Category Archives: weather

Let the taper begin!!

Posted on by
Reply

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 8 Days 4, 5 and 6

Posted on by
2

One would think I’d have more time to get this writing done during the summer since I’m only working one job. One would apparently be not quite right. LOL. Oops!

Thursday was XT and I opted to do an aerobics DVD. One day I need to do the whole thing which includes strength and core work. Thursday was just not that day. Maybe when it gets a little cooler so that even in my living room with the window unit I’m not drowning in sweat. We’ll see.

Friday was a short 40 minute easy run. Well, I opted to reset all my alarms for an hour later, which was a mistake. So hot out there already. You don’t realize what a difference the sun makes until you’re running with it on you. It was a slow 2.88 miles, but I got it done.

Today I was slated for 11 miles. And it was supposed to be HOT. I got off work last night at 11:15, and by the time I got home it was around 12:40. I wanted to be on the train by 4am, so I debated just staying up. But ultimately decided to “nap” and get up around 3. I was out the door by just before 4, and got on the G train fairly quickly. The issue with waiting comes with the A train. Even though there are TWO A train routes, in the wee hours those trains seem to come way less frequently than pretty much any other line.

When I got off the G to wait for the A, I was afraid that I was about to have a situation like last year where some guy was following me. I’m pretty sure he moved to be across from me on the G, and then he waited until almost the last minute to get off the G. He then walked sort of around where I was standing, so I casually walked down towards the other end of the platform where there were more people. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before he came down the platform – but he was walking pretty fast. Not coming at me, though, which made me wonder. The last time the guy wasn’t moving all that fast. I walked back down to the other end of the platform and remembered that the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station has a police presence in it, so I walked up the stairs and just stood where I could see the officers. Another G train came (and THIS is why the A being so long between trains is just bizarre…the train that everyone laughs at and only has one route has 2 (at least) trains stop before the train that has 2 routes further down has even one come?) and I debated getting on that and just running at Coney Island but ultimately decided to stay put. The guy hadn’t come back down to the end of the platform where I was (I could see from atop the stairs), so I waited at the bottom of the stairs knowing there were two cops outside of the office that I could run to and/or yell to if necessary. (I didn’t go to them immediately just because I wasn’t 100% sure he was following me like I had been last year – when I realized it ON the A train. I didn’t want to cause a fuss if there was no need for one.) Long story a little shorter, I never saw him again, so yay!

Got off at 14th St and headed towards the Hudson. Parts of the park were blocked off when I first got there, so I ran along the far outer edge of the bike path until it was open. Well, I say ran…it was very shuffly and slow because of the heat and humidity. I had Hammer gels in my pack and Nuun in my handheld. I stopped a couple of times to add water to the handheld, and about 2 hours in, I added a salt packet because I’m definitely a salty sweater. Still, as I got further into the second hour, I was feeling something like the beginning of cramps in my hammies and a little in my calves. Thankfully I carry a little money on me and double thankfully around Chelsea Piers there are drink machines and one of them is ALL PowerAde (there’s a Gatorade machine further down the path, but I needed something right then). I’m not normally a PowerAde fan, but it was like liquid manna from heaven today.

Ended up getting my miles done at a 14:32 pace, which isn’t that bad actually. It’s right in the middle of my prescribed LSR pace, so I’ll take it.

I’m debating yoga tomorrow since I made Tuesday a rest day. But we’ll see. The GF diet is going well so far. I’m finding that it’s forcing me to eat healthier – if only by virtue of the face that I can’t get anything from the vending machine at work. The more difficult part of the week has been giving up soda. I’ve done it successfully before – without craving it. The giving up TWO things in one week I think has made the giving up soda thing harder. Still, so far so good.

Happy training!

Training mileage: 117.89
Weight: 176

Chicago Marathon Week 1 Day 7

Posted on by
1

LSR Day! (Well, kind of…)

This was my long slow run (LSR) day. A long slow run is where you build your endurance and teach your body to burn fat rather than muscle. It’s also a time to work on your fluid intake and fueling. So you don’t really want to run it too fast. Based on my Broad Street time, my average pace should be between 13:38 and 15:13. My average pace today was 13:11. Oops. Still, it was only 5 miles, so I’m not going to get overly concerned.

