Marathon Training: Week 4

Monday: 3 mile progression run (9:47, 9:22, 9:01) The weather was absolutely perfect for running and I was in heaven, despite the tough workout.  I still need I work on finding my paces and using this darn Garmin!

Tuesday: Crosstrain @ Barry's Bootcamp!  Courtesy of Chobani, I joined a bunch of other blogger/fitness enthusiasts for this kickass workout.  It was half treadmill sprinting (ahhh!) and half lower body strength training.  It killed my legs (in a good way) and we enjoyed delicious Chobani smoothies after class! Yum!

Thumbs up for Bootcamp + CHO!

Wednesday: Rest day! 

Thursday: Easy 3 miles + 4 strides- My legs were still sore from Barry's, I felt super slow and the strides were such a struggle!

Friday: Scheduled rest day....But then I learned of a Whitney Houston tribute class at Revolve with one of my fave instructors, Jason! I totally took it easy on the resistance and just danced my way through class! 

Saturday: 12 mile long run through Summer Streets! I had such a blast running in 3 boroughs and over 2 bridges with Beth, Annie, Bernadette, Nicole, Liz and Allison. 

Sunday: Optional recovery run turned into sleeping in, foam rolling, stretching and playing with this smiley boy:

Total weekly mileage: 18 miles (+ some during sprints at Barry's...)

One month down...3 1/2 left to go!

Marathon Training: Week 3!

Happy Sunday!  Today marks the completion of week 3 of marathon training for me.  I had to skip some workouts and make some adjustments (which I'm totally fine with), but now I'm excited for my life to be back to normal so I can really focus on training this week!

Let's recap...

Monday: Rest day! I got a solid 7 hours of sleep Sunday night, and it was glorious.

Tuesday: Oops! I was supposed to do 3 miles, but I worked late Monday night and decided to skip my run as I had another 15-hour day ahead of me! :(

Wednesday: I joined Beth, Megan and some other awesome bloggers for a demo class at Dance Motivation Fitness with Lindi Duesenberg! We got some free goodies from Sparkly Soul (my favorite), KIND bars, SoyJoy bars, Runa Tea and Vrou Water.  All in all a fun-filled 50min of dancing and sweating!

Post-dance party!

Thursday: 4-ish mile progression run. My awesome coach Abby helped me adjust this scheduled run for my missed workout Tuesday! Unfortunately my Garmin did not cooperate, so I was guessing paces by body feel.  My legs felt strong and I felt like I was working hard, so I'll count that as a success!

Friday: Rest! 

Saturday: 10 mile solo long run (10:21 average pace).  I ran from my apartment down and across the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan and back.  The temperature was pretty perfect and I welcomed the on-and-off raindrops.  

Oh QB Bridge, I love and hate you!

Sunday: Revolve Body Ride (45min)- I kept my resistance in check for this class because my legs were a little tired, but Revolve still had me sweating!  Jonathan is always so upbeat and fun and his class is an absolute blast!  

Total weekly mileage: 14

Bring it on, Week 4!!! :)

The Color Run, The Happiest 5K on the Planet! [+Giveaway!]

Last year, I participated in The Color Run Brooklyn.

Color party!

If you don't already know about The Color Run, the following description is straight from their website:

"Less about your 10-minute-mile and more about having the time of your life, The Color Run is a five-kilometer, un-timed race in which thousands of participants are doused from head to toe in different colors at each kilometer. The fun continues at the finish line with a gigantic “Color Festival,” using more colored powder to create happiness and lasting memories, not to mention millions of vivid color combinations. Trust us, this is the best post-5k party on the planet!"

Check out the video below and make sure to read my recap of last year's run here!



So why am I writing about this again?  Well...The Color Run is the self-proclaimed "Happiest 5K on the Planet" and my friends at TCR are offering up a FREE entry for TWO PB&P readers to a Color Run of their choice!

To enter to win, comment below telling me what the happiest race you've ever run is!  If you've never run a race, just tell me what your favorite color is! Winners will be selected at random and announced on August 8th.  Good luck! :)

Even if you aren't a lucky winner, I have a promo code for you to receive $5 off any registration!  Click here to find a Color Run in your city and sign up NOW!

