Well, I've upped my distances yet again, and can now say I've run 12 miles at a stretch! And for the record, 4 of those miles were hills. We spent last week in the Berkshires while my husband worked there, and the hill running was easier than I expected, and the payoffs huge! My thighs and calves are definitely bigger. I did a 9 mile last sunday that was all hills, and just a couple short ones this week as I rest up for my first Half Marathon this Saturday! I'm excited, nervous, and can't wait. My friend P is coming to watch the kids while I run, as DH is gone for a month as of this morning. I do hate the solo parenting and begging for childcare, but life goes on. I'll report in afterwards!
another race!
I ran the Scotland 10k yesterday, put on by NYRR, and had a great time. Another mom from the 'hood was running her first 10k, and posted a message looking for support. It was really nice to run w/someone else for a change, even if it was weaving in/out of a crowd of 7,000! I came in just under 58 minutes, and was very pleased given the fact that I'd had very little sleep the two nights before. I never felt really tired, sore, or winded, and think I could have pushed harder actually. I used the Gu gel for the first time in a race, and it really made a difference in the last 2 miles! I had a sustained burst of energy that was great to feel.
Now to find time to train for the half marathon in just a month ... an no backup here at home. My DH leaves tomorrow for 3 weeks in MA for work, home for a week, then away again for 3 ... and on through the summer. Hope to join him for June/July with the kids, but we shall see. Makes getting runs in a real challenge, I have a sitter now mon/wed, and can hopefully squeeze runs in both days. I can hit the Y every other day (or at least thurs/fri) and beg friends to cover on the weekends so I can get in a long one. tuesdays are taken with a class, at least I hope to start it up again in a couple weeks!
Now to find time to train for the half marathon in just a month ... an no backup here at home. My DH leaves tomorrow for 3 weeks in MA for work, home for a week, then away again for 3 ... and on through the summer. Hope to join him for June/July with the kids, but we shall see. Makes getting runs in a real challenge, I have a sitter now mon/wed, and can hopefully squeeze runs in both days. I can hit the Y every other day (or at least thurs/fri) and beg friends to cover on the weekends so I can get in a long one. tuesdays are taken with a class, at least I hope to start it up again in a couple weeks!
races!
I ran a 4 miler 2 weeks ago in a FREEZING cold Central Park. So glad I went, my time wasn't great but not bad either (9:20 miles actually, so perhaps my best race time so far). I've signed up for a 10k this weekend, and the Brooklyn Half Marathon May 3rd!! Scary but feels do-able. I've hit 11 miles once last month, and it was a tremendous feeling.
Hard to train in the next 2 months though as my dh is going away on business for 6 of the next 7 weeks. I only will have childcare (i hope!) 2 days a week, and have to run treadmill at least 2x a week, and beg help on weekends for a long run. Hope my aunt/uncle can do a weekend, a friend do another, and perhaps my inlaws another night or afternoon. I SO don't want to fall behind. The momentum has been good and addictive. I need new shoes, but can't afford them right now. I'm waiting for my Garmin back, it went belly-up for no reason a couple weeks ago but they offered to fix it under warranty even though it was 2 weeks past being covered. Then yesterday I lost one of my Burton gloves, great running gloves (well, snowboarding gloves, but work just as well for running!) and I'm bummed. I can't replace those either but thankfully won't really need them again till fall I don't think.
Hard to train in the next 2 months though as my dh is going away on business for 6 of the next 7 weeks. I only will have childcare (i hope!) 2 days a week, and have to run treadmill at least 2x a week, and beg help on weekends for a long run. Hope my aunt/uncle can do a weekend, a friend do another, and perhaps my inlaws another night or afternoon. I SO don't want to fall behind. The momentum has been good and addictive. I need new shoes, but can't afford them right now. I'm waiting for my Garmin back, it went belly-up for no reason a couple weeks ago but they offered to fix it under warranty even though it was 2 weeks past being covered. Then yesterday I lost one of my Burton gloves, great running gloves (well, snowboarding gloves, but work just as well for running!) and I'm bummed. I can't replace those either but thankfully won't really need them again till fall I don't think.
best ever
ran 9.5 miles last sunday, whew! then walked for another mile, then walked 2.5 more later (much later!) that night. never knew it would take 2 miles of manhattan hunting for crab rangoon at midnight, and still not find it. sigh.
felt wonderful. makes the marathon seem that much closer!
i hope to run another 4 miler tomorrow, though the crappy weather means it won't be scored. it will still count as one of my 9 though for guaranteed entry next year (just in case)
joined the Y too and did my first workout there yesterday, weights and biking. the variety is great and will really help my endurance i think.
amazing how much it really is about mind games when the mileage starts to creep up. just getting out the door, convincing myself to do another lap. fighting negative self-talk. then getting close to a new record and feeling amazing and flying right on by my original goal and doing extra.
felt wonderful. makes the marathon seem that much closer!
