Rugged Maniac NYC 2013

Okay, so I'm a little behind on my race recaps...and blogging in general! 

Last year, I ran my first Rugged Maniac race with my dad and friend Kim!  We absolutely loved it, so this year we got an even bigger team together for the obstacle race.

So fresh and so clean!

The day started out warm and cloudy with a chance of rain, but quickly cleared for hot and sunny skies.  The course covered just over 3 miles at the Brooklyn Aviator Sports Complex.  There were around 20ish obstacles, including hurdles, walls, mud pits, rope nets, balance beams and a giant (terrifying) waterslide at the finish!

Here are just a few photos of our rugged race:

Climbing walls

More wall climbs



Mud pits!



Muddy smiles!

post-mud pit, pre-waterslide

Trapped in a rope net!

Way too tall waterslide!

We. Are. Rugged!

As you can tell, we had an absolute blast and will definitely be returning next year for more ruggedness!

Race Recap: NYRR Joe Kleinerman 10K

This past Saturday I kicked off the 2013 running season with the Joe Kleinerman 10K race in Central Park.  Despite the chilly 32 degree windy weather, I was excited to run my first race of the year with a few thousand of my fellow runners.  Best of all, my cousin Steph and some of her TNT members were doing the race and I was able to cheer them on as well!  Steph is training for the NYC Half with Team in Training and this was her PDR and her first 10K race ever!


Steph & I pre-race

Shortly after arriving in Central Park, I parted ways with Steph so she could meet up with her TNT group and I could do a quick warmup.  As we got settled into the corrals, listening to Mary Wittenberg talk about Joe Kleinerman and all of the people behind-the-scenes that help make NYRR events happen, it felt cold and windy and I couldn't wait to get moving! 

The course was one counter-clockwise loop of the park, starting on East Drive and ending on the 72nd Street Transverse.  I tried not to let the cold get to me and kept my pace slow for the first miles, knowing those Harlem Hills were in the near future.  I had forgotten my watch and my Nike+ app GPS is always inaccurate, so I wasn't really sure what pace I was keeping during the race.  Mile 1 & 2 ended up being around 9:45 pace.  I felt super strong going into the Harlem Hills and pushed through knowing I'd be rewarded with some sweet downhills in the second half of the race.  I stopped paying attention to what my intended pace was and just really enjoyed running.  I once again found myself in awe of the beauty of Central Park and got lost in my head.  I started thinking about how thankful I am to be a runner.  I just love running races surrounded by people who appreciate and love this sport as much as I do.  It wasn't until about Mile 5 that I snapped back to reality and remembered I was "racing".  I wasn't trying to PR but started thinking it was a possibility, given how strong I was feeling.  When I hit the 6 mile mark I sprinted my little heart out and had some terrible photos taken of me in the process.  Okay, there was one decent one:

My official finish time was 59:28 (9:36 pace), but I have to admit that my time does not reflect how I felt during the race at all.  I felt strong and definitely thought I had run faster!  As I said earlier, I wasn't trying to PR, so I'm not disappointed.  I'm just happy to have 1 race down for 9+1.  Eight more to go! :)

After I finished, I grabbed my apple and jogged backwards to find Steph and her teammates.  They clearly had been keeping a good pace because it didn't take long for me to find them just before the 6-mile marker. 

I am so impressed by their performance and so inspired by their training and fundraising progress.   If you can, please visit Steph's Team in Training page to cheer her on and donate!  GO TEAM!

Hello 2013, Goodbye 2012!

Here we are, on the last day of 2012! It's time to reflect on year behind us and get ready for the awesomeness ahead!  I'm a big fan of resolutions and goals.  As long as they're done properly.  Instead of making generic resolutions like "be healthy", "lose weight" or "exercise more", it's important to set yourself up for success!  Creating realistic and measurable goals will hold you more accountable and give you something concrete to strive for in the coming year.  

Before creating my big goals for 2013, I of course had to review my 2012 goals.  Halfway through the year, I checked in on these goals and realized I didn't set the bar high enough.  I had achieved almost every goal and decided to set a few more to finish out 2012.  I was pretty successful again...

1. Complete my second half-marathon. Check! 

2. PR in the 10K distance. Fail. The only 10K race I completed in the second half of the year was recently at the Hot Chocolate 10K and it was rough.  No PR for me!  Maybe I'll kick off 2013 with a new 10K PR at the Joe Kleinerman?

