Monthly Archives: March 2012

Broad Street Week 6 Run 2

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Again, the report is on the day after. But whatever. :)

Got up early yesterday morning and went over to the park close to my apartment for a run. Successfully did 3.74 miles at an average pace of 13:22. Most of the slower parts are the warm-up and cool-down as usual.

It went well! What I’m most proud of is my last run segment was my fastest average run segment (10:03) – I am really working on finishing strong. It felt great!

I’d had every intention of going out this morning for a 9 mile run. I’d planned to go and drop off my laundry, then head up to Central Park to get my run in and finish up in time to get to Front Runners at 11. Well…it didn’t end up happening.

Oh, I was up in time to get up there. Got the laundry dropped off and the lottery tickets checked (two outright said “not a winner”, one said “results not in” which is confusing because out of my five picks, two of them each had ONE of the regular number and one of them had the extra number, so I don’t think they’re any huge winnings on there…but I’ll check it again later) and came back to grab my water bottle and drop off the change and extra money. Started down the street and realized I didn’t have my knee strap. While I am occasionally willing to do a shorter run without it, I’m not ready to do a long run without it. So back to the apartment for that. THEN I was headed back to the subway (knowing I would be pushing it to make it to FRNY and get all my mileage in but still going to try) when I realized that my ziplock baggie with my ID, metro card, check card, and a little cash wasn’t in my pocket. Retraced my steps all the way back to my apartment (and hoping that if it had fallen out the fact that I hadn’t really seen anyone else out on the street would bode well) to discover that it was in on the futon. Yeah, it was that kind of morning.

I thought about it and decided that all my trips back were probably a sign. I was willing to go and do my run even though it’s cold and drizzly/rainy. After all, like I say, I’m not going to not run a race I’ve paid for just because the weather is gross. But all the to-ing and fro-ing gave me time to really think about it. Prospect Park would be the most logical place for me to go, especially knowing I couldn’t make the FRNY meeting. But with the subways being messed up, it would be a pain in the butt to get there. And it would take a lot of time. So either way – Prospect or Central – I’d be looking at a long (at least an hour) trip back to my apartment cold and wet. Not a good idea, especially when I tend to get chills as I cool down shortly after running in the best of circumstances. That’s the one problem with living in the city and not having a car – I can’t immediately get into something and turn on the heat to warm-up and dry off. (Ok, there is the option of leaving stuff at NYRR headquarters as long as I’m still a member – so theoretically I could change there, but it’s more of a pain for me to get there as it’s on the east side and the west side is far more accessible to me.)

So I took the weather and my forgetfulness together as a sign. I’ll be getting my butt up EARLY tomorrow to get my run in, get home and shower, go to brunch with Tricia, and go to work at 3. It’ll be a busy day.

Missed my goal of 70 miles in March (which if I’d run today I would have met), but that’s ok. I feel good about my decision to just listen to the universe and chill today. My gut says there’s a reason it happened like that, so I’ll trust it.

BSR training mileage: 78.96

Broad Street Week 6 Run 1

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Yesterday I took a day off from work to just chill and give myself a mental break (ok, so I worked at the store in the afternoon/evening…but that was tons of fun as it was the 25th anniversary so it was party, party, party!!). It was nice to do a not-too-early morning run over in Prospect Park. Made me think of the summer – minus the heat.

I did essentially a loop and a half to get my 5 miles in. It wasn’t necessarily supposed to be at pace, but I didn’t want to just shuffle along either. So I pushed for most of it and only backed off occasionally. But I never dropped to a walk during a run interval!! 5.88 miles. And my average pace was 12:35!!

Each of these runs that goes so well is total bank! I am really working on making my body remember what it feels like to finish something hard and what it feels like to push through difficulties and times when I want to stop. The more I can do that, the better off I’ll be in my races!

