Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Hartford Marathon Training Week 1

So this is basically a post before a bunch of other posts that are also overdue.

Last week was crazy busy as I worked a shortened week and headed off for a long weekend in Miami on Thursday afternoon. So kind of went MIA from the whole blog world.

So much is going on right now and I realized I was halfway into Week 2 of training and should probably get to it with recapping week 1 albeit brief! 

So first things first. My goal is simple (hah if only!) shave 26 minutes off to sub 4 at the ING Hartford Marathon, October 12th. 

This means intensity has spiked. 

And that I got a COACH!!! Which will be deserving of its own post but seriously, she already is rocking my running world. 

If you know me you know I by no means need any push or motivation to workout. In fact pretty sure I overdue it (acknowledging is the first step right?) so she has been a blessing. 

Anyways. Lets review how week 1 shook out! 

Monday - 5 miles with 4x30 hard in the middle - total time 44:46: Splits: 8:56, 9:07, 8:48, 8:59, 8:52 

Tuesday - 3 miles - late work day and hit the treadmill for a steady pace 28:33: 9:31 miles

Wednesday - oh Wednesday. This is track day usually with my coach; but again with going away work threw me for a big loop and I was out of town for the day. I got home late and hit the treadmill of fun. 

Called for 6x800 (4:10-4:15) with 2 mile w/u and cool down: w/u @ 9:51 800's: 4:10, 4:10, 4:15, 4:15, 4:10, 4:10 recovery 400's ~ 10:30/10:50 cool down ~10:10 (slowed to about 10:50 after last 800 then sped up to end the cool down closer to 10:00 

All I have to say was hi to speed workout! And I was mentally beat I do not think I could have paced that out if not on the treadmill.  

Thursday - cross train day and hit the elliptical for 45 minutes then did some weights and core work. 

Friday - I was in Miami! Workout called for 6 miles with 4x1 minute striders at the end. 

Yeah this didn't so much go as planned. Never wait until noon in June in Miami to run if not used to it. I wanted to die. I made it just over 5.5 before throwing in the towel with dehydration (perhaps the wine the night before played a part...) but this was pitiful: 

Splits: 10:17, 9:55, 10:13, 10:08, 9:56, 10:00

Saturday - Rest day! And yes she is making me take rest day seriously. We did lots of walking and and biking but it was all leisurely. 

Sunday - Trail Half Marathon. This will also deserve its own post but umm it was hard. Took more will and determination to finish than the 50K. Dead. Serious. Overall took a little over 3 hours. 

And there we have it kids!!

One week of training down, 15 to go. 

Summer running is definitely harder but hoping that pushing myself outside now translates to speed come fall. 

Monday, June 17, 2013

Calm Before the Storm

I have really been bad at blogging lately...but I have just been super busy! Work is keeping me quite occupied and I have been spending as much time as possible in my downtime offline.

But, I have SO much to share this week. Marathon training kicks off today! But that is all for another post.

If you follow me on instagram, you are well aware of what I am up to.

Beach. Running. Eating.

That pretty much sums up my downtime in a nutshell.

This past week, I took it on the easier side (errr I took one rest day. woo hoo?) But in all seriousness - not a single double workout day, long run totaled 10 miles and a whopping 22 miles done overall.

I have battling a virus/cold - to the extent that I even stayed home from work last Tuesday and this darn thing is still lingering on. I am ready for it to totally move out of my system.

Especially since I head to Miami on Thursday!! Long weekend with my sister + half marathon + shenanigans = totally stoked.

And of course - Happy Father's Day to the most amazing man in my life. He is still one giant goof ball to this day and there is absolutely NO question that I am his daughter. I love this man more than words can express.

He is always there for me to support me, or give me tough love. He has let me make mistakes but been there to pick me back up. He has led by example and I owe my independent, strong willed nature to him. He has taught me to never be afraid of failure and always set your goals and self expectations as high as possible. Because of him, I am always striving for better and refuse to settle. One lucky girl.

Circa mid 80's

And now...I shall bombard you with my weekend in pictures!

I am blessed that this is my life in the summer.

Belmar Lagoon
 
Backyard
 
Lucio!!

Views from the run.
 
More of my favorite eager swimmer!

Morning sunshine.
 
My grilling skills!

Sunsets from the front dock.
 
And this is what I was leaving to this morning. Savoring every last second.


Monday, June 10, 2013

Oakley Mini 10K: Recap

I don't think that I have ever prayed so hard for rain on the weekend as I was on Friday night. 

I legit did not feel like running this race.

For some reason all Friday my stomach was just OFF. I was bloated and it was rumbly and the last thing on my mind was trying to race a 10K - potentially in the rain, in Central Park, on Saturday morning.

I didn't pick up my number ahead of time and left things with my friend who was driving in that she would text me in the morning and I would let her know if I was in or not.

Insert Saturday morning wake up. To birds chirping and sunshine. I actually cursed a little bit. I couldn't say no. I was not feeling that fantastic but couldn't justify not going in...especially when I knew I would run at some point regardless Saturday.  Mine as well be in a race I had paid for and worked towards 9 + 1.

And do it in neon style. 
Obviously. 

Sigh. If not excited to run at least get excited for a new outfit! Pretty much story of my life. New outfits get me out of bed in the morning. My body thanks me, my bank account hates me.

Can I get an amen for driving in versus public transportation from Hoboken? I was picked up around 6:40 and we were in in 20 minutes, with numbers picked up and gear checked bathroom done by 7:30. I have never had so much leisure time before a race.
My stomach still didn't feel great so I hung near the bathrooms as long as I could before making our way to the starting line about 10 minutes before we were to be off.
All I can say is WOW. This race was BIG.

View in the front.




