Category Archives: confidence

NYC Half – Expo finds (or: I love my new Snuggbuds!!) and volunteering!

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This weekend was the NYC Half – today to be exact. I ran it two years ago, and had a good time, but it’s a lottery process to get in (unless you are super speedy or run 4 of the 5 races in the Borough Series or ru for a charity), and I just haven’t bothered last year or this year.

The expo for this one is pretty small with only a few vendors. I skipped it last year and had planned to skip it this year, but then I saw something either tweet-wise or on facebook from Generation U Can (aka: magic juice!) that they were having a special at the expo, so I decided to go and pick some up as I had none of the pre- and during-run stuff left and only the chocolate for recovery (I’m a chocolate fan usually, but not in this case, sorry guys). So after picking up and mailing my foodie penpal (more on that later!) packages and before the FRNY Track Meet, I headed to the expo.

It took me a minute to get oriented as I somehow went in through the exit area, but as I was walking around, I noticed a booth for Snuggbuds. I’ve heard about them a lot on The Marathon Show as Joe swears by them. Back at Tower of Terror, I’d picked up some Yurbuds as I’ve got friends who use those, and I’d tried them when I went to the NYC Ironman expo and liked them. However, I was discovering how easy it was to lose the bud coverings – and how hard to replace them, and had been operating with one of one size and another of another size – both nibbled on by my bird. So I was due for some new buds of some type.

Well, when Victoria asked if I wanted to try the Snuggbuds, I thought “Why not?” so I went over and tried them. I liked them. Chatted with her for a bit, and the price was right (definitely less than the yubbuds) AND getting them at the expo I got extra coverings! Victoria was great and the buds were so comfy, I got these

Then when I mentioned I had first heard about them on The Marathon Show and that’s why I stopped to check them out, I got ANOTHER packet of bud coverings! Not gonna complain about that!

I took them out for my long run yesterday and love them!! I’ve got to play with the volume as I can’t do the one ear in and one ear out thing, and they do block out a lot of ambient noise, but overall I adore them!! They stay in FAR better than the Yurbuds did, especially towards the end – and most definitely better then the buds that come with iPods which just absolutely do not fit my ears. So consider it two enthusiastic thumbs up for Snuggbuds!! Check them out on the web or the next time you see them at an expo! (And no, I got nothing for blogging about them other than the joy of sharing a find with you!!)

Other purchases at the expo: 2 Sweaty Bands (one in Team Tough Chik colors and one in green with white dots; more GenUCan, and an iPhone pouch for my iFitness belt.

Then it was off to the New Balance Armory to work registration at the FRNY Track Meet. Wowza it got crazy there, especially when there was a big enough crowd I started registration when I was all alone! Big thanks to Bernie and Cindy for jumping in as soon as they got there and then to Amy for letting me finish dinner! What I saw of the meet was cool! I don’t have the guts to try track running yet, but it’s fun to watch. After, I went with a bunch of the guys up to Coogan’s where I had a Magners over ice and a plate of chocolate brownie sundae goodness. And a blast with the good company! And I could never be safer in a group of guys where I’m the only girl than I was! I love my FRNY boys!! (And the girls too – but none of y’all came!)

Yesterday I got up and did my run in Central Park – I was due for 7 miles. And I don’t know if it was that I had slacked a little this week or what, but I felt great the whole time – even on the Harlem Hills. And my pace was 12:21, which was AWESOME for me for distance. If I can pull that in Nashville I will be ecstatic! Hell, if I can break 13:00 I’ll be a happy camper!! I’m planning to do my 8 coming up on Saturday going the other way around the park so I’ll have to go up Cat Hill AND up the parts of Harlem Hills I went down this time and see how that goes. Hoping it’s not a fluke and the gym stuff is paying off!!

Went to running club for snackages and chatting, then wandered up to Lululemon to look at their TaTa Tamer bra – only I forgot my new size, so I’ll have to go back. I did get a supercute hoodie I wore today since it’s green:

I LOVE it!!!! Then I went to Trader Joe’s to get a “Blarney Scone” or two, but they didn’t have them in that one. MAJOR SADFACE!!! Then it was home to chill, nap, and pack my stuff before heading to the store. Worked 8p-1a, then had a minor panic when my drawer was majorly off, but one of the cash team managers told me not to worry, that clearly something malfunctioned as the case pick up he did didn’t even register, and I was adding up over at any rate, and sent me out. I headed up to Sandi and Rachel’s to crash on the couch (BIG THANKS LADIES) for a couple of hours before bundling up and heading to Central Park to volunteer for the NYC Half today.

