June 2009
14 posts
“There’s something so universal about the sensation, the way running unites our two most primal impulses: fear and pleasure. We run when we’re scared, we run when were ecstatic, we run away from our problems and we run for a good time.
And when things look worst, we run the most. Three times, America has seen distance-running skyrocket, and it’s always in the midst of a national crisis. ...
Rest stop
I took off Sunday and Monday as I’ve had a slight head cold. I’m interpreting this as a message from my body that I can’t run on all cylinders. I need to set a better schedule for training (hello, morning workouts!) and get to bed at a decent hour (goodbye, Conan O’Brien) as well as pay better attention to my nutrition (too many bagels). (I don’t think the bagels...
June 13, 2009
GTS LSD
Location: Central Park Weather: 70, sunny, humid Distance: 7.07 miles Time: 1:07:00
Despite a runny nose, I kept up with the 9:30 pace group for seven miles. Farthest and fastest run to date.
Thursday June 11, 2009
Run, Pilates, Strength training
Location: Hoboken waterfront Weather: Overcast, 61 degrees Distance: 5.3 miles Time: 53:13
It felt faster, I felt faster. It felt good, I felt good.
A gaggle of geese tried to give me grief during my run. It got pretty real for a moment. I’m still intact, albeit with wounded pride.
After pilates, of which I’m reaping the...
Wednesday June 10, 2009
Bike, Strength training - upper body
Location: Gym Duration: 30 minutes biking, 30 minutes lifting
Who has two thumbs and didn’t sleep through her alarm this morning? This gal.
Chest press 30 lbs, 2 reps of 12 Shoulder press 15 lbs, 2 reps of 15 Tricep press 20 lbs, 2 reps of 15 Assisted pull ups 2 reps of 12 Assisted dips 2 reps of 12
Tuesday June 9, 2009
Group Training Session
Location: Central Park Weather: Humid, 68, overcast. Did I mention it was humid?
For a warm up we ran from the Indian Hunter statue at the end of the Mall along Sheeps Meadow, making a left onto the lower loop and back to our start position. We then formed 2 groups, one group cross training while the other group ran for 12 minutes. Then we...
Monday June 8, 2009
Recovery run, bike, pilates, strength training - lower body
Location: Hoboken waterfront and gym Weather: 70 and sunny Distance: around 4 miles Time: 41 minutes and change
Nothing like a nice slow recovery run to shake off stress. After my run I went to the gym, which I have begun to detest. The recycled air, the loud music, and the guidos: all awful. I continue to tell...
Another day, another 10K
Sunday June 7, 2009
NYRR New York Mini 10K
Location: Central Park Weather: Sunny and 78 degrees Distance: 6.2 miles Time: 1:00:41 Overall place: 2130 Age place: 181 Split time: 30:03 Pace: 9:47
Heck yes, that’s a new PR! To be honest I am stunned. I expected to come in around 2 minutes slower due to the heat and hills.
First, here’s a brief history of the New York Mini 10K...
It's official
I will run the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco on October 18, 2009! After entering the lottery for the ING New York City Marathon and being unfortunately denied, I am really excited for the opportunity to run in a signature Team in Training event. Oh yeah, there’s also the small motivating aspect of crossing the finish line and being presented a Tiffany necklace by a...
Thursday June 4, 2009
Run, Pilates, Strength Training
Location: Hoboken waterfront Weather: Drizzling, low 60’s Distance: 5 miles and change Time: 50:02
After running and pilates class I did some lower body strength training.
Hip abductor, 2 reps at 60 lbs Hip adduction, 2 reps at 60 lbs Squat press, 2 reps at 80 lbs Leg curl, 2 reps at 50 lbs
Wednesday June 3, 2009
National Running Day!
What did I do on National Running Day? I did not run, but I did grab drinks with my Team in Training friends! We had a social at Bar 13 near Union Square in Manhattan. There are certain discussions that you can only have with running friends, for instance I talked about bunions for twenty minutes. C’mon people, don’t act...