In order to get into a times corral at Disney for Tower of Terror, I only have to get to a 12 minute mile. My bib pace for NYRR races is 11:16. Granted that was for 4 miles and included hills…but I’m hopeful that with how things have been going I’ll be able to pull it off on the 14th. (Ok, yes, we all know I’m in the “happy to finish upright” camp…but I’d really like to be in one of the earlier corrals for ToT.) Fingers crossed!!!

We’re getting closer and closer to WDW Marathon registration day. I just wish they’d release the prices. Planning is a good thing…

BSR training mileage: 75.22

If it ain’t broke…

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Ok, so yes, my training plan called for three midweek runs – two shorter ones and one kinda long run – and a long weekend run.

And I’ve hit that…exactly once since I started. The rest of the time it’s been one kinda long run and one short run during the week and a long run on the weekend. And looking at things, that seems to be working for me.

So for Broad Street at least, this is what I’m going to stick with. After Broad Street, I’ll see about increasing it a little, especially as I move into marathon training.

Granted, I need to work in some cross training, so this week I’ll be adding in some yoga. Get some body-training strength in along with some flexibility.

I feel good about this. :)

(That said, I’m more and more thinking I’m going to save up some money and look into trying Newtons. Or make that put money in a shoe fund, then go to a store that carries Newtons and try them there. But they sound like great shoes from everyone I know who wears them.)

Broad Street Week 5 Run 2 – and Getting Philosophical

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(which actually took place yesterday)

So the plan technically called for a 10K this weekend. I couldn’t find one (there will be one on April 14), so I made the decision to run the distance on my on and aim for a steady race pace. The best way to do it for me is to go with a known distance route, so I opted for 2 loops of Prospect Park rather than a loop plus a little of Central Park. Either of those had the advantage of giving me hills to run, so I could see what I can do with hills – and hopefully that will give me an idea of hot things might go in the 10K on the 14th which is on the flat boardwalk. Basically? Prospect Park was closer.

This ended up being one of the best runs I’ve had in a long time!

I opted to go left rather than right as I entered the park. There are hills either way, but to me left is more challenging as the uphill goes on longer and more steadily with a little steeper burst at the end of it. If that makes sense. I finished my warm-up 5 minutes and started running, trying not to take off too fast – mimicking what I try to do in a race. It started off flatish and then a good downhill, and I felt good all through that. My pace was in the 11-11:30ish range during my run segments on average with the downhill portions being a bit faster. Then I curved around and started the gradual uphill leading to a steeper and then steeper grade. I was still feeling great and made a conscious effort to keep my effort the same even if my pace slowed on the hill a bit. Turns out on review that my pace still didn’t go over 12:30!!

Honestly I was surprising myself. I was definitely working, but it felt easy, almost effortless. Well, as effortless as running is. I thought back to an episode of Phedippidations I’d listened to a couple of days before talking about imprinting a really good run into your mind, so I really worked at that – trying to imprint on my mind and body how I was feeling, what I was doing. And at the same time hoping this would continue for the second loop.

It did! I still felt good and strong throughout the loop. The second time up the hill was definitely harder, but still the average pace was 12:50 for the toughest of the uphill!

Turns out with warm-up and cool-down, I did 6.95 miles in 1:26:00!! Which means that for the 10K portion of it I was at or right around my 10K PR! So yes, I definitely have been trying to imprint the run in my head for the future – 10K or any distance.

And honestly? I needed a run like this! This was going to be a separate entry, but it fits to just put it in here – forgive the length.

On Friday I was listening to an episode of Phedippidations where people were talking about their first races (or first marathons), and it got me thinking about mine…

Yes, I finished the distance, running as I could. But I didn’t run as much as I wanted to really thanks to my stomach acting up and the heat. I’ve heard all over the place things like “The finish line will change your life!”, but honestly I haven’t really felt it. At least not in the “lightning bolt from the blue” way people seem to make it sound. I’m definitely proud of myself for going the distance – and under less than ideal circumstances – but at the same time it’s just felt…almost anti-climactic. In a way my first half finish felt more transformative. I’d be curious to know if others have experienced that if a half comes first in their race history. Does that somehow temper the “change your life”-ness of the finish line of the marathon? Or am I just weird like that? Or was the fact that I did have such a tough first marathon where I walked far more than planned make it somehow lesser than it would have been? At one point Friday I was talking with a new FRNY friend on the way home after our track meet (I handed out the medals) and actually said “I’m not really sure I feel like I’ve done a marathon yet…” which is silly because I have, but…well, it’s hard to explain. But I think it’s mostly been because I did have to do so much more walking than I planned.