Now, I love volunteering at races – it’s fun, and it’s great to give back. But there was an added carrot for doing it today… Guaranteed entry into next year’s NYC Half.

Yes, please!

I was a course marshal – which entails making sure that people stay within the cones, that recreational runners/bikers stay off the course, and if you’re at an “intersection” that you hold people until a break in the runners (and then instruct them to run for it) or direct them to an underpass alternative way into the park. I’d done it at the 2011 Manhattan Half, and I kept trying to tell myself it was balmy today compared to that. Didn’t really work, but it was worth a try.

It’s a lot of fun to cheer the runners as they go by – and to try and spot and shout out to people you know along the course as well as supporting EVERYONE. Some of my FRNY peeps I spotted and yelled to by name, others just by team – and some I missed as I heard the people above me yell “Go Front Runners!” Oops! And I totally missed Kat as she ran by – she called to me. I attribute it to brain freeze as I was pretty much a Beth-sicle at that point, no matter how layered I was. Everyone looked good at my position – Mile 4. I understand there was one death around Mile 9. :( Always a sad thing, but I trust that he went doing something he loved.

Got finished and was out of the park by 10 – of course I’d been there about 5 hours by that point, but hey. Walked to Starbucks and got a skinny peppermint mocha. YUM! And began worming up. Went to the Union Square area and found the Blarney Scones at that Trader Joe’s, so I got a couple of them and some Guinness. Went to Panera and got some soup to continue warming up. Then I headed to Paragon as I’d gotten a discount card at the expo and figured it was a good time to get another pair of shoes. Decided on another pair of Saucony Guides in TTC colors:

I’m loving this shoe! I do love my Brooks, but I love the color options Saucony has. Yes, Brooks did a Ravenna model with purple and neon lime/yellow laces, but the shoe itself is black and EW! Also grabbed a couple of pair of Balega socks – and got them for less than the list price of the Guides. So I’ll take it.

Came home and took a 20-minute or so hot shower where I basically just stood under the water to thaw. Put on wooly socks, flannel pj pants, a hoodie, and turned on the heater in my bedroom before getting under my comforter and taking a nap. I’m finally feeling pretty thawed out (I’m sure that the two cans of Guinness I’ve had since I got home (at around 12:30, so they’ve been spread) help that too.). I’m also feeling that the sniffles of the other day are becoming full-fledged cold, but I cannot bring myself to go out and get meds. I’ve got a pack of DayQuil which I’m about to take, and I’ll get another at a bodega tomorrow and hit Duane Reade before the store tomorrow night.

So it’s been a great weekend of finds and running fun. And now I’m about ready to go to bed. Who cares if it’s only 7:45. I predict I’ll be sleeping within an hour.

Happy running all!

Come on Spring!!

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Hopefully this week’s storm got Winter out of Mother Nature’s system. I’m definitely ready for Spring.

And apparently more races?

Um, yeah. We got an email that the online system for those of us with guaranteed entry for Brooklyn wouldn’t be up yet, but we could mail, fax or walk in our application. I opted to fax, and I’ve been told via an email that it was received and processed, but there’s no charge on my card yet and I’ve gotten no email. I’m hanging onto the “received and processed” email though for sure! So add Brooklyn Half Marathon onto my calendar. May 18.

Then on Wednesday, most of the June races opened up. The Mini didn’t, but the Front Runners New York LGBT Pride Run did! Obviously since that’s my team, I signed up. Yay!! June 29.

And then on…Thursday I think, this was posted:

A women’s cut, technical shirt from Athleta which is adorable? And add my friend Amanda running? And add not being able to sign up to volunteer until after the NYC Half (you can only sign up for one volunteer thing at a time with NYRR) but wanting to take part?

And you have another registration accident. So add on the More/Fitness Women’s Half. 4/14. (AKA a final long supported training run for the Country Music Half with bling!)

It’s gonna be a full Spring for sure!!

But first we have to get through the last of Winter. I don’t care that it’s “meteorological spring”, we had mega winter this week.

