Last weekend's run was a short 5-miler in Lower Manhattan. Our group consisted of the few ladies who didn't sign up to run the Mini in CP and all the guys we have (not many). It was great for me, since we met downtown (no long schlep to the UWS at 6:30am). It was overcast and fairly cool, but humid as we ran over the Brooklyn Bridge and back and then down by Bowling Green and back to our starting point in City Hall Park. I didn't really like the metal scaffolding on the bridge; it made me feel claustrophobic, but the run over the bridge is always so spectacular. I never get tired of the view from up there. There was construction on the West Side Highway, so we ended up taking a funny detour through the World Financial Center (yes, we ran, and yes, the security guards thought we were nuts). All the twists and turns and bathroom stops (it was the guys this time!) made the run drag on a bit, but it was still a lot of fun. I capped it off with a trip to the farmer's market on my way home. Delicious!
I've been having some issues with my right hip lately, so I made an appointment with my awesome physical therapist. Of course, as soon as I made the appointment, I started to feel better, but I figured it was good to go anyway. I was right. She's an unbelievably kind and supportive person, even though she immediately yelled at me about my posture. I guess that was what I needed. I've been sitting up straighter all day. She had some ideas about how to deal with the pain I've been having in my face and neck (is it TMJ? We're not sure) that are much less invasive than what the crazy oral surgeon suggested. We also talked about what other steps I might consider to manage my symptoms, in addition to what I'm already doing (which feels like a lot, I'm not going to lie). Overall, we've both been pleased with the progress I've made thanks to hard work, supportive doctors, and miracle medications. I didn't mention MCM in October, but if I can do two maratons in a month, I can do one this fall. My PT probably won't be happy with me when I do tell her, but she'll support it and tell me to listen to my body and train smartly.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Another training season begins!
I planned to focus on half marathons this season, but I was given the chance to run the Marine Corps Marathon through Galloway, and I took it. DC, here I come! Countdown to October 30th starts right now!
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!
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Out of hibernation
It was finally warm enough to venture outside and run comfortably. I wasn't thrilled when my alarm went off, but the trip into Manhattan was worth it to see my Galloway folks. It was a little reunion for those of us who've taken the last few months off. We did a great 6 mile loop of CP and finished off with breakfast at Whole Foods. I haven't been seriously training for the Brooklyn Half, and it may be time to start focusing on that so I can finish under the course limit and actually enjoy myself.
Monday, February 07, 2011
I may be sorry I did this, but...
I signed up for the Brooklyn Half today, and it's in what feels like just a few short weeks. Maybe it was the fact that it was a tropical 40 degrees yesterday and I was finally able to come out of hibernation for a run, but I remembered why I like to run and I want to have a goal. I'm in another chapter of my medical/injury saga, so I hope I can successfully complete a half without the aid of anti-inflammatory medication. I've also never run the half in my own 'hood, so this should be fun. Phase 1 of training was to sign up. Done. Phase 2 is recruiting my fellow runners to join me. Phase 3 is to actually start training. One thing at a time.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Race Report: New York City Marathon 11/7/10
Folks have been asking for a more detailed report of the race, so here I go. I stayed in Manhattan the night before so I wouldn't have to get up so early to make the 6:15am bus (but the extra hour helped). Our bus took awhile to get to the start, which was fine. That meant more time inside and near a bathroom. We arrived at Ft. Wadsworth around 7:45, which gave us plenty of time to wait. Wave 3 didn't start until 10:40am. The start was a mob scene, so we just found our meeting place and sat down, trying to stay calm and focused.
Fast forward to 10::40am. The wind on the Verrazano Bridge felt like knives cutting through me. I thought if I could make it through the first mile, I would be good to go. I had a pair of Dad's tube socks on my arms. I planned to take them off when we left SI, but I kept them on the whole race. It was cold!
I love Brooklyn. Everyone on 4th avenue had tons of energy. There was a whole group of us Galloway run/walkers together through Bay Ridge, Sunset Park and Park Slope. I missed a friend at mile 6, but saw another at mile 7.5. A very kind person gave me a mini snickers bar somewhere around there. Delicious. My fabulous family was at mile 8 holding a giant sign that made them impossible to miss. We had time for a quick photo and some hugs and I headed onward to Lafayette, where I saw two more friends around mile 8.5/9. Coincidentally, they were right next to each other. R had a big M taped to her coat, which was awesome. I missed another friend right before them, but she texted me and said she'd seen me pass by. The crowds in Fort Greene and Bed Stuy were fabulous, and every friend I passed propelled me forward. At that point, three of us broke off from the rest of the group and kept on. Once we reached south Williamsburg, things got much quieter. It was a nice change before the craziness of north Williamsburg. We passed a bunch of bars on Bedford, all overflowing with celebrating spectators. A guy yelled that I was "effing beautiful." I'm sure that was totally accurate. He'd had a few beverages AND it was mile 11 of a marathon. Right. We passed through Williamsburg to Greenpoint and checked another borough off the list.
