Monthly Archives: April 2011

5 Reasons why Komen Race for the Cure > EIF/Revlon Run/Walk for Women

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5. Bag drop! Komen has it. EIF/Revlon doesn’t. Mainly because apparently EIF/Revlon insists on starting in Times Square and finishing in the park – probably so they can do number 3. FAIL EIF/Revlon.

4. While neither is chip-timed and both have solely Walker divisions (really are both Walker extremely heavy), the Komen Race for the Cure has separate corrals for the runners and walkers. Survivors get a 5-10 minute head start, then runners are released and within 5 minutes walkers are released. At the EIF/Revlon Run/Walk for Women, it’s “suggested” runners line up at the front if you ask them, but there’s nothing indicating that runners should be at the front. It’s entirely possible even at the front of the line-up for a runner to be trapped behind snails through no fault of the runner. FAIL EIF/Revlon.

3. Have a welcome speaker if you want, that’s cool. Even NYRR races do that. But 45 minutes+ of them (EIF/Revlon ran over in the speakers department) is absurd. Komen saves that stuff for the END of the race in the finish area. And even if they do have a couple (not 5 plus a singer) of speakers beforehand, they definitely don’t do the warm-up at the start of the chatty part and then make people stand for 45+ minutes getting cooled down again (made especially bad today as it was cool and windy and cloudy to begin with). Another FAIL EIF/Revlon.

2. Komen doesn’t waste money on silly medallions. If you’re a charity run, you should put as much of the registration costs and donations towards the charity and not waste it on such silliness. (For this I blame the L.A. run/walk as judging from the FB page there has been whining from transplanted L.A. peeps who were “so sad” they didn’t get their “medal” when they did it in NYC. Hands down FAIL EIF/Revlon.

And the number 1 reason Komen > EIF/Revlon…

1. Komen’s course is truly 5K. EIF/Revlon’s is “approximately” 5K. Well, apparently to them “approximately” is over half a mile short. I knew it was going to be short when I saw the 2 mile marker and knew that it was crazy-close to the finish. At that point my enthusiasm totally went out the door. I was on pace for a massive 5K PR, but at that point I slowed down a good bit because really, I’m not going to kill myself for something that won’t even count. (Note that at least two of us have complained on their FB page and their response was it was “a little bit short” due to “construction in the park”…um…I dropped my “goodie bag” at the church where we meet for running club and went back into the park to get some more miles in and ran over what is their “usual” course and there is NO construction going on.) EPIC FAIL EIF/Revlon.

Sorry EIF/Revlon, but 5 FAILS is ridiculous. From now on, the Komen Race for the Cure will have my time, energy and money in the fight against breast cancer and I’ll donate on my own to fight other women’s cancers.

Yay flat park!!!

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Today I was a little off with my schedule, so I went for my run in the little park close to my apartment. Its FLAT! Woohoo!!!

On tap for today was 7 reps of 6:1s. I got a little overly excited about the flatness and went out too fast during the first interval, so I had to do a bit of walking in the second interval, but not a lot. And then I ran all the rest of them.

More people are out in the park now, so it’s interesting. Especially towards the end when the little league teams were gathering. Still, I felt surprisingly confident wearing my running skirt, running bra, and a tank top. Some of the chess players told me to keep it up. And a couple of groups of women said “You’re doing a good job! Keep it up!” So that made me feel good! :D

Gotta love recognition from complete strangers.

I feel like it’s progress…

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Yesterday was my first 6:1 interval run. Six reps of that. It went ok…I only walked for a minute or so during one run interval because I pushed too hard going up a hill. I was a little bummed when I saw my distance and that it was less than my other runs of the same length (7 reps of 5:1), BUT I have to keep in mind that it was warmer and more humid than any weather I’ve run in before. And until I get acclimated to it, I really should take it slower. Hopefully the weather in NYC will be getting warmer so I can get myself acclimated to warmer weather.