Anyway…

I posted about my great run on DailyMile, which also posts to Facebook, and several of my friends responded and we had a discussion about how I was feeling post-marathon. Rachel said that it sounds like what’s happening with me is what happened with her after her first marathon. Once she was recovered, she saw the greatest gains in her overall pace then; that the increased mileage in training really showed itself in fitness gains after recovery. And she may have a point. It’s definitely possible that my slug weeks – and my weeks with one (or two) fewer runs than my plan called for – might have been just what my body needed to recover so that I can see the results now. Kathy said that she feels like the finish line transformation is a total myth, and that she found herself more changed by the overall training and that the finish line was simply confirmation. Amy, who also ran her first at Disney, said that it was delayed lightning for her – that in the weeks since she’s found a lot of strength from the fact that she did it. And she said that running more than a mile with a bad stomach in 75 degrees plus humidity was a huge victory and I should have gotten two medals. :D

Looking at all of those thoughts plus reflecting on things in my running, I think I’m in agreement. The finish line – and the training gains I’ve seen since – are simply confirmation that I am a different person. I’m stronger than I was, and I know that I can go the distance. I’ve learned from this, and I’m still learning and working and growing as a runner. After all, I’m not even two in running age – still a toddler by most standards. I’ve already learned to take mistakes I’ve made in the past and learn from them. And hopefully I’m learning to internalize the good runs – like this one – and sections of runs to help my body remember this at tough sections in races.

I’m not posting all this for pats on the back. Just getting my thoughts out and sharing my experience. That it is possible to be a marathoner and yet not feel that lightning bolt moment of transformation at the finish line. That the finish line may not be that dramatic moment of transformation so many people build it up to be.

The transformation may be more subtle. The lightning bolt may be delayed. But in the end, I did it. I crossed that finish line, and I truly CAN call myself a marathoner!

And yet I know I’ve still got room to grow as a runner and as a person.

And that, my friends, I think is the true transformation.

BSR training mileage: 69.34

Broad Street Week 5 Run 1

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OK, so this hasn’t been my best week. I overslept on Tuesday morning and had to work at the store starting at 5:15, so no run. Then Wednesday my left knee was feeling a little off. It didn’t really hurt, but it didn’t feel quite right. I think the working hours Friday-Tuesday along with cheering everyone on in the NYC Half (I’ll do more on that later) for 3+ hours on Sunday combined to just make it tired. So Wednesday was stretching and rolling.

Yesterday everything felt fine, so I headed out for a run. I debated going to Central Park and going for an entire loop to “make up” mileage, but knowing I needed to go by Trader Joe’s and return a few things, I opted to go to Prospect Park. My thought was I could do two loops and get the same mileage plus a bit as in CP, but also I’d have the bail-out after one loop.

I started out and was feeling pretty good. I did walk a bit more on the hill, but that’s nothing new. LOL. My run intervals were all in the 11-12 minute range other than that one, so I was pretty much at or around pace. I really need to figure out how to determine my average pace taking the 10 minutes and the distance of the warm-up and cool-down parts. Everytime I think I’ve got it, it turns out I don’t. Anyone know? Divide the distance by time? Time by distance? Definitely at a loss here…

Anyway, it was a really good run and I felt pretty good as I approached the point at which I started the run. I had a decision to make – though in reality I had a bit more distance to make that decision as there are two places I can get on the subway, one further than the other. I passed my entry point still unsure as to what I would do. But I kept seeing and hearing the training tips I’ve read and heard that you can’t really make up a lost workout, how you can potentially do more damage by trying to make it up. So I beeped through the rest of the intervals I’d set up in case I did the two loop thing and went into my cool-down ending with a mileage count of 3.92 yesterday.

