The choices we make for the things we love

Running, like most things in life, is about choices for me. It often causes me pain and a lot of people have told me that I should consider not doing it. But it's important to me. I can't really explain why, and a lot of people don't get it. I'm lucky that my physical therapist understands and hasn't told me to stop flat out. However, she has mentioned the dilemma a few times. We've talked quite a bit about the anti-inflammatories, one of many tools in my 'toolbox'. The thing is, I don't want to be on medication forever. There's no particular reason other than I don't like medication. But it does make a huge difference. So much so, in fact, that I decided to go back up to 2 doses a day. I've been really uncomfortable for the past few weeks since tapering down to once a day, so I consulted with the doctor and with my dad, and I had to make a choice: do the activity I love with the help of medication, or stop doing the activity that I love.

It seems like an easy decision when I write it that way, but it wasn't. Anyway, I decided to go back up to 2x a day, but I was still concerned about tackling 18 miles yesterday. I've been feeling really achy, plus tired and stressed from work, which didn't help. (I do have a vacation coming up, which I am confident will do wonders). The renegade group ran Friday morning, but I was too busy planning a farewell for a dear co-worker to join them. So I went to bed at 8:30pm and got up at 4am for a 6:15am meeting time on Saturday morning. I felt better after a good night's sleep, but I really had to fight to shake off the nerves I felt.

We started with a 5 mile loop in CP, then exited the park at 72nd street and ran to Park Avenue, which was closed to traffic as part of Summer Streets. It was so awesome to see all of Park stretching out ahead of us, full of runners and bikers and all kinds of cool booths alongside us. I love seeing the city from another angle. We ran past the doorman buildings, through midtown (through the tunnel at GCT), down to Union Square to 4th Avenue to Lafayette Street, all closed to cars. I almost felt like I was running down First Ave on marathon Sunday, minus the gazillion spectators. We ran past the Brooklyn Bridge to Park Row, to Broadway, past the bull statue by Bowling Green, where De was parked with a car stocked full of Gatorade and snacks. I made a beeline for the fig newtons before we took off back up the West Side Highway. We took a few extra walk breaks towards the end, but eventually we ended up back at 72nd Street. It took us 5 hours of 1/1 intervals, but we did the 18! The end on the West Side felt particularly long because we could see every block as we passed, but we made it. I am a true believer in the power of anti-inflammatories. My knee hurt a little by the end, but all in all, I felt much better than I thought I would. I took an ice bath and a nap when I got home, but I've been up and about today and was able to go to yoga in the park this morning, which felt fabulous.

Here are a few other cool/random things that we saw yesterday:
1) Al Roker riding his bike on the WSH.
2) A girl in a sparkly ensemble hula-hooping alongside the foot path.
3) Two Asian gentlemen in full business attire out for a jog along Park Avenue.
4) A water station in SoHo providing NYC tap water (supposedly the best in the world) to runners passing by. There was even a little dog dish underneath.

I hope I made the right decision, increasing the medication. Every day is different. Next week is a shorter week, and then we're up to 20 miles in two Saturdays. We'll see. The marathon is getting closer and closer!

Sometimes you just have to sleep in

Today was one of those days. It was a long week, and when De's email came on Wednesday with the details of this morning's run, the idea of hauling it uptown for a 6:45am 6-8 miler was just not appealing. I figured I could handle the distance on my own and that I would sleep in a little. This morning I rolled out of bed at 8:30 and headed out to Prospect Park. It was gorgeous out. Not too hot, much drier than the past few days. I took it easy: two loops of the park for a total of 7 miles in 1/1 intervals. Still haven't been feeling 100%, but my visits to PT last week helped a lot. To cap off my run, I visited the farmers' market and picked up some local peaches. Yum! All in all, it was a good morning.

In other news, I signed up for the Hartford marathon on 10/9/10. We're scheduled to run 26 miles that day. The Galloway folks like to say that if we're running 26 miles, we'd better get a medal for it. The course time limit is 6 hours. I'll use all that time and just get the mileage in before I start tapering for NYC on 11/7/10.

Next week: 18 miles. Yikes.

Another medal, courtesy of Michael C.

16 Miler (aka The Run That Would Not End)

Yesterday was our 16 miler. It was an absolutely gorgeous day: cool with a breeze. We met on the UWS. I decided to do 1/1 with Mary, George and some other folks. I figured it was better to take it easy. I haven't been feeling well the past few days, and I've been a little achy since tapering the medication. I stayed home Friday night to ice my knees in anticipation of Saturday morning, but I was still a little concerned about how it would go.

Anyway, we did five miles in the park before heading up the West Side. I never knew about the greenway when I lived in that neighborhood. Only now do I realize what I was missing! A great path, beautiful views of the water and the bridge. Just gorgeous. Right around mile 7, we started to get a little antsy for the aid stop at the halfway point (the Fairway parking lot). I was very happy to see our volunteers with a van fully stocked with water, Gatorade, fig newtons, and other goodies. We took a quick bathroom break at Fairway. The weird looks we got were pretty funny. Was it our beeping watches or our fuel belts, I wonder?

We set off after Fairway up the greenway to the Little Red Lighthouse by the GWB. This is where the run started to feel really long. According to our route, the lighthouse was 3 miles past the Fairway stop, but it felt like 10 miles. Mary and I said that the lighthouse fairies were moving it. My hip and knee were really starting to ache. We finally arrived at the lighthouse at mile 11 and turned around. Our next landmark was Fairway (again), where we stopped briefly for water and Gatorade. After that, we kept going downtown along the water. This time, the breeze was at our backs. It was pretty crowded with cyclists and we were looking at every turnoff wondering if it was ours. By the time we arrived at 88th street, we were psychologically spent. We passed the group ahead of us at 86th street and Riverside Drive, heading west, back to our stopping point at the park. According to Mary's GPS, the run was more like 17 or 17.5 miles. I can't tell if it felt longer because the mileage was off or because my legs hurt and my mind was elsewhere.

I grabbed a sandwich and a banana before getting on the train back to Brooklyn. By then, I was in no mood for the ride back. Crowded, hot subway, 25 minute wait for the 2 train at Times Square, screaming children. I finally got home and laid around like a slug all afternoon. It was awesome, except for the knee pain. Is it possible to wrap up completely in ice packs?

I'm so glad 16 is over. Only 14 more weeks left to go until 11/7. I can't believe it. We drop down to 6-8 miles next week and then tackle 18 after that. I hope it goes more smoothly than yesterday did.

Heat wave!

It is unbearably hot in NYC. It has been for several weeks. I don't remember last summer being this bad. Then again, I wasn't training for a marathon last summer. Anyway, Saturday morning was a shorter run after last week's trek down the west side. We met at 6:45 in Central Park and did five miles. We had the option to add the "magic mile", but nobody wanted to do that. I feel like I sweat off at least 10 lbs! (Oh, if only that were true, right?)

One of the suggestions Andrea Moss made when we met is that I switch my Gatorade for coconut water because coconut water doesn't have artificial sweetners. Yesterday, the coconut water I carried with me didn't last very long. I'm experimenting with different flavors. So far, I like the plain and the peach mango. Yum.

After the run, we had a clinic on running form with Mary from Jack Rabbit. She gave us some exercises to do, so if you see me skipping in the park, don't be alarmed. She talked about balance, arm carriage, and foot positioning, too. I'll have to talk to my physical therapist about everything she said, because I'm sure my issues with running form have to do with what we're already working on. Mary also said that we should work on getting our strides up to 90/minute in order to maximize efficiency when we run. I've never counted strides and have no idea where I am, so I'm curious to try it. It has nothing to do with speed, but will allow me to conserve energy during races.

Lastly, I'm tapering off the medication. I'm down to once a day from twice. We'll see how I feel. Hoping for the best!

Settling in

I'm finally settling into my new place and loving it. Just got online at home, so I am a bit overdue on the update from last week's 14 miler. I met up with the breakaway group at 6am Friday morning (my parents were coming to town, so Saturday morning wouldn't have worked). The 6am start (at Columbus Circle) meant an insanely early departure from Brooklyn, but I was grateful once we got going that we were on the road before the heat of the day. And it was HOT. By 7:30am, I was already dragging, and we had quite a few miles to go. Lynn, super pace group leader, planned out our route along the West Side Highway because it has Gatorade vending machines, bathrooms, a breeze...and it's flat. Way to go, Lynn! It was beautiful along the water, and the group was great company. I couldn't have asked for better running companions!

By the end of the run, we were all pretty tired but feeling proud of our accomplishments. Later on the day, Michael, a first-time marathoner, designed a medal for us.



That's Sargent Friday with a 14. Very clever! Thank you, Michael, for the medal! It was a hot day, but we did it. The Jamba Juice I had afterward tasted delicious!

Christmas in July

Seriously, I am so excited this weekend is finally here. I can hardly stand it. I feel like a five- year- old on Christmas morning. Two friends have said, separately, that I look happier than I have in a year. I can't wait for a fresh start in the new place. Lots to do to get organized, but I think it will be fun.