We crossed the Pulaski Bridge into Queens, still going strong. The first 12 miles passed very quickly, but we started to notice the distance after that. I saw three dear friends in Long Island City and my darling neighbor from 2 years at CUSSW by the base of the Queensborough Bridge (aka the bridge of doom). Their cheers and hugs propelled us up the hill (miles 14-15). The bridge feels endless and there are no spectators up there, only the noise of feet. The three of us were still together when Lynn, fabulous pace group leader, caught up with us. Our little group exited the bridge and turned onto 1st avenue, where Lynn's sister was waiting for us at 61st street. The peanut m&ms she had were delicious. (To a certain extent, I measured the miles by the candy I ate).
Three boroughs down. Two to go! First Avenue in Manhattan was not as crazy as I remember in 2006, but the crowds were still very supportive. We had a Galloway aid station at 105th Street (mile 18.5ish). I was able to see Mom and Dad there again, sign and all. Better than candy!
Through East Harlem, into the Bronx over the Willis Avenue bridge...The Bronx seemed extra long this year, but I definitely felt better this time than I did at the same point in 2006.
Back in Manhattan, we saw a fellow Galloway teammate near Marcus Garvey Park. She had some sustenance for us, so I had a sip of soda and kept moving. At that point, our group shrank to 3. I felt good, but I wanted to be done. I couldn't think, so I just put one foot in front of the other. On 5th Avenue, Lynn pointed out a giant sign with my name on it and said "I think that sign is for you!" Turns out, it was another dear friend with her husband. Just what I needed! Lynn and Christine stopped around 105 and 5th to use the bathroom, and I knew that if I stopped, it would be hard to start again. I told them I was going on ahead, so I set off alone. As I was about to turn into the park at 90th Street, I heard someone yelling my name. It was Nancy, my superstar pace leader from the days of Team Fireass (2006). I hadn't seen her in 4 years. She gave me a big hug and urged me on. She pushed me through to the finish in 2006, and I loved that she was there to push me the last few miles this year.
I entered the park and kept going. My right calf started to cramp up, but I just told myself it wasn't time to stop yet. The crowd yelled for me (thank goodness for my name on my shirt!) and I focused on their energy to carry me forward. Finally, I exited the park on Central Park South and could see Columbus Circle ahead. I walk that stretch of of street all the time, but it feels so much longer at mile 26 of a marathon! Mom and Dad were on Central Park South. I waved at them and told them I'd see them at the finish. I felt like I had plenty of energy left to kick at the end, and I ignored the last few walk breaks and ran it straight out. It was getting dark and it was cold, so there weren't that many spectators out, but I listened to the cheers and visualized a full crowd. Finally, I crossed the finish in 6:09, five minutes slower than Hartford. Jen and David, my first Galloway friends, finished 2 minutes before me and were there when I crossed. Al Roker was there too. I beat him by an hour (he started in Wave 2). What a great day and a great race!
So what's on deck? More PT, lots of yoga, rest. My goal is to get off the anti-inflammatory medication and stick to shorter distances for awhile. I'd love to do another marathon, but I need to heal first and figure out what is causing all of my injuries. I couldn't have done this without the support of friends, family, and teammates. I appreciate all of you so much. Thanks for helping me prove that 2006 wasn't a fluke!
Fast forward to 10::40am. The wind on the Verrazano Bridge felt like knives cutting through me. I thought if I could make it through the first mile, I would be good to go. I had a pair of Dad's tube socks on my arms. I planned to take them off when we left SI, but I kept them on the whole race. It was cold!
I love Brooklyn. Everyone on 4th avenue had tons of energy. There was a whole group of us Galloway run/walkers together through Bay Ridge, Sunset Park and Park Slope. I missed a friend at mile 6, but saw another at mile 7.5. A very kind person gave me a mini snickers bar somewhere around there. Delicious. My fabulous family was at mile 8 holding a giant sign that made them impossible to miss. We had time for a quick photo and some hugs and I headed onward to Lafayette, where I saw two more friends around mile 8.5/9. Coincidentally, they were right next to each other. R had a big M taped to her coat, which was awesome. I missed another friend right before them, but she texted me and said she'd seen me pass by. The crowds in Fort Greene and Bed Stuy were fabulous, and every friend I passed propelled me forward. At that point, three of us broke off from the rest of the group and kept on. Once we reached south Williamsburg, things got much quieter. It was a nice change before the craziness of north Williamsburg. We passed a bunch of bars on Bedford, all overflowing with celebrating spectators. A guy yelled that I was "effing beautiful." I'm sure that was totally accurate. He'd had a few beverages AND it was mile 11 of a marathon. Right. We passed through Williamsburg to Greenpoint and checked another borough off the list.