Note: This promo code is valid for any race that is not sold-out.  It is applicable retroactively and does not guarantee a spot in a Color Run race.  Races sell out quickly, so be sure to sign-up soon for a city near you!

*The Color Run is providing me with two free registrations for PB&P readers.  I was not compensated in any way for writing this post.  As always, the opinions are my own.

Marathon Training: Week 2

Phew, it's been a crazy busy week, yet again! I'm officially 2 weeks into marathon training, so let's recap how it went:

Monday: Rest-I planned on doing a short recovery run in the morning, but was out past my bedtime Sunday night and opted for sleep instead!  Awesome decision.

Tuesday: 3 miles (1 mile warm-up,1 mile @ 8:50pace, 1 mile cool down)-I'm still adjusting to running with a Garmin to check my pace, and ended up running the 2nd mile at 9:10ish pace.

Wednesday: Rest. 

Thursday: Unplanned rest day.  Worked late on Wednesday evening, trying to get sleep when I can! 

Friday: 3 easy (with 5x 30 sec pick-ups)-The weather finally broke and this run was luxurious!!!

Saturday: 8 mile long run-Let myself sleep in and started my run around 8am, so it was a little warmer than I'd prefer.  I ran along the Queens waterfront to Queens Bridge Park and back.  10:43 pace.

Sunday: Yoga (30min) and lots of foam rolling. 

Total weekly mileage: 14

This week was less than ideal for my training.  I worked a lot and this tired little RD/temporary waitress had to chose getting some sleep over running.  I'm really looking forward to week 3 when I can (hopefully) get back on track! 

Stay tuned...How is your training going? How do you manage when you're pressed for time/sleep?!

Philadelphia Marathon Training: Week 1!

As of last Monday, I'm officially in training for my first marathon!  I'm absolutely terrified but I WANT this!

via Pinterest

I'm definitely thankful to have a great runner support system including my new coach, Abby! She's so close to being certified and I have no doubt she will be soon.  I told Abby about my lack of running through May/June and my fear of pushing too hard and building up too fast, putting me at risk for injury (I had a stress fracture 4 years ago and never want to deal with that again).  Since she's awesome, she took all of this into consideration when creating a plan for me.  We're doing 18-weeks (the marathon is November 17th), so I have plenty of time to build up mileage, get strong and run long. 

I've been insanely busy during July, so kicking off Week 1 of training has been rough, but I got it done!  Here's how it went...

Monday: 3 miles (easy)-Easing back into early morning runs, kept around 9:50min/mile.

Tuesday: 60 min walk-Was going to be a rest day but I wanted to get out and moving so I took a long walk through the park.

Wednesday: 3.5 miles (easy with 5x 30-sec pickups)-Ugh. So hot and humid, pace was SLOW even with the pickups.

Thursday: Rest

Friday: 3.25 miles (easy)-Easy pace doesn't feel so easy! It is so hot.  Is it fall yet?  How am I ever going to run 26.2 miles?

Saturday: Rest-I've been working a lot and definitely needed to sleep in and not run today!

Sunday: Queens 10K-Abby had a 6-mile long run scheduled, so I figured why not sign up for this race, get another 9+1 credit, hydration along the course and awesome T-shirt?  I didn't race and stayed within my LR pace...Check out my recap here. 

Total weekly mileage:  15.5 miles

I definitely should have fit in some strength/cross training this week, but I just didn't make the time with my hectic schedule...and I really needed to take my rest days when I could.  Stay tuned as my training becomes more intense and things get really fun!

Are you training for a fall race?  Tell me how your training is going! Are you getting beat by this heat?!

Race Recap: NYRR Queens 10K

After looking at the training plan Abby created for me and seeing my long run of 6 miles this weekend, I decided to sign up for the NYRR Queens 10K.  Six hot, lonely miles vs. six miles with a few thousand motivators, ample water supply and an awesome neon green tee shirt?  Simple decision.  I just had to remember that this was a long run for me...not a race.



Super bright tech tee. Thanks, NYRR.



I love running races in my borough.  I live about 10 minutes away from Flushing Meadows park, so there was no need for a crazy early alarm.   Which was especially nice as I was running on 5 hours of sleep and sore feet from waitressing the night before.  All the more reason to follow my training plan and not "race" this race.