I think it was all the excitement that got me out of bed this morning. I got up earlier than past Saturdays (4:45) in order to be on the Upper East Side by 6:45. As the runs get longer and the weather hotter, we meet earlier. It was pretty painful, I have to say. Everyone else in the world, it seems, is going to be at that hour! I made it uptown while still half asleep and ran a loop of the reservoir with Mary before the group arrived. We had the option to do extra mileage today, and I was glad to do it before the group run because it was so disgustingly humid outside. The reservoir is beautiful and the lap around it woke me up enough to finish five miles with the team. In total, I guess I did about 6.6 miles today. I felt pretty good afterwards, and spent all afternoon moving stuff over to the new place and dodging runaway shopping carts at Target.

This week I have my nutrition consultation with Andrea Moss from Spark! Wellness. I have a lot of questions for her about how I can get enough energy during the day, especially during the training season. I don't eat a lot of meat, so getting enough protein is always a concern. I'm hoping she has some creative ideas, and I will be sure to report back.

Parents are coming to town next weekend to help me settle in, and Dad wants to run with the team on Saturday morning. We'll see what he decides. We're doing 14 miles. Stay tuned...

happy 4th weekend!

I was dragging this morning (it was a very long week), but I was happy when I got to the park for our run. It was gorgeous out and the park was almost deserted. It is a holiday after all, and everyone leaves town. The rest of the week is supposed to be really hot, so we lucked out this morning. There was a cool breeze and it wasn't too humid. Anyway, we did 4 miles plus a "Magic Mile" around the oval. I shaved two minutes off my MM time! It's supposed to be a tool to predict finishing time for longer races. I did today's in 10:30, which is a little bit slower than my fastest 10k pace. About right, considering we ran 2 miles before it and 2 miles afterwards. At that pace, I am poised to break 6 hours at the marathon, and I'm hoping to get a little faster as the season progresses. I'd like to match (or beat) my time from 2006, if I can.

I'm feeling much better than I have in a long time. Part of that is the medication, the other part is my improved mood because of my upcoming move. Also, as much as I dread getting up early, I feel a sense of accomplishment by running with a team again. I really missed it during my rather long hiatus!

Brooklyn run!

This morning's run was in my neighborhood, so I got to serve as a tour guide of sorts for all the folks who never cross the river from Manhattan. We met at City Hall at 6:45am (an earlier start than usual because of the distance and the heat). We started at 7: ran over the Brooklyn Bridge (my favorite spot in the city; I will never get tired of the beauty of the bridge and the view from it), to Cadman Plaza, to Tillary Street, through Cobble Hill, over the Gowanus Canal (which smells when it is 80 degrees out, by the way) to Prospect Park and back to Manhattan. Our whole run, including one loop of Prospect Park, was 12 miles. We started at 2 and 1 intervals and dropped down to 1 and 1 at the halfway mark because it was just too hot. I showed the group my new apartment (!) and suggested that we run clockwise around Prospect Park to avoid the big hill. Everyone was very willing to go along with that idea. George said he would put me in his will in appreciation, and Christine, a former estate lawyer, said she could make that happen. Hilarious.

Road ID

I got a Road ID recently, and I thought it warranted a post. I also got my dad one for Father's Day. (Happy Father's Day, Dad!) These are cool little wrist or shoe tags that you can get that have your name, town, and emergency contact information on them. I put my friend Sarah on there so I'd have somebody local along with immediate family. She is prepared to sit by the phone on Saturday mornings, right Sarah?

We all need to run safely, so definitely check out the Road ID: www.roadid.com

10 miles and "energy cookies"

I have to start every post, of course, with a comment on how early the alarm went off and how hot it was by the start of the run. With that out of the way, today was a gorgeous day for a 10 miler in central park. We did the outer loop, followed by the inner loop. By mile 8, I wanted to stop running, but I kept at it thanks to the group. I think it's time for new shoes; the bottoms of my feet were definitely feeling it by the end!

We had a clinic with a nutritionist after the 10 miler. She had some great suggestions on foods that give us eneregy: coconut water instead of gatorade (no artificial sweetner), greens, proteins. It was food for thought. (Teehee). We had awesome "energy cookies" waiting for us at the clinic. The recipe is below, thanks to Andrea Moss of Spark! Wellness. They were delicious! I signed up for a 45 minute consultation with her through the team. I will be sure to report back.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Energy Cookies (these were delicious!)
3 large ripe bananas, well mashed (about 1.5 cups)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 c coconut oil--barely warm, so it isn't solid (or you can use olive oil)
2 cups rolled oats
2/3 cup almond meal (you can make your own by pulsing almonds in a blender until they are the texture of sand)
1/3 c coconut, finely shredded and unsweetened.
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp fine grained sea salt
1 tsp baking powder
6-7 ounces dark chocolate chips or dark chocolate bar chopped.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, racks on top third.

In a large bowl, combine bananas, vanilla extract and coconut oil. Set aside. In another bowl, whisk together oats, almond meal, shredded coconut, cinnamon, salt and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips. The dough is a bit looser than regular cookie dough, but don't worry. Drop dollops of dough, each about 2 tsp in size, an inch apart onto parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-25 minutes, depending on your oven, until cookie bottoms turn golden. Be careful not to burn them.

Makes about 3 dozen bite sized cookies.

What a fantastic weekend!

The family was down in DC this weekend to celebrate John's 80th birthday. It was great, a wonderful gathering in honor of a wonderful man. I arrived Friday night and Dad and I got up early Saturday morning to tackle 4 miles before it got TOO hot. (It was already 75 degrees at 7am). We ran out and back on the trail near the hotel (too many of us to stay at John's!), which was pretty good. It was an old railroad bed, so it was perfectly flat. I felt MUCH better than I have in weeks. The doctor put me on a time-released anti- inflammatory, and I am moving with much less pain. I almost forgot what it's like not to hurt. (Terrible, isn't it? I have so much respect for people with physical limitations). Anyway, Dad and I had a great run (well, run/walk). I love that he is out there with me!

The rest of the day was really awesome, too. Not about running, but worth sharing anyway. We went over to Arlington to wish Pop-pop a happy father's day. It was the first time I'd seen the marker since the burial. Arlington is such a confusing place, moving and heartbreaking at the same time. I am grateful to the armed forces, but I just wish everyone there died of old age like Pop-pop. We paid our respects and then went over to the Korean War memorial and had lunch near the GW campus (my old 'hood--for just a year). Chris was with us, and he said that we walked about 5 miles, so Saturday ended up being a longer mileage day than I planned. Still, by the end of all that, much less pain!

The party was amazing. John was so touched by everyone's presence. We ate, laughed, played music, and told stories. Lots of people shared memories of Mimi, too, which is always great for us. All the grandparents were with us this weekend!

feels like summer!

It's early June, but it felt like August during this morning's run. Sticky, sticky! We met in front of Jack Rabbit on the upper east side (which meant another very early departure from Brooklyn) for 8 miles. The course was cool: over to the park, north to 111th street, east to the FDR drive, over to the footpath, down to 60th street, and back to 84th/Jack Rabbit. It was so cool to run down the east side--I never go over there--and to see the Queensboro Bridge in the distance. I was remembering miles 14 and 15 of the marathon over that bridge. There are no spectators, so all you can hear are the feet of fellow runners. Very powerful, especially since the bridge is almost completely dark. Anyway, the lovely people at Jack Rabbit had a shoe clinic for us after the run, before the store opened. They had bagels for us (yum!) and gave us a discount on everything in the store. I stocked up on some gear, for sure.

8 miles felt pretty good! I was very happy, especially given all the aches and pains I've been feeling, which has also caused a fair amount of anxiety. I'm going to the doctor this week, so hopefully I'm going to get some answers and possible solutions. I'm optimistic that I'll be able to keep running. Talking to De last week and having a good run today made me feel better. I came home, stretched, iced, and spent a lovely afternoon walking around with minimal discomfort, so that's an improvement.

Next weekend, 3-5 with Dad in DC while we're all there for a family gathering.

One foot in front of the other...

It's been a tough few weeks. Briefly: fantastic physical therapist suggested that I have a physical because she wondered if I had something else going on other than running-related injuries. I'm in pain a lot and not healing as quickly as I'd like. I went to the doctor and am in the process of exploring my options and collecting information. Nothing concrete yet, but I feel like I'm on track toward getting some answers. My PT said that the doctors may tell me that I shouldn't be running, which was very upsetting. She told me to prepare me for the possibility, but I didn't want to hear it. I don't know that for sure yet, so I'm going to do what I can until I have a definitive directive. Of course, I see the bigger picture, and if I have to choose between running right now and feeling good in the long term, I will go with long term. I go back and forth between being terrified by the unknown and hopeful that it's nothing serious and/or nothing I can't manage.

I got a little bit of hope today when I talked to our program director after our 6 mile run. (We were supposed to do 5, but our pace leader led us the wrong way and we added a mile). She told me that she has similar issues to what the doctors think I may have, and that she still manages to run marathons. It was great to make that connection with her, to get some support, and to know what questions to ask when I go for appointments. I'll definitely be asking about diet and vitamins, etc. I'm certainly feeling a little less freaked out than I did earlier in the week.

Today's run included a "magic mile", which is supposed to be a predictor of marathon pace. We did it in the middle of our 6 mile run, and I took it easy. According to the chart, my marathon time will be about an hour and a half slower than my 2006 time. I don't think that's quite accurate, but on the other hand, I'm just trying to make it to the start. Having a time goal at this point just doesn't make any sense.

One foot in front of the other...

