cold running

Today (well, yesterday since it's 12:30 a.m.) I was going to run ~3.5 miles to and from the gym instead of calling in to change my membership. In spite of feeling like my ungloved hands were going to fall off during my walk from the T to my apartment this morning and hearing the wind knock everything around my apartment in a tornado-sounding tizzy, I did not put on enough clothing to handle the temperature (~-5 degrees with wind chill).

I saw a very apt comment on a fellow CRCer's Facebook post about the weather: something like "there's no such thing as bad weather, but there is such a thing as not wearing the proper clothing." Apparently I thought it was still global-warming time, or had dismissed the New England winter before feeling its true wrath.

What I Wore: Pearl Izumi tights more suited for 40 degree weather, shorts, Lululemon tank top, light Reebok longsleeved shirt, windbreaker, light gloves, headband, regular socks, sneakers.

What I Should Have Worn: Underarmour longsleeved Cold Gear shirt, thicker longsleeved shirt, regular sports bra, windbreaker, heavy gloves with handwarmers, windpants over the tights, SmartWool socks, sneakers, headband.

My run consisted of: 0.6 miles to retrieve Hoobaru, 0.3 miles to the T, and however long it took from Beacon Hill to Healthworks. After being pummeled by the wind for those short runs, I decided to take the T from Back Bay to Central and then ran the 0.3 miles back clutching a newly printed gym contract.

Tomorrow's another day...and I am definitely checking the weather before I go out!

running goals for 2010

My running New Year's resolutions have come a bit early this year. Gym and food-related ones to come (e.g., "stop eating half a can of Pringles and a candy bar and calling it lunch"). I'll be using sparkly stickers as motivation too. Every time I run or do cardio, I get a smiley face on my calendar and every time I lift, I get a star on my calendar. It's like first grade!

Super Sunday 10K 52:00
New Bedford Half Marathon 1:55:00
Bedford Rotary 12K 1:00:00
Cohasset 10K 51:45
Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon 1:54:00
Newton 10K 51:30
New Charles River Run 1:05
Applefest Half Marathon 1:45:30
BAA Half Marathon 1:45:00

Better late than never: Chicago Marathon 2009 Race Report

This is my long over-due race report for the Chicago Marathon. It's been sitting in parts on my laptop, but I am finally shamed and motivated to do some writing now.

Dave was the first to rise at an early 4 am. I'm not too sure what time it was because I was honestly still asleep. We had had a wonderful dinner sponsored by Whole Foods the night before and I was dreaming of running when I woke to the smell of eggs and beet juice.

We got ready in a hurry and I wore tights for the first time in my life for a race. The weather outside was below freezing and with the wind I'm sure it was colder. We rode the train into the city in the dark enjoying the building excitement despite the early hour. Sam was much appreciated for guiding us through the train and getting us to where we needed to be at Millennium Park.

The sun was rising and the trains were clattering on the elevated track when we arrived about half an hour before the start at 7:30. For a few moments, I felt like I was truly in quintessential Chicago; an gritty, architecturally-beautiful city of Midwestern America. And the people rushing around buzzed with the excitement and anticipation of something big was about to happen. That day, hundreds of thousands would turn out despite the cold to cheer on the 33,701 finishing runners.

Sam, David and I got split up at the startline due to the mass of humanity there. After the national anthem, it took me about 18 minutes before I finally crossed the start line and begin my 26.2 journey.

The first six miles were difficult to run because of the narrow streets and the large masses of people. I had to cut to the sidewalk a few times to keep myself moving.

Crowd support was great the entire way though and I appreciated all the music and support the entire 26.2 miles. The Marine Corps Marathon in DC has pretty good crowd support, while Cleveland was miserable, the only two other venues I've run in before. This was great the entire way. I particularly loved the music, the impromptu marachi bands in Little Mexico towards the end.

I did well with a good tempo the entire way, keeping a good pace until mile 20 when I stopped for my obligatory Advil. I was feeling the beginnings of a cramp and stopped to get 500 mg of Advil, but it took 8 minutes of waiting in line before I got my pills and was on the road. Also, I slowed down around 23 and had to walk a bit; I had the hit wall. My training the previous weeks had only peaked at 17 miles and I was feeling it.

I used an iPod for the first time and grooved to the tunes of Everclear, O.A.R and Aaron Copland. It definitely gave me some needed momentum and I picked it up in the last half of the marathon.

At the end, I was less than a mile from the finish when I pulled my hamstring. I had to hobble to the end. My time at the end was a 4:43, beating my conservative goal of 4:45. What a shame. I was hoping to really do well with a 4:20 this time around, but I knew my one month of serious training wasn't going to work out.

I've learned my limits and I think finally after five marathons, this was the first marathon where I had each mile mapped out in my mind and knew what to expect from my body. We'll see how this “body sense” works in my next marathon. While disappointed, I enjoyed my time and company with my friends. I am considering hiring a trainer this time. I'm simply not improving my time. Thoughts from my fellow bloggers and readers?

2010 updated race schedule

January 1: Hangover Classic, Salisbury, MA
February ??: Super Sunday 10K
March 21: New Bedford Half Marathon
April 3: April Fools 4 Miler, Salisbury, MA
April 11: Great Bay Half Marathon, Newmarket, NH
May 2: Margaritas Cinco de Mayo 5K, Exeter, NH
May ??: Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon
June 6: Will Run For Beer 5K, Newmarket, NH or Covered Bridges Half Marathon, Vermont
September ??: Around the Cape 25K
September ??: Applefest Half Marathon
October 10: BAA Half Marathon (goal: 1:45:00)

update and tentative racing schedule '09-10

After a lackluster training season and tough past two months, I decided not to run the Steamtown Marathon and to recalibrate my goals for running. I haven't had fun running for a while (at least since late June). When other parts of life took priority over running and I stopped making progress in races, my attitude toward running shifted to a pessimistic, unhealthy one. I had a great time running for fun in San Francisco and in PR'ing at the Around the Cape 25K, but felt pretty bad at the Applefest Half Marathon (ten minutes slower than my PR of 1:55:42 at the Heartbreak Hill Half in May, which was much tougher with regard to course and weather).

