Thursday, October 27, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
A week to go!
The Marine Corps Marathon is a week from tomorrow. How in the world did that happen? Where did the time go? I'm definitely not feeling as prepared as I would like. I feel like my brain has been running at 100 miles an hour for the last several months and I haven't had a minute to rest. It hit me earlier this week that I haven't even really looked at the course map for the MCM, and I probably should, considering I've never run it before. This is really a departure from my usual MO-I usually make lots of plans and have everything figured out. I guess I'll do that when I get to the starting line!
This morning, we did an easy 7 miles around the lower loop of CP and then over the Queensborough Bridge. I hate the QB and managed to convince my group not to do it twice, as was the plan initially. Some of us were advocating for skipping the bridge entirely, but there were a few others who wanted to run the bridge again before the NYC marathon. So I went along with the crowd and did the bridge. It was absolutely jammed with other runners, including what seemed like the entire NYC Team in Training delegation. Most of the runners out today were lovely and polite, but some on the bridge were a bit rude, elbowing their way past others. I never like to see that. Come on, people, we're all out there for the same reason. Those are the people who push other runners at the starting line of any race, saying "excuse me, excuse me!" What, are we not all going to the same place? You've got 26.2 miles to pass me. Etiquette, please.
Anyway, this week's task will be to mentally prepare and remember to breathe. Next Sunday's task is to finish strong. Next Monday's task is to recover. I can only do one at a time, though, right?
This morning, we did an easy 7 miles around the lower loop of CP and then over the Queensborough Bridge. I hate the QB and managed to convince my group not to do it twice, as was the plan initially. Some of us were advocating for skipping the bridge entirely, but there were a few others who wanted to run the bridge again before the NYC marathon. So I went along with the crowd and did the bridge. It was absolutely jammed with other runners, including what seemed like the entire NYC Team in Training delegation. Most of the runners out today were lovely and polite, but some on the bridge were a bit rude, elbowing their way past others. I never like to see that. Come on, people, we're all out there for the same reason. Those are the people who push other runners at the starting line of any race, saying "excuse me, excuse me!" What, are we not all going to the same place? You've got 26.2 miles to pass me. Etiquette, please.
Anyway, this week's task will be to mentally prepare and remember to breathe. Next Sunday's task is to finish strong. Next Monday's task is to recover. I can only do one at a time, though, right?
Monday, October 10, 2011
Last long run before MCM!
I do love three-day weekends, though it makes me sad that the reason I have one is because of a holiday that celebrates the conquering of indigenous people. Anyway...
Saturday morning was our last long run before the MCM (or NYC, or whatever marathon one is running). We were supposed to do 26 miles, though I wasn't planning to finish that whole distance. Last year, I had a month to recover between Hartford and NYC, and this time around, MCM is three weeks away. Translation: not enough time to recover. So I figured I'd do 22 or 23 and see how I felt.
We met at 6:15am on the UWS. It was really early, but we all had a ton of energy for some reason. A lot of my fellow Gallos were running marathons elsewhere this weekend, or fasting for Yom Kippur, so we had a pretty small group. We did one big loop of CP (6 miles) at a fairly quick (for us) pace--then we had to dial it back in order to finish all the mileage. This run was not about going fast, but about being on our feet for the amount of time it would take to run a marathon. We then headed west to the WSH and ran south along the footpath. It was a spectacular day: sunny and cool, and all the routes were fairly quiet due to the holiday weekend. It was great to have the park and the WSH to ourselves. That never happens!
At around mile 8, some of our teammates decided to leave us. They weren't signed up for races and had come to support those of us doing a lot of mileage. Thanks for coming, guys! Our group shrank pretty significantly, but we kept on, focusing on the beautiful weather and all the cute dogs we kept seeing. Onward we went, further and further downtown (with another detour through the World Financial Center), until we reached the amazing aid stop at mile 14. Before that, I was bonking like crazy; my sugars were all out of whack for some reason. I'd been eating and drinking the whole time, but I felt lightheaded and sluggish. The fig newtons and m&ms I had really helped. (Amazing how much junk food I consume while running, and how well it works. I wish that was true in real life!)
By the time we reached lower Manhattan, the crowds were starting to grow (though not as much as on a regular weekend). There was a huge group of what we thought were Mennonites waiting in line for the ferry to Ellis Island. Initially, we thought they were Amish, but they were wearing running shoes, so we went with Mennonite. I've never seen them in such numbers before, so that was pretty interesting. Anyway, they were looking at us just as we were looking at them. I wonder what they thought?
