Running in Raleigh

It was a long, but fun, weekend. We didn't land in Raleigh until just before 2:00am Friday morning and got back to our apartment Sunday night after 10:00pm. In between there was a lot of driving (I have not been in a car that much in the past 4 months combined), sight-seeing, delicious food and a bit of running, too!


Before we left on the trip I reached out to a few running shops to ask for advice on where to run. Michael from Fleet Feet in Raleigh sent me a long email with great suggestions of neighborhoods and a few restaurant suggestions for post-run refueling!


While we opted to sleep Friday morning, we laced up both Saturday and Sunday morning, checking out different parts of the city. We weren't staying downtown, but the area is really easy to get around so Saturday morning that's where we went. We had driven around the area a little bit Friday morning but didn't explore the Historic Oakwood area, one of Michael's suggestions. We wanted our run to do double duty - explore the city and get in some exercise. We had no real plan of where to go, just a downtown map and some water (it was really warm already at 8am) and set out. The area quickly went from government buildings to older houses and lots of hills! We just ran up and down streets, hit quite a few dead ends, and then made our way back to the car after about 40 minutes. Our legs were pretty tight and the hills were a little tough, but it was a great, sweaty workout and just what we needed to start the day. 


We parked near Morning Times, a little coffee shop Michael suggested, and got ice cold coffee. The place was packed (which isn't hard, but people also spilled out onto the sidewalk) and there were a few other runners so we weren't the only sweaty ones in the place! The iced coffee was delicious and hit the spot.

Sunday morning we decided to do something different. There is a great Greenway Trail System of trails throughout the area - over 62miles of paved and dirt trails for running, biking, walking and exploring. Some are in the middle of town, others through wooded areas, some seem to weave in and out of neighborhoods. It seemed pretty fantastic and we wanted to try out one of the paths so we headed to Shelley Lake, not all that far from our hotel. This was completely different from the morning before. The path was shorter than we thought, so we did a couple laps of the lake, but it was beautiful and peaceful. There were quite a few others out enjoying the morning, but not so many that it was overwhelming. There was even a yoga class on the hill! This run was a great way to start our last day in Raleigh.

In case you didn't know this already, I love exploring new places by running!

• I'm a day late, so how was your weekend?
• How excited are you for the 4th of July weekend?

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Saturday's workout -

~40min run

stretching

Sunday's workout -

~40min run

stretching

Monday's workout -

35min elliptical

2x20 leg press

2x14 leg curl

2x17 leg extension

100 crunches

1x35sec plank

2x20 hip raise

stretching

Today's workout -

35min elliptical
150 crunches
1x35sec plank
2x20 cable push-down
2x18 wood chop with resistance band
monster walks
stretching
monster walks

Five for Friday (We Made it To Raleigh!)

Whew! We made it! Because of weather on the East Coast, our flight was delayed by hours. We didn't land until 1:45am or so, then there was a plane at our gate that they had to move (how could they not be ready? We were the only plane flying in!!) so we didn't get out until about 2am. By then the rental car company was closed for the night which meant we had to take a mucho expensive airport taxi. Good thing we're from NYC and are used to those prices. We got to the hotel and turned out the lights at 3am. Woody was awesome and just found us a rental car much closer than the airport so we don't have to go all the way back. I'm a little exhausted but very glad we made it to Raleigh and I'm ready for some Barbecue!!


I've been swamped with work, packing, evening events and writing checks to pay medical bills (a stress fracture is not cheap) so for this week's Five for Friday, I kind of took the easy way out, but hopefully you'll be able to relate to some of these things, or find them funny.


1. One of the perks I love most about the company I work for is that we have summer Fridays! Each person gets to choose between taking 7 full days off or leave at 2pm every Friday between Memorial Day and Labor Day. I, of course, chose the 7 full days because really, who actually leaves at 2pm when everyone else is working? So today, I am using my first of 7 days and am very excited (if you haven't noticed)!


2. When I was little, I would get so excited about trips, whether it was the month camping trip we took out West or a weekend trip Up North, that I could spend hours writing my list of things to pack. I would debate how many t-shirts, jeans, shorts, swim suits, and then pack them carefully. I loved writing these lists as it was my way of starting the trip early.