I've decided to slowly build back up. Cross-country season is taking up most of my running time and energy, so I'll gradually add in track workouts and long runs again. I am not sure if I will run another marathon, especially since the fall is usually quite hectic until November. The Marine Corps Marathon might be an exception to that; I love that race.

I hope to race the Rock 'n Roll Seattle Half Marathon at the end of the school year, and am also pondering the following:

November 25, 2009: Arlington Turkey Trot
February 2010: Super Sunday 10K
March 21, 2010: New Bedford Half Marathon
May 2010: Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon
June 2010: Mt. Washington Road Race (as a volunteer only!)
June 26, 2010: Rock 'n Roll Seattle Half Marathon
September 2010: Around the Cape 25K
September 2010: Applefest Half Marathon
October 2010: BAA Half Marathon

Shorter Races for the Future?
James Joyce Ramble
Newton 10K
Falmouth Road Race
Cohasset 10K
Apple Harvest Ramble
Army Ten Miler
Cherry Blossom Ten Miler
Battle of Bunker Hill Road Race
Marathon Sports 5 Miler
Jim Kane Sugar Bowl 5 Miler
Run to Remember 5 Miler

Marathons for the Future?
Cape Cod Marathon
Philly Marathon
Baltimore Marathon

James' Final Chicago Marathon Training Run

Yeah, no tapering off...

Climate Change

This morning was almost cold, not muggy. Someone recently suggested to me that the local climate had changed (for the better, in my opinion). Summers in northern Virginia are usually deafeningly humid and HOT.

1.5 miles, 30 minutes

Proud to be indie: First jog of the summer

I drifted to sleep recently as Oliver Sacks told Jon Stewart that rhythm is one of the last thing that goes as one mentally deteriorates (5:17). This thought returned to me during my jog tonight. Near-daily jogs were my routine in spring 2008. They marked progress in life, and created a rhythm syncopated with measures of my caloric intake. I was feeling stressed and alone in an unfamiliar city; the personal challenge of running and diet gave me a sense of accomplishment, spirit and dignity.

The main reason I jogged today was to clear my head, because I've been feeling sluggish lately. I'm worried about my health - having gained weight and visited the snack and coffee bar too often. In my first run since April (?), running reminded me of rhythm, and basic survival.

1 hour, 3 miles.

race plans: summer and fall 2009

6/28 - New Charles River Run?
9/6 - Around Cape Ann 25K?
9/26 - Applefest Half Marathon
10/11 - Steamtown Marathon
11/8 - Seacoast Half Marathon?

race report: newton 10k

Distance: 6.2 miles
Time: 52:35 (note: not chip-timed)
Pace: 8:28/mile
Overall: 116/320
Gender: 32/169
Age Group: 15/64
Temperature: 70-75 degrees

Today I PR'ed by 15 seconds (would have been a few more if it had been chip-timed. I didn't think I could beat my previous PR of 52:50 (which came in February on a flat course)--training with the Heartbreak Hotties must be paying off! I am now tempted to do all my hill training in Newton as well. The hills out there are pretty vicious, and it'd make me improve a lot faster than my typical Cambridge runs.

Seven miles...

...tonight, and I feel AWESOME!

Yay for good runs!

race report: heartbreak hill half marathon

Distance: 13.1 miles
Time: 1:55:42 (edited from 1:55:44--they shifted the preliminary results).
Pace: 8:50/mile
Temperature: 76 degrees by the end

This is going to be a really short race report: I PRed by about six minutes today on a brutal course in hot weather, and am so happy to have seen fellow CRCers cheering on the sidelines.

This was the first running of the Heartbreak Hill half, so there were a few annoying things:
1) no timing chips
2) course open to cars
3) runners had to wait to cross streets

Now to take ten more minutes off my time by October...

Race Report- Cleveland RiteAid [Half] Marathon

Um, I thought long and hard about this, and don't have much to say. Basically, I didn't do as poorly as I feared (i.e., DNF, or a slower time than last year), nor as well as I had hoped (beating two hours). The more I think about it, though, the happier I am with 2:09 after months of antibiotics and health drama. It was a faster pace by more than :20 per mile over last year (PR!), I felt solid and strong the whole time (sloshy belly near mile 11 notwithstanding), and my recovery has been quick and easy (while last year I was achy and exhausted for days). It felt more like a long run with a good friend, which is exactly what I think I needed (for body confidence and/or sanity).

Hi from mile 6-ish!

Cleveland Half Marathon 2009: James' Report

Photo courtesy: Thomas Ondrey/The Plain Dealer

This year, the race began at 7:00 am, which was earlier than previous years. This difference in time is enough to make the most stalwart bleary-eyed.

I stayed in Tremont with my old high school friend Umakant this year. Wendy and her boyfriend were kind enough to stop by and pick me up on their way into the city for the race. We parked a few blocks away near Jacob's (now Progressive) Field. The walk and wait at the race line was very chilly and I was glad I had thought to don a garbage bag that morning. The temperature reading outside of the Huntington Bank building read 51 degrees Fahrenheit though the wind off of Lake Erie made it feel much colder.

The race started on time and for some bizarre reason the entire race column walked to the start line before starting to run. I have never seen that before and was confused as to why everyone wanted to walk if they were going to be running 6, 13.1 or 26.2 miles that day?

Wendy and I kept each other company and took our running tour of downtown and the West side together. It was a very quiet race with no especially loud runners or loud spectators; classic Cleveland it felt like. Very charming and quiet and professional it seemed. The elevation was not ever too drastic it felt like except for the last few miles where there was a noticeable drop as we returned to the downtown area and enjoyed the extra downhill speed.

I broke off from Wendy at the end and I felt strong. At the Half and Full split, I felt strong. The pasta and two-week training period had made this run into something of a planned long run and I felt like I could do at least a few more. The crowd was excited and I felt pumped, but I ended up veering right and finishing the race strong, passing the majority of people rocking out at about a 7:45 pace the last mile.