More gear

There's a rumor going around that you only need sneakers to run. Whoever started that rumor is obviously lying. I have accumulated more gear since I started running longer distances than I ever thought possible (or necessary, until I started using all of it). Shoes, shorts with pockets, fuel belts (to carry water and gels), SPI belts (to carry all my stuff), ipod holders, gu/gel, ID tags, body glide, hats, wicking clothes, special socks... you get the idea. The latest acquisition: a Timex watch with two interval timers so I can do the run/walk thing this year. I took it out for a little spin on Friday in Maine and I like it so far. But who knows, I may be hearing beeping in my sleep by the time November 7th arrives!

week 2!

5:30am felt extra early this morning after I didn't sleep well last night. But I made it up to the Upper East Side for our 4 mile run in Central Park at 7:45am. I saw some familiar faces from last week, and met some new people. I think the pace groups will be pretty well formulated soon, but there is flexibility to speed up or slow down depending on how we're feeling on a particular day. I ran with the 13s again today (comfortable mile pace +2 minutes, the Galloway rule). It was perfect out, sunny and breezy, and I felt much better than last week. (Amen to that!)

After the run, I took the time to stretch the way Gopi (super physical therapist) has been showing me. She has different thoughts on stretching than some of the Galloway folks do. I trust her and stretching makes me feel better, so I'm sticking with what I know. I'm reminded of Coach Adam's refrain, "Don't do anything different during the marathon than you did during your long runs!" So, stretching it is. And coffee (and water!) immediately following!

Next week, 5 miles in Maine, since I'll be there to celebrate B's "graduation" (in quotes because he has an internship until July) from UNH. Maybe I can get Dad to run/walk with me!

Run #1 = fun

I got up at 5:30am this morning to make it to Central Park for our first training run, an easy 3 miles. I was cursing the early hour a little bit, and wondering if I really wanted to give up all Friday night plans between now and November 7th, but I think it'll be worth it. Truthfully, there is no way I am making it to the start without a team and a structure to get me there. The goal of this morning's run was to see if this run/walk method would even work for me. Everybody on the Galloway team swears by it, and for someone as injury prone as I am, it seems like a good approach.

I arrived at our meeting place and was immediately surrounded by what seems to be a very friendly, supportive, and diverse group. It is so inspiring to see runners of all ages and paces working toward a goal together! I felt pretty good as we got underway. I was surprised, actually, at how nice it felt to be back out there. Those walk breaks were a great recharge. My legs appreciated them! I felt a couple tweaks in my knees by the end, but with some stretching and some ice, I'll be ok. (If Fred Lebow could run the NYC marathon after having brain cancer, I can run it again despite all of my issues!) Now I'm off to brunch with one of my favorite people in the entire world. It feels great to accomplish so much before 10am. That nap I'm going to take this afternoon will be excellent, too.

Run for Your Life

Watching a documentary on Fred Lebow, founder of the NYC marathon, tonight to get inspired for tomorrow's kickoff with the Galloway program. It's been a loooong time since I've run with any regularity, so I'm a little nervous about getting back out there. But I 'm optimistic that the Galloway run/walk/run approach will work. We'll see if I can run/walk my way, injury free, to 26.2 on 11/7/10!

Onward and upward

I got the all clear from my physical therapist to go for a run over the weekend! I'd been going through withdrawal symptoms and couldn't wait to get out there. I felt pretty good a loop of the park, in much less pain than I imagined. The 2x per week PT seems to be working! I feel like I am taking small steps toward achieving balance after a very difficult few weeks.

Race report: Portland 1/2

Sunday was an early morning! The boys were up at 5, I rolled out a bed shortly after that. Dad was bustling around the kitchen a little nervous. At the expo the day before, he looked over at me and said, "what am I DOING here??" We all had our power breakfast of bananas and pb and j and piled into the car for the trek to portland for the race. Mom, superfan, came along for the ride. She left us at the start, telling us to meet by B's tallest friend at the finish line. (He wanted to know where he would meet!)

Dad and I started off slowly. It was a perfect day for running--cool, not raining. The course was beautiful; nearly peak foliage and views of the back cove. On our way through a residential neighborhood, a spectator reminded us to enjoy the view. I spent most of the first few miles thankful that my knees didn't hurt. By mile 6 or so, I was definitely starting to feel them. Just before the turnaround, we saw B, S, and C heading in the other direction, which was both cool and humbling, since they're so much faster than we are. We saw Mom on the side of the road cheering us on, which was a great boost! Up the hill at mile 6.5, I had to walk, my legs just wouldn't take it. I don't know how I made it from mile 7-10. Those are just a blur!

Somewhere in there, Dad and I met up with another father-daughter team and bonded with them briefly on route 1. We also saw a dead deer on the side of the road. Gross. I guess the cosmos felt I needed to have the full Maine experience this weekend? By mile 10, we were visualizing the start of a 5k--we knew we could do that! I was praying to every deity out there for my legs to carry me to the finish. Being injured is so frustrating. I wasn't tired, and cardio wise, I could've run all day, but my stupid legs just wouldn't have it.

By mile 11, we were back over the bridge in Portland. Mile 12 felt positively endless, around the back cove again. There were no spectators until we got closer to the finish, but we did encounter a woman doing intervals who said that she would pretend Dad was her surrogate, as her dad had been gone for a long time. It was really amazing how many people said something about the two of us running together. That is something I'll remember for a long time, especially Dad looking behind him to make sure I was there. When we got a few hundred yards from the finish line, he reached back and grabbed my hand and pulled me along with him. We ran over the line together, saw Mom, B and several friends cheering us on. Even the announcer called our names out over the PA system as we were crossing, naming us a "father-daughter team!"

I've been pretty sore after the race, and my physical therapist made me promise to take a break from running for awhile while I work to address some of these injuries. I think Dad is feeling pretty good. Who knows, we may see him out there for the whole 26.2 sometime soon!

Just a few days to go!

I am both excited and terrified about the race this weekend. I'm excited because I've been looking forward to proving again that I can handle long(er) distances, that the 2005-2006 season wasn't a fluke. I'm also really excited because this is the first long race I'll be running with my brother AND my dad! Yes, my dad decided to join in the fun. He hasn't really been training, but he did 8 miles a few days ago and wants to be there with us on race day. He and I will tackle the course together, slooowly....

This leads me to why I am terrified. I am in rough shape. I've been in pain for weeks. I've been doing all my long runs on machines at the gym, and I'm really afraid that my IT band and adductor issues will flare up on Sunday and I won't be able to finish. I've been going to the doctor about all this--I learned my lesson the first time. I'm set to start physical therapy the day after the race, twice a week until I feel better.

It's sad when I love to run so much but my body doesn't like it. :(

Oh well, my best is all I can do. Here's to a good race with Dad and B!

Tenner

Done. On the elliptical, but done nonetheless. Two weeks until race day!

Running with Rachel Zoe

I did 8 miles today on the elliptical at the gym. I've never done that before, but I figured it was better than struggling through a long run in the park. I've been plagued by quite a few injuries lately, so I thought this was for the best. I felt pretty good after my 1 3/4 hours, if not bored out of my mind. Special thanks to Rachel Zoe and the Planet Money podcast for helping me through!

ugh

today was probably the worst run on record. i felt awful. i didn't finish all the mileage, and it was supposed to be at 10k. oh well. i know what i did wrong: ate too big a breakfast and didn't wait long enough afterwards, didn't drink enough water prior and didn't bring water with me, and went too late in the morning, when it was already hot. (i decided to sleep in instead). several strikes against me! i'm calling today a throw away, and i'm going to rest for the remainder of the weekend. i have 4 weeks from tomorrow to get it together.

Just over a month to go!

The Portland half-marathon is October 4, and I am slowly amping up my mileage. I ran 7 miles at the beach in Maine two weekends ago (Dad hung in there for 6 with me!) and I almost conquered 8 last weekend. I say almost because my knee started to hurt and I had to walk the last little bit. I did do 8, though, and I had delicious Mexican food afterwards. Lunch of champions!

This week has been a light week, which has been nice. This weekend I'm resting, only doing one shorter run on Sunday instead of my usual two workouts. I remember when I felt like running a half was like nothing. It's amazing how long it takes to get back up to that kind of mileage! B is a little further along in his training than I am--he's already up to 10 miles. But I'm not focusing on that, or how much faster he is. (But we did joke about how he'll have time to go get brunch and then come back and watch me finish!) Just have to take my own advice, run my own race, and prove that I can do this again!

The wall

Picture the scene from "Run, Fat Boy, Run": Simon Pegg encounters a giant stone wall during his marathon and had to throw his entire body weight into it to pass through to the other side and keep running. That didn't quite happen to me today, but I have been experiencing a lack of energy lately. I realized this afternoon as I was laboring through 4 miles on the treadmill (it was too hot to run outside) that a possible explanation may be the proverbial wall. How else do I account for taking a nap on Saturday afternoon in front of Top Chef when I should've been out doing 6 miles?

The half marathon is 7 weeks away, so the wall, as frustrating as it is, is appropriate. Seriously, though, not even intervals on the treadmill or "The Fabulous Life" on VH1 were enough to make the workout more tolerable today. I will not take a nap on Saturday. Instead, I will make up the 6 mile run and skip the speed workout on the calendar for this week in an effort to add some mileage. Funny, there was a time when I felt totally confident in my ability to run a half. Not now! It's been a process to get back out there, for sure. Wish me luck pushing through the wall!