3. Run the 25K Turkey Trot with Dad. BOOM! Big ole check! This one was definitely a struggle but I did it.  Never again though.

4. "Learn" to swim. Fail. This one is just getting indefinitely postponed.  

5. Pass the R.D. Exam and get a job! CHECK and CHECK!  In July I began working as a Clinical Dietitian and in September, I officially passed the exam to become a Registered Dietitian.  

All in all, 2012 was a kick-ass year, in running and in life!  I continue to meet amazing new people who inspire me to be better and do more!  So for 2013, I'm ready to step outside of my comfort zone and push my limits to see what I'm capable of!  My girl Eleanor Roosevelt once said "do one thing everyday that scares you." Although I'm not sure I'm going to do something everyday that scares me, I love the idea of challenging yourself to do things that make you uncomfortable.  To put it simply, I'm ready to #DreamBig2013!

My Goals for 2013:

PR in the half-marathon distance (More specifically sub 2:05?).  I'm running the WDW Half in less than 2 weeks, but will be stopping for all sorts of character photos, so the PR will not come there.  Perhaps NYC Half???

Strength train 2x/week consistently.  Although I dread paying for an overpriced gym, I gave in and joined NYSC so I have no excuse for this one.  Strength training is important for running and for overall health and I want to be a stronger woman!  

Do one unassisted pull-up.  This is sort of random and ideally, it will be more than one.  As mentioned above, I really want to become stronger all around.  It seems silly but I've never ever done a pull-up all on my own and I really want to this year.  

Complete 9+1 NYRR races for guaranteed entry into the 2014 NYC Marathon.  Ahhh! This one definitely scares me.  I'm fine with running 9 races, but thinking that one day I'll run (or try to run) New York is intimidating.  

Do at least 3 races outside of NY State. I have a head start on this goal since I'm already registered for the Cherry Blossom 10-mile race with Beth, Abby and Jen.  As of now I'm also considering Peach Tree for 4th of July and Strip at Night in Vegas!?  I'm definitely still open to suggestions if anyone wants to take a trip!

Give back. Okay, so this one isn't really specific or measurable...but I don't think it needs to be.  I may not have a ton of disposable income, but every year I make sure to give whatever I can to charitable causes.  This year I want to also donate more of time.  I know there are so many people who aren't as fortunate as I am and I want to continue finding ways to give back.

Say yes more.  Whenever an opportunity presents itself, I need to ask myself "why not?" and if I don't have a valid reason to not do something, I need to do it!

Most of all, this year I want to continue working toward being the most healthy, happy and best version of myself!  Cheers!

Last Thankful Thursday of 2012!

Happy last Thursday of 2012!  This year has been incredible and I have so much to be thankful for!  2012 has definitely been the biggest year for me so far in terms of my career.  This year alone, I graduated from my DI program, landed a job as a Clinical Dietitian and passed my R.D. Exam! All the while having a blast with running, family and friends!  Now 2012 has been fantastic to me, but I have big plans for 2013...starting with the Walt Disney World Half Marathon and becoming an aunt in just a few weeks!!! But before I go crazy about all the things I will be thankful for in the new year, let's finish up 2012 with one last round of Thankful Thursday!

This week I'm thankful...

...that the laundromat was open on Christmas Eve.  It wasn't just open...it was a pretty happenin' place, which made me feel much better about spending my evening alone folding spandex and DriFit tees.

...for kisses under the mistletoe! ;)

...for hot showers after cold runs.  I kicked off Christmas morning with a chilly 4 miles, immediately followed by a hot shower, a mug of hot tea and the WDW Christmas Parade on the couch.  Amazing!

Festive 4 miles on Christmas!

...for my new down alternative pillow.  It feels great on my neck and puts me right into a deep and dreamy sleep, that is until I'm woken up by a snorting, growling bully in my face.

...for new nail polish from Santa!  Hello, sparkly lover! 

...for all of the amazing people in my life.  I'm a firm believer in surrounding yourself with people that will motivate, inspire and encourage you...and that's just what I've done!  I'm thankful for each and every one of you reading this and am excited by all of the amazing things you're out there doing in this world! (Pardon my cheesiness!)  

