Cool Runnings, jet lag (again) and home...

It certainly made a change to spend a few days running in the relative cold as opposed to sweating. It is amazing how much easier it is when you don't have to worry so much about breathing or hydration.

So having done my long run Thursday, I actually skipped the Friday 4 miler, a rarity for me. My Sunday 8 miler turned into 9, with my wife joining me for the first half - much better than running alone. With only a small incline and a relatively flat 2 mile loop, the miles went by easy and a 9 minute pace was effortless.

After eating our way through Rosh Hashanah, Debbie and I did a 5 mile run Wednesday before heading to the airport. Driving rain and freezing cold was compounded by a bus splashing us from head to toe! Freezing cold AND soaking wet. Nice.

So the usual first night home involved me being wide awake from 3.30. Eventually I went out at 5am and did a nice 8 miles in the park, 9 min pace and all is well again.

Another 5 tomorrow, then the ING New York City Marathon Tune-Up 18M in Central Park Sunday. Another new long distance for me.....

16 miles - now I can enjoy my jetlag in peace!

As I mentioned in my last post, Debbie suggested it may be a good idea to do my long run early this week rather than doing it jet lagged once in the UK. Working as I do on the usual assumption that she is right, I woke up (or rather got out of bed - I was awake for hours following a series of crazy dreams) at 4.45am this morning for a 16 miler.

The good news was it was cool. The bad news I was very tired (and probably still recovering from weekend run). It still amazes me how busy Central Park is at 5am!

Anyway, I always intended to run this slowly (which is Hal Higdon's prescription for long runs) so I set off looking at 9.30 pace. I did the top loop (Harlem Hill) and the middle loop (Cat Hill) before returning home having completed 8 miles to switch out my drinks. In truth, it was actually pretty nice, as long as I didn't think about doing it again.

And then I did it again, reversing the order. 2 hrs 29 mins, 9.19 pace and felt pretty good afterwards. A good stretch, an ice bath (my first!) and lots of food and water. Feeling pretty good now and stoked about only having short runs to do for a good few days!!!

NYRR Bronx 10-Mile, then 5 more home

I felt pretty under the weather all week following my trip to Montreal. 3 miles in the humidity on Wednesday was like torture and I cut Thursday from 7 to 5 miles as my throat was still sore and I was still tire. Friday, I decided to skip the 4 miles completely.

Distance:  10 miles, 16.1 kilometers
Date/Time:  September 9, 2012, 8:00 AM
Location:  Bronx, NYC
Weather:  63 degrees, 81% humidity, 6MPH, Fair

Last Name

First Name

Sex/ Age

Bib

Team

City

State

Country

Overall Place

Gender Place

Age Place

Net Time

Pace/ Mile

AG Time

AG Gender Place

AG %

Freedman

David

M38

4604

TCON

New York

NY

USA

2763

2010

415

1:30:01

09:00

1:27:13

2178

50.89 %

Seems like the rest did me good. The race started in pretty good conditions, 63 and bright. It was nice to get out of Central Park for an NYRR race and there was definitely a different vibe.

I had to be careful not to go off too quickly. Having a best 4 mile time of 7.59 pace, I was with runners much quicker than I wanted to go. Even then, I had to bear in mind that the 10 mile race was only 2/3rds of my race distance!

So I let a lot of people overtake me at the beginning. I think this was a pretty good thing to have the discipline that I may need on race day. I started pretty steady and once I got through the usual tightness in the legs, around 4 miles, it was actually a pretty easy run. Fairly flat, the odd slope, nothing too troubling, and a good atmosphere. Also got some good practice with the drinks. At some drink stations, I stopped to drink and others ran whilst drinking through a 'spout'. Either way, nothing really slowed me down. At the end, I felt pretty good and managed to pick up my medal and keep running through the finish area, which was good as I didn't fancy stopping and restarting.

I was pleased to see I wasn't the only one running back to Manhattan. I had been really worried about running on my own after the help of a crowd, so to spot a group in front of me running almost the same pace was amazing. I could follow them and get dragged home!

Down the bottom of Grand Concourse we joined the Marathon route, over Madison Ave Bridge to Fifth Ave. It was actually pretty good for the next 2 miles. Then I hit what I knew would be the toughest bit, from 110th down to 90th St, which is uphill, just enough to hurt. Still, I managed to maintain pace before heading off home.

I finished the 15 miles in 2 hr 14 min 34 sec, 8 min 58 pace. I was surprised to go so well after the last week. I kept all miles within a range of 8.45 to 9.07 so pretty steady pacing.

So next week, 16 miles. Considering running it on Thursday instead of Sunday so I can do it jet-lag free before going to UK.....will let you know!