I had a race yesterday that I signed up for on sort of a whim, but I liked the cause. It was the World Race for Hope – it benefitted the Somaly Mam Foundation which works to stop human trafficking. It was in Riverside Park, and the email we got on Friday said that unless we received further notification, the race was on even with the snow and stuff we got. I got off work at 1, came home and slept for a few hours, then headed up to the UWS. Going into the park, I knew I was in for a new experience – trying to avoid black ice while running. The course wasn’t as flat as I had thought – I hadn’t realized it wasn’t the path along the Hudson. But it all worked out and I didn’t fall once! The course was a little long, but that’s ok. I finished in under 45 minutes, so given the danger of black ice and having to walk over some patched carefully, I’ll take it!

At running club, had a good talk with A.J. about the beginner’s clinic. He’s taking responsibility for heading it up this year and is tapping several of us to work with him on it. I’m excited to get involved like this! I think it’s important for them – especially those truly just starting out – to hear that there is a place for all of us regardless of speed. I’ll likely be the one “leading” the slowest group, but that’s ok. It will be a run/walk group, and I’ll for sure be teaching them good run/walk etiquette!

Got up today after losing that blessed hour of sleep (ugh!) and got ready to head out and go for a run. Opted for my “run to Prospect Park and around the park” route, so there’s a little stop and go for a while, but I get road practice too. It was slightly chilly when I started out, but it warmed up pretty quickly and it was an absolutely fabulous, sunny run! I only had 6 on tap, so I cut the park at the center road, and just did that “top loop” so to speak. But I kept up a pretty good pace (for me – remember, it’s all relative!) and generally felt good throughout. I will never love hills, but I’m realizing their importance in my training. And I know that these will help me in Nashville for sure!

And now I’m going to try and grab a 15-minute power nap and then it’s into the store for 5 hours. Hopefully it’s not as crazy as it was last night. But we’ll see. I may well end up popping into Starbucks and getting some coffee on my way in as I’m now 6 days soda free and don’t want to mess that up!

Happy running!!

The race I have a love-hate relationship with…

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That would be NYRR’s Coogan’s Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks 5K!

It’s a chance to get outside of Central Park (or Prospect Park) and race on the streets (read: hills) of Washington Heights and up around The Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park…and back to the start.

And when I say “read: hills” I mean, HILLS. There is barely a flat section to the course. You start up an incline, go down a little, have a small bit of flat and then it’s uphill, downhill, uphill into the park, a little down and maybe some flat around The Cloisters, then it’s uphill out of the park, a tiny flat then downhill before a tiny flat and uphill before going downhill to the finish. And with it being on the city streets, you have to keep an eye out for potential potholes, uneven pavement, etc. It’s also a course where they have members of the Young Runners participating en masse, and they are mixed into the various corrals. Add fun music of all varying types all along the course, and you’ve got a fun little race – with the challenge of hills thrown in.

See? Love-Hate relationship perfection there!

I’ve done this race every year since I’ve been running, and I’ll likely continue to take the abuse every year that I’m able. It’s that fun. It’s been my PR course in spite of the hills – honestly, the downhill at the end really does help with that. Beautiful views as you round The Cloisters – including the George Washington Bridge (GWB), which I’ve somehow missed the past two years but made a point to look for today. And then there’s the bonus of brunch hosted by a couple from my running club whose apartment is right along the race course. Lots of reasons to run it every year. This year it was also a Club Points Race in the NYRR series, so participation was great for FRNY as well because even if you’re not fast (I’m not…we all know that), the team has to have a certain number simply participate. So I was definitely doing it.

I have added the fact that I’m now a member of Team Tough Chik, which is women from all over. We haven’t gotten our kits yet – really ok today as it was cold, and I got the singlet kit – but I want to show those colors as well. (I have a way I’m going to do it on a – ahem – more permanent basis, but that’s not happening quite yet.) I’ve got a skirt that’s in the team colors, so today I combined my FRNY colors with my Team Tough Chik colors:

I got up and made my “shamrock smoothie” (which turned out to be way too minty as I sort of spilled extra extract into the blender…but I got most of it down), then got dressed and headed to the subway to head to the Heights. It’s always fun on race mornings to see runners waiting for the train and on the train. And there were a lot of us waiting on the A at Hoyt-Schermerhorn and then we all but took over the A from that point on. At the 168th St station it was a wall of gym bags, running shoes, and D-tags heading up and out. LOL. I’d debated going up to the brunch locale early to drop off my bag, but opted to do bag drop at “race central”so that I’d have my sweatshirt to put on after the race and heading to brunch. So I joined the mass-o-runners exiting.

