Brooklyn Or.....Bum

Last weekend was the Brooklyn Half, a race that is always my favorite. This marks the 4th time I've run the race, and my 18th half marathon. I wasn't really as well trained for this race as I would normally have been, but I was still happy with my time, and happy with the fact that I ran a few sub 9:00 miles. Plus I had two beers and a hotdog post race, in honor of tradition.

The last few miles of the race were obviously pretty tough, but once I crossed the finish line I realized this was going to be a tough recovery too. To put it lightly...my ass was on fire. Okay, to be more specific my piriformis was on fire. I've had mild issues since MCM last year, but in the past two weeks I had really focused a lot on hip strengthening, so I was hoping that it wouldn't really been an issue. I guess maybe I should have been more regimented about stretching too.

But at any rate, Saturday was really rough. I could barely hinge forward at my hips without being in pain. And sleeping was terrible. Every time I tried to straighten my left leg pain would shoot up my lower back and my down my leg. Fun right? Sunday was slightly better. Monday was slightly better (no more shooting pains) but I decided to make a quick visit to my favorite massage therapist.

Wednesday I felt about 90%, and since it had cooled off so much in the evening I decided to try and go for a short run. Three miles, no biggie. After about a third of a mile, I quickly realized, this was not going to happen. With every step I could feel something tight/pulling in the back of my left hamstring. I felt like I was trying to find a comfortable running gait, and I know that any type of change in my gait is a bad thing. So I walked home, went on the bike and did some more stretching, in addition to the yoga I did in the morning.

So that's where I am. I will do pilates/weights today, yoga Friday. Maybe I'll attempt a run Friday. Or Saturday. I'm not really sure. I just know I need to nip this in the bud before marathon training starts so I can continue to kick ass all the way to Philly.

First race of 2013

Well hello there readers! What a month it has been. I had an amazing run on April 14th, but I was hesitant to blog about it. Tomorrow is Boston and everyone will be reading/writing race reports! No one will read my silly little blog post about my great run. Well, we all know what followed. Then I was out of town for a week. But now I'm back, and I've signed up for my first race in 2013!

I almost can't believe that I haven't run a race yet this year. Then again, thinking about how low my motivation was in January, it's not surprising at all. I'm actually quite excited to run CAMBA's Healthy Way 5k, in Prospect Park this Sunday. I haven't run a 5k in quite some time. I think I'll probably try and run a mile or two before hand to warm up, race the race, then run home to get my total mileage of 8-11 miles.

I'm not really sure what my strategy is for the race. It'll probably be something like, run fast, as fast as you can before you start to cramp up. Run as fast as you can, and when you feel like you're going to pass out, keep pushing to the finish line. Something like that. I'm hoping it's a really small race, and if I can manage to run in the low 8:00's I think I can expect to finish high in my AG. My PR is at an 8:11 pace, so anything around there would make me quite happy! There are prizes for the top 3 females, so who knows?

Running with nature (and stuff)

This weekend I made a trip out to Rockefeller State Park and hit the trails with a few friends. It was lovely, to say the least. A few hours out of the city and in the sun was exactly what I needed. It was a pretty challenging course at times, and I was running with a group that had me pushing the pace a bit, but you know what? That's okay. I stopped a few times to walk up hills (evident in the splits below) and I didn't beat myself up over it. Instead, I took a deep breath of fresh air and looked at the cows sitting in the grass, or the beautiful little stream to my side. It was awesome to see my last few miles sub 9:30, and to feel the miles just tick away. Almost ten mile done before I had even realized it. Sunday's run was everything that I needed, peace and quiet away from the city, and a strong run that left me with a nice runners high.

Then we zipped over to Blue Hill Cafe to stock up on delicious treats, and ventured back into the city.  Traffic and delays on the train meant I didn't get home until almost 3pm, but that's okay, there will always be next Sunday.

I don't see a hill, do you?

I was too busy enjoy the scenery to take a photo, but here's a cup of coffee. Look! Cows!

1    9:12.0     1.00
2    9:15.8     1.00    
3    10:35.3     1.00
4    9:09.6     1.00
5    10:37.0     1.00
6    11:59.5     1.00
7    9:05.8     1.00
8    9:23.7     1.00
9    9:22.0     1.00
10    6:28.0     0.70

Brain Training

Just google "Brain Lifting Weights" There are PLENTY of hilarious images.