I feel good about my decision. I could have pushed myself and gone for a second loop – and if a week like this happens again, I might. But given the offness of the knee yesterday and how tired I’ve been in general (a couple of good nights of sleep have helped that a lot) I think it was the right decision for me.

Oh, one interesting “seen on my run” note. Not one, but THREE people on those stupid Kangaroo Jump Boots. And two of them at least had the look of serious runers. I just don’t get it. I guess more power to them…as long as they don’t tumble into me or anyone else and damage us. I know anyone can fall and accidentally fall into others on a crowded path at any time. But it just seems like you’re inviting trouble wearing something like those silly things.

Anyway…

Tonight is the FRNY Track Meet at the New Balance Armory Track, and I’m volunteering at the awards table again. I don’t have to be there until 6:45 though, so I might try and sneak in a short easy run after school around Von King Park. If it works out, great. If not, I’m not going to beat myself up. The weekend’s long run was supposed to be a 10K…but there wasn’t one I could find to enter. So I’d initially thought I’d just try and do the distance at pace, but I’m not sure. I’ll play it by ear and either do that or maybe go for 8-ish miles again at a LSR pace.

Happy running all!!

BSR training mileage: 62.39

Wow. Just WOW.

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I have to say, I’d only ever heard of the Pearl Izumi brand of running shoes before today (a friend started out in them…he’s been trying something else lately, and I hope that this convinces him to change permanently).

But I can safely say it is one I would NEVER consider after seeing this ad

It’s completely offensive to a vast majority of runners I know. Granted we all know we’re slow. But we go out there and give it everything we have anyway. Just because we’re not sub-3-hour marathoners doesn’t mean we’re not giving it our best.

My friend Joanne did make me laugh with her comment when I posted this on facebook: “I think Pheidippides would look at today’s marathoners and say, ‘Are you guys crazy? I HAD to run that distance and it killed me!’”

I suspect she’s probably right!! :D

I know I for one am never even considering anything shoes or otherwise by Pearl Izumi after this. Even if I was a fast runner, I’d do the same. If it’s offensive to even one, it’s offensive.

And this is offensive to more than one person I can assure you. We turtles and penguins have rights and feelings too. And by god we work hard and give it our all when we’re out there on the race course. To suggest that being slow is “dishonoring the distance/race” as this ad clearly does…well, they clearly think they don’t need our money.

I think they’d be surprised just how many of us there are and how powerful our dollars can be.

If it’s offensive to you, I encourage you to boycott Pearl Izumi as a total brand. I know I will be.

An Open Letter to Mallory

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A bit of history before I get to the “letter”…

Many of you who read this blog may not know that I used to do youth ministry in a parish and on a larger scale as a volunteer with the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. I loved every moment of my time there, and while I miss it terribly, I have to believe that everything happens for a reason, and I wouldn’t be where I am now had things (my position was cut due to budget reasons) not happened as they did. It led down a not great path, but as the lyrics in a Rascall Flatts song go “God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you” – where I’m the “you” in that sentence. I had to leave a great group of adult friends and a wonderfully amazing group of young people with whom I’d worked – both on a parish level and on the diocesan level. Mallory was one of those on the diocesan level.

A bit more history… Somewhere along the line almost 2 years ago, something inside me switched on (or off?) and I decided it was time to get in shape. I started with the 30 Day Shred. And through tweeting about that, met a great group of online friends and supporters. They encouraged me to check out Couch to 5K, which I did. My first 5K was Labor Day weekend 2010. The same weekend two of my new, encouraging runner friends – Laura and Kari were running the Disneyland Half to get the Coast to Coast Medal. Well, hearing their adventures started something, and I signed up and started training for the Walt Disney World Half Marathon, which I completed on January 8, 2011. (And we all know things have only gone longer from there.)

