The Good, The Bad, and the Awesome!

Mar22

I’ve run in NY many times. Maybe not compared to some people, but a lot for me. I’ve run enough last year to qualify for the NYC Marathon. That being said nothing prepared me for the feeling of running the NYC Half Marathon. It was amazing on so many levels. I loved it so much that I’ve already signed up for two more Boro races to qualify to run it next year. I don’t want to chance the lottery and I would love to do this run again.

Why?

It was AWESOME!

Yes, it really was.

Now there are some thing logistically that weren’t so awesome, but you’ve got to take the good with the bad. For example:

Early wake up call

NyCHalf8

Yup. Early. I needed to leave my house by 5:00. I require time to wake up, have some coffee, eat a small breakfast, and not feel rushed.

NYCHalf4

Then there is the fact that the start and finish line are at totally opposite locations which makes for a great race, but not so exciting when the race is over. We decided to park at the start line and had to take the subway and then walk a bit to our car after the race. Not really bad except it was cold and we were not really dressed for it. On a positive note, it did give us a chance to cool down with the walk. Plus we parked literally around the corner from Magnolia’s Bakery. Finally though, if you’ve got a fun group to take the walk and subway with it really doesn’t matter anyway.

Magnolia Bakery

Need I say more. Oh my. So good!

Security. I get it. I really do. There was only one entrance to the park for runners. We had to go through metal detectors and have our stuff screened. I get it. I really do. I applaud all NYRR and Police Department does to keep the runners safe. That being said, I really think if there was someone out to do something bad, they would not pose as a runner. I really don’t. I was having panic attack as once we finally made it through security we had to make our way through the park to our corrals. I honestly for the first time at any race thought I would miss the start of my corral.

That’s it for my complaints. Got nothing.

And these things I wouldn’t even say too bad in the whole scheme of things.

Now the good parts that makes it so awesome.

When you do a big race like this there is a level of excitement that you really can’t get anywhere else. You’ve got the news coverage. You’ve got the huge crowds with over 20,000 runners. Then you have the spectators and volunteers.

But what made it so special?

The course.

Really.

Honestly.

Can’t wait to do it again.

Seriously

The race starts in Central Park where you run the first few miles. Then the magic happens because you leave the park shortly after mile 6. You running down 7th Avenue towards Times Square. As if that isn’t enough, you then run down 42nd Street until the West Side Highway coming out near the Intrepid. Then you run through Lower Manhattan and cross the finish line.

You don’t have to be familiar with the city to know how awesome it would be to run through the streets. That being said, as someone who has been to the city, driven in the traffic, and knows the congestion of all the vehicles; it’s nothing short of awesome. I was having so much fun running these streets that I literally had to slow myself down. The crowds in Time Square are incredible. When I was running by, they were starting the kids 1 mile race in Time Square which just adds to the excitement of it.

I even took my phone out and took several pictures while staying on pace if I do say so myself.

Then if that isn’t enough, there is the finish!

The medal and the sense of accomplishment that finishing brings.

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And I would like to add one more thing. The post race snack bag. Some races you finish and you get an apple and a water. Not here. Every finisher gets their own personal bag with a big water, a Gatorade, and apple, some pretzels in a reusable clear drawstring bag. No picture because I was too busy consuming.

What is your favorite race?

Trust In The Training!

Mar21

Trust is a funny thing. Trust is something that needs to be earned and is sometimes hard to do. I had to go out on the ledge and trust my coach, my training, and myself. These are not necessarily easy things to do. I trust my coach but trusting in ones self can be harder. Sometimes the doubt creeps in, but I shut the door on it in New York City.

I had a great race. I had phenomenal race. The stars were aligned. The sun was shining and it all came together. I pushed the doubt and the fears to the side. I took a leap of faith and went with it. I started the race with the knowledge that I could do this. I had a plan. A plan that my coach helped me develop. All I needed was to stick to the program and trust in my training. I went out as planned, but almost got sidetracked early on by the 2:00 hour pace group. They blew past me around mile 2. At first I think that I tried to stay with them, but I stopped myself. They were not following my plan. They were running a different race. I knew what I needed to do and they were not doing it. They were going out too fast for me. I let them go. It was hard at first, but I had my mantra that I kept repeating to myself. It was not a planned mantra, but it was fitting.