I was supposed to fly home yesterday evening. Uh…yeah. We got to about an hourish outside of JFK and were put in a holding pattern for an hour. At that point they didn’t know when we’d be released from that, and the safest thing regarding fuel levels was to turn around and go BACK to Nashville. Luckily they got me on a flight this morning into LaGuardia. Not my favorite, but it beat doing one into JFK with two connections.

I went to get my shirt and stuff for the Revlon/eif Run on Saturday – I don’t know if they were supposed to have sent me a bib or what, but the girl doing the distribution was seemingly VERY annoyed that I didn’t have anything with me and she had to do a “revision” on my bib number. The map in the info they gave us doesn’t indicate a “runners” area in which to line up…it better be clear on Saturday. So far it’s not shaping up to be a good event based on all of this.

I should be doing XT this evening. But I’m feeling a little dizzy – don’t know if I’m just overtired or what. I’m opting to just take a chill day – I did a few rounds of the airport this morning and some lifting with my bag and stairs. I’d rather chill than end up getting sick or worse. Tomorrow is a run day…and I may try to get in some yoga also. Also? Hydrating in case that’s the issue.

I know, I know…

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It seems as if I gave up this blog for Lent. It wasn’t intentional, I promise!!!

I’ll just do bullet points to bring you up to date…

* The Scotland Run 10K netted me another PR! 1:15:09!! Woot!! Honestly I’m shocked that it was a PR time…I felt like I was dragging for most of it, just couldn’t get my legs to go. Part of it was because I know I started out too fast. And the other part? I have no clue. Mad props to AJ for vocally pushing me into the finish line…at that point I really felt like I was done but she kept yelling “You’re not dying! You’re right there! Run!!!” And it got me those last few yards.

* I’m going to be doing a Spartan Sprint with some running club buddies. Yes, one of those where you crawl under barbed wire and jump fire. I don’t think either of those two things were EVER on my “do before I turn 40″ list (if I’ve even got one of those…), but they are two things that will be done by then. It’ll either be June 4 or 5.

* My current training plan is Coach Jenny’s run/walk a 10K. The goal race here is the NYRR Mini 10K – theoretically I’ll be doing run a mile/walk a minute for that. So far the training’s going pretty well. It’s been interesting this week as my parents’ neighborhood is extremely hilly. So we’ll see what happens with times/paces when I get back to NYC!

* So I know I said before in the post about my “bucket list o’races” that Boston wasn’t really one that was on there. Well… They say never say never – which technically I didn’t say, but… Reading the tweets and things of the race itself and reading about some of my friends’ experiences, I’ve set my goal for it. 2013 for one of the charities (because while I may be “a crazy person” as my sister refers to us runners, I’m not delusional enough to think I’ll EVER BQ time-wise). So I’m saving my pennies to help fund that charity run starting now.

* So it’s probably a good thing that the new runDisney race is – EW! – Tinkerbell themed. Gross, gross, gross. I definitely have issues with it being yet another women’s race – especially when Tinkerbell is a tiny (pun intended) part of a much larger story in Peter Pan which would have made an amazing theme and allowed for so much choice in terms of people who choose to run in costume – the stupid, spoiled brat of a fairy, boys who don’t want to grow up in Peter, a princess-y type figure in Wendy, and even Pirates. But more than that, why do you want to have a whiny, selfish, spoiled brat of a figure as the theme for your race? And if you’re promoting girl power, why especially name it for someone who let’s not forget tried to poison Wendy because she was jealous!?!?!? I know, I know…they have the Princess at WDW and I’ve thought about doing it, but at least with the Princesses, you have a few (Mulan, Tiana…to a slight degree Rapunzel, though that one’s questionable in my mind) who actually have a backbone (and then there’s bookworm Belle, so she’s pretty positive too) – it’s not just little whimps who have to be rescued by a prince. Really most of what I’ve got to say on the subject has already been said on message boards and other blogs. It’s done…the decision was made. And I can take that $120 race fee and put it in my Boston 2013 fund! :) I did find it sadly ironic that this new race was announced on the day that we lost Grete Waitz. Clearly there was no way to predict that, but it was sad that something like a Tinkerbell Race would be announced on the day when one of the great pioneers of the equality of women’s running lost her battle with cancer.

