Monthly Archives: December 2011

2011 in Review

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So here we are at the end of another year – my first full year of running! Let’s look at what I’ve done shall we?

Total Miles: 816.62
I surpassed my goal of 750 for last year! Woo!!

Races:
102.3 racing miles!
* 4 Half Marathons including my first ever!
* 3 10 Ks
* 2 5-milers
* 3 4-milers
* 3 5 Ks

Weight:
Leveled out, especially towards the end of the year. Not surprising…marathon training is typically not a time to lose weight. Not if you want to be fueled properly.

Overall it was a good year!

Tomorrow: Goals for 2012.

Obligatory Psychological Stuff Post

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And actually it has nothing to do with Taper Madness – or even stressing about the marathon. I’m actually scarily calm about that (though the temps going into the 70s aren’t my idea of fun – I’d prefer cooler – but there’s nothing I can do about the weather, so…). The race itself? I got this!

It does have to do with the weekend. And namely all the group gatherings and stuff that tends to go on around them. (My ROTE readers, this is what I’ve already alluded to on the forum. Remember…it’s nothing personal!!) Bear with me…it’s gonna be kind of stream-of-consciousness.

I get that running is a community. Really, I do. But that said…

I’m actually pretty shy. People don’t believe me when I say that, but until I get comfortable, I’m shy.

I also don’t slip easily into friendships. It takes me a while to warm up to people and to feel like I can trust them. Several reasons for this.

First, I know it didn’t help that my best friend Phillip died right before I turned 5. That’s intense stuff at any age, but especially at 5. Then a couple of years later, my new friend Jill pretty much abandoned me for another girl in her kindergarten class. That just sort of started a whole tendency to hold myself back at first even in one on one friendships, I guess it’s the little kid in me waiting to be abandoned. Or the more recent history part of me waiting to be betrayed and disappointed by broken promises and broken trusts.

Additionally I’ve got a huge history of always being on the outside of groups, never able to penetrate the “inner circles”. Especially where people have known each other for a while. I’ve talked a bit about this on my other non-running blog – specifically this post. I don’t slip easily into groups as it seems so many others do.

I do have to say here that my experience with ROTEars at Disneyland was great! Especially at the pre-event with Jeff Galloway where Megan and Gina met me and immediately started talking with me. The morning of the race I talked with them and a few others, but still I felt a bit of the outsider. (I have been given props for approaching though as others watch from afar.)

Online forums can be great for chatting and getting advice and that type of thing. Many people easily make the jump to face-to-face meetings. I’m not one of them. For all the reasons mentioned above, but also because throughout my life and even as an adult, I’ve been bullied in various ways by people I’ve met in various online forums (not just running-related…and really not at all running-related yet as I’ve really held back with those encounters) I have opened myself up to and trusted. More on that here. I’ve found that the whole online thing makes bullying even easier than it used to be – for some reason bullies don’t seem to think that online hurts as much. They’re wrong. Again, I am not saying I’ve been bullied by anyone in an online running forum – just saying why I’m not “OMG JUMP RIGHT IN!!!” like some people are.

I’ve found that in so many cases, there’s just an assumption among running forums (moreso than others) that because we’re running and we happen to be running the same race, we automatically want to spend all free time together and/or be BFFs. For me, reading and feeling that kind of pressure has led me to leave at least one forum. While I am excited about the chance to say hi, I have my own things I want to do as well.

Things may be different when/if I travel to a race on my own (and therein may lie the rub…my travle races have been to Disney where I’ve been with my sister and hanging with Seth, my running buddy, so I’ve had people there I know), but in the case of Marathon Weekend, my family will all be together. It’s been a while since that’s happened and it’s my dad’s 70th birthday weekend. I don’t mind saying hi or in the case of ROTE (most likely) even hanging out before heading to start corrals. But I don’t feel like this weekend is the time I can go running to every (or even any) group meet-up or especially meal. I’m not going to abandon my family for that long, and I’m not going to ask them (all non-runners) to hang out with runners or eat somewhere that may not be our choice. I’m also not into the matching shirts thing. That’s just me and my streak of individualism. Heck, I think I’ve mentioned on here how I’m not really even a fan of wearing my running club shirt at races (and yes, I do still feel like an outsider in running club a lot of the time). And in at least one case (not ROTE), whether intentional or not, I was made to feel less of a “group member” because I wasn’t all into meeting up. That kind of pressure isn’t good for me and is the quickest way to run me off.