TRUST IN YOUR TRAINING!

keep-calm-and-trust-your-training-1

It was that simple. I needed to trust in the hours that I’ve logged. The miles that I’ve ran at pace. The fact that I had done the work to set me up to do what I needed to do. What I needed to do was not what everyone else needed to do. So I let them go. I trusted in my training and my ability to get it done.

I was in the zone.

A friend that I went to the half with came up to me a few miles in. I actually said to her, “Karyn, just so you know I’m not being a Bitch. I’m just in the zone.” I needed to run this race by myself. Some things are like that. You need to do them by yourself. This was that race for me. I needed to focus on my pace, my calculations, and moving forward. She understood. (Love you, lady).

As I ran, I knew where I needed to be. I had a pace band in my pocket that I didn’t use during the race; but had done some calculations ahead of time. I kind of knew where I needed to be when. I added up the time I needed to hit as the miles rose. I was hitting my targets. There were times that I had to reign myself in as he race was so exciting. I was trusting in the training and not trying to bank time.

My plan was to run consistently till around mile 10 where I would pick it up a little more. At that point my mantra became NO REGRETS. By this I meant that no matter what, I would not have regrets because I was doing all I could. I also meant that I would not give myself an out. That I would continue to push it and fight for the sub 2 because the only way I would have regrets is if I backed down. So NO REGRETS. By mile 12, I was pushing it pretty hard but trying to make sure as to not burn up. I knew I would be close. I knew that I was going to need to give it all I had at the end. So I saved a little fuel in the tank and when I hit the 20K mat, I pushed it even harder.

NO REGRETS.

You can’t have regrets if you’ve done everything that you’ve needed to do. If you’ve given all you have. I dug as deep as I could go and I did it!

1:58:59

A minute to spare:)

I honestly can say that if somehow I didn’t make my goal, I would have been happy with this race. Honestly, I am not saying that because I reached my sub 2 goal. I was telling myself that that last 3 miles.

That being said, I am over the moon with reaching it.

This was an amazing adventure. There is more to tell, but this is enough for now.

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Whose in Control?

Mar11

There are so many things in our lives out of our control. We all feel it. We all know it. We all want more control, but the truth of the matter is much of it is not in our hands. We just have to roll with the punches that come. Some harder than others. This is true not just in life but with our training.

There are things in our training that our out of control. Injuries and time just to name a few. We know that there are other things in our training just like our “normal lives” that we can’t control. That being said, we must learn to focus on what we can control. The other things will either fall into place or not and again we have to just roll with the punches that come.

lista-control

Now just because I realize that I don’t have total control doesn’t mean that I am not working on the things that I can control such as…

Taking time for myself to get the runs/workouts I need. If the work is not put in than the outcome will never change. This is in my control.
Putting the effort into each workout. It does no good to take time for said workouts if I am not going to do what needs to be done. On days that I need to push and challenge myself, I can’t back down. Not every workout/run is meant to be hard, but on the days that are supposed to be hard let it be hard. Don’t back down. Everything is hard at first and if it was always easy where would the challenge be?
Pay attention to how you fuel and recover. I’ve mentioned this before that I am working on figuring out my fueling for my runs. As I said, you can’t run on empty and each person has to learn what works for them.
And just as in life, give yourself a break. Some days you just don’t have it in you and that is ok. The trick is to get back up and keep moving forward.
Never back down or give up. I will stumble. I will fall (especially on a trail, but I will always get back up. That is in my control.

It’s time that I admit it…….. I may have started off as the Accidentally Running Mama, but I am well past that now. I am no longer a beginner. I am not accidentally running now. I think after 3 marathons, countless other events, and the fact that I am training for a 50K kind of proves that I am running with purpose. And even though I have been precise and followed my plans, I think that I am getting to the point that I need to take more ownership of my training. Don’t take that as I am saying I don’t need my coach because I do. I don’t even have one tenth of the running knowledge that she has. What I’m saying is that I need to take my training off of auto pilot and take ownership of it.