Well, about a year ago, Mallory contacted me on facebook to ask about any tips I had for getting started running and keeping with it. I told her about Couch to 5K (C25K), and ended up sending her my old iPod which already had the C25K podcast I’d used loaded on it. I followed her progress through facebook, and we kept in touch periodically.

Then yesterday I got a message from Mallory. She’s signed up for her first 5K on April 22 – she said she has been stuck on week 6 of C25K and figured signing up for a race might jolt her out of it. And she asked if I had any advice for people running their first race (specifically a 5K). I commented on her FB post about signing up for the 5K that I was going to do a blog post, and she “liked” it, so here it is! It’s for Mallory, but anyone working towards their first (or later as we can always use reminders) race is welcome to read it. :)

Dear Mallory,
First off, you are NOT foolish for signing up for a race!! You are brave and strong, and you will do it!! I’m so proud of you!!!

Before I start, please keep in mind that these are things I’ve found to be true for me. Most if not all are things that the experts will tell you as well. But ultimately you’ll find what works for you, and some of those things may differ. That’s ok! We all find what works for us. (Example: I know Rick and I have different prep things and plans that we do…and what works for one doesn’t always work for the other. But you never know until you try!) Running – and racing – is an adventure just like life, and we all do it in our own way!

That said, here are some things that I’ve found to be true. (In no particular order.)

1) Nothing New On Race Day!
Just like it says, you don’t really want to do anything on race day that you haven’t done in your training. That includes your pre-race fueling (breakfast) and during-race fueling (for a 5K you’ll likely just be doing fluids). If the race will be in the morning (most are), you’ll want to do at least some of your training runs (weekends are usually good for this) starting about the same time as the race. That helps you figure out how to fuel your body – I usually do some kind of bread with sunflower seed butter (used to be peanut butter until peanuts started making me wheeze), some juice, some kind of cold caffeine, and water. I’ve done oatmeal, a Clif bar or a Luna bar as well and been ok. Other people can’t do oatmeal at all. So it depends on you. I do recommend avoiding dairy just before a run – it tends to act in your body more as a solid, and it’s a little heavy for a pre-run drink.
Try to find out what kind of fluid and/or nutrition will be on the course. For a 5K it will likely just be water. If they’re going to also have some kind of sports drink, try and find out what it is and practice with it beforehand to see how your bode reacts to it. (Ditto for any kind of food or gel they might have on the course.) If you want, you can carry your own water. I have a Nathan hydration bottle that I carry (it’s got a strap for my hand) so that I can also carry my keys and inhaler. I tend to carry it with me even when I know there will be fluid. I like knowing I’ve got it in case I’m thirsty partway between water stops. But I’ve practiced running with it. Nothing new!
This also includes clothes! If something is going to chafe, you want to know in advance so you can change it, cover the area, and/or discover the wonders of Body Glide. (Body Glide is a wonderful thing!!) Don’t wear the race shirt for the race. :) It’s cool for a charity walk, but for a race…it’s a badge of newbieness. :) And also you’re not used to it so if it fits funny you might end up with chafing where you haven’t had it before. I will say, my first 10K many, many people wore the race shirt simply for another layer as it was much colder and windier than we’d anticipated. That was an exception to the rule, and in 99% of the cases went over whatever people were wearing anyway just as another layer.

2. Line Up A Little Further Back Than You Think You Should
Some races have corrals that they’ve either already assigned you into based on times (if you don’t have a time, you’re usually the last corral), some have corrals with posted paces…and other, smaller races have an honor system line up. If you’re not sure, follow John Bingham’s advice in Marathoning For Mortals: if you’re not sure, ask…chances are, the other person is more in their correct area…just move back a little. But don’t sell yourself short either! Lining up towards the back doesn’t necessarily mean the last row either!
That said, if you do find yourself lined up too far forward, get and stay to the right ASAP. And see #3.