I hope this is making some kind of sense.

I am looking forward to seeing my ROTE friends – especially as I’ve gotten to know you a little over DL and W&D. I’m looking forward to hopefully meeting Damaris since that never happened over NYC Marathon. I’m looking forward to saying hi to some other friends – Rick and Amy in particular. But given everything, my family will be my socialization focus that weekend. That’s who I am, and I’m not going to apologize for it.

I guess mainly what I’m saying is if I get the chance to meet you in person, it’s cool! Come and say hi! I won’t bite your head off by any means. But also don’t be offended if I’m a bit withdrawn. I will warm up at my own pace. Sometimes it’s faster, sometimes it’s slower. I’m not anti-community at all (in spite of what this post may make it seem). I’m just gun-shy and take some time to warm-up and trust.

That’s all.

Tracking and other things!

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Just some random bullet points/thoughts…

* First up, if anyone’s interested in tracking me, you can go here and search Elizabeth Strickland. I would be the 40 year old one in NY. :)

* In the “And you thought wearing the race shirt during (or before!) the race was courting bad karma/ju ju…” files: last night we had a woman come into the store to (get this) buy a plush Mickey Mouse to CUT THE EARS OFF to make her headband/whatever for the marathon!!! We have a Minnie headband with removable or changeable bows, but for some reason that wouldn’t do. And my guess is she’s getting down there too late to get ears when she gets there (though if so, it’s unclear to me why whoever is picking up her bib can’t also pick up Ears) because when I suggested that they have Ears at WDW, she said “I know…but it has to be finished before I leave.” She asked what I was dressing as and I gently and politely said “a runner” and when she said that this is her first and she wants it to be fun I also added that last year was my first and I had a blast, even dressed as a runner. Oh well. As Kathy said on my FB, “It’s Taper Madness Disney-Style” I suppose. Though really? Cutting the ears off a poor, defenseless Mickey plush? That’s gotta be courting the bad karma/ju ju BIG TIME!

* Looks like my packing will be done Monday during the day (so running clothes will have to be washed Sunday) as I’m working Sunday through Tuesday nights, then seeing Billy Elliot Wednesday night (it was literally the only opportunity I’d have to see it one last time before it closes). Eek!!

* NYE plans have been cemented. I’m going to the yoga event at Laughing Lotus! EXCITED!!!! I’m ready to get back into yoga a bit more (in addition to running, don’t worry!), and I figure getting my zen on to start the new year and as I get ready for the marathon will be a good thing!

One week from today I head down!! WHEE!!!!

Woo! Back with a vengeance!

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Slug week has ended!! Hooray!!

Yesterday I went to Prospect Park and did an 8 reps of 5/1 intervals run. It wasn’t the prettiest, but I got it done. I did figure out that my body is just not down with the 5/1 thing right now. I might start out ok, but then I had to drop to a walk closer to the 4 minute mark, which I did because foot time is better than no time, but I don’t want to be doing that on race day if I can help it.

Today I did mt 4/1 x 8 reps run. I hadn’t really intended it to be a “tempo” run, but it did turn out to be pretty close to that. My run intervals were really consistent – in the 11:40ish range! Bonus!! I’ll definitely take it. Yes, I got tired towards the end, but I never let myself walk during a run interval, and I finished tired, but feeling really proud of myself!

I also got to try out my new Balega socks from my Penguin Santa! I’ve been wanting to try Balegas, but haven’t gotten any for myself yet. These are the Women’s Enduro Quarter, and I am in love with them! Definitely want to try and grab another pair or two before Disney (or worst-case at the expo since you don’t really break in socks). LOVE!

Well, that wasn’t the intended start to the taper…

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A slug week that is. It’s just between work at school and work at Disney (pulled some major hours there this week), I ended up taking the week off from running.

I compensated for it by walking around a lot (example: to church last night…down to 28th St from 46th St) and taking stairs wherever available (though in all honesty that was also partly because a little over a week ago there was a horrific accident where an elevator took off while people were getting on and a woman was crushed to death…so I’m avoiding them as much as I can – especially as it had just been inspected!!).