GRBA 5k with Dad

I love how excited and victorious he looks!

Mini 10k!

7000 women+10k+medal+flower= great day

There was something really beautiful and powerful about running with all those women. Not to sound cheesy, but the crowd at the starting line represented women of all ages, nationalities, sizes and paces. All of us have a love for running in common. What a cool thing. I have no idea why the race is called the Mini 10k, but apparently it started sometime in the 70s with only 78 participants. Today we were out there 7000 strong. And the guys were on the sidelines cheering us on.

Japan Day 4M

Photos courtesy of D, who got up early to come with me to the start. I'm in the photo if you look closely. It's like "Where's Waldo?" for race spectators.

After not running for a couple weeks due to vacation etc, the Japan Day 4M was a great race. I PR'd again at a pace of 10:17 per mile. That may not seem fast, but it is for me! I left everything I had in the park that day. Then I went to a diner and had some eggs and took a nap in front of the tv. Sweet. 7 down, 2 more to go to qualify for the 2010 marathon!

A very Scottish Saturday

I was a little nervous about Saturday's Scotland Homecoming 10k (where does NYRR come up with these names?) because I haven't raced that distance in quite awhile and my knee has been bothering me lately. I spent Friday night stretching and icing (and worrying, to be honest). I guess the first two paid off--Saturday morning went really well, and I PR'd during the 10k! (1.06.21). Slow, yes, but almost 45 seconds faster per minute than my normal pace. Even better, my knee didn't hurt nearly as much as it did during the Colon Cancer Challenge (There's that NYRR naming thing again. Incidentally, I am planning to give the shirt from that race to my father. I think he will appreciate that given his profession).

The challenge for Saturday was definitely the weather--the very wet, chilly, Scottish weather. The announcer kept saying that the day came free of charge courtesy of the Scottish chamber of commerce or something, and NYRR was trying to give us the authentic Scottish experience. Still, there were bagpipers. The rain was not necessary, thanks. It was pretty hilarious to see all these people running in their Scottish flag-adorned ponchos and hats (in the bag of swag we got for registering). I almost forgot how wet and frozen I was as I watched the crowd ahead of me. And of course, there was quite a large crowd ahead of me!

Anyway, I was really proud of myself for PR'ing and finishing so strong despite the conditions. My knee is a little sore now, but I'll deal. I think this is race #5 in my quest for guaranteed entry into the 2010 marathon. I have another next weekend, so we'll see how that goes. In the meantime, it's back to the ice and the foam roller for this knee!

i found a friend...

maggie decided to join me during my post-run stretching routine after B and I tackled the castle island loop in southie.

a new chapter

I've been thinking about trying to run more seriously again for awhile now. My new year's resolution, if you can call it that, was to find a way into the NYC marathon again. I didn't try for 2007, didn't get into 2008, and am not in shape enough to run in 2009. But I did join NYRR in January after resisting for ages, partially because of the way I felt they mistreated Coach Adam back in 2006. But resistance is futile--they're the only game in town if you want guaranteed entry, so I gave in. A few weeks ago, I ran my first NYRR race, the gridiron classic. Superbowl Sunday morning in Central Park, 4 miles in the freezing cold. I couldn't feel my toes for the first mile and a half, but it was great. I was proud and happy to finish and I had my cheering section of one meet me at the finish line.

Fast forward to this morning. The Al Gordon Snowflake 5k in Prospect Park. I don't usually do 5ks because I prefer distance. (It's not as embarrassing to run slowly during longer races, but during a 5k, everyone goes quite fast). I was really excited, though, because it was so close to my house. But something just didn't feel right. I was tired, it was FREEZING, and each mile felt longer than the last. (Seriously, it might have been the longest 5k I've ever done). I couldn't feel my toes for most of the race, which made it quite a challenge. (I don't think I realized how important toes really are!) Maybe it was that I went in thinking it would be no big deal, over in half an hour etc that got me in trouble. I guess the lesson here is that I need to take each race as seriously as the last. The whole time I was running, I kept reminding myself that I just need to do this, to get back out there, to put one foot in front of the other, if I really want to run another marathon. What's a marathon but a whole bunch of short races strung together, right?

Now that I'm home in my warm apartment, I'm happy I did it. Of course, I'm going to have good days and bad days, but each race will bring me closer to fall 2010. Here's to proving 2006 wasn't a fluke!

the brooklyn half--sort of

I set out for my usual Saturday morning run in Prospect Park and was very surprised to find masses of people running the Brooklyn half marathon along my route. (That's right, it's MY route! ;)) I should've remembered, since my coworker told me a few days ago that she was running it. Anyway, I wondered what to do for a quick second, and then I figured I would just run alongside the course. As long as I didn't try to win a la Rosie Ruiz (seems particularly fitting given the Boston marathon a few weeks ago!) it shouldn't be a problem. As I ran mile 9-13 of the course, I got a little swept up in the energy of race day. All these people were cheering and urging us on. Us, right, like I worked as hard as the people who actually ran an entire half marathon today! It made me remember how much I miss racing (and by 'racing, I mean endurance running, since we've established that I am not fast).

I cut out of the park at Grand Army Plaza and ran through the farmer's market and past a million baby carriages. And that is a typical Saturday in Brooklyn, if not an entirely typical run for me!

B runs Boston

In the spirit of the family marathon tradition, my brother took on 26.2 in Boston this past Monday. Here are some photos of his cheering section at the halfway mark (let me tell you, a lot of work went into those signs!) and of B running past us. He finished--any runner's goal for the first marathon. Way to go, B!

starting over...

I've taken a bit of a break from any hardcore running over the last few months and stuck to the gym and to yoga. I've run a little, but only about once a week and for a few miles at a time. Today was so beautiful that I opted to go for a loop of the park instead of to the gym. It finally felt like spring--the sun was shining, there was a breeze, it was opening day at the zoo, so there were families everywhere, all with little kids wearing animal masks. The trees were starting to bloom and all sorts of people were out playing soccer, biking, etc.

It felt great to be outside, but I just could not get a rhythm down. I don't know, I just wasn't feeling it. It was a struggle to finish 4 miles. My legs weren't tired, but I just didn't have the energy to keep going. I hate feeling like I'm starting over from square one in anticipation of next fall's marathon. (I haven't gotten in for sure yet, but I really want to run, either through the lottery or through charity). I really am starting from scratch, and the task feels daunting. If I couldn't comfortably run 4 miles today, how am I going to do 10, 12, 15, or 20?

I realize I'm being ridiculous, since I haven't been training, and I am the first person to say that we have to run our own races and start small. (I just wrote an article about that for a friend's blog). I'm just feeling a bit frustrated. I hope it'll pass as I add running back into my regular routine, and I hope I can stay strong and injury-free.

some photos from the NYC marathon 2007

Paula Radcliffe and Gete Wami, the two amazing women who will eventually take first and second in the women's division. (This picture was taken at mile 7, a mere 38 minutes into their marathon)

an adorable little kid near me who was giving passing runners a little extra support.

Mary and Emily, all set to cheer with their Jackrabbit noisemakers

one year ago tomorrow...

Tomorrow is marathon Sunday in New York City. I am so proud of my friends and teammates who are running, but I am heartbroken not to be among them. Friday night was our team dinner--Race with Purpose folks invited me to join them because I volunteered this season. I was so touched to be included, to still be considered part of the team even though I am not racing this year.

My friend Sarah, who was on staff at Team for Kids, is running with RWP tomorrow. She is amazing, and I feel truly lucky to know her. She's run two marathons for AIDS foundations, and tomorrow will be her third for charity. She is injured and hoping to finish in 5 1/2 to 6 hours, a 12-13 minute pace per mile. Despite her challenges, she is always smiling and ready with an inspiring word. Even so, she needed to be lifted up a little last night--she was anxious about her pacing and feeling that her performance would be diminished by other teammates' speedy showings out on the course tomorrow. Many of them have already qualified for Boston (running marathons in about 3:15 or so). I reminded Sarah (and myself, really) that we don't need to compare ourselves to the fastest teammates. I am never going to run a 3:15 marathon, or even a four hour one, for that matter. My body is not built for it. Sarah and I and other "slow" runners need to think of all those other people who can't even fathom running a marathon and remember that what we do is also extraordinary. In a lot of ways, it's harder for the slower folks to get out there and do it, and for many of us, we've come a long way to get where we are. (Remember when I hated running and couldn't last 15 minutes?)

Most of all, we need to run our own races, not anyone else's. This year's marathon is not my race, but that 7 miles I did this morning felt great and you can bet I'll be back in 2008. Tomorrow, I'll be on 4th avenue in Brooklyn holding pretzels for Sarah and cheering on my teammates as they race with purpose....

