Monday, May 23, 2011
Thank you, Brightroom
...for that beautiful video of me falling on my face at the finish line. A photo wasn't enough, was it?
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Oh, Brooklyn, I love you (aka the most memorable finish ever)
The Brooklyn Half was yesterday, and I ran it for the first time after years of volunteering/spectating. What a fun race! The two loops of Prospect Park were familiar territory, but very different when running with 10,000 (just a guess) other runners. I ran most of the race alone, and I almost gave into the adrenaline that comes from the surge of the crowd at the beginning. But I was able to stick to my race plan and do 1/1 the entire time. I took some comfort in the other interval watches I heard throughout the race. It sounds silly, but I pretended that those were my pace group members running alongside me. My phone rang at mile 6.5 (I didn't answer, as people don't usually call me at 8:15 on Saturday mornings), but when I got the message later, I realized that my pace group had been thinking of me the whole time. So sweet! Thanks, Galloway!
So I was plugging along, doing my 1/1 strategy, feeling good. When I left the park around mile 7 and came onto Ocean Parkway, I felt renewed energy. It was really cool to run down the middle of a highway. I watched the pedestrians and drivers of cars on side streets staring at us as the miles ticked by. Thank goodness for shade along the route. It was a fairly humid day, after a week straight of rain, and I was definitely feeling it. But still, I kept on. I felt that I was keeping a steady pace and would finish within the 3 hour course limit.
Finally, I reached the boardwalk in Coney Island for the last mile of the race. I was feeling so strong and so excited to be done. The cool air off the ocean felt awesome. Approaching the finish line, I heard the announcer call my name, and then my friend (who finished in an unbelievable 1:40) shouted at me from the left side of the finish line. I turned to wave to him...and the next thing I knew, I was facedown on the boardwalk, within a foot of the finish line. Splat! I heard a gasp from the people watching. I had no idea how I ended up on the ground, but I picked myself up and crossed the finish. A volunteer grabbed my elbow and walked me to the medical tent. Scraped knees, elbows, palms. I was a mess. More than anything, I was completely mortified and angry at myself for ending such a strong race in such a completely ridiculous way. It was definitely me at my most graceful. My friend came running over to the medical tent to see if I was ok, and immediately told me that he felt responsible for my fall. I told him that it was in no way his fault (and I believe that, too, so he'd better stop feeling guilty!) The medic finally came over with alcohol swabs and cleaned out my scraps, gave me bandages and sent me on my way. I'm sure the professional photographer got a great shot of me in mid-air. Of course he did.
The whole thing turned out to be rather anti-climactic, but I was pleased with my time: 2:43 (well within the 3 hour limit, and not bad for only doing one 10 miler two weeks prior). When I got home, my wounds really started to hurt, and my knees are a bit swollen, but I feel ok otherwise. A little sore, but nothing a couple of fantastic yoga classes didn't cure! Oh, and when I told my dear brother that the fall at the finish may be the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to me, he said, "Not yet!" Leave it to him to put it in perspective.
Some "urgent care" after an unexpected finish.
Standing tall at the finish!
So I was plugging along, doing my 1/1 strategy, feeling good. When I left the park around mile 7 and came onto Ocean Parkway, I felt renewed energy. It was really cool to run down the middle of a highway. I watched the pedestrians and drivers of cars on side streets staring at us as the miles ticked by. Thank goodness for shade along the route. It was a fairly humid day, after a week straight of rain, and I was definitely feeling it. But still, I kept on. I felt that I was keeping a steady pace and would finish within the 3 hour course limit.