I also know that today was one of those rare days where everything just works and you feel good the whole time. I wouldn’t say runs like today are rare, but they’re not overly common for me…at least not yet. I’m attributing how great today felt to a) the sunshine and amazing weather we’ve had today and b) the fact that (other than last week where I was a slug) my runs in previous weeks were 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 5 and then 10 at Broad Street. That kind of mileage made today’s run seem like a walk in the park. I’ll take runs like this whenever I can get them!

I started the day with a Chocolate Almond Clif Bar, then on the subway I had the Power Bar gel I got yesterday. I was amazed at how easily that went down. GU is pretty thick. Hammer gels aren’t as thick as GU, but they’re not totally liquidy either. Honey Stinger gels go down pretty easily as do these Power Bar gels. As I was running and marveling at how good I felt, I remembered when I got a packet or two of the Power Bar Energy Gel Chews and how much those helped, so I might try some more of the Power Bar gel flavors. It would be nice to have a mix of things that work so I can have several in my “arsenal” should one decide to not play nicely with my stomach as GU did during the Disney marathon.

I ran along the High Line for almost 2 miles…but it’s not very long, and I didn’t feel like running back and forth over and over to make the 5 miles, so after one “lap” I paused the garmin and headed down to run the rest alongside the Hudson. With the sunshine and a nice cool breeze it made for some great running weather! (Yes, I had on sunscreen. Though I have to take issue with Mission SkinCare’s claim that it’s sweatproof…stuff ran into my eyes like a mother during my run! I had to stop a couple of times and just wipe my face totally off to stop my eyes from stinging and be able to see. Note to self: Find some other sunscreen for the face!!)

Hooray!!

I’m beginning to contemplate the idea of hosting a virtual 5K (simply because I’m still not really friends with 10Ks AND it would be happening in the summer) run/walk (for my non-running friends who might want to participate) as part of my fundraising for Team Breakthrough. I don’t have details yet, but watch this space! :)

Training mileage: 16.25
Weight: 178

So I’ll Set Fire To The Rain…

Posted on by
2

…or at least show it I’m not afraid of it!!

That’s right! My run was outside in the rain! All 4.26 miles of it!!

Ok, it wasn’t POURING, but it went from a misty drizzle to a steady rain a few times during the course of it.

I remember back in the late 70s my dad decided he wanted to “jog”. But if it was gross outside, he wouldn’t go out. We used to tease him whenever we’d be driving in the rain and see someone running by saying “Look Daddy! A *faithful* jogger!” None of us got it then.

I get it now.

First, I like how I feel when I run. Maybe not in the moment when I’m panting for breath and my legs are burning, but overall how it makes me feel; and how I feel when I’ve finished a run, especially if it’s long, hard, and/or in challenging circumstances.

Second, and more importantly right now, I paid a lot of good money for the Walt Disney World Marathon on 1/8/1012. If it happens to be gross weather, I’m not going to not run it. I’ll be out there giving it my best shot for all 26.2 miles. Even if it was an option at Disney, I personally wouldn’t ever take the cut-off and run the half instead if I was in a half and full race if I was registered for the full. Personally I’d rather stop since in my mind it would be a DNF anyway. Other people feel differently and that’s their right…but to me, if I register for a full then unless I change before the cut-off for changing, if I were to change to the half mid-course I’m NOT finishing the race I was registered for, ergo I earned a DNF for that race. Sure I got a good 13.1 training run out of it, but I’d never accept a medal or results for a half unless I legitimately changed to it. Totally moot point with Disney as the Half is on Saturday and the Full is on Sunday. So I digressed. Just to repeat the point of “Second” – I paid good money for the Walt Disney World Marathon. I am not going to let weather keep me from running it.

And so go out for a training run in the rain I did.

And it felt great!!!

AND I went over my mileage goal for the year. 750 miles managed!! And I’m not close to done yet!

Yes!!!!!

Posted on by
Reply

Ok, so the weather people were forecasting nasty weather for today (they were right…it’s nastiness outside). Yesterday I was slated to do Thursday’s run which didn’t happen because I wasn’t feeling up to par (fighting a cold) – 4/1 x 9. But looking at the forecast, I didn’t want to take a chance on not getting this week’s long run in. I mean, long runs are the backbone of marathon training, right? So I figured it would be better to possibly miss a short run in favor of getting a long run in.

So I did. Last night. 12.62 miles in 2:55. Average pace 13:52!! RIGHT on target for my long run paces!!! Ok, so it’s the lowest number in the range I was given, but still!!