I was going to hit Starbucks for some pre-race caffeine, but a lot of others had the same idea. So I got some diet Coke from a bodega next door. Headed to the Armory for a potty stop (hint: go down the hall to the second area of bathrooms…it was virtually empty!). On my way out, ran into FRNY teammate Blossom, so we chatted for a little while, then I headed out to drop off my bag and head to my purple corral. Chatted with a couple of women – one a Mercury Masters runner and one with another club which I forget right now – then connected up with other FRNY teammates Stacey and Patty so we chatted for a while. Waved to Elyse across the way, and then we were moving up slowly but surely.

Being on city streets AND being a lollipop course, it’s automatically narrow. And for some reason the past two years they haven’t required that cars be moved off the course, so we lose an extra “lane” per side. That’s where the addition of the kids makes it interesting. I’m all for having the kids participate in things, but I think this year proved it may be time to give them their own corral (in the back) and possibly even their own start as it’s painfully obvious that not many of them are being taught race etiquette, particularly when it comes to moving and stopping or switching to a walk. About a mile in, I decided to lead by example and make even more of a production of switching to walking than I usually do (I always move to the side safely, raise my hand, and say “walking” but today I pretty much screamed it…and put my hand up even higher than usual). I don’t know if it will help or not, but it was worth a try.

I didn’t really have any time goal in mind when I went in. I more wanted to do more running on the hills than I have before. Ideally I’d like to have done all my running intervals, but I would be happy with just doing more than last year. And I succeeded in doing that! I did drop to a walk at the steepest one, but I was over halfway into the interval. It’s always a tough call…keep going and risk not having the control to fly downhill to the finish or walk a little and fly to the finish. I opted for the second today, and I’m ok with it. I also wanted to focus on just generally running the best race I could. I succeeded in that as well as Dahlia said she saw me as I was entering the park and she was leaving, but I was very focused and didn’t see her. Oops! But yay for focus!

It’s always nice to pass the corner where the brunch apartment is as FRNY always has a cheer squad set up, and that’s always encouraging. More teammates were further down cheering, and that gave me the final boost.

As I hit the 3 mile marker, I started the mental game of time just to see and knew that a PR was going to be close, so I gunned it. Apparently my “focused going for it at the end” face can be mistaken for “pain” because when I got to brunch, Blossom said that they’d seen me at the end and their first reaction was “Uh oh…is she hurt?” Hmm…must work on not looking pained. Or maybe that’s how you’re supposed to look at the end of a 5K?

Anyway…I just went for it and hit the garmin (while looking up I might add!) as I hit the finish line. I knew that whatever happened, I was happy with my race. I really couldn’t have asked any more of my body and stayed upright today. As I walked towards baggage, I stopped my runtastic app – yes, I opted to listen to my running playlist, so that could have helped with the pace as well – and grabbed a bagel, sadly plain by the time i got there, so I only took a couple of bites. Grabbed my bag and headed up to brunch. I could have taken the subway, but I opted to walk as a cool down.

We all had a great time at brunch. It took a little while for results to be posted, but when they were you could tell as there was a buzz all through the apartment as people looked up their times.

My PR, set at Coogan’s 2011 was 35:37 with an AG percentage of 42.7

Today’s time and AG? 34:56 and 44.06%. Both personal bests!!!!

I was so excited at the shiny new PR and the AG percentage best it took me until I was home and in the shower to realize something else.

I went sub-35 in a 5K for the first time EVER!!!!!

So yeah…this is the race I have a total love-hate relationship with…and I’ll always do it as long as I’m able.

It’s that kind of fun!

The spirit screams gazelle!!

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I had not intended for this to be my entry today – I had something else I was going to write about, but after tonight’s run, I decided to delay that one for a day or so.

Tonight, it’s all :O)

I’d planned to go to my running club’s fun run – and Wild Women Wednesday post-run dinner – tonight, but this morning we got the message that “due to the nasty weather it was cancelled”. I’ll note that about 25 minutes before time for the fun run to start we got another message that the run wasn’t cancelled, just the dinner (and not for the weather…so, um, ok?) – but 25 minutes is nowhere near enough time for me to get to Central Park, so it was a moot point.

As it turns out, I had already headed out to Prospect Park for a run anyway as the weather was nice – a bit chilly, but no rain and relatively clear skies…and a bit breezy but nothing like the 50 mph wind gusts we were facing at the Cherry Tree. Absolutely gorgeous!!

