Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
2 weeks to go
And counting...
D-day approaches and while I've slowed down on some of the running, I'm still excited and ready to go.
I realized I never really posted up about the last long run mileage and I've since had quite a long week with dealing with the calf issues and bum leg.
Howd we get to THAT point? Well, here's the story:
So the Thursday before the 20, I had an event and was working with some high profile folks dealing with entry for vip corporate execs, and some celebs.
And it was raining.
So I decide on my usually comfy- all day wear- over the knee heeled boots.
I was paying for it the next day. My calves were tight, but this isn't anything I hadn't experienced before- figure I'd massage it a bit and it'll loosen up when I start running.
The problem is it didn't. I could feel my left calf on our warm up jog. When we actually started up the bridal path (sidebar- we skipped the jersey trip for the 20 bc it would have taken all day, and opted for the nyc training so we could leave right after) I was in pain within the first 3 miles.
But we had a crew- and a plan- so I was going to keep going regardless. The route: up the bridal path candy cane til the barricade, back down (7 miles) then around the park loop (6 miles) then back up the bridal path and back (7 miles). There was no option to quit. So- I ran on it, and stretched it every stop. But it never loosened. It felt like I had a stone underneath my skin. But I'd keep going, it was our last long distance before tapering pre marathon.
And when we did the loop around the park, my girl steff waited for me at the top of the hill, and on the way around, we'd heard this noise, only to find out the lady running behind us had one foot. (The other was prosthetic). Who was I to complain abt a calf pain!??
The crew got separated on the last bridal path trip- steff and another girl ran ahead, my girl jen fell behind with our coach for a cramp. It was becoming harder for me to stop since my muscle would seize up so I kept going, trying to wrap it up. I'd thought I was lost at some point but saw some tfk runners headed back so it was cool. I made it up to barricade and decided to come back on the reservoir path, the bridal path unevenness and rocks and stuff was a challenge so I hit the rez to rock the rest of it.
When I got back, I stretched and sat, and stretched some more. I showed coaches my leg and where the pain was and they suggested having it massaged out and asap- 3 weeks from race, and you have to be careful about massages breaking down tissue w not enough time to heal.
I'd ice bathed as soon as I got home and tried to self massage, but I knew I had to get it taken care of by someone else who could really dig in.
That meant calling Buddy. Buddy's a good friend of mine who started massage a couple years ago and had done a couple of events for me as well handle the massages at the local beauty bar. He'd called earlier in the week to say that him and the beauty bar wanted to sponsor post marathon massage/mani/pedi which would be the most awesome of things. (If u want contact, email me, he's super awesome)
I happened to run into him that Sunday and told him about the leg issue. We set up a time Tues to rock it out.
Buddy went IN on my leg. We worked it out but it was definitely sore for a few days. It loosened up and felt better but was painful to walk on, and my knees had also started to get sensitive.
I'd missed Monday training, and would miss Wednesday. I was heading out of town Friday but packed all my stuff to run while away if I felt good enough and could.
Did I run? Does my leg work?? Keep reading for the next installment ...
Ha!
communicated via @isBerry!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Hot/Cold therapy. Blood up, blood in...
Hey, its the year for it!
My masseuse, a dear friend, worked out the knots and tension in my calf so of course have been dealing with some soreness and am going to avoid training and doing too much today.
Hopefully by Friday ill be back on my feet - quite literally! I have to run 10- we're tapering down!
communicated via @isBerry!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
What post 20 looks like. My girl Stef dares me to rock em marathon day. I might just! #26for26
Monday, October 11, 2010
long run recaps...
it's since dawned on me that usually if i dont sit on my phone on the subway ride post long run, it takes me quite a while to recap the long run training days. call it 'wipe-out', call it rest-up-laziness or whatever, it definitely isnt my first priority after long-run days. often, food, liquids and an icebath and a NAP are the first things I can think of.
regardless - its only right that i keep up to date with the type of training that's going down to get this girl ready for the full marathon on nov 7.
its not fun, its not pretty - but its not an option. so - here goes...
this past saturday I sleepily got my rear up after staying up WAY too late the night before and eating pasta WAY past dinner time. I'm no where near a morning person so it wasn't the best morning wake up. At least I knew where I was going this week (see the half recap to understand more) - so it was run gear on, throw random snacks in a bag (i forgot my shot blocks, i wouldnt realize it til later) - and throw the hoodie up and get moving... I figured since I ate so late I wouldnt really need breakfast either, so I had an applesauce on the way in on the train.