And best of all, there was NO twinginess from the ITB!!! On either knee!!! YAY!!!!!

And yes, it turned out to be a good decision. The forecasters were right…mostly. They hadn’t predicted all the SNOW we are getting right now. Yes, they said we might get some, but not the accumulation we’re looking at. So clearly it would have been nasty and crazy to do a training run this morning when I’m fighting a cold. And tomorrow it will likely not be the best footing as I doubt the sidewalks/paths will be cleared (possibly exception being Central Park where there’s a NYRR race scheduled). So yay for making the right decision.

Went to Front Runners to chat and stuff, then went to JackRabbit to get some GU and a yoga strap so i can better do my stretches. They had peppermint GU in boxes!!!!! I got one box to try (also got a box of Chocolate Outrage). If I like it, I’ll stock up so I can have it beyond Christmas. I’ll let you know what I think. The guy who helped me said he tried some the other day and liked it. He said it’s not overly sweet which peppermint can sometimes be. Fingers crossed!!

This afternoon I did Bob Harper’s Yoga Meltdown. I always feel great when it’s over and love it. But those first 15 minutes of getting into the zen…ugh! :P

If any of you readers are doing MCM tomorrow, good luck and have a great run!! And kudos to my friend Dahlia for setting a new PR and smashing her sub-2 hour goal in the Cape Cod Half Marathon today!!

A week and a day!!

Posted on by
Reply

That’s all that’s left until the Disneyland Half Marathon ~ and my Coast to Coast medal!!! Whee!!!!

I’m in the process of working on a post with something very special I got to experience when I was at the beach the 13th-20th (so glad it wasn’t this week!!!!), and being stuck inside all weekend I might actually get it written. Fingers crossed.

But in the meantime…

Got my last long run in yesterday. 10.87 miles. Around a 13.5mm pace, which is fine for a LSR. I did a few intervals at or above tempo, and did them midway through, so that’s a plus. I opted to do it yesterday since we’re awaiting whatever’s coming, and for all intents and purposes after noon today we’ll be stuck wherever we are. Yay? Anyway, through The Marathon Show, I learned about its British “sibling” Marathon Talk, which is great! I listened to their latest one for a good portion of my run – they were talking with Bart Yasso, and that was a great interview to listen to on a last long run before a big race. My goal now is to try my darndest to do a negative split at Disneyland. I came pretty close to even splits in NYC, so I’m hoping I can really focus and do the negative split thing at DL! And then at Wine and Dine. And then it would be AWESOME to run my first full as a negative split. Fingers crossed!!

The good thing with this training plan I’ve been on (Jeff Galloway’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon plan for Time Improvement) is that it’s taken me to and beyond 10 several times. And 10 is now feeling, well, not easy-peasy, but definitely easier than I’ve done 10 before. I’ve been playing with my intervals and am trying to decide if I want to go with 2:30/1 or 2/1. I may end up just seeing how I feel the day of and making that determination. I’ll then go into the part of this plan following the Wine and Dine Half to train for the WDW Full Marathon in January. With some adaptations on the shorter mileage weeks…depending on how my legs feel I may go further than the prescribed low mileage. Now, I don’t do the “magic mile” things…and I don’t do the x200 or x800 or whatever. I don’t go to a track, and my method has just been working for me so. There we are.

I have discovered in this week just how much I slacked off in my XT. A workout DVD that used to be cake was more difficult this week. And Yoga Meltdown Level 1, which while never cake had definitely been easier, was sheer torture on Wednesday. It was slightly better on Thursday than Wednesday, but not by much. I’ll probably do it later this afternoon to stretch out and get moving. I’m usually ok with some down time, but tell me I’ll be pinned in my apartment for a while and my muscles want to move!

So… Thursday I leave for California!! I’m so excited!!! And yesterday I found out that I am going to get to be part of a special thing with runDisney: “to enjoy a special opportunity to preview and prepare for the Disneyland Half Marathon next Friday (Sept. 2) at 10:30 a.m. (PT).
This unique event is to include a meet up and Q&A with runDisney’s official training consultant, Jeff Galloway, where he’ll offer tips and suggestions to benefit all levels of runners. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to gain one-on-one training advice from Galloway, along with a photo opportunity with Galloway and a Disney character (make sure and bring your camera!), and a chance to preview the runDisney portion of Expo prior to general admission.” So friggin excited about that!!!! The rest of the time will be doing the parks, chilling, and of course on Sunday, running the Half Marathon!

