NYC Half Marathon

Distance: 13.1
Course: Central Park 6 mile loop, thru Times Sq, onto the WHS and finish by WTC.
Weather: high 80's, muggy, overcast
Overall: Great race. I sucked. Started too fast, couldn't keep up my pace, and let negative self-talk get the better of me. Blah.

Uhhgggg.....this one sucked. Anyone who's run any distance of note in July in NYC knows that that in itself is a challenge....the humidity is brutal and just makes for a more challenging and draining run than normal. But I really ran one of the worst races of my life at this race this past weekend. I sucked. It was awful and the worst part was that it got "awful" around mile 6, with 7 more still to go...which made it just a very long, very miserable morning.

Despite a good warm up and being really psyched I just couldn't get going, my legs were like lead, and I felt like my breathing was heavy the whole time, I couldn't get into a rhythm and then, as I hit mile 4 and saw I was way off my pace, my inner Debbie Downer crept it...."I suck. I suck at this. I can't believe how out of shape I am. I will never qualify for Boston"...blah blah....she wouldn't shut up and by mile 7 she was all I could hear. Stupid Debbie.

It was really just a reminder to myself of how much work I still have to do as far as my training goes, and that I need to get more speed work in and more consistency in my pace during long runs....its good to fall down now and then, keeps you humble anyway.

But this week work has taken over my life and suddenly - again - running has fallen to the side and I'm on morning #3 right now of NO running. I need to put training back as priority #1 - its hard to do but I need to figure out a way to do that unless I want to run more crappy races like this one.....

All that bitching aside the race itself is a great course and really well organized, especially for a race in the heat. I'd recommend it and I plan to do it again next year....hopefully with better results.

Uhg.

Weekend Warrior

After a week of fighting the stomach flu and a burtal workload at the office I got back out there this weekend with a 5 mile attack of the track of the gym Saturday and a 1.5 hour bike ride on Sunday. Legs, pathetically, feel like rubber now but in a good way of course :)

Down - for the moment.

Stomach flu that kicked in last weekend has totally kicked my ass and kept me out of the gym/off of the road (and pretty much glued to my couch) since last weekend.....uhg, another obstacle. And i feel my motivataion dwindling a bit as work and classes and plans for my upcoming trip are seemingly more urgent and getting more of my attention these days. Must reverse this ASAP:

1) Feeling better today - tomorrow start up again, and have a good weekend. Dont need to run 15 miles (and shouldnt frankly) but do need to get off my ass and back out on the road. (I weirdly miss my bike...I am taking this as a good sign)

2) MUST finilzie and then sign up for 2008 races! THis will truly motivate me!

“People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.” Zig Ziglar quotes

Lacking Endorphins I Think!

Been a crappy week running-wise which is a shame after such a great race on Monday! I let work (WORK!) get in the way....sigh. I definitely notice a huge change in myself these weeks when I let my running slip. I seem to have "work out and eat well" tied together nicely but unfortunately I also have "slack off and eat crap" happening on the reverse end so that doesn't do much for me. My entire mood really does shift as well when I'm not working out and I find that everything kind of just turns to shit - I can't handle stress as well and I manage my time much poorly....

None of this is a shock as we all have heard the benefits of exercise go far beyond just psychical, but to notice just how much it impacts directly me is pretty interesting; I stop running and the wheels really do come off!

I will get back out there tomorrow - am looking forward to it - and I am making a pledge to myself that working out is as much a priority for my day to day as brushing my teeth - no exceptions, no letting it slip, no letting other crap get in the way. I owe it to myself - before I park my ass in a desk chair for 8 - 10 hours five days a week, to take the time to devote to something I actually care about each day (how novel). Some people have religion, some people have TV, some people have music....I have this.

Around Cape Ann 25 K

Around Cape Ann 25 K
Time: 2:18
Pace: 8:53
Weather: Sunny and hot - 80's
Course: HILLLLLLLLY

This was a great race for me. I have run it 3 times now so I knew what to expect – hills, LOTS of hills, and pretty much no let up at all the entire way. The final ¼ mile is a lovely hill that’s long, windy, and I swear pretty much a 90 degree angle….I remember thinking after my first marathon that I was so grateful I did that race b/c it really prepared me to run 26.2 miles unlike any other race or long run could.

I was nervous about this weekend’s race, having not run much at all this summer due to sheer exhaustion from 3 marathons in a 12 month span….aggressive, too aggressive for me at this point I guess and I burned out a bit. The past few weeks I have been fighting my way back and feeling pretty good but still was unsure of what this race would do to my under-trained legs. Running with Barbara, we cruised through the first mile and then slowed down realizing how hot it was - sunny in the low 80’s at 9AM – but the wind helped a bit and the frequent water stops (some race-official and many others just local people out enjoying the day with us runners!) were a huge help along the way. I chased down a skinny blonde woman and dusted her at mile 6 (my favorite race-day activity) pretending I was my athletic idol Desiree Ficker chasing down Kate Majors at the Timberman race 2 weeks ago, and kept up a solid pace the rest of the race. I was psyched with my finish time and for the first time in months actually felt like a runner again!

Notes from the race:
Desiree Ficker “hold ice cubes in your hands” trick works to cool you down fast
Pre-race: 2 hrs - English muffin w/ pb, 1 hr – Lara bar; felt really good out there on that.
Need sun block –shoulders fried!
Running watch WAY off….must calibrate ASAP.

Hard 8 + Hard 8 = Trouble!

Had - for the first time ever - the beginnings of what I fear will quickly become shit splints...shit!

This was inevitable I guess, I didn't think I was ramping up TOO fast but perhaps I am.

I did 2 hard 8's yesterday and today...I will focus on swimming/biking the next few days and get in one easy paced run before the race this weekend....uhhhg can be a little disappointing but I am catching them early so best to deal with it now.

The long road back continues!

Sweatin' in the City

In the 90's this weekend in NYC with about 180% humidity, or so it seemed, but I was able to get out and have a few good workouts this weekend - 13 mile run on Saturday and a 2 hr. bike ride on Sunday. The run was tough - I was about .5 miles into it and realized this would easily be the hottest day I've run all summer...uhg. But I gutted it out - it wasn't pretty (and it wasn't fast!!!) but I got it done. Today's bike ride was fun - thanks Mike for coming along! - but it clearly highlighted the need for BIKE SHORTS. Went straight from the bike to Paragon Sports for some relief - my ass will thank me on the next ride!

Sweaty and hungry but glad to have gotten in a few good workouts this weekend....I'm coming back!