in order to keep my promise to myself i was forced to run last night in the rain.
i can't believe i actually found the motivation to get changed and get out there to run when the couch was calling to me so damn loudly. but, i pulled out my new running clothes, set the ipod to the Garden State soundtrack and headed out for my usual 3 mile run from my house to the top of amsterdam ave.. up the big hill and back again. i am not sure what was up last night, but i was running FAST. a couple times i tried to pull my pace back a bit but it just wasn't happening tonight. my feet had a mind of their own. it wasn't the rain, because once outside it actually felt good.. 42° and a light rain was refreshing. it wasn't the music driving me along because the soundtrack is pretty mellow. i just had speedy feet!
as i was coming up audubon ave i started thinking that i could probably continue the run down to 155th street and back which would add another 2 miles onto the run. but due to the speed which i took the first three my legs were feeling a bit beat up and i decided that if i kept up this pace for 2 more i'd be really really sorry today. i was right, as it is my knees and calfs are tight today.
the run in the rain with the perfect music was enough to wash away the shit from last week. and the speed worked off alot of the aggrevation i have been feeling. so a week of feeling sad is kind of like a week of rain.. it sucks when it's happening but damn does the sun feel that much brighter when it comes out.
miles run: 3
soung of the day: "let go" by frou frou
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
confessions and definitions
ok, i admit it. i was a lazy ass this week. i didn't run at all.
this is not smart considering how close to the end i am, and skipping the short runs during the week only makes the long runs on saturday harder and more apt to end in injury. here are my excuses.. lots of work at the day job causing me to get home at 8pm every night combined with a bout of depression = lack of motivation to do anything more than sit on the couch. final excuse was the weather at the end of the week. i was scheduled to run the 4M race in central park on saturday so the plan was to run from my house to the park.. run the race.. and home again which would equal a 15 mile run. solid. saturday was cold and damp. roads slushy and icy. lack of sleep kept me in bed. so today with the sun shining i FINALLY set out for my run. the plan was to run the same route i would have run yesterday. 8 miles into the 15 mile run my ipod battery went dead. crap. i managed to squeeze out 2 more miles getting me back up to 125th street before i hopped on the subway and headed home. 10 is solid. i can make this my 'low' week and come back strong for the next 3 clocking 16 next week, 18 the following and 20 on march 15th before we start to cut back in preparation for the race on April 6th.
so i don't usually do this, but here's the backstory to all the blues this week. work exhausting me is a minor part of it.. most of it came from some setbacks with the bag business. i've been trying to launch a new line for fall 08. the plan was to finish up the samples this week when i got the news that i owe back taxes and all the money i had for the bags was now going to the government. this was the major force keeping me down this week.
the second is the slow realization that a (dare i say) *relationship* that i've been in for 2 and a half years must end. it was in no way a committed relationship, but the dictionary defines relationship as 'the state of being connected' so i feel confident in saying that after this much time we were 'connected'. a relationship built on the hope that it might turn into something else, but the realization that it never will is what finally hit me. so i had to put an end to it.. not because it is bad, but really because it is not good. he's great. someday maybe he will be even greater, but i don't have the time to wait around for that day anymore. it wasn't a perfect relationship, but still i am more than sad to see it end. as my friends will say 'on to bigger and better things' ... not much solace in that right now but 10 miles helped a bit.
miles run: 10
soundtrack for sunday: wilco
antidote for depression: a vow to run 3 weekday runs/week for the final weeks of training
this is not smart considering how close to the end i am, and skipping the short runs during the week only makes the long runs on saturday harder and more apt to end in injury. here are my excuses.. lots of work at the day job causing me to get home at 8pm every night combined with a bout of depression = lack of motivation to do anything more than sit on the couch. final excuse was the weather at the end of the week. i was scheduled to run the 4M race in central park on saturday so the plan was to run from my house to the park.. run the race.. and home again which would equal a 15 mile run. solid. saturday was cold and damp. roads slushy and icy. lack of sleep kept me in bed. so today with the sun shining i FINALLY set out for my run. the plan was to run the same route i would have run yesterday. 8 miles into the 15 mile run my ipod battery went dead. crap. i managed to squeeze out 2 more miles getting me back up to 125th street before i hopped on the subway and headed home. 10 is solid. i can make this my 'low' week and come back strong for the next 3 clocking 16 next week, 18 the following and 20 on march 15th before we start to cut back in preparation for the race on April 6th.