Whee!!!!!

Catching up

Posted on by
1

Yes, yes. Don’t shoot me. I shall for sure be better!! For now, here’s a catch up on the last week-ish.

6/25 – FRNY Gay and Lesbian Pride Run 5-miler
The day was charged with lots of excitement since less than 12 hours before the state senate had passed and Governor Cuomo had signed the Marriage Equality bill (now law)! So everyone was extra happy – some were hungover or still riding the buzz from the night before, but that’s beside the point. (And no, I was not one of them…I’d been at a film screening the night before and my only “vice” was simply having about 2 hours of sleep.) It was hot – in the 70s at least and 93% humidity (NYRR has removed the weather info from their site). And we had a different course that included Harlem Hills in the most evil direction. I was trying my best with a 2:30/1 ratio, but I ended up doing a lot more walking, especially on the hills. One of my running club teammates and I played leapfrog for most of the race – I’d pass her on a run interval and she’d pass me on a walk. But it kept me going. There had been mention of “misting stations” during the pre-race talk, but no one I know of ever encountered them (hint to NYRR…don’t say there are going to be things unless you know for 100% sure there are going to be things…misting stations aren’t like t-shirts where “oops, we ran out” after all; they’re either set up and ready to go or they’re not). I was again glad for my handheld as I could use the water from the fluid stations to pour over my arms and try to cool me off a little. Somewhere in the last mile, the aforementioned teammate said “Come on, let’s run this in together.” I knew it was going to be further than I usually run on my own, but we were keeping the pace slow, so I decided to go for it. All was ok until I started feeling goosebumps. When you’re hot and sweating, goosebumps are NOT a good thing. So I told her to go on ahead and I’d get there. Somehow I was not directed immediately to Medical but instead was sent to Popsicle (We give out popsicles at the end of this race. Rainbow ones of course!), and that helped. Later in the day and into the next, it became obvious that I probably should have gone to medical, but lesson learned. I finished with a time of 1:02:53 – so like 6 minutes slower than my baseline PR (which was set on a nice cool Thanksgiving morning on a course that did NOT include the evilness that is Harlem Hills), but definitely better than I’d anticipated it being.

The week in training:
Tuesday I was still feeling the effects of the heat from Saturday’s race. As evidenced by my over 13mm average pace. Ouch! Still, I was getting out there and getting foot time in.

Thursday was a little better. Still 13mm-ish average pace, but better than Tuesday.

Yes…I need to definitely get back on my XT as I’ve slacked off tremendously on that, and I’m sure that’s part of the issue.

Saturday was my long, slow run. Thanks to the subway issues, I decided the easiest thing was to start in Battery Park and head up the Hudson. 9 miles was on the schedule. I managed to keep the pace slowish and overall felt good. Well, until the last couple of miles when my old friend my ITB decided to flare up. So in spite of needing to get back on the XT wagon, I’m not ure it’ll happen today – unless I just do the abs workout on Bob Harper’s Yoga dvd before or after doing my stretches for all my leg muscles, but especially my ITB stretches.

My overall distance was 9.88 miles. Thank goodness for my trusty Garmin footpod because I had a massive runkeeper fail…

Oh yes RunKeeper, you are special. Wrong, but special.

So things overall are going well. I don’t want this entry to get overwhelming, so I’ll look back over the things I need to discuss and work on getting that done this week! Along with training! (And finding a summer job as fundage is sooooooo needed right now.)

This One’s For Grete!! (My NYRR Mini Race Report)

Posted on by
3

Let me note from the outset that I’ve had a problem with women-only races up to this point. I signed up for this one because it’s historic. I’ll sign up for it again because it’s a heck f a lot of fun and while I’m not totally on the women-only race bandwagon, I can definitely see the appeal. :D

This was going to be a special race for NYRR anyway as it was the 40th running of it. It was made even more special when it was dedicated to the memory of Grete Waitz. NYRR had worked with various clubs to be cheering stations at the mile markers, and I knew my club, Front Runners New York was going to be at Mile 3, which was majorly important for me (more on that in a sec).

