NYCM - It begins

Just over 24 hours ago I raced the Fairfield Half. It was probably the hardest race I've ever run, and my time was about 10 minutes slower than any half I've run this year. I even gave Willrunforbeer the middle finger when I saw her after the race, despite the fact she slaved over a hot stove to cook me pasta and meatballs the night before. Sorry :) Instead of dwelling and writing a post about that race, I've decided to move forward and write a post about something more positive.

Sharon & I sporting our awesome Team Sasquatch shirts before the race!

The good thing is, today my legs feel pretty great. A little sore, but not really too bad, which is good news, because it is officially time to start training for the New York City Marathon. I have a pretty hefty goal in mind (which I won't write about yet) but I'm kind of excited. Although yesterday during the race I remember saying how much I hated running. (oops...) I guess I'm excited to see how much progress I've made since last years marathon. I've improved in my shorter races, though I've yet to find a half marathon PR so far this year. I feel like the improvement will be there. Marathon training is the perfect time to do some inner reflection, and I always feel stronger after every long run. I definitely am excited to do my first 14 mile run. Maybe I'll even do the same route I did last year and see how it feels.

Oh, and by the way. The neon pink Zensah sleeves? Totally worked.

Reset button

Warning: I apologize for the chart and the use of computer terms in a running blog. I would totally appreciate it if you bear with me, but if you decide not to, there's always Nyan Cat!

I need a reset button for my brain. For the past month or so my pace has steadily been dropping. I ran two sub 9:00 races, and overall my "easy" runs seem to be a little faster then they used to be. But, conversely, the temperatures and most of all the humidity, have been rising. Lately these two things have not been playing well together. (See Exhibit A)

Exhibit A - Fancy Scientific Data

There has been a breaking point in most of my runs lately where I am out of breath, hot, soaked in sweat, exhausted, and sometimes thirsty. In that moment my brain goes "NOPE! NOT ANYMORE! APPLY THE BRAKES!" And then I stop to walk, feeling defeated. And once that happens I can never seem to find the reset button and salvage the remainder of the run. It's like all the bad stuff is still sitting in my RAM, and I need to clear it, but I just can't find the damn reset button. Or I guess for the sake of my analogy, I can't find the on button to turn my brain back on! At any rate, I need help!

NYRR Mini 10K (aka Push through Mini)

I'll admit, I am not a huge fan of the 10k race. I have only run two (this one being my third) I would much prefer either running a 5k, or a half marathon. The main reason why I signed up for this race was because my wonderful friend Vee was going to be in town from Philadelphia, and she was running it. This would be her first race in Central Park! I promptly signed up for the race in early May, and forgot about it until a week ago. Then I got a friendly message from my coach asking me if I was running on Saturday.

"I am, but I don't plan on racing it. I don't like 10k's, and I have no desire to race it."

Right now, I realize the stupidity of telling my coach that. He quickly replied "Oh no, you're going to race it. And I think to make sure you don't ease up, I think I'll run with you!"

Mother. Effer. I simultaneously loved the idea and hated the idea. After being accused (and convicted) of "racing lazy" lately, I knew this was not going to be easy. I actually spent most of the week dreading this race. I had no desire to even ask my coach what the plan for me. Since a lot of the race was kind of a blur, I broke it down for a mile by mile replay. My Garmin says I ran 6.3, hence the .3 at the end.

Mile 1 - 9:19

Feeling great. Nice and flat. All systems are giving me the green light!

Mile 2 - 9:23

Nasty little bottle neck slowed me down into the park, but legs felt good. Pushing, but comfortable. 

Mile 3 - 8:51 
Um, this was up Harlem Hill. Not quite sure how I managed this. I think I was excited to get to take my water break after the hill. Still feeling strong. Oh, and now we're halfway done! Yay! This isn't so bad....

Mile 4 - 9:10 
Getting fatigued. 'Squatch reminding me THIS (pointing to my head) is what we need to focus on at this point in the race. And he was right. Definitely wanted to take a walk break right around now.

