With a renewed spirit I spent a nice chunk of the weekend doing what else? Running! Saturday morning I met up with Elyssa on the southern ramp to the GWB and we started our journey of a long run into NJ. Over the bridge we went and into the network of trails that encompass the Palisades Interstate Park. We've run this route together before but only went so far as to about 4 miles in before heading down to the water's edge and running back towards the bridge. However today was one of those return to summer days, doggy, hot, and full of sunshine, that, while being nice for a day at the beach are no picnic for a run of about 18 miles. Neither of us wanted to emerge from the calm of the trails to the exposed concrete of the Hudson River paths back in Manhattan. And thus we made the executive decision to remain on the long path out to the ranger's station before turning around and coming back. At least on the trails it was a wee bit cooler and we were mostly protected from the nasty sun. These trails are great and soooo accessible from the city! I mean, we ran here, can't be much more accessible than that. :-) The trails themselves have some areas more technical than others and there are points were you do need to walk at the risk of turning an ankle, breaking a limb or taking a very big spill ...note: I did take a small spill but it only resulted in me looking more dirt bag than I already was with no injury to report. But overall the trails are very runnable and very enjoyable. As you can see on the linked maps above, the trails run right along the Hudson heading north. In fact if we had continued to run north we'd eventually end up back in NY state without having to traverse the river. This shall be a future run.
For this one we hit the ranger's station around 9.38 miles and turned around to re-cover a portion of the long path before diverging down the steep descent to the edge of the Hudson, covering ground heading south on a less technical trail and then using the ultra fun only slightly intimidating cliff stairs to ascend back up to the height of the GWB. Our final mile+ was covered hustling back across the bridge into NY, ending with 18.75 miles in total. Sure it took a lot longer than 18.75 miles should be we saved our legs, adding some variety and had a blast doing so.
On to the next day and another episode of bi-polar running , but this year in reverse! This is the second year I've run the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile, it's a great race and a huge draw for a ton of local and world talent. The best part is finishing up your heat and sticking around to catch the local sub-elites and elites run down what is normally a very busy avenue in Manhattan. I remember totally feeling like I wanted to puke prior to this race last year, Missy & I were both scared to death and even after running a few quarters to warm-up couldn't help but think that dying was a real possibility in the course of this single mile race. A bit dramatic, no? But real! :-) Unfortunately I wasn't lucky enough to have Missy's company again this year but I did retain the knowledge that neither of us did in fact perish as a part of last year's race. I didn't quite plan out my warm-up well enough and only had time to run up to the start and get through a few strides prior to my age group lining up. Seems like the group of 30-39 year old women grew a lot since last September, so much so that I was stuck behind way too many people laden with headphones and water bottles --- hmmm, this is merely a mile race, while difficult in nature b/c of speed, I really doubt anyone would have an issue with hydration or boredom during those 1600 some odd meters. Right? Anywho, too many people in front of me resulting in a bit of dodging after the gun fired. I already knew my legs weren't 100% due to yesterday's adventure but they weren't sore nor totally dead so I pushed a bit and enjoyed the rest. You crest a nice little hill at the 1/2 mile mark and from there it's a fun ride down to the finish near the Plaza. I didn't work too hard and I didn't die - yay! 6 minutes and 40 seconds later it was all done and I was happy with the effort and result.
The remainder of my morning and early afternoon were spent catching the other heats and sticking around for the real fun. Great, close finishes in both the pro men and women races provided even more inspiration and a lot of jaw dropping - 3:52 for the men and 4:24 for the women!!! Check out the photos in the various galleries here!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
::rubs eyes::
So yeah the summer is gone and while it was long and still seems to be hanging out on some days with wild, weird temperature & humidity fluctuations, it's a long season that has come to an end. Looking back I can't help but feel I spent the whole time waiting. Patiently at times, fussily at others. Desperate most. Yearning for a sign, some start of kick start, some reminder, some drive, some anything ...that would get me feeling on track or alive or inspired. I've started 6-7 different posts, all on the same topic, none ever completed nor published to the blog b/c even those thoughts were uninspired and soon dried up. And so I stayed in a mode I've been in before and will undoubtedly be in at some point in the future. I continued to "Taurus" my running ...yeah I just made that term up but it's accurate. To "Taurus" one's {insert activity here} is to continue pushing in the most stubborn of manners hoping that eventually the sheer brute force of this action will result in a positive outcome.