It was my 4th 10K since I started running July 1, 2010. After the Scotland Run, I wanted to make sure I didn’t go out too fast at the start. My C goal for this one was to finish. I’m still acclimating to the humidity (luckily we didn’t really have the heat – race start was 69 degrees…but the humidity was 96%) and didn’t know how it would affect me in a race situation. My B goal was to do all my run intervals on the Harlem Hills, particularly the second one. I’ve gotten into a bad habit of just increasing my walk pace out of a rest interval on them, and I know I need to break it. My A goal was to complete my B goal AND to PR.

Because I do a run/walk system, I don’t have a mile by mile breakdown in terms of pace. But I’ll break it down as much as I can.

Mile 1 ~ For the first time EVER in a corralled NYRR race (I’m not counting the Wall Street Run as it’s not corralled) I can see the starting line AT the start! Woo! We start up Central Park West, and I’m feeling good. I’m going fast (for me), but it doesn’t feel too fast. I miss the first water table because I was on the other side of the road and missed the usual “toilets and fluid station ahead” signs we get in NYRR races, but I have a handheld with me (I carry my inhaleer in the pouch), so I’m ok. When I see the mile marker, it’s just over 12 minutes, so I’m pretty much on par with where I need to be.

Mile 2 ~ We’re in the park now. We’re starting up the
first of the Harlem Hills. I’m still running in my run segments – trying to keep the effort if not the speed the same as it was on flatter terrain. When you’re going this way in the park, this is the easier of the two. I hear a roar of noise from the other side and cheer my FRNY boys (and a few girls who were closed out of this race) giving it their all cheering for everyone. I want to get there and be STRONG! I am over on the correct side when we pass the water table at around 2.5. I was feeling like I was possibly on the verge of overheating at this point, so I grabbed a cup and after making sure no one was behind me, poured it over my head and arms. What do you know? That actualy DOES work to cool you off! I round the curve and see my team up ahead on the side of the road.

Mile 3 ~ My next run segment started jst before I hit my team and their cheering. High fives and yells of encouragement gave me just the burst I needed. And knowing they were down the hill kept my pride from letting me drop to a walk until it was time – which happened to coincide with the top of the hill!! B goal has been met!! I didn’t even pay attention to the clock as I crossed the 5K mat. At this point I’m really not worrying about time. Doing that entire run segment on that hill really to me meant the race would be a success. I knew I could walk to the end if I had to. Another water station around 3.5, another dousing with water – again, it wasn’t terribly hot, it was just humid.

Mile 4 ~ We’re in the flat-to-downhill part of the course now. I did walk a little during a couple of run segments just to not totally come undone after the hill, but never for the entire run segment. Once we hit the downhill just after passing the Met, I let my feet go to try and pick up a little pace I lost dropping to a walk.

Mile 5 ~ Started with my last water dousing, then I told myself “You have this. Let’s go!” And I pushed as much as I could during my run segments. I was getting tired, but I was determined. I’m still figuring out how to really pace myself over a 10K. I did better than at the Scotland Run in April, but I still have a lot to learn about it and how it will work for me. As I rounded the last curve, I could see the start of the finish chute.

Last 800m (I don’t recall seeing a 6 mile marker…just 800, 400, 200) ~ I’m really starting to feel the effort put forth on the Harlem Hills now. But I want to finish strong. I’m trying to stay with my run/walk thing, and I’ve got about 20 seconds left of walking when I hit the 200m marker. Some of my running club teammates (women this time) are there, and they kick my butt into starting to run. I pass another couple at about the 100m area (no sign), and then a bigger group about 50m away from the finish. They’re screaming like crazy, telling me I look strong and urging me in (later the couple at about 100m said that they looked at each other and were like “Was that Beth??” because I looked so strong. So I guess I usually look like I’m dying? LOL.). I crossed the finish feeling really good ~ exhausted but good ~ and managed to raise my hands and smile for the cameras. We’ll see what it looks like later.

I stopped the Garmin and that time was 1:15:09, so I knew if it wasn’t a PR (I start it when I cross the start line) officially it was going to be close. Still, I felt I’d accomplished enough I wasn’t going to be disappointed either way. I got a cup of Gatorade and downed it, (I didn’t feel like having a bagel at the moment…for some reason they always taste funny to me after NYRR races…maybe from the cardboard boxes they’re in? idk) then continued down the finish chute where I was given a carnation and a medal. I grabbed my bag and changed out of my soaked FRNY singlet into the race shirt and went to join my teammates to cheer in our remaining people on the course. We were getting a group pic made when one of the NYRR videographers came running over and had us yell first “Women rock!” and then “This one’s for Grete!” Good times!!! Then I headed over to meet up with some of the women from the NYC Marathon board on Runners World Online and we chatted while waiting for the raffle drawing. They were posting results, so I wandered over to see what my official time was. Finally they got to the numbers where I knew I’d be…

1:14:57!! 12-second PR!!! Average pace of 12:04, whic I know is snail-like to many of you, but it’s good for me, especially considering the humidity! So A goal was met! Hooray!!