...for all of the incredible things I have to look forward to in 2013.  I'm hoping to make this my best year yet!


TELL ME--WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR THIS WEEK?...THIS YEAR?!?!

Tis the Season for Thankful Thursday!

Happy Thursday!  Even though Christmas is just days away, I haven't really gotten into the holiday spirit yet!  Let's start this edition of Thankful Thursday to get me into a jollier mood!  This week I'm thankful for...

...getting accepted into the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile race with Beth, Abby and Jen! I can't wait to start planning for this awesome weekend!

...my sweet little old resident who gave me a handmade beaded necklace for Christmas.  He absolutely made my day and the smile on his face when I wore it was priceless!

...this beast.

...for my Secret Santa.  Love youuu! :)  I'm also thankful for lots of holiday party time spent with my amazing friends.  Bring on those laugh lines!

Neon socks, Modell's & VS Gift Cards

...hot chocolate.  I mostly drink tea, but sometimes a hot cocoa with a little whipped cream hits the spot! And itwas just perfect in the souvenir mug from the NYC Runs Hot Chocolate 10K!

...that I'm able to spend Christmas day with (most of) my family and celebrate it's true meaning.  In my family Christmas definitely comes even "without packages, boxes or bags."  And I'm so very thankful for that!

Tell me.  Are you in the holiday spirit yet? Or are you being a Grinch?  What are you feeling thankful for?

Race Recap: NYC Runs Hot Chocolate 10K

This past Sunday, almost 1500 runners including myself took part in the NYC Runs Hot Chocolate 5K and 10K races on Roosevelt Island.  Running followed by hot chocolate might sound strange, but it's actually a fantastic combination!  This was my 4th NYC Runs event and I'm a big fan. The races are always very well organized and have a small-town race feel...although the popularity of their events is definitely growing!

My cousins Sam and Steph (who in case you didn't know is training for the NYC Half through Team in Training) both ran the 5K race while I opted for the longer 10K distance, which makes sense as I'm supposed to be training for the WDW Half Marathon in a few weeks!

One major plus to this race is the proximity of Roosevelt Island to my home base of Astoria!  After a super quick drive and fairly easy parking, we strolled over to the 5K starting area to find a lot of fellow runners!  The weather was crappy, 40ish and drizzling, but it never full out rained on us which was great.  NYC Runs event do not yet have assigned corrals, so runners organized themselves by pace as able.  I spotted Beth in the crowd with her neon shirt and only had time for a quick "hi" before the 5K runners were off!  The 10K didn't start until 10am so I was able to dart across the island and cheer for everyone during the first mile before I started.


Go ladies! Sorry I'm not the best race photographer...

 Despite getting minimal sleep and having a few glasses of wine at a Christmas party Saturday night, they had an awesome race! I am loving watching them both get into running and supporting them along the way.  Definitely check out Steph's story at both her Team in Training page and here on PB&P and join me in supporting her!

Congrats Cousins!


Not only did they run their 3.1 miles and get the well-deserved hot chocolate, but they stuck around in the chilly rain to cheer me on and watch me finish! 

So...how did my race go?  I guess well, considering I went into this race without any goals or expectations.  I'm supposed to be training for the Walt Disney World Half Marathon that I'm running with Dad on January 12th, 2013.  But with my recent focus on strengthening, I really haven't been doing much running and have been taking CrossFit classes twice a week.  I decided to run the first half of the race comfortably and see what my pace was like and how I felt. 

After warming up in the first mile, I settled into a 9:30ish pace which felt hard.  The course was basically two loops around Roosevelt Island, except for a small modification due to damages from Hurricane Sandy.  There was a mix of pavement, sidewalk, dirt paths and puddles to navigate around which included a few small inclines.  As I was finishing up the first loop I was so excited to see my cousins, Steph's boyfriend and their dog Kirra cheering me on!  I checked my watch and realized I had finished the first half in just about 30 minutes and I was still feeling good.  I decided to push through and was hoping to negative split.  The second loop felt even more difficult, like I was pushing harder but not going any faster.  From mile 4-6 I ended up next to a woman from my hood wearing a Hell Gate Running Club shirt and we pushed each other those last two miles.  It wasn't exactly like fishing, but I made sure she did not pass me.  I "sprinted" the last 0.2 miles and finished with an official time of 58:46 (9:29 pace). 