One of the things I want to work on this marathon training season is my mental game. I'm tired of making myself feel bad about not being as good as (aka, as fast as) other people I run with. I'm tired of comparing myself with others and falling short every time. Despite all the progress I've made, I still feel like the slowest runner of my group of friends, because of course they're getting faster too!

I was reading Competitor (my new favorite running website) the other day, and they had a few articles about mental focus and mental training. I found them helpful, but I still feel like I'm not sure what is going to work for me. 

Through Competitor, I came across Running the Mind. Joseph Renguso is a runner and psychotherapist, who has two audio programs on his website that claim to help you learn to focus and help block out negative thoughts. While it sounds intriguing, I'm also a bit skeptical. I also feel like my focus and ability to push myself while racing is good (cue dismissive glare from my coach) but I feel like it's during speed workouts, or post runs when the anger/frustration kicks in.

What are some of the techniques that you've used to help prevent you from beating yourself up?



This post would not be complete without him....

You're fast, you're capable, and gosh darn it people like you!

Redux

Snazzy poster created in the Phoster app

Once I realized I did indeed want to run a fall marathon this year, my options were very clear to me. I knew I wanted a "small" race, a "fast" race, and a race that was close to NY. Although Mohawk-Hudson is all of the above, I started to get a little worried when I watched the "run through" video on their website. Though it looked scenic, but I was worried about it being TOO small, and without any spectators. (Someone feel free to chime in and tell me I'm wrong)

This left only one option in my mind, Philadelphia. Bouncing so many things through my mind, this was the only option that I got really excited about. I know the race, and I know the city. I had a great time there a few years ago, and I've been meaning to go back and visit for a while. I'm hoping the familiarity of it all will make it relatively low-key if I'm traveling alone (aka, the opposite of traveling to DC, though I can't blame anything on that besides Hurricane Sandy)

So it's official, I'm registered and ready to go! Of course, I'm sure you all want to know what my predicted finish time is, but that's for another post!

Waiting

Blogger tells me my last blog post was February 6th. Considering the month of March is almost over, I guess I should post at least once this month, huh?

My running the past two weeks has gotten slightly more consistent. I've done speed work and have been doing "long runs" in preparation for the Brooklyn Half. I've been feeling a bit more confident and comfortable. However, up until a few days ago, my marathon plans were still up in the air.

I rarely read Runners World, but I happened to log on the other day and read the most recent article by Kristin Armstrong, which can be found here: http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/what-it-takes-1

I tweeted it, and saw lots of people connected with it. The article opens up with a simple statement,

When we wait to be perfect, we wait too long.

I think it made a lot of people stop and think. Of all the times we put things off, all the times we waited to enter a race until we got "better." I know I've done it a lot, especially over the past few months. I know it will take a lot of work on my part, but I think I've finally come to my 2013 marathon decision. (More on that in a few days...)

If not a runner, then what?

I think it's finally time to admit it. I'm not sure I'm a runner anymore. I barely ran 30 miles in January, and I'm pretty sure that is the worst lowest mileage month I've run since....I can remember. I had a super enjoyable 7 mile run two weekends ago, and I thought that might have sparked my enjoyment of running again, and it did, for like a week.

I even bought two new pairs of sneakers last week, which were much needed anyway. I was hoping that new, pretty sneakers would excite me. And, in the voice of Triumph the insult comic dog, they are exciting....for me to look at....

I've been going to the gym, doing yoga, and keeping myself active, but none of it compares with the feeling of running 10 miles on a whim. I do miss the feeling of freedom that long runs give me, but at the same time, I have no motivation to lace up for it. You must all be thinking, "Just set a goal! That will help you get motivated!" And I do have running goals, but I just don't care. I mean, why? What's the point?

It's a weird feeling to have been so attached to running for years, and then just have the desire slowly slide away. I can't tell if it's me, or running, who broke up with who first. I can't tell if it's working two jobs, being tired, or being stressed/depressed that's made me push running to the back burner. Worst of all, I feel like I've isolated myself from all my running friends.


It makes me stop and ask the question,

If I'm not a runner, then what am I?

