14 weeks to go!!! - A long (ish) run after a long weekend

Date: 7/30/12
Place: Central Park
Distance: 9m
Time: 1hr 21m (9.00 pace)



My usual Sunday long run was not possible this weekend due to the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'av, which is a day of mourning, and fasting ie not very conducive to long runs. So having broken my fast at 9pm last night with plenty of protein, water, and G2, I got up at 5am, slugged down a gel and a Clif Bar before taking off on a 9 miler.

The weather was actually pretty good - 70 degrees, no humidity and no sun. I continued with my new found ability to go slow from the beginning and it worked again. No real heaviness in the legs, and, a little pain in the right hip aside, actually a pretty easy run. I looped the park anti-clockwise, adding in a second loop of the bottom part of the park (ie across 72nd st) and a little bit of zig-zagging home to get to the 9 miles.

I haven't downloaded my Garmin data yet, but pretty sure will show negative splits (ie second 4.5 miles quicker than the first) which is always a good sign. So now a day off and a short run Wednesday before I head off to London for 10 days to take in some Olympic action and also enjoy some cold/wet weather training!!!

I also realized I need to put some pics on here, which is tough to do when running alone, but I know it will make this marginally less boring!!!

Slow really can be better / Good luck John Hirsch!

Distance: 6.1m, loop of Central Park
Time & Date: July 25, 6.30pm
Temp: 82 degrees

I met up with my colleagues from Team Continuum for the weekly run. There were only five of us there, but no super runners, so it was cool. We took off at a nice slow pace. While I normally prefer morning running, the park is so different at night. Cars for a start, plus tons of tourists. People going to Summer Stage or Shakespeare in the Park. So it was kind of cool to take it slow and watch everything happening. Plus it was still quite warm, though not humid. Anyway, with good company and an easy pace, the run went well. Before I knew it we were back at the start. We'd done a 9.22 pace. Not bad considering how easy we took it.

Followed up this morning with a few miles on the bike, which was good to stretch the muscles. 3 miles tomorrow then a couple of days off as I have to delay my Sunday run until Monday this week.

In the meantime, a big shout out to our head coach, John Hirsch who is representing the USA at the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships this weekend. He is a testament to dedication and hard work. If he doesn't win, it won't be for lack of trying and isn't that all we can ever say. Good luck, John....kill it!!!

A rain affected week, and Promises.....

My Wednesday run with Team Continuum was wrecked by the HUGE storm that came through NYC that evening. So Thursday, I made up for it with a couple of extra miles. Today was wet too, but was actually quite nice to run in the cooler weather, no humidity. Anyway, it is a relaxed week, just a 5 miler on Sunday.

Next week, the long run goes to 9 miles, and thereafter I am out of my usual comfort zone. In the meantime, check out this cool piece by John Hirsch, super triathlete and Team Continuum Head Coach - a homage to those friends and family who sacrifice in order that we can reach a goal.

http://johnhirsch.org/

Hot, Humid & Hilly

I could probably use the title for many posts over the next couple of months. But yesterday really was. As I walked to the station this morning in a very pleasant 70 degrees, I wished I had run today. Instead, I will have an evening bike ride, by which time the heat is expected to crank up. Anyway, back to yesterday.

7 miles in Great Neck. Thanks to the built in alarm clock of 7 children, there was no problem rising. I managed to convince my friend Marcus to run along with me, having assured him it was pretty flat. Of course, it wasn't. I still have problems identifying challenging hills on the elevation charts. Still, it was a good workout. And the real estate of Kings Points makes for great viewing! However, the hils and the humidity made it pretty slow, but I wasn't too bothered to be honest. More surprising was that I was slow enough that the mosquitos could latch on and bite me 40 times (no exaggeration) between my two legs. Made for fascinating viewing for the kids!

Great (Neck) Weekend Ahead

Looking forward to getting out of the city again this weekend. As predicted, the start of training, not being much different to what I have been doing anyway, is a little monotonous. So it will be nice to at least have a chnage of scenery for my Sunday run, a 7 miler.

The week ahead doesn't actuallly call for much change. In fact, it is supposed to be a scaled back light week with only a 5 miler next Sunday. Is it strange that I am looking forward to September and the challenge of distances I haven't run before?

In the meantime, I know I just need to put the miles in the legs slowly and will also begin some core strength exercises next week. Never a big fan of weights, Jimmy Lynch has a great core program for runners with no weights! You can find it here, and also be entered into a competition to win some books! http://webapps.nyrr.org/marathoncountdowncontest/

One week done!

OK, so it wasn't the most taxing week, but still had it's moments. The humidity and heat are still something I am struggling to adapt to - any advice gratefully received! Found the 'long' run OK but was really slow and couldn't work out why. Thankfully when I downloaded the data from my Garmin, I realized the 'fairly flat' roads of Deer Isle, ME actually rose quite significantly a couple of times, and thus my 'out and back' route had 4 hills bigger than CP! I think an excess of alcohol and BBQ contributed too!

So this week is more of the same, though I did skip my Cross Training today after a 9 hour drive home yesterday. An extra day of rest will not harm.....

The Maine Event

So nice to get out of the heat and run somewhere a little different for a change. Water, a lovely breeze, fresh air. Portland has a great waterfront and totally flat, which made a change. Now on Deer Isle and so secluded. Perfect for some relaxing runs before the hard stuff starts!

18 week training plan begins NOW.125 days to go!

When I started training for the NYC Half (and right up to race day), I was nervous, apprehensive. I didn't know if I could do it. After all, I had never really run much before and 3 or 4 miles seemed to be hard (still is sometimes!). I feel different now. I know I can do it - that most of us can do it - and it really is a matter of just putting in the work.

With a gradual training program it really is just a matter of gently increasing the training.If you can run 7, you can run 9. If you can do 14, you can do 16. Just slowly building up the strength until you get there.

So today was day 1. 125 days to go until I become a marathon runner. In all honesty it was a bit of a false start (pun intended). Because my long runs are Sunday, today was a cross training day, and tomorrow is a rest day, though I may run to give some flexibility later in the week with the July 4th Holiday. So at 5.45am I was out on the bike in Central Park. 70 degrees, gorgeous. A great reminder of why we live here. It is amazing how different the muscles are that you use for cycling compared to running. I always think it will be a breeze cycling round the park, but not so! Still, it was just as well using different muscles. My 7 miler yesterday was horrific. I think most of the problem was the humidity, which I hate. The run was much tougher than the 10 last week. Still, you get through it somehow, slowing down if you need and just knowing that you can't stop until the end. That is the ultimate goal for 4 months time. Let the training commence!