3. Run Your Own Race
It’s so hard to control the pace at the beginning. You’re nervous. Other people are nervous. The adrenaline is pumping. The horn sounds and you’re off. And partway into it you realize you’ve gone out too fast. It happens. If at all possible, start slower than you think you should. This isn’t AS crucial in a 5K as it is for a marathon, but it’s still an important point. If the race allows headphones (see #4), one thing I found helpful for my first couple of races was to make a playlist with songs in a kind of tempo order. I’m very musical, so I adjust to the tempo of the music, and by having a pre-set playlist, I pretty much guaranteed that I’d be starting off at a comfortable for me pace. It seemed to work pretty well for me. (And I can’t remember, but the “race” playlist may in fact be on that iPod…)

4. What About Headphones
First off, know the rules of your race. Some races allow headphones. Some do not. Follow those rules. If a race does allow them and you choose to wear them, make sure that you keep the volume low enough you can hear any announcements being made on the course, you can hear if someone is letting you know they’re passing you (see #5), and most importantly, you can hear if an emergency vehicle needs to get through. I know of at least a couple of cases where an ambulance trying to get to someone in crisis had to creep behind a runner on a narrow section of a course because that runner had music up so loud she (in the cases I’ve heard of it was a female) couldn’t even hear the siren or the crowd telling her to get out of the way. Personally I don’t bother with headphones during a race anymore. I like soaking it all in. But those first couple of races it was nice. (It’s also nice to hear the cheers of the spectators clearly! Great encouragement.)

5. Making Your Way On The Course (subcategory: It Is OK to Run/Walk)
First off, no matter what some people say, if you need to run/walk there is NOTHING wrong with that, even in a 5K. I still do run/walk for all my runs – from training to racing. It’s what works for me. The key is that if you’re going to do it, you’ve practiced your ratio (see #1) and you do it from the beginning. I have a garmin that I set up for my intervals. It gives me a beep about 5 seconds prior to switching. I look around to make sure there’s no one right behind me and move over to the right if at all possible. I also hold up my hand as a signal that I’m about to do something – most people seem to get that means I’m going to slow. I’ve also heard people say “Walking in 5-4-3-2-1″ loudly so those around them know what the person doing.
When on the course, you will likely pass some people. The best thing to do is before you start passing them, let them know. I usually say “Passing” or “On your left/right.” or in a case where people are going three, four or more abreast and you have to go through an opening, “Between you.” It’s just common courtesy – and will hopefully prevent crashes.

6. Water Stations
They really seem a lot more complicated than they are. Basically move to the side (sometimes they are on both sides of the road, others just one) of the course, pick a volunteer (those towards the end of the table are usually less busy) and if possible make eye contact and signal to them. Take the cup. I have found that if I pinch it together it is much easier to drink out of while moving. I also if I take a cup will move out of the fluid station zone and over to the side, and walk while drinking. Please don’t stop as soon as you get your cup. It happens all too often and people just end up wet and cranky. There are almost always garbage cans set up after the station. Do your best to get the cup in the can. Definitely look before throwing – and if there’s still fluid in my cup (that’s not water or that I don’t want to dump on my head or arms), I try and dump it in the ground so I don’t hit anyone else with it. You’re not the coach of a winning team – you don’t want gatorade or water dumped all over you. (That said, it will probably happen at some time in your racing experiences.)