It didn't work. I continued to wait. I continue to waffle. And then I broke down before/during the New Haven 20K over Labor Day. I have never wanted to run less. I wasn't tired, I wasn't hurting, I just didn't want to run. Since then I've been running only when I want and keeping it easy. No plan. Straight free balling.
Until today.
Without suspecting a thing, a single action seemed to have slapped me in the face & reignited that fire I'd been so very much missing. The action? NYRR released the wave, corral and bib numbers for the NYC Marathon. I don't know exactly what it was in receiving this information but it instantly framed out the remaining 6 or so weeks until race day for me. I will run this marathon (that I'm already registered for) and I will not just glide along until that time. I will give it whatever I can.
And so the summer of sulking comes to an end, thank god!! I feel I have a renewed purpose in my running and my training and I'm quite literally going to run with it. Doesn't hurt that I recently came upon this favorite Nike campaign on Megan's blog, The Runner's Kitchen
“You pretended the snooze button didn’t exist. You dragged your butt out of bed while others slept. While others ate their pancakes you had a feast of protein, glucose and electrolytes. You double-knotted. You left the porch light on and locked the door behind you.
You ran 5Ks, 10Ks, 26.2 miles. Some days more, some days less. You rewarded a long run with a short run. And a short run with a long run. Rain tried to slow you. Sun tried to microwave you. Snow made you feel like a warrior.
You cramped. You bonked. You paid no mind to comfort. On weekends. On holidays. You made excuses to keep going. Questioned yourself. Played mind games. Put your heart before your knees. Listened to your breathing. Sweat sunscreen into your eyes. Worked on your farmer’s tan.
You hit the wall. You went through it. You decided to be man about it. You decided to be woman about it. Finished what you started. Proved what you were made of. Just kept putting mile after mile on your interval odometer. For 25 years, you ran. And we ran with you. How much farther will we go? As far as you will.”
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Finding your happy place
Often a happy place is in one's mind, perhaps a memory that conjures up positive energy and good times. I have those happy places too but I also have a physical location for my happiness and gratitude and positive energy.
If you didn't know to look for it, you might just pass it up. After surfacing from the subway, head East
Don't let the seemingly "closed for the day" vibe of the surrounding businesses fool you
The door is never locked, the creaky stairs await you.
Warm up to warm up, climb 3 flights of this walk-up ...but don't rest here, it's just the bathroom
The hues indicate something welcoming inside but that's just the surface.
My happy place ...where or what is yours?
If you didn't know to look for it, you might just pass it up. After surfacing from the subway, head East
Don't let the seemingly "closed for the day" vibe of the surrounding businesses fool you
The door is never locked, the creaky stairs await you.
Warm up to warm up, climb 3 flights of this walk-up ...but don't rest here, it's just the bathroom
The hues indicate something welcoming inside but that's just the surface.
My happy place ...where or what is yours?
Sending out a SRS
Summer
Racing
Sucks
Take it easy, don't expect a PR opportunity and chalk it up to another running experience.
Racing
Sucks
Take it easy, don't expect a PR opportunity and chalk it up to another running experience.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Making the most of my Firebolt
Ah yes, once again I've let my time on the blog slip away. Fear not, life continues moving forward although at times it does seem to be a blur of working hours, running hours, weekend trips and guests coming and going. The Reader's Digest version of what's been going is as Wooderson from Dazed and Confused says "L-I-V-I-N"
One day at a time.
I decided to get the wheel rolling on training again, working towards a goal or two in the fall. The exact race(s)/goal(s) are not yet in cement but I'm running & working with Lloyd - yay! And mixing it up a lot: running with various peeps like EG, ES, LK and SS, joining groups at times and hitting the trails. It's all a tremendously good time. With the warm weather and humidity you really need more options and ways to deal with the conditions. These peeps and new routes are a huge aid! And of course, I'm still lucky to get a few miles in here and there with Missy!! Not long now and her baby girl will join the world and start rocking out her new BOB stroller - cannot wait to meet this future Boston Qualifier with over 1000 miles under her belt come her birth day.