My race results are below:

8376 James Tsai Baltimore MD 29 02:07:40 02:11:55 9:44.2 1:00:50

My two week training program: (Disclaimer: I don't recommend this to everyone, but as I promised in a previous post, I wanted to document my short period of training to get ready for the half)

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
3 miles to start to get back into shape at Race pace (10 min/mi)	5 miles with running club at slightly faster Race Pace (9.5 min/mi)		Ultimate Frisbee game (heavy cardio exercise ~90 minutes)		5 miles at slightly faster Race Pace (9.5 min/mi)
10 miles at Race pace (10 min/mi)	5 miles with running club at slightly faster Race Pace (9 min/mi)			3 miles to keep limber (time intervals between 8 and 10)
RACE DAY

My carb-loading: I had a pasta dinner the Wednesday night before; just linguine and some chicken. Friday I had spaghetti and meatballs and then the night before I had a big bowl of Pho. I will do a future article on carb-loading.

Cleveland Half Marathon Race Report ... coming soon!

Just wanted to write a quick blurb about this race before going to bed. Wendy and I ran it this morning and it went very well; definitely had a great time and got to see this race mature so much from last year. They took a lot of feedback from last year and made it even better. Our running times were great too and I felt really good at the end; I fantasized for a brief second of running the full marathon but smartly took the right fork at the split in the course ... full report tomorrow. JTT

Follow me -- I'm one of you again!

The bear has come out of hiding.  After about 6 months, I finally went out to jog again.   My pot belly is a little rounder, and it took me more than double time to finish the normal route.  But as glory rained down on me, I reached a state of self-exultance that can only happen when you're mid-route and wet with big splashy drops of God's tears. 

Anyway, lately my relationship with running has been transferred to the one I have with my daily commute.  It's more interesting to absorb oneself in mass transit when it takes about 3 hours of your day. The following themes arise: complacency, conformity / following the crowd, feeling out of control yet priviledged to ride the white collar commuter hours, and general locomotion.  

Hopefully today was a sign that Runarchist is back. 

Congrats to KQB for finishing the multi-mile run in Boston.  

Epiphany

I think the arduousness of my runs the past few weeks is due to illness and coming on and off antibiotics. The runs always feel hard right before symptoms hit. Argh. But I am on new and very powerful antibiotics (since it's a big week, I would rather, just this once, take only-slightly-necessary drugs and get better than try to fight off infection on my own while tapering) through Sunday. Cross your fingers, knock on wood, do whatever. I need to get and stay healthy!

That said, napping is in order.

New Coursemap for Cleveland

After many years of complaints, I am happy to see that they have reversed the course for Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon. Previously, the full marathon had miles 22-25 or so along windy Lake Erie; now it is 13-16. But alas, this year I am doing the Half Marathon. Let's drink it up after the race on Sunday. See you in Cleveland! Race reports to be available quickly afterwards this year as well as funny pictures of the 40th Hessler Street Fair.

Registration for half-marathon achieved, and running well this week. I did, in fact, nail the twelve-miler on Sunday! I'm working on incorporating ChiRunning posture principles, and I think it helped me keep up my stamina and recover (also, free massages from a willing Writer help). Every other run (seven miles last Friday, five yesterday, four intense miles on the Tmill tonight) has felt arduous. I've gotten through them, at pace, but it's been an effort. Do I need more sleep? More water? I'm working on it...


Birthday gifts were all fitness-inspired! Future in-laws bought me some delicious Sugoi R+R Knee High compression socks (which I have worn after every run since, and my calves feel better, though it could also be improved posture and stride efficiency, a la ChiRunning). If I continue to be happy with them, I will consider a second pair (probably either these or these). A birthday check from my father will soon go (in part) to a membership at the local pool, so I can swim laps in the early morning. Also, the Writer gave me a water-proof case for my iPod and water-proof headphones so I can rock out while I swim (more importantly, so the last song I hear before I jump in the pool isn't stuck in my head for the duration of my swim).

More reviews when I have a better sense of how I like the CW-X tights (so far, I do)!

Sooo....

Work is apparently comp-ing my entry to the Cleveland half-marathon; I will also be working at the Expo! I am psyched to be amongst the runners in a different venue, whether it's just the change of scenery or the chance to rub elbows with other vendors. Also, James, we must decide with which group to pace (I think we can do it in 2:00 or under!).

I ran seven miles today, and it felt slow and exhausting (may have been faster than I thought, though, hence feeling difficult). But I did it. Here's to hoping I am as well as I think I am (been off the antibiotics since Monday, rested/went to Red Sox games through Wednesday, hydrated intensely throughout). Twelve-miler planned for Sunday (though every damn time I blog about it ahead of time, I somehow manage to screw it up!).

Made it into The Universal Hub (as did fellow CRCer Chad)

Isn't Capt. America dead?

She didn't do any pirouettes, but I did see one guy do a cartwheel:

I look like I'm running from an axe murderer, but hey, the tutu is still resplendently fluffy.

next year, i want to beat him...

Though given his low #, I'll settle for just being as color-coordinated!

race report: boston marathon

Results

(click to enlarge)

Pre-Race

6:00 a.m. Wake up, make coffee, make toast (one slice w/ butter & jelly, one slice with peanut butter). Run around frantically.

6:30 a.m. Drop luggage in Hoobaru for my parents (who are flying in just to see me run, then flying out with me in the evening) to pick up and put my keys back in my apartment.

6:45 a.m. Arrive at Ting's to carpool down to Framingham Service Plaza with Jenn B. and Maria.

7:11 a.m. Arrive at Framingham Service Plaza. Chat with other runners and spectators. Order a small coffee and hash browns from McDonald's to surprised looks from other runners. Get comment "maybe I should order a Big Mac." Consume said food. Observe Chad's Captain America costume in amazement and envy his Gu/camera-holding shield. Start plotting to qualify for Boston by age 30 and celebrate by running it as Catwoman. Take group pictures outside.

7:45 a.m. Leave for Hopkinton State Park. Take school bus to Athlete's Village. On bus, open tupperware with remaining toast and start eating it. Get comment "you have the most interesting pre-race food." Fidget nervously. Walk to Athlete's Village with Maria.

8:30 a.m. Pee at first bank of port-a-potties we see. Fellow line patron notices Army Ten Miler shirt and asks if I'm from D.C. Realize that line patron lives about 2 miles from my parents. Wish him a good race and pee. Obtain water, gatorade, and free shoelaces. Wander among 26,000 fidgety runners. Stretch and wish I brought Cosmo and Glamour for brainless mind-candy reading.

