Wintertime Love

while it warmed up a hair today, meaning it actually got to the freezing mark, it was not raining, snowing, sleeting, or wintery mixing. Nope, nothing but cold air.

Today was 9 miles, 4 at tempo. It's gotten into my head that I don't like tempo runs. I don't know what I think that. I think they're going to be hard and they're going to hurt and I generally don't look forward to them. I do them and I get going and really, they're not that bad.

I was shooting for 8-8:10 pace. All but the 2nd mile, which included Cat Hill, were 7:56 pace. Cat Hill was 7:59. My heart rate always flirts with the 180s when I'm doing Cat Hill. That's fine. I'm trying not to be such a slave to the HR this time around. The only exception really is recovery runs. I want to run those like I should, slowly.

Another plus of today is my weight. Ok, I know for a lot of non runners (and maybe even some runners) this may sound silly. Due to RWOL (Runner's World On Line) and some shenanigins that go on over there, I made a goal of loosing 5 lbs. I know it doesn't sound like a lot. For a long time, my weight hovered in the 1-teens. When I went to Big Sur, I did what just about everyone I know who goes out there does: I gained weight. I had a hard time getting it off too. 

Anyhoo....my goal is to get down to 120. I was a bit over 124 when I started this, closer to 125. I weighted myself this morning and I was 120.4. Granted, I think most scales are a bit off, I am very happy to see my weight be 120. This has almost all come from just eating better. I know I'm in good shape, lack of burning calories certainly isn't an issue. I have made an effort to eat less crap and be more aware of when and what I ate. So far so good! 

slip slidin away

I woke up to the sound of snowblowers very early this morning. I'm guessing around 6am. The school across the street in anal in it's snow clearing. I'm glad for this since it's on a hill, a hill I run up all the time. I looked out the window, and sure enough. Snow. A fair amount of it. Luckily, the temps were a bit up from where they had been.

Today was an easy 5. I had planned to run with my uptown during the day running pals. Everyone showed up though I am guessing it would have been hard to get out there if we had not already made a plan. When we left at 10, the snow had turned to rain. Central Park was mostly clear, just slushy. I was so wet when I got home. I'm glad it was only 5.

Yesterday I did 10. I rearranged my plan this week because of the half I ran on Sun. Tomorrow I'm planning on 9, 4 at tempo. I just hope everything doesn't turn into a sheet of ice.

Fire and Ice

Ok, today was...oh man, there are no words. Insane? Crazy? Stupid? Frozen? I do not think I have ever raced in such cold. When I lined up at the start, the clock over Central Park said 14 degrees. The windchill made it feel like 5.

People, that is not right. On so many levels. 

Today was the Manhattan Half marathon, the first in the series of 5 halfs in NYC. One in each borough. I've run all of them though never in the same year. NYRR capped this race at 5000 people and it filled. I though, ok,this weather is stupid maybe 3000 will show up. Well, NYers have a reputation for a reason. Even with this weather, 4506 people came out to run.

I got up a little after 6 this morning. Ate and met up with Rachel, a new woman in my club who lives 2 blocks away. So convenient. We split a cab to the start. I did a 1.5 mile warm up and to get a bit closer to my 15 miles for the day. I ended up running 14.5 today which puts me more miles than degrees. I think I've done that maybe once before a few years ago when I ran when it was 3 out.

Anyway, because my body has a sense of humor (those who have been reading along at home for a while know this) I have my period. This is very common for me when I have a race that I'm actually TRYING to race. Today, I was TRYING to race. Even in these crappy conditions.

Somehow, I sweat like mad even when it's below freezing. Mile one, off with the gloves, some where in mile 3, off with the hat. Even though I couldn't feel my face, I could tell sweat was freezing in my hair. By the time I was done, I have an icicle hanging from my head where once was a ponytail.

I thought the course was going to be the same course they used at Grete's. I was wrong. It went counterclockwise and ended on the east side in the transverse. I've run countless races in CP, and several halfs. I've never run this course. I didn't like it.

I started off with an ok mile 8:31, figured I'd ease into it. Mile 2 was the same with Cat hill. After that, I was hoping to pick it up. I would from time to time but never felt like my motor would really go. I think it was a combination of things. 