* New running shoes are always fun! Got a pair of Brooks Adrenaline 10s so I can rotate those in with my other shoes while I’m training! Also fun new running skirt! Woot!!

* John Bingham and Coach Jenny have cooked up another 100 Days Challenge…but we don’t know deets yet. Hopefully it won’t drag on as long as the stupid guessing game runDisney did for the stupid new race… :P

*Did I mention how hilly my parents’ neighborhood is? Well, today I decided to try and tackle this hill that I’ve purposely avoided until now. It’s very much reminiscent of the worst part of Harlem Hill, and I was all “No. Just…no.” But I gave it a shot today. And came within 10-15 yards of running it all the way to the top!! Not very fast, but I almost made it! So I’m proud of myself!!

So…that’s about it for now. Tomorrow’s Easter, so I’ll be much better about updating here. Even if I didn’t technically give up updating for Lent. LOL.

Decided on a change…

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So yesterday’s run – my first at 5:1 – didn’t go so well.

Basically, I started out too fast and my brain convinced my legs they were tired and needed to walk a little more than I would have liked.

Then again, it was my first shot at 5:1, and I remember that the first time I did 4:1 I felt much the same way, so I’m sure it’ll get easier with time. Also, I’ve been dealing with a cold or allergies, so that added into it.

But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’m convinced that starting this new training plan which is increasing my running time to more than I’ve done before is probably NOT the time to be doing the 30 Day Shred every day with its cardio. The strength and abs stuff is great, but the cardio every day, even on run days? Not so much.

So the new decision is…

Run Days are RUN DAYS! XT days are Bob Harper’s Inside Out Method Pure Burn Super Strength (which is kicking my butt and I’m sure will be for a while). And his Yoga for the Warrior can be used on a rest day or a run day or an XT day as I’m feeling it. Though I doubt I’ll be combining it with XT any time soon!

I’m good with this plan! I’m feeling positive!! Yay!!!!

Also, I’m about 95% sure I’m NOT going to do the 10K in Nashville. The flat course is so tempting…but there are so many factors I can’t control. I guess if I get to Nashville on time or early and feel good, I’ll see if I can find out if it’s capped out or we’ll just head over. We’ll see. But I’m ok with this plan too. :D

Day 3…

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Of the 30 Day Shred project. Yeah, yeah, I said I’d started it a few days ago. Well, I wasn’t feeling well Thursday, so I skipped…and then decided that since April has 30 days, I’ll just do it every day during April! :D

Of course that means taking a set of weights home with me for break…I’m going with the 3lb ones. Because really? Who wants to add 10lbs in the suitcase just for weights? 6 is enough! It’s ok…that time will largely be level 2, and I hate level 2.

Yesterday I did 60 minutes at 4:1. Ended up doing around 5.77 miles. I say around because a) I was stupid and didn’t set the garmin back to “run” from “general” for the sport, so it didn’t pick up my footpod at all and b) runkeeper failed on my phone as per usual…so I went with the mileage on the Central Park running maps.

Tomorrow begins the 10K training plan! Bump that run time up to 5 minutes!! Woohoo!! I can do this!!!

OK…now QUESTION!!!! I found a 10K in Nashville on the 16th. I get in at 9:22pm on the 15th. My dad’s willing to get up and drive me over to the 10K if I want to do it. I’m trying to decide. I’ll have done one 10K on the 10th. I’ll have been doing my regular training all week. This one’s reported to be flat…I don’t really get flat 10Ks here in NYC thanks to the hills in Central Park, so in theory I could really go for a PR. But I don’t know… Thoughts? Should I go for it or not? I’ll have to be there by around 7 to on-site register…which would mean leaving probably around 6am. I’m so indecisive!!! Help!!