I need to control what I can because that will give me a sense of comfort.

Win or loose

(Ok, I’m always in the middle of the pack),

it is up to me.

Up to me

What is in your control?

Your Running What?

Feb10

fartlek

Word of the Week

Fartleks –

Because it’s fun to say, but maybe that is only because I’m a mother of three boys. Now I realize it’s something fun to say, but it is also something fun to run. Although truth be told, sometimes I get so caught up am I hitting my pace I loose some of the fun. Not today. Not with fartleks.

So what exactly is a fartlek you ask because I know that I did!

fart·lek

ˈfärtlik/

noun

Track & Field

noun: fartlek

a system of training for distance runners in which the terrain and pace are continually varied to eliminate boredom and enhance psychological aspects of conditioning.

It sounds like some made up word to make non runners feel stupid. Then I realized that the reason it was such a silly word is because it is from Sweden and it means “speed play” in Swedish. It was developed in 1937 for a Swedish cross country team that was in need of both speed and endurance training. So their coach, Gosta Holmer came up with the good ole fartlek. I’m guessing it worked for them as all these years later we are still doing them.

Now I feel bad for thinking that it was a made up word. Then again, what do I know? Not much, but I do like to learn:)

So I’ve done them a few times. Well actually twice now, but I think I enjoyed today more than the first time I did them. The first time, I was more concerned if I was doing them right or not. Then I found out that I was way overthinking it. I sometimes do that. Today, I followed the advice of my coach. She told me to “throw some faster bits in for fun” up, down, fast, medium and just have fun with it. So I tried to do just that.

You know what, I think I did have some fun with it.

Was it challenging?

You bet!

Did I have fun with it?

Yup!

AND

my last one was the best!

For 10 seconds I could fly hitting 6:08.

Now I could NEVER maintain that speed,

but that is the beauty of the fartlek.

I’m not supposed to.

I’m supposed to just enjoy my little legs moving as fast as they could.

On top of that, I didn’t feel like I was going to die!

Although I was happy to resume my normal pace to finish the run.

Running a fartlek is kind of like running like Pheobe from friends.

Running like a kid, just to run.

Do you Fartlek?

A Necessary Evil

Jan27

I’ve been good in listening to my coach. I’ve done the required runs with the required paces. I listen to the things that she asks me to do because I know that she knows what she’s talking about. That being said, I may have slacked off a bit on the cross training. Not until recently did she really give details on cross-training. It had been more of telling you to cross-train. So I will say that my cross-training may not have been what was expected, but I was doing my runs.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

I know that’s not really the way it works. There is more to running than the actual running. I know. When I first started running, I was doing Crossfit which I loved. Loved. Loved. Loved. At the time though, I really couldn’t justify paying for both Crossfit and having a coach especially when I already belong to my local YMCA. Besides I was finding that between recovering from an event or tapering for one, Crossfit was no longer a good fit for me. For a while I was good about continuing my cross-training. Then little by little, things just slipped away to the point that I really was not doing much more than running.

Ooops.

I also know that if I want to improve my running, I can’t continue just running. I need to get back into doing other things. Maybe tone up my abs a little. Now I’m not deluding myself into thinking that I will ever get washboard abs or even pre washboard abs. I’m thinking maybe I should have a little less jiggle in the pouch. No amount of running is going to make that happen which really does suck.

As I said before, now my coach through Training Peaks is giving specifics. I will admit that yesterday she said 4 sets and I only did 2, but baby steps. Besides I’m sore today from just 2 sets. I couldn’t imagine how sore I would have been with 4 sets. What really stinks too is that there really is no excuse not to do these things as there really isn’t much equipment involved and what is involved I already have.

Here is a sample of my workout

10 push-ups, 20 Kettle-bell swings, 10 burpees with push-ups, 10 bicep curls, 15 triceps dips.