3. After I moved out here I was traveling back and forth to Michigan quite often to see family, Woody, and friends. When I was younger I absolutely hated taking off. I would squeeze the arm rest or my Mom's hand. I just did not like it. But once I started flying so often I got so comfortable on planes that I would often be asleep before we took off (I always fall asleep in the car when the drive is over an hour long, and I'm not driving, of course). I think some of my row-mates have thought I'm weird. Oh well, makes the flight pass by quickly!


4. Woody and I have two traditions we try to uphold whenever we go on a trip. Farmer's markets and ice cream. We love checking out local places and this is a good way to get a taste for the local scene (pun intended).

5. I'm guessing one of Woody's biggest pet peeves when it comes to my habits is that I never unpack my suitcase the same day we return home from a trip. I usually dump my dirty laundry, but then the suitcase will sit in the living room for at least two days before I finish unpacking. I'm sure there's some underlying reason behind this other than the fact that I can just be plain lazy sometimes, but I am trying hard to change this. I think I leave it because I wish we were still on vacation. Too bad that no matter how long I leave it packed we're still back in reality.


Bonus item: I came home Wednesday night to see these awesome notices posted on the street signs around the neighborhood!! I love "White Collar" and hope to sneak a peak of some cast members on my to/from work. If you haven't seen this show on USA Network, you should check it out. So many great things about it!

• How do you feel about flying?
• Do you have any travel traditions or quirks?
• What are you excited about this weekend?

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Today's workout -

None. Sleep was priority 1.

Weekend Getaway!

I am so psyched this morning!


After work tonight Woody and I are heading down South for a weekend in Raleigh! It's probably one of the most random trips we've taken together. One Fall we went to Connecticut for a weekend to explore and take in the beautiful Fall colors, but usually we have family to visit or a specific reason for travel. I guess Raleigh might not seem like the most logical place for a weekend getaway, but we're really excited none the less. We've never been and we want to explore parts of the country we're not familiar with. Our big trip this summer will be a week in Seattle next month, but we wanted another weekend away, and this will do the trick!


We've been doing a bit of research, trying to figure out where we want to go and what we want to see, but a lot of our weekend will just happen as it comes. We are packing our running shoes and will go running at least once. Hey, with all the local Southern food we're bound to enjoy while we're there, we have to get a little sweat on. I have seen there are quite a few farmer's markets in the area, and those are on our lists since over the last few years we've visited a market on almost every trip we've gone on!


While we're heading to the airport from work, I still plan on packing a small bag of healthy snacks, including bananas for Friday morning so we're not starved by the time we find breakfast. I think the thing I miss the most when I travel is fresh fruit. While it's getting easier to find fruit at restaurants, it can still be difficult, or just plain expensive. Thankfully our hotel room will have a small fridge and since we'll have a car we can stop at a grocery store and/or farmers market to pick up some fresh fruit and healthy snacks. As much as I love trying local cuisines, if I stray too far away from my usual habits, I just don't have as much energy to enjoy the trip as I would otherwise.


Well, it's really foggy this morning and there's a good chance of rain and storms today, so I'm crossing my fingers that they are just quick passing summer showers and we don't have any trouble getting out tonight. Either way, check back tomorrow for my weekly 5 for Friday post to send you into the weekend!

• Do you have any must haves when you travel?
• How do you (or, do you?) stay active while on vacation?
• Are you taking any trips this summer?

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Today's workout -

35min elliptical
2x15 hip raise
1x35sec plank
2x14 leg curl
2x16 leg extension
100 crunches
stretching

My Secret Weapon

Last night I attended the "Runner's Health and Marathon Training" event at Hospital for Special Surgery where several doctors and a nutritionist spoke to a room full of runners (and about 350 runners around the world via webcast) about training and nutrition. While we all know I'm not training for a marathon, I still took away quite a few tips from the evening and the best quote of the evening was this one from Dr. Jordan Metzl:
"A strong butt is key to a happy life."


As athletes, many of us deal with stiff muscles and stretch quite a lot. I can't tell you how many stories I've heard about experiences taking a stick through security at an airport (I've done it myself). We have quirky little 'tools' to stay limber and recover quickly from runs. I even have a trigger wheel. And now, I have another secret weapon!