We continued on by the Seaport, then up the east side path. By then, I was starting to feel my right IT band, and I would've been happy with stopping--but we were only at mile 16. The east side isn't as interesting as the west, at least for running, and we had to cut over to 1st avenue at 34th street due to construction. I always like running by the UN, though. That's pretty cool. The route called for us to keep zigzagging from 1st to the footpath, which seemed really annoying, so the few of us left decided to stay on 1st avenue. That was fine, and good practice for those running the marathon, but we had to contend with pedestrians, strollers, dogs, etc. At that point, it was nearly 12pm--we'd been out for 5 1/2 hours. I was shuffling my feet a little and my legs were feeling very heavy. Once we hit 93rd street, mile 22 according to the route, mile 22.5 according to the GPS, that was it. Three or four others decided to continue on and finish out the 26, but my body was done. Then I walked from 93rd and 1st to 86th and Lex, so I'm sure I ran more like 23 or 23.something miles. Plenty for a month prior to MCM. The nap I took when I got home was fantastic.
Now it's time to taper.
Saturday morning was our last long run before the MCM (or NYC, or whatever marathon one is running). We were supposed to do 26 miles, though I wasn't planning to finish that whole distance. Last year, I had a month to recover between Hartford and NYC, and this time around, MCM is three weeks away. Translation: not enough time to recover. So I figured I'd do 22 or 23 and see how I felt.
We met at 6:15am on the UWS. It was really early, but we all had a ton of energy for some reason. A lot of my fellow Gallos were running marathons elsewhere this weekend, or fasting for Yom Kippur, so we had a pretty small group. We did one big loop of CP (6 miles) at a fairly quick (for us) pace--then we had to dial it back in order to finish all the mileage. This run was not about going fast, but about being on our feet for the amount of time it would take to run a marathon. We then headed west to the WSH and ran south along the footpath. It was a spectacular day: sunny and cool, and all the routes were fairly quiet due to the holiday weekend. It was great to have the park and the WSH to ourselves. That never happens!
At around mile 8, some of our teammates decided to leave us. They weren't signed up for races and had come to support those of us doing a lot of mileage. Thanks for coming, guys! Our group shrank pretty significantly, but we kept on, focusing on the beautiful weather and all the cute dogs we kept seeing. Onward we went, further and further downtown (with another detour through the World Financial Center), until we reached the amazing aid stop at mile 14. Before that, I was bonking like crazy; my sugars were all out of whack for some reason. I'd been eating and drinking the whole time, but I felt lightheaded and sluggish. The fig newtons and m&ms I had really helped. (Amazing how much junk food I consume while running, and how well it works. I wish that was true in real life!)
By the time we reached lower Manhattan, the crowds were starting to grow (though not as much as on a regular weekend). There was a huge group of what we thought were Mennonites waiting in line for the ferry to Ellis Island. Initially, we thought they were Amish, but they were wearing running shoes, so we went with Mennonite. I've never seen them in such numbers before, so that was pretty interesting. Anyway, they were looking at us just as we were looking at them. I wonder what they thought?
We continued on by the Seaport, then up the east side path. By then, I was starting to feel my right IT band, and I would've been happy with stopping--but we were only at mile 16. The east side isn't as interesting as the west, at least for running, and we had to cut over to 1st avenue at 34th street due to construction. I always like running by the UN, though. That's pretty cool. The route called for us to keep zigzagging from 1st to the footpath, which seemed really annoying, so the few of us left decided to stay on 1st avenue. That was fine, and good practice for those running the marathon, but we had to contend with pedestrians, strollers, dogs, etc. At that point, it was nearly 12pm--we'd been out for 5 1/2 hours. I was shuffling my feet a little and my legs were feeling very heavy. Once we hit 93rd street, mile 22 according to the route, mile 22.5 according to the GPS, that was it. Three or four others decided to continue on and finish out the 26, but my body was done. Then I walked from 93rd and 1st to 86th and Lex, so I'm sure I ran more like 23 or 23.something miles. Plenty for a month prior to MCM. The nap I took when I got home was fantastic.
Now it's time to taper.
Saturday, October 01, 2011
A month to go!
Thanks, LP for the great photo! 8 miles, including over the Queensborough Bridge, and a month to go until MCM... I'm starting to get nervous! We have one more long run next weekend, then three weeks to taper. It's getting close!