View from behind. And let's just say I was happy to be in a front corral! Holy women.


After announcing the elites and a such, 8:00am and we were off!

Originally I had totally planned to race this sh*t out of this. Off the bat I knew that I would push but it wasn't going to be pretty. 

My stomach was iffy and my right calf was so so tight.

I just choose to start at a pace that was sustainable, but be able to push. Not crash and burn. 

Mile 1: 8:57

It was so cool starting this race in the street instead of in the park. Last year I started this race solo since I was in the bathroom for the gun to go off, so I was all sorts of disoriented beginning. I literally ran solo until at least mile 1.5 last year! This year I was just focusing on trying to get in a groove and enjoying the spectators.

Mile 2: 8:44

Stomach was hurting and so was my calf but this was feeling like a good pace. We were into the park now and seeing Jen was a huge burst of energy!!!! So nice to see a familiar face out there cheering! I was also already sweating buckets. WTF. Also I remembered yet again just how much I hate running the park this way. Give me Harlem hill any day. At least it ends. Making your way up the west side just seems interminable. 

Mile 3: 9:06

The hills were really killing my calf. And also my right glute. It felt like a pulling sensation. Not good. I made the executive decision to walk some of the bigger portions of hill. A quick walk was better than running for absolutely no reason and potentially hurting for real. Whether just tight or what I wasn't about to risk it. Also insert me almost killing a woman. I was walking and she with a lot of pep goes "you are almost there it will all be downhill from here!". 
Okay I love the encouragement but has she ever run Central Park before...I just smiled like oh yes why thanks for the guidance. Yippee no more hills after 2.5 miles! Moron. 

Mile 4: 9:35

There was a bit of walking and a bit of thirst. But while I was okay with walking uphills, I didn't feel like stopping for a bathroom...and was pretty sure that water would have me running for one. I was actually scared for a bit with the running because it was really hurting. 

Mile 5: 9:36

Well at least my walking inserts were pretty steady. I was actually walking and stretching out my calf. SO gosh darn tight. This race was really putting forth a solid argument for stretching and foam rolling, I will tell you that. I got a little infusion of pep seeing my friends boyfriend - who was running a loop going in the opposite direction. He yelled out for me I got wayyyy excited. I love people cheering!!

Mile 6: 8:51

All I have to say is I was FINALLY warmed up. And now was at the point of wanting to run forever. And was trying to keep my pace down. My legs were tired but they also felt ready to run. Only took them the whole race. Way to show up guys. 

Mile 7: 8:07 

I was just gunning for the finish at this point. I saw I was going to PR (and couldn't really do the mental math until mile 6 to be honest) and wanted to just bust it out and finish strong. I was pretty surprised I was taking a decent chunk of time - over a minute - off even with the walking and stretching and hills (last PR was from a flat course a month ago).

Official time: 57:08
 
Overall, not too bad. And I didn't over run the course THAT bad! I had wanted to PR and based on it all should be running a 10K way faster, but the cards didn't all fall in line for this race between not feeling well and the soreness but fitness is improving even on tired not so recovered legs (I may or may not have run all week including 7 miles on Thursday...and a squat day Friday...typical). I swear I can see myself busting out a few minutes faster under more "ideal" conditions. 

The next 10K up is Queens. It was 80+ at the start last year and my slowest per mile race pretty much ever - but if it isn't deadly I will probably see what I can do! So I have a month to work on this. 

I was happy I went in for this and didn't bail I would have been really sad had I skipped out. It was absolutely gorgeous in the park on Saturday and the race is a lot of fun. 

Also, I need to figure out how to "race" a 10K. I think it is going to involve an actual "warm up" and not just going into the race cold. But it really is a distance that is lost on me strategy wise.

Any insight on this would be more than helpful. 

Did you race this weekend? How did it go? Turned out to be such a lovely weekend after all!

Friday, June 7, 2013

2013 to Date. What. A. Year.

Here I am!

Wow, I didn’t realize it had been so long since my last blog post! But I also haven’t had anything too exciting to write about. And have just been crazy busy. And when not working and running being SOCIAL. Hey now. 

Plus after running the Ultra, my life just seemed anticlimactic.

I can very much be an in the moment type of person and not having anything SIGNIFICANT on my calendar gave me pause for a while.

And in that time I began to reflect on just what I have accomplished this year. Let’s review:


I ran my first marathon. And then ran another.
I ran an ultra marathon. Which happened to be my first trail race.
I ran 4 half marathons.
1 15K.
1 10 Miler.
1 10K.

1 5K. In which I placed for the first time EVER.
All in all…umm hi, I have had quite the crazy, and accomplished year.

Sometimes I can forget when I am just thinking and living in the present.
11 Races to date this year. And a whole lot of firsts going on there.
The one goal I did have that I did not hit was to kick my fall half marathon PR in the butt. But, I have a plan and that sucker is going down come fall.
So what now?

Well, for one thing, I have just been running what I felt like since the Ultra. Which you know me means I have been running quite a bit. Oops. I felt fine after and took me a few days before I finally took a rest day. Took me until Friday to be exact.

I am not sure anyone expects anything less.

This week has been much of the same.

Minus I am running one of the rare races of summer this weekend, the NYRR Mini 10K which is a race I love and also I am HOPING to PR it. All dependent on how the legs feel tomorrow but I think I can break my PR from a month ago.

So there you have it, 2013 has kicked some serious ass for me thus far. And I can't wait to share the plans I have for the rest of the year and just what is up my sleeve.

I am very much looking forward to a whole new journey in my running "career" beginning.

But for now...I am going to just run for the thrill of it. No pressure. No timing of splits. No specific workouts.

Just running.

But take it from me, it's going to get even better. I have a feeling the best is yet to come.