I got the Garmin and the Runtastic app started (I didn’t move until both were going) and headed off with 3/2 intervals. The first bit was easy-peasy…but then again the first part is downhill. Once I hit the more level section (I think it’s a slight grade down as going the other way it definitely feels like a slight grade up, but it’s essentially flat), both my stride and my breathing got choppy. I had to whip out the inhaler for the first time in forever, but it helped a lot with the breathing. But the stride in that section never did get settled in. I’m really not sure why…just one of those things I suppose.

And then came The Beast (apparently it’s also known as “Zoo Hill”…but I like my name better). I didn’t have my visor, but I made an effort to not look up…just went. And I swear all of a sudden my stride evened out, my breathing settled even more, and before I knew it, I was almost at the top of the thing. The last little bit, but most of that got covered with the walk interval. I’m not sure I’d use the word “flying”, but I felt…light and energetic and really, really good!!

I don’t have an explanation for it really. Oh I’m sure the lack of headwind gusts of up to 50 mph helped it feel easier, but I’m sure there’s more to it than that. Whatever it is. Nevertheless, it definitely was a good feeling knowing Nashville’s coming up in 2 months (from today actually!!). In spite of anything that has been said about it being “flat” (I can’t find it anymore, so maybe they got intelligent and removed it), I grew up in Nashville. It is NOT flat. So to the degree that I can, I need to get my butt on hills at least a couple of times a week and work the incline on the treadmill when I can’t get outside.

I continued on around the path and as I was entering my next-to-last run interval, “Electricity” from “Billy Elliot the Musical” came up on my playlist (I created a running playlist (that I can add to) that I use on shuffle with Runtastic). And even though it’s about dancing, for me it totally applies to running when everything falls into place. And it totally did from The Beast on.

“I can’t really explain it,
I haven’t got the words
It’s a feeling that you can’t control
I suppose it’s like forgetting, losing who you are
And at the same time something makes you whole
It’s like that there’s a music playing in your ear
And I’m listening, and I’m listening and then I disappear

And then I feel a change
Like a fire deep inside
Something bursting me wide open impossible to hide
And suddenly I’m flying, flying like a bird
Like electricity, electricity
Sparks inside of me
And I’m free I’m free

It’s a bit like being angry,
it’s a bit like being scared
Confused and all mixed up and mad as hell
It’s like when you’ve been crying
And you’re empty and you’re full
I don’t know what it is, it’s hard to tell
It’s like that there’s a music playing in your ear
But the music is impossible, impossible to hear

But then I feel it move me
Like a burning deep inside
Something bursting me wide open impossible to hide
And suddenly I’m flying, flying like a bird
Like electricity, electricity
Sparks inside of me
And I’m free I’m free”

The song finished before my run did, but I kept going for the last interval and decided to just let fly (and the fact that it was going to be going downhill was practice for letting fly at the end of Coogan’s on Sunday) and like Jennifer Graham said in “Honey, Do You Need A Ride? Confessions of a Fat Runner”…the spirit screams gazelle.

I felt strong.

I felt powerful.

I felt alive.

I like those feelings. A lot.

And that’s why I run. :)

Ok…so I’ll give them one more shot.

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Competitor and Rock’n'Roll that is.

I’m sure we all remember my experience with the inaugural Rock’n'Roll New York 10K. (And yes, it’s ironic to see me including NYRR in my examples of good stuff…) Long story short, it wasn’t pretty.

And then I don’t even need to link to my take on Vegas last year. I didn’t run it, I was just commenting on what I understood from friends who did. And then from listening to an interview with the head of Competitor who basically blamed everyone but Competitor for the mistakes. (In a more recent interview, he did take some responsibility, but the damage in my mind was done.)

And yet…

I’m signed up to run the Rock’n'Roll Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville, TN in April.

I’m actually pretty excited about it. I grew up for about half of my childhood in Nashville, and my parents are back in the area so I have a place to stay and can see family!! And I’ve heard good things about it – that it’s one of the most consistently good races that they run. So I’m hopeful.

I debated whether I wanted to do the full or the half and thought about signing up for the full but dropping to the half just in case, but ultimately I decided that the half is plenty – it will be enough to go straight into a half training plan after Disney, and I really wasn’t looking forward to the possibility of a third marathon plan in a row. So the half it shall be! And I’ve decided it shall be my (most likely) first dedicated Tough Chik race! Whee!!