Overall I had a blast, and I already can’t wait until next year!!

Oh yes ~ the added bonus of today’s race? I completed my 9+1 so I now have guaranteed entry into the 2012 NYC Marathon! Woo!

Getting acclimated…

Posted on by
Reply

To heat and humidity that is. We hit the low 80s today with relatively high humidity, so it was my first time to really start training in it. I had an argument with myself about outside vs. the treadmill, but I know I need to get acclimated to heat and humidity because my races aren’t going to be inside. So off to Prospect Park I went.

I’m playing around with intervals to see what works best. Today I went with 3:30/1 with a 5 minute warm up and 5 minute cool down. I went 4.46 miles in that time for an average pace of 12:19.

Woohoo!!

The park was really pretty today – and NICE since smoking isn’t allowed in parks, pedestrian plazas or beaches in NYC! Hooray!!!!

Funniest thing… As I was turning around for my final minute of walking and my cool down I heard this barking/braying. Turns out a bloodhound (I think) had treed a raccoon. And he was NOT going to go away. I wish I’d had a camera to take a picture. The poor raccoon looked terrified. It was really funny to see.

When I got home, I took a picture using photobooth of my new running skirt. Honestly, it’s one of the first pictures where I can really see my weight loss and toning. I still have a ways to go, but I can definitely see progress.

So all in all, a good day!!

More random things – Gear and Other Stuff

Posted on by
5

A post two days in a row? Who am I?? LOL. Seriously, I’m going to try and be better about it.

* Have I mentioned I love running skirts now? Well, I do. We were discussing them in the Runner’s World Online forums, and a friend from there and facebook, A, messaged me and said she had a couple that were too big for her, and they might be too big for me, but she was willing to send them to me to try out before I spent money on some in case I didn’t like them. Well, she sent them and they’re awesome! One’s a Nike skirt and it’s so floaty! I actually love the style of the Champion one, but it doesn’t have a tie, so I have to rig it up with a safety pin to make sure it doesn’t fall down. I ran the Scotland Run 10K in the Nike one and it was great! I managed a PR! Next up was the Revlon Run/Walk (we won’t go into that hot mess of a disaster again) and I wore the new Brooks one my dad got me when we went on a field trip to the running store in Nashville since it’s got pink trim and is a breast cancer benefit skirt. The course was short, but dude…I managed an average pace of 11:02 over 2.55 miles! THAT is most definitely a personal best, even if there was no official chip time to validate. Then in the Japan Day Run for Hope I wore…I think the Brooks one again. And scored a 2:25 PR!! Clearly it’s the skirts. I mean, training has NOTHING to to with it, right? Ok, I kid. But seriously…I feel cute in them. And Koach Kelsey always has “look cute” as his number one rule when he gives a pre-marathon pep talk! So clearly looking cute affects performance, right? Hm…ok, maybe not. But at any rate, I’m sold on the skirt! When I got a schwaggle offer for Skirt Sports Kick Start skirt – which I’ve been drooling over for a while – I couldn’t resist! It shipped today so I should have it soon!! I need to save up so I can get this one from runningskirts.com because THAT will go with my Front Runners shirts so I don’t have to clash (I HATE black and dark blue together…I feel like a bruise) or feel bad about being incognito – because our colors are navy, orange and white. (The most ironic thing? You hardly ever catch me dead when I’m NOT running. How funny is that? When I’m doing probably the least girly thing I do, I’m looking the most girly.)

* Running skirts have led me to learn of the glories of Body Glide!! LOVE the stuff!!!!