Finally, I reached the boardwalk in Coney Island for the last mile of the race. I was feeling so strong and so excited to be done. The cool air off the ocean felt awesome. Approaching the finish line, I heard the announcer call my name, and then my friend (who finished in an unbelievable 1:40) shouted at me from the left side of the finish line. I turned to wave to him...and the next thing I knew, I was facedown on the boardwalk, within a foot of the finish line. Splat! I heard a gasp from the people watching. I had no idea how I ended up on the ground, but I picked myself up and crossed the finish. A volunteer grabbed my elbow and walked me to the medical tent. Scraped knees, elbows, palms. I was a mess. More than anything, I was completely mortified and angry at myself for ending such a strong race in such a completely ridiculous way. It was definitely me at my most graceful. My friend came running over to the medical tent to see if I was ok, and immediately told me that he felt responsible for my fall. I told him that it was in no way his fault (and I believe that, too, so he'd better stop feeling guilty!) The medic finally came over with alcohol swabs and cleaned out my scraps, gave me bandages and sent me on my way. I'm sure the professional photographer got a great shot of me in mid-air. Of course he did.
The whole thing turned out to be rather anti-climactic, but I was pleased with my time: 2:43 (well within the 3 hour limit, and not bad for only doing one 10 miler two weeks prior). When I got home, my wounds really started to hurt, and my knees are a bit swollen, but I feel ok otherwise. A little sore, but nothing a couple of fantastic yoga classes didn't cure! Oh, and when I told my dear brother that the fall at the finish may be the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to me, he said, "Not yet!" Leave it to him to put it in perspective.
Some "urgent care" after an unexpected finish. 
Standing tall at the finish!
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Be mindful even when the mind is full
Yesterday I went for a great run with the Galloway crew, and there were these hilarious chalk drawings and quotes (one of which is the title of this post) all around the big loop. Each drawing/quote became something to look forward to as we went along. I used them as distance markers. The quote about being mindful has stayed with me. Words to live by!
A lot has happened since I last posted. I've made significant progress in managing the fibromyalgia. I'm not completely free of pain yet, but the medication and yoga have made a huge difference. I've also cut out all caffeine, which was difficult, but it seems to be helping. It's amazing to be feeling so much better after being in constant pain for the last few years. No one believed me, either, because I look healthy. But it's real. Just goes to show that appearances can be deceiving. A few weeks ago, my yoga teacher told me that she could tell I was feeling better because "I was moving without fear." That's a powerful concept, and it's true. When there's pain, we change the way we move to protect ourselves, and finally being close to pain-free means I don't have to think about it as much anymore. (Although, my physical therapist pointed out that now I know the right body mechanics, I will spend more and more time thinking about my body and well-being. She's right).
The Brooklyn Half is 3 weeks away, and I'm a little behind as far as training. I hoped to do 10 miles yesterday, but was derailed after 6 due to a massive crowd in Central Park for the Revlon 5k. We couldn't even move. Next weekend is the Galloway kickoff, so I'll have to tack some miles on after that. I'll reward myself with breakfast at Whole Foods.
Dad and I did some great runs over Easter weekend-one in the rain--and I think I've convinced him to do another half with me in the fall. We're looking for a fun destination race. He wants SF, but there are a lot of hills there!
A lot has happened since I last posted. I've made significant progress in managing the fibromyalgia. I'm not completely free of pain yet, but the medication and yoga have made a huge difference. I've also cut out all caffeine, which was difficult, but it seems to be helping. It's amazing to be feeling so much better after being in constant pain for the last few years. No one believed me, either, because I look healthy. But it's real. Just goes to show that appearances can be deceiving. A few weeks ago, my yoga teacher told me that she could tell I was feeling better because "I was moving without fear." That's a powerful concept, and it's true. When there's pain, we change the way we move to protect ourselves, and finally being close to pain-free means I don't have to think about it as much anymore. (Although, my physical therapist pointed out that now I know the right body mechanics, I will spend more and more time thinking about my body and well-being. She's right).
The Brooklyn Half is 3 weeks away, and I'm a little behind as far as training. I hoped to do 10 miles yesterday, but was derailed after 6 due to a massive crowd in Central Park for the Revlon 5k. We couldn't even move. Next weekend is the Galloway kickoff, so I'll have to tack some miles on after that. I'll reward myself with breakfast at Whole Foods.
Dad and I did some great runs over Easter weekend-one in the rain--and I think I've convinced him to do another half with me in the fall. We're looking for a fun destination race. He wants SF, but there are a lot of hills there!