill. Ran at 7pm with the run club - about 3.5 miles. Very tired today.
Thurs: Ran 4 miles with Jess and did 5 hill repeats up the Brooklyn Heights hill - pretty steep and about .1 of a mile.
Fri: Chilled with Yogasana yoga (Iyengar in the morning) and Mala yoga in the afternoon. Just what my body needed.
Sat: 12 miles and felt great! did yoga in the store afterwards.
Sun: no running again, just yoga in the store. Lovely day but feeling tired.
Week 2 total mileage: 30.5
Classes: 5 yoga and 1 CrossFit class
Definitely feeling the 2 3o mile weeks. But not overly sore and my legs are recovering quickly.
Week 1...kind of
So, I started out with NYRR's 18 week training schedule, intermediate level or something. I figured I needed to up the ante if I'm going to run a solid 3:25.
That training took a back seat to my 10 day vacation in Colombia - I'm not one for sacrificing a south american vacation for running, plus it was week 2...or as I convinced myself later on, my 2nd base week.
So, in 10 day in Colombia, I ran exactly 2x - 3.5 miles each time and guess what? Couldn't care less! I had fun, saw my good friend marry a wonderful man, experienced Cartegena, stalked Gabriel Garcia Marquez, discovered Limonada de Coco, hiked in Tayrona and ate arepas, lots of arepas!
Base Week/Week 1
However, let's talk about my first week of training, henceforth known as base week 1. It was horrible, disgusting and gross! on Tuesday, July 6th, it hit 103 degrees with a heat index of something crazy like 110 in NYC. I felt like I was melting...like running through mud. Ran 5.25 miles that day and there's not much to say about it except, ugh.
Wed: ran 3.5 miles and it wasn't pretty. Don't remember it
Thurs: 4.25 miles, again, hot and gross
Fri: 3-4 miles (didn't write it down) but ran early in the morning with Jess b/c I had a flight to Bogota to catch.
Base Week 2: Colombia!
Very impressed with myself and the rest of the wedding party/friends that I got up and ran 3.5 miles the day after a 12 hr wedding celebration. Love running in Bogota, it's at an elevation, 8,300 ft, so makes for a more challenging run plus there are some good inclines.
Mon: Flew to Cartegena and hung out by the hostal's pool.
Tues: same
Wed: off to Tayrona National Park. Hiked for about 1.5 hrs. I was really prepared for this hiking/camping trip! Flipflops and a dress were my outfit of choice. Oh well, I went barefoot most of the time and channeled John Durant of Barefoot Runners NYC, thinking this is good for my feet; to feel the earth and rocks and such. I made it out alive and with no cuts on my feet!
Loved my 2 days in Tayrona. Spent the days swimming, hiking, lounging on the beach, eating pan de chocolate and daydreaming.
Fri-Sun: back in Cartegena - dancing, walking around, eating. love, love, love.
All in all, a solid trip but not a solid base week 2.
Week 1 of 16 - here we go.
Mon: actually ran! Ran along the beach and saw a different part of Cartegena. solid, humidity filled run.
Tues: landed at 6am in JFK. rested and mentally prepared for my first track workout in....2 years! well, official track workout.
There's a lovely little track in Red Hook (which I now affectionately call "Little Colombia" b/c it reminds me of Colombia - lots of little kids playing futbol, women selling cut up mango/watermelon/payaya with all the fixings and people making out on the grass).
Track: HOLY SH*T! I forgot how awful I can feel after one of those workouts. Also, forgot what pacing is and how to not burn out after 3 laps. I pulled the ultimate rookie mistake: going to fast at the beginning.
track workout: 1200, 800, 400, 400, 800, 1200; I don't remember my times for all but I ran the first 1200 in 4:56 and my last 1200 in 5:26. TERRIBLE! Learned my lesson though.
Miles: 7.5 total (2 mile warm up, .5 mile cool down)
Wed: 5 mile run in Prospect Park at 7pm with Jeremy and lulu Run Club. Feeling the effects of the track workout on my legs
-Yoga class
Thurs: 6.5 miles in Central Park at 7am. I don't know why I do this to myself - agree to run early in the morning the day after a run and my first week training. Anyhow, I agreed/got talked into running with Jeremy in Central Park. Decent run till mile 6 where I died and just wanted to walk!
-Iyengar yoga, 1.5 hrs helped a lot
Fri: no running
Sat: 7.5 miles - was suppose to be 10 miles but I went out on Fri night and had a little too much to drink.... :)
- yoga class
Sun: rest and yoga class
Week 1 total mileage: 30
Yoga: 3x
That training took a back seat to my 10 day vacation in Colombia - I'm not one for sacrificing a south american vacation for running, plus it was week 2...or as I convinced myself later on, my 2nd base week.
So, in 10 day in Colombia, I ran exactly 2x - 3.5 miles each time and guess what? Couldn't care less! I had fun, saw my good friend marry a wonderful man, experienced Cartegena, stalked Gabriel Garcia Marquez, discovered Limonada de Coco, hiked in Tayrona and ate arepas, lots of arepas!