We crossed the Pulaski Bridge into Queens, still going strong. The first 12 miles passed very quickly, but we started to notice the distance after that. I saw three dear friends in Long Island City and my darling neighbor from 2 years at CUSSW by the base of the Queensborough Bridge (aka the bridge of doom). Their cheers and hugs propelled us up the hill (miles 14-15). The bridge feels endless and there are no spectators up there, only the noise of feet. The three of us were still together when Lynn, fabulous pace group leader, caught up with us. Our little group exited the bridge and turned onto 1st avenue, where Lynn's sister was waiting for us at 61st street. The peanut m&ms she had were delicious. (To a certain extent, I measured the miles by the candy I ate).
Three boroughs down. Two to go! First Avenue in Manhattan was not as crazy as I remember in 2006, but the crowds were still very supportive. We had a Galloway aid station at 105th Street (mile 18.5ish). I was able to see Mom and Dad there again, sign and all. Better than candy!
Through East Harlem, into the Bronx over the Willis Avenue bridge...The Bronx seemed extra long this year, but I definitely felt better this time than I did at the same point in 2006.
Back in Manhattan, we saw a fellow Galloway teammate near Marcus Garvey Park. She had some sustenance for us, so I had a sip of soda and kept moving. At that point, our group shrank to 3. I felt good, but I wanted to be done. I couldn't think, so I just put one foot in front of the other. On 5th Avenue, Lynn pointed out a giant sign with my name on it and said "I think that sign is for you!" Turns out, it was another dear friend with her husband. Just what I needed! Lynn and Christine stopped around 105 and 5th to use the bathroom, and I knew that if I stopped, it would be hard to start again. I told them I was going on ahead, so I set off alone. As I was about to turn into the park at 90th Street, I heard someone yelling my name. It was Nancy, my superstar pace leader from the days of Team Fireass (2006). I hadn't seen her in 4 years. She gave me a big hug and urged me on. She pushed me through to the finish in 2006, and I loved that she was there to push me the last few miles this year.
I entered the park and kept going. My right calf started to cramp up, but I just told myself it wasn't time to stop yet. The crowd yelled for me (thank goodness for my name on my shirt!) and I focused on their energy to carry me forward. Finally, I exited the park on Central Park South and could see Columbus Circle ahead. I walk that stretch of of street all the time, but it feels so much longer at mile 26 of a marathon! Mom and Dad were on Central Park South. I waved at them and told them I'd see them at the finish. I felt like I had plenty of energy left to kick at the end, and I ignored the last few walk breaks and ran it straight out. It was getting dark and it was cold, so there weren't that many spectators out, but I listened to the cheers and visualized a full crowd. Finally, I crossed the finish in 6:09, five minutes slower than Hartford. Jen and David, my first Galloway friends, finished 2 minutes before me and were there when I crossed. Al Roker was there too. I beat him by an hour (he started in Wave 2). What a great day and a great race!
So what's on deck? More PT, lots of yoga, rest. My goal is to get off the anti-inflammatory medication and stick to shorter distances for awhile. I'd love to do another marathon, but I need to heal first and figure out what is causing all of my injuries. I couldn't have done this without the support of friends, family, and teammates. I appreciate all of you so much. Thanks for helping me prove that 2006 wasn't a fluke!
Monday, November 08, 2010
Done!
Yesterday was a truly amazing day. I will write a longer post later, but for now, a huge thank you to all of the very special spectators who came out to cheer us on. I saw you at mile 7.5, mile 8, mile 9, mile 14, mile 18, mile 20, and mile 25. Lots of love to all of you!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
One week to go!
I ran on my own this morning in BK because I have visitors in town and we had important business to get to. These ladies know how to get a lot done in a short period of time, and I am going to have a gorgeous apartment to show for it! Anyway, so I skipped the team run (sad, our last run before the marathon, and we were going to do the last 10 miles of the course) in favor of a couple loops of the park. I planned to do 3, but I only did two. I wasn't feeling it and decided it was not a good idea to push it. Next week is the week to do that. It was pretty chilly out, but the leaves were beautiful. I'm sure I made up the extra miles running around IKEA and moving furniture down six flights of stairs.
One week until NYC, and I'm excited. I'm still in a little bit of denial that it's actually here. After it's over, I'm going to rest. I joined an amazing yoga studio, so I will be making that my home for awhile.
Good luck to those running the Marine Corps Marathon in DC tomorrow!