Finally got my carcass back to the yoga studio too and don't plan to stray in the near future. My body reminded me that yoga is part of the deal. No building miles and miles without adequate time at Kula. Summer time at the studio is especially fun and challenging and very slippery as temps in the rooms there can get to quite the stifling point. All in all it makes for a great 90 mins per session even if I do look like I'm coming out of a pool. I can practically hear my body sigh in relief after some time spent there or maybe that's just my pores gurgling with sweat - either way, it is so worth it.
And seeing as it's now over halfway through 2010, the folks at KR and I started checking in on our goals for the year to see where we all stood. As posted at the end of 2009:
Outside of running and yoga we've had a number of visitors in the last several weeks and have traveled to a big family reunion for my dad's side of the family. Good times continue into the summer - coming up next, yummy eats during restaurant week and catching Thierry Henry's debut with the NY Red Bulls vs. Tottenham.
Stay cool peeps!
Oh and yes my firebolt aka the mini stub of a ponytail shooting straight out of the back of my head - she's a keeper!
One day at a time.
I decided to get the wheel rolling on training again, working towards a goal or two in the fall. The exact race(s)/goal(s) are not yet in cement but I'm running & working with Lloyd - yay! And mixing it up a lot: running with various peeps like EG, ES, LK and SS, joining groups at times and hitting the trails. It's all a tremendously good time. With the warm weather and humidity you really need more options and ways to deal with the conditions. These peeps and new routes are a huge aid! And of course, I'm still lucky to get a few miles in here and there with Missy!! Not long now and her baby girl will join the world and start rocking out her new BOB stroller - cannot wait to meet this future Boston Qualifier with over 1000 miles under her belt come her birth day.
Finally got my carcass back to the yoga studio too and don't plan to stray in the near future. My body reminded me that yoga is part of the deal. No building miles and miles without adequate time at Kula. Summer time at the studio is especially fun and challenging and very slippery as temps in the rooms there can get to quite the stifling point. All in all it makes for a great 90 mins per session even if I do look like I'm coming out of a pool. I can practically hear my body sigh in relief after some time spent there or maybe that's just my pores gurgling with sweat - either way, it is so worth it.
And seeing as it's now over halfway through 2010, the folks at KR and I started checking in on our goals for the year to see where we all stood. As posted at the end of 2009:
- #1 goal is to run a strong marathon
- Run at least 2000 miles
- Stay healthy
- Expand my yoga practice
- Run a HM PR
Outside of running and yoga we've had a number of visitors in the last several weeks and have traveled to a big family reunion for my dad's side of the family. Good times continue into the summer - coming up next, yummy eats during restaurant week and catching Thierry Henry's debut with the NY Red Bulls vs. Tottenham.
Stay cool peeps!
Oh and yes my firebolt aka the mini stub of a ponytail shooting straight out of the back of my head - she's a keeper!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
R,R and R
Recap
VCM ended at mile 15 for me when I stepped off the course. I'm still not exactly sure what happened but I believe it began a week or so prior to the race when I experienced some crampy legs. I treated them by stretching more, wearing my compression sleeves and drinking a bit of A-to-B Calm. Ultimately I believe I had an electrolyte or other imbalance that resulted in some roasty, toasty legs well before I would have/should have felt them. I also had some GI distress that caused 3 stops during those 15 miles where I'm unsure if it was related to the imbalance in my other systems or merely another fun facet of this particular day. Ultimately, it's not how I envisioned my training ending nor representative of where I know my level of running currently resides. But it's a part of my history and more in a continuing education in running. Josh Cox raced the Comrades Marathon that same weekend and ended up with a less than ideal result (for him), he posted this shortly after finishing...
"Thanks for the well wishes. It's tough when 6 months of work doesn't pan out but I'm blessed that my "bad" day involves running a race."
