Adjusting the Fall Marathon

 So on July 4^th I ran a race with a local club.  It was an eight mile race in a nice neighborhood around a lake. I ran to Target on the third to buy some red shorts.   I neglected to write a race recap ( As I have also not done since March.  Ooops ,that’s five races).  It was humid but nice.  I ran into some friends from High School and met their little ones.  After the race I met a daily mile friend and bumped into a parent from the school I work at.  He introduced me to a few people and we chatted about his daughter, her college and running.  A week later when I went into work I had an e-mail from him asking a little more about my running plans and wishing me a good training season.  That was nice.  Did I mention that he works for ING? Well he does and guess what? Three weeks later he contacts me again…..They have their own family and friends lottery which he asked if I’d like to be entered!  No promises but a possible spot.  Hey I’m training for Hartford anyway. YES PLEASE!  This past Wednesday I got a call from Him and the good news. 

  

On November 4th I will be running the streets of all five boroughs of

New York City!  

I was driving to pick my kids up from my parent’s house.  I ran in the house to find a counter and sink being installed and my mother pulling her hair out.  I asked her where the computer was and took my nine month old niece out of her hands.  And there it was in my inbox, an invitation to run with team ING! Thanks to my previous lottery entry NYRR had all my info and within a few clicks I was receiving the confirmation e-mail to my phone!  I had to post above picture to face book of coarse too.  Baby girl drooled on my lap with delight.  I turned and told my father I expected him to pick out a good spot to cheer from the Bronx, cause I was running!

Commence operation pick up the boys and race to Michael’s baseball practice realizing his bat and helmet and glove were in the other car at the shop…… and there we were back to reality. 

BUT IT IS STILL AWESOME!!

Now I have adjusted my training back by three weeks (so much for that shorter traingin cycle I was hoping for) and realize that my vacation runs will be much better next week.  No 22 mile run the day after driving home from a Phillies night game?  Thank You!  Also, Hartford can still be run as a training run since it falls on my last long run week and calls for 26 miles.  Gotta think about that. 

Good bye Olympic Games

The Olympics are over tonight.  I love watching the Olympics.   I look forward to not only the events but the athlete profiles.  But man, I.  AM. TIRED!!  They have been keeping me up til midnight for the past two weeks.  They have kept my attention despite sometimes knowing who wins the gold.  They have me in awe.  They have me motivated.  At times I was surprised.  Who the heck knew there was Olympic Trampoline? They make it hard to get out of bed at 5:45 to run or get to work by 7.  It’s a good thing this only happens every few years.

I had a great time participating in Virtual Track Star.  I loved finding out how my time compares to the Olympians.  Apparently I would need to improve my 10k time by 19 minutes to make the next Olympic team.  That is insane!  Unfortunately due to the crazy humidity this week I never held the track meet for the kids I intended and did most of the short distances on the treadmill.  There was a lot of sweat and breathlessness. 

This morning I completed the Marathon portion with a twenty miler at 6am to avoid the heat.  I met my friend Beth and we ran the first 12 miles together. I ran the entire 17 mile trail and repeated a mile and a half out a back section to make up the difference.  I park in the middle of the trail and refilled my water two times.  Summer running in the northeast can be difficult.  I don’t know how you southerners do it month after month. 

Before my icebath I had my son take my picture with my score card.  Can you tell that my braids are dripping with sweat?  I peeled my clothes off and put them in the washer immediately. 

Happy, restful, Olympic free sleeping folks.  

Guess what? Now it’s Shark Week!  My husband is already watching.  I hope I don’t get sucked into that.

Look at me! Blogging yet again in July.  Can you tell I don't work full time in the summer? AND, my running thoughts increase along with my miles. 

Yesterday I ran 18 miles in the morning and then sat in the Beacher seats at Yankee Stadium for over five hours!  Yikes. I wore jeans so that I could wear compression socks and not commit a fashion Fau pax. 

ON the upside there was free food and icecream at the Yankees Universe event we attended since my boys are members of the club so that hit the spot after and 18 mile morning!  

 I felt hung over this morning when I woke up and I swear I did NOT have even one $9 beer at the park.

I wanted to share two virtual events I am participating in. 


First being caught up in the Summer Olympics hype I am very excited to participate in Run with Jess Virtual Track Star.  I realize I will never be an olymipic gymnast or participate in Water Polo.  Running as fast as I can.  Already there!  Thanks Jess!

There are still a few days before the running events begin so if you have not already signed up check it out here! http://www.runwithjess.com/2012/07/2012-virtual-olympics.html


The Second even happens in September.  Laura over at Mommy Run Fast is hosting a 5 and 10 mile race for Labor Day.  

For me Labor Day became significant in 2005 when I gave birth ON Labor day.  LOL's all around when they announced that at school. 

But ever since then I have loved the long run that happens on that day thinking how far I have come.  I am signing up for the ten mile.  It might be part of a longer run that day.  We shall see how the plan pans out with the numbers that weekend.  Go take a look at http://www.mommyrunfast.com/labordayvirtualrun

Well off to pick up the boys at Baseball camp at the Minor League Stadium.  Then guess what? Another Ball game!