9:45 a.m. Get in line for port-a-potties again. Realize that chugging a water bottle full of Gatorade is a bad idea. Get flashbacks to Foxfields of years past and wonder why sober marathoners can't pee faster than sunburned college girls in sundresses. Wish there was a trough for all the men to pee in. Make friends with fellow line patrons.

10:15 a.m. Finally head out to the start line. Shed sweatpants and require help from volunteer to take them off my legs. Keep wandering down the hill toward the start. Freak out at possibility of ChampionChip malfunction.

10:26 a.m. Meet the real joggler. Tweet about meeting the real joggler.

10:30 a.m. Make final adjustments to tutu by safety pinning Gu to various points around its circumference. Take off Army Ten Miler shirt and bid it adieu.

10:36 a.m. And we're off! Cross the start line.

The Race, during which time switches to mile markers

Mile 1-4: Am stressed-out pony. Too stressed to notice scenery, but not stressed enough to notice that time is few seconds off goal pace for 4:30:00. A port-a-potty friend recognizes me and passes me like a gazelle. Splits: 10:23, 10:20, 10:34, 10:22

Mile 4ish: Pee behind tree at Ashland water stop, copying many other women. Feel less stressed.

Miles 5-9: Parents and babies shriek things like "look,a princess!" "a tutu lady!" and "blaerlkajgagh!!!" (tiny toddler whom I high-five). Splits: 11:04, 10:02. 10:17, 10:25, 10:18

Miles 10-13: Go from feeling good (mentally and physically) to feeling not-so-good. Splits: 10:14, 10:27, 10:22, 10:59

Mile 13.1 Wish JTT were here to sing Livin' on a Prayer. Sing it in my head. Split: 2:16. Now must run 2:14 for the next half to get goal. Can I do it?

Miles 14-15: Run through Wellesley and contemplate taking up offers of free kisses. Feel a bit like Justin Timberlake or Hannah Montana from all the screaming. Start making countdown until I can see parents at Woodland T/Newton Fire Station. Splits: 10:39, 10:11

Mile 16: Wait in frustration at port-a-potty because there is no tree to pee behind. Wail at wasting four minutes in the line. Split: 14:00

Mile 17: See my parents and wave happily at them. Spirits perk up at sight of "Run Kristina Run" sign and jubilant parents. Hug them and scoot on. Split: 10:55

Miles 18-19: Comm Ave to the John Kelly statue pass in a blur. Declare love for medic who hands me two giant Tylenol. Splits: 10:40, 10:39

Mile 20: See friends Alett and Krista handing out beer. Have a cup of beer. Get picture taken. Have jelly beans. Realize that Heartbreak Hill is coming. Oops. Split: 10:56

(this is me passing Alett)

Mile 21: Oh dear God, it hurts so badly. People are walking everywhere. Tell self to hold in the urge to curse the hill until after passing Brookline-ian babies and parents who cheer for Tutu Girl. Finally realize that Heartbreak Hill is over once giant chalk-drawn split heart appears. Split: 11:29

Mile 22: Ah, Cleveland Circle feels so lovely. The urge to stop and buy food is getting strong. Headwinds are now unbearable. Don't see parents, but see crowded T cars go by. Boston College kids create Wellesley-esque high-fiving line and scream "TU-TU! TU-TU!" Feel like bishop or football team. See Manny jump out of a more-sober BC crowd. Yay HGSE! Split: 10:29

Mile 23: See CRC folks at 1753 Beacon. Leap with joy at more familiar faces who cheer me by my name and not Tutu. Get picture taken and some inspiration to scoot. Now hopeful about the next three miles. Split: 10:44

Mile 24: Pass through Coolidge Corner. See Rebecca and her kids on the sidelines. Yay for more fellow HGSE alums! Split: 10:06

Mile 25: Start heading into Kenmore territory. Citgo sign taunts me, inspiring delirious daydreams of Fenway franks on a hot summer day. Encouraging comments from passerby counteract the demoralizing effects of the wind. See Lizzy and high-five her. Yay JQUS! Split: 11:06

Mile 26: Mom sees me from Newbury Street while Dad searches for bathroom (which I find out later). Driven by delirium, drag self up the dip under Mass Ave to Hereford Street. See Rachel and get pumped once again for the turn from Hereford to Boylston, which is almost as beautiful as the last surge uphill at Marine Corps (yes, I probably committed blasphemy with that statement). The blue finish line banner looms through a blur of faces, screams, and cowbells as I push through the final headwinds to the very end.

3:22 p.m. Cross the finish line in 4:41:07! PR by three minutes!


What I'd Do Differently, Stream of Consciousness Version

Not pee. Just kidding (peeing during the race probably indicates that I was hydrated enough). Actually *do* a 20-miler prior to the marathon. Schedule my part-time job so that I could have participated in CRC long runs. Put my name on my singlet. Wear different shorts under my tutu (the RaceReady shorts were a tiny bit too big due to a slight weight loss). Bring a trash bag and magazines to Hopkinton. Get up 15 minutes earlier. Not fly out the same day. Not worry about my parents having a fun time--they did. Get a new pair of shoes. Wear arm warmers and perhaps short tights. Carry more Advil with me. Sleep more. Taper properly. Lift and cross-train.

Overall

With all the pre-race hype, Boston felt like the Super Bowl. I'd begun to imagine it as a fun jaunt through the Massachusetts countryside and thus felt confused when it hurt--note to self: 26.2 miles is *always* going to hurt! And hurt it did. Heartbreak Hill (the entire series of 3) chewed me up and spat me out, but thankfully I didn't hit the wall after it. It didn't hurt as badly as my first marathon, likely because of better training and better common sense (see also: dressing in winter running clothes for a 70 degree day for MCM '05).

The crowd support was amazing in ways I did not expect. Wellesley and BC were the biggest crowd energizers, and the individual familiar faces kept me going. The CRC support (long runs, pasta party, carpooling, advice, etc) helped so much--I don't know how I did a marathon without any of that. I'm now inspired to qualify by the time I turn 30...an hour-reduction by Nov. 4, 2010? Hell yeah!