I could not agree more. Sure I could have suffered through 11 more miles of the race in Burlington that day but I had nothing to prove. It was simply not my day. After all is said and done, the time since I started this cycle has been HUGE for me and netted me so many happy days of miles and smiles.
One of the most key aspects to training for me this time around is closing the book on one cycle and feeling recovered enough to start another. It might not be so black and white for others but I've basically been in the same cycle of training since late last spring, early last summer when anticipating a marathon in St. George and then CIM. Of course neither happened but I was running with the purpose of those races the entire time. I simply continued to roll over my training and ultimately build a big base for what would be IL and then VCM. Recovery is also different this time around, since I didn't end up racing either of the two May marathons to anywhere near my max and so I'm not very beat up physically. But mentally, I was/am bushed! Enter a perfectly timed trip to Mexico.
Relaxation
Now I knew Jason and I needed a vacation, we both knew it. Hell, we knew it on January 1. We'd both worked extremely hard in our jobs throughout 2009 without any break in 2010. Major product releases, large partnership opportunities & contracts, very long hours, it all took it's toll. Add to that training for a couple races that took up the better part of a year and without a break, complete & total meltdown was imminent. Thank god our friends Mario & Melissa decided to do a destination wedding in Riviera Maya and we booked and confirmed early on. Traveling south of the border provided the perfect opportunity to quite literally unplug from everything. No phones, no emails, no Facebook, no Twitter, no blogs, no meetings, no nothing but the simple necessities of life. Food, drink, friends, water and good ole vitamin D! It was heaven. I got out for a couple very short and sweaty runs but not because I felt I needed to but because I wanted to. The relaxation continues this week although with a more reality based twist. Back at home in NYC and working and what not although I'm not yet following any training plan nor have any solid plans for what's next. This will undoubtedly change soon but for now I'm enjoying the unstructured nature to my workouts. And with the Caribbean's influence I may even get my butt back to the pool :-)
VCM ended at mile 15 for me when I stepped off the course. I'm still not exactly sure what happened but I believe it began a week or so prior to the race when I experienced some crampy legs. I treated them by stretching more, wearing my compression sleeves and drinking a bit of A-to-B Calm. Ultimately I believe I had an electrolyte or other imbalance that resulted in some roasty, toasty legs well before I would have/should have felt them. I also had some GI distress that caused 3 stops during those 15 miles where I'm unsure if it was related to the imbalance in my other systems or merely another fun facet of this particular day. Ultimately, it's not how I envisioned my training ending nor representative of where I know my level of running currently resides. But it's a part of my history and more in a continuing education in running. Josh Cox raced the Comrades Marathon that same weekend and ended up with a less than ideal result (for him), he posted this shortly after finishing...
"Thanks for the well wishes. It's tough when 6 months of work doesn't pan out but I'm blessed that my "bad" day involves running a race."
I could not agree more. Sure I could have suffered through 11 more miles of the race in Burlington that day but I had nothing to prove. It was simply not my day. After all is said and done, the time since I started this cycle has been HUGE for me and netted me so many happy days of miles and smiles.
- I started working with Lloyd as a coach and developed even more of a respect for a super talented runner and great coach! He brought me back to where running every day is fun and kept me at a level I know I can maintain in the future without getting injured or burnt out.
- I hit my highest weekly and monthly mileage and look forward to hitting them again and maybe even bettering them, next cycle. I love me lots and lots of miles.
- On the sweetest of March mornings I caught a glimpse of just how far my training has come when I ran a relaxed and strong 1:40 HM. And I know it's only the tip of the iceberg.
- Since late last summer I've been blessed with not one, not two but three superb regular running partners. Missy, baby squash and Bella. They come as a package and they make every outing fun and fleet.
One of the most key aspects to training for me this time around is closing the book on one cycle and feeling recovered enough to start another. It might not be so black and white for others but I've basically been in the same cycle of training since late last spring, early last summer when anticipating a marathon in St. George and then CIM. Of course neither happened but I was running with the purpose of those races the entire time. I simply continued to roll over my training and ultimately build a big base for what would be IL and then VCM. Recovery is also different this time around, since I didn't end up racing either of the two May marathons to anywhere near my max and so I'm not very beat up physically. But mentally, I was/am bushed! Enter a perfectly timed trip to Mexico.