Kirra's too cool for a finisher photo.

This was definitely not my best race and certainly not a 10K PR for me, but I felt strong the entire time and got to enjoy some hot chocolate at the finish...so I'm happy.  I'm so proud of my cousins for running the 5K and am looking forward to many more races with them in the future! :)

A Holiday Survival Guide

The Christmas tree is lit, "All I Want for Christmas" seems to be on repeat on the radio, and you're starting to dread the arrival of your January credit card bill. Not to mention tasty temptations like Christmas cookies, candies and egg nog are out in abundance!   To quote my favorite holiday movie, Christmas Vacation..."It's the holidays, and we're all in misery!"

I feel the holidays should be spent with family and friends sharing in the Christmas spirit...not worrying about money, presents and holiday weight gain!  Research shows that average weight gain over the holiday season is around 1-2 pounds for a normal weight person.  For overweight and obese people, holiday weight gain tends to be a little more, up to about 5 pounds.  While fear of weight gain tends to be dramatized and 1-2 or even 5 pounds may not seem like a lot, over several years these pounds add up to an unhealthy weight and increase risk for conditions like diabetes and heart disease.  As with most things, the best thing we can do is to be prepared and have a plan to combat this dreaded weight gain!

Check out my top 5 tips for enjoying holiday parties and events while maintaining a healthy weight:

1.  Just Say No! When your hostess with the mostess offers seconds, don't feel guilted into taking them!  Simply compliment her (or him) on how delicious everything was and how much you enjoyed it.  Also saying no to a few parties or events throughout the month is a surefire way to minimize stress and avoid holiday burnout.  

2. BYO...Healthy options! If you are always underwhelmed by the number healthy side dishes available at a party, bring your own.  This is the smartest way to ensure you can make healthy choices and stay on track with your eating.  It could be as simple as a veggie platter or fruit salad and has the added benefit of making you look like an extremely thoughtful guest!  

3. Be smart about your surroundings.   Standing right next to the buffet or snack table will inevitably lead to mindless snacking.  Focus less on food and more on socializing with family, friends or coworkers by engaging in conversation.  Set yourself up for success by choosing smaller appetizer plates over larger dinner plates.  Decide ahead of time which of your favorite foods are "worth" indulging in and treat yourself to small portions.

4. Eat as you would on any other day.  One of the biggest mistakes people make is to not eat all day in order to save calories for later.  While this sounds like it could work, going to a holiday party feeling ravenous can quickly lead to overeating.  Follow your usual eating pattern and make sure to have a protein-rich meal prior to party-time!

5. Keep (or start) moving!  Schedule exercise in around your holiday parties and events.  There's no need to wait for New Year's Resolutions to get active.  Planning your exercise in advance will prevent you from falling off track during the hectic holiday season.  Enlist a friend or co-worker to help you stick to your commitments!


And one bonus tip:

1. Move on!  If you indulge (or overindulge) this holiday season, acknowledge it and get over it.  There's no reason to beat yourself up or continue to sabotage your eating by dwelling on it.  I always like the analogy of getting a flat tire.  If you're driving along and get a flat, you wouldn't get out of the car and slash the other 3 good tires, right?  No! You fix the one problem tire and get back out on the road! 

Here's to a HEALTHY and Happy Holiday season!

Don't Forget, It's Thankful Thursday!

Happy Thursday! I missed the big Thankful Thursday last week because I was busy running 15.5 miles and enjoying an awesome meal with my family...but let's pick it right back up this week!  This week, I'm thankful...

...for my new car.  And it's heated seats.  :)

...that my nephew baby is coming in less than 2 months! We threw him a fabulous party last weekend to celebrate and I think he had a blast!  

...for my rockstar Dad.  Anyone sick of me saying that yet?  Don't care.  He's awesome and supports me and inspires me everyday.  Also, I'm thankful for this awesome picture of us running together (before he left me in the dust, yet again...).  

...that I got myself some new sparkle! Since I pretty much wear a Sparkly Soul headband on every run, I scooped up a blue and charcoal headband to add to the collection!  