One week until NYC, and I'm excited. I'm still in a little bit of denial that it's actually here. After it's over, I'm going to rest. I joined an amazing yoga studio, so I will be making that my home for awhile.
Good luck to those running the Marine Corps Marathon in DC tomorrow!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A windy 8 miler
Yesterday was my first run since Hartford last Saturday. I didn't want to get up early, but I knew that it would be best to meet up with the group for inspiration. I knew they would push me to do the full 8. (I would find a way to shorten it if I ran on my own in Prospect Park). When I met up with them at 79th/5th, it was freezing and windy outside. I definitely did not have enough layers on. Note to self: time to pull out the hats and gloves for early morning runs. We aborted our plan to run along the East River in favor of two loops of the park, where there was more protection from the wind.
Overall, the 8 miles felt really good. We were all still on the high from our respective marathons the week before, and a lot of people were back after being away so it was nice to catch up on our race experiences. We were a little disorganized as a result, and I think our intervals may have been off, but we finished the 8 and went to have breakfast afterward. Eggs taste really good after a run!
Countdown to NYC starts now.
Overall, the 8 miles felt really good. We were all still on the high from our respective marathons the week before, and a lot of people were back after being away so it was nice to catch up on our race experiences. We were a little disorganized as a result, and I think our intervals may have been off, but we finished the 8 and went to have breakfast afterward. Eggs taste really good after a run!
Countdown to NYC starts now.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Race Report: Hartford Marathon 10/9/10
As I mentioned in a previous post, I was feeling extremely anxious about the Hartford race and even debating if I should switch to the half marathon. On the bus to Hartford, I was surrounded by ultra marathoners and Boston qualifiers, which made my aspirations for a 6 hour race seem inadequate. But then again, most people in the world have never attempted such a distance. I decided to put my doubts out of my head and tackle the full. Leslie picked me up at the Expo and we had an early dinner, then drove part of the course. I'd only been to Hartford very briefly before, so that helped a lot. Leslie somehow knew exactly what I needed in order to relax and prepare. When we got back to her house, a Sophie Kinsella book and a copy of "Born to Run" were on the nightstand, in case I couldn't sleep and needed distraction and/or motivation, she said. (L, for the record, you are the best host ever).
Saturday morning, I got up at 5am to prepare. We got to the start around 7:15am. L left a little before 8, and I was still in complete denial about what was about to happen. I was surrounded by people running the half, and I couldn't help but think that that might've been a better idea. But I couldn't spend any more time thinking about that. Time to focus on the task at hand.
The first few miles, the half and full courses were the same. I was a bit concerned that I would miss the turn for the full and/or I wouldn't find anyone else running at my pace, but I just kept up the intervals and tried to take it easy. Once the courses split off, there were some people running at my pace, but not many, so I was alone for long periods of time. It was sort of nice, actually. The course was beautiful, the weather was perfect, and the quiet allowed me to focus on the scenery and my beeping watch. I saw Leslie at mile 6, which was great. (It's pretty clear from the picture she took how far back I am from the pack, but who cares, right? If I wasn't so slow, it might look like I was winning!)
The first 13.1 went by pretty fast (considering it took me three hours). I don't know what I thought about. Just took in the beautiful views of the river and met some of the inspiring runners around me. There was a guy running with Achilles who was completing his 111th marathon and a woman who was a member of the 50 marathons in 50 states club. Another guy took a wrong turn and ran a couple miles on the half course only to turn around and come back. He was also a member of the 50 marathons in 50 states club and told me I should consider joining because "we need more beautiful women in the club." Um, thank you, but no thank you. I already think I'm a little crazy for attempting Hartford a month before NYC. But I do appreciate the fact that you think I'm beautiful several miles into a marathon, when I'm sure I look anything but!
Saw L and R right at the halfway point (thanks, guys!), and another spectator very kindly jumped in with me for a bit. I didn't know her, but she was trying to get to her brother's house and the road was closed, so she decided to run with me. It was really sweet. I'll take any support I can get!
After the halfway mark, we were running on the right side of Main St, while runners passed us heading the other direction. On the one hand, it was pretty cool to see the leaders pass me (mile 25 for them) at the 2:30 mark, but it's a little discouraging knowing I had a lot more to go before reaching that point. For that reason, I really don't like out and back courses, but I put it out of my head and focused on my own race. Three cheers and big thank yous to the kind spectators who encouraged me to keep at it.