7. Trust Your Training
It’s gotten you to the starting line. It will get you to the finish line.

8. ENJOY YOURSELF!!!!!
No matter what, have fun! Will things happen you haven’t planned for? Sure. I’ve had races that ended up being much harder than I’d planned. And I’ve had races turn out much easier than I’d anticipated. It’s all about being present in that day and moment and just making the most of it. Don’t worry about being last. Odds are you won’t be! :) And you know what? Even if you are? It’s ok! You still beat everyone who sat home on the couch! And a lot of times you’ll get more cheers because all the other runners are there too! One of the neatest experiences I’ve had was in my first 10K. There was no pace requirement stated when I signed up – but shortly afterwards, those of us who had estimated our finish at longer times got an email letting us know we’d have to be past Mile 4 by a certain time because of having to reopen the route. I knew I was going to be slow, but that really made me ponder. I decided to go for it. As expected, I was one of the slowest running. But that led to a very unique experience as I neared the start/finish line to start my third lap. I heard race officials on their radios saying “Lead Female coming! Lead Female coming!” I knew they weren’t talking about me, and sure enough within seconds I heard her coming up on my right. I moved over to make sure she had plenty of room and cheered as she went by. Once she’d crossed the line, rather than going straight for food or anything, she turned around and started applauding me, encouraging me to keep going and telling me I was doing well. Embrace your slowness (if you’ve got it). Soak all aspects of the race in and have the time of your life!

You can do this Mallory!! If you’ve got any more questions, please let me know! I’m not an expert, but I can share my experiences, and hopefully they’re of some use. You’re gonna rock it on April 22!! Go girlie!!

Love you,
beth

Broad Street Week 4 Runs 2 and 3

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Yes, I know I’m supposed to be doing 4. Next week I will. I promise!!

Got in too late last night (actually this morning) to blog yesterday’s run. It was good. 3.66 miles around the park close to my apartment. No gangs of guys on the other side of the street this time, and no smokers to pass. A couple of people here and there, but overall pretty lonely. A little misty…and I started out cold but ended up hot – the temperature was rising a bit even before the sun came up. A few minutes of rain, but nothing huge.

This morning got up (actually was woken about an hour ahead of planned wake-up time by some irate and/or strung out guy yelling at someone out on the street. Trust me…I know better than to go peek out the window. So I tried to go back to sleep, but to no avail as the yelling had also woken my bird. Oh joy. So I got up and had sme Blarney Scone (Trader Joe’s version of Irish Soda Bread), iced coffee and water. Then finally got myself dressed to head out for my LSR. I debated where to do it today. The advantage was that I knew I had time to go to pretty much any of the options. Not working until 8pm tonight left me all kinds of time.

I finally decided that since I’ve got a 10K coming up on a boardwalk in April, it might be a good idea to get some boardwalk practice in, so off to Coney Island it was. I got there and it was REALLY foggy. Like as in I couldn’t even see the water foggy. But there was a surprising number of people out – some just walking, others on bikes or out running. And of course some people with dogs on runner trip wires (those stupid retractable leashes). Seriously people? When you’re out where there are bikes all over and people running all around, don’t let the dog go to the full extension of the leash! You’re only asking to have your dog (and people around you) hurt in some way! Though at least those were leashed – there were a couple of “pocket pets” that were just being allowed to roam freely. I know for a fact one narrowly avoided being kicked. Not for any malice on my part – I LOVE DOGS!! – but because it just decided it wanted to chase me and was dangerously underfoot.

But runner tripwires and fog aside, it was a great run. NO wind, even on the beach. And really light waves. By the end of the run, the sun was out and it was getting warm and I could see the ocean, but it was tiny, quiet waves. Midway through the run I did about 4 or 5 intervals at or about my goal race pace – in the 11:30-12 minute range – and felt great for all of them! Actually I felt great for the whole run, which is very encouraging! My feet weren’t shuffling at all, even at the end!

Now that said, that didn’t stop one evil board from jumping up and tripping me in the 26th (of 26) run interval. I did the quick step thing and thought I was going to stay upright, but sadly no, I tumbled and rolled. In front of several guys who were setting up outside what used to be a roller rink for tanning and iron pumping. They were polite though, all making sure I was ok. Perfectly fine for the most part. Mainly pride was damaged because let’s face it – no matter how old you are or how strong you feel or what you’re doing, falling in front of people is embarrassing. My right elbow is a nice variation on shades of purple and blue now…but I can bend it and stuff and everything seems to be in working order.

