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!