This is a running blog, so when I find little tricks or tips, I'm going to share them. And I have a great one for you today!!! A few times since increasing my cardio since my latest injury I've mentioned that my leg muscles are extremely tight. Like seriously tight. I touch my toes and feel like a rubber band being pulled to it's extreme from heel to hip. My quads are tight. My hips are tight. My obliques are tight. My glutes are tight. Oh, and my shoulders have always been tight, but that's not news.


I don't have a foam roller at home but our gym has a few so I routinely use it for a few minutes both at the start and the end of my workouts there. I had to figure out something because nothing was loosening me up and I don't want to get another injury due to tight muscles. That is not ideal.


When my shoulders were really bad in college and just after, I often used a tennis ball for self-massage. Putting a tennis ball between my scapula and a wall was the only way I could get enough pressure to relief some of the tightness without the help of a professional. So, thinking back to this time I dug out a tennis ball and decided to see if it would help my glute muscles. (Woody was not home at the time, I did not want to incur strange looks until I knew it worked).


Now, the glute muscles are incredible things. Because of them, we are able to stand, walk, run, crawl. We would have a pretty difficult time getting around without working glute muscles. Because of this, quite a few doctors and athletes believe that weak or strained glute muscles can cause injuries in other areas of the lower body. As runners, we all know that a pain in one place can easily mean an injury somewhere else. This all means it's super important to make sure glute muscles are working properly and loose.


I found a bare space on the wall and grabbed my tennis ball and tried to work out the tight muscles. (I'll spare you a photo). Turns out it works really well. And not just for the glute muscles, but also for the hips, quads, and back. So, now first thing in the morning before the gym and then before I go to bed, I use my trusty tennis ball to loosen up my muscles. I've been doing this for a few weeks now and I have definitely noticed a difference in my workouts and runs. For example, on the day of the Mini 10k I woke up very stiff. While I was drinking tea and watching the weather reports, I alternated between massage and stretching and within minutes I was feeling more loose! 


So, enter into the books my secret weapon:

I guess it's not so "secret" any more!!

• Do you have a secret weapon that helps you with your running or working out?

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Today's workout -

35min elliptical
2x20sec bridges
100 crunches
2x15 hanging reverse curls
2x20 leg press
2x15 upright row
2x18 cable push-down
2x15 squats
stretching

How Did I Miss This Place?

You may or may not know that Woody and I live in the Financial District of Manhattan. It's anchored by the street Americans love to hate - Wall Street. It's an area filled with tourists and bankers by day, but quiet and peaceful by night (unless there's a big red carpet event at Cipriani's, of course).

Sunday was an absolutely beautiful day and after we made our weekly trip to the New Amsterdam Market I wanted to stay outside to read. I wanted to stay closer to the apartment but didn't know where to go, when Woody mentioned 55 Wall Street. He didn't know what it was, really, but there is a big staircase between two buildings. So, I decided I'd check it out and if it wasn't anything, then I'd go somewhere else.

Well, it definitely was something. Actually, it's pretty amazing!

It's a little piece of heaven right smack dab in the middle of huge high rise buildings! We've lived here since August and I had absolutely no idea this existed! 

This is not a quiet park by any means. While three sides are surrounded by buildings, the fourth side looks out over the East River and Brooklyn, which means you have to contend with the noise of the FDR highway below, the boats in the river and the helicopters landing and taking off from the downtown heliport at a constant clip. But even with all that noise, this place is incredible. 

It's obviously not a secret, but on this perfect (practically) summer Sunday afternoon, there was hardly a crowd. I really hope the people who work in these buildings appreciate what they have and take advantage of this garden. I can't wait to enjoy a picnic on the lawn with Woody sometime soon! If you're ever downtown and want a place to sit and put up your feet for a few minutes without the crowds, head over here! This place proves that you never know what you'll find around the next corner!

• Have you found any unique places near your home that surprised you?
• Do you have a special 'hide-out' where you like to escape to?

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Today's workout -

40min elliptical
100 crunches
3x10 hip raise
2x17 leg curl
2x15 leg extension
stretching

Taking the Path

I've always been a road runner. When I started running and as I trained for the marathon, I mostly ran on the roads in Central Park and along the West Side Highway. The main reason for this is that I wanted to know how far I was running, as I followed my training schedule, and mileage for the loops in Central Park is well known. I don't have a watch with GPS, so it was crucial to run measured routes (or routes I could measure on Map My Run or Daily Mile). When we moved Downtown, I took to running sidewalks along the streets, along the West Side Highway and on the esplanade in Batter Park City. I chose these routes because nothing else is available down here.