CW-X

Having become the store favorite of the CW-X rep, I goaded him into giving me a sports bra recently, in which I promptly ran and loved (skeptic though I had been, the four-way tape did its job, no squishing or rubbing). Emboldened by the company's (and the rep's) kindness, I sold five apparel items (which is easy to do when one knows the specs and believes in them) to win any CW-X item I wanted. Basically, the premise of CW-X's technology is that just as a running shoe is designed to support the foot, so does CW-X athletic wear support muscle groups (using the same technology as kinesio tape). For my prize, I opted for the 3/4 Women's Stabilyx Tights, which combine core, quad, and hamstring support with knee and IT band support. And they came today!

Since I am sick (AGAIN, though quite possibly STILL), I will have to wait a bit to try them out. Reviews pending (since I mention it, I really love the Mizuno Wave Rider 12, and wear it daily, though I've only run in it once- I will almost certainly convert next time I need shoes; in contrast, I cannot bear to wear the Puma Velosis walking around all day, as it feels awfully stiff, but it was pretty okay to run in the few times I tried- have been waiting for decent road conditions to test it out of doors).

MAJOR congrats to KQB for her showing at the Boston Marathon today!

*both images from altrec.com

Have done that girl thing and slowed my training because I have begun seeing someone (in earnest, as it turns out). Luckily, we like to hike together, so we have made a pact to combat Easter candy-induced weight gain with weekly Metropark outings.

Also, I am so far back on track this week (having squandered the last two months of gym membership), running a very satisfactory five miles Monday night (I forgot how much I liked running in the dark) and another six tonight with the Striders (pacing between 8:45-9:15, and feeling strong!). I'm off early enough Friday afternoon to head for the towpath and try to bang out ten (twelve?) miles.

The plan is to run Cleveland successfully. James and several other friends/acquaintances are turning out for the half, and I think it will be good to see if I can, in fact, beat two hours. I've been speeding up steadily since last fall, so I think I can (if I choose mileage over cuddling the next three weeks). Then, I will add rowing and more mileage and swimming in the summer months, anticipating my first full at Columbus in the fall.

No matter whether or not I meet my goals, I will try to remember how powerful and sane the runs this week have made me feel, particularly when days are sometimes so craptastic.

James and Sam (and maybe more) run Chicago this year

Sorry I have been absent from the posting. Winter months just didn't leave me much running to report on. Anyhow, in the latest bit of news, Sam and I are running the Chicago Marathon this year. Hopefully some of you will want to come along with us. I'm going to be posting my training schedule this season on here. What'll be new is I am going to be mixing it in with an ultimate frisbee season. So, anyone with suggestions or thoughts on how to mix these two things?

race report: new bedford half marathon

Race Site
Distance: 13.1 miles
Time: 2:01:00 (watch), 2:01:29 (gun time)
Pace: 9:14/mile or 9:16/mile
Overall: 1446/1951
Age: 112/147
Weather: ~50 degrees

Mile Splits
1. 9:18:82
2. 10:02.86
3. 9:52.41
4. 9:45.59
5. 9:29.99
6. 9:21.51
7. 9:06.13
8. 9:00.19
9. 9:24.68
10. 8:58.46
11. 8:29.43
12. 8:42.15
13. 8:42.34
.1 0:0:46.32

Today I PRed, beating my previous best of 2:17:16 by 16 minutes. Not too shabby, considering that I went to a Pi Day party last night and slept about five hours. One of these days I'll find out how I'll do when actually sleeping 8 hours and hydrating properly!

During the first two miles, I started cramping up because of having eaten a banana too soon before racing and sulking because of the warm (and it's sad that I consider 50 degrees warm after a winter of outdoor running) weather. After tying my pink longsleeved shirt around my waist, I invented a new game for myself: focusing on the next pink article of clothing ahead of me and aiming to pass that person. I ran negative splits for the next six miles, slowed down a bit at a big hill, then ran more negative splits until hitting the last hill of the race. That hill kicked my butt--I started cramping up in the middle of that too. Near the end I started chasing this crazy old dude who started running near me at mile 8, but he surged ahead after the hill.

I'm psyched about improving so much this year...next up: the Cohasset 10K on April 5. I'm hoping to bring down my half-marathon time another 16 minutes by the time the BAA half marathon rolls around on Columbus Day weekend.

I miss running, kind of.

I also almost asked out a waiter at a chain restaurant. I almost applied to grad school. 

upcoming races, or why i'm a masochist

3/15 New Bedford Half Marathon
4/5 Cohasset 10K
4/20 Boston Marathon
5/31 Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon

Have gone from not running at all (while sick) to fewer then ten miles last week and this week (so far!). Ugh. I had a crap run outside last Tuesday (marred by abdominal cramping) and barely been on the treadmill, even then topping out at four miles. AND, I have not been to the gym in weeks!

I am trying to locate the source of my ennui, and have narrowed it down to:

-the weather (most likely, and my enthusiasm for the treadmill is waning),

-fatigue (also likely, as I have had my sleeping and eating patterns drastically ruptured by the Writer, which is a very happy predicament, but not conducive to working out),

-and lack of specific goals (I need to decide on some spring races and get those entry fees in to hang over my head; also, must find out if work will comp them).

Sooo...ugh! I need either a kick in the pants or a reminder that it's okay to let life (and baked goods!) get in the way sometimes. How about a decent night's sleep, too?

race report: jones group realtors 10 mile road race

Distance: 10 miles
Time: 1:32:03
Pace: 9:13/mile
Overall: 503/596
F 20-39: 65/86

I went to Amherst, MA with three other CRCers to run this race today. The course was brutal! Major hills came at mile 3 and mile 9 with a bunch scattered in between, but oddly enough I was able to run faster splits around the mile 9 hills than I was on the "flatter" middle parts of the course. That middle part included iced-over dirt roads whose slipperyness effectively negated their lack of elevation.

By the time I got to mile 6, freezing rain started to pour down from the skies. I cursed my lack of foresight in forgoing a light windbreaker and sped up just so I could get back inside faster.
I had promised myself that if I PRed in this race, I would buy a Lululemon outfit. After my 10:00 and 10:03 miles, I pretty much gave up hope of a PR and resigned myself to trying again at the New Bedford half marathon in March. Once I hit mile 7, I did calculations in my head and realized that the PR was still possible if I finished the last three miles at 9:00/mile pace, but also wondered if the upcoming evil hills would cause more 10:00 miles. The urge to pass other people became stronger, especially given that I was at the back of the pack anyway. When the next two miles went by under 9:00/mile pace, I picked up the pace even more, visions of the Lululemon store dancing in my rain-drenched head. Thank goodness the race ended on a downhill with cheering volunteers shaking cowbells--I booked it in so hard I could barely breathe, beating my previous PR of 1:33:39 by over a minute.