But first…Disney and Mickey 20!!

Training continues to go well. Today’s run was actually really good. Fridays are shorter runs – 30 minutes at a 4/1 ratio. I unintentionally did a negative split with it, consistently getting faster with each run interval save for the first two which flip flopped. But it felt good and effortless. Tomorrow is 7 miles. Cutback weeks are nice!

Happy running!!

WDW Marathon Week…I’ll call it 1

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I’m calling it 1 because after a couple of weeks essentially off it feels like I’m starting over. Hey, go with it! :)

I pulled the run/walk plan off Coach Jenny’s site and decided to go with it. It’s virtually identical to the plan in Marathoning for Mortals, and I’ve done well with those plans, so…

I didn’t get a run in on Monday, but other than that I’ve hit every workout…

Tuesday ~ XT was 50 minutes on the elliptical – hill program “Around the World”. Good times.

Wednesday ~ 4.13 miles in 60 minutes around Von King Park. Felt good, probably could have pushed more.

Thursday ~ Yoga Meltdown for 30 minutes. Really pushed myself on form and man am I feeling it now, especially in the arms and shoulders.

Friday ~ 3 miles in 40 minutes around Von King Park. Pushed harder and felt stronger.

Saturday ~ 12.01 miles in 2:39 around Prospect Park. Got up and had some water along with vitamin, Allegra and Symbicort. Got dressed and headed to the subway. About 45 minutes before starting, I had a sugar free Red Bull and a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balance Bar as I headed to the subway. When I got off the subway, I had 3 shot blocks before starting my run. 3+ loops around Prospect Park (I knew it wasn’t going to be 4 once I remembered that the loop is more than 3 miles, so the last couple of miles is a lot of back and forth. I tried to keep the effort steady, meaning that the pace occasionally (as in when I was on The Beast or its Mother depending on my direction) would be slower. But I did want to do my best to always run on my run intervals.

And I did it! Even the ones on the hills!!!! I think I’ve discovered my hill trick! Pull my visor down so unless I pull my head back I can’t see more than a few feet in front of me. Focus on the ground in my view and don’t look up. Therefore I have no real sense of how much further I have to go. :) Hey, whatever works, right??

In addition to my pre-run fueling, I had one Clif Shot Razz at Mile 4, and then the first three walk intervals at Mile 8 I had a Margarita block. It seemed to work! :)

I know all my runs can’t be like this one, but it felt amazing!!! :)

Catching up with everything…

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Foot…
The foot verdict as of Monday afternoon was that I have a mild low ankle/high foot sprain (basically if you flex your foot, you see those tendons or whatever that seem to come together at your ankle? That area.) Funnily enough, I did it before to my left foot by rolling over a pinecone. I’m taking Advil 3-4 times a day, icing at night and after working out (need to do that now actually…brb – ok, cold pack is tied on). I go back Monday for another check. Overall it seems to be doing better – I still have some little pain flares periodically, but they’re getting fewer and farther between, so I’m thinking they may be related to other tendons, etc. “helping” the sprained ones by working harder.

Gym…
With part of the foot advice being “take it easy” but knowing I need to do something to keep up my fitness, and also thinking ahead to when it gets colder and needing to get some temp-controlled (read: warm) runs in to prep for Disney, I decided to join Planet Fitness again. But at a new location that’s just opened up. It’s still the same subway stop (it’s actually only a few blocks from the one I used to belong to), but this one is brand new and really nice. Went Wednesday and did 50 minutes on the elliptical (45 workout, 5 cool-down). I’m going to like it I think.

Weight Watchers…
So far, it’s going well! I’ve got some great support with friends on ROTE, and they’re giving me some good advice. I dropped 5.6 pounds in the first week – don’t freak, I’m sure at least 3 of those were water from Chicago and traveling. Of course that meant I lost a point I could use. But I’m seeing that that’s how you get trained to eat better – you automatically add in lots of fruits and veggies that are 0 points to help fill up. My friend Brandi said that she’ll often have one low point protein (light string cheese or a hard boiled egg or something) with her fruit or veggies to help her feel full longer.