Back in the hey day of Crossfit, I could have killed this workout. Not so much now. I had to break them up some. I realized how just because I can now run around the block a few times, does not mean anything when it comes to cross-training. I realized that I missed it a little too. So I will continue to add these back in and do more than just the running.

I even went today and did the elliptical and stationary bike today per my schedule.

It is a necessary evil that I really shouldn’t avoid.

Besides I do like it:)

Yeah, I’m crazy like that.

What do you do for Cross-Training?

Do you like Cross-Training days?

It Could Happen?

Jan26

As a mother of teens, I always try to impart to them that things just don’t always happen to other people. I’m not doing this to instill fear in them, but I want them to think. I want them to be safe. To be smart. To think about things before they jump into them even if all their friends are jumping. Teens have a tendency to think that nothing bad will ever happen to them.

Runner’s tend to be like teens in this respect.

Then I saw an article about a young mother who was killed by a car while jogging. Sadly it is not the first time I’ve seen such articles. Sadly it will not be the last time I see such articles either. Sometimes the runner is doing everything right. Sometimes the runner is not. Either way it is a devastating loss. Either way someone has lost someone they love. Either way there is a driver who must now live with the fact that another life was taken even if he was doing everything right. And still every time, I think not again.

I know that there are those who spend their working lives trying to make the roadways safer for us all and I thank them. I also know that there are those who do not think anyone besides a motorized vehicle should be out on the roadways. They, of course, are wrong. The problem is that we as runners have to share the roads with both the considerate and inconsiderate. I also know that even though I think that I maybe doing everything right that I am only human and will make a mistake on occasion. I need to stop thinking like my teens and realize that, yes, it could happen to me too. There are no guarantees.

I say these things not because I am trying to instill fear. I say these things not because I am going to stop running outside and go back to running on the dreaded treadmill. I say these things because just like my children, I need to be safe, smart, and think about things. We need to be as safe when running as we would want those we love. We need to remember that it just doesn’t happen to someone else.

Now I know that we all see those out on the road running whom we know are doing everything wrong. These are the people that I really have to stop myself from rolling down my window to tell them that they should wear reflective gear at night, that they should run towards and not with traffic, that when safe they should run on sidewalks, and that they should not have earbuds in while running. The only thing that stops me is that I’m sure it will not be well received. So I have to do my part by being a good example and sharing my knowledge with those in my circle who may need some guidance.

I needed to get my run in today. I needed it not just for my legs, but also for my head. I have as most on the East Coast been stuck inside the last several days due to the blizzard Jonas. I also really, really, really did not want to take my run inside. I wanted to be out in the snow. I also do not find inside running as relaxing as running outside in the elements no matter what they may be. That being said, I knew that due to the conditions of the streets that I needed to be all the things I try to teach my teens. I needed to be smart. I needed to think and I most importantly I needed to be safe.

Before my run, I texted some friends to see what the condition of their streets and sidewalks were. I adjusted my route according to their responses. I also knew that no matter how much I HATE to run on sidewalks that they would be my best option today.

snow

Still safer than running in a street made smaller by the snow. I stayed off main roads where I might normally run because they were not clear enough. I also took pace off the table. I further adjusted my route when faced with impassible conditions.

Case in point…

snow1

I got my 5 miles in. They were not fast. They may not even have been pretty, but they were as safe as I could make them.

How do you deal with the winter running?

Dreaming the Possible Dream

Jan21

If you recall last year I was chasing that little thing called the 9 plus 1. For those who don’t know what that is (even though I know you all do), it is a way to qualify for the New York City Marathon the following year. I am lucky enough to live close enough to NYC to have made this a viable way for me to get in. It is not “hard” to do, but it is a commitment of both time and effort. Thanks to my running friends, I was able to do it!

Now the thing with doing the 9 plus 1 is that even after you complete it, you still must register for the marathon or all that hard work is for naught. Registration for the 2016 opened today at 12:00. I believe that I completed my registration by 12:15. It’s a strange exciting feeling to know that I will be running the New York City Marathon this year.