Beth (who is currently rocking her own marathon training) texted me bright and early to wish me luck and reinforce the importance of just running this as my long run.  My goal pace for long runs is somewhere around 10:30 min/miles and having Beth's voice in my head during the run definitely helped me slow it down to that.  Thanks, Beth! :)

So...the race!

I've run several races in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, which mostly all follow the same route, but this one was different!  It almost went in the opposite direction as I was used to running the park, which was a welcome change! Mile 5-6ish included an out-and-back section by Citi Field, which usually I hate, but as there were so many runners, I found myself easily distracted with "people watching".  NYRR made sure there were plenty of fluid stations and sprinklers along the course to help manage the heat.  There was also a good amount of music, DJs and spectators. 

Mile splits (based on Garmin):
1-10:02
2-10:08
3-10:10
4-10:38
5-10:30
6-10:06
0.3-9:32

I have to admit that I sort of hated having to constantly look at my new Garmin to see what pace I was running.  I don't know how some people are so dependant on it!  It did end up being helpful to keep my pace in check, but I definitely don't love it.  Hopefully as I get more used to running with it, I'll get better at feeling out my pace and not have to look at it so much.

My official time was 1:04:43 (10:26 pace).  This is my slowest 10K time ever, but I'm okay with it because I know it's all part of "the plan".  All in all, a nice easy 6 mile run! Oh, and I'm one race closer to guaranteed entry to the 2014 NYC Marathon!

Did you run the Queens 10K?  Are you doing the 5-Borough Challenge?  Training for a race? Let's talk about it!

Race Recap: Peachtree Road Race 2013

This July 4th, I celebrated our nation's independence with nearly 56,000 fellow Americans, running the Peach Tree Road Race in Atlanta, Georgia.  As the largest 10K in the country, this race has been on my bucket list for awhile now, so when I got into the lottery back in February, I immediately booked a flight to Atlanta to run (and have a long weekend visit with friends).

I arrived in Atlanta the day before the race and hit up the expo for packet pick-up.  The weather was miserable (torrential downpours) all day and wasn't expected to be any better for race day.

Stars & Stripes Forever

When I woke up race morning, it was insanely humid and still raining.  I had a quick breakfast of a banana, 1/2 clif bar and  some water before throwing on my garbage bag and heading to the race!

Pre-race garbage bag pic

Luckily, my support team (thanks Hail!) was able to drop me off near the start corrals and I didn't have to worry about public transportation or traffic/parking.  There were a ton of waves for this race (which is also walker-friendly), and I was in F so I crossed the start line around 7:50am!  The rain had stopped and I ditched my garbage bag almost immediately.

Bib on (perfectly) straight: ready to run!

As this is such a huge race, I assumed there would be a lot of congestion, but I ended up having plenty of room the whole race.  Normally, I check out the course map before a race (especially for those not in Central Park or NYC).  Often times, I even read previous years race recaps to see what I'm in for!  I did not do that for Peachtree, so I had no idea what to expect!  I figured this wouldn't be an issue, as I did not run much at all during the month of June and was running this race just for fun! 

See? Running is fun!

 The course covers 6.2 miles along PeachTree Road (duh) from Phipps Plaza to Piedmont Park.  All of this still means nothing to me since I'm not familiar with the area, but checking out the elevation map might have been useful before running.  The first three miles were a steady downhill and I felt like I wasn't even using effort to run.  I (stupidly) thought "Wow, maybe this entire course is downhill! I could totally PR without even training or trying!" and pushed my pace.

Well it turns out, it's not all downhill.  In fact, Mile 3 begins a pretty serious incline and the rest of the race is back uphill until the finish.  Oops. 

The good news is I didn't care about my pace or my finish time.  I totally negative split this race, but it didn't matter!  I really enjoyed just running and soaking in the energy from the incredible crowds that were out to cheer!  There were a ton of characters out to support the race along with live music, DJs and even bars handing out free beer!  It was disgustingly hot and humid, but the course was well equipped with water and plenty of people had sprinklers or fire hydrants open to cool runners down.  It was awesome.  

The finish area in Piedmont Park ended up being a total swamp due to the week long downpours, but the rain held off the entire time I was running.  Honestly, I wouldn't have minded if it did rain, as I was throwing water on myself and jumping into sprinklers anyway!