STRONG
BREATHE
RELAX
CADENCE
PATIENCE

invigorated (and not by running)

i know i usually write about running here, but i'm departing from that topic for this post. i had a great day today, despite the rain. the highlight was brunch with two extraordinary social workers. i was truly inspired by our conversation--your typical brunch banter about institutional oppression. all of us work in social services and we are challenged daily by the gatekeeping roles we play. on the one hand, we desire to work in solidarity with families and organizations, but we often fall into the trap of pathologizing our clients and failing to see them as whole people who are products of both genetics and society. my friend V said it best, "every time i write 'mom is depressed' on an assessment, i feel sick. we should change the wording to read 'mom is opressed.'" she is right--depression is the result of oppression, and we don't write that because it's not something we can fit neatly onto a service plan and change in 12 months of services.

all day, i have not stopped being grateful for these women. they have pushed me to challenge the oppression that i see in my work and to continue thinking about how i contribute to it through my actions. i really needed a reminder. complacency is my worst enemy.

how to get faster...

Lesson learned yesterday: being really pissed off makes me run REALLY fast. i seriously shaved about two minutes off my mile. as i passed my fellow brooklynites, i definitely got some funny looks. i'm sure they were thinking, "wow, what set this girl off?"

i felt much better afterwards. nothing a little sprint workout won't cure.

ps: go sox!

i can't explain it

it was such a beautiful day today. i love september in new york. it is still warm, but there is a crisp edge to the air that lets us know that something else is on the way. and today was the kind of day that makes me want to soak up the world a little more than i usually do.

i've been feeling sort of down lately, so i headed out to enjoy the sun. i'm not sure what it is-- maybe the transition from school to a full time job, or the fact that work has been utterly insane for the past two weeks. perhaps it's the other personal stuff i've been letting get to me a little too much. i thought a walk in the park might help. i visited a friend in connecticut yesterday, and getting out of the city did me a world of good. it was lovely to be somewhere else, and to be with someone familiar who gets me. still, i haven't fully relaxed in awhile, so i needed some time to myself. i can't say 'alone' because it's difficult to ever really be alone when there are people everywhere.

anyway,when i got to the park and started walking around the loop, something came over me. i ignored the tweak i've been feeling in my knee for the past few days and took off. i don't think i've run that fast since suffering through speed intervals last fall. shockingly, nothing hurt and i felt light on my feet. usually i clomp along rather ungracefully, but not today. i think i just needed to go, to push through everything i've been feeling, to get lost in the music on my ipod. i can't explain the compulsion i felt, or exactly what i was running away from, but that loop around the park made me feel so much better. it's amazing how that happens. i'm so glad i've found running as an outlet. what do the nonrunners do? :)

I am in love...

with brooklyn.

it's awesome. i love my new apartment (even the bunny farm next door, although it reminds me of the scene from "roger and me"), my new neighborhood, and my roommates. i love that prospect park is super close by, and that i just did a loop with my roomie. it's a great way to catch up about our days. but i am SO out of shape. i'd better figure that out, since there was a race starting as we were leaving tonight, and i really want to get my race on soon.

in the meantime, here's to lots more runs to explore the new (to me) borough!

when i look like i've run, but i haven't

it was really hot yesterday. really hot. and it had poured the night before. So much so, in fact, that the subways in NYC completely flooded. Perhaps you read about. When I came out of my apartment and realized the train downtown wouldn't be an option, I waited for a bus. Several passed by, but those were full. I found a friend who was also trying to figure out how to get to work, and we started walking in the humid grossness. It was disgusting. At one point, my friend turned to me and said "You look like you've just run ten miles." Great.

Luckily, when we got to 96th street, the 2/3 trains were running, but only as far as 34th. My friend could walk to work from there, but I still had a ways to go to get to the financial district. I decided to get off at 42nd and see if I could catch another train (someone told me there were some running), but no luck. When 2 hours had passed and I hadn't made it any further downtown, I decided to bag it and go home. Unfortunately, it was just too hot to actually run ten miles.

swimming, biking, running, and helping

With any big race come many emotional stories of endurance, hope, and pride. Several of my RWP/TFK teammates participated in the NYC triathlon a few weeks ago. You can read about what they did on Coach Adam's blog here. I'm not as hardcore as they are, so I was sleeping. But, a family friend recently shared a story with me about that day that is as amazing as the accomplishment of finishing such an intense race.

A few days ago, I attended a funeral service for the newborn son of a close family friend. The baby's death was truly a tragedy. He was very premature and wasn't able to leave the NICU. His entire family gathered at the hospital during the last few days of his short life to say their good-byes. On the way uptown, his grandparents got stuck in the middle of the NYC triathhlon. Traffic was completely stopped and roads were barricaded for the extraordinary athletes competing that day. My friends were understandably angry at the delay and overcome with grief at the thought of losing their grandson. A police officer on duty at the tri came to their aid, asking where they were going and what the situation was. The baby's grandfather is a fairly imposing man, and to see him broken with grief is a heartwrenching sight. Whatever the cause, something stirred inside the police officer, who motioned for the family to follow her. She escorted them through the triathlon and all the way to the front door of the hospital, where they were able to see their grandson just hours before he passed.

I love this story because it reaffirms my faith in humanity on the most basic level. Also, I am a social worker, and I love what the police officer did for this family in a moment of incredible need. One does not need to perform earth -shattering feats to be a hero(ine). Lastly, I think the NYC triathlon is a perfect backdrop for a story like this. In endurance sports, we always strive to PR, but this is proof that we can be our best selves outside the race, too.

gonna be some changes made

a thousand points to you if you know who sang that song! seems fitting given all that's going on for me right now. after a temporary gig, i start a new job next week. i'm excited about the work, and i look forward to the challenge of trying to make change in such a huge, complicated system of social services. yesterday, i went to a big meeting for social workers around new york city, and the sense of hope in the room astounded me. sure, there were people there who are jaded and burned out, but there were more who live their lives looking for the goodness in people and advocating tirelessly for kids and families. i couldn't help but feel pride. That was my community.

wow. deep.

in other news, i will soon be a brooklynite! i was thinking the other day as i was running on the west side (gotta bring it back to running always, right? after all, running is a metaphor for life) about how many places i've lived in the past few years and how many of them i've gotten to know simply through running around. DC, Providence, Boston, Sevilla, New Haven, various parts of Maine, NYC...you get the idea. can't wait to explore brooklyn on foot and tackle the loop in Prospect Park a few times. newness doesn't scare me as much as it once did.

but before i find some new runs, i've got to take care of these shin splints. ouch.

back to running for fun

I decided that i couldn't do the marathon with RWP this year (race with purpose is the new team that folks from team for kids formed). I have too much going on--I just graduated from CUSSW (!!), I moved, and now I'm job hunting. It's hard to think about fitting training into my schedule when I don't even know what my schedule will be. However, I've volunteered to help out during the training season, so hopefully I'll stay connected to my teammates and I can cheer them on November 4. I'm also thinking about a spring marathon--maybe by then I'll feel more settled.

So it's back to running for fun. I am so out of shape. Hard to believe my EASY runs used to be 10+ miles, and now I am barely doing 4. Yikes. Oh well. Now is not the time to feel discouraged about my mileage. Running is how I am taking care of myself during this time of such ambiguity. I went to an alumni thing a couple of months ago where someone actually said in her remarks, "be sure you work out a lot and eat good food while you're unemployed. It helps you feel less disgusting about yourself." Good advice to live by!

a little bit at a time

My six weeks of no running were officially up the day after I got home from New Orleans. (See link at right) After the incredible intensity of the trip, there was nothing I wanted to do more than put on sneakers and get outside. It didn't matter that it was freezing and there was snow on the ground. (Very harsh after being in 70 degree sun for a week!) Not wanting to overdo it, I went for about 20 minutes. Shortly, I realized how out of shape I am. The eliptical just doesn't compare to running for an hour + at a time. I have a lot to do to make up for all this time off, but I'll work up to the old level slowly. I'm not interested in getting injured again. Good luck to all the folks running Boston, Paris, and all those other races. RWP is doing Chicago--sadly, I won't be ready for a marathon in the fall. Maybe I'll go just to cheer them on?

What happens when my physical therapist tells me I can't run???

I go crazy. That's what. Since I last wrote, I went to the doctor and he told me I had to go to PT for four weeks. I went, and it turns out that I would be better off not running for 6 weeks in order to build strength again. I'm in week 3 of 6 and I am going insane. I'm like a running junkie and my physical therapist took away my fix. It's serious. I am SO jealous reading the emails from my teammates on our new Race with Purpose Yahoo group--they're all training for Boston and Paris and talking about upcoming shorter races. I had to pull out of the Cherry Blossom 10 miler, which means no race AND no visit to my dear dckatastrophe (among others). Plus, running is how I take care of myself--I have to keep a care log for my trauma course (we're going to New Orleans in two weeks) and it's BLANK, I tell you, BLANK.

Ok, so I'm being a bit dramatic. I'm finding other ways to blow off steam--yoga, swimming, etc. But that's just not the same when the body is used to a multi-hour run. When I get back from spring break, my 6 weeks will be up and I'll be back in the game. I've decided not to enter the lottery for NYC 2007--I need to finish school and move or whatever, but I'm thinking of tackling a marathon in 2008...Paris, anyone? ;)

Injury update

Ok, so you probably remember that I spent the weeks leading up to the marathon in unbelievable pain because of what I thought was a pulled hip flexor. Well, I FINALLY went to the doctor about it three weeks ago when it wasn't getting better, and the doctor told me that I in fact have a sprained pelvis. I told him all about the pain: when it started, how long it lasted, where it hurt, etc. Without my telling him, the doctor asked me if I had fallen prior to the pain starting. I did fall, during the 18 mile run, but I thought of the fall and the pain as separate occurrences. Turns out, the pain was exacerbated by the fall and it wasn't the running at all. When I fell, one of my pelvis bones rotated forward and my muscles strained to hold it in place. The doctor sent me to PT starting last week, where I was "realigned". Now I am nearly pain free! No running yet--not until I have full range of motion without pain, but I'm getting closer! Why did I put off the visit to the physical therapist for so long?