Mile 5 - 8:38 (oh my god, I'm gonna puke) 
I don't remember much about this mile. I think I got a second wind/burst of energy at some point. Overall average pace was just barely above 9 minute miles, and 'Squatch said Goal #1 was to get it sub 9. Being reminded to swing my arms and use em to my advantage. 

Mile 6 - 8:46 (oh my god, I'm gonna puke or pass out) 
I remember 'Squatch telling me "Catch up to that green thing up there! This is your last mile! Push it!" Breathing was starting to get very labored. Wondered if I'd puke or pass out during this race. Pretty sure I was gonna puke after I crossed the finish line. Wondered how Honey Stinger Waffles would look spewed across the finish line. Hoping I wouldn't puke on anyone's sneakers. Shortly before mile 6 I saw Allen running in the park, and I guess I was still in good shape because I let out a really loud "HEEEEYYYYY!!" 

.3 @ 8:21 pace 

The last 400 meters were miserable. 'Squatch veered of and told me to SPRINT. I'm not sure I had an extra gear at that point, I just kept telling myself DO NOT slow down. Was pretty sure at this point I was going to puke, and then pass out. Breathing was very labored. Okay, was more like gasping for air. Final 200 meters. told myself it would be less than 2 minutes. Just hold it together.Couldn't see the finish line for a long time, then finally saw it as I crested the hill. It still seemed like it was so far away. I wasn't even paying attention to the spectators cheering us on. I had complete tunnel vision, all I could focus on was that giant clock and finish line. I kept trying to run as fast as I could, and then my friend Robin spotted me and yelled my name! I'm not sure what my response was. I think I waved?


Eventually I crossed the finish line, threw my hands on top of my head and tried to get my breathing back and hold myself together. I can't wait to see the photos Brightroom caught of me! No doubt I will be a sweaty mess. I finally looked at the time on my watch, 56:36. Hm, what was my last 10k race? I thought it was about an hour, giving me a 3 1/2 minute PR! Awesome, right? Well, not quite. On my way home I checked my race results from last year. My last 10k was 1:03, meaning I had almost a seven minute PR!! I burst out laughing on the train because it was so crazy. Granted, I know my race pace is not 10:13 anymore, but I just didn't have such expectations for this race. 

I hope this race has knocked the "lazy" running out of me. I suffered quite a bit those last two miles of the race, but seeing all those sub 9 miles, and that huge PR definitely made it all worth it. 

Where has all the mojo gone?

After reading the title of this blog post, please go back and read it again, along to the tune of Paula Cole's "Where have all the cowboys gone?" I have no idea why that song is in my head, but it was!

Some time between finishing the RTB Relay, and Memorial Day, I totally lost my mojo. One day it was there, all "Look at me! My legs feel light, and I feel free! I'm running! Laaa! " and the next day it was all like "Hey! Go away! Leave us alone! We ache! I'm tired! I dunt wanna! Waahhh!" Not only were my legs killing me this week, but my mind was playing tricks on me as well. Although I was happy to be reunited with my group and run while it was daylight out, my mind did not want to be running. Mentally I was done before I even started. What was supposed to be an "easy" workout turned into a 4 mile run at an 8:30 pace. My legs protested, but got the job done. My brain on the other hand, still wanted noting to do with it. Trying to coax myself out of the house for an 8 mile run this morning was like trying to teach my cats to use the remote control. It just ain't gonna happen. (Although, my 8 mile run DID happen...and now I have an DVR full of "My cat from hell"..)

Coach made a comment to me this week that I'd better get moving...NYC Marathon training officially starts the end of the month. And then it hit me. I am not looking forward to training for the marathon. I don't want to seem ungrateful, because I'm not. I busted my butt last year for the opportunity to run NYC this year. I'm actually looking forward to the race....sort of. I am just not looking forward to the long training runs. I don't know what it is, I didn't have a bad time training for the Philly Marathon last year, but this year, marathon training just seems daunting. Maybe because I've been focused so much on getting faster and working on my half marathon. Maybe because this time around I know what's in store for me.

I know I can and will do it. I don't need that pep talk. (yet) I just need to figure out how to get my head straight. November 6th is still a long away off.