i hope to run another 4 miler tomorrow, though the crappy weather means it won't be scored. it will still count as one of my 9 though for guaranteed entry next year (just in case)
joined the Y too and did my first workout there yesterday, weights and biking. the variety is great and will really help my endurance i think.
amazing how much it really is about mind games when the mileage starts to creep up. just getting out the door, convincing myself to do another lap. fighting negative self-talk. then getting close to a new record and feeling amazing and flying right on by my original goal and doing extra.
inspiration
I've been trying to pick up the pace lately, running 4x a week and doing pushups/situps (for now) 2x a week. So far so good (2 weeks in anyhow!) I need to become more regular before I can hope to get in marathon shape. Distances are still low (2.5 to 4 miles) but I'm ok with that until I can get in the habit of working out somehow every day.
I'm going to see The Spirit of the Marathon tonight, to hopefully get my inspiration quotient up. The cold snap and lack of running partners has made it hard.
I'm hoping to run a NYRR race next Sunday, can't remember if it's 4 or 5 miles. Will be good to get out w/a bunch of other people. Wanted to run the MORE marathon (just women, would do a half) but won't be ready for 13 miles by april without injury I don't think.
I'm going to see The Spirit of the Marathon tonight, to hopefully get my inspiration quotient up. The cold snap and lack of running partners has made it hard.
I'm hoping to run a NYRR race next Sunday, can't remember if it's 4 or 5 miles. Will be good to get out w/a bunch of other people. Wanted to run the MORE marathon (just women, would do a half) but won't be ready for 13 miles by april without injury I don't think.
oops! race wrap up
Thought I posted this, but failed to. Here you go :)
Whew!!
It's over, I'm elated, getting over being exhausted, and can't wait to do it again! The race, that is. I was an absolute nervous wreck the night before. Really. I mean the can't sleep, lying in bed shaking, tossing, muttering kind of wreck. I think I fell asleep around 5am, and had to get up at 6. We had a minivan coming at 6:30 to take all the stuff to the park. A LOT of stuff. Tables, boxes of goodie bags (they were heavy!!), carton of t-shirts, food, water, giant easel signs, traffic cones, orange barricade posts/weights, etc ... the list goes on. We got it all crammed into the van, except the cart full of cones/chalk/arrows, which was to mark out the course in the winding park. I pushed the cart to the park while M and the van took the load, dropping all the stuff at the edge of the park. I needed a few minutes to cool my head. Wet head actually, setting me up for freezing later on.
Lesson one in Not-to-do-ever-agains? Get the vehicle-permit for the park, no matter what! It's a separate permit, and one thing I didn't do because of time/money, but regret. Carrying everything in/over the wall and up into the park, both directions, was a HUGE pain. Of course I had no idea how much stuff there'd end up being. Pictures you ask? Ah, pictures. Hah. The camera battery died when I tried to take the first one, the backup battery no longer holds a charge apparently, and the friend with a camera that was to show up couldn't as her son woke up with pinkeye. So, NO pics whatsoever, though there is a bit of video. Maybe I can grab some stills from that.
So we (M and I) got it all into the park by 7:15 or so. Registration opened at 8, and we had to get it set up, as well as the course marked. One friend was arriving at 7:30 to help (thanks C!) and Steph was already at our place, up watching the boys until Opa arrived at 7, and she was off with the wagon to pick up the donated bagels from 2 places, apples and yoghurt drinks from the greenmarket, and coffee/hot water from the bagel shop. She ran herself ragged, getting it all to the park by 8:30 or so. Meanwhile M and I ran around marking the course. This involved chalk lines/arrows/cones to make sure people took the right course at each turn, and when the course stretched over 3/4 of a mile, it took a long time! I abandoned him to finish on his own close to 8, and went to take over registration setup.
By this time my aunt/uncle/friend S had arrived, and were helping get things going. Someone had already come to register while I was away, so I scrambled for the numbers/charts/pins/maps and so on, only to discover the bag with all that in it was missing!! M and I had been carrying it around while marking the course and no longer had it. It could have been anywhere in the park! A parks person had mentioned to C that she'd seen one up the hill, was it ours? My aunt went to find it, did thank God, and brought it back to my frantic hands. I fumbled in the freezing cold for all the stuff, raffle tickets, pens that didn't work in the cold, and so on, and finally managed to register the kid.
It was nonstop from there, getting the registration thing down (thanks to S showing up and handing out pins, numbers, maps, and t-shirts) and getting people ready to go. We had about as many walk-ups as no-shows, making it an even 30 people. It would have been 31, but Steph was too run ragged to actually run the course! Somewhere in there someone handed me a cup of tea and a cut-up apple, the first sustenance of any kind in my morning. I was sitting there shaking with cold, having worn nothing but a t-shirt under my jacket, and with wet hair pinned up on my head. Fynn/D/Opa arrived around 8:30 also, and were fine for the first bit, but then Fynn started screaming bloody murder. Bad mom failed to notice his freezing hands, tried to backpack him but his screaming was so loud it was almost impossible to think. Carrying in my arms didn't work either.