Time to deal with this, and then I can start thinking about the next race. I signed up for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in DC with Em and Liz on April 1. I think that's a good goal!

Marathon photos!

I know it's been a long time since I last wrote, but things at school have been insane. I am finally done for the semester--one left to go! Even thought the marathon was awhile ago, it is still completely fresh in my mind and I get chills just thinking about it. I've started running again for about a half an hour at a time. The pain in my hips is nearly gone, but I do have some tightness from time to time. Mostly, I just haven't felt like running. I am starting to miss it, though. I DEFINITELY miss my TFKers! Here are some photos from the marathon. Both were taken by TFK Bob's (see blog at right) roommate on 5th avenue. Notice the "FOR NINA" on my arm. She was with me!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. I truly am looking forward to going to DC to see the grandparents, despite the difficulty with Mimi's health. And Maine will be such a wonderful rest! Can't wait to come back fresh in January. Hey TFK, how about a reunion?

No Turkey Trot for me

A lot of my TFK teammates ran in Turkey Trots over the weekend--short runs that justify eating a lot of turkey on Thanksgiving. I haven't been running lately because of my hip, so I traded in the Turkey Trot for marathon yoga and pilates sessions at home this weekend. Not to worry, I still ate a lot!

Best of luck to the TFKers who are taking on the 60k in Central Park today! That's right, 37+ miles, 9 4 mile loops plus a little. Wish I could be there to cheer you all on! Can't wait to hear about it.

Some thoughts from Dave Edwards...

There is no "I" in TEAM


WOW, a sea of green all along 26.2-miles of NYC. Congratulations to each and every one of you, my TEAM mates, my FRIENDS, my INSPIRATION, my ENCOURAGEMENT.

WARNING: At this point, you might want to grab a cup of coffee, a Gatorade or something, `cause it's about get heavy.

There is no "I" in TEAM; On Saturday Morning July 8th, 2006, one thousand "I's" came together either in person to central park, or via the web-communications to begin the personal journey for each to achieve their own goal of completing the ING NYC Marathon 2006 via this inlet called TEAM FOR KID'S. Many had never run in a group, let alone had any idea of pace, or pace groups. The "I's" were saying, "I usually run alone", "I run at this pace", "I've never run more than 6 miles", "I got in to TEAM FOR KID's cause I did not get selected in the lottery", "I am here cause I need training and guidance to complete 26.2 miles", "I am here cause I've always watched the ING NYC Marathon, and I say to myself every year, I'm gonna run a marathon one day", "I love kids and what better way to express myself in my marathon experience", "I run because of "________". Over the past few weeks, the "I's" have turned to "MY's", "my pace group", "my pace group friend", "someone I pace with", "TEAM MATES". No where else in running and training will you find a more committed group of adults. Whether you are a 16-minute miler or 5:12 miler, each member of the TEAM embraced you and your efforts, encouraged your performance and accepted you for the sole (soul) you run on, and likewise, you embraced and encourage each TEAM member too.

DATELINE…. November 5th, 2006: ONE THOUSAND "I" RAN AND FINISHED THE ING NYC MARATHON, 26.2 MILES WITH TEAM, TEAM FOR KID's (and Adults too) this could be heard the world around.

Each of you discovered that knowing another green shirt was nearby gave you a since of comfort and security, knowing that TEAM was on the course. And no TEAM is successful with out COACHES and STAFF, who also placed themselves along the sidelines for that game day support in the event that they, each of them has invested their time and wisdom into our success and accomplishment.

You do not know how important TEAM, TEAM MATES, PACE GROUPS, PACE GROUP LEADERS is, until you find yourself running alone on race day. (I know some of you have been curious) As for me, after all of the "pomp & circumstance", the wonderful opportunity to represent TEAM FOR KID's along side of the Borough of Queens in the Foot Locker Five Borough Challenge, and all that I was able to accomplish for TEAM FOR KID's in the past few weeks with this short lived exposure… the gun went off. It was race time and a half mile into it, I found myself running with four people I did not know, nothing… nada…nil…. And soon, I found myself running alone in a really big place, in a really big race on a very empty road for a while. All I kept thinking was "what I would give (right now) to have a TFK team member in a green shirt next to me right now", a pace friend, Martine, Courtney, David (vano), Matt, Adam, Marjory, Brittany. Hey running gods? please send someone from the 9:30's now!… to no avail.

Yet, I made a commitment and a choice, and I was running my best race to date, so I thought. I came up short. Having plans of a 3:40 finish, accepting that today, my time would be 4:09:30. Somewhere around 18, I hit the wall, or the wall hit me, I hit the ground. And just as a mother's love allows them to pick you up and dust you off, telling you it's ok, you'll be fine, and gets you going again….. There on the course was a TEAM FOR KID's COACH, offering a hand of support. Just as in the past 17 weeks along the training course, COACHES encouraging each of us along the way, giving us the encouragement, motivation, education and inner strength to meet our goals and achieve greatness in our lives, this COACH, and all of our TEAM FOR KID's COACHES encouraged me to carry on, to finish, for all that I am, all that my family is (as they are awaiting my arrival at the finish line) and all that each and every TFK TEAM MATE is to me.

Thank you to the COACH that stayed with me and paced me, the running gods answered my wish when I needed it most. I finish my Marathon with a TFK TEAM MATE in hand as we crossed the finish line. Thank you COACH and COACHES.

So, if you are still questioning your marathon run. STOP! You ran, you finished. Pick it up in the next one.

As I look back on my Marathon this past Sunday, many of the COACHES have encouraged me to self evaluate, write down the good, the bad (and the ugly) and what was different from a previous. I have done that, and I won't bore you with those details. There are no "DO OVER's" for November 5th, 2006, it is what it is. But there is a "DO IT AGAIN", and yes, another marathon is in my future, and yours too. And just as I have looked at my race, I encourage each of you to take a look at your race. You finished, and that is the goal. Now for the Over Achiever out there (oh, I think that is everyone of us now, right), stay involved. Set goals, next week, next month, six months, one year, what races am I going to do? And what am I going to do to improve my running abilities?… Self evaluate and plan.

Yes, the past week, post Marathon, you're becoming reacquainted with family, friends, partners, spouses, etc., this is great, especially after the past 17 weeks. As you recover, the "I" in I'm going out for a run will have an unfamiliar ring to it for a while. Many of us will be faced with running solo on a local path, street or park near our house or apartment. It's OK, the TEAM is always out were. Put on the green shirt, a magical memory will come to mind immediately, a sense of pride, a sense of community and since of giving comes about as you slip that shirt on and run in it.

Again, Thank you to each and every one of you for making this TEAM FOR KIDs 2006 my best marathon every, and my best running summer of training ever. I look forward to spending time in the "off-season" at a run or a race with each of you, just to "catch-up", to listen to you tell me about "Your Marathon" and how life is different and better now.

DING DNIG: I know. I know…. it's time for a refill on your coffee. Sorry, I've never been good a making a long story short. That is most likely why I run 26.2 mile, not 5K's. So bear with me another minute or two.

What to do in the TFK winter and spring months? RUN! Get Involved!

FIRST: Let's all plan on post one month get together run at the NYRR Holiday 4 mile / Kid's Play Party ( http://www.nyrr.org/race/2006/r1202x00 ). Many of the "Kids" running in the NYRR Foundation City wide Programs will be out at this race. This is great way to run with the "Kids" we are in support of.

SECOND: New York Road Runners Club www.nyrr.org Sign up for regularly scheduled races and events. When you sign up for a race, please remember to sign up with your TEAM: TFK. For those outside of NYC, Get involved in a Running Club near you.
Express your TFK self.

THIRD: New York Road Runners Foundation. Become a VOLUNTEER! Get involved with the Jamborees and Cross-Country races for the "Kids". www.nyrrfoundation.org go to the VOLUNTEER tab, click, scroll down, VOLUNTEER APPLICATION PDF, click it, print it, fill it our, fax it in, GET INVOLVED!

FOURTH: www.marathonguide.com find a full or a half marathon, make a plan, set a goal, go there, and "DO IT (AGAIN)". And let us know where you are running and follow up by tell us how you did. The TFK 2006 yahoo site lives on.

FIFTH: www.active.com This site has everything sports by sport by zip code and or area/region. Look for your sport near you.

The TFK 2006 Yahoo web site. Keep your email active for this. Coach Adam, The TFK Staff and The NYRR Foundation will make Special Announcements from this venue for you to be involved in Special Opportunities involving TFK Members and Races and Activities we all can partake in.

STAY TUNED, Great Things area coming your way!

Again, Thank you (for hanging on this long) for allowing me to run with each and everyone of you, my life is much more enriched because of each of you. This is only the beginning of journey to a life without boundaries and limitations set by society. Today, I, and each of you have accomplished more than the average person standing next to you on an average day. For this, be proud and continue to achieve.