After my latest run-in with injury, I had to change things up. I want to run and I don't want to re-injure myself as I train for some upcoming races. Asphalt, concrete and brick are obviously very hard on us as miles add up. I need to switch things up and not run on these surfaces all the time. So, I've been making a point of going up to Central Park to run on the bridle path over the last month that I've been back to running.


Here's a funny story (but you can't tell Woody I told you this!). For my first post-injury run, Woody agreed to join me in Central Park for a short run on the bridle path. Along the way he asked about the name of the path because he thought the fact that it is packed dirt and gravel was weird. Turned out, he thought it was bridAL path, not briDLE path! He thought it was weird because the brides dresses would get dirty!! Apparently he thought back in the day, when the park was designed and built, that it had something to do with brides and grooms. He was very relieved to find out the truth! haha! For once I felt like I actually knew something about NYC that he didn't know! (he's one of those guys who can store and recall millions of obscure facts in an instant).


Running on the bridle path is quite different from my usual runs because I find that I have to concentrate a lot more on the actual path. I may be alone on this because I'm such a klutz and can trip on carpet, but I'm always looking out for where I'm stepping. The rocks, crevices, puddles and sticks are obstacles I constantly find myself zig-zagging to avoid. Saturday during my run I figured I probably covered an extra 0.25 miles along the way, but it was okay because I know alternating the surfaces that I run on is good for me in the end.

Central Park road

Battery Park City Esplanade

Central Park bridle path

Do you often get caught up in completing a training run exactly as it's scheduled in your plan? While I don't have a training plan right now and am just running to get in some mileage and enjoy time outside, I found myself pushing through a little knee pain on Saturday because I felt I 'had to' finish the route I had set out on. Thankfully, my inner voice kicked my butt into reality and I realized that there was absolutely no reason why I needed to or should run through an ache. (I want to stress here that it was my knee, not my leg, that was aching. I haven't had any trouble where I fractured my leg!) I slowed down and instead of pushing up a hill I walked it and a few minutes later I picked up the pace a little, felt worlds better and finished running strong. I wasn't racing. I was just out for a run, by myself. Things happen on a run, some days our legs feel like lead, sometimes light as feathers. Sometimes our hip aches or we get a cramp in our side. The trick is to learn how to deal with these things as they come and enjoy the workout and the results. While I had to walk for a minute, I finished the run strong and feel like I'm doing well with my recovery. There are definitely reasons to push ourselves, because if we don't, we'll never run longer or farther than we did today, but sometimes it's best to pull back and let our body overrule our head!


After I finished the run I took some time to walk around and stretch, then I made my way over to Argo Tea. It seems I've picked up a post-run habit that involves their ginger peach iced tea after my runs! It's a great way to re-hydrate and cool down for the subway trip back downtown!

aaaahhhhhhh!

• Have you ever pushed yourself a little too hard during a run?
• Do you have any post-run habits?
• What was the best thing about this past weekend?

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Saturday's workout -

~4.75mile run

stretching

Sunday's workout -

45min elliptical

2x14 leg curl

2x16 leg extension

2x20 hammer curl

2x18 weighted side bend

2x20 upright row

stretching

Today's workout -

35min elliptical
100 crunches
3x15 hanging reverse crunch
2x20 leg press
2x20 cable push-down
2x10 standing twists
2x16 front arm raise
stretching

Five for Friday (and giveaway winner)

Woohoo! It's FRIDAY!! Unfortunately I was awoken just before 5am by lightning and thunder that seemed to be right outside our window! I had to run and close windows. It was a pretty hard-hitting storm so when Woody woke up we decided not to go to the gym. I don't think I've ever seen such bright lightning. We did need some rain though, to clean off the sidewalks and streets and temporarily get rid of the city summer stank!

1. Okay, so first off....thanks to everyone who entered the MuscleCare giveaway! It sounds like we have some hamstring issues and the calves aren't too much better! I'm glad to read that I'm not the only one with tight glutes. (I mean, what is with that?) Love all the stretches everyone is doing; lots of yogis! Which reminds me, I need to get back to yoga soon! Okay, so the winner is....