so i don't usually do this, but here's the backstory to all the blues this week. work exhausting me is a minor part of it.. most of it came from some setbacks with the bag business. i've been trying to launch a new line for fall 08. the plan was to finish up the samples this week when i got the news that i owe back taxes and all the money i had for the bags was now going to the government. this was the major force keeping me down this week.
the second is the slow realization that a (dare i say) *relationship* that i've been in for 2 and a half years must end. it was in no way a committed relationship, but the dictionary defines relationship as 'the state of being connected' so i feel confident in saying that after this much time we were 'connected'. a relationship built on the hope that it might turn into something else, but the realization that it never will is what finally hit me. so i had to put an end to it.. not because it is bad, but really because it is not good. he's great. someday maybe he will be even greater, but i don't have the time to wait around for that day anymore. it wasn't a perfect relationship, but still i am more than sad to see it end. as my friends will say 'on to bigger and better things' ... not much solace in that right now but 10 miles helped a bit.
miles run: 10
soundtrack for sunday: wilco
antidote for depression: a vow to run 3 weekday runs/week for the final weeks of training
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Whoa, was that Yonkers??
looooong run today. we met as a group at the bottom of the George Washington Bridge. I was really excited about this run for a few reasons.. first off it's great for me because i live do damn close. i got to sleep til 7, and the only reason i had to be up that early was so i had time to eat breakfast. the other reason was because i've missed this run twice in the past seasons due to injury, so this was a real milestone for me.
the run takes us across the bridge into jersey where we run in the Palisades Park north along the Hudson river. we were running according to time since there is really no way to track our mileage. our coach told us to start our watches when we enter the park at which point we should plan on running the same time as our longest run. since we weren't counting the distance across the bridge and back it would essentially make this 2-3 miles longer than our longest run. last week's half marathon was my longest run this season, and that was 2 hours.. i figured i'd be running at a slower pace this week so i decided to run 1:10 out, which would give me about 2:20 run plus the bridge. but according to how i felt i'd cut this short if needed.
as i mentioned in my last blog we were told NO HEADPHONES. i brought mine but started the run without it. once the entire group was running across the bridge i realized why we had this rule. it was a large group, and narrow walkways with bikes and other runners trying to get by.. it was actually a bit annoying. we were going at such a slow pace that at one point i stopped and walked. once into the park the group spread out and the run was pretty amazing. palisades park is wooded and hilly, with views of the river, waterfalls etc. there was no car traffic, so it was really pretty quiet. a beautiful sunny crisp (which is a nice way of saying COLD) morning. even the voices in my head were quiet this morning. i thought about putting my headphones on, but decided against it because i was really enjoying the quiet. jsut the sound of my breath and footsteps.
i was feeling good, so i pushed the run to 1:15 before i turned around. at this point i decided i really needed some music to bring me home. i had the ipod loaded up with a live Pearl Jam show from Madison Square Garden.. so it felt like i had a whole crowd cheering me on!
The run took us so far north that i really think i saw yonkers across the river.. i have to check the map, but i think yonkers is just north of the bronx. crazy to think i ran that far!!!
now to top off the experience, when i began my run back i realized i had to pee. i debated just holding it, but looked around and decided what the heck... so i peed in the woods! you gotta do what you gotta do to get through the run! i did feel better and set back to running with a sly grin on my face.
i finished the run strong and proud of myself once again. my body feels like it got run over by a honda civic.. not enough damage to put me out, just enough to be annoying. i think next week will be a bit of an easy week then the following week will most likely put me up to 20 miles.. eeek!
time run: 2:55
miles run: 17ish
song that got me up that big ass hill: given to fly
the run takes us across the bridge into jersey where we run in the Palisades Park north along the Hudson river. we were running according to time since there is really no way to track our mileage. our coach told us to start our watches when we enter the park at which point we should plan on running the same time as our longest run. since we weren't counting the distance across the bridge and back it would essentially make this 2-3 miles longer than our longest run. last week's half marathon was my longest run this season, and that was 2 hours.. i figured i'd be running at a slower pace this week so i decided to run 1:10 out, which would give me about 2:20 run plus the bridge. but according to how i felt i'd cut this short if needed.