My plan had been to get about 10 miles in today…but I slept until my parents called at around 8:30. Then I made my “grown-up” Christmas breakfast (our family traditional Christmas breakfast of country ham, scrambled eggs, grits and biscuite with marmelade – with the grown-up exchanges of a mimosa and coffee rather than OJ and cocoa). By the time I’d finished that and cleaned up and realized how long I’d need to let it settle, I realized I really don’t have time to get a run and shower in before I’m due in Manhattan for a 6th Night of Chanukah Potluck (I feel I need to be there for the candle lighting). So it’s turned into a general rest week.

Probably not the best thing I could have done, but also not the worst as it did allow me to get a little more sleep at times – as opposed to getting up an hour or so early.

This week I shall do all my runs and workouts. And stretching!

Two weeks to go!!!

Let the taper begin!

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Well, technically it began a little after 11am yesterday morning when I finished my 20-miler.

It wasn’t the easiest run…and certainly didn’t feel as easy as last week’s. But then again I was running in Central Park which has hills as opposed to along the Hudson River where it’s flat (maybe tiny inclines here and there, but definitely not hills). I tried my best to slow myself down, but I still ended up on the faster end of the time range for my LSRs. But I got it done and I’m proud of that.

Went to Rutgers for the Front Runners weekly meeting. Good times. And I now have my FRNY hoodie! Woo!!

Last night was the FRNY Women’s Holiday Party and it was lots of fun. Good food, good friends. I ended up leaving early because the 20 miler (and my lack of a nap due to the backdoor neighbor blaring music all afternoon – and me feeling bad for asking her to please turn it down so I didn’t ask…it wasn’t late at night) finally caught up with me. But it being running club everyone understood.

And everyone’s being so supportive of me and the marathon! It’s really nice to have people who understand to talk with and talk me down. Alison in particular was great, telling me to just relax and enjoy it, to not worry about time, to trust my training and basically just be. :) Thanks Alison!! Love you girl!!

And so now begins the taper! Three weeks from today is the day!!! Hooray!!!

I must add though… Weirdly? I’m not getting my usual day-after-long-run munchies. I wasn’t hungry yesterday, which is not unusual, and I’m not hungry today, which is. Interesting.

The number is 8495

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My bib number for my first marathon that is! (The 5K number is 5032…but that’s a walk!)

I went to the library today and printed off my waiver. EEK!!!!!

Over the weekend we got the links to the final race instructions. They included a link to race etiquette. Whether it’s in relation to the nastiness that was reported taking place between runners in Las Vegas or not, I’m glad they included it. It’s mostly common sense stuff:

“Congratulations! You’ve made the commitment to lace up your sneakers and run in the 2012 Walt Disney World ® Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna.

“Running alongside thousands of people can be a pretty unique experience. And whether this is your first big race, or your 50th marathon, here are six simple “runner etiquette” tips that will help you – and your fellow runners – get the most out of your experience.

“Share your space. Each of the races on Marathon Weekend are popular world-class events that attract thousands people from around the world. Wide open spaces are at a premium, and you’ll need to share your space. Be aware of the people around you, and your surroundings.

“Look before you pass. It’s common for runners to jockey for position, pass slower runners, etc. Before leaving your personal “lane,” be sure to first check to either side of you. That way, you’ll avoid colliding with someone – and possibly ending that person’s race prematurely. This is especially true if you’re going to stop or slow down for a water station. And if you’re going to pass someone, announce “On your left” or “On your right” to let them know.

“Thank the Volunteers. There would be no race without volunteers! So every opportunity you get, thank them. It means the world to them, and will keep them coming back next year!

“Spit Down. Yes, it sounds gross, but it’s pretty common to spit when you’re running. And when you’re bunched together with thousands of other runners, it’s easy to accidentally expectorate on someone’s shoes or shirt. A good solution: Spit in front of you and down, not to the side. Just avoid the sneakers on the person in front of you.

“Keep Moving Through the Finish. When you finish the race, the first thing you’ll likely want to do is stop running. It’s only natural! But as there are others behind you, keep walking forward, following the instructions of the finish line volunteers. Plus, you’ll get your finisher’s medal sooner.