10 miles - Easy, 3 miles - Exhausted

Sunday was a recovery run. 10 miles. Weather was great and I felt refreshed. I started again going across to the West Side, down the river and across Central Park West. I then hit the marathon route, up First Avenue. It is long and straight and flat. So the key is not to look to the horizon, it goes on forever. Then, it is actually a really nice run - and will be better with thousands cheering! Then went across 110th St and back down 5th Ave to 90th St for more marathon route practice. 1 hr 30, 9 min pace and pretty relaxed.

Then add in a late night Sunday (brother's wedding), a trip to Montreal for the day with a late return Tuesday and an extremely humid morning today. Throw in a sore throat for good measure, and even a 3 miler this morning was rough. I just can't take the humidity and was so tired. Still, chalk it up to being one of those days and move on to the next 7 miles tomorrow.....

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Another Sunday, another 13.1

6 months ago, as I prepared to run the NYC Half, I was really unsure as to whether I could do it. I had some achilles problems and had never run over 10 miles. It wasn't getting easier and I was sure race day would be tough.

Six months on, and I have run 13.1 miles on back to back weekends!

There were many differences between this week and last. Last week, with NYRR, was in the park, with a group to drag you along, no need to worry about hydration etc. This week, I ran alone on a completely different course and carrying all my own drinks. And it was in the low 70's compared to low 60's. This week was always going to be harder. Plus, I felt pretty exhausted on Saturday, unsure if I could even get up to do the run. But stubbornness prevailed!

I left home about 6.15am and headed across the park to the Westside - I desperately needed a break from the Central Park Loop! Over to Riverside Drive and onto the Hudson River Greenway. It was serenely quiet!

I continued down the West Side to 45th Street, before heading all the way across town. This was tougher than I thought, as it is gradually uphill. Past my office on 45th & 3rd and over to the East River. I got onto the East River Esplanade at 60th Street, which is nice and flat - until 10 miles in you have to climb stairs at 82nd St!!! After that was good though (despite a bit of hip pain, and the bridge over the FDR at 120th). I went across to 5th Ave, following the marathon route, down to 94th St. Everyone says this is a tough part of the race, 22 miles in and slightly uphill. It definitely it, so I am pleased I have run it, to get a feel for it, though I am hoping the sight of my family at 94th St will drive me up there!

Overall, I finished in about 2hr 1 min, 9:10 or so pace. Not bad, for the second in 2 weeks and not feeling 100% etc.

Anyway, an 'easy' recovery week this week. I had to miss my cross training (again) today but will do 3m Wed/7m Thurs/4m Fri and 10m Sunday. A stroll in the park as they say!

Marathon No Baggage Policy - A few thoughts

Well, nothing gets the NYRR members going like.....well, pretty much anything NYRR does. But today's announcement of a no baggage policy at the Marathon has met with almost universal condemnation.

The first thing I would say is that in almost all cases, NYRR tries to act for the best. Their biggest problem is a failure to communicate in a timely manner and insufficient consultation with the people most affected - the runners. It would appear the City, the Police, UPS and everyone else has a say. Well, today the runners spoke and they weren't happy.

I am one of the least affected people. In fact, this may benefit me. I should get out of the park quicker and I live nearby. There will also be a large number of people with family & friends nearby who can hold a bag for them. Nearly everyone has some throw away clothes they can wear to the start, and most will be able to get all the nutrition they need after the race. And yet I agree that on balance it is probably the wrong decision.

The decision is supposedly based on safety alone. Yet while those with a known medical necessity will be able to get their medication, it is the unknown which is concerning.

According to Accuweather, the average low from past New York City marathons is 47 degrees F, and the average high from past New York City marathons is 62 degrees F. However, the coldest morning low in New York City's Central Park on the morning of the marathon over the past 20 years was 34 degrees on Nov. 5, 1995 and the warmest afternoon high 73 degrees F on Nov. 4, 1990.

For the multitude of people without friends and family who will have to travel back to their hotel, possibly well in excess of an hour after the race, with just a poncho, these extremes could prove problematic, even dangerous. The poncho is only of any use if it is mild, and/or it rains. Even then, people will be in wet, cold clothing.

I think the biggest issue runners are having is that no other marathon has done this, and there are plenty of big ones. It would have helped to know if they have spoken to other organizers and what other options have been considered.

It is not too late for Mary Wittenberg and NYRR to hear their customers, to backtrack on the decision or at least defer until 2013 pending further consultation. I hope they consider this option.

Would love to hear any thoughts, or - as we have heard all the complaints - any constructive alternative options.