as i mentioned in my last blog we were told NO HEADPHONES. i brought mine but started the run without it. once the entire group was running across the bridge i realized why we had this rule. it was a large group, and narrow walkways with bikes and other runners trying to get by.. it was actually a bit annoying. we were going at such a slow pace that at one point i stopped and walked. once into the park the group spread out and the run was pretty amazing. palisades park is wooded and hilly, with views of the river, waterfalls etc. there was no car traffic, so it was really pretty quiet. a beautiful sunny crisp (which is a nice way of saying COLD) morning. even the voices in my head were quiet this morning. i thought about putting my headphones on, but decided against it because i was really enjoying the quiet. jsut the sound of my breath and footsteps.
i was feeling good, so i pushed the run to 1:15 before i turned around. at this point i decided i really needed some music to bring me home. i had the ipod loaded up with a live Pearl Jam show from Madison Square Garden.. so it felt like i had a whole crowd cheering me on!
The run took us so far north that i really think i saw yonkers across the river.. i have to check the map, but i think yonkers is just north of the bronx. crazy to think i ran that far!!!
now to top off the experience, when i began my run back i realized i had to pee. i debated just holding it, but looked around and decided what the heck... so i peed in the woods! you gotta do what you gotta do to get through the run! i did feel better and set back to running with a sly grin on my face.
i finished the run strong and proud of myself once again. my body feels like it got run over by a honda civic.. not enough damage to put me out, just enough to be annoying. i think next week will be a bit of an easy week then the following week will most likely put me up to 20 miles.. eeek!
time run: 2:55
miles run: 17ish
song that got me up that big ass hill: given to fly
Friday, February 15, 2008
listen up
i'm taking a break for a little rant.
the other day i was on a marathon website and saw an article about how many marathon organizers are banning the use of headphones. i have heard that this is because it deminishes the 'competative nature of the event'.. crap.. 90% of the runners in marathons are not seriously competing to win the damn thing, so if officials want to keep it competative then they should only allow qualified runners enter.
now, i just read another website where people were commenting on how this is a good rule because runners with headphones on are oblivious to their surroundings and can get hit by cars, and constantly cut other runners off resulting collisions and potential injury. give me a break! i've been in plenty of races where people without headphones cut me off.. or are slow runners and line up in the front of the pack oblivious to the fact that there are faster runners trying to get by. this oblivion has nothing to do with headphones, it has to do with inconsiderate people!
our group training session this weekend is to run over the george washington bridge and into new jersey. our coach has banned headphones for this practice (and all future practices). i completely understand his decision for this saturday's run.. he is responsible for a big group running in unfamiliar territory on a bridge full of other idiots in cars.. safety first. but, to ban headphones for all future practices which mainly take place in the safe haven of central park seems unfair. i know he is promoting socialization and fun.. but i'm anti-social when i run.. i freely admit it. i go knowing i've got business to do.. and 15+ miles is alllllll business!
so, this saturday i will set aside the ipod, but as for the future i just can't do it without my music!
... thanks for listening... now back to happier running blogs :)
the other day i was on a marathon website and saw an article about how many marathon organizers are banning the use of headphones. i have heard that this is because it deminishes the 'competative nature of the event'.. crap.. 90% of the runners in marathons are not seriously competing to win the damn thing, so if officials want to keep it competative then they should only allow qualified runners enter.
now, i just read another website where people were commenting on how this is a good rule because runners with headphones on are oblivious to their surroundings and can get hit by cars, and constantly cut other runners off resulting collisions and potential injury. give me a break! i've been in plenty of races where people without headphones cut me off.. or are slow runners and line up in the front of the pack oblivious to the fact that there are faster runners trying to get by. this oblivion has nothing to do with headphones, it has to do with inconsiderate people!
our group training session this weekend is to run over the george washington bridge and into new jersey. our coach has banned headphones for this practice (and all future practices). i completely understand his decision for this saturday's run.. he is responsible for a big group running in unfamiliar territory on a bridge full of other idiots in cars.. safety first. but, to ban headphones for all future practices which mainly take place in the safe haven of central park seems unfair. i know he is promoting socialization and fun.. but i'm anti-social when i run.. i freely admit it. i go knowing i've got business to do.. and 15+ miles is alllllll business!
so, this saturday i will set aside the ipod, but as for the future i just can't do it without my music!