...that my very best friend in the whole wide world is taking on the challenge of the NYC Half Marathon and running with Team in Training to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  This will be her first half and I couldn't be more excited to cheer for her and watch her rock it out.  Please check out her fundraising page and donate to this awesome cause! And keep your fingers crossed that Dad & I will be accepted into the lottery and can run with her! 

Okay...now your turn.  What has you feeling thankful this week?!

Race Recap: MHRRC Turkey Trot 2012

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving to you and yours!  Enjoying good food with family and friends makes Thanksgiving one of my favorite holidays.  Not to mention I'm a big fan of reflecting on all the things we're thankful for...so this is my kind of day!  Another reason I love Turkey Day is because it's becoming a holiday for running!  Turkey Trots are becoming a popular Thanksgiving tradition and I can't think of a better way to start a day of feasting than a few sweaty miles shared with family and friends.

For as long as I can remember, my dad has run our local Turkey Trot.  And my brothers and I would either be out there freezing cheering for him or joining in the kids races. The Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club offers a few distances so that runners of any level can participate in the Turkey Trot: Kids 1-mile, 2-mile fun run, 5-mile and 25K (AKA 15.5 miles).  The last few years I've run the 5-mile race and every time I struggled with the hilly course.  It's not like anything I'm used to running in NYC, but I can push through anything for 5 miles, right?  Sometime back in July, I was reassessing my 2012 goals and decided that this would be the year to take on the challenge of the 25K race.  It sounded like a great idea at the time...

Come Thursday morning the weather was perfect--Mid 40s and sunny for the 8:30 a.m. start.  I wore shorts, a thin long-sleeve tee, vest, compression socks and (of course) a Sparkly Soul headband.  As I've never run 15.5 miles before, let alone "raced" it, I had no idea how to plan for this race.  Dad had sent me the course map and elevation, so you'd think I knew what I was getting myself into, but nope!  My ultimate goal was to survive (and not cry) and I guess we could say 10:30 min/miles was goal pace (given the hills).  The 25K distance typically draws only about 75-80 runners, most being faster and more seasoned than me, so I also mentally prepared myself to come in last for this race.  

Dad and I at the start

Since I already established that there was no way I was racing 15.5 miles, Dad decided we would just "have fun" and run together.  That plan worked for awhile.  The hills were tough but the downhills helped.  Dad and I had driven the course prior to the race and strategically dropped Gatorade where we wanted it.  I also brought my fuel belt and my favorite Gu Chomps for fuel.  In sharp contrast to NYC races, there was not water at every mile and definitely not many cheerleaders out on this course. There were a few water stations staffed by running club members and volunteers, who were very friendly and encouraging.  And then there were the few families (not affiliated with the running club) who stood out on their lawns or at the ends of their driveways to clap, cheer and hand out additional water to runners!!!  Talk about thankful! That's some awesome "small town" spirit to push a girl through an otherwise tough course.   

My new favorite photo.  Check out our matching form!

I mentally broke the distance down to 5, 5, 3 and 2.5 miles.  I decided early on that if I was going to meet my goal of surviving, I would have to walk most of the hills.  The inclines were hurting my calves and my lower back pretty badly, but I fought through it and felt strong for the first 10 miles.  My Nike+ app GPS was really thrown off, so I have no clue what my pace or splits were, but I also didn't care.  Despite the walking on inclines, I was starting to lose my umph.

Seriously, hills?

After the 10-mile marker, I told Dad to go on his own because I knew he could run faster and I didn't want to hold him back.  I tried to keep him in my sight for as long as I could, but that man is a beast and took off.  He's currently training for another Goofy Challenge in January so this was a good long run for him to practice.

Go, Dad, Go!

As I watched him disappear up over a hill, I turned up my music and dug deep to finish out the last 5.5 miles solo.  I thought to myself, "you run 5 miles all the time, no big deal...you can do this."  But I felt super slow and just wanted to finish.  My feet hurt, I was hating the pitch of the road making me run on a slant and I kept feeling anxious that drivers were not paying attention and I would get run over.

Can you see the ridiculous hill wayyy in the distance?