Relaxation
Now I knew Jason and I needed a vacation, we both knew it. Hell, we knew it on January 1. We'd both worked extremely hard in our jobs throughout 2009 without any break in 2010. Major product releases, large partnership opportunities & contracts, very long hours, it all took it's toll. Add to that training for a couple races that took up the better part of a year and without a break, complete & total meltdown was imminent. Thank god our friends Mario & Melissa decided to do a destination wedding in Riviera Maya and we booked and confirmed early on. Traveling south of the border provided the perfect opportunity to quite literally unplug from everything. No phones, no emails, no Facebook, no Twitter, no blogs, no meetings, no nothing but the simple necessities of life. Food, drink, friends, water and good ole vitamin D! It was heaven. I got out for a couple very short and sweaty runs but not because I felt I needed to but because I wanted to. The relaxation continues this week although with a more reality based twist. Back at home in NYC and working and what not although I'm not yet following any training plan nor have any solid plans for what's next. This will undoubtedly change soon but for now I'm enjoying the unstructured nature to my workouts. And with the Caribbean's influence I may even get my butt back to the pool :-)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Mental branding
Just 3 sleeps till VCM and while the weather isn't looking great, I'm focusing only on what I can control. The weather will rarely be ideal and frankly, I'm tired of making excuses b/c of it. To use a way-overplayed phrase, it is what it is. Weather aside, I want this race to be about not making excuses. No "but this... " or "but that... " as an explanation as to why I didn't stick with my plan. Sure, things may happen that I don't want around me but as long as I recover and get back to my plan, I'll consider that a successful race.
I want to remain in control, I want to be the boss of both my body and my monkey mind.
Part of my prep for a race involves music, it comes to my aid both on a daily basis and pre-race. I'm a big music fan, of most varieties and while I don't listen to it while running races and only at times during training, I can recall music and lyrics most anytime I want. I can also usually remember the context in which I heard a song and this can be very motivating. Case in point, Intro by The XX. Hearing it in the context of this video has already come to my mind while executing a workout. It gives me chills both when in the accompaniment of the video and all on it's own. It stirs something deep inside me. Lyrics are like mantras. So when I'm feeling the need to mellow out I find something on the iPod that suits me or when I'm ready to pump it up, I've always got a go-to tune or two to get me rev'ed up. When I'm with other members of Team Pfeiffer pre-race we're all about listening to Girl Talk but lately it's a song by Fabolous and my interpretation of some of his lyrics.
Go hard, today
The past is the past, you know
Can't worry the past cause that ye-sterday
It's a new day bro
Ima put it on the line cause it's my time
My day, gotta do it now
Hey hey hey heey
I gotta stay on my grind cause it's my time (hey)
My time (hey), my time (hey)
Team Pfeiffer jammin' out prior to last year's San Francisco HM
I want to remain in control, I want to be the boss of both my body and my monkey mind.
Part of my prep for a race involves music, it comes to my aid both on a daily basis and pre-race. I'm a big music fan, of most varieties and while I don't listen to it while running races and only at times during training, I can recall music and lyrics most anytime I want. I can also usually remember the context in which I heard a song and this can be very motivating. Case in point, Intro by The XX. Hearing it in the context of this video has already come to my mind while executing a workout. It gives me chills both when in the accompaniment of the video and all on it's own. It stirs something deep inside me. Lyrics are like mantras. So when I'm feeling the need to mellow out I find something on the iPod that suits me or when I'm ready to pump it up, I've always got a go-to tune or two to get me rev'ed up. When I'm with other members of Team Pfeiffer pre-race we're all about listening to Girl Talk but lately it's a song by Fabolous and my interpretation of some of his lyrics.
Go hard, today
The past is the past, you know
Can't worry the past cause that ye-sterday
It's a new day bro
Ima put it on the line cause it's my time
My day, gotta do it now
Hey hey hey heey
I gotta stay on my grind cause it's my time (hey)
My time (hey), my time (hey)
Team Pfeiffer jammin' out prior to last year's San Francisco HM
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