Charlene V!!! Charlene's favorite stretch is the cross legged stretch because it helps her lower back. I totally agree!

Charlene, I'll send you an email today so I can get your prize to you!

2. I didn't post yesterday but I did run yesterday. It was nice to get outside and enjoy the quietness of NYC in the morning! I realized that summer is in fact my favorite season and it's for one reason: because it's light in the morning and light in the evening! My day is instantly off to a better start when I'm running and getting ready for work with the sun shining!

3. How do you pin your bib? Did you see the link posted to THIS article on Facebook yesterday? I'm so glad I happened to check my feed when this was posted because it's pretty funny and I needed a little comic relief. In this quick Runner's World post, Mark Remy explores the right and wrong ways to pin race bibs. I happen to think he's the odd one, but maybe that's just me?

the right way to pin a bib

4. I started watching America's Got Talent this season, and really, I'm not hooked on it, but I love these guys! They're absolutely adorable!

5. This Sunday is Father's Day. I'm sorry I won't be able to celebrate with my Dad, but I think he knows how much I love him. I'm pretty lucky because I have an incredible Dad. He's always been supportive, encouraging and would drop everything if I asked, to help me. He flew out to NYC the week after I moved here for a whirlwind weekend to scour the city for a decent place for me to live (and we saw some not so decent place). The next year after storing half of Woody's things in the basement of my parents house, my Dad drove from Michigan to NYC in a U-Haul truck through the mountains and rain (with a leaky cab) with Woody to move him here after we got engaged. He always amazes me, like when he took up snowshoeing a few years ago, or when he rallies people behind a cause or spends hours clearing a biking trail. He's an incredible guy and I'm so lucky to have him as my Dad. Happy Father's Day, Dad!!

• How do you pin your bib?
• If you were on America's Got Talent what would your talent be?
• How are you celebrating Father's day?

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Yesterday's workout -

4.26mile run

2x14 leg extension

2x16 leg curl

stretching

Today's workout -

None. Rest day.

A Slight Case of Runner's Remorse

Last night I let Woody talk me into a rest day today when I had been planning to go for a run. I admitted that my body could use an extra hour of sleep, and I gave in easily.


We woke up this morning to 58 degrees and this beautiful sky

It's too bad rest days can't always happen on gloomy days. Hopefully tomorrow will be just as beautiful because I will be out there for a run!
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Today's workout -
stretching

Going G-Free

The same weekend I went on crutches, I went off gluten.

I know several people who have Celiac Disease or are gluten-intolerant. I always felt bad for them, because I have a deep love for bread, pastries and cupcakes. I could never live without bread. How would I enjoy a grilled veggie sandwich? A gyro isn't a gyro without the pita! And what about my beloved chocolate chip cookies? No. I couldn't live without gluten.

Oh, how things have changed.

I was curious one day and did a little research on Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance. Turns out the symptoms are quite diverse and those who suffer from these conditions can have any combination of symptoms. I have to mention that just because someone suffers from some of the symptoms for any of these conditions, doesn't mean they have an aversion to gluten because these symptoms are common of other health issues as well. The only way to really know if you have Celiac, are gluten intolerant or have a wheat allergy, is to be tested (which I haven't done yet).

I am in no way whatsoever, an expert on CD, gluten intolerance or wheat allergy, but according to celiac.org, a few of the symptoms of CD include:

• IBS
• Early onset Osteopenia/Osteoporosis
• Fatigue
• Infertility
• Depression
• Migraine headaches
• Chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Vitamin deficiencies 
• and others....

Noticing that I suffer from some of the symptoms listed for CD and gluten intolerance, I decided to give it a try. Why not? As much as I love bread, if I feel better, then it's worth it.

Except for a few times when I unknowingly ate gluten until it was too late, I haven't had gluten since April 17th. I will not tell a lie, I have had some pretty intense sandwich cravings and Woody has had to listen to be whine about it. (and when he called me out on it, I quickly rebutted with "don't tell me you wouldn't do the same if you couldn't eat sandwiches!" To which he agreed that I was probably right!)

It has definitely been an interesting switch and has made eating out a little difficult. It's been eye opening to learn how many food items actually have gluten in them. It has been good though, because I can't eat sweets like I did, and it's easier to turn them down knowing that I won't feel well the next day than just turning them down because "I shouldn't." I seem to be eating cleaner, more healthy meals because I can't fall back on certain "easy" meals.