“Smile and Have Fun. Think about it: You’re running at Walt Disney World, where dreams come true. How cool is that? Enjoy it, and others around you will enjoy it more as well!

“You’ve made the commitment to participate in the 2012 Walt Disney World ® Marathon Weekend. Make sure you follow the rules of the road, make the most of your unique strengths . . . and remember that while you may be one runner among thousands, you are one of a kind. GO YOU!”

See? Pretty straightforward!!

On the final race instructions, they cover some other things.

“The race staff would like to thank you in advance for considering these etiquette tips as you enjoy Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend events. Please pay attention to
pre-race instructions – both print and verbal. What you read and hear will not only help guide you through the course but will keep you safe.

• Wear your bib number on the front of your shirt and SMILE! Brightroom photographers will be taking pictures of you throughout the race. (Pictures will be available at www2.brightroom.com 2-3 days following the race. You will need your race number to access your photos.)

• Please enter your correct start corral. This will ensure that you are running with people who have a similar pace.

• Run or walk no more than two abreast. Other runners will want to get by you. If you are walking in a group, please start in the last corral.

• If you want to run with a friend and they are in a different corral, the faster of the two can move back to the slower corral.

• If you are stopping at a water or food station, move all the way over to the table. Grab water and move away from the table so that others may get water, too.

• Move to the side if someone behind you says “Excuse Me” or “Coming Through”.

• Feel free to shout words of encouragement to other runners. You will hear words of encouragement in return.

• When you are approaching the finish line, you may see loved ones cheering you on. Please do not encourage anyone to join you in the finish line stretch. Your support team is very important, but please communicate that the race course and finish area is for registered participants and staff only.

• Enjoy the post-race refreshments, but remember that others will want to enjoy the goodies, too. Please be courteous to those finishing behind you and take only one of each item.

• Celebrate! Thank your volunteers and have a great race!”

So simple…and yet so hard for people to grasp. In any race more or less. Most people are great, but there are always some!!

I would add this for spectators: cheer for everyone!! It doesn’t matter if they are on your “team” or not. There is nothing worse than passing people clearly spectating the race who are standing silent because you’re not “one of theirs”. (Well, there’s the exception of them standing silent as you pass only to hear them erupt in cheers just after you’ve passed because “one of theirs” appears. OR to have them start cheering for you because of the color you chose to wear the same color they’re looking for only to have them stop when they realize you’re simply in “their” color. NOT COOL PEOPLE! NOT COOL!) Cheer for everyone! You’ll have a much better time! :)

Tracking instructions aren’t up yet – they may not be until right before the weekend. But if they are, I’ll post them here in case anyone is interested in tracking me!

Today’s training run wasn’t as good as my long run on Saturday, but I got it done. With pepper spray in my pocket – got some yesterday. I hope I never have to use it, but I’m glad I have it in case.

Gear!! (aka Merry Christmas to Me!!)

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Ok, the long-awaited Garmin 210 review!! And some other things that I’ve gotten. All my Merry Christmas to me presents!

Starting with my Garmin 210. I went with the model with the pretty teal trim. It was time to move up from a footpod, which wasn’t really accurate, to a GPS, which tends to be at least slightly more accurate. I will say upfront that I don’t know how to use all the bells and whistles on it. I use the heart rate monitor (mainly to tell calories burned) and the interval setting. Once I played with it once or twice it got really easy to use. This one has a little person icon that on a run interval looks like you’re running and on a rest interval (walk for me) it is bending over holding its legs. Makes me laugh. :) I’ve been very happy with it so far. It usually finds the satellites quickly – the exceptions being on really cloudy days and/or when I’m in between a lot of really tall buildings. Nothing new there…that’s pretty common for the gps watches from what I can tell. Are there fancier ones? Sure. But overall this one does what I need it to. I guess the only thing I wish I could do would be to easily change the interval times in case I am ever mid-run or mid-race and want to change them up. But that’s pretty minor.

