Besides my right calf still being insanely tight, Sarathon training is right on track, Jack.
Two runs during the week. You know the drill by now...Central Park...3 mile loops...blah blah blah.....
Absolutely loving the Galloway intervals, if I can only get over the guilt of doing them. I know I shouldn't care, but every so often that little inner voice creeps in and whispers, "You're not a real runner....". Whenever that happens, I just usually buy more cute, hip, pink running stuff and get on my way.
On Saturday, I missed the Galloway group run because I had to truck my butt to Prospect Park at 8AM for my NYC Marathon 2010 Qualifier Volunteer Duty. I was miserable at the thought of it. I have no problem volunteering, but the only slot I could get was in Prospect Park. For those non-New Yorkers, that's Brookyn, baby. It couldn't be the big giant park that is steps from my door. No- I had to board a slow-moving subway car at 6:45 AM to make it on time, as I had to rock the F train. Again for those non-New Yorkers, this means nothing to you. But to my fellow Gothamites reading this, you know that a root canal might be more preferable than having to rely on the F train to get you to Brooklyn on a weekend morning by 8 AM (Did you know I co-wrote a new Off-Broadway musical all about the "joys" of the MTA?...But that's another subject)!
Besides being 30 degrees, the volunteering proved to be ok. I was a course marshall at around mile 3 of a holiday 4-miler. I loved cheering for the back-of-the pack runners...it's a special fraternity of which I'm a proud member:)
With this volunteer slot, I finally completed my 9+1 guaranteed entry requirements for the 2010 NYC Marathon! So now I'm in like Flynn. I still can't believe I started running only 14 months ago and during that time I ran NINE official races with the NY Road Runner's Club in order to guarantee myself a slot in another marathon!
Where is Sara, and what has running done with her?
On Sunday, I got in my "short" long run, with an easy 6-mile loop around Central Park with Andi. Hills and all, this run was great. Only 4 weeks from today, I'll line up at the start of 26.2!
Sarathon or bust!
12.17.2009
Week 15 - Legs, Don't Fail Me Now!
My Tuesday run of this week was an interesting one. I forgot to charge my IPod, and the battery died within the first few minutes. It wasn't as bad as I thought, though- I somehow was able to entertain myself and push through a little more than 3 miles. Central Park is great for people watching. And dog watching. And runner watching. And tree watching. And taxi watching. And squirrel watching.
You'll look at anything when you're panting through 3 miles in 37 degrees with no IPod.
I noticed thought that my right calf is super tight again. No matter what I do, I can't seem to get that thing to loosen up. As a result, my right ankle is feeling kind of stiff as well. In general, I'm getting kind of sick/bored of the Central Park Hills! I live on the North End of the Park too, so my short runs during the week always begin and end with the steepest hills in the park. Give me a break! The good news is, Disney is largely a flat course- so I'll probably be better conditioned than I'll need to be. Take that, Minnie Mouse!
The next day I was an idiot. A downright idiot. I bought some new shoes (they didn't have my favorite Asics in stock in my size...the Turtle is 5'10" and has a big foot to match) and immediately went to the gym and did a speed session with them on. Doh!
My knees and ankles were feeling it by the end (and I hadn't even given myself a day of rest as well). This was not my most intelligent workout ever, but I'm learning what my body can and can't handle.
At leat I was smart enough not to run again until Saturday...my first ever 19-miler! Shout-out time: Sue from Galloway NYC started the morning with me (6 AM!) on the West Side Greenway for 10.5 miles. Then she handed me off to Galloway's Dave for a 5-mile Central Park loop. Mike then met me at mile 15.5 (with a much needed banana- yay!) and we finished it out. When I got home, I mapped it all, and realized I had done a total of 20.28 miles. Good God! It took me 4 hours and 17 minutes...which is about what I expected. I think I'll be a little faster on marathon day, but who knows? My right ankle and calf had loosened up during the run, but in the aftermath I felt them just a bit.
I'm pretty psyched about and surprised by how much I enjoy these long runs, and how quickly the time passes. Who knew I'd love long-distance training so much? I sure wish I could bump into my high school gym teacher one of these days. She'd probably faint from the shock.
By the way, on Sunday I returned those shoes and was able to track down the new release of the Asics I love in my big old size. Hello, old friend.
Sarathon or bust!
You'll look at anything when you're panting through 3 miles in 37 degrees with no IPod.
I noticed thought that my right calf is super tight again. No matter what I do, I can't seem to get that thing to loosen up. As a result, my right ankle is feeling kind of stiff as well. In general, I'm getting kind of sick/bored of the Central Park Hills! I live on the North End of the Park too, so my short runs during the week always begin and end with the steepest hills in the park. Give me a break! The good news is, Disney is largely a flat course- so I'll probably be better conditioned than I'll need to be. Take that, Minnie Mouse!
The next day I was an idiot. A downright idiot. I bought some new shoes (they didn't have my favorite Asics in stock in my size...the Turtle is 5'10" and has a big foot to match) and immediately went to the gym and did a speed session with them on. Doh!