... thanks for listening... now back to happier running blogs :)
Sunday, February 10, 2008
the clash in the bronx!
this morning i ran the half marathon in the bronx.. my first half marathon race. the ipod was loaded with The Clash, and man what a good choice that was.
although i've run longer distances than 13.1 miles (last season my longest run was 15 miles before getting injured) this race seemed more significant. and definitely more nerve wracking. last night i was exhausted from a brutal week at work, but when it came time to go to bed i just could not sleep.
the race started at 8, so i had to get up at 6 so i had time to walk cash, eat, go to the bathroom, load the ipod and get myself to the bx on time... well all this was on slo-mo so it was a scramble to get a cab (which he had no idea where bronx science hs was so there was a panic call to my mom to google it at 7am! bless you mom.) weather started out great.. 40, mild, sunny. got a little colder at the start but that was ok cause i was overdressed. i hate things hanging off of me, so if i'm gonna take off a layer it's gonna get thrown away. i am not ready to part with any of my running clothes, so they were staying on.
i have been trying no to get too hung up on my race times because i can get caught up in setting goals, pushing too hard which could lead to another injury. i just want to run a smart, strong race. at the start i missed the time so i wasn't really sure what my time was.. i just tried to take note of my pacing and not push too hard. after a few miles i realized that i was pretty much hitting a 9minute mile and it felt like a pace i could run all day.. coach ramon would say i was doing good. the plan was to keep this pace going til mile 7 or 8 and if i still felt good i could push harder.
right around mile 7 the race went up the grand concourse in a steady incline.. suddenly the wind picked up and blasted us right in the face. i focused on my breathing and not letting the gusts disrupt my breath cause i could get a side-ache and that would be the end of me.. got through this and hit the turnaround point which put the wind at my back. so at mile 8 i picked it up til mile 11ish.
at mile 11 i started getting a bit tired, so i set my ipod on van halen and got into a pace i knew i could hold for 2 miles. seriously, 'runnin with the devil' saved me. seeing the coaches and TNT runners a bit before the finish gave me my 4th wind and inspired me to finish strong.
I just checked my time.. i finished the race in 1:59:39!!!! That breaks down to 9:08 average mile pace.. and that, my friends, is the fastest pace I've ever raced at!!! amazing considering that this was such a long run. I am very very happy with my success today, and with everything i've been through I'm proud that i've come back to running and come back this strong!
miles run: 13.1
song of the day: runnin with the devil
favorite fan quote: "Yeah baby, i like the way you're doin it" (read that in a bronx accent)
although i've run longer distances than 13.1 miles (last season my longest run was 15 miles before getting injured) this race seemed more significant. and definitely more nerve wracking. last night i was exhausted from a brutal week at work, but when it came time to go to bed i just could not sleep.
the race started at 8, so i had to get up at 6 so i had time to walk cash, eat, go to the bathroom, load the ipod and get myself to the bx on time... well all this was on slo-mo so it was a scramble to get a cab (which he had no idea where bronx science hs was so there was a panic call to my mom to google it at 7am! bless you mom.) weather started out great.. 40, mild, sunny. got a little colder at the start but that was ok cause i was overdressed. i hate things hanging off of me, so if i'm gonna take off a layer it's gonna get thrown away. i am not ready to part with any of my running clothes, so they were staying on.
i have been trying no to get too hung up on my race times because i can get caught up in setting goals, pushing too hard which could lead to another injury. i just want to run a smart, strong race. at the start i missed the time so i wasn't really sure what my time was.. i just tried to take note of my pacing and not push too hard. after a few miles i realized that i was pretty much hitting a 9minute mile and it felt like a pace i could run all day.. coach ramon would say i was doing good. the plan was to keep this pace going til mile 7 or 8 and if i still felt good i could push harder.
right around mile 7 the race went up the grand concourse in a steady incline.. suddenly the wind picked up and blasted us right in the face. i focused on my breathing and not letting the gusts disrupt my breath cause i could get a side-ache and that would be the end of me.. got through this and hit the turnaround point which put the wind at my back. so at mile 8 i picked it up til mile 11ish.
at mile 11 i started getting a bit tired, so i set my ipod on van halen and got into a pace i knew i could hold for 2 miles. seriously, 'runnin with the devil' saved me. seeing the coaches and TNT runners a bit before the finish gave me my 4th wind and inspired me to finish strong.