I finished with an official time of 59:17 (9:32 pace), which is a respectable pace for me given my l recent lack of training and rookie mistake of going out too fast on the downhill.

On top of an awesome race, the t-shirt (although cotton) and medal are both pretty sweet!

Yet another race checked off my running "bucket list"! 

Have you ever run the Peach Tree Road Race?  Do you have a running bucket list?  Tell me about it!

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!

National Running Day 2013

Today is National Running Day!  Later tonight I'll celebrate by actually running, but for now I'll honor this holiday by finishing the following sentence:

...to clear my head.

...to discover new places and revisit old ones.

Home Sweet Astoria

...for ice cream, beer and dark chocolate.

Mmmm Mint Chocolate Chip!

...for my health.

...for those who can't.

...with incredible runner friends.

Boston Strong NYC

...to sweat off the day.

Sweaty post-run with Spring Forward PT Run Club!

...in ALL types of weather!

...with my Dad.

Turkey Trot 2012

...to challenge myself.

A MARATHON!?!?!

TELL ME: Why/When/Where/How do YOU run!? How are you celebrating National Running Day???

Reebok Spartan Race [+FREE Race Giveaway!]

If you're a regular PB&P reader, you know I'm a big fan of setting goals and challenging yourself to see what you're made of, whether it be in the gym, at work or in your personal life!  For runners and other fitness enthusiasts, a Spartan Race is a perfect opportunity to do just that.  To find out exactly what you're made of...and according to the folks at Reebok Spartan Race, "you'll know at the finish line."

So...what is Spartan Race?

Spartan Race has been a leader in obstacle races since 2005 and has been voted #1 obstacle race by Outside Magazine.  

Spartan Race features a race for everyone beginning with the entry level Spartan Sprint (3+ miles and 15+ obstacles), intermediate level Super Spartan (8+ miles and 20+ obstacles), the advanced Spartan Beast (12+ miles and 25+ obstacles), and the ‘99.9% need not apply’ extreme level Death Race. 

Spartan Race prides itself on ripping its racers out of their comfort zones, and therefore does not provide course maps or details on what obstacles will be encountered.  But for an idea of what you might expect during a Spartan Race, check out the video below:





So are YOU up for the challenge?  What are you waiting for?!  Enter my giveaway below for a chance to score a FREE entry to a Spartan Race of your choice!  AROO!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

And don't worry! If you're not lucky enough to win the FREE race entry, just follow this link to receive 15% off when you register for a race.  So sign up, show up and don't GIVE UP!

 

Disclaimer: The awesome folks at Spartan Race are providing one lucky PB&P reader with a free registration to any open heat Spartan Race in the continental U.S.  I have not been compensated for writing this post.  Only entries through Rafflecopter will be eligible for selection.  Giveaway ends 6/15/13.

#BostonStrongNYC

The tragic events surrounding the Boston Marathon affected everyone, runner or not.  And the response of those showing support for Boston has been enormous.  As a community, runners are strong and resilient, but we are also incredibly supportive and giving.  Lastweek, an amazing member of that running (and blogging) community, Brian [Pavement Runner] called out to runners from around the country to get together and show our support in the best way we know how.  By running.  Running to remember and to forget.  Running for those who ran on April 15th, 2013 and for those who may never run again. 

So last night I joined 300ish of my fellow NYC runners to participate in #BostonStrongNYC (organized by Abby).  We met up at Tavern on the Green and after a few encouraging words and a moment of silence, we were off to run!

 

 

I ended up running two lower loops of the park, chatting with runners friends and ending back by Tavern on the Green, where everyone began creating a "finish line" to cheer each other on.  Amazing.

It was so heartwarming to be surrounded by runners of all shapes and sizes, all showing their support for those affected in Boston.  Each and every time I go for a run, participate in a race or meet a fellow runner I feel so proud to be a part of this running community.  And last night was no exception.  Running just makes my heart happy. 



These ladies also make my heart happy. 
Photo credit: Kristin



  Share your runner love with me!  Did you participate in #BostonStrong in NYC or your hometown?  Or just enjoy a quiet reflective run on your own?  Tell me!

Race Recap: Cherry Blossom 10-Miler 2013

I spent this past weekend in our nation's capital...eating, drinking and running the Cherry Blossom 10-mile race. 

See?  Pretty Cherry Blossoms!