Split times:
1. 8:53
2. 8:35
3. 10:00
4. 10:03
5. 9:30
6. 9:40
7. 8:45
8. 9:06
9. 8:49
10. 8:39

When I looked up the results online and saw how badly I'd placed, my elation at achieving a PR quickly fell flat when considered against that of 502 much faster runners. At the beginning of the race I'd felt out of place in my pink "I run like a girl" hoodie among the hordes of folks wearing jackets and singlets from GBTC, CMS, Merrimack Valley Striders, Goon Squad Runners, and Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club. I worried that I'd get so far behind that I'd end up lost in the Amherst woods. That did not end up happening, but 503/596 sure felt far behind.

Looking at the race results, I noticed that only 36 out of the 596 people had run slower than 10:00/mile. That's usually not the case for more popular Boston or D.C. road races. The pervasiveness of track club jackets *did* accurately reflect the speediness of the crowd today, which now makes sense given the month (February), the distance (10 miles), the weather (freezing rain followed by snow) and the travel time from Boston (two hours). This was not quite the Tufts Women's 10K or Run to Remember in terms of proportion of recreational runners!

I'm happy with this year in terms of running--10K and 10 miler PRs, and the possibility of a half marathon one in March (time to beat: 2:17:16). I feel a helluva lot stronger than I did in 2005 and 2006, both physically and mentally. In addition to getting faster, I'm no longer dependent on an ipod for long runs and I'm now psyched to go on runs with other people instead of sticking only to my favorite treadmill at the gym. I'm looking forward to the rest of this year.

three quick musings

1) Having a RoadID is useful if you go to a CRC long run where everyone has to pile their shoes outside the front door--many other women (and men) wear Brooks Adrenalines!
2) Strawberry banana Gu is my new favorite.
3) Heartbreak Hill is not that bad after six miles...but it will likely kill after 19. My running buddy today only told me where it was after we had finished it (good move on his part!)

CRC track workout

A2 3x (1200@ 8k pace; 200 jog; 800@ half marathon pace) jog 800 for recovery
"[V]olume but only moderate intensity"

1200s: 5:51, 5:54, 5:55
800s: 4:01, 4:03, 3:52

Last night I ran this workout with Zena. We initially attempted to run with some A1 folks but couldn't keep up with them after 50m. I think the one time I ran with those A1 folks must have been a fluke, because they were probably doing 7:30/mile pace for the 1200s last night. I still don't have a good sense of pacing--I could probably do an 8K below 8:00/pace, but my half-marathon pace certainly isn't between 7:44-8:06/mile!

slow long run

Distance: 14.06 miles
Time: 2:35:00
Pace: 11:01/mile
Temperature: 34 degrees

I'm peeved at myself for the slower pace on this run. I was supposed to do 16 miles today but fell short by two miles. My legs were hurting from my stadium workout yesterday (45 minutes of running + 45 minutes of lunges up the seats/walking down the steps/2 sets of exercises at the bottom). I probably should have rested today.

Jealous?

Here are the free/promo shoes* I have been given because I work in the right place. In part, I am asked to review (particularly the Pumas, which matters less since the rep came and went today already), and to wear them around the store to attract customers' attention. I am already favorably inclined since they gave me shoes, so clearly, it's working!

I ran about four miles last week in the Pumas (Velosis, a high-end cushion shoe that will be available in June) and, while not converted, was pretty happy with them. More treadmilling and road-testing to follow (and a multi-page questionnaire they sent, which I am inclined to honor, as it accompanied free shoes).

The Mizunos are the Wave Rider 12, which I really like. If I'm not mistaken, they feel cushier than the 11. This is the man version, not because my feet are so big (though they are), but because the red detailing is SO much cooler than the lady colors.

More reviewing to follow, for those who run neutral or supinate (like me).

*I heard a rumor, too, that we were getting Under Armor promo shoes, in which I will not run, but wear to work to avoid running in all the really GOOD free shoes I get (not that the UA are bad, in fact the consensus is that they did a nice job first time out. The problem is that they're sending us just stability shoes- boo!- and really the UA are better suited for kids who have to run in practice for sports other than track).

CRC track workout

A2 2x2400; pace the same as above; recovery: jog 800 meters; (optional: 1 mile at marathon pace).

2400s: 13:04, 12:19
1600: 8:55

Doing a track workout the day after a two-hour bikram yoga session *hurts*. I liked the yoga studio I went to yesterday so I'll still continue to do the yoga Wednesday / track Thursday a couple times a month.

sick

I am supremely bummed that this delicious change in weather in Northeastern Ohio (it's like 6o today) and the attendant clear sidewalks and streets have coincided with a nasty head cold for me. Bleh.

But, I did NOT get the Boston number, so it's less worrisome to take a week off from running to recover. I guess I will just have to qualify.

Sooo...that means the Hermes 10-Miler (April 25th) and the Cleveland Half (May 17th). I'm thinking of this 30k (March 8th), just for fun (and to see if I can). Perhaps if it goes well, I may run the full 26.2 in Cleveland this spring!

Cross your fingers that the weather holds and I can get in a few runs out of doors this week!

cambridge long run

Distance: 13.9 miles
Time: 2:22:00
Pace: 10:13/mile
Temperature: 44 degrees
Time of Day: 10:00 a.m.
Buddies: Alett and Krista

Alett, Krista and I began our run in Cambridgeport this morning, scooting through puddles as we made our way to East Cambridge, Inman Square, Porter Square, North Cambridge, Fresh Pond, Harvard Square on our journey back to Central Square. The conversation made the 13.9 miles feel like much less! My MapMyRun printouts with appended street names worked pretty well--I only got confused at Fresh Pond, and it turns out we headed the correct way back to Harvard Square.

The weather felt unseasonably warm compared to the single-digit temperatures of late. At first, I felt extremely overheated because of my UnderArmour, headband and gloves but soon became grateful that I'd put them on. I liked the relative warmth but hated the enormous puddles caused by piles of melting snow. My shoes weighed about ten pounds each after soaking up tons of water!