2012 Year in Review

As of today, I've run 1,016 miles this year. Not bad considering between Nov/Dec I've probably run about 30 miles. I love to use this time of year to reflect back on my year of training, and what I had hopped to accomplish.


Goals for 2012:

- CONFIDENCE. Without a doubt, anyone who has been training with me this year will tell you I can run faster than I think I can. There have been conversations and bets behind my back! Enough! It's time to put all those doubts and fears aside and let myself embrace my inner honey badger.
Did I do it? Eh, I'd say I'm getting better.

- Be compassionate. I am only human. Sometimes I miss a workout. Sometimes I eat too much dessert. It's okay. Take a deep breath, and start over the next day where you left off. Did I do it? Again, I'd say I'm getting better.

- Sub 2:00 half. Oh yes. Did I do it? Oh hells yes! 1:57:57.

- Run a 4 hour-ish marathon. I truly think I have a faster marathon time in me, it just happens that the NYCM and Brooklyn Marathon are very, very hilly. My gift to myself in 2012 is a flat(ter) marathon. Did I do it? Not really. 4:24 was my PR this year.


- Always wear sunscreen on my face! It's important, dummy! Did I do it? Definitely was better this year, though I know there were days I forgot it.


So, with all that said, what are my goals for 2013?
Sub 8-minute 5k. My PR this year was 8:19 pace, would love to get it in the 7:xx range.
Other then that...I want to get faster overall. Even if I don't run another marathon next year, I want to get faster, and continue to stay injury free! And have fun. And be proud of the fact that I've shaved almost half an hour off my first half marathon, almost half an hour off my first marathon, and about 5 minutes off my first 5k.

What are some of your goals for next year?

Not trying = failure?

I still have not decided on my 2013 marathon, though I did realize something this weekend. I feel like if I don't run a marathon in 2013, I've "failed" in a way. That I've given up on the distance because it's too hard, even though that is not the truth at all.

I've had friends who have focused on shorter races and held off on running a marathon, and it worked out great for them and their goals. But I feel like I have unfinished business with the distance, and if I let it sit dormant for a year, I'm being a coward.

Also, I feel like I've gotten into a routine the past two years by training for a fall marathon. So I'm afraid if I skip a year, it'll be even harder for me to get back into it mentally. But the truth is, I'm still worried I wont be able to balance work, marathon training and my other obligations, and my training will suffer.

Not running a marathon seems like it will give me so much more time to try (non-running) things I may want to pursue, more violin lessons! Touch rugby! Personal training!

But I'll still feel like a failure for not trying.

Decision time. To 26.2 or not?

I hate to say this, but I feel like it's time for me to decide whether or not I'm going to run the NJ Marathon or not. The entry fee goes up to $110 1/1/13, and I honestly don't want to pay that much if I don't have to. (Yup, I'm cheap, and stubborn) And I hate to say it, but I'm still not sure I want to do it.

There are two main reasons I'm hesitant for signing up. One being I'm not sure I want to go through all the training again for a potentially disappointing race (lame excuse), but the second reason is, most likely I'll be taking on an additional responsibility Saturday mornings...which means 7am wake up on Saturday, and just as early, if not earlier on Sundays to do my long run. Which means my weekends will pretty much be used up. Wait, how is that different than normal training season? I guess it's not.

The NJ marathon appealed to me because of the time of year. I've only run fall marathons, and my anniversary with the boyfriend is Sept 30th....which has always been the day/weekend of a 20 miler. He's never complained....but it kind of sucks. And it puts additional stress on me trying to figure out how and where to get the run done. This year I didn't do it. Oops. So I thought a spring marathon would be a nice change.

A May race means starting my training cycle in February...which sounds nice, considering I ran 30 miles in the month of November. (Oh, but apparently I've run 1,003 miles this year already, so that's not too shabby!) I've found it incredibly hard to get myself into any sort of schedule. Working long hours, and with it getting dark out at 4:30...I've definitely been on the bike a lot more.

So, looks like I need a little advice. What should I do? Sign up for a marathon, which I know I will get excited about once I'm actually in training, or wait a few weeks until I make a real decision? Or should I try my luck with another fall marathon (pretty sure that option would be Philly again!)