My next thing that I got was the Phiten Air Titanium necklace in pink. Ok, ok. I realize it may be hooey…but it’s comfortable, Kara Goucher wears them (and if it’s good enough for her…), and it’s cute. Now, I’m not ready to fully say that yes it makes a difference in anything…but I will say that I was wearing it this past Saturday when I ran 18.93 miles and felt great the whole time. It was over the HM point before I felt like I was starting to tire. (Yes, I know…it’s possible (probable?) that that is a function of the training I’ve been doing. But like I said, it’s cute.) So maybe it’s hooey, but if it does something even psychological for me? I’ll wear it. I was a psych major and know just how important little psychological things can be.

And today was another new treat. Well, not so much new as replacement. A new foam roller. I’d had a short white one…but it’s getting mushy. I also have a tendency to roll off of the ends of it. So this one will be better. Though I’m sure I’ll be crying the first few times I use it.

So my Christmas to me shopping is done! Woo!! (Oh, I did get some pepper spray in a nice little hand-strap holster. After Saturday I decided it was time.)

18 miles!!!!!

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We all remember what happened the last time I went for 18 miles, right? Hurt foot, visit to the urgent care, etc.

Well, yesterday I went out to do a long run and decided just to set the garmin for intervals based on 18 miles at a 14mm average, but not really worry about the miles and just see what would happen.

The morning started off interestingly – I was on the subway shortly after 5am. Took the G train to the transfer point for the A (the C isn’t running that early). I noticed a man look at me a couple of times (not that it should make a difference, but I was in a running skirt with capris under it and a long-sleeved shirt, so I was NOT dressed skimpily or revealing or anything – again, NOT that it matters one iota how I was dressed), but didn’t really think about it. He was in the same car I was when the A train came, but again not a big deal – that’s the area where he was standing. The car was cold, however, so I made the decision to switch cars. I looked around and guess who had followed me to the car. Yeah. I tried to ignore him, but I could feel him staring at me. When realized the next stop coming up was one I’m very familiar with and is one that still has booths with MTA workers in them, I made the decision to jump out at the last moment. Apparently I choreographed it too well or else the doors didn’t close as close to the chime as usual, because guess who also came out of the car. That clinched it. I went up the stairs and over to the booth. The woman looked up at me and I said “Can I just stand here for a few minutes?” and explained what was going on. She was great, and asked if I wanted her to call the cops. Because he hadn’t physically done anything to me and had gone down onto the downtown platform once he saw me at the booth, I said no, I didn’t want to deal with that based on just being creeped out. I waited there until she told me that a couple of trains going downtown had passed. At that point I decided to abandon the idea of Central Park – I just didn’t feel like risking anything by going back to the uptown platform in case he was still hanging out down there somewhere. I could get to Hudson River Park and that area, and I know that’s a good running area too, so I went with that option. And I shall be shopping for pepper spray this week. Too many of these things have been happening to women all over the city lately – I’m lucky all mine involved was a guy creepily watching and following me between cars and off a train. No groping or worse was involved.

So I started over to the river and started running up. Turns out I had an amazing run – done at 4/1 run/walk intervals. I felt so strong through the HM mark, and even a bit after that. I did drop to more walking after about mile 16, but I was never hurting to the point of “I need to stop”. I even was able to get back to a run the last minute of the last run interval!! My final distance? 18.93 miles!!! The farthest I’ve ever run in my life!!!! Time was 4:20.

Next Saturday? I’m slated for my 20…but I’m more concerned with foot time to be honest. I’m going to set my garmin for 4/1 intervals that go for probably 5:15 – that will hopefully leave me with only 30 minutes of unknown territory at Disney rather than an hour or more. I’m going to work at holding myself back a bit in pace so it’s more about foot time. I should hit at least 20, and anything else will be icing!

Woo!!!

FOUR WEEKS PEOPLE!!! FOUR WEEKS!!!!!

The Biggest Loser – Marathon Edition

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I will admit it. I am a religious watcher of The Biggest Loser. You might even say I’ve drunk the kool-aid (See? I even use the term to refer to myself!). But to my conscious knowledge I didn’t start my journey because of the show. I have at times used it to encourage my journey – “As long as I lose more weight than [insert name here] this week I’m doing good!” and so forth. But I don’t remember consciously saying while watching it “I want to change.” Maybe there’s more subliminal messaging going on than we realize?

Regardless, Season 12 saw the return of The Biggest Loser Marathon.

I know that the marathon on The Biggest Loser has been a controversial topic before – and it continues to be. For several reasons.

