Bronx 10-Miler Recap (Marathon Training Week 11)

On Saturday, Tom and I set out to run 5 miles and I promptly wanted to walk and/or quit. He made me finish the 5-mile loop and we rewarded ourselves with our usual post-run bagels.

On Sunday, I ran the Bronx 10-miler with Robyn on pretty tired legs (we walked a lot Friday and Saturday, not to mention the 5-mile run).  I met Robyn at the start and we were in the back of the pack, but with my legs, the 12-minute-mile pace felt just right.

The course was rather boring, with a long straight run down Grand Concourse (which reminded me of my least favorite part of the Brooklyn Half from Prospect Park to Coney Island boardwalk but with less crowd support). Robyn and I stayed together for the most part, even though she took a bathroom break (guess I was running really slowwwly)! The course was an out-and-back, so we cheered on the first-place runner--he looked so breezy and all smiles, it was really refreshing and exciting to see someone run with such joy and so effortlessly! Unlike my plodding along--Tom coined the word "plogging" to describe my running (plodding and jogging).

I walked through all but two water stops, and thank goodness I had my new iPod shuffle to help the miles go by. (Note to self: OneRepublic, Kesha and Katy Perry are much better running songs than A Fine Frenzy and Snow Patrol.) My legs and feet were hurting and I was thinking that all the pain was due to Robyn, who got me to sign up for this race and for the freakin marathon.

I made it to the finish line, and beamed and waved when I saw Tom waiting for me. He even brought me a bagel! He's the best! I was sore the rest of that day but I'm fine the day after.

Official finish time: 1:57:28, an 11:45 min/mile pace. Slower than my half-marathon time, but it was a hot day and I had tired legs.

Next week: 20 miles!!!

Marathon Training (Week 10)

Ack! 6 weeks until I have to run 26.2 miles! What am I doing with my life.

So this weekend was probably the most I've run since June...I ran 6 miles Saturday with Heather, then 5 miles today with Tom. Then I went kayaking on the Hudson and got a little too much Hudson River on my face. But it was free so that's good for the wedding fund.

I've been running Garmin-less. Yesterday was all about catching up with Heather on her trip to Berlin and her fight for Taiwanese independence. Today Tom and I debated religious hostility, whether America was built on Christian ideals, and vaccines and correlation/causation of autism.

Luckily the fall weather has made running much more bearable than in the height of summer heat. And I have a shiny new iPod shuffle to listen to for next week's Bronx 10-miler and the 20 mile run I have scheduled for October 4!

I think in 2015 I'm only going to run the Brooklyn Half. I've spent well over $500 on races in 2014 and I need to just run in CP without being forced to in a race.

Fifth Avenue Mile Race Recap

I ran fast. My goal was 8:xx, which I told Robyn at the start. It was chilly at the start! Tom and I walked to the start at 5th Ave and 79th Street.

At the 1/4 marker, the clock read 2:19. At the 1/2 mile marker, it read 4:19. At the 3/4 mile marker, it read 6:13. I slowed down because my breathing was heavy and burning up my lungs and I knew I could make my goal time. Then when I checked my time via live tracking, I was surprised to see 7:37! I was coughing and having difficulty breathing the entire walk home, and downing a cup of water at Starbucks did little to help. Only after a hot shower did I start to feel better.

Tom says he runs fast all the time and he always feels like crap after. I think I'll never run that fast again. Or run the race ever again. I'll watch Tom and Leemo race it instead!

Ponytail flyin!