Tuesday June 2, 2009
GTS Run
Location: Central Park Weather: Humid and drizzling Distance: 3.4 miles Time: ?
Today we worked on effort levels. According to coach, “Over the course of the next couple of weeks, we are going to try to figure out how much we can challenge and how much we should challenge ourselves during workouts. This week we worked on Effort 2 (E2) and Effort 3...
Monday June 1, 2009
Bike, Pilates
While at the gym, biking for 55 minutes, I kept looking around at the people running on the treadmills with blank stares. “Go outside! It’s beautiful out!” If I didn’t have to cross train to prevent injury I would never go to the gym. I hate it, it’s such an unnatural place: mood lighting, blasting music and air conditioning.
May 2009
35 posts
Sunday May 31, 2009
Run
Location: Hoboken waterfront and back through town Weather: 79 degrees (remind me not to run in the heat of the day) Distance: 3.5 miles Time: 37:57
Well, that was slow and hot.
Saturday May 30, 2009
GTS LSD Run
Location: Central Park Weather: 63 and rising, sunny Distance: 6 miles Time: 1:04:23
Apparently I missed the memo that the real training had not even begun yet. That what we’ve been carrying on here for the past month was just “fun.” That come Tuesday we get our first real workout. I’m excited!
This time is a bit slower than the 10K...
Thursday May 28, 2009
Niketown run, pilates/yoga hybrid
Location: Niketown - Central Park, gym Weather: 60 degrees, raining Distance: 4 miles Time: 39:17
I discovered three things tonight:
1. My windbreaker is actually a combination bolero/vest. If you unzip the sleeves it turns into a vest. Yay!
2. I like free powerade and luna bars after my run. Thanks Niketown!
3. I do not like yoga.
How far would you go to save a life?
As a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training Program, I will be raising money for leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and myeloma research and patient assistance programs. I joined Team in Training with the goal of improving my overall health and to achieve a lifelong goal: complete a marathon. What I realized once I began training was that there was a far...
Tuesday May 26, 2009
GTS Run, Strength training, Plyometrics
Location: Central Park, Gym Weather: 60 and very light drizzle Distance: 4 miles Time: 39:45
I’m in a bit of dismay over that time. I felt fast, the run felt fast; why didn’t the clock reflect that? True, there were some hills scattered throughout the middle loop of the park, but they were moderate hills. And at the end...
10K!
Monday May 25, 2009
The Ridgewood Run
Location: Ridgewood, NJ Weather: 70 degrees, sunny Distance: 6.2 miles Time/Pace: 1:01:05 9:50 minute mile Overall Place: 915/1163 F20-24:22/29
On Memorial Day I ran my first 10K! I loved every minute of it! It was challenging and thrilling. The course was, as described, flat and fast and the neighborhood and its residents were encouraging...
Saturday May 23, 2009
GTS LSD Run
Location: Central Park Weather: High 60’s, sunny, pollen high Distance: 6 miles Time: no watch
Today was bad. It was my first full loop of the park and my first experience with Harlem Hill. My legs were sore from Thursday’s let’s-go-crazy-and-squat-a-lot session. In the long run (heh) all of these squats and lunges will do our body good,...
Thursday May 21, 2009
Run, Strength Training - upper and lower, Pilates
Location: Hoboken Waterfront Weather: low 80’s, sunny Distance: 4 miles and change Time: 40:58 minutes
Tonight was sluggish. My legs felt heavy for most of my run. Around a mile in they loosened up, but that was a fleeting moment of glory and back they went to feeling like lead for the rest of the run. I think...
"Toughness and tenacity"
Well, the New York Times health blog, has a Q&A with Kara Goucher, the United States’ long distance Golden Girl of the moment. Goucher, who ran her first marathon in November 2008 at the ING New York City Marathon, reflects on the experience and offers advice to fellow first-timers. While not everyone has the resources to afford a world class coach, anti-gravity treadmill and the...