Its all Baseball, Hot dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet over here this summer.  Wait.  I didn't get a pie.  Just all that other stuff.  Anyone seen my Apple Pie?

Garage Treadmill

This morning, Saturday is a work day for Pete.  I either got up early and ran or tread -milled it.  Since I love the Olympics and stayed up to watch the entire opening ceremony the later was the obvious choice.  But when I finally got myself up and out to the garage the machine had become the Dreadmill.  Don't get me wrong. I am soooooo grateful that my husband and his brother fixed it for me two months ago.   BUT it is just hard for me to run easy with the numbers right in front of me.  I only had three miles on the plan.  Anything longer would not fly.  

So out there among the golf clubs, baseball bats, tool box,bikes and the recycling I played with the speed to decrease the monotony.  It’s the only way to go for me since the view is limited. 

Usually my outside runs get me to the Hudson River with views like these. 
So maybe I am just spoiled. 

Fingers crossed for the AM weather tomorrow.  I plan on 18 miles before heading down to the Bronx for the Yanks-Sox game. 

Happy weekend Everyone!

Images from my Summer So Far

Hudson Valley Renegades-
Minor league team 5miles from home

July 4th -Eight Mile race

 

Wool Sweater+cold water & ice = Ahhhh

Fall Marathon Decisions

When I didn't get into the NYC Marathon by lottery I thought two things. 

1) five min faster on my marathon time gets me in next year without the lottery

2) I  still want to run another full this year. 

But after the Long Island Marathon I eased up on the miles. 

Me in the purple.  Third place out of the gates!

Ran a huge PR (and a 5th place overall finish) in a Women's race.  Then ran 42 days in a row with no plan other than the #RWRunStreak and completing 100 miles in June.  Two weeks ago I realized if I wanted to run anything I had to get myself into gear and get building the miles.  I was way behind!

I have decided that I will run the Hartford marathon in October.  It met my simple requirements: Its close enough to drive to that day. 

I hemmed and hawed over doing some others but the fact is it is hard to commit to a weekend when boys weekend activities are crazy.  I just registered both boys for fall baseball.  They both do Cub Scouts.  B also plays soccer.  I am tired just thinking about September-November around here.   I have figured out how to squeeze all my training in but I don’t like missing more of their “stuff” than I have to.  Mommy guilt I guess. 

 So I launched into a training plan.  Hit fast forward and landed myself comfortably at 15 miles this past Saturday, before my son’s sleepover party!  Talk about being tired!

I had been running 25-30 miles since the June run streak and had some good long runs.  I am looking at 12 weeks of following a plan.  A twenty week marathon training plan is simply too long for me.   This past Spring I was done by week 16.  Ready for the marathon.  I was tired of the plan.  The mocking daily e-mail reminders of what I need to do before the end of the day. I promised myself I would not torture myself.  Well since I finally decided on a marathon and its closer than 20 weeks mission accomplished! 

Marathon # 3 here I come!

Schools out and a run streak

  

So, It looks like the Summer has started for real. In addition to these two knuckel heads finishing school today the Classic "Hazy,Hot and Humid" NY weather has begun.

Yesterday I spent an hour in the yard shooting them with the hose and we spontaneously ended up creating their new favorite game "Hoseball" All it took was the powerwash setting of the hose and two waffle ball bats and suddenly we were counting how many consecutive "hits" these two would alternately make. For these two baseball obsessed freaks it was great. They were cool, working on their swing and hitting me with water in the process! Now if only they could do that while I ran.

This heat wave would keep me from running under normal circumstances but back on Memorial day weekend all the twitter chatter about the #RWRunStreak-Runners World Run Streak had me intrigued. I have not been following any plan since the marathon in early May and I don’t have any solid plans for the near future yet so I thought what the heck.   It started on Memorial Day but I ran that whole weekend, so right now I have run at least one mile for the past 25 days! For me that is huge.  I love my rest days.  I didn’t think I could do without them.    

But I have learned a few things that will stick with me. 

·         I can fit in a few miles even on my long and never ending Mondays

·         Just because we are throwing a party does not mean I can't run that day.

·         No matter how much deoderant you put on, there is a point when it just stops working. 

·         Running my 1.23 mile route with both dogs at night doubles as the “poopwalk”

·         Quizzing Michael on his times tables is possible from the treadmill

·         Speedy miles on the treadmill can be bearable, sweaty and somehow fun. 

·         Running during baseball practice is acceptable.  They don’t seem to know I am there anyway!

·         After a few 1 mile days I really appreciate the longer runs outside. 

·         Reusing running clothes more than once before you wash them is a must!

·         The repair of my long lost treadmill is KEY to me being able to continue this streak.  Note to self: No longer can I complain that Pete is not home so I can’t run. 

·         One mile turns into 3 or more on a night I eat this homemade Oreo Ice cream cake.

· Excuses are easy to come up with but you don’t always need them. Time is short but there is always a way to fit it in.

Anyone out there on dailymile?  Are we friends?  I obviously post more often there than here but I hope to change that this summer!