Week 10: Scotland Run 10K

This morning we did a 10K in Central Park, along with about 8000 other people. I wanted to finish in under an hour and 45 minutes. I finished in 1:44.38. Only 12 people took longer than me. And they were literally packing up the race as I was finishing. Thanks for waiting for us! It was also pouring rain for the entire time. But we got to wear these really awesome ponchos:


There are still 6 more weeks of training before the half-marathon in San Diego. A 10K is 6.2 miles, so basically half of a half-marathon. So at this pace it'll take me 3.5 hours. Wish me luck!

Week 9: Long Run

Even though I was at home in North Carolina this weekend, I still got up Saturday morning and ran 6.5 miles around my brother's neighborhood. It took me an hour to do the first 3 laps and only 54 minutes to do the last 3. I can definitely tell that my stride opens up as I get more in to it, after about 45 minutes I've run through all the pain and can push myself a bit. I had my first GU pack at 45 minutes in, not sure if that boosted my energy or not. The chocolate tasted good, like pudding. The next day my knees and thighs were hurting. And during my short run monday morning I could definitely still feel it.

Only 7 weeks until my half-marathon. I still need to raise $1000. http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/rnr09/eleanorrigby164 Time to start really pushing with people who have held out thus far. Wish me luck! This weekend is a 10K (6.2 miles) in Central Park. I hope to finish in an hour and 45 minutes.

Week 9: Hills

So this is my 3rd run back from my "time off." And of course it was group practice, running hills in Prospect Park. My calves are burning. I dragged my feet getting there, tried to make up excuses. But I went and it felt GREAT! It was definitely a workout. We ran uphill for 5 minutes and then walked down. Actually, everyone else sprinted uphill and then jogged back down. But my pace is a bit slower than theirs. Everyone was really encouraging and cheering me on, which was nice. But I think I'm the "special" kid of the class, who eats paste. I don't really know if I should cheer back for them... this whole group thing is very weird. This weekend I will be home in North Carolina for Nicole's bridal shower, but I need to get in at least one short run and one long run of 6-7 miles. Wish me luck!

Started running again

Alright, after 2 weeks of being sick, and a week of having absolutely NO desire to run, I finally got myself out of bed (at 10am) and got in a short run this morning (2 miles.) Its amazing how much you lose after a few weeks of not running. I am gonna do 3 short runs this week, and get back in to the long runs next weekend with 6 miles. It has been 2 months since I started training! And it is only 2 months until my half-marathon. Wow.

I went out to brunch with everyone after their Two Bridge run yesterday. I hadn't been able to rouse myself to run with the group, but I made it in time for cheeseburgers at The Dram Shop. It is great to finally talk to some people on the team, which I'd been avoiding doing up until this point. Now they actually have a vested interest in my training and I have people to keep me on track. Most of them are doing the Alaska marathon, which sounds beautiful. Its daytime all day, and not really crowded. But San Diego is going to be great. I will have all my cousins and family there to support me! Wish me luck!

Week 6: Sick :(

I spent most of Week 6 only being able to breath out of one nostril. So I missed the 8K last Saturday in Central Park and I haven't run in over a week. Which means I have to start up again after a week of being completely lazy. Wish me luck!

Week 5: To Half Marathon or Not To Half Marathon

Well this morning's run went much better than Wednesday's. I switched to a different pair of running shoes and my shins weren't a problem. But about 25 minutes in my left foot fell asleep... while i was RUNNING on it. How is that even possible? I just kicked it against a pole a few times and woke it up. I did five miles, in an hour and 23 minutes. I did the reverse direction of the loop that I normally do, and it was soo much better running down the long hill by Grand Army Plaza than running up it. While running I decided that I wanted to focus on being able to run a half marathon, as opposed to run/walking a full marathon. Of course, I still have to work on my sweat rash "situation." But other than that I think training is going pretty well. I treated myself to a pedicure/leg massage, it was wonderful! Next weekend we are running an 8K (5 miles) in Central Park, which apparently has lots of ups and downs. Wish me luck! Also, if you haven't already, please donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Societ, who are helping train me for this event, at http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/rnr09/eleanorrigby164

Bad Practice

Tonight was not a very "encouraging" group practice. It was the first Wendesday night that I made it to. I spent most of the day talking myself in and out of going. But I'd been putting it off for 4 weeks, so tonight I had to make it. We were set up to run a 1/4 mile at a faster speed than usual, and then a 1/4 mile slow recovery. I made it through three rounds, but in about the same time most people did 6-8. During the warm-up job my right shin started aching, and became a sharp pain during the first 1/4 mile "on." I limped back, fighting back tears. Everyone else was speeding past me, seemingly at ease. I started a downward spiral of second guessing my decisionon to do this and spent the last half hour trying not to breakdown and have a total flip-out in front of everyone. I'll admit I shed some tears. Everyone was very encouraging, which just made me want to cry even more.

Finally we called it a night. My mentor David was great, and the coaches too, saying encouraging things. But I just felt like a big idiot. This Saturday I am supposed to run 6 miles, which I know I can do. I ran/walked 5 miles last weekend, so I know I can do it. I'm gonna start stretching at work and switch back to my previous running shoes to see if that makes a difference. We have another race in 2 weeks, only 5 miles, through Central Park. Tonight made me even more determined to do this. I hate not being good at something. I CAN do this!