Mile 12 was (gasp!) yet another hill.  I distracted myself by singing (okay, rapping) to myself and thinking about all of the yummy food I was planning to eat later.  Sweet potatoes, turnips, pumpkin pie, beer...oh my! I thought about how I was missing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  I thought about how crazy those people are for sitting in the freezing cold for hours to watch that parade.  I thought about how people probably think I'm crazy for choosing to run 15.5 miles on Thanksgiving.  They're right. It is crazy, but in my opinion it's always a good idea to be active and moving and sweating! :)


I was so excited when I saw Mile marker 15 and my Dad cheering me on shortly after! That last stretch was the longest half mile of my life.  The course heads back into the high school parking lot where it started, but in order to make up the complete distance, you have to run a little loop of the parking lot before crossing the finish line.  So you can SEE the finish line, but have to run a loop to actually get there.  Awful!  I just kept putting one foot in front of the other, but I felt like I going backward.

Almost there.

And finally....I crossed the finish line!  With a new PDR of 15.5 miles!

My official time was 2:48:27 (avg pace 10:52) which ended up being 89th of 96 total runners (not last!).  It could have been 3+ hours and I wouldn't have cared.  I was just happy to be done!  The first thing I said to my dad was "Okay, now I can say I've done that.  And I'm never doing it again."

Dad's offiical time was 2:41:01 (avg pace 10:23), which undoubtedly would have been much faster if he didn't stick with me in the early miles!  But I'm glad that he did (thanks, Dad!) because no matter how fast or slow...I love running with that guy!

In the end...I'm so THANKFUL that I survived my first (and most likely last) 25K Turkey Trot and was able to spend the rest of the holiday enjoying family and good food!

What are you Thankful for this Thanksgiving? Did you run a Turkey Trot this year?  Eat a lot of turkey & mashed potatoes? Tell me about it!

Pre-Thanksgiving Thankful Thursday

With Thanksgiving only one week away, it's time to reflect on the things we're thankful for.    Family, friends, turkey, pumpkin pie...there are so many things, big and small, to appreciate now and always!  So join me in being thankful this week! 

I feel thankful...

....for amazing runs, that have nothing to do with distance, speed or time.  Last weekend, I got in a few pre-wedding miles along the beach in Cape May, NJ.  I was so distracted by the amazing views of the sunrise and the ocean that I didn't pay attention to my pace or distance.  Perfect start to a perfect day!

...that I do something that makes me happy.  Everyday I meet or hear about people who are miserable in their careers.  I hear "I hate my job" and I immediately think (and often say) "so quit!".  I know it's not as simple as that, but then again...why isn't it that simple?  It's cheesy but very true, life is just too short.  Do what makes you happy, both in your career and your hobbies.

...that my family has always encouraged me and allowed me to do what makes me happy.  I definitely could not have achieved what I have so far without them and I'm thankful everyday for it.

...for my nephew baby.  He's growing very quickly and I can't wait to hug him next week (hope my SIL is ready for a belly squeeze!).  I'll be hanging out with him on Thanksgiving and then again for a BABY SHOWER on Saturday! Woo! 

...that Rocky is back home, drooling and snoring as usual.  I think he's thankful he's back too.

Happy Thursday, everyone! Now tell me...what are you feeling thankful for today? 

Thankful Thursday: Hurricane Sandy Edition

Thankful Thursday this week has been brought to you by Hurricane Sandy.  This disaster has made a huge impact on the North East but has more personally reminded me how thankful I should be for what I have.  

Although I always have a lot to be thankful for, this week I'm thankful...

...that my people are all safe & sound.  My family, friends, coworkers and colleagues have all pretty much come out of this unscathed.  Some have lost power, some have flood damage...but most importantly, everyone is alive and well.   

...to be reminded of what matters.  To put it simply, things don't. People do.  It's hard to hear people complain about not having TV or internet.  Stop worrying about being able to update Facebook and start worrying about people who lost their lives and homes.

...for the first-responders, medical personnel, government employees and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to help others despite whatever personal tragedies they were experiencing at home.

Source

...that my city (and state) is resilient.  We are strong and will rebuild, as we have every time something or someone has tried to knock us down.  

...that I'll be cheering on the amazing runners this Sunday in the ING NYC Marathon (with this lovely lady).  I'm not really sure what my own opinion is on the post-Sandy marathon debate, but I'm sure the decision to host the marathon despite the hurricane aftermath was not an easy one.  And no matter what the final decision was, people would be angry.  What I do know is that this race will be an inspirational event that can restore a sense of normalcy and hope for New York.  So join me in supporting a race that highlights the strength of our runners and the incredible strength of our city!