Saturday morning, I met up with some amazing runner/blogger friends: Steph, Beth, Abby and Jen.  We loaded ourselves, our many snacks and foam roller(s) into Abby's car and headed to D.C.  After we arrived, we quickly checked into our fabulous hotel room (big thanks to Beth's dad!) and headed to the expo.  The expo was less than a mile from the hotel and not too crowded so we were able to grab our bibs, shop around and get out in no time!  

Saturday night, we had an amazing Mediterranean dinner at Zaytinya.  Complete with hummus, falafel and the most incredible pita!  

Delicious carbs.
(Photo courtesy of Steph)

Kudos to Jen for the great choice of restaurant!  When we were finished fueling up on pita, we headed back to the hotel for our 9pm curfew/bedtime.  The majority of our crew has recently been injured and/or sick, so even without the 7am race start we weren't in any shape to be party animals.  Those of us who were running got our race day outfits together, Abby (AKA cheerleader extraordinaire) got her cowbells ready, and we fell asleep listening to Beth still debating whether or not to run at all.  

I hadn't really put in much mileage following the NYC Half, so I didn't have any expectations for this race.  I was mostly looking forward to running a race somewhere other than NY and taking in the sights.  Relative to most other runners, I'm pretty laid back and don't like to stress about paces and finish times.  I'm still competitive with myself and love seeing improvement, but my ultimate goal is to run injury-free and happy for as long as I can! That being said, my "goal" for this particular race was sub 1:40 (10 min miles).



We arrived at the start around 7:15 and snapped a few pictures!

Jen, Me, Beth, Steph and Abby

Beth, Jen and I squeezed through a fence (literally) to line up between the orange and green corrals, while Steph went up ahead to her speedy red corral.  Shortly after we started, I told the girls I was going to go ahead, so we split up.  The first few miles were pretty crowded (as expected with a race of this size) and it was hard to get into a comfortable pace.  I did a lot of weaving and even had to hop up onto the sidewalk a few times.  Maybe for this reason, around mile 2 I started feeling twinges in my left knee.  Although I've never had major issues with it before, I knew it was my IT band.  I immediately slowed my pace but that didn't seem to help.  A sharp pain came and went a few times and I started thinking I would be the one of our motley crew who had to DNF!  I knew the course looped back in on itself a few times, so I gave it some time to see if the pain got worse.  Luckily, it eased up and I decided to keep running.  The early parts of the course had a lot of spectators, which was awesome.  I somehow missed seeing Abby along the course but just knowing she was there motivated me!   

Thumbs up for not DNFing!

After the 10K point, we ran into an incredible headwind for about a mile and a half.  It was beautiful running along the water, but the wind was not my friend.  I definitely felt like I was working harder and not keeping my pace.  Not to mention I had tears just streaming down my face from the wind.  Good thing the Marathon Foto photogs tend to skip over me, because I definitely would've looked like I was crying.   

At the final turnaround point, the wind was gone and the Washington Monument (aka Finish Line) was in sight.  I knew I was going to come in under my 1:40 goal, so I wanted to push it and see just how much under I could get.  About a quarter mile from the finish, Abby and Steph (who had an amazing PR and continues to amaze me with her speed) spotted me and gave me that much needed motivation to finish strong.  It was a short uphill followed by an easy downhill to the finish line.  

Splits:

1-10:08

2-9:38

5K-10:20 (I missed the 3rd mile marker somehow?)

4-8:43

5-9:23

6-9:29

7-9:38

8-9:53

9-9:22

10-9:05

My official finish time was 1:35:43 (9:34 pace).  Since this was my first 10-mile race, that's an automatic PR! Woo! This is also my pace-PR for a longer distance race, which is awesome.

Also awesome?  This RunPix graphic with info on my places based on gender and division and the number of people I passed and who passed me.  Love that! 

My only real criticism of this race would be how crowded it was.  Parts of the course were pretty narrow, so it might be better if there were more corrals or the waves were more spread out. 

 I was definitely hurting after the race and woke up feeling super sore Monday.  I've taken a few rest days and have been stretching and foam rolling like crazy to prevent further ITB issues.  Overall, I had a great race and an amazing weekend with some awesome runner ladies.  I think it's safe to say we'll be back next year!  Who's in?

OrthoLite Review & Giveaway!