I have a lot to learn about the g-free diet, but I'm willing to learn. I know it's really important to be tested because Celiac Disease is much more intense than gluten intolerance, but right now I don't plan on going through it. With all the medical tests I've had over the last few years, I have grown a special kind of intolerance to them and I'm not ready to start a whole new round of them just yet. So, for now I will keep gluten off my plate and see how I feel.

Thankfully it seems oats don't bother my stomach, so at least I can still enjoy a big bowl of yogurt mess in the morning (with my homemade granola, of course!)! Small miracles! (By the way, I am enjoying dairy again after taking a break from it. Maybe this will just be a break from gluten. Who knows!)

A few of my G-free meals:

And another small miracle, we have great gluten free bakeries in this little town of ours!

I had a great workout today! I'd say it ranks as one of my best workouts in the past several months, actually. Unfortunately it wasn't a run, but my legs had good power on the elliptical and I felt equal levels of strength and exhaustion during my strength session. What makes it even better is that I was almost a zombie in the elevator and walking to the gym. I think Woody and I said a total of 10 words to each other from the time we woke up to the time we checked in at the gym. This day is now off to a good start!

• Do you have Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance? What has helped you adjust to the lifestyle?
• What gets your day off to a good start?

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Today's workout -
35min elliptical
100 crunches
1x40sec plank
2x12 side push-ups (I have no idea what this is really called!)
2x13 leg curl
2x16 let extension
2x18 weighted side bends
1x25sec laying leg lift (again, no idea what the real name is!)
stretching
foam roller

Race Report: Mini 10k

Saturday morning my alarm was set to go off at 5:30am but I woke up a few minutes before; I think I could anticipate it.


I had a little over an hour before I had to leave for the race, I wanted enough time to have some tea, stretch, and take my time getting ready and waking up. The news wasn't even on yet when I turned on the TV so I went to the weather channel. It was gray and gloomy out, the buildings across the way had water puddles on their roofs. It looked like it could rain any second. It was 65' and 100% humidity in Central Park, with rain in the area and a big storm out in Pennsylvania. Not ideal running weather. I checked my twitter feed and lots of people were talking about the weather, wondering if the race would be cancelled. No word from NYRR on twitter or Facebook. I got dressed, had some tea, stretched, stretched and stretched some more. My stomach was uneasy but I know it was due to nerves. My pre-race fueling was not ideal: two medjool dates (natural sugar for energy) and a few gluten-free crackers along with water and tea. With such high humidity, I didn't want too much in my stomach.


I left the apartment just after 6:30am for the subway, thankfully it wasn't running local this weekend and I got uptown in no time. I'd much rather be early and have time to loosen up again and check my bag than have to rush to the corral. I put my bag in a garbage bag (just in case it started to pour) and dropped it at the baggage check. Visited a porta-potty and then headed to Columbus Circle. The corrals weren't open yet so I stretched a bit and took in the atmosphere. Tried to calm my nerves a little, but the efforts were fruitless. 

You're assigned to a corral according to your fastest pace. My fastest pace happened a few years ago, so while my bib said red (2nd) corral, I joined the one two places back. I don't want to be the person holding others up because I'm slower! I knew where I belonged. There were a few speeches before the gun including ones by Kathrine Switzer, Grete Waitz's husband, Deena Kastor, Mary Wittenberg and others. It was pretty incredible listening to the bios of the pro-women who would finish around the time I would hit the 5k mark. Then, we were off.


The race heads up Central Park West bypassing several of the infamous Central Park hills. It was a pretty easy start to the race and actually very little jostling around. The runners have the entire four lane road at this point, so even with over 6,000 runners, it wasn't too crowded. But, it was humid. Even though I was drinking water from the time I woke up to minutes before the race started, I was thirsty before we hit the 1 mile mark.


My plan for the race was to finish. In order to do that, I knew I had to maintain an easy pace and not push myself. Believe it or not, there are a lot of hills in Central Park and some are pretty brutal. I kept a pretty good pace on CPW and didn't look at the time when I hit the 1 mile mark. I could have left my watch at home because I didn't look at it once during the race. I knew this would be my slowest race ever, and that was fine with me. I just wanted to run it. I can set time goals on my next race.