I kept my pace steady to the turnaround at mile 17. From that point, I started counting down the miles until I would meet Leslie again. I hit mile 18 around 12:30 (4:30 into my race) and had the cruel realization that the road was reopening to cars and the race organizers were taking down the mile markers. I knew that some of the roads were reopening, but with a course limit of 6 hours, I figured the mile markers would stay up until 2pm. Fail, Hartford, fail. It was quite frustrating not to know where I was, but thank goodness Leslie jumped in with me at mile 20. I was still feeling really good despite being a bit peeved at the city of Hartford for the lack of mileage marking. By mile 22, I was really getting antsy to finish. Miles 23-25 were in residential areas; complicated to navigate without any course markings. Without my support team (Leslie), I would've gotten lost and probably given up. We finally made it to the bridge back into downtown Hartford. Runners who had already finished urged us on. We had to go down some stairs near the science center (really, Hartford? Stairs at mile 26 of the marathon?)
Finally, we made it to within just a few blocks of Bushnell Park. L ran with me right to the end. I was able to kick the last 3/4 mile and run hard into the finish line. What a great feeling! Along the course, everyone thought I couldn't possibly feel good because I was running a 6 hour pace and taking walk breaks, but I felt awesome. It's proof that it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. We just have to run our own races. The field in this race was fast, so by the time I reached the finish, I had it mostly to myself. Still, I finished exactly when I thought I would, at 6:04, and I still felt good, worlds better than I did four years ago. Now that I know 1/1 works, I'm out to prove that NYC in 2006 wasn't a fluke!
Saturday morning, I got up at 5am to prepare. We got to the start around 7:15am. L left a little before 8, and I was still in complete denial about what was about to happen. I was surrounded by people running the half, and I couldn't help but think that that might've been a better idea. But I couldn't spend any more time thinking about that. Time to focus on the task at hand.
The first few miles, the half and full courses were the same. I was a bit concerned that I would miss the turn for the full and/or I wouldn't find anyone else running at my pace, but I just kept up the intervals and tried to take it easy. Once the courses split off, there were some people running at my pace, but not many, so I was alone for long periods of time. It was sort of nice, actually. The course was beautiful, the weather was perfect, and the quiet allowed me to focus on the scenery and my beeping watch. I saw Leslie at mile 6, which was great. (It's pretty clear from the picture she took how far back I am from the pack, but who cares, right? If I wasn't so slow, it might look like I was winning!)
The first 13.1 went by pretty fast (considering it took me three hours). I don't know what I thought about. Just took in the beautiful views of the river and met some of the inspiring runners around me. There was a guy running with Achilles who was completing his 111th marathon and a woman who was a member of the 50 marathons in 50 states club. Another guy took a wrong turn and ran a couple miles on the half course only to turn around and come back. He was also a member of the 50 marathons in 50 states club and told me I should consider joining because "we need more beautiful women in the club." Um, thank you, but no thank you. I already think I'm a little crazy for attempting Hartford a month before NYC. But I do appreciate the fact that you think I'm beautiful several miles into a marathon, when I'm sure I look anything but!
Saw L and R right at the halfway point (thanks, guys!), and another spectator very kindly jumped in with me for a bit. I didn't know her, but she was trying to get to her brother's house and the road was closed, so she decided to run with me. It was really sweet. I'll take any support I can get!
After the halfway mark, we were running on the right side of Main St, while runners passed us heading the other direction. On the one hand, it was pretty cool to see the leaders pass me (mile 25 for them) at the 2:30 mark, but it's a little discouraging knowing I had a lot more to go before reaching that point. For that reason, I really don't like out and back courses, but I put it out of my head and focused on my own race. Three cheers and big thank yous to the kind spectators who encouraged me to keep at it.
I kept my pace steady to the turnaround at mile 17. From that point, I started counting down the miles until I would meet Leslie again. I hit mile 18 around 12:30 (4:30 into my race) and had the cruel realization that the road was reopening to cars and the race organizers were taking down the mile markers. I knew that some of the roads were reopening, but with a course limit of 6 hours, I figured the mile markers would stay up until 2pm. Fail, Hartford, fail. It was quite frustrating not to know where I was, but thank goodness Leslie jumped in with me at mile 20. I was still feeling really good despite being a bit peeved at the city of Hartford for the lack of mileage marking. By mile 22, I was really getting antsy to finish. Miles 23-25 were in residential areas; complicated to navigate without any course markings. Without my support team (Leslie), I would've gotten lost and probably given up. We finally made it to the bridge back into downtown Hartford. Runners who had already finished urged us on. We had to go down some stairs near the science center (really, Hartford? Stairs at mile 26 of the marathon?)