What are you thankful for this week?  Tell me.  And let me know if you're running/cheering for the marathon on Sunday! :)

Race Recap: Billy Goat 5K 2012

The Billy Goat 5K, a fall trail race at James Baird State Park in Pleasant Valley, NY is probably my favorite 3.1 miles ever.  It's hilly, rocky, sometimes muddy and definitely challenging.  Also, race registration includes a super comfy long-sleeved colored t-shirt.  This year it's maroon and I'm loving it.  This Sunday was a picture perfect fall day: sunny and a cool 60 degrees.  Dad and I arrived early and did a quick warm-up jog before lining up with the other 150ish runners.  The start line doesn't have corrals or signs...just a white line painted in the grass between two orange cones.  Hello, "small town" running.

The race starts out with a short flat stretch until you enter the woods, where the fairly narrow path follows a steady uphill, so it's tough to get past anyone.  Every year I've done this race, I've been frustrated when people take off fast from the start line only to slow down or WALK once the uphill climb starts. And this year was no different. UGH.  When will people learn?  I just want to shout "Move out of my way so I can dominate this crazy climb!"  As expected, this first mile killed me.  I kept my head down, which is smart on a trail run anyway so as to keep your footing and avoid twisting an ankle or tripping over a root.  I spent most of the race talking to myself, repeating "breathe" on the uphills and "slow down" on the downhills.  I also had the new Florida Georgia Line song "Cruise" stuck in my head, which I sang to myself during the few flat stretches. 

I didn't see the second mile marker and wasn't wearing my watch, so pretty much had no idea how fast (or slow) I was running.  I knew that last year I finished in 34:01 (a solid 10:57 pace!) so I guess the plan was to beat that.  I really didn't have super high hopes for a race PR for a few reasons.  First, my running has been lacking this month (especially for the last two weeks since the SI Half).  Also, I've done exactly no hill training.  But I gave it my best and really enjoyed pushing myself the whole race.  There's something so great about running in the (mostly) quiet woods, just focusing in on your own body, breath and heartbeat. 

At Mile 3, I exited the woods and gave it my all for the last tenth of a mile to the finish.  And my official finish time was 32:45!  Boom.  Not fast by any means, but I still feel great about it!

And Dad? 

He once again kicked my butt and finished in 27:00 flat.  What the heck?! He is just getting faster with every race this year.  I'd watch out though, Dad--one of these days I'm going to catch up!

The Billy Goat 5K had 165 finishers this year, and as always had great organization, volunteers and post-run snacks (the donuts won't get my seal of approval, but bagels & apples were great!).  See ya next year, Baird Park! :)

Thankful Thursday: A PR & Pumpkin Butter!

Happy Thursday, readers! It's that time of week, where we discuss all the fun and happy things in the world! Ready? Okay! (Cheerleader voice) This week I'm thankful...

...that I finished the Staten Island Half Marathon on Sunday! 

Finish line PROOF!

...for my new PR!!!  How this happened I don't know, because I'm still struggling with this quad pain and didn't really train for the two weeks prior to the race.  Must be some kind of magic!

...for the short work week!  Thanks, Christopher Columbus.  

...for my little nephew baby.  He might still be hanging out in his mamas belly, but he already has the best wardrobe ever.  His closet is going to be full of outfits like this one I just bought him:

...for pumpkin butter.  I'm currently using pumpkin butter on any and everything.  But mostly on english muffins at breakfast:

...that I met up with my DI loves this week.  [So great to see you ladies! I'm so unbelievably happy for all of the amazing things happening in your lives! :)]

...for Raul Ibanez! SO COOL! What a crazy game last night!  This is why I love October baseball.  And now on to Game 4 of the ALDS tonight.  Let's Go Yankees!

As always, I have tons to be thankful for in my life.  Nothing like counting your blessings (no matter how small) to put things into perspective! Now tell me...what are you thankful for, friends?

Race Recap: NYRR Staten Island Half Marathon

Staten Island, Sunday October 7th, 2012 at 8:30am.  50 degrees, overcast and breezy.  This was the scene at the NYRR Staten Island Half-Marathon this weekend. 