I managed to give the 10 minute warning at about 9am, after checking with Michael to make sure he'd be done marking by then, as it had turned out to be a hugely long job for one person, cart and all. Bless the man! "Managed to give" means I used the bullhorn for the first time in my life! Why I had such a hangup I do not know, but I did. I didn't want anyone but the ppl right around me to hear, and knew it would carry further than that. Has something to do with the fact that I mostly hate to be the center of attention, but part of me loves it. Go figure.
Got everyone up to the starting line, which just so happened to be 20 yards away from a PUPS event (read: many many people with many many dogs) that I didn't know would be there that day. Yay, more audience for the Bullhorn Malfunction! Harvey was holding it for me (heavy thing, and I was shaking a bit and standing up on a bench) and he pressed what he thought was the On button, only to discover it was the siren. Michael insisted you just had to 'let it run out' and so it went for several cycles. Turn it off. Michael insists. Repeat. Finally the two males figure it out, give me the microphone, Michael draws a starting line (the one line neglected to be drawn, though there was a sign) and I send them off!
Given the 3k route, I knew I'd have only about 11 minutes before the first person arrived. More scrambling for medals, shuffling a screaming Fynn, hunting high and low for the missing finish-line tape, and end up substituting a roll of raffle tickets instead. The tape was later discovered in Douglas' pocket, as he 'really liked it'. :) The first runner in was a HS student. I forgot to mention I'd invited the track team from the HS across the street to come, for free, and they'd be eligible for prizes but not t-shirts, etc. The first 4 or 5 finishers were the kids, and they all refused to take the awards! No medals, no dinner gift certificates, nada. Just said they were there to support the effort, and a couple even handed me a few dollars to put towards the charity. Nice kids!! and a dream to have there.
There weren't a lot of cheering fans, but we made the noise we could, and the stroller race ended in a deliberate tie :). Medals were handed out, awards announced, and the raffle items raffled. Thankfully one of the HS kids won the 6-month Crunch Fitness membership, which helped even things out a wee bit, and I dug out enough t-shirts for them all.
It was such a nice bunch of people, both runners and helpers, and I couldn't ask for more. Sunny (freezing!) weather. Enthusiastic and grateful runners, and no major issues. The Kiddie race ended up being just 3 kids (I had about 12 expected, but the cold probably kept them away) and one girl fell and skinned her knee. Douglas was super proud of his medal (they all got them) but wanted to know yesterday why the kids all got medals, but not the adults :)
I can't wait to do it again. We raised $760 for charity, had an angel cover the cost of the t-shirts and equipment rental, and spent enough of our own money to call it a good marketing effort.
Whew!!
It's over, I'm elated, getting over being exhausted, and can't wait to do it again! The race, that is. I was an absolute nervous wreck the night before. Really. I mean the can't sleep, lying in bed shaking, tossing, muttering kind of wreck. I think I fell asleep around 5am, and had to get up at 6. We had a minivan coming at 6:30 to take all the stuff to the park. A LOT of stuff. Tables, boxes of goodie bags (they were heavy!!), carton of t-shirts, food, water, giant easel signs, traffic cones, orange barricade posts/weights, etc ... the list goes on. We got it all crammed into the van, except the cart full of cones/chalk/arrows, which was to mark out the course in the winding park. I pushed the cart to the park while M and the van took the load, dropping all the stuff at the edge of the park. I needed a few minutes to cool my head. Wet head actually, setting me up for freezing later on.
Lesson one in Not-to-do-ever-agains? Get the vehicle-permit for the park, no matter what! It's a separate permit, and one thing I didn't do because of time/money, but regret. Carrying everything in/over the wall and up into the park, both directions, was a HUGE pain. Of course I had no idea how much stuff there'd end up being. Pictures you ask? Ah, pictures. Hah. The camera battery died when I tried to take the first one, the backup battery no longer holds a charge apparently, and the friend with a camera that was to show up couldn't as her son woke up with pinkeye. So, NO pics whatsoever, though there is a bit of video. Maybe I can grab some stills from that.
So we (M and I) got it all into the park by 7:15 or so. Registration opened at 8, and we had to get it set up, as well as the course marked. One friend was arriving at 7:30 to help (thanks C!) and Steph was already at our place, up watching the boys until Opa arrived at 7, and she was off with the wagon to pick up the donated bagels from 2 places, apples and yoghurt drinks from the greenmarket, and coffee/hot water from the bagel shop. She ran herself ragged, getting it all to the park by 8:30 or so. Meanwhile M and I ran around marking the course. This involved chalk lines/arrows/cones to make sure people took the right course at each turn, and when the course stretched over 3/4 of a mile, it took a long time! I abandoned him to finish on his own close to 8, and went to take over registration setup.