My knees and ankles were feeling it by the end (and I hadn't even given myself a day of rest as well). This was not my most intelligent workout ever, but I'm learning what my body can and can't handle.
At leat I was smart enough not to run again until Saturday...my first ever 19-miler! Shout-out time: Sue from Galloway NYC started the morning with me (6 AM!) on the West Side Greenway for 10.5 miles. Then she handed me off to Galloway's Dave for a 5-mile Central Park loop. Mike then met me at mile 15.5 (with a much needed banana- yay!) and we finished it out. When I got home, I mapped it all, and realized I had done a total of 20.28 miles. Good God! It took me 4 hours and 17 minutes...which is about what I expected. I think I'll be a little faster on marathon day, but who knows? My right ankle and calf had loosened up during the run, but in the aftermath I felt them just a bit.
I'm pretty psyched about and surprised by how much I enjoy these long runs, and how quickly the time passes. Who knew I'd love long-distance training so much? I sure wish I could bump into my high school gym teacher one of these days. She'd probably faint from the shock.
By the way, on Sunday I returned those shoes and was able to track down the new release of the Asics I love in my big old size. Hello, old friend.
Sarathon or bust!
12.16.2009
Week 14 - Carving the Turkey, Carving Out TIme
This was Thanksgiving week, and I knew it would put my training to the test. Would I have time to fit my runs in? Would I feel guilty taking time away from my family, who I don't see all that often? Would I be able to pull myself away from the Fa-la-la-la-Lifetime cheesy movies? Happy to say I got my runs in- but it wasn't easy. I've learned that when the pumpkin pie and the couch are calling, it takes a lot more dedication than usual to lace up the Asics.
In NYC on Tuesday, I did a typical 30-minute run in Central Park. I wanted to do some speed work at the end, but my right knee had a slight twinge so I backed off and just had an easy day.
I travelled down to see the family in the Deep South (of NJ) on Wed night. I was trying to talk my mom and husband into running a 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. Given that the weather was rainy, 40 degrees, and we weren't even going to bed until after 1 AM, they looked at me like I had three heads when I suggested the 8 AM race on the boardwalk. So the turtle reluctantly did a run on her own. While the rest of my family slept, I just did a quick 3-mile run around the development.
The old 'hood looked really different now that I'm running it. Or now that I'm an adult. Or both.
The good news is, by 9AM I was already showered and watching the balloons go down Central Park West on TV. And then then rest of the day, I ate. Guilt free! I love the running to guilt-free eating ratio, although I probably severely overestimated it on Thanksgiving. Hey, it's the holidays.
I was super proud of myself on Saturday. I actually got my "long run" of 7 miles in! I really didn't feel like doing it, but once I got going it flew by. Once again, enjoyed Gordon's podcast. Listened to a GREAT old episode in which he interviewed a frequent Disney marathoner. It was so cool to hear a breakdown of the race mile-by-mile, and tips on what to expect. It won't be long now!
Overall it was a decent week, although not my best for motivation and time. I didn't get any cross training in while in NJ, unless you count lugging the fake nine-foot Christmas tree and about 40 oversized plastic crates down from the attic to help my mom decorate. But I guess fitting the training into your life (even during holidays and vacations) is all part of the game. Plus, I got a sneak peek into how difficult it might be to find the time and energy to get my runs in over Christmas vacation...but by then I'll be tapering. What a delightful word.
Sarathon or bust!
In NYC on Tuesday, I did a typical 30-minute run in Central Park. I wanted to do some speed work at the end, but my right knee had a slight twinge so I backed off and just had an easy day.
I travelled down to see the family in the Deep South (of NJ) on Wed night. I was trying to talk my mom and husband into running a 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. Given that the weather was rainy, 40 degrees, and we weren't even going to bed until after 1 AM, they looked at me like I had three heads when I suggested the 8 AM race on the boardwalk. So the turtle reluctantly did a run on her own. While the rest of my family slept, I just did a quick 3-mile run around the development.
The old 'hood looked really different now that I'm running it. Or now that I'm an adult. Or both.
The good news is, by 9AM I was already showered and watching the balloons go down Central Park West on TV. And then then rest of the day, I ate. Guilt free! I love the running to guilt-free eating ratio, although I probably severely overestimated it on Thanksgiving. Hey, it's the holidays.
I was super proud of myself on Saturday. I actually got my "long run" of 7 miles in! I really didn't feel like doing it, but once I got going it flew by. Once again, enjoyed Gordon's podcast. Listened to a GREAT old episode in which he interviewed a frequent Disney marathoner. It was so cool to hear a breakdown of the race mile-by-mile, and tips on what to expect. It won't be long now!
Overall it was a decent week, although not my best for motivation and time. I didn't get any cross training in while in NJ, unless you count lugging the fake nine-foot Christmas tree and about 40 oversized plastic crates down from the attic to help my mom decorate. But I guess fitting the training into your life (even during holidays and vacations) is all part of the game. Plus, I got a sneak peek into how difficult it might be to find the time and energy to get my runs in over Christmas vacation...but by then I'll be tapering. What a delightful word.
Sarathon or bust!
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