I got to Columbus Circle and exited the train to head to Central Park. I swear - best city in the world...
Coach B laughed at my hoodie up/slow roll --after hearing about me being sleepy, one of the TFK staff decided to nickname me 'partying with diddy'. Funny, had she known more about me/what I do, she'd know it was very real that Jay himself showed up to an event i'd produced the night before... but that's neither here nor there and has nothing to do with training... or me having to be up so damn early...
So the training was this - 15 miles. Bridal Path. Candy Cane 'loop' - which was 3.5 miles each way. So up and back - twice. An additional trip to Tavern on the Green would complete our 15. I'd run w my girl Jen, who I train w usually and runs at a similar pace, and she's always motivational so its helpful.
It wasn't an easy trip. The bridal path is softer ground and meant to help joints, but the CP path can be rocky. Its hella uneven. its not forgiving. I was already in a weird mood and my brain was all over the place, so it was hard to focus although I kept trying to watch where I was going and that was taking a toll in itself. My knees were not feeling me - so on the way up to the second trip, we made a bathroom stop, I retied the sneakers, had a Gu and kept going. On the way back down after finally hitting the top (and about 10 miles) - i landed on my foot wrong, semi landing on my ankle - i had to run it off slowly, feeling it in my right arch and thru my ankle. A runner ran past, also in training, saying "Ice it when you get home!"... yup. We made it though.
I had to learn some knee stretches with one of the coaches after the stretching to make sure that I could do it over the weekend, and ice etc just to stay cool.
Post run it was Jamba Juice and Whole Foods. Thank God for Columbus Circle...
again - the HALF was LAST weekend - and while there were some photos i threw up just to do quick updates, it wasn't a full recap, so below...
Is Kicks Grete's Ass in Central Park.
Grete's Gallop - a 13.1 marathon run consists of 2 loops of Central Park - backwards? Its not the usual direction most folks would seem to go i dont think...
Lets start with my morning... I had just wrapped a 2 day conference that I'd been working on (www.influencer10.com) and left a wrap party the eve before to make sure I could get home for this marathon in the morning.
I woke up at 5ish, had some oatmeal, and hop-stopped where i thought i needed to go. Note: I've been having some "universe-kicking-me" moments where I've been taking the wrong (read: long) way to get to places - taking the wrong trains, etc. I need to re-focus, and quick. Today must not have been any different, bc I hopstopped it - only to be told I needed to get to the eastside. For me, knowing the train wouldnt stop at my transfer on a weekend, it meant a bus or a walk to the nearby station that would get me to the eastside...
So - hopped a bus, got on the train, walked from the station to the NY Road Runners office... Ready for this? its closed.
The email said ... on THURSDAY and FRIDAY pick up your bibs from the NYRR offices. On RACE DAY - you pick up at the Bandshell. Where is THAT? From EAST89th st - u need to go to 72nd on the WEST Side. fun.
So - this girl walks up ... seems she's made the same mistake. I end up walking with her - into the park, and we run into another TFK runner, who seems like she was about to make the same mistake we had. I advised her we needed to go do pick up elsewhere, and we all headed over. 
The girl I met, I think her name was Kate - had her time down as much faster than mine, but when we met, I was like, oh, we can run together -- she'd done the Queens half before and we stuck together to start the race.