Motivation and shame
Runner’s World offers 101 tips to motivate you for your run. Number 1?
CREATE A BLOG where you post your daily mileage, then give out the Web address to your friends and family. Do you really want Aunt Ellen to ask why you skipped your four-miler on Wednesday?
Dear reader, I LOL’d.
Tuesday May 19, 2009
GTS Run
Location: Central Park Reservoir Weather: High 60’s and sunny Distance: Three laps around the reservoir or 4.5 miles Time: 45:00 - 10:00 minute mile pace group
The coaches timed us tonight to see how well we could maintain a steady pace overall. I started out with a 9:45 mile pace and slowed down to a 9:50 - 10:00 pace overall. So, I’ve not quite...
Monday May 18, 2009
Pilates, Bike, Strength training - lower body
Not everyday am I spirited, joyful and full of exuberance about training. Occasionally, I want to sit around and watch the finale of Gossip Girl while helping myself to another serving of lobster ravioli* but, I rally, and I make it to Pilates class just in time. In all honesty, I hated class today. Hated it. The temperature...
Race butterflies
It’s normal to get butterflies before a race. But a whole week!? I just signed up for a Memorial Day 10K race and I feel queasy! As my mentor put it, “the first half mile and last half mile don’t count.” So, this is really a 5 mile run. And we did that last week! (Isn’t lying to yourself so much fun?)
Race goal 1: Finish without puking Race goal 2: Finish under...
Contact high →
We’re not at all discouraged that Tadese Tola can run a 10K faster than we can run a 5K. He ran the aforementioned Healthy Kidney 10K in 27:48! Downright superhuman.
The Ethiopian had won the NYC Half Marathon on his previous visit to New York last summer. The city remains a charmed venue for him; on a hilly layout with rain falling just after Saturday’s race began, Tola broke open...
A Flock of Seagulls - I Ran
Sunday May 17, 2009
...
Saturday May 16, 2009
GTS LSD Run, Strength training - upper and lower
Weather: Low 60’s, overcast, brief drizzle Location: Central Park Distance: 5 miles Time: Wore a watch, forgot to turn it on! Between 9:30 and 10:00 minute pace
We broke into pacing groups today. I accidentally wandered into the 11 minute pace group where my mentor came over and found me, “What are you doing?...
Thursday May 14, 2009
Pilates, strength training - lower body, bike
Our first transgression from the coach prescribed training calendar! Aye Dios Mio! I decided against running and instead obliged my right knees demands for rest. After a rousing pilates class I performed some strength training on the cybex equipment in order to even out the muscle imbalance in my hamstring: 2 reps on the squat...
It's not a sprint, it's a marathon
“Alternate hard efforts (speedwork, hill repeats, long runs) with easy ones: three- to four-mile easy-pace recovery runs, cross-training, or complete rest. Make your rest days count for more than just a day off by doing something you enjoy that you don’t have time for while training. A movie or a dinner out serves as more than a reward, because relaxation helps you heal. A study...
Rhapsody in Blue - George Gershwin
Walking into...
Listening to your body
Monday May 11, 2009
Pilates, Bike
I got a late start on the gym today. I came home from work and made Couscous Salad with Chicken and Apricots, which I found on Real Simple magazine’s website. For dinner I enjoyed this along with a salad of spinach, swiss chard, pinto beans, red pepper and zucchini. I then packed up the leftovers for lunch and dinner for the week. It’s a nice...
Sunday May 10, 2009
Run
Weather: Sunny, windy mid 60’s Location: Hoboken waterfront Distance: 4.24 mi Time: 41:06 mins
I’ve had this odd pain in my knee for the past two weeks. Prior to today it has not caused any pain while running. The only time I notice any discomfort is in lateral movements while turning tight corners, going up the spiral staircase in my apartment (the glamour...
Saturday in the park...