Getting back into it…
Signed up for the Prospect PArk Track Club 5M Turkey Trot which will (duh) be on Thanksgiving! It’s such a fun little race! I’m excited to do it again!! And as it’s on Thursday morning, I don’t have to worry about being scheduled at the store as it’s outside of my availability. :)

Went to Central Park this morning to try and get a run in. My goal was somewhere between 6 and 12 miles – my plan called for 12, but since I hadn’t really run since Chicago (elliptical once, but that’s not the same) I didn’t want to say I had to do all 12 and then fail. I’m happy to report that I got 8.71 miles in! My ITB started protesting at around Mile 7, so I walked my first run interval after that to rest it and see, and then when it started protesting again in the next run interval, I knew it was time to call it a run for today. On the extra positive side, I did all of my run intervals up to that point, even on the Harlem Hills!! BIG accomplishment for me!!

Other stuff…
* Yesterday I made the decision to do something I’ve been contemplating for a while – really ever since I knew they were opening up membership to whoever wanted to join rather than being nominated by someone in there as it was when I first heard about it. I joined Team Tough Chik for 2013!! I had been trying to decide if I was really tough enough to where I’d feel worthy of being a member, but after gutting it out in Chicago like I did, I definitely feel like I am! And the more I learn about the Team, the prouder I am to know that I belong!

* I am also exploring a new fitness/nutrition tracking site – slimkicker.com. You earn points for tracking things and/or participating in challenges, and you can post a picture of what you’ll reward yourself with when you level up. I’m still exploring it, and I don’t think I’ll be tracking my food since it’s in calories and I’m working in points now with WW (and having just paid to join that for three months, I really want to give it a shot), but the concept is intriguing. I’ll keep you posted, but definitely check it out!

* In fueling, I’m trying out Clif Shot Blocks as an alternative to so much gel. Today I tried their new chocolate cherry flavor, and they actually weren’t bad. I decided to try doing one on each of the first three walk intervals after I hit Mile 4 and that seemed to work well. Had I continued my run this morning, I would have done the same starting at Mile 9 (I figure I was about at Mile 5 when I finished the third one, so four miles would be up to Mile 9). I’ll be trying this strategy on my long runs for a few weeks and may use this strategy for Disney.

* Nike Women’s Half, DC! Like the one in San Fran, getting in will be via lottery. Unlike New York, you can enter the lottery as a group where there’s a code everyone puts on their entry and if one person with that code on their entry gets in, everyone with that code on their entry gets in! There’s a group of us from ROTE (and friends ) who are planning to enter. It’s $160, which is a lot for a half (more than Disney if you’re registering for Disney before the first price increase!), but you do get a Tiffany necklace at the end. (I’m really not that concerned about firefighters being the ones giving them out…unless they have a couple of female firefighters too… (insert innocent whistling face here).

* Speaking of Disney, they released a course preview with Bart Yasso this week. It’s not AS cool as the time-lapse course trip Chicago put out (that really is cool, and I’d love to see something like it from runDisney – especially since this course IS new from the previous 19 years. But in the meantime, here you go if you’re interested…

Aaaaand I think that’s about it for now! :) Thanks for reading!!

Yes, I shrieked. Even though it was 11pm.

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I got home from working at the store last night around 11pm. I stopped at the mailbox on my way in to get the mail and pulled things out one at a time just in case something was stuck inside something else. I knew that these had gone out, but still, I shrieked when I pulled this out of my mailbox last:

My race guide and confirmation ticket for Chicago!!

Apologies to everyone on the second and third floor of the building if I woke you. (No apologies to my backdoor neighbor who often forgets that she has neighbors and hosts band practice at 11pm and later. Sorry.)

Shit is getting real now. Really, really real!!

But seriously, I’m feeling good about it. I went to my new chiropractor (same practice I’ve been going to, but this is a new-to-me guy as of last week who’s filling in while my regular guy is on a medical leave thing) again for an adjustment. I love this guy, though his technique is different. Once he learned I’m a runner, he puts a little more focus on my hips and making sure they’re aligned. Both this week and last my right moves a little more in the adjustment, but he said after today’s session that “everything’s moving like butter” – which I gather is a good thing. I’ll go next week before ToT. And schedule pending I’m going to TRY to go in twice between Tower and Chicago. I will at least go once.

There’s nothing posted about tracking yet. Supposedly they have it. I’ll keep you posted as I know more.

And don’t freak out about the low bib number. Charities are in Corral E, at the end of Wave 1. And no, I don’t think it’s a good idea as I suspect many of us, if not most of us, will be slower than the people coming behind us in Wave 2. However, I’m not going to stay with where we are assigned, and I’ll just make it a point of staying to the side. And running my own race so that I don’t let them pull me along faster than I want to go.