Gotta Run…. Very Truly Yours,

Dave Edwards

Just one of the 37,000 stories....

This woman is an inspiration, whether she meant to be or not!

UNION-TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICES
November 7, 2006

Zoe Koplowitz finished the New York City Marathon in just under 29 hours Monday, a day after the men's and women's winners crossed the finish line.

Using fuchsia-colored crutches, Koplowitz started at 5:45 a.m. Sunday and finished at 10:30 a.m. Monday. It was the 19th New York City Marathon for Koplowitz, who lives in Manhattan and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis more than 30 years ago at age 25.

Her physical therapist and the New York City Guardian Angels accompanied her along the route, much like Lance Armstrong had former marathon champions Alberto Salazar and Joan Benoit Samuelson running alongside to pace him.

Koplowitz also is the award-winning author of “The Winning spirit – Life Lessons Learned in Last Place.”

PS: 4 days later and my soreness (except for right hip and right baby toe) is nearly gone. I'm thinking of going running tomorrow. hmmm....

I did it!!

Yesterday was the most intense, physically challenging experience of my life. I woke up at 4am to get to the buses at 5:45am. The Emilys and I figured out a wake-up call chain and Liz and I shared a cab--gotta love that team support! The bus ride was fun, full of nervous energy, crying, and lots of photo opportunities. When we got to the start, I imagined that it looked something like Woodstock. We were told to sit down and to conserve energy, which we did (when we weren't waiting in the bathroom line). We moved to the corrals at about 8:30am, which meant another hour and a half of sitting before moving to the bridge for a 10:10 start. Oh, the energy--Fort Wadsworth really did look like Woodstock when the crowds started moving and shedding their layers...

And then we were off! Commuting, of course. I was with Nancy, Pam, and Sarah L. I felt great over the Verrazano (how weird, running on a suspension bridge), through Brooklyn (where I saw Cait!) and into Queens, where I saw the family for the first time. Mom, Dad, B and Tanya were holding a sign that said "Moira the MAINE-IAC." It perked me right up (though Nancy wouldn't let me speed up!)I found Diego about 100 yards later standing in the median of the street and holding a big sign. That was awesome, right before I had to go over the dark, quiet Queensborough bridge (which is a HILL) at mile 15.

I could hear first avenue before I got there. The crowds were crazy! We made sure to stop every few blocks to take pictures of each other's families and friends. By the time we hit Harlem and the Bronx, I was losing a little steam. My feet started to hurt around mile 19/20, but Nancy wouldn't let me stop. Mentally, I was done--I hadn't run any more than 18 miles all season because of my injury, and the thought of doing another 8 made me want to cry. Everything felt ok except my feet, but that I was all I could think about! Thank god for my family at mile 21--what a surprise, there they were with the signs again! I was actually able to hug all of them this time and I think that pushed me to fifth avenue. Coach Alem met us when we came off the bridge and said a few words of encouragement. The crowd kept yelling my name (it was written on my shirt) and urging me on, but I wanted to stop running. Then at 96th and 5th I saw a huge group of CUSSW friends and then my family again 1 block down. Coach Danielle saw that I was having a hard time and she jumped in right next to me and ran the next 4 miles, up to mile 25 with me.

The last few miles felt endless. Into the park, up Cat Hill, out of the park, down to Central Park South. Coach Danielle had to leave me there, but she told me to use the crowd and just go. So I pushed and I pushed and the crowd yelled and yelled. I stared at Columbus Circle ahead so hard I thought my eyes would pop out of my head. Then it was time to turn into the park and face that last .2. I didn't know if I could make it up the last hill, but Narisa was there with a sign and she yelled right in my ear. The finish was right there and then I was on it, kind of in shock. One of the volunteers asked if I was ok, and I said I was, "Just give me the medal!" My time was 5:27:20, which meant that Lance Amstrong was home, showered, and resting by the time I finished, but whatever.

I found Nancy and Sarah, who finished one minute ahead of me, and we took a group picture with our medals and blankets. Then I walked (slooowly) in a daze toward the Cherry Hill area. Sarah D., who is so wonderful, took good care of me while I changed into warm clothes and discovered my bloody right sock from a toenail issue. So that's what hurt so much!

I'm moving very slowly today, and my hip is tight, but I am so happy that I finished and am so proud to be a TFKer! The whole time, I had the support of my teammates and the help of all the family and friends who came out. It was amazing. Today I've gotten so many emails and phone calls--Pop-Pop seems to think I'll be running Boston in April 2007. We'll see. One marathon at a time!

TOMORROW

In just a few short hours, I'll be on the TFK "Fireass" bus (complete with a giant ass hanging out the window, thanks to Frank's artistic ability) headed to Staten Island. Crazy. I thought it would never get here!

The family is here, and the phone has been ringing off the hook with friends calling to offer support. I'm overwhelmed--I've never felt this kind of outpouring before! Frank was at his coaching best as we walked the last 1000 yards of the marathon course today in the park, in full view of the finish line.

STRONG
BREATHE
RELAX
CADENCE
PATIENCE

these words have hung on a post-it on my desk since July. It's on!

Going to bed shortly...coaches' orders!

PS: B mentioned today that Justin has made my blog his homepage. Hilarious! Hi Justin! I'm sad you're moving to California! Visit often.

an unfortunate turn of events...

i was having a hard time sleeping last night, so i got up early and checked my email. there was a note from nancy to the whole page group telling us that nina had been hit by a car and was in the hospital. she's fine, with only minor injuries. (thank god it wasn't more serious!) of course, she has an amazing attitude and the best spirit--nancy spoke to her, and she's so excited for us even though she won't be able to run with us this year. coach adam responded to nancy's note and told us that another teammate had also been in a car accident...she's injured too, but ok. this is kind of freaking me out. seriously, we have five days to go!

i'm really upset not to have nina there with us on sunday. frank suggested "taking her with us" on the course, so i wrote "for nina" on my singlet and i will finish the marathon even if it's just for her!

i am about to jump out of my skin. my energy level is high, and i'm getting ready to go. the econ midterm yesterday was the first big obstacle this week, and now that's over. just one more day of classes and two more days of field and i'm there....

thinking of you, nina!

Poland Springs Marathon Kickoff

Yesterday, TFK met to run an easy five miles in Central Park in conjunction with the Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff. It was SO much fun--there was definitely an energy in the air! There had to be thousands of runners, many of whom are running next weekend. The course finished right near the marathon finish line, which was just unreal. To think, a week from yesterday....

The best part of yesterday's run was not the 40 mile-an-hour winds, but the fact that lots of TFKers dressed up for Halloween! There are so many creative people on my team. Lance Armstrong showed up, as did the big green pimp, and a penguin. Best of all, though (and I'm not biased about this in any way) was the effort made by Team Fireass. Frank came up with the brilliant idea to get New York Fire Department shirts that said "Fire: Keep back 200 feet" on them, and creative Liz made flames for us to pin to our fireasses. With the wind whipping, it really DID look like we were on fire!

Check out Sarah's blog (at right) for her list (and PHOTOS) of the top ten costumes yesterday! Oh, yes, Team Fireass made the list!

I was sick all last week and I've been taking it really easy so as not to aggravate my injuries, but I think yesterday's energy, costumes, and beautiful fall weather made me go for it a little too much. I ran faster than commute and finished 5 miles in 55:55. The rest of my pace group was flying, and I decided to stick to warm-up rather than to race. I caught up with Betsy, which was awesome. I'm lucky to have her as a teammate and as a friend!

Getting excited to begin celebrating the arrival of the marathon! Keep your eyes out for TFK green on the TODAY show plaza on Friday morning! Friday night is the TFK team party, and I get to welcome the family to New York on Saturday! Then Sunday, I'm running all over town!

Have a little faith...

All of you certainly have faith in me! As of today, my fundraising total is: $3,344.20!!!! (That's right--I've SURPASSED my goal of $2500. To everyone who made this possible, you all ROCK!!!).

All together, Team for Kids members have raised: $2,027,545. AMAZING! Think of all the kids who will participate in the programs funded by this money...This team is so much more than the individual runners on it. We're a team, and we're doing it for the kids as much as for ourselves.

I've had a tough training season fraught with injuries and now a yucky virus. But Leslie was here last weekend, and she told me to listen to "Move Along" by the All-American Rejects any time I didn't think I'd make it. L, you're right--it helps a lot!

Listen here if you ever need a little push: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FSbGur1dz9k

The countdown is on!

Check out an entire marathon course tour on YouTube! http://youtube.com/watch?v=MnxknAnBVk0" (I certainly won't be running a marathon in 7 minutes)

Also, my bib number for the big day is: 41389. It's mine! There is no other 41389!

I talked to the family last night, and B wants to make a banner that says, "M, hurry the f up! It's cold out here!" That idea was vetoed, but another possibility might appear on marathon day, "All 37,000 of you are CRAZY"

This weekend, the Fireasses will be running in Central Park in costume...a slight departure from our neon green ensambles. I'm sure there will be pictures :)

I've come down with a little virus, but I'm resting and resting and resting some more... I'll be good to go for NEXT SUNDAY. (Did I just write that?)

Two weeks to go!!!

That's right--two weeks from TODAY I take on 26.2...