Happy Monday! It's supposedly spring, but here in NYC the weather has remained cold and dreary.  Which is why I was more than delighted to come home today to find the new pair of Sauconys I ordered had arrived!  I usually run in Asics, but the updated models just don't fit the same and I needed something new.  

Hello, new Saucony ProGrids!

If you're a runner, you probably find yourself in this predicament a lot.  Due to high mileage, you may need to replace shoes fairly often and it can get frustrating when model updates change the fit of the shoe.  Back in October my awesome doctor recommended that I run with insoles to provide a little more comfort, support and stability, no matter what type/brand of shoe I wear.  I thought this was a great idea because it's also a cheap and easy way to extend the life of my running shoes.  I've been using a pair of Powerstep insoles for awhile now, but was very excited when the lovely folks at OrthoLite offered to send me a pair of their Fusion insoles to review.  

So what did I think?

I've gone on a few runs in these insoles and have to say they're pretty good.  I immediately noticed the "update" and my shoes felt new again!  You can custom fit the OrthoLite Fusion insoles to any running shoe brand or size by simply removing the current insole, lining them up next to each other and cutting them into the proper shape.  I really like that adding the insole to my shoe doesn't impact the fit of the shoe in other ways.  These insoles are definitely softer and more flexible than my Powerstep insoles, but they provide similar cushioning and support.  Here's a little more info on the insoles:

·         Designed to fit all athletic and outdoor shoes or boots

·         Breathable: Air circulates in and around the insole, leaving the foot cooler and drier

·         Moisture Wicking: Unique insole structure moves moisture away from your foot

·         Retains Structure: Unlike many of the insoles on the market that go flat, unique spring-back technology ensures your insole will retain over 95% of its thickness over time

·         Anti-Microbial: Patented formulation fights fungus, bacteria and odor

·         Lightweight: Insoles provide cushioning and optimum performance without adding weight to the shoe

·         Fully washable

·         Availability: Available for purchase on OrthoLite.com for $19.99/pair

·         Benefits Athletes: For every pair of Fusion insoles purchased, OrthoLite will donate $1 to the Level Field Fund, a grant-giving program that bridges gaps in funding to uniquely talented athletes

If you're interested in snagging some OrthoLite insoles for yourself, I have three pairs to giveaway!  Enter to win by leaving me a comment below telling me what your favorite running/workout sneakers are!  The giveaway will be open through Sunday, March 31st at midnight, when three lucky readers will be chosen to receive a pair of OrthoLite Fusion Insoles.  Good luck and Happy Running! :)

**Disclosure:  OrthoLite provided me with a sample pair of insoles to review as well as the information above and will be providing three (3) pairs of insoles to the winners of this giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Race Recap: NYC Half Marathon 2013

This past Sunday, March 17th I celebrated St. Patrick's Day by running the NYC Half Marathon.  I was pretty excited about this race, mostly because it's a fantastic course through my beloved city.  Also, aside from the lottery requirement and fairly steep race fee, I knew it'd be a great race because NYRR (almost) always has their stuff together.  The volunteers are AMAZING and the races are always well organized with plenty of water/Gatorade and port-o-pottys!

The 7:30am start time meant Dad and I were up and at 'em by 4:30!  We bundled up in our throwaways and met Steph and Lauren (who both ran for Team in Training--way to go, girls!) at the subway.  It was low-mid 30s, but windy and felt like in the 20s!!! We had to be in our corrals, which were supposed to (but never did) collapse by 7:00am.  We dropped our bags and outermost layer and spent the next hour freezing our butts off waiting in the corral! 

Steph, Dad & I freezing pre-race!

I wore a long sleeve, RRS shorts, ProCompression socks and as always, a Sparkly Soul headband.  Although I've never been colder waiting for a race than I was on Sunday, I knew I'd warm up within a mile or two and be so thankful I wasn't overdressed.  Just before 8:00am our corral crossed the start line and we were off!

Mile 1 (10:14)-I couldn't feel anything from my waist down and was so excited to be moving that I didn't even notice this mile go by!

Mile 2 (10:30)-We began to thaw out a bit and I started taking in the beautiful sights of the  Central Park loop.  Cat Hill came and went and we tried to stay conservative with our pace being that we were so early into the race.