First Group Training Session! Oh, exclamation points of hindsight. This morning got off to a rough start. Little sleep, nerves and the uncertainty of what to expect plagued my commute to Central Park. Due to my own poor judgment I got four very restless hours of sleep last night. (Goodbye Friday nights, see you in November.) Once I got off the subway at 5th Ave and 59th Street this sight...
“And now, the first thing I want to ask from you is:
SMILE !!! come on,...”
– Coach, in his first email
Thursday May 7, 2009
Run, Pilates
Weather: 66 degrees, sunny! Location: Hoboken Waterfront Distance: 4.88 mi Time: 47 some odd minutes
The rain finally cleared! After some dramatics put on by Mother Nature this afternoon it was a beautiful evening to run outdoors. The grass and gravel were soaked and there were still plenty of puddles to dodge and leap over. After my plyometrics workout my...
5 tags
Eating to run, while still living to eat
Since I’ve begun training I’ve adopted a new state of mind regarding food. Food is fuel. Food helps you run farther, faster, longer. I’ve found that when I eat complete whole foods I am satisfied, feel better and perform at my peak. For the past year I’ve been working on my nutrition, specifically mindful to get enough fruits, vegetables, protein and calcium in my diet....
6 tags
Tuesday May 5, 2009
Bike, Plyometrics - lower body
Weather: 50’s, heavy rain (Hooray for indoor workouts) Location: Gym Time: 40 minutes Distance: 11 miles
The training calendar outlined today as ”cross training.” I decided to add the bike workout for general cardio requirements, endurance training and to condition the leg muscles that are not trained when running. I pedaled...
3 tags
Leaps and bounds
Monday May 4, 2009
Run, pilates
Weather: Light drizzle to light rain, windy, 57 degrees Location: Sinatra Park and Hoboken waterfront, several laps around my gym Time: 38:12 Distance: 3.71 mi
I went for a run today. I went for a run in the rain today. It was raining out and still, I went for a run. And let me tell you, it was awesome and I don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner.
I...
3 tags
Cookie Bake Off
You are what you eat, and when it comes to endurance training that rings especially true. That doesn’t mean we don’t like to indulge a sweet tooth from time to time, or from day to day. Today when I noticed that I had one spotty brown banana left over, I decided to whip up a batch of Banana Oatmeal Chip Cookies. It’s a great cookie because it’s made from simple staples...
5 tags
"Are you a runner?"
Sunday May 3, 2009
Bike, Strength Training - upper body
Location: Gym Weather: Light drizzle Distance: 10 miles Time: 40 minutes
The pre-season training schedule called for an “off” day. Thankfully coinciding with the rainy weather, I had no qualms with spending the morning in the gym. After 20 minutes on the bike, around 14-15 MPH, I started to get really bored. Having just...
Mama said there'd be days like this...
I woke up bright and early this morning with the goal to run before my pilates class, and well, it just didn’t happen. “No worries,” I thought to myself, “I can run after class.” Oh wishful thinking. Class was brutal today. The only spot available was by the instructor and when she wasn’t prodding me into perfect form she was standing behind me or next to me...
4 tags
Thursday April 30, 2009
Run, Pilates
Weather: mid 50’s, windy Location: Sinatra Park and Hoboken waterfront Distance: 4.15 mi Time: 41:35
A fellow runner this evening flashed me the hang ten (thumb-pinkie wave) or rock n’ roll devil horns (depending on your background). I guess I’m a part of the club now, eh? I attempted once again to race the New York Waterways ferry, this...
April 2009
3 posts
2 tags
Tuesday April 28, 2009
Run
Weather: 70 degrees, breezy
Location: Sinatra Park and Hoboken waterfront
Distance: 5.39 miles
Time: 60:45
A slower pace tonight. My body is going to force me to get a full nights rest and drink more water before I head out on these runs. You can really feel the effects of one night out on your run the next day. I ran a little farther today along the...