We hit the park and the hills hit back. They weren't too bad until we passed the 110th St transverse when we got into the Harlem Hills. I do not like taking hills slowly. I usually pick up my pace when I start an incline, but this time I kept it steady. Women were laboring up the first hill and when we got to the top you could feel the collective sigh of relief! There is a nice downhill after that one before heading up another brutal incline. I need to mention here that the crowd support was pretty awesome. Not only were the course marshall's cheering us on, but a ton of NYRR staff was out along with local teams. Team in Training was out in force, with at least two groups of people each mile. The Harlem Hills aren't a great place to cheer, simply because it's far north in the park, but there was a HUGE group of people near Lasker Pool, just in the right spot to give us a boost up the hill!


Things were going pretty smoothly after that, I took advantage of each water stop for a quick sip but my leg was feeling good and I didn't need to walk or stop. I was paying close attention to how my leg was feeling and would have walked if I needed to. We made our way south along the east  side of the park and soon we got to Cat Hill. It's much more manageable going south than north, but on my way down my left knee started to ache. I knew this might happen because it has been hurting a bit since I started picking up my cardio. We were near the 5 mile mark and I knew I could get through it. I started focusing on this ache more than I should have, but I continued to push through. As we got closer I knew I was going to be able to do it. The race finished near Tavern on the Green, and there is one last uphill push to get there. I didn't think I had much left in me, mostly because of my knee, but the last hundred yards I picked up my pace and I crossed the finish line strong. I had done it!!


I walked through the crowded finish chute, found my way to some water and a pear, then was handed a beautiful pink carnation and my medal! I was hot, sweaty and very thirsty. I got myself through the crowd to the baggage claim area and dug out my bag within a bag. It didn't rain, but I almost wish we had a little drizzle to easy the oppression of the humid air. I saw Kathrine Switzer speak about the tradition of the race and then headed out of the park, cheering along the way for the runners coming in to the finish line.

After the race I headed to a nearby restaurant to meet up with a few bloggers for brunch. Thanks Christy for setting it up!! Then I met up with Woody for our weekly trip to Trader Joe's before heading home and taking a much needed shower!


The afternoon included a rainy trip to the Big Apple BBQ. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can keep New Yorkers away from some good barbeque. It was drizzling when we left the apartment and downright pouring when we got out of the subway. Thankfully it stopped a few minutes later. We saw six people sitting at a picnic table with a plastic sheet over all of them making a little tent so they could enjoy their ribs in dryness! We chose pulled pork from Ubon's Barbeque of Yazoo (MS). I had mine without the roll, and ended up getting a lot of meat and coleslaw, half of both I added to Woody's plate.

It was delicious. Woody also tried the smoked sausage from Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q (AL) but decided the pulled pork was the better of the two. 


After that, I was downright exhausted. I think that on top of the fact that I haven't run six miles in months, the nerves associated with the race and the insane humidity (the official race stats have the humidity at 96% at the start) just wore me out. I relaxed the rest of the day and enjoyed the fact that I ran and finished the race!


Next on the race schedule is the See Jane Run Seattle 5k in July!

• What was the highlight of your weekend?
• Do you spell BBQ barbeque or barbecue? Seems spell check thinks I'm wrong spelling it with a 'q.'

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Saturday's workout -

6.2mile race

lots of stretching

Sunday's workout -

35min elliptical

2x20 upright row

2x14 leg curl

2x17 leg extension

2x20 bent row

2x20 hammer curl
2x15 squats

stretching

Today's workout -

35min elliptical
2x20 leg press
125 crunches
1x30sec plank
2x20 cable pushdown
2x16 lateral arm raise
stretching
foam roller

Five for Friday

1. Last night Woody and I celebrated our 4th Anniversary. It's both hard and very easy to believe that it's been that long. Even crazier, as of this month, we will have known each other for 10 years. That's literally a third of my life! It's strange to think of my life before he was in it. I feel like I was so young then. He has taught me so much and put up with so much from me along the way. Poor guy, he has many more years to come! Haha! We celebrated by having dinner at the Boathouse in Central Park. We've eaten at the Boathouse Cafe more times than I can count, but we've never eaten in the formal restaurant. It was quite an interesting evening because there were two thunderstorms while we were there and it was raining when we left. Thankfully there was a little break between storms when the sky brightened and we were able to enjoy the view. 