Other thoughts:
1) I am now inspired to do more running in Cambridgeport, East Cambridge, and North Cambridge. I bet I'll like Fresh Pond more when the path isn't covered in water and ice.
2) I am beginning to like the Reebok pants which I'm wear-testing--they're a little big in the waist and long in the legs, but the butt pocket is convenient and the fit is fairly flattering.
3) I have got to take more than one gel when I run for 2+ hours.

CRC track workout

A2 10x400@ 5k pace; 1600 @ marathon pace;

I ran with Krista and Zena today. I like how they inspire me to go a little faster than I think I can, and how the time flies so much faster than when only pandapple the ipod accompanies me. We did 200 jogs between all the 400s, an 800 jog before the 1600 and an 800 cooldown together.

400: 1:55, 1:53, 1:52, 1:53, 1:49, 1:51, 1:48, 1:50, 1:48, 1:47
1600: 8:40

race report: super sunday 10K

I look like I'm floating!

Distance: 10K
Time: 52:50
Pace: 8:31/mile
5K split: 27:13
Overall: 320/723
Age Group: 73/212
(note: I think the placing is off. A bunch of superfast runners are listed at the bottom of the race results with only their 5K splits. Looks like their timing bands didn't pick up across the finish).

Yesterday I beat my PR of 55:22 (set in my very first 10K ever - 2005 St. Patrick's Day 10K in D.C.). I started the day off incredibly cranky. I had not hydrated or eaten anything other than half a pack of strawberry Clif Shot Bloks, and I was still residually cranky from my car accident the day before. My irritation grew when I realized that I'd overslept by half an hour and as I struggled to find all my stuff in my tornado-hit-it room. Luckily, the red line and silver line to Harbor Street were fairly quick. The bag check line was enormous, but I managed to get my bag checked right before 10:00 a.m. The race directors pushed the start back to 10:15 so that everyone could check their bags and patronize the port-a-potties.

I felt pretty miserable for the first three miles of the race. My legs felt tight because of my lack of stretching and warmup. Seeing and hearing multitudes of people passing by discouraged me (even though by mile 2 I was already going faster than I have in previous 10Ks--17:36). I hit the 4 mile marker at 36:51, which enraged me. I picked up the pace, passed mile 5 at 43:11 (which makes me think that the mile splits were either off by distance or by clock synchronization), then mile 6 at 51:14. I started racing a tall guy wearing a Patriots Super Bowl shirt (which also enraged me) near the end, which I'm sure he didn't appreciate. I wish I'd beat him--we both crossed at 52:50 but he got #319 while I got #320. Perhaps they rank by 5K split times?

why i missed my long run today

CRC

Tonight's A2 workout and my times next to the intervals:
1600@ 10k pace; jog an 800; 7:55
2x800 @ 5k pace; jog 400 in between; 3:43, 3:43
1600 @ 10k pace; jog an 800; 7:59
1600 @ marathon pace; 8:15

I'm improving. I like feeling stronger and having good running buddies to push me!

BAA

I hear through the infallible source that is the internet that the registration for the 2009 Boston Marathon is now closed. I fear this does not bode well for my raffle hopes and dreams...

Soooo, maybe this...?

long run with buddies!

Distance: 10.98 miles
Time: 1:49:00 (1:08 with buddies)
Pace: 9:56/mile
Temperature: 10 degrees

I met my girl CRC buddies Krista and Zena on the corner of Mass Ave and Beacon Street this morning around 10:00 a.m. Clad in tons of winter layers, we headed down the Charles River on the Boston side toward the Eliot Bridge. About an hour of good conversation and stomping through ice later, we had rounded the Eliot Bridge and reached Mass Ave again. We parted ways on the Cambridge side of the river and have made plans for a run near Boston College this Saturday! I am psyched to have girl running buddies here. They've inspired me to set a new goal: 1:45:00 in the 2009 Boston Half Marathon.

I've been plugging away at the gym, mostly running and swimming. I had a really fast (treadmill) run on Saturday that leads me to believe either a) my treadmill is calibrated differently from the ones at the gym and makes it seem like I am going faster and/or burning more calories at the same programmed pace/time, or b) I have increased my fitness and endurance already. I suspect it's both (i.e., 7.0 on the treadmill at home is still faster than 6.6 on the treadmill at home). My basic regime is (reluctant) weightlifting a few days a week, a class here and there (yoga or spinning), running 4-6 miles most days (long runs excepted), and swimming 30-50 laps pretty much every time I'm at the gym. This means my hair always smells vaguely of chlorine and I'm constantly doing laundry.

Anyway, I feel faster, or like my heart rate is lower when I'm running at the same, or a faster pace. I also feel like by going to the gym even when I don't want to, and sticking to my schedule (swimming 50 laps when I want to quit at 30, running 6 miles when 4 feels like enough), I've made a habit or practice of working out. I write out what I'm going to do and I follow through. It's not as fun as running outside, but there's still a certain sense of achievement (and SportsCenter on loop is its own kind of bliss), and certainly some tangible improvement in fitness. My weight even seems to be down a few pounds. I think it will be really exciting to see how I feel when I can get out on the roads again!

Ordered Brain Training for Runners, which employs some analogous theories to Chi Running (I had skimmed it when I had it from the library, but had to return it before I got much use out of it) and The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Running. The latter is part of a series (some thirty sport-specific guides in print, which made me a little leery) and features a somewhat silly-looking demonstrator, but I like the concision of the text and plans and the ease with which I can follow the plans. Also, I only have to do four exercises on a given day.

the race that didn't happen and short run today

Yesterday's Frostbite 15K was canceled due to snow (ironic) so I ended up sleeping through Mean Girls and Princess Diaries on the couch rather than running. Today I did 3.04 miles through Cambridge in 30:57. The only eventful item of the run: getting splashed head to toe by a car on Prospect Street. My pedestrian road rage came out in full force after that, and I spent the rest of the run crankily stomping through more puddles and snow.

long run today

Distance: 9.85 miles
Time: 1:43:09
Pace: 10:27/mile
Temperature: 10 degrees (feels like -1)
Time of Day: 10:30 a.m.