Final mileage for this one? 8.57 miles! I don’t always reward myself with food/drink, but this time I did treat myself to a chocolate milkshake, which was yummy. Got home and have fueled up with food, more Blarney Scone…and some Guinness. It’s St. Patrick’s Day after all!! But yeah…overall a great run!!

BSR training mileage: 58.47

Some podcasts I like

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I’m tired tonight. That and a longer-than-planned-thanks-to-a-subway-issue trip to Trader Joe’s combined to mean no run this afternoon/evening. I’ll get up and do it in the morning. Promise.

But in the meantime, I figured I’d use a post to talk about some new (or new-to-me) podcasts that I’ve found. (I’ve already talked about The Marathon Show – which I’ve listened to all the past episodes of so only the new ones go on the iPod – and Marathon Talk – which I’m still catching up on episodes of.) You might like them, you might not. Or you might already know about them and be thinking “A little late to the party, huh, Beth?” :P But here they are. And most of these new ones chain together in a Kevin Bacon Game-like thing.

Through a Daily Mission on Daily Mile, I learned about Running With The Pack, which I really like. It’s changed a bit from the beginning in terms of it’s now hosted by Allan and Stevie (she’s a girl) rather than Allan and Jeff, who started it. But I like the two-person dynamic, and having a male and female voice is really nice. I’m still catching up on past episodes of this one. They don’t just talk running either. So it’s a nice blend.

Then through Allan’s comments, I found Phedippidations, which is hosted by Steve Runner. It’s been going on for a while, so I’ve got lots of podcasts to last me on training runs for a while! While Steve is prone to calling it a “goofy little podcast”, I really like it. He gets into some deep, more philosophical things, which really appeals to the nerdy, academic side of me. But don’t worry…you don’t have to be a nerd to get it. :) I promise.

Then through Phedippidations, I learned about Zen Runner and his Burning 2012 project (which I believe he said on the last ep of the podcast I’m about to mention he’s not going to do) and through that The Slow Runners Club. My people!!! And their mascot is a turtle!! Now don’t get me wrong…I love me my penguins!! But turtles have a special place in my heart. My very first stuffed animal that I loved to near oblivion (what’s left is kept in a ziplock bag) was Turtle – who was, duh, a turtle. And at the beach this summer I got to watch baby loggerhead turtles hatch!! I love turtles!!! This show is an interesting mix. I’m catching up on past episodes, and yes, there are times (the beer show?) that it feels more like I’m listening to some fraternity dudes, but then there are other moments of clarity and inspiration that make the silliness worth it. Definitely a favorite!!

And the newest is Embrace Running. This one I found when Mark, the male co-host started following me on twitter. It’s new, and I’m still getting a feel for it. It’s very similar to Running With The Pack in format and such, but I think there’s room on my iPod for both of them. :) (Well, I’m having to only put some on at once so the whole iPod doesn’t become podcasts only, but you know what I mean.)

So for my short runs, it’s podcasts. For my long runs, it’s audio books!

All right. I think it’s bedtime. Have a good one all!!

Broad Street Week 4 Run 1

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Gotta love it when a run feels great!

Ok, not the whole thing…there were some run intervals in the middle that were a little rough and I walked a bit in those. Of course one then ended up with me running during what should have been my walk interval – only discovered that when the beep went off only a minute into it. But on the plus side, I ran the entire 3 minute run interval after it! And that seemed to be the turning point.

Stats for this one?

4.66 miles in 59:30 for a 12:46 pace. 144 average bpm.

All in all it was a gorgeous run along the Hudson. I thought about trying out the High Line…but it’s still on Winter Hours and would have closed at 7, so…I procrastinated too long in leaving to try it out. Perhaps another time. I hope that this warm weather this early doesn’t indicate a long summer of three-digit temps. Because that will be rough. But today was wonderful!

Gotta love it when everything comes together like today!!

BSR training mileage: 46.24