 This race was scheduled to be my second half marathon and my training was pretty solid up until 2-3 weeks ago.  I've since been battling some quad/hip pain (Don't worry, I have an MD appointment scheduled), so I wasn't sure how or if I was going to be able to run this Sunday. I ultimately decided to give it a shot.  After all, I had paid for this race and more importantly, Dad was coming down to run too! 

On Saturday, after Dad and I went out for a pre-race dinner, I got my gear together for race day: C9 by Champion running shorts, Nike Dri-fit top, Asics, RRS Dryroad socks, Sparkly Soul headband, SpiBelt, Blueberry Pomegranate Gu Chomps and Jet Blackberry Gu.

We arrived to the Island of Staten around 7:30am and quickly found parking.  Race Central was right next to Richmond County Bank Ballpark (home of the SI Yankees) with amazing views of lower Manhattan and an incredible September 11th Memorial.

There was a ridiculous line for the porta-pottys right before the start, so we didn't have much any time to warm up.  NYRR had their usual color-coded corrals and we lined up to wait for the start.  While listening to race announcements and the National Anthem, we snapped a few pre-race photos.

One of the best parts of the race came right as the starting gun went off...A FDNY Marine Unit in the harbor put on an awesome show for us:

The course was an out-and-back with a few hills and one long hill around mile 8-9.  Most of the course was along the waterfront, with awesome views like the one below of the Verrazano Bridge.  

I started this race with no expectations of pace or time, especially because I didn't want to worsen my injury.  Since I mentally break the half-marathon distance into two 5-milers and a 5k, I told myself I would get to the 5-mile marker and assess how I felt.  Although the out-and-back course wouldn't have made it easy for me to stop and turn around if my leg acted up, that was my plan.

The race started out fabulously.  Miles 1-4 absolutely flew by.  I was loving the cool weather, I wasn't paying any attention to my splits and my body felt happy to be running.  My quad pain was noticeable but I didn't feel hindered by it.  As I came across Mile Marker 5, I took some Gu Chomps and decided I would push through.  A few minutes later, I started seeing the race leaders speeding by me.  I was expecting the turnaround to be around the 10K marker, but it ended up being further along around 7.5 miles.  Mile 6 through the turnaround flew by as I was so distracted by all the runners on their way back to the finish.  It was super motivating and I picked up my pace, realizing I had some potential to PR.

Mile 8-8.5ish was the one serious hill of the course, but I had gone down it during the first half so I was mentally prepared to go back up it.  My only complaint with this race comes in here.  There was a water station placed right BEFORE the peak of this hill.  Maybe it's just me, but I like to power through all the way to the top of the hill! 

At Mile 9, I could definitely feel the impact of my sub-par training over the last 2 weeks.  My feet were tired and my lower back started hurting.  The next two miles were mentally challenging, but I was motivated by the fact that I was still on target to PR.  

Mile 12 was a slight uphill back toward St. George terminal and the finish line.  This was tough because I hadn't realized it was a downhill during the first half and I wasn't ready for it.  I was so close to the finish but this mile seemed to go on forever.  There were tons of spectators at this point and they were great! Cowbells, funny signs, high-fives, motivational cheers...I love it all.  And then finally there was a right turn back down to the waterfront and a quick sprint to the finish line.  

Smiling at the finish! 

Apparently in previous years, the course had one of those finishes where you can see the finish line but have to do a wrap-around or little loop to finish off the 13.1.  No one likes that.  So this year the course was modified in response to runner feedback and I have to say, this finish was awesome!  I flew down that last hill and finished super strong.  My official time was 2:10:46.  That's a 4 minute 6 second PR! With an injured leg. Boom.  

And Dad? 2:01:21, which would have been sub-2 hours if he didn't have to make a pit stop! As usual, I'm in awe of this guy...

I guess getting older=getting faster?! Maybe one of these days I'll be able to keep up with him (and maybe beat him??).

It almost doesn't need to be said that NYRR put together fantastic races.  They're always very well organized with plenty of water, post-race refreshments, volunteers, etc. and Staten Island was no different.    

All in all, a great day, a great race and a shiny new PR.  Next up...a visit to the MD to figure out what's going on with my leg.  Hopefully followed by the Disney World Half Marathon in January! :)