This week's run felt infinitely better than last week's. I chalk it up to 14 hours of sleep, taking a Gu, and not having to fight through piles of snow. I accidentally overslept my CRC long run after going to bed at 7:30 p.m. and not waking up until 8:00 a.m. Oops. That wrecked my January resolution #3, but at least I got to do a run.

Possible win.

I just found out I can, in fact, run ten miles on a treadmill if need be.

Win? or fail?

As for "new sights," I watched this (uh, 1.5 times) in the Cardio Cinema (image from about.com).

long run

Distance: 7.1 miles
Time: 1:20:00
Pace: 11:16/mile
Time of Day: 11:50 a.m.
Temperature/Weather: 22 degrees/snowing

Crispy winter running is awesome. Snowy, non-shoveled sidewalk winter running when you are coughing up a lung...not so much. My feet felt like they were going to fall off after repeatedly going through piles of slush and snow. I'm halfway to where I'm supposed to be for this week's long run (oops) but I'm not going to beat myself up about being behind anymore.

gym rat

Well, I joined a gym. The staff know I run, and run a lot and have (jokingly, I hope) threatened to pull me off the treadmills. BUT, they have a different movie everyday that plays on a wall in a CINEMA (I kid you not) with rows and rows of cardio equipment in it! At first, I thought it was kind of lame, but as the threat of an 18- to 20-miler on a treadmill looms (along with the forecast), maybe running while watching “The Dark Knight,” or ANYTHING is the way to go. Today, I did about three miles at a tempo-y pace (6.6 MPH, or 9:05), then swam some 12-14 laps (I gather that’s something like fifth of a mile?). I have a (free!) appointment with a very beefy and blonde trainer on Monday morning; I will wait for his advice to start a lifting program.

My RoadID arrived and is lovely and red. I strapped it on my wrist this morning as I headed for the towpath. Not that it was visible under the layers (nor was I ever unconscious, so…win?). For once, I planned effectively for the temperature (tights under old man pants, wicking tee, compression mock, windbreaker, hat, gloves, trail shoes) and kept warm (and upright) without overheating. I opted for six miles instead of twelve (and gladly so! There were some massive paw prints in the snow that I only noticed on the way back. I would not have been able to outrun a beast of such size at the end of a longer run).

I’ve been reading ChiRunning, by Danny Dreyer, and tried working today on posture, and I ’m pretty sure that was the fastest six miles I’ve ever run (threat of a beastie, notwithstanding). I implore you, read the book! I find most books on running theory or training spout the same advice over and over again (which is great if you haven’t heard it before), but I think ChiRunning might just (or could just) revolutionize how we run. The rest of my reading list includes a book on treadmill training from the library, and another on weight training for runners (the latter of which I so far like).

So it’s been going really well. I’ve been nailing 30-32 miles per week (half indoor, half outdoor- better than I expected to be able to do this winter), and am now adding cross-training and lifting. My weight went down a couple of pounds, but hasn’t dropped like I thought it would with more consistent mileage. I will bring this up with the beefcake, too.

Update: the BUSATS guys have my money and I’m definitely in the raffle, so keep your fingers crossed that I get that number (which I will take as a sign that I am destined to do it)!

CRC track workout

Tonight started our higher volume workouts at a moderate pace going the opposite direction on the MIT indoor track.

10-25:00 easy, 6 x 60 meter strides, drills

A1 6x1000m at 8k pace w/ 4:00

A2 5x above workout

Our coach split us into groups (faster than 7:00 pace, slower than 7:00 pace). I ended up going with the A1 > 7:00 pace group because I couldn't see who he gave the A2 > 7:00 workout sheet to. I've gotten used to running by myself because I always thought I was the slowest in the A2 group. Today I ran the first interval with two new girls and felt like I could push myself harder, so I did the second one on my own. For the last three, I picked up with a group of four others. I was surprised to find out that I'd run them all much faster than I thought--when I'd run by myself at earlier winter track workouts, I hadn't gotten above 8:3o pace. I'm psyched--at the gym I'm going to start pushing myself to run above 7.0 mph for more of my treadmill runs. I'm now inspired to aim for a 7:30/mile 5K by the end of the year.

5:03 (8:05 pace)
4:39 (7:26 pace)
4:36 (7:22 pace)
4:39 (7:26 pace)
4:40 (7:28 pace)

have you tried a woodway?

The second floor Wang YMCA cardio room now sports two Woodway treadmills. These treadmills supposedly allow the user to power them while they are in dynamic mode. I tried this today to no avail. Have any of you ever successfully used a Woodway treadmill?

Maybe I'll bounce back

Midnight runnaz, unite. Happy New Year, leggies.

20 minutes, 1.25 miles. Trickling rain, melting in the wall behind my treadmill. Soundtrack: Indiesouprunner.com - 2 hour marathon mix (hour 2).

crispy cambridge air

Distance: 1.87 miles
Time: 17:59
Weather: Sunny, 35 degrees

Today I went to Goodwill and then a short jog around Central Square with a playlist culled from iTunes party shuffle. Ferry Corsten's "Rock Your Body Rock" was the first song on the list and it totally embodies my mood today. Compared to my sluggish 5.48 mile trudge through the snow around the Charles River and East Cambridge yesterday, this run felt buoyant and pandamonium-esque.

Skittish.

I run with abandon, and generally without any possession other than an iPod or car key. I feel as though my luck and safety have been pushed, and I ordered a RoadID to tell people how to reach my emergency contacts should I be found unconscious by the side of the road/towpath/wherever I may run (though, if I am found thus next to my treadmill, I doubt the RoadID will be much help). It will be red and also reflective, and I will almost certainly only wear it on the towpath or at night.
Also, purchased a water bottle. It is called "QuickDraw," and I like it very much. I'd been thinking of carrying water my long runs, but I cannot abide a hydration belt. This jobby has a hand strap (adjustable), reflective piping, and a little zip pocket (with a key hook!) for those Shot Bloks I kind of like. Mine is black (boring, but it was my only option) and the pouch fits over my Asics bottle, too.

So here I am, attempting to make my runs safer from unconsciousness and dehydration, and without resorting to the hated vest or lame belt (or giving up the beloved iPod). Every bit of reflectivity helps, no?

I also bought five raffle tickets for that Boston Marathon bib number, per KQB's email. Cross your fingers! I have found a training plan on RunnersWorld.com just in case. It also says I should have started training last week.