Finally, we made it to within just a few blocks of Bushnell Park. L ran with me right to the end. I was able to kick the last 3/4 mile and run hard into the finish line. What a great feeling! Along the course, everyone thought I couldn't possibly feel good because I was running a 6 hour pace and taking walk breaks, but I felt awesome. It's proof that it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. We just have to run our own races. The field in this race was fast, so by the time I reached the finish, I had it mostly to myself. Still, I finished exactly when I thought I would, at 6:04, and I still felt good, worlds better than I did four years ago. Now that I know 1/1 works, I'm out to prove that NYC in 2006 wasn't a fluke!
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Here comes Hartford..
I was feeling quite ill at the beginning of the week, and work has been crazy, so my mind has been all over the place. Monday morning, I was seriously considering not running this Saturday. By lunch time, I convinced myself that I would try to run the half instead if I wasn't feeling 100%. But now it's Wednesday and I'm so stressed out with work that I think I might NEED to run a marathon on Saturday, just to leave all this frustration out on the course. I'm not feeling 100% yet, so I don't think I'll know until the expo Friday night if I'll run the half or the full, but now I feel like I just want to get out there and do it. The range of emotions one feels before an event like this is just amazing. Is this just pre-run jitters?
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Tapering
I'm tapering, sort of. Not for New York, but for Hartford in two weeks. It's weird to run a marathon to prepare for another marathon, but that's how Galloway rolls, I guess. I am starting to have some pre-race jitters, all those thoughts that pop up just often enough to distract me from all the other stuff I have going on. What if I have pain? What if my toenails fall off? What if I can't finish in the 6 hour time limit and nobody is at the finish to cheer me in? Truthfully, none of that really matters. I'm just going to do my best. It'll be fun to run a new course and to see the CT contingent along the way. There WILL be people cheering me on regardless of how long it takes me to finish.
Today's run was supposed to be a leisurely 2 loops around Prospect Park. I decided to sleep in and do it on my own. When I got to the park, though, there was an inline skating race going on, which meant a pack of people zooming around and around the park in spandex. It was pretty crazy to see, and a little scary as they passed all the runners and cyclists out enjoying the warm weather. I thought I was going to be run over at least twice, but I survived. I finished the run rather uneventfully. Next week is another short one, and then it's on to Hartford!
Today's run was supposed to be a leisurely 2 loops around Prospect Park. I decided to sleep in and do it on my own. When I got to the park, though, there was an inline skating race going on, which meant a pack of people zooming around and around the park in spandex. It was pretty crazy to see, and a little scary as they passed all the runners and cyclists out enjoying the warm weather. I thought I was going to be run over at least twice, but I survived. I finished the run rather uneventfully. Next week is another short one, and then it's on to Hartford!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
6 weeks to go!
I was looking at my training schedule this morning, and after our 22 miler yesterday, I have one long run left before the NYC marathon on 11/7. (That long run happens to be the Hartford marathon on 10/9, but that's another story, I guess). Yesterday's 22 miler went quite well, all things considered. The course was a little complicated, but we made it through. We started at 72nd and 5th, headed east to the river (beautiful views from the path there), up to 96th street and back over to the park. We did a loop of the park and headed back to 72nd and 5th, where our first aid stop was (mile 8). The fabulous volunteers had potato chips again, and I made sure to eat some. I think they might be my wonder food. Seriously. I don't eat chips in my real life, but during a long run, all bets are off.
After a brief respite at the aid stop, we headed east again, down first avenue to 34th street and over to the path along the FDR. Passing the UN was pretty cool. Preparations for the General Assembly week ahead were in full swing. I always find the UN inspiring. Some of my other teammates feel differently, but as long as we talk about running and stay away from politics, we should be ok.
Anyway, we continued on our way down the east side, to our second aid stop at Catherine Street, by the South Street Seaport (mile 14). I had some chips and a couple peanut butter-filled pretzels. Very tasty. (By the way, I wonder how much water and Gatorade I consume during one of these epic runs. I really should keep track).
After aid stop #2, we circled lower Manhattan and headed north up the Westside Highway. I have to say, I hate finishing a run on the WSH because I know exactly how much further I have left to go. That is a big drag when you've already done 18 miles and are anxious to get done. We finally made it to 72nd street (those stairs out of Riverside Park are brutal) and completed our 22 miles, according to Mary's GPS. By that point, the bottoms of my feet were really hurting, but otherwise, I felt good. We decided to walk the last part of our course, across the park to 5th avenue. The route said the total mileage was 22.5 miles, but I think it was closer to 23 once all was said and done. Can I really imagine doing another 5k? I'm not sure.
We started with 14 runners at 6:30am, and by the second aid stop, quite a few had left us. By the end of the run, there were 6 of us left, the proud and the strong. Nice job, ladies! In total, we were out for about 6 hours and 15 minutes, but we stopped quite a bit. I'm not sure I'll match my time from 2006, but that's not really that important to me. I care more about feeling better at the finish than I did 4 years ago, and better the day after. Today I felt really good, and even better after a yoga class in Prospect Park. Last one for the season, which means fall is almost here. Fall=marathon season!