By this time my aunt/uncle/friend S had arrived, and were helping get things going. Someone had already come to register while I was away, so I scrambled for the numbers/charts/pins/maps and so on, only to discover the bag with all that in it was missing!! M and I had been carrying it around while marking the course and no longer had it. It could have been anywhere in the park! A parks person had mentioned to C that she'd seen one up the hill, was it ours? My aunt went to find it, did thank God, and brought it back to my frantic hands. I fumbled in the freezing cold for all the stuff, raffle tickets, pens that didn't work in the cold, and so on, and finally managed to register the kid.
It was nonstop from there, getting the registration thing down (thanks to S showing up and handing out pins, numbers, maps, and t-shirts) and getting people ready to go. We had about as many walk-ups as no-shows, making it an even 30 people. It would have been 31, but Steph was too run ragged to actually run the course! Somewhere in there someone handed me a cup of tea and a cut-up apple, the first sustenance of any kind in my morning. I was sitting there shaking with cold, having worn nothing but a t-shirt under my jacket, and with wet hair pinned up on my head. Fynn/D/Opa arrived around 8:30 also, and were fine for the first bit, but then Fynn started screaming bloody murder. Bad mom failed to notice his freezing hands, tried to backpack him but his screaming was so loud it was almost impossible to think. Carrying in my arms didn't work either.
I managed to give the 10 minute warning at about 9am, after checking with Michael to make sure he'd be done marking by then, as it had turned out to be a hugely long job for one person, cart and all. Bless the man! "Managed to give" means I used the bullhorn for the first time in my life! Why I had such a hangup I do not know, but I did. I didn't want anyone but the ppl right around me to hear, and knew it would carry further than that. Has something to do with the fact that I mostly hate to be the center of attention, but part of me loves it. Go figure.
Got everyone up to the starting line, which just so happened to be 20 yards away from a PUPS event (read: many many people with many many dogs) that I didn't know would be there that day. Yay, more audience for the Bullhorn Malfunction! Harvey was holding it for me (heavy thing, and I was shaking a bit and standing up on a bench) and he pressed what he thought was the On button, only to discover it was the siren. Michael insisted you just had to 'let it run out' and so it went for several cycles. Turn it off. Michael insists. Repeat. Finally the two males figure it out, give me the microphone, Michael draws a starting line (the one line neglected to be drawn, though there was a sign) and I send them off!
Given the 3k route, I knew I'd have only about 11 minutes before the first person arrived. More scrambling for medals, shuffling a screaming Fynn, hunting high and low for the missing finish-line tape, and end up substituting a roll of raffle tickets instead. The tape was later discovered in Douglas' pocket, as he 'really liked it'. :) The first runner in was a HS student. I forgot to mention I'd invited the track team from the HS across the street to come, for free, and they'd be eligible for prizes but not t-shirts, etc. The first 4 or 5 finishers were the kids, and they all refused to take the awards! No medals, no dinner gift certificates, nada. Just said they were there to support the effort, and a couple even handed me a few dollars to put towards the charity. Nice kids!! and a dream to have there.
There weren't a lot of cheering fans, but we made the noise we could, and the stroller race ended in a deliberate tie :). Medals were handed out, awards announced, and the raffle items raffled. Thankfully one of the HS kids won the 6-month Crunch Fitness membership, which helped even things out a wee bit, and I dug out enough t-shirts for them all.
It was such a nice bunch of people, both runners and helpers, and I couldn't ask for more. Sunny (freezing!) weather. Enthusiastic and grateful runners, and no major issues. The Kiddie race ended up being just 3 kids (I had about 12 expected, but the cold probably kept them away) and one girl fell and skinned her knee. Douglas was super proud of his medal (they all got them) but wanted to know yesterday why the kids all got medals, but not the adults :)
I can't wait to do it again. We raised $760 for charity, had an angel cover the cost of the t-shirts and equipment rental, and spent enough of our own money to call it a good marketing effort.
getting started, again ...
finally back in the swing of things. realized, finally, that I have to exercise every day. not just 3x a week. should run 5x I think. so far run 2 and exercised 2 this week, so have to run the next 3. still having trouble getting up in the am, which sometimes comes from not going to bed early enough, and sometimes just from not getting enough in general and needing to catch up.
there it is. still want to marathon this year, printed out a schedule, and have to get up to 25 miles a week in the next 2 months or so. hard months to do it in, but it's never easy is it?
there it is. still want to marathon this year, printed out a schedule, and have to get up to 25 miles a week in the next 2 months or so. hard months to do it in, but it's never easy is it?
running partners!
I started a running group in my 'hood, and tomorrow I have my first workout with a running buddy in, oh, about 8 years! Looking forward to it, though not the getting up at 6am part.
I ran a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day, and while I didn't run well, I had fun! I had to pee before the race began, got there too late to do so, and ended up hopping the barricades at 1.5 miles in and making a pit stop. Took me till mile 3 to find my stride, and given that there were 5 miles in all, it wasn't my best time. 46:10 total.