I finished in a time of 1:50:51, a PR by about 90 seconds. My goal was to run closer to 1:48. I know that is well within what I'm capable of but we have to run with what we've got on race day. I do think I'm on track for a good spring marathon and I'm happy about that.

A few other notes, Rachel ran a 1:42! 11 minute PR!!!! And I met internet superstar, Squirrel at the start. 

Race 2 of the series is n 2 weeks in Da Bronx. We'll see what I have on that day.

...but it's over now

Last night, I stayed up til midnight, I usually dont do that. Then I didn't fall asleep until 1. I woke up at 5. Coulnd't get back to sleep til 6:30. Slept til 8. This is not ideal.

I then went out in the very cold and stood with my neighbors in Harlem to watch Obama be sworn in and, even better, Bush be finally done for good. It took me several hours to finally warm up.

I really really thought about skipping my work out. I thought seriously about not running at all. It's tough to get going starting out tired.

The work out tonight was 5x1000 with 400 rest. Magic McMillan says I should be shooting for 4:32-4:41. Pretty generous range. I was happy for that. 

When I got up to the Armory, which is known for it's weird choice of music, there was just that. I then realized they were showing the Inauguration parade on the jumbotron. At the track. Now that's pretty cool.

First one: 4:35 

I thought, ok, if I can stay there, I'll be happy

two: 4:32 wow, even faster!

4:32 here I am being steady

4:32 AGAIN!

Last one. Now I know I've talked about the nap lap. It hasn't happened. I didn't want it to happen on the last one. By now, I'm tired mostly from lack of sleep not killing myself on the track.

Last one: 4:28!!!!!

Well, I certainly didn't fall asleep on that one! I was very very happy with my workout. Really tired and glad it was over when I was done, but happy with the result.

Gang of 5

Man, I am not use to this stomach biz. It's still not 100%. I don't want to each much which makes planning on running a long run well difficult. I also really didn't want to take any gels on my run. I could have gotten through without, but the tank was already low.

When I woke up this morning, big fluffy flakes of snow were falling from the sky. So pretty out the bedroom window.

14 was the plan of the day. 4 other Front Runner ladies were going me. 3 of us did the whole 14, 2 others did 10. The park was a bit slushy but runnable. Tons of people out and totally beautiful. Maybe a hair slower than I would have liked, but with the way I've felt the last few days, not bad.

SUN SUN SUN

Ah another balmy day here in NYC. A lovely 7 degrees, with a -1 windchill. I had an easy 4 recovery run so I wasn't out there too long. Uneventful.

I has some slight concern since Loren made a homemade pizza on Thurs. night. There was some rebellious cheese on it. I spent most of yesterday morning loosing my insides. Never fun. Usually, I have an ironclad stomach. I don't know what happened. It did get me 1.5lb close to my goal weight of 120. I would not recommend this method.

I was a bit worried I wouldn't have enough energy to run this morning since eating was not high on my list of things to do yesterday but I managed ok.

One really cool thing about today, my club, Front Runners, had Mary Wittenberg, prez. and CEO

of New York Road Runner pay us a visit. Mary's making the rounds to all the big clubs in NYC to talk to runners about their concerns and get feedback. I think it's an awesome idea. She was direct and honest about why NYRR has made some of the changes they've made and was very open to suggestions and feedback.

After the general talk, a few of us talked to her about getting more people in Harlem running which she is really into. Of all the places I've run in NYC, people in Harlem ask me about it more, kids run along side with me more, people are friendlier. It took some getting use to at first but I think it's pretty cool. It says to me yes there is an interest up here, people just dont always now how to get started. Over all, I was impressed.

Now I'm going to spend the rest of the day trying to rehydrate and eat after yesterday's battle.

Tomorrow is a nice 14 miler I'll be doing with a whole crew of winter running ladies.

frozen

Today was a run of the mill 10 miler. Though it was 2o degrees and felt like 8. Yesterday I did a 4 mile recovery run while it was 17 and felt like -1. I'm plenty warm out there, even had icicles in my hair from sweating today.

But ya know what, I think I have to work harder when it's this cold. Or maybe I was having a slow day. I dunno. I wasn't pushing it though I was by no means going fast. Now I'm just pretty tired.