2. This week has been incredibly hot. Both Wednesday and Thursday were well into the 90s. I ran Wednesday morning but Thursday hit the gym. It's days like this when we have to remember to be very careful to stay hydrated, stay out of the sun, wear sunblock and not workout in the heat of the day. It's so incredibly important to be careful when it gets hot like this. Also, it's a great idea to check in on elderly people you know to make sure they're doing okay and have a cool place to stay. I'm very thankful that I don't have to work outdoors in this type of heat.


3. This weekend is the annual Big Apple BBQ in Madison Square Park. BBQ masters from around the country convene in the city to show NYC foodies what they can do. It's always a madhouse with long lines at each booth, but it's also fun and delicious! Click HERE for more information.

4. There are always tons of things going on in NYC. So many in fact, that it can be a little overwhelming at times. What to do?! I'm always on the lookout for guides that pull a lot of the events together in one place and the other day I found a great resource on Well and Good NYC. The great women at Well and Good put together a Summer Wellness Guide that lists great fitness and wellness events throughout the city (both free and fee). There's a .pdf version you can download and stick on your fridge for easy reference. I downloaded the pdf onto my phone so I have it anywhere I go! Check it out HERE.


5. If you read my post yesterday, then you know that tomorrow is the Mini 10k. I took a rest day today and plan on getting to bed early tonight because I have an early (for Saturday) wake-up call tomorrow. I need time to get up, have some tea, stretch and get uptown before the corrals close. I'll gladly accept any good vibes you want to send my way!

• What are you doing this weekend?
• If you know of a wellness guide for your area, share it with others by posting a link here!

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Today's workout -

none. rest day.

Return To Racing

Saturday is the NYRR Mini 10k. This is a pretty big race in the city with a rich tradition. 


It all began in 1972, this is the 40th running, as the 6mile CrazyLegs Mini Marathon. It was also the first women's only road running race; in the early 70's it was still fairly unusual for women to be runners, especially distance runners. Kathrine Switzer (aka Marathon Woman) was instrumental in the creation of this race, helping to establish the sponsor, CrazyLegs, creating a promotional event like none ever known before. Year after year, the race is popular with pro-runners, including Deena Kastor, Buzunesh Deba, Kim Smith, Yuri Kano, Edna Kiplagat, and many more, this year alone!


This year, there's something extra special about the race. This year, the race is being dedicated to the amazing Grete Waitz who passed away in April after a long battle with cancer. Grete was a pioneer in women's running, winning 5 Mini's, 9 New York City Marathons, winning the silver medal in the first women's Olympic Marathon, and showing women around the world that they too, can be a runner. 

source

I've only run this race once, but it is one of my very favorite races. There's something about the incredible amount of camaraderie between the all-female field that is empowering and uplifting. The route is different from any other race in Central Park as it begins on Central Park West just north of Columbus Circle and heads north and turns into the park at 90th (all other CP races are entirely within the park). I imagine that for the average bystander, it's quite an amazing sight to see thousands of women running along CPW! 


As excited as I am about this race on Sunday, I'm also quite nervous. A lot of things are running through my mind as this is my first race post-injury and it's not just a short 5k.

weather: the forecast for Saturday is a 50% chance of rain, today the high will be 99' and Saturday will be in the 70's, my longest run in the past two and a half months is about 4.5miles, I am slow, I'm not used to being on my feet for so long after months of short cardio sessions, the Harlem Hills are brutal even on the best day, is it too soon to run this far.

I can't let my nerves get the most of me, even though I think I'm almost as nervous about this 10k as I was for the marathon. I know I don't have to run every step and my goal is to have fun and finish, not to set a PR. I have to come up with a killer mantra to get me over the hills and focus on the moment and the goal.


After this race, I'll be taking it easy for a bit focusing on the See Jane Run 5k in Seattle in July. Then, it's all about taking a lot of time to build up for the Detroit Half Marathon in October. But, I don't want to get ahead of myself. I will have fun Saturday morning and take in everything around me!

• Are you running the Mini 10k?
• What is your favorite mantra?
• How do you calm your nerves before a race?

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today's workout -
35min elliptical
125 crunches
1x35sec plank
2x15 leg curls
2x13 leg extension
2x18 seated row
2x15 back extension
stretching
foam roller