After a brief respite at the aid stop, we headed east again, down first avenue to 34th street and over to the path along the FDR. Passing the UN was pretty cool. Preparations for the General Assembly week ahead were in full swing. I always find the UN inspiring. Some of my other teammates feel differently, but as long as we talk about running and stay away from politics, we should be ok.
Anyway, we continued on our way down the east side, to our second aid stop at Catherine Street, by the South Street Seaport (mile 14). I had some chips and a couple peanut butter-filled pretzels. Very tasty. (By the way, I wonder how much water and Gatorade I consume during one of these epic runs. I really should keep track).
After aid stop #2, we circled lower Manhattan and headed north up the Westside Highway. I have to say, I hate finishing a run on the WSH because I know exactly how much further I have left to go. That is a big drag when you've already done 18 miles and are anxious to get done. We finally made it to 72nd street (those stairs out of Riverside Park are brutal) and completed our 22 miles, according to Mary's GPS. By that point, the bottoms of my feet were really hurting, but otherwise, I felt good. We decided to walk the last part of our course, across the park to 5th avenue. The route said the total mileage was 22.5 miles, but I think it was closer to 23 once all was said and done. Can I really imagine doing another 5k? I'm not sure.
We started with 14 runners at 6:30am, and by the second aid stop, quite a few had left us. By the end of the run, there were 6 of us left, the proud and the strong. Nice job, ladies! In total, we were out for about 6 hours and 15 minutes, but we stopped quite a bit. I'm not sure I'll match my time from 2006, but that's not really that important to me. I care more about feeling better at the finish than I did 4 years ago, and better the day after. Today I felt really good, and even better after a yoga class in Prospect Park. Last one for the season, which means fall is almost here. Fall=marathon season!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Back, after a short hiatus
From posting, that is. But I've still been running. Since our 20 miler at the end of August, I've come back from vacation and settled more or less back into my routine. Work has been really busy and stressful and I've had a lot of other stuff going on. For the last two weekends, I've felt like I needed to sleep in on Saturday mornings rather than trek into the city for runs with the group. Since the runs are shorter, it has been easy to do them on my own. My route has been two loops of Prospect Park (approximately 7 miles) both weeks, followed by a trip to my favorite coffee truck and the farmers' market. As much as I've appreciated the 'me' time, I do miss the group. I'm looking forward to meeting up with them next weekend for our 23 miler, though I'm dreading the distance a little bit. 28 days to go until the Hartford marathon on 10/9, and just under two months until NYC on 11/7. Then, a much- deserved rest!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
20 miles, done and done!
This was our route for yesterday's 20 miler, courtesy of our weekly email from De:
Directions:
-Start at 16th street & Union Square west
-Run south on Union Square west to 14th St.
-Run West on 14th st. to WSH
-Run WSH to end (Battery Place)
-Run across Battery Place to Broadway & go north past the Charging Bull
-Run past Charging Bull to Park Place, which is where you enter the footpath to the Brooklyn Bridge
-run the Brooklyn Bridge to end
-make a right on Tillary street
-make a left Cadman Plaza (you will pass Borough Hall)
-take Cadman Plaza to Court Street (there is a Starbucks on your left)
-take Court Street & turn left on Union St.
-take straight to Union St. to Prospect Park
AID STOP
-One loop of Prospect Park
AID STOP
-Prospect park to Union St.
-Make a right on Court St.
-make a slight left to Cadman Plaza
-take Cadman Plaza to Tillary St.
-make a left on Tillary st. to the Brooklyn Bridge
-run across the Brooklyn Bridge
-make right on Park Row
-make a left at the top of city hall which is Chambers st.
-Run all the way across Chambers to WSH
-WSH to 14th st
-14th st. to the Start - the 16th street & Union Square west
I did almost nothing last week to prepare for the run, other than rest (and go to yoga with Laura and Jenna Bush. Really). I was on vacation, after all. Maybe that was preparation in itself, but I'm sure that was why I felt sluggish through most of the run. Surprisingly, I wasn't really dealing with pain, which was great. I think I ate my Lara bar too early in the run and my stomach was acting up. By the time we got to Brooklyn, I wanted to stop and go home. It didn't help that I live right by the park and could see my apartment. I had some potato chips at the second aid stop and those made a huge difference. It had to be the salt. Who knew that chips could be such a super food?!