It’s funny I never imagined that I would ever run a marathon. Then when I started to think about it and get caught up in the excitement of my fellow Mama runners, I thought well maybe I will one day run the NYCM and check marathon off my bucket list. Yet, now I’ve done 3 marathons to date and New York will be my 4th. That being said, I’m looking forward to being able to say that I’ve done New York. Come on it’s like the expression says, “If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere!”

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I know that NY will be different than the others. I know NY will hold a special place in my heart as my love for running and some amazing friendships have been developed chasing the dream. The good thing about dreams though is that reality is always so much more than you imagined.

I am also so excited that I am now one step closer to NYCM as could be shown by how quickly I registered today.

I once thought that NY would be it for me. That I would hang up my running shoes next to my medal and put the crazy business of running behind me. Then I realized something….. There is no putting this behind me. There is no going back. I’m an addict. It apparently is now in the blood. I will continue to run. I will continue chase other dreams. Dreams that have not even been dreamed yet.

What do you dream of?

Chasing the Dream

Jan19

Although we have had some cold spells recently, winter did not official seem to arrive until this week. We had a dusting of snow and with any luck we are going to be hit by a big snow storm this week. Yes, I said with any luck. I love the snow. I love to run in the snow. It’s nice. It’s peaceful. It’s beautiful! And there is also something that makes you feel a little bad ass about running in the snow.

All that being said, it has been pointed out to me that there is only 8 weeks until the New York City Half. Oh no!! This will more than likely bring fast paced runs which the snow and ice might wreck havoc with. I hope it doesn’t force me inside to the dreadmill!

This is the half that I really would like to hit what will probably be my max PR for a half ever. This is the elusive sub 2 that I am chasing. I will be content with this and can then hang up my speed shoes afterwards. (maybe) As the saying goes, “Don’t put off ’till tomorrow what you could do today.” This is kind of how I feel about this half.

As someone who will be turning another year older this year, I know that my time to pick up speed is short especially when I didn’t start off that fast. Not that I’m getting that old, but I will be getting to the point where I will have to say that I am in my mid to late 40’s. I am a Master Runner:) I once thought that title was assigned to elite runners. I didn’t know it was something that I could age into. It sounds impressive anyway to say that I am a Master Runner, so I’ll take the title even though I only earned it by the number on the calendar. I will continue to push the envelope as long as I am able to which will be a LONG while to come and today. Well maybe not today as I technically am still in recovery from my trail marathon, but soon. Very soon.

I’ve got to say though that I am a little apprehensive about it. I am thinking about what it will take to get me there or I should say how far I’m going to have to push myself to make it happen I think what might be making me nervous is the fact that my coach keeps telling me to make sure to follow her recovery plan for me as she wants me to go into my training recovered and rested. My question is “WHY?”

Maybe I don’t want to think about that today and just enjoy another 5 mile easy jog. The rest will come soon enough or more accurately the hard work will come soon enough.

I do also think of the expression that sums it up

dreams

So I guess my dreams are big enough, because the ones I’ve dreamed up this year scare me a lot!

What do you dream of doing that scares you?

It’s All a Mind Game

Jan13

There was a time before I started on this journey that every day was a rest day. It was easy enough and I had no guilt about it. No running. Ok then! It’s funny how things change.

Now I do appreciate a rest day in my training. I also know the importance of recovery and how hard training and running races is especially when your in your mid 40’s. I have been good and resting after the marathon. I even went for a sports massage to aid in the recovery. I get it and I know that I need it.

But still sometimes I don’t recognize how important rest is to the body now that it is so used to going all the time.

Yesterday, I excitedly open my email (yes, excitedly) as I know we are going to start training for the NYC Half and I’m curious what I’m going to be doing.

My Coach starts off talking about the Trail Marathon as expected and how we will start focusing on the half soon. What wasn’t expected was the part about making sure that I am fully recovered from the trails and making sure to actually rest. As I said yesterday, trails are a different beast than road running. She has found that even though a person may feel fully recovered that the fatigue from a trail race is more subtle and runs deeper. Therefore, I am to rest. Although I can swim or bike EASY, but today I will take yet another a rest day.