Mile 3 (10:02)-I was started to defrost so I used this mile (and sweet downhill) to take inventory.  I'd been experiencing some calf/shin pain two weeks prior to the race (shin splints,maybe?), so I had skipped my last long training run and rested more than usual.  Luckily, my legs felt fantastic.  I wasn't in any pain and I was totally ready for the beastly Harlem Hill.

Mile 4 (10:48)-Right after the 5K point, we started the uphill.  I tend to do pretty well on hills, but this one is always a struggle.  I just put my head down and put one foot in front of the other until we reached the crest.  There were a lot of people cheering along this mile, which was awesome! Just before the 5-mile mark, I took half a pack of Gu Chomps.
Mile 5 (12:06)-I usually don't mind the rolling hills along the West side, but Sunday they seemed to go on forever.  I also started feeling like I had overhydrated, which meant I had to stop at the Port-o-Potty.  Hence the extra 1:30-2:00 added to this mile. 

Mile 6 (10:10)-At this point, I still hadn't turned my music on and just past the mile marker I heard someone yell "You're halfway there! Keep going!".  I wanted to scream.  We were NOT halfway...and by the way 7.1 miles is still a LONG way to go!  But I was so happy my leg was cooperating as we headed South and out to the most exciting part of the course!  My stomach started feeling iffy, but I just ignored it. 

Mile 7 (10:12)-Turning out of the park and onto 7th Avenue was awesome!  We were able to spread out a little and the energy along the course was amazing.  Somewhere in the 50s I saw (and heard) Beth, Abby, Liz and Allison cheering!  It was a perfect little boost and definitely put a smile on my face!  As we headed into the heart of Times Square, I knew we'd be seeing our family cheerleaders.  They grabbed a great spot at 42nd and 7th and we were able to stop for some high fives! 



Dad and I on 42nd Street

Mile 8 (10:11)-We hit the West Side Highway and as the crowds and excitement died down a bit, I started noticing that stomach pain again.  I am lucky to normally have a super solid stomach, especially during exercise.  This was not the case on Sunday.  The stomach upset was all I could focus on.

Mile 9 (10:00)-At this point, the course turned Southeast and the Freedom Tower came into view.  It was so incredible to see and I got a little emotional.  I was reminded how lucky I am to be alive, living in this amazing city and physically capable of running through it!  This was a temporary distraction from my stomach issues.  Mile 9 is usually when I take the rest of my Gu chomps, but I was scared that would lead to another bathroom trip and there weren't any port-o-pottys in sight!  Instead, I held the pack in my hand for a few miles, debating whether or not to take it and hoping the pain would dissipate.  I couldn't keep pace with Dad who was feeling great, so he started creeping ahead of me. 

Miles 10 (9:54), 11 (10:01) and 12 (9:33)-I felt fantastic during these miles, except the nagging stomach issue.  I eventually gave up on the Gu chomps and tossed them, knowing I only had a few miles left and they wouldn't help me anyway.  My legs were feeling so good and I was keeping Dad in my sights.  I knew this race wasn't going to be a PR, but I still wanted to finish strong.

Mile 13 (10:41)-This mile included that very short but killer hill coming out of the Battery Tunnel.  Luckily, Beth warned me about this little hill, so I was mentally prepared but it still wasn't fun! I was ready to be done and hit the bathroom.  Sorry if that's TMI, but I discuss this stuff all day everyday so I'm used to it!  The last 400 meters of the race was jam packed with people cheering and I fed off that energy to power through to the finish. 

Official finish time: 2:14:58 (10:18 pace)

I couldn't have expected a better time, given the bathroom break and the annoying stomach issue.  Not to mention I wasn't the greatest at getting in speedwork this training cycle.  But I ran an absolutely awesome race with my Dad through my city and I loved it.  

More than anything, I have to say I'm SO unbelievably proud of my cousin Steph, for finishing her first half-marathon (in a fantastic time btw) and raising over $2,000 for Team in Training/LLS.  She ran and finished the race with a huge smile on her face!  I can't wait to see what she does next! :)

Congratulations to all the finishers, many of who had amazing PRs at this race (and in DC)! And a HUGE thank you to all my cheerleaders, who braved the cold and wind!  Spectating is not easy by any means and you're all amazing! 

Up next...NYC Marathon?  ;)