Base Week/Week 1
However, let's talk about my first week of training, henceforth known as base week 1. It was horrible, disgusting and gross! on Tuesday, July 6th, it hit 103 degrees with a heat index of something crazy like 110 in NYC. I felt like I was melting...like running through mud. Ran 5.25 miles that day and there's not much to say about it except, ugh.
Wed: ran 3.5 miles and it wasn't pretty. Don't remember it
Thurs: 4.25 miles, again, hot and gross
Fri: 3-4 miles (didn't write it down) but ran early in the morning with Jess b/c I had a flight to Bogota to catch.
Base Week 2: Colombia!
Very impressed with myself and the rest of the wedding party/friends that I got up and ran 3.5 miles the day after a 12 hr wedding celebration. Love running in Bogota, it's at an elevation, 8,300 ft, so makes for a more challenging run plus there are some good inclines.
Mon: Flew to Cartegena and hung out by the hostal's pool.
Tues: same
Wed: off to Tayrona National Park. Hiked for about 1.5 hrs. I was really prepared for this hiking/camping trip! Flipflops and a dress were my outfit of choice. Oh well, I went barefoot most of the time and channeled John Durant of Barefoot Runners NYC, thinking this is good for my feet; to feel the earth and rocks and such. I made it out alive and with no cuts on my feet!
Loved my 2 days in Tayrona. Spent the days swimming, hiking, lounging on the beach, eating pan de chocolate and daydreaming.
Fri-Sun: back in Cartegena - dancing, walking around, eating. love, love, love.
All in all, a solid trip but not a solid base week 2.
Week 1 of 16 - here we go.
Mon: actually ran! Ran along the beach and saw a different part of Cartegena. solid, humidity filled run.
Tues: landed at 6am in JFK. rested and mentally prepared for my first track workout in....2 years! well, official track workout.
There's a lovely little track in Red Hook (which I now affectionately call "Little Colombia" b/c it reminds me of Colombia - lots of little kids playing futbol, women selling cut up mango/watermelon/payaya with all the fixings and people making out on the grass).
Track: HOLY SH*T! I forgot how awful I can feel after one of those workouts. Also, forgot what pacing is and how to not burn out after 3 laps. I pulled the ultimate rookie mistake: going to fast at the beginning.
track workout: 1200, 800, 400, 400, 800, 1200; I don't remember my times for all but I ran the first 1200 in 4:56 and my last 1200 in 5:26. TERRIBLE! Learned my lesson though.
Miles: 7.5 total (2 mile warm up, .5 mile cool down)
Wed: 5 mile run in Prospect Park at 7pm with Jeremy and lulu Run Club. Feeling the effects of the track workout on my legs
-Yoga class
Thurs: 6.5 miles in Central Park at 7am. I don't know why I do this to myself - agree to run early in the morning the day after a run and my first week training. Anyhow, I agreed/got talked into running with Jeremy in Central Park. Decent run till mile 6 where I died and just wanted to walk!
-Iyengar yoga, 1.5 hrs helped a lot
Fri: no running
Sat: 7.5 miles - was suppose to be 10 miles but I went out on Fri night and had a little too much to drink.... :)
- yoga class
Sun: rest and yoga class
Week 1 total mileage: 30
Yoga: 3x
NYC Marathon
I'm always excited about the prospect of training for a new marathon. I see it as a way to provide structure and discipline to my life. my friends might laugh at that, considering that I'm a fairly strong, disciplined person already. However, left to my own devices, I would love to sit around all day and be lazy. Thus, paying for and telling the world that I'm going to run 26.2 miles on such and such a date is all the motivation I need, especially during a heat wave in NYC.
After qualifying for the Boston Marathon in 2008, I decided that running a 3:40 wasn't so bad and that I'd like to qualify every year. My goal already was to run one marathon a year for as long as my body is healthy, the time constraint just gives the goal a bit more juice and makes it less of a "to-do" list.
I qualified at the Hudson-Mohawk Marathon in Oct 2009, after missing the 3:40:59 mark by 6 seconds in the 2008 Marine Corps Marathon. I qualified with a 3:34 so naturally my next goal was to run a sub 3:30. That goal has now become: 3:25.
My training is all about the numbers 3, 2, 5. I will share my training, the trials and tribulations, the joys, the highs, the lows...whatever, i'll share my runs and hopefully inspire a few of you out there to create your own goals, whether they be for running, life, career, health or personal.
After qualifying for the Boston Marathon in 2008, I decided that running a 3:40 wasn't so bad and that I'd like to qualify every year. My goal already was to run one marathon a year for as long as my body is healthy, the time constraint just gives the goal a bit more juice and makes it less of a "to-do" list.
I qualified at the Hudson-Mohawk Marathon in Oct 2009, after missing the 3:40:59 mark by 6 seconds in the 2008 Marine Corps Marathon. I qualified with a 3:34 so naturally my next goal was to run a sub 3:30. That goal has now become: 3:25.
My training is all about the numbers 3, 2, 5. I will share my training, the trials and tribulations, the joys, the highs, the lows...whatever, i'll share my runs and hopefully inspire a few of you out there to create your own goals, whether they be for running, life, career, health or personal.
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