* Can we talk hair a minute? Mine is, to quote my sister, “Hella long”. It’s been a while since it was cut. I’ve been getting it cut for free in Bumble and Bumble’s Model Project, and I’ve been going to their razor bob classes. But I’ve never been really thrilled with the results. I get very little say as they’re all learning the same style, and somehow it always comes out different than the consultation would have led me to believe. So I figured this time I’d go for a change. I was going to go with their “short layers” cut and got approved for that AND then a color class. Made my appointments, all was good. Then I get a call saying that you can’t do both – the short layers would be too short for the color. So I opted to just cancel them both. Slight issue here…I live in New York City. Haircuts are pretty damn expensive. But I need to do something. I’ve got enough hair that I can actually feel my ponytail moving my head when I’m running, especially when it’s windy. Braids work…but that means I’m up even earlier to wet my hair down so I CAN braid it. And of course when it’s sunny, I’ve got to remember to sunscreen the crap out of my part. Enter another friend – and running club teammate – A who recommends the Aveda Institute. Similar to B&B but you do pay a bit. BUT you do get say in what’s done to your hair. I’ve got an appointment for Sunday. I really like what they did with Olivia’s makeover on The Biggest Loser and am thinking about something like that. I know I’ll still need to pull it back off my face when I run, and I guess I could go with a barrette – or do the cool front section braided down the side like Olivia had it last week. But I’m intrigued by the headbands people wear. Yes, in my user pic I’m in a Bondi Band…but what you don’t see is the zillion bobby pins that are holding it onto my head. You see…apparently there’s a little bump most people have at the base of their skulls. My sister and I don’t have them. Apparently at the Disney Marathon Weekend Expo she (and my MALE running partner) tried on the bands at one of the booths where they swore that the band would stay on your head. It stayed on Seth’s. It flew off Andrea’s. She couldn’t remember which place it was, so I didn’t get to try it, but I’m sure it would have done the same for me. I’ve heard a lot about Sweaty Bands, AND they have one in orange – hello FRNY colors! – but as with the skirts, I’m hesitant to spend the money not knowing if it will actually stay on my head sans bobby pins (the Bondi ones I got as a gift from my RWOL secret santa). Has anyone reading worn Sweaty Bands and doesn’t have that little ledge/bump at the back of your head? Did it stay on ok or did it fly off? Thoughts?? Anyone? At any rate, I’ll let you know what I do with the hella long mess on my head once the deed is done.

* Shoes. No big discussion here. I love my Brooks Adrenaline 11s!! I also love the pair of 10s that are like half a size bigger than I normally wear, but they still fit and were on sale. And my dad got them for me! :D He’s adorable! Oh…BTW…if anyone wears Asics GT-2160s in a size 9 and is interested in buying a barely worn (less than 30 miles) pair in the white/electric blue/lightning color, let me know and we’ll talk making a deal. I’d gotten 2 pair based on the 2150s having been great for me only to discover that the 2160s just didn’t. I sold one pair on EBay, and can put these back on there, but if one of you readers (there are people reading this, right?) wears them, I’m perfectly willing to go that route.

Enough gear talk! For now. I still have other gear to discuss – but later. :D Gotta have something to write about on “slow” days, right?

* Today’s XT was the cardio segment of Women’s Health Total Body Workout. It’s good…but I’m totally spoiled to the special punishment Bob and Jillian deliver. This one just seems easy. Still, I am still sore from Pilates, so didn’t want to go too intense…and it’s gross outside so I didn’t want to go back out to the gym (can we discuss how horrible wet umbrellas are in a locker? ok…another time). I also am back to doing Coach Jenny’s Killer Caterpillars (look back a couple of months…I know I linked a video somewhere back there) every morning. Planks killed today thanks to the Pilates-baked abs. Oy!

* Rain. It is gross. It is supposed to be heavy tomorrow. I am supposed to have a race tomorrow. Unless it’s lightning and thundering and stuff I WILL have a race tomorrow. This will be a first. Yes, it was rainy at Coogan’s, but it was more of a spit. Tomorrow is supposed to be close to torrential. This should be interesting. I’m thinking I’ll definitely be braiding my hair in the morning because that will be easier in torrential rain I think…closer to my head and less weight to bounce around like a ponytail. NYRR has up on their site that as of now the race is still on – but to stay tuned in case we have severe weather. Oh well…as long as it runs, it’ll be an automatic PR. I don’t have a time for a 3-mile race. Not 5K (3.1 miles). Flat out 3 mile.

Ok…I think I’ve rambled enough for now. Don’t forget to check out The Marathon Show – get the podcasts on iTunes and like them on facebook!!

Later!!