Glad I got out and did it though.
Countdown to my own 3k race is 19 days! Pounding the pavement and phone for sponsors, flyers, donations, and participants ... it's a ton of work. Scared that I won't get enough people to make it worthwhile, so concentrating more on media at the moment than donations. Need to start rounding up volunteers also, I'm going to need a good number given the winding course. Anyone want to help?! Details at www.sanemoms.com/runforthemoms.
I ran a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day, and while I didn't run well, I had fun! I had to pee before the race began, got there too late to do so, and ended up hopping the barricades at 1.5 miles in and making a pit stop. Took me till mile 3 to find my stride, and given that there were 5 miles in all, it wasn't my best time. 46:10 total.
Glad I got out and did it though.
Countdown to my own 3k race is 19 days! Pounding the pavement and phone for sponsors, flyers, donations, and participants ... it's a ton of work. Scared that I won't get enough people to make it worthwhile, so concentrating more on media at the moment than donations. Need to start rounding up volunteers also, I'm going to need a good number given the winding course. Anyone want to help?! Details at www.sanemoms.com/runforthemoms.
The Race is ON!
My first race that is, meaning one that I'm organizing, sponsoring (at least until I can drag in enough sponsors to cover things) and doing everything but running in.
It's a 3k in Fort Greene Park, and I'm so in over my head it's not funny. Why? It's just a project like any other, and given enough time it's not a big deal. However, time is the problem ... it's on December 15th, 5 weeks from now, and I just got my permit from the Parks Department today. Go figure! I'm madly designing logos, scouting vendors, modifying websites, and yadda yadda, you get the idea. If anyone has references for any timing companies I'd love them!
I'm rather excited :)
Details here, such as they are so far ... www.sanemoms.com
It's a 3k in Fort Greene Park, and I'm so in over my head it's not funny. Why? It's just a project like any other, and given enough time it's not a big deal. However, time is the problem ... it's on December 15th, 5 weeks from now, and I just got my permit from the Parks Department today. Go figure! I'm madly designing logos, scouting vendors, modifying websites, and yadda yadda, you get the idea. If anyone has references for any timing companies I'd love them!
I'm rather excited :)
Details here, such as they are so far ... www.sanemoms.com
what a day!
It's over, it was wonderful and I'm too tired to retype so I'll copy from my other blog here ....
It was the longest day ever, and not just because 2am came twice thanks to Daylight Savings Time. It was the NYC Marathon today, and as I didn't get in to run, I volunteered. This meant getting up just before 2am (the 2nd one) but I was so paranoid about the time change, oversleeping, and being late, that I was more or less up from 1am (and went to bed around 10.). I dressed in my many layers, grabbed a banana and took off for the upper east side.
I arrived early, begged my way into the NYRR headquarters to pee, and then got my credentials, wimpy bagged breakfast, and hopped on the bus ... by 4am. There were about 80 of us I think that came that way, and hundreds more that arrived some other way. We were dropped at the starting line area 45 min later, in pitch black, with music blaring and crews frantically assembling bleachers, tents, and so on. It was rather like a mini olympic village, minus the housing, with 'camping' grounds instead in color-coded areas. After some chaotic shuffling and hard-to-hear directions, 10 of us were assigned to pass out bagels in the orange section. As this was one of three areas, and we passed out most of 3 pallets of bagels (about 40 boxes on each pallet with 70 or so in each box) you get a vague sense of the quantity of people milling about.
It started with just a few early souls, with their blankets, heat wraps, huddled on the ground trying to get in a bit of rest. As the sun gradually came up and and the busloads started to arrive in earnest, it was more chaotic. Constant directions being asked, banter from 2 of the people working next to me, and a permanent grin on my face. I SO enjoyed it that I couldn't help smiling crazily, despite the fact that my hands were frozen, I'd been on my feet for hours, and wished I were running instead of bagel tossing. It was a fascinating mix of people, in all mental states from utterly relaxed and having a ball to so nervous they couldn't look you in the eye or think about eating.
As the hours marched on (we arrived at 5, the general start was 10:20) people gradually got more focused and intent. Due to some crazy woman in charge of something, several of us were suddenly yanked from bagel world and had to run to the starting line (a long way away thru insane crowds) as she said we'd miss the bus back to the finish. Oh, right ... the main reason I volunteered for the early shift ... it involved a bus back to the finish line and free bleacher passes! woohoo ... I've wanted to see the finish in person for years. She was wrong, the buses weren't leaving for an hour, so we were put on duty corraling the runners in their lanes as they started ... another plum assignment in my book.
Aside from the order and relaxation of the start itself (3 separate start areas, each one letting people go in groups of 1000 at a time) the most amazing part was the trash. By this I mean the clothes strewn EVERYwhere, on the road, fences, under the buses ... it was really chilly still, but once out in the sun and on the starting line, they tossed whatever extra layers they were wearing. When our bus finally did leave (another sudden yank from the start corral, before we were finished) it was plowing through wads of clothes. I'm told they get gathered for charity ... I hope so, there were thousands.
