So it actually happened...I ran 20 miles on Saturday. That is crazy to me. For the most part in this program I've been too "in it" to realize the accomplishments, but man that is crazy. Saturday was cold, but what a perfect running day. I was really worried about how this run was going to go after the debacle that was my 18-mile run, but it went really well and I felt really happy.
Each week we lose more and more participants. Starting with the Hamptons half and full marathons the first week in October, then Chicago, and this week San Francisco. The only groups left are NYC and Dublin. So practice was small and the pacing group situation was kind of a mess. Plus, it was SUPER windy, so running along the water as I had planned wasn't a desirable option. So I ended up staying in the park for all 20 miles. I found a small pace group, but everyone was at different levels and running different distances. I ran the first 6 with one guy who had done Hamptons so was only doing six. I ran the remaining 14 alone. Which ordinarily would be excruciating, but for some reason I had a fantastic run. It was...peaceful and relaxing. Imagine saying that about 20 miles, especially with Harlem and Cat Hill thrown in the mix. It gave me some time to think about how far I've come, how excited I am, and how worried, and regret some things I should have spent more time on, i.e., strengthening my hips. But it was really an idyllic day. And I'd do it again!
I trudged back to our meeting spot, although I didn't even need to because I didn't have a bag at bagwatch, I could have just gone home. But I thought there would be a group to stretch with. Nope. I was one of the LAST to return. I was pretty mortified until a girl came back just completely jazzed about her run, not worried about the fact that poor Coach Pete was waiting in the freezing cold with the bags. Seeing her reaction helped me take a step back and appreciate the accomplishment of the run, even if it did take me an eternity. However, if you're planning to come watch the marathon, know there will probably be an hour between Mike and I's finish :o)
The best part of Central Park was that there was some kind of amazing dog event going on with every large breed you can imagine. Since I'm a dog stalker I had the opportunity to run around like a kid in a candy store giving pats to several dogs, including an English Mastiff named Thor, and my favorite, a Bernese Mountain Dog. The Berner's owner was on the phone so I took the opportunity to pat his dog, but when I did he looked like he was about to pull a restraining order out of his back pocket. Don't bring your dog to an event like this if you don't want to share!
Anyway, I feel much less sore than I did after the Staten Island Half, but during my "recovery" run yesterday I managed to pull my groin, even though I was having an easy jog on the treadmill. Ugh. I guess 20 miles does crazy things to your body:o) So now we start tapering, which apparently also does crazy things to your body, and your brain. Stay tuned.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
A Staten Island Ferry Tale
Yes, I stole that title from Sex and the City.
What better way to mourn the end of a vacation filled with wine, beer, amazing weather and views, than to go to Staten Island at 7 am on a Sunday.
I started to wonder on the flight back from Sonoma if Mike and I were a little crazy to do a half marathon the day after our return to NYC with jet lag and recovering livers. But it turns out a week of rest did us both some good!
The Staten Island half course was great. Amazing views of the Manhattan skyline, not too many hills, although the ones that were there were strategically at hard points of the run, and just one out and back. I even saw Mike as he sprinted toward the finish :o)
There were a lot of locals out cheering us on which was fantastic. At mile 3 there were a group Staten Island "gentlemen" trying to cross the street. The conversation was as follows:
"I'm scared to cross the street!"
"At least if you do you will get stepped on by a lot of hot women"
Various high fives and chest bumps ensued.
At mile 9 there was a woman with a smokers voice yelling "drop your cigarette and keep running!" (cue maniacal hacking laughter). These folks do not help the SI stereotype.
But I digress. As I said I was worried about this race coming off a vacation, and most importantly it was my first one since my injury. I felt great the whole time until about mile 9. I started cranking up my pace way too fast I think. And when I saw the mile 12 marker I was expecting it to say mile 13. So the last few miles were brutal, but I pushed through and knocked 12 MINUTES off my Bronx half time, and this was post-injury! So I'm pretty happy. Mike did amazing as usual, he is so fast it's insane. He also got his best time yet, which I won't tell you, firstly because he'd get mad and second because you won't believe me.
I still don't know how I'm going to get another 13 under my belt. I've run longer in this training program, but RACING is a different story. We'll see how it goes. I'm going to focus a lot on strength training over the next few weeks and physical therapy will be critical. Oh, and I quit drinking :o)Crazy right? Starting a pool as to which day I will cave.
I have decided though that even after TNT is over I will still wear my shirt to as many races as possible. The support is just amazing. This race especially, there seemed to be so many TNT people cheering us on throughout the race as spectators, not to mention the other participants racing. It's just such an amazing feeling to have that support, and it boosted my energy several times when I needed it most. "Go Team" has taken on new meaning for me. I can't say enough about this program, and I can't wait to cheer others on in future events.
What better way to mourn the end of a vacation filled with wine, beer, amazing weather and views, than to go to Staten Island at 7 am on a Sunday.
I started to wonder on the flight back from Sonoma if Mike and I were a little crazy to do a half marathon the day after our return to NYC with jet lag and recovering livers. But it turns out a week of rest did us both some good!
The Staten Island half course was great. Amazing views of the Manhattan skyline, not too many hills, although the ones that were there were strategically at hard points of the run, and just one out and back. I even saw Mike as he sprinted toward the finish :o)
There were a lot of locals out cheering us on which was fantastic. At mile 3 there were a group Staten Island "gentlemen" trying to cross the street. The conversation was as follows:
"I'm scared to cross the street!"
"At least if you do you will get stepped on by a lot of hot women"
Various high fives and chest bumps ensued.
At mile 9 there was a woman with a smokers voice yelling "drop your cigarette and keep running!" (cue maniacal hacking laughter). These folks do not help the SI stereotype.
But I digress. As I said I was worried about this race coming off a vacation, and most importantly it was my first one since my injury. I felt great the whole time until about mile 9. I started cranking up my pace way too fast I think. And when I saw the mile 12 marker I was expecting it to say mile 13. So the last few miles were brutal, but I pushed through and knocked 12 MINUTES off my Bronx half time, and this was post-injury! So I'm pretty happy. Mike did amazing as usual, he is so fast it's insane. He also got his best time yet, which I won't tell you, firstly because he'd get mad and second because you won't believe me.
I still don't know how I'm going to get another 13 under my belt. I've run longer in this training program, but RACING is a different story. We'll see how it goes. I'm going to focus a lot on strength training over the next few weeks and physical therapy will be critical. Oh, and I quit drinking :o)Crazy right? Starting a pool as to which day I will cave.
I have decided though that even after TNT is over I will still wear my shirt to as many races as possible. The support is just amazing. This race especially, there seemed to be so many TNT people cheering us on throughout the race as spectators, not to mention the other participants racing. It's just such an amazing feeling to have that support, and it boosted my energy several times when I needed it most. "Go Team" has taken on new meaning for me. I can't say enough about this program, and I can't wait to cheer others on in future events.
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