Boo Hoo

Then I looked at my schedule more closely and realized that there were more rest days that I am used to having. What? Even then when running they are short, easy JOGs. I capitalized jog because this is how she emphasizes them to me. I know she may be (ok she is) right, but all I really wanted to do was run today.

I also know though what happens when I push myself more than I should. Two years ago I ended up running the local Pizza run literally 3 days after doing a Sprint Triathlon. I did it because I felt fine – no soreness, no fatigue, felt totally normal. That is until I started to run. I felt it almost immediately and I ended up very sore for days after. It was a hard lesson to learn, but one that I am glad that I learned early on.

We as athletes must respect what we do. We must respect the strain we put on our bodies and we must respect our bodies enough to allow it to recover. Yes, my mind is saying go, go, go and I know if asked my legs would go. But running is nothing if not a mind game. So I must use my mind to make the right choices for my body.

Patience

Rest it is.

JOG it will be.

So what do runners do when they aren’t running? Look for races to run.

Ha!

And I’m only partly kidding.

Anyway, I will be good because part of me is kind of afraid of what she has in store for me. Yes, she is only going to give me the plan that will hopefully get me to where I told her that I want to go (the sub 2 half). That being said, I know it won’t be easy. I know there are going to be some (a lot) hard fast speed workouts. I only hope that I am up for the challenge.

Do you like your rest days?

Slowing Down Isn’t Always A Bad Thing

Jan12

Someone once said to me that if I was a running dog that I would be a working dog like a husky. At the time, I took offense to it but now I think I would like to own it proudly. As a matter of fact, I know that I would. I would be happy to have the running power and stamina of a husky.

siberian-husky-running-through-garden

Besides look how magnificent they look while running. But that’s another issue.

What has become apparent to me is that for some strange reason, just like the husky, I’ve developed a desire to run and run far. I actually think that depending where I’m running that I would rather do a long slow run than a quick short one.

Yes, that boggles my mind too!

Now maybe this talk is just because I’m having such a good recovery after my trail marathon. I don’t know. I do know though that it is NOT that the trail was easier than a road marathon. It is just that they really are two very different beasts. Both road marathons that I have ran I reached a point where I questioned my sanity, I couldn’t believe how stupid I was to sign up for it, and I did hit the proverbial wall. None of these things happened out on the trail. NONE. I’m not sure why.

Yes, both races are technically the same distance. Although, I do believe that a trail marathon is actually longer but that will happen. I think there were a few major differences for me and maybe part of it was because I didn’t approach it like a race. I went into this with no time limits, no set paces, nothing. I went into my trail marathon like I was going for a normal run. I didn’t watch my pace at all. There in lies the difference. It’s not that I wasn’t pushing myself but especially (for me) on muddy trails there is only so fast I can go. When I ran my MCM I kept a fairly steady pace the entire race of about 10:30 while my average pace on the trails was about 13:30 with some miles hitting 16.

Now don’t think that just because I was running slower that I wasn’t working. Trails are a different beast than Satan’s Tar as Dawn now refers to roads. One of the reasons my pace is so much slower on the trails besides needing to run them more often is that I approach them with caution. They are muddy. They are filled with slipper rocks. There are places that you really need to pay attention to which doesn’t always happen on the roads. When running the roads especially in a closed course race, you really can just zone out. You can never zone out on the trails unless you want to eat the dirt or worse.

Now, the side effect of running slower does mean that you have more time on your feet. I ran MCM officially in 4:38:18. I ran this event officially 6:30:08. So the slower pace does add up. That being said as far as the actual running goes, I think that I enjoyed the trail running more. My mother asked me what motivated me to run for such a long time. I had no answer on the motivation other than I just liked to run. I’m not winning any races. This event there wasn’t any bling or even a t-shirt. It was just that satisfaction of knowing what I could accomplish and that was enough.

I have decided after this weekend’s event, that I really need to do more trail running. More trail races. Before this event, I was wondering what I was thinking signing up for the Dirty German. Now I’m looking to see how I can squeeze more off road races into my schedule.

oh my.

Have your tried the trails yet?

The Accidentally Running Mama

Run, Bike, Swim and Have a Life!

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