I told her about training with TFK (she was interested in maybe finding out about a group) and stories of SF08 when my girl Jess and I ran, and that I'd probably need a good cursing out at some point if i start lagging. I hate Central Park for its hills, and while training there so much has probably made me a much stronger and better runner, I cant help but btch and moan about it while going through it.
We crossed the start point at around 7:10 since we were in the batch that runs around a 10 min mile, and we had to take our time going over.
I never run long distances with my phone, but since there was no bag check and I was meeting Unklee for brunch after (at Popovers! my fave :) - photos in a previous post I'm sure...) I managed to catch a couple shots...
Shouts to this guy. As a Filipino American, anyone culturally could see how running behind this dude is motivation enough. If you told me there was Adobo and Lumpia waiting on the other side of the race, I may have finished it way sooner. HA!
Another shout out goes to this jerk -- who scared the living beejeezus out of me -- The fool runs the marathon with a GAS MASK on - carrying a big stick! I'm sorry, protestor or not (his vest says no more drug war), some weirdo runs up behind you in a gasmask and a stick in some weird uniform IN A PARK - freaks me the hell out. I dont do horror movies for a reason... It got me AGAIN when i guess he stopped for a pee break and you ran up only to see him standing still in the woods ... *shudders* ugh.
Anyway - slowly but surely, we made it through - a few water stops, a few gatorade stops... We had coaches on every other point - so it was good to see a few of them, especially after some of the tough hills. I try to extend a bit going up hill so that i get through it a bit quicker - its still hard, but it helps. We did good through the first loop, and around mile 12 I caught a major cramp in my side, but managed to run through it. We'd taken a water stop at some point between 12 and 13 and the small time I took to walk for a bit there seemed to help calm it down, so it was good.
We crossed the finish at just about 2:30 - so since we started at 7minutes, it was safe to say we did it just under that...
I turned around after we crossed the finish to grab a shot of the finish line-- turned around and Kate had disappeared...
I walked by the Gatorade stand -- which was near the bathrooms - stretched a bit and waited around to see if maybe I saw her -- and she was gone...
I walked toward the bandshell even to see if maybe I'd catch her out there somewhere. Nothing.
I hadn't gotten her info, so it wasn't like I could have hit her to find out where she'd gone - even though we both ran with our phones...
"Sounds like you had an angel..." Jen said when I told her about it yesterday. I hadn't admitted it out loud but it was my thoughts exactly when it happened. She showed up just when I needed after going to the wrong spot, stayed with me for the whole thing, and disappeared right after. She shows up in my running pics (i'll spare yall, i look wretched) but if she didnt I'd be totally spooked.
So shout out to Kate - wherever you are - Thanks!!
Randomly enough - on my way over to the bandshell, I heard a song that sounded way familiar -- Its a track called "Beggin" by a group called Madcon -- i listened closely to realize it was live, and not a recording -- and they had just performed! they were the last act that i'd worked when i was at the label (was in music pr) and there they were...
duh, its a Norwegian festival, and they're from *drumroll* Norway!
regardless - its only right that i keep up to date with the type of training that's going down to get this girl ready for the full marathon on nov 7.
its not fun, its not pretty - but its not an option. so - here goes...
this past saturday I sleepily got my rear up after staying up WAY too late the night before and eating pasta WAY past dinner time. I'm no where near a morning person so it wasn't the best morning wake up. At least I knew where I was going this week (see the half recap to understand more) - so it was run gear on, throw random snacks in a bag (i forgot my shot blocks, i wouldnt realize it til later) - and throw the hoodie up and get moving... I figured since I ate so late I wouldnt really need breakfast either, so I had an applesauce on the way in on the train.
I got to Columbus Circle and exited the train to head to Central Park. I swear - best city in the world...
Coach B laughed at my hoodie up/slow roll --after hearing about me being sleepy, one of the TFK staff decided to nickname me 'partying with diddy'. Funny, had she known more about me/what I do, she'd know it was very real that Jay himself showed up to an event i'd produced the night before... but that's neither here nor there and has nothing to do with training... or me having to be up so damn early...