Our bus caravan was escorted by the cops over the bridge, paralleling the route for a bit, and then up the west side to the finish area. We got there in time to get seats and see the male and female winners cross the finish line. I was cheering loudly for Paula Radcliffe from England who won, as I knew she'd had a baby in the last year and I was insanely impressed by that. She won, grabbed her 9 month old from her husband, and did her victory 'lap' down the stands. Go mama!
I could go on but it's 10pm and I'm falling over. Needless to say it was, once again, tremendously inspiring to see, and makes me more than ever want to do it. If a 74 year old woman could finish it in under 4 hours, I could at least finish it I think?!
One last thing ... the costumes. It looked like hallowe'en at times. Just a few I saw ... a towering lighthouse headpiece, chewbacca and Yoda (full masks, fur, etc.), kilts, superman, sponge bob, hotdog hats, many statue of liberty headbands, facepaint galore, bras and shorts, some dutch-looking polkadot mini dress on a male and female both, wigs, feathers ... you get the idea. It was about fun and just doing it, and the energy and adrenaline flowing around was incredible. I could quote/dribble statistics for hours as they fascinate me, but I'll stop with just one. More than 17 thousand of the runners had never run a marathon before. I better be part of that stat next year!
I crash.
ps ... no pics due to no camera, some to be e-mailed from a girls I met.
It was the longest day ever, and not just because 2am came twice thanks to Daylight Savings Time. It was the NYC Marathon today, and as I didn't get in to run, I volunteered. This meant getting up just before 2am (the 2nd one) but I was so paranoid about the time change, oversleeping, and being late, that I was more or less up from 1am (and went to bed around 10.). I dressed in my many layers, grabbed a banana and took off for the upper east side.
I arrived early, begged my way into the NYRR headquarters to pee, and then got my credentials, wimpy bagged breakfast, and hopped on the bus ... by 4am. There were about 80 of us I think that came that way, and hundreds more that arrived some other way. We were dropped at the starting line area 45 min later, in pitch black, with music blaring and crews frantically assembling bleachers, tents, and so on. It was rather like a mini olympic village, minus the housing, with 'camping' grounds instead in color-coded areas. After some chaotic shuffling and hard-to-hear directions, 10 of us were assigned to pass out bagels in the orange section. As this was one of three areas, and we passed out most of 3 pallets of bagels (about 40 boxes on each pallet with 70 or so in each box) you get a vague sense of the quantity of people milling about.
It started with just a few early souls, with their blankets, heat wraps, huddled on the ground trying to get in a bit of rest. As the sun gradually came up and and the busloads started to arrive in earnest, it was more chaotic. Constant directions being asked, banter from 2 of the people working next to me, and a permanent grin on my face. I SO enjoyed it that I couldn't help smiling crazily, despite the fact that my hands were frozen, I'd been on my feet for hours, and wished I were running instead of bagel tossing. It was a fascinating mix of people, in all mental states from utterly relaxed and having a ball to so nervous they couldn't look you in the eye or think about eating.
As the hours marched on (we arrived at 5, the general start was 10:20) people gradually got more focused and intent. Due to some crazy woman in charge of something, several of us were suddenly yanked from bagel world and had to run to the starting line (a long way away thru insane crowds) as she said we'd miss the bus back to the finish. Oh, right ... the main reason I volunteered for the early shift ... it involved a bus back to the finish line and free bleacher passes! woohoo ... I've wanted to see the finish in person for years. She was wrong, the buses weren't leaving for an hour, so we were put on duty corraling the runners in their lanes as they started ... another plum assignment in my book.
Aside from the order and relaxation of the start itself (3 separate start areas, each one letting people go in groups of 1000 at a time) the most amazing part was the trash. By this I mean the clothes strewn EVERYwhere, on the road, fences, under the buses ... it was really chilly still, but once out in the sun and on the starting line, they tossed whatever extra layers they were wearing. When our bus finally did leave (another sudden yank from the start corral, before we were finished) it was plowing through wads of clothes. I'm told they get gathered for charity ... I hope so, there were thousands.
Our bus caravan was escorted by the cops over the bridge, paralleling the route for a bit, and then up the west side to the finish area. We got there in time to get seats and see the male and female winners cross the finish line. I was cheering loudly for Paula Radcliffe from England who won, as I knew she'd had a baby in the last year and I was insanely impressed by that. She won, grabbed her 9 month old from her husband, and did her victory 'lap' down the stands. Go mama!
I could go on but it's 10pm and I'm falling over. Needless to say it was, once again, tremendously inspiring to see, and makes me more than ever want to do it. If a 74 year old woman could finish it in under 4 hours, I could at least finish it I think?!