I just checked my time.. i finished the race in 1:59:39!!!! That breaks down to 9:08 average mile pace.. and that, my friends, is the fastest pace I've ever raced at!!! amazing considering that this was such a long run. I am very very happy with my success today, and with everything i've been through I'm proud that i've come back to running and come back this strong!
miles run: 13.1
song of the day: runnin with the devil
favorite fan quote: "Yeah baby, i like the way you're doin it" (read that in a bronx accent)
Thursday, February 7, 2008
couple quick things..
i got my race registration today!! IT'S IN FRENCH :)
i don't know why, but that makes it so much more exciting. Never been to paris so this trip will be double the fun.
next.. i am running the bronx half marathon on sunday. i am going to have to put together a special ipod mix for that one. not sure what it's gonna be, but if anyone has any songs that might be appropriate for running through the bx feel free to share!
i don't know why, but that makes it so much more exciting. Never been to paris so this trip will be double the fun.
next.. i am running the bronx half marathon on sunday. i am going to have to put together a special ipod mix for that one. not sure what it's gonna be, but if anyone has any songs that might be appropriate for running through the bx feel free to share!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
dreams of springtime in paris
yesterday at practice we got a little surprise. the focus was on pacing and keeping it slow for at least the first third of our long runs now so that we have some juice left to make it to the finish. we were going to run as a group with the coaches leading the way and controling the pace for the first 5 miles. then ramon broke the paris runners off from the group because we were going to be running the perimeter of the park today on the outside.. meaning on the sidewalks which happen to be cobblestone. seems part of the marathon in paris is on cobblestone streets.
i was a bit nervous cause i was thinking of 'bond street' cobble stones... 4 inch stones with 3 inch gaps that my perfect size 6s can barely cover! i sensed an injury in my future... but it was not the case, the sidewalks are pavers which for the most part are pretty even. the bigger risk was the dog shit!
running a new route with the group always makes the run easier.. new scenery and many distractions to make the miles pass quickly. we got about halfway around the park and one girl, who will remain nameless (since i don't know any names!) started telling her friend about a new guy she's dating. i am not big on talking while i run, but i loooooooooove listening, so this was like striking gold! the story lasted for the entire rest of the run, and she was talking nice and clear so we could all enjoy the details! the upsetting part of the story was that they kept talking about how 'old' this guy was.. his nickname is even 'silverfox'.. turns out he's *GASP* 39!! only 2 years older than me! god i hope there are no guys out there calling me 'silverfox' yet. i figured i had at least 30 years before that!
the coach told us our perimeter run was roughly 7 miles, so once the group entered the park i ran an additional 5 mile loop and finished strong. the funny thing is that at one point a group (two women and a guy- not at all related to my earlier evesdropping) passed me.. the guy was talking about dating from a guys perspective, and said that 'there are very few details about a date that are actually important to a guy'... i suddenly flashed back to the earlier story and every minute detail that she recounted and how we hung on every one. i had to laugh at this most basic difference between men and women!
this nice morning was followd by a day of doing my taxes. i really think it was more painful that running 11.5 miles!
miles run: 11.5
dates she's gone on with the silverfox: 3 (the 4th is tonight)
predicted superbowl winner: GIANTS
i was a bit nervous cause i was thinking of 'bond street' cobble stones... 4 inch stones with 3 inch gaps that my perfect size 6s can barely cover! i sensed an injury in my future... but it was not the case, the sidewalks are pavers which for the most part are pretty even. the bigger risk was the dog shit!
running a new route with the group always makes the run easier.. new scenery and many distractions to make the miles pass quickly. we got about halfway around the park and one girl, who will remain nameless (since i don't know any names!) started telling her friend about a new guy she's dating. i am not big on talking while i run, but i loooooooooove listening, so this was like striking gold! the story lasted for the entire rest of the run, and she was talking nice and clear so we could all enjoy the details! the upsetting part of the story was that they kept talking about how 'old' this guy was.. his nickname is even 'silverfox'.. turns out he's *GASP* 39!! only 2 years older than me! god i hope there are no guys out there calling me 'silverfox' yet. i figured i had at least 30 years before that!
the coach told us our perimeter run was roughly 7 miles, so once the group entered the park i ran an additional 5 mile loop and finished strong. the funny thing is that at one point a group (two women and a guy- not at all related to my earlier evesdropping) passed me.. the guy was talking about dating from a guys perspective, and said that 'there are very few details about a date that are actually important to a guy'... i suddenly flashed back to the earlier story and every minute detail that she recounted and how we hung on every one. i had to laugh at this most basic difference between men and women!
this nice morning was followd by a day of doing my taxes. i really think it was more painful that running 11.5 miles!
miles run: 11.5
dates she's gone on with the silverfox: 3 (the 4th is tonight)
predicted superbowl winner: GIANTS
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