Nearly 6 hours later, we arrived back in Union Square, 20 miles done. What a great feeling, to see the green market ahead of us at 16th street, knowing we were at the finish! Bev the psychiatrist's "medication" (tic-tacs in a medicine bottle) kept us laughing the entire time. After it was over, we trekked to Whole Foods to pick up some provisions. Chocolate milk tastes really delicious after a long run, I realized. When I got home, I took a fabulous 3 hour nap. It's back to a normal routine tomorrow, but I still have one day of vacation left!
Directions:
-Start at 16th street & Union Square west
-Run south on Union Square west to 14th St.
-Run West on 14th st. to WSH
-Run WSH to end (Battery Place)
-Run across Battery Place to Broadway & go north past the Charging Bull
-Run past Charging Bull to Park Place, which is where you enter the footpath to the Brooklyn Bridge
-run the Brooklyn Bridge to end
-make a right on Tillary street
-make a left Cadman Plaza (you will pass Borough Hall)
-take Cadman Plaza to Court Street (there is a Starbucks on your left)
-take Court Street & turn left on Union St.
-take straight to Union St. to Prospect Park
AID STOP
-One loop of Prospect Park
AID STOP
-Prospect park to Union St.
-Make a right on Court St.
-make a slight left to Cadman Plaza
-take Cadman Plaza to Tillary St.
-make a left on Tillary st. to the Brooklyn Bridge
-run across the Brooklyn Bridge
-make right on Park Row
-make a left at the top of city hall which is Chambers st.
-Run all the way across Chambers to WSH
-WSH to 14th st
-14th st. to the Start - the 16th street & Union Square west
I did almost nothing last week to prepare for the run, other than rest (and go to yoga with Laura and Jenna Bush. Really). I was on vacation, after all. Maybe that was preparation in itself, but I'm sure that was why I felt sluggish through most of the run. Surprisingly, I wasn't really dealing with pain, which was great. I think I ate my Lara bar too early in the run and my stomach was acting up. By the time we got to Brooklyn, I wanted to stop and go home. It didn't help that I live right by the park and could see my apartment. I had some potato chips at the second aid stop and those made a huge difference. It had to be the salt. Who knew that chips could be such a super food?!
Nearly 6 hours later, we arrived back in Union Square, 20 miles done. What a great feeling, to see the green market ahead of us at 16th street, knowing we were at the finish! Bev the psychiatrist's "medication" (tic-tacs in a medicine bottle) kept us laughing the entire time. After it was over, we trekked to Whole Foods to pick up some provisions. Chocolate milk tastes really delicious after a long run, I realized. When I got home, I took a fabulous 3 hour nap. It's back to a normal routine tomorrow, but I still have one day of vacation left!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Vacation!
I breathed a huge sigh of relief yesterday as I left work. I haven't had a vacation to speak of since May 2009. That can't happen again. Very excited to head up to Maine for a few days of rest and family.
This morning, I woke up crazy early as per usual. We were meeting at 6:30 for a 6-8 mile run. My group decided to do 7 miles at 2/1 intervals. We did a lower loop of the park then headed east over the Queensborough Bridge. That's mile 15 of the marathon, and one of the toughest parts of the whole course. First of all, it's a huge hill, and there are no spectators, only a dark tunnel full of tired runners. All you can hear on marathon Sunday is the sound of feet leading up to the mayhem of First Ave. Today we ran on the pedestrian path from Manhattan over to Queens and back. It was wall of noise; cars on one side, subways on the other. I felt pretty good for most of the run, but that bridge DOES feel really long, even after 5 miles! I led the group back to Manhattan, mostly because Nick didn't have a watch, and it was pretty weird to be at the head of a single-file line with the whole bridge in front of me. We were back in Central Park shortly. Overall, it was a beautiful day and a great run. Definitely good practice for the marathon.
...and now vacation starts for real!
This morning, I woke up crazy early as per usual. We were meeting at 6:30 for a 6-8 mile run. My group decided to do 7 miles at 2/1 intervals. We did a lower loop of the park then headed east over the Queensborough Bridge. That's mile 15 of the marathon, and one of the toughest parts of the whole course. First of all, it's a huge hill, and there are no spectators, only a dark tunnel full of tired runners. All you can hear on marathon Sunday is the sound of feet leading up to the mayhem of First Ave. Today we ran on the pedestrian path from Manhattan over to Queens and back. It was wall of noise; cars on one side, subways on the other. I felt pretty good for most of the run, but that bridge DOES feel really long, even after 5 miles! I led the group back to Manhattan, mostly because Nick didn't have a watch, and it was pretty weird to be at the head of a single-file line with the whole bridge in front of me. We were back in Central Park shortly. Overall, it was a beautiful day and a great run. Definitely good practice for the marathon.
...and now vacation starts for real!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Another awesome medal thanks to Michael C.
We all deserved a medal after our 18 miler Saturday. Here is what Michael came up with this week!