One last thing ... the costumes. It looked like hallowe'en at times. Just a few I saw ... a towering lighthouse headpiece, chewbacca and Yoda (full masks, fur, etc.), kilts, superman, sponge bob, hotdog hats, many statue of liberty headbands, facepaint galore, bras and shorts, some dutch-looking polkadot mini dress on a male and female both, wigs, feathers ... you get the idea. It was about fun and just doing it, and the energy and adrenaline flowing around was incredible. I could quote/dribble statistics for hours as they fascinate me, but I'll stop with just one. More than 17 thousand of the runners had never run a marathon before. I better be part of that stat next year!
I crash.
ps ... no pics due to no camera, some to be e-mailed from a girls I met.
Forgot to mention ...
The last race I ran, the Miles for Midwives ... I finished in 27 minutes and change, and came in 2nd in my age category! While there were only about 275 runners, I was still very pleased.
My next race is the Turkey Trot on thanksgiving morning, another 5k in Prospect Park. I'll be going with another couple this time, while Michael watches their kids AND ours :).
My next race is the Turkey Trot on thanksgiving morning, another 5k in Prospect Park. I'll be going with another couple this time, while Michael watches their kids AND ours :).
Marathon Weekend
It's here, and while I won't be running, I will be surrounded by them for hours. I'm volunteering this year, and have been assigned (yes I asked for it!) to work at the Starting line o Staten Island. That means I have to catch a bus on the upper east side at 4am tomorrow, and won't be done until late morning. The main perk to taking the early shift is that they give me a bus ride back to the finish line as soon as I'm done, and a bleacher pass to watch the finish! Pretty cool, and will give me a view of how it all works that I won't get any other way.
I'm still determined to run it as soon as I can get in. I've been out of commission with a chest cold/congestion for a week, and can only imagine how I'd feel if I was due to run in the morning. I have to get more regular about my training if I'm going to have a chance.
I'm still determined to run it as soon as I can get in. I've been out of commission with a chest cold/congestion for a week, and can only imagine how I'd feel if I was due to run in the morning. I have to get more regular about my training if I'm going to have a chance.
Next race ...
I just registered for a 5k this Saturday, the Miles for Midwives in prospect park. Last year it was my first-ever 5k, run with a jogging stroller, and cradling a nursing baby in one arm at least half the time. This time I'll actually run it :)
for the record
I'm not doing so well at running ... more like once every 5 days or so, and only 3 miles at a time. Summer was really hard with the lack of schedule and sleeping in and having M leave at 8 every morning. The one 10k I ran was great, but not what I was hoping for. I wanted to run a 4 miler this weekend, but am battling a cold that wants to grab me and throw me under, and so haven't run in 4 days again. If I run when I'm sick, the last shreds of my immune system seem to crumble.
I'll get back on it as soon as I can. I can't forget the after-run high that feels so incredibly good, and the joy of being out on the streets alone. Maybe I can remember that when the alarm goes off at 6am?
I'll get back on it as soon as I can. I can't forget the after-run high that feels so incredibly good, and the joy of being out on the streets alone. Maybe I can remember that when the alarm goes off at 6am?
My First 10k!
Since I didn't get in to the Marathon this year, I'm trying my legs out on some smaller races, starting with my first 10k this morning in Central Park. Despite the fact that my longest morning run has been 5 miles, and I average about 3, I was sure it was do-able. It was the Park to Park 10k that takes a circuit of Central Park to complete. Having never been to the top edge of the park, I was rather looking forward to the 'tour' of it.
I snagged a handy ride over with my friend's husband, who was also running and is marathon training, and my friend baby-sat both of my boys for me for the morning! M is still working Saturdays all summer, so I had to find backup. I started my stretching on the front porch at 7am while waiting for my ride. He came late, so I got a decent amount in.
It was great to be in Central Park before 8am, another first for me, and then to merge into the sea of other runners getting ready. Number pickup, pin and t-shirt pickup, baggage drop, bathroom stop, and I was ready to finish my stretching. I parted ways with my ride, as he averages 8 minute miles and I seem at a steady 10.5 mile these days.
The start was staggered by average mile time, and so it was up to me to be honest and go to the 10 mile post near the back of the starting line. With 5,000 people running, this wasn't irrelevant ... though as I'm not in real race contention, it doesn't matter all that much. They score the races based on when you cross the finish line, irrespective of when you actually get to cross the starting line. It took me almost 5 minutes to get up to the starting line, so I was glad to have my watch keeping me aware of where I was really at.
I had to do a lot of weaving/dodging the first 2 miles, but the pack finally thinned out a bit. I had to learn to follow my own natural pace, not the pace of whoever happened to be in front of me. That took a good 2 miles, and then I was happy.
Figuring out water stations was another matter, it took 3 of those before I got the hang of it (go to the end of the area, not the front, don't really stop, and pour most of it on your head ... at least that's what worked for me. ) Once I did, it was no longer an annoyance.