Yesterday, we did an 11-mile course tour, which was awesome. I felt better than I have in weeks, and I was able to FINISH the run with only a little bit of tightness in my hip. It was a huge mental victory for me to cross the finish line (near the actual marathon finish) after running over the Queensborough Bridge, down first avenue and up fifth back to the park, just like I will in two weeks. Except in two weeks, there will be 2 million fans and 38,000 runners along with me!

Coach Adam interviewed Team Fireass after the run for a series he's doing called "Personal Record." It was great, and you can listen to it here: http://teamforkids.org/index.cfm?organization_id=57§ion_id=910&page_id=3725

I left yesterday completely exhilarated, prepared to rest as much as my ball-of-nervous-energy self will let me, to keep up the cross training, and to stay on the road to recovery. I'm so excited that my family is coming to share this with me, and that so many friends will be coming out the day of to cheer me on. I can't WAIT to meet the national team members who will be joining our pace group--you guys are in for a treat, because the 11:30s are the BEST...

My pace group rocks!

love you guys!
Cathy on Saturday as we crossed the street near battery park and a car was coming: "heads up, asses!"
Nancy: "did you just say, heads up asses? Hey guys, we have a new favorite team memory! Cathy just said HEADS UP ASSES!"

Time to taper...

This morning, the team set out for the "23-mile pace group social," during which we were supposed to run slower than commute pace. For our group, that's about a 12:30, which is about how fast I walk when I'm really hauling ass. I could run forever at that pace! I joined my team at mile 3 and planned to run 20 with them. It was a gorgeous day--chilly at the start, but once we got going, I warmed up. We ran down around the tip of Manhattan, by the Staten Island Ferry terminal and got a great view of the underside of the Brooklyn bridge. One of the best part of training with TFK (there have been lots of best parts) has been been exploring the city on foot--I was so happy to be out there with my teammates, sharing our favorite TFK memories. It was so cool to hear about what stuck with everyone--how they felt after each long run, each joke, etc. It was so important to me to be a part of that, because I don't think we're going to be able to reminisce on marathon day with 37,000 other runners.

I felt really good until mile 11 (mile 14 for them), when my hip started to tighten up. I knew immediately that it was best to stop running before I had pain. Another teammate of mine had ankle pain, so we stopped together and headed back uptown to the start. I was (am) pretty discouraged, but I know that it was the best thing to do. I'm going to really rest during the tapering period and try to pull out a decent marathon using an 18-mile base. Not ideal, but the adrenaline and the crowds on the day of will help get me through.

I told my team not to start sharing favorite memories until I joined them at mile 3 (that was our homework assignment from Frank), and Nancy started to tease me: "What the memories are about you and they're bad? Moira's here, now she's leaving. Here, now leaving." That was pretty funny, given the fact that I haven't finished a long run in four weeks. I started laughing and crying, at which point Frank told me to stop because I "can't spare the sodium." I just started laughing and crying harder at that. Thanks, Frank!

Seriously, you should've seen me last night. There was a commercial on for the marathon on NBC, and the voiceover said something like "37,000 unique stories...the New York City marathon." Oh, I was a mess. And then I saw this:about Dick and Rick Hoyt, the father-son team who have run more than 200 triathlons and 64 marathons, and started crying harder. Go to www.teamhoyt.com for the full story.

And my stupid hip hurts. I definitely got a healthy dose of perspective. (Sometimes I just hate those).

Let the tapering begin.

soooo close!

The marathon is three weeks away. That's right, three weeks. Hard to know if I'm more excited or terrified. I think it depends on the day. When the TFK newsletter came out this week, I was absolutely glued to the marathon itinerary article. When Pam sent out her reflections on preparing for last year, I started to tear up. I realize I sound like a huge loser, but I'm ok with that. It's going to be such an amazing experience. I get chills just thinking about it!

And then there's the part of me that's terrified. My hip feels MUCH better--better than it has in weeks--but a little part of my brain wonders if I'm going to be in miserable pain for the whole race. Tomorrow we're due to run 23 miles. This will be our last long run before the marathon. I've already decided that I'm going to start with the 20-mile group and only do what I can comfortably. I've also decided that I'm not going to feel bad about cutting tomorrow short if I have to, but that's a harder thing to do. My head has decided not to feel bad, but I know I'll be discouraged if I can't finish the bulk of the run comfortably.

We shall see.

miles away from last week!

(center) this is the smallest finish line i have ever seen. imagine runners nearly finished with a marathon or a half marathon: "no, please, after you." "no, after you!"





(left) this is me last week, crying as i crossed the finish line. awesome.



(right) this is me today, at the westchester half, paying a visit to the massage tent during a break from volunteering/cheering on my teammates. REALLY awesome.

Words to live by...WE CAN DO THIS!

Words from a teammate who is also pulling out of Sunday's race...


...It is super-frustrating. But people say that if you can run 18 (which we've done), you can run 26.2 - the rest is just mental. So if we can maintain our current fitness level through bike/swim/whatever, get healthy by the 23 and then rest our bodies for 2 weeks, we should be good to go on Nov. 5th. It will definitely take a bit more time/effort to find ways to stay active than it would if we could just follow the program, but we can make it work. I think the key is to not get discouraged, keep doing stretching/injury prevention exercises, mirror the assigned cardio workouts as well as possible through cross-training, and really allow ourselves to get totally healthy before trying to run.

Now, if I'm still hurt come next weekend, I may begin to feel less optimistic, but as of now I'm not letting that thought enter my head!

See you Sunday.

emily

back and forth...

Since my miserable run this past weekend, I've been going back and forth about whether or not to run in this weekend's Westchester Half Marathon. Team for Kids members got a special discount to run, and I was really looking forward to helping my teammates turn the Bronx River Parkway green! I talked to the coaches about it and finally realized that if I had to think so much about whether or not to run, I probably shouldn't. So I'll be traveling out to Westchester early Sunday morning to volunteer along the course and to cheer the TFKers on. Hopefully this will give me a morale boost! I plan to do a long pool workout on Saturday to make up for missing the race. Not exactly the same, but definitely better for my hip!

Now on to the non-running (but still cool) news! It's been an interesting week--I have two celebrity friends! First, Tom was asked to interpret for a Bolivian human rights worker on Democracy Now! yestereday. I listened--it was amazing! TPF, estoy muy orgullosa de ti! Visit www.democracynow.org to listen to the archived show.

Then, my dear DC Katastrophe (check out her blog at right)got her own little bit of fame. Check out www.dcblogs.com and www.readexpress.com. She taught me how to be an aggressive pedestrian WAY back at GW. Way to go, K!

the hardest run yet

No joke. I don't think I can even begin to explain how hard yesterday was for me. but before I get there, I should write about the fun part of the weekend. Rachel, Ellen and I drove down to Philadelphia for Liz's bridal shower, which was really nice. Beth came too, and I hadn't seen her since graduation. I think Liz really appreciated our effort to make the trip, and we went to Rita's afterwards to have water ice. Ellen and I could not shut up about how great it was during the trip down, and Rachel had enough of us, so we went. It is SO delious. See how happy we were on Saturday? And that was before the trip to Rita's!

Then Sunday came. My hip felt ok as i headed to central park for Grete's Gallop, part of the Norwegian Festival (how much did I love telling Amy that I was going to run in the Norwegian Festival?) TFK was supposed to meet with Grete Waitz, 9 time NYC marathon winner, after the race, so I didn't want to miss that. We were instructed to run easily, have fun, and continue recovering, so I figured this run would be doable. No pressure.

For a few miles, I was ok. My hip felt surprisingly loose and despite the pouring rain (remember that 14-miler I did in a Maine-style monsoon? Sunday morning was kind of like that), I was having fun. Coach Adam gave me a high-five at the halfway point, which helped me start my second loop as the speedracers were already finishing. (I do love being a slowpoke!) Once mile 7 came, though, I started to struggle. Thank goodness Pam was there, because I would've quit without her! With every step, my hip flexor spasmed and I wanted to scream. It took EVERY ounce of determination I had to put one foot in front of the other. Pam was injured, too--I think we really needed each other yesterday. Whenever she had a hard time going downhill due to knee pain and I had to walk uphill because of my hip, we reminded each other how much closer we were to the finish line. Yet another example of that great TFK support--we WERE going to finish together!

By mile 12, I had tears in my eyes from the pain, but I wasn't going to stop running--I was just too close to finishing. With less than half a mile left to go, Betsy came up behind me and told me to sing--I asked her what song had "f***" in it. I don't normally curse, but I definitely let a few out yesterday. By the time I crossed the finish line, urged on by TFK coaches, Frank and other 11:30s who finished before me, I was nauseated and crying. I'm scared to see the pictures that the photographers took as we finished--I just may post them, because the look on my face will be the best description I can give of how I was feeling. Ugh, just writing about it makes me squirm.

Then it was over. Part of me couldn't believe that I'd actually finished. The medic gave me ice and I limped with Pam to the bandshell, where we met up with our other teammates. They were proud of me for finishing, and as always, concerned and supportive when I told them how the race had gone. Pace group mom Nancy ran off to get me a bagel, and we heard that Grete wasn't going to be speaking due to the weather or something. I was a little grateful that she canceled. While I wanted to meet her, I also wanted to collapse in bed. The idea of waking up this morning, with yesterday behind me, was really appealing. God, I hope I never feel the way I did after that run ever again.