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