I expected to hit a 'wall', but never did really in the least. I had enough energy to pick up the pace for the last 1.5 miles, and even sprint the last .25. I was tired for sure, but not sick or staggering so I called it a success :)
I skipped all the after stuff like pictures, bagels, award ceremonies, freebies, etc so that my ride could get back home in time to take his son to swimming lessons.
A fabulous first 10k, and my time was 13 minutes better than I aimed for ... results below.
My ride came in at 54 minutes, so he didn't have to wait too long for me!
I snagged a handy ride over with my friend's husband, who was also running and is marathon training, and my friend baby-sat both of my boys for me for the morning! M is still working Saturdays all summer, so I had to find backup. I started my stretching on the front porch at 7am while waiting for my ride. He came late, so I got a decent amount in.
It was great to be in Central Park before 8am, another first for me, and then to merge into the sea of other runners getting ready. Number pickup, pin and t-shirt pickup, baggage drop, bathroom stop, and I was ready to finish my stretching. I parted ways with my ride, as he averages 8 minute miles and I seem at a steady 10.5 mile these days.
The start was staggered by average mile time, and so it was up to me to be honest and go to the 10 mile post near the back of the starting line. With 5,000 people running, this wasn't irrelevant ... though as I'm not in real race contention, it doesn't matter all that much. They score the races based on when you cross the finish line, irrespective of when you actually get to cross the starting line. It took me almost 5 minutes to get up to the starting line, so I was glad to have my watch keeping me aware of where I was really at.
I had to do a lot of weaving/dodging the first 2 miles, but the pack finally thinned out a bit. I had to learn to follow my own natural pace, not the pace of whoever happened to be in front of me. That took a good 2 miles, and then I was happy.
Figuring out water stations was another matter, it took 3 of those before I got the hang of it (go to the end of the area, not the front, don't really stop, and pour most of it on your head ... at least that's what worked for me. ) Once I did, it was no longer an annoyance.
I expected to hit a 'wall', but never did really in the least. I had enough energy to pick up the pace for the last 1.5 miles, and even sprint the last .25. I was tired for sure, but not sick or staggering so I called it a success :)
I skipped all the after stuff like pictures, bagels, award ceremonies, freebies, etc so that my ride could get back home in time to take his son to swimming lessons.
A fabulous first 10k, and my time was 13 minutes better than I aimed for ... results below.
First Name | Sex/ Age | City | State |
| BETHANY | F36 | BROOKLYN | NY |
Overall Place | Gender Place | Age Place | Finish Time | Pace/ Mile | AG Time | AG Gender Place | AG % |
| 3709 | 1404 | 551 | 1:02:24 | 10:03 | 1:01:31 | 1351 | 49.3 % |
My ride came in at 54 minutes, so he didn't have to wait too long for me!
High Points
Broke the 5-mile barrier finally, though not since then ... been depressed about not getting in, and the weather is horribly hot and muggy. Forced myself to run this AM and was so glad I did! Felt great afterwards, as I always do ...
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Next Goal is to run a 10K on July 14th in Central Park. I have to find a sitter as Michael is working that day (and every other day between now and August 30th except for Sundays ...) but that's doable. I will have to run at least 6-8 times between now and then to get in shape. I don't have a time I'm aiming for, but 1:10 would be wonderful for me.
Denied
I didn't get in. It sucks. Now I have to either give in and run for charity, and raise $2500, or wait for next year and run some shorter ones.
I'm disappointed to say the least.
I'm disappointed to say the least.
It's a step ...
You have been entered into the lottery for the
2007 ING NYC Marathon!
Entry #184627
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yay!!
2007 ING NYC Marathon!
Entry #184627
-------------
yay!!
Progress
Just read my first posts, and realized that my pace is up to a 9:30 to 9:45 miles, no matter how long I run. I can't seem to settle, at least so far, with a slower pace. That's a 2 min/mile improvement over where I started!
back on track, slightly altered
I got sick of being sick, and started running again last week despite the cough. It's virtually gone, and I feel good again! Not up to the mileage I want, but will get there. It's SO much easier now than a couple months ago!
Decided NOT to run for charity, and will take my chances in the lottery of getting in. The deadline is this friday to apply, and I have a check coming in the day before that will give me enough to put in the application. I'll be joining NY Road Runners along with the entry, so even if I don't get in this year, I'll keep running and do some of their shorter races to get in practice and in shape. If I do, which I'll know in a few weeks, I'll be on track for Nov 4th! And a lot happier about not having to beg my friends/family for the $2500 in pledges that the charity requires.
Decided NOT to run for charity, and will take my chances in the lottery of getting in. The deadline is this friday to apply, and I have a check coming in the day before that will give me enough to put in the application. I'll be joining NY Road Runners along with the entry, so even if I don't get in this year, I'll keep running and do some of their shorter races to get in practice and in shape. If I do, which I'll know in a few weeks, I'll be on track for Nov 4th! And a lot happier about not having to beg my friends/family for the $2500 in pledges that the charity requires.