Other than on the treadmill and an occasional challenge, we almost never see them doing specific run training. There are times when they’re running on the treadmill, yes. And there are some races they run, yes. But we never see any kind of formal plan like a marathon training plan.

I’m still a new runner – my first marathon will be at a running age of 18 months, and according to some I’m still too new of a runner to be attempting it. The majority of these contestants have been sedentary for most if not all of their lives (there have been some exceptions – Antone this year, the wrestler guy last season whose name I’m blanking on, etc.) and in what…16 weeks or so they go to a marathon.

There has been talk of them pulling an RnR trick and shuttling slower runners closer to the finish. There has also been talk that the trainers have been against the marathon challenge in the past.

I will say that in terms of training and the marathon, this season seems to be the most honest. There was someone with a stress fracture early on and we saw how her ability to work out was limited is the best example of this. Yes there have been injuries in the past, but I don’t recall them showing quite the level of impact they did this season.

The marathon seemed more realistic than before – and I have to say with all those loops that is one course I would NEVER in a zillion years want to do. It looked AWFUL. The times definitely seemed more realistic than in the past as well. I’m not saying someone can’t discover an inner athlete and find that they are a gifted runner – Tara for one has proven to be an amazing athlete, and she’s even an IronMan now! But 5+ hours for a first marathon definitely seem much more realistic for people who have largely been unactive the majority of their lives.

I realize that it’s for TV and they want people to look pretty, but it was a little annoying to see them with sweat-free shirts, dust and dirt-free faces after a windstorm, and by and large hair in perfect for tv condition. I think anyone who’s run a race of pretty much any distance knows that we simply don’t look that pretty running or finishing. :P But then we know from the article a few months back in Runner’s World (here) that they each have their own support vehicle, etc. on the course, so I’d imagine part of that was a change of clothing.

One thing that I did see that I greatly appreciated was the doctor on course monitoring the contestants. Yes, there was one contestant who did not start due to upcoming surgery. And there were two who the doctor pulled from the course. One went willingly – he knew he was done. Joe I truly felt for. He was within 5 miles of the finish. He wanted it so badly. But he also has a partially torn ACL among other issues. I was in tears along with him as he struggled to do what he knew was best (stopping) vs. do what he desperately wanted to (finish). I know for me that’s my biggest fear…to want something so badly but not be able to accomplish it. (Per some of my ROTE friends I’m not allowed to say DNF…)

And we saw some typical (as I understand them) newbie mistakes – which I can hopefully learn from. The biggest being Courtney going out fast and at mile 2 saying “I feel great! I can keep this up for the distance!” Of course, she was not able to maintain that pace for the entire time.

I was pleased to see a group employ a run/walk strategy from the beginning! That’s how it’s supposed to be done. 9 times out of 10 if you hear someone say “I tried that run/walk thing. It didn’t work for me,” when you go further into detail you learn that they decided to try it at Mile 18 or something. I was a little surprised to see that they went 5/5. But they clearly had been working on techniques for marathon running that we didn’t see on-camera as they knew the terminology and how to go about executing it.

As for the finish? Well…I’ll just say that 1st place and 3rd place have never been my favorite contestants. Though I’m happy it was 1st place who won and not 3rd. I honestly didn’t remember 2nd, but she went home early on and it’s clear she’d done a lot of focusing on marathon training. Jess did her best and started out looking strong, but she had some GI issues and had to drop back. We never saw them taking nutrition (might be a nice thing to see sometime so that people realize you don’t just go run…there is fueling involved during the race as well), so I don’t know if she had something she’d never had on a run before or if it was just one of those things.

But overall it did feel more real than in years past. I’m not sure I like them having the marathon – especially without showing that the contestants do have marathon-specific training before they go home – but I have to admit it’s moving.

It’s cheesy I know, but I was very teary watching most of them finish and realize what they’ve done. I couldn’t help but think of what I’ll be doing in a month, and that made me emotional as well. To the point that I quipped on Facebook that I need to practice crying while running so I’m not doing something new on race day. :P

Perfect? No. And I know the show isn’t – and I know a lot of people who have either never watched or have stopped watching. But the bottom line is it’s encouraged many people to try and get active and change their lives. And that’s a check in the win column as far as I’m concerned.