I’m getting a bit sniffly. Sadly, not surprising given that my kidlets at school have already been coughing and sniffling. :( So as of today I’m on a thrice a day system of Airborne. Kick this thing in the butt quickly and get my immune system up and running super well!!

So…it’s getting close!! Time to get some rest!! Early morning run call!! :)

Let the taper begin!!

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For Chicago that is!

Today was my 20-miler, and I decided to try and treat it as close to race-day as possible in terms of pre-fueling, fueling during (with the exception of not having the professional Gatorade they will have on the course…but I’ll run with nuun anyway), and timing of it.

So I started last night by getting all hydrated and having pasta dinner – I found a restaurant with a menu pretty similar to the place where Team Breakthrough is having their pasta dinner and went there. Tried to get in bed early and get some sleep.

And then in something I don’t want to repeat, was awakened around 2:30am with calf cramps. No clue why. But they definitely had me nervous about the run.

Woke up around the time I expect I’ll be waking up to get to Aqua (Oh yes…I paid $10 for the CES Marathon Day VIP experience…it’s going to be so worth it!!). Ate and drank what I’m intending…though I think I won’t do it AS early on race day as I was a little hungry early on in the run based on eating closer to when I woke up. Walked to the subway and headed to the Hudson River to run alongside it.

Got started and everything easy and feeling good. Then around mile 9 or 10 my knees started randomly getting achy. I downed a salt packet even though I wasn’t sweating all that much as it was cooler and windy. Took a run interval or two as a walk interval, and then was feeling better! Kept going. I was able to finish strong – doing the final run intervals!! And honestly that hasn’t happened as much as it should have.

But I’m glad that I finished my last *major* long run strong!! I finished the 20.19 in 4:45, which, knowing my PR in the 10K, makes me really feel like on race day, with the rest that comes with the taper and the adrenaline I CAN go sub-6!! Visualizing it constantly!! 5:59:59 is going to be posted all over my apartment and wherever I can!!

Now to taper and get ready for marathon day!!

Chicago Marathon Week 5 Day 1 (and catching up)

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Yes, week 4 happened. LOL. My life also happened and I didn’t get things updated like I should.

Let’s see… Week 4 had 4.36 miles on Monday, a 5K time trial on Tuesday (I hate 5Ks), and then a 10K race on Saturday. Tuesday and Thursday were yoga.

The 10K was the NYRR Mini 10K. It was not my best race by far, but I am proud of myself for finishing and for running as hard as I could (not overly) the last 400 meters. I had a couple of friends who do Disney races who were also running it, and I think they had a good time as well overall.

I had two near asthma attacks. The first was my fault for a) forgetting to puff on the inhaler before starting and b) taking off a bit faster than comfortable for me in an attempt to see if I could keep pace with one of my friends. Walked a good bit after that to get my breathing under control. The second was around the Engineer’s Gate when a braintrust in the TnT cheering section was smoking. Don’t even get me started. First off, it’s not allowed in the parks and anyone associated with TnT should not only know that but help enforce it. And second (or maybe it should be first), you’re with an organization fighting forms of cancer…shouldn’t you be abstaining from things that cause cancer?? But I managed to keep things under control.

The humidity got to me though, and while I was dumping water on myself at most water stops (I feel like they could have used at least one more at perhaps the 102nd St transverse area…I feel like there was one somewhere between entering the park and starting Harlem Hills last year, but I could be wrong), the one at the top of Harlem Hills I didn’t dump water but drank it because there was a sign saying “Misting Station Ahead”. Well, that station failed to materialize. :(

But I finished. I did appreciate the popsicles – even if they did sort of steal the thunder of those at the Pride Run. As hot/humid as it was, they were nice.

Overall I had a good time and will likely keep this one on my calendar. But it did show me I really need to take advantage of the no school this summer to hit the hills in Central and/or Prospect Park for my training. The block-sized park near my apartment is convenient for my very early morning runs, but the flatness of it doesn’t help in regards to hills at all.

So that was that.

This morning’s run was 50 minutes with 4:30/1 reps – so 9 of them. Plus warm-up and cool-down. It went much better than the race on Saturday, and I ended up with 4.66 miles! Yay for redemption!

Let’s do this thing!

Training mileage: 48.24
Weight: 177.4