So the training was this - 15 miles. Bridal Path. Candy Cane 'loop' - which was 3.5 miles each way. So up and back - twice. An additional trip to Tavern on the Green would complete our 15. I'd run w my girl Jen, who I train w usually and runs at a similar pace, and she's always motivational so its helpful.
It wasn't an easy trip. The bridal path is softer ground and meant to help joints, but the CP path can be rocky. Its hella uneven. its not forgiving. I was already in a weird mood and my brain was all over the place, so it was hard to focus although I kept trying to watch where I was going and that was taking a toll in itself. My knees were not feeling me - so on the way up to the second trip, we made a bathroom stop, I retied the sneakers, had a Gu and kept going. On the way back down after finally hitting the top (and about 10 miles) - i landed on my foot wrong, semi landing on my ankle - i had to run it off slowly, feeling it in my right arch and thru my ankle. A runner ran past, also in training, saying "Ice it when you get home!"... yup. We made it though.
I had to learn some knee stretches with one of the coaches after the stretching to make sure that I could do it over the weekend, and ice etc just to stay cool.
Post run it was Jamba Juice and Whole Foods. Thank God for Columbus Circle...
again - the HALF was LAST weekend - and while there were some photos i threw up just to do quick updates, it wasn't a full recap, so below...
Is Kicks Grete's Ass in Central Park.
Lets start with my morning... I had just wrapped a 2 day conference that I'd been working on (www.influencer10.com) and left a wrap party the eve before to make sure I could get home for this marathon in the morning.
I woke up at 5ish, had some oatmeal, and hop-stopped where i thought i needed to go. Note: I've been having some "universe-kicking-me" moments where I've been taking the wrong (read: long) way to get to places - taking the wrong trains, etc. I need to re-focus, and quick. Today must not have been any different, bc I hopstopped it - only to be told I needed to get to the eastside. For me, knowing the train wouldnt stop at my transfer on a weekend, it meant a bus or a walk to the nearby station that would get me to the eastside...
So - hopped a bus, got on the train, walked from the station to the NY Road Runners office... Ready for this? its closed.
The email said ... on THURSDAY and FRIDAY pick up your bibs from the NYRR offices. On RACE DAY - you pick up at the Bandshell. Where is THAT? From EAST89th st - u need to go to 72nd on the WEST Side. fun.
So - this girl walks up ... seems she's made the same mistake. I end up walking with her - into the park, and we run into another TFK runner, who seems like she was about to make the same mistake we had. I advised her we needed to go do pick up elsewhere, and we all headed over. We got to the Bandshell after walking part of the course (called it our 'warm up walk' later and got our bibs. It consists of the running number (which you pin on you) and a nifty shoe tag. The tag tracks you along the race, and marks when you hit certain points to keep your time for when you finish and your place in the race.
The girl I met, I think her name was Kate - had her time down as much faster than mine, but when we met, I was like, oh, we can run together -- she'd done the Queens half before and we stuck together to start the race.
I told her about training with TFK (she was interested in maybe finding out about a group) and stories of SF08 when my girl Jess and I ran, and that I'd probably need a good cursing out at some point if i start lagging. I hate Central Park for its hills, and while training there so much has probably made me a much stronger and better runner, I cant help but btch and moan about it while going through it.
We crossed the start point at around 7:10 since we were in the batch that runs around a 10 min mile, and we had to take our time going over.
I never run long distances with my phone, but since there was no bag check and I was meeting Unklee for brunch after (at Popovers! my fave :) - photos in a previous post I'm sure...) I managed to catch a couple shots...
Shouts to this guy. As a Filipino American, anyone culturally could see how running behind this dude is motivation enough. If you told me there was Adobo and Lumpia waiting on the other side of the race, I may have finished it way sooner. HA!
Another shout out goes to this jerk -- who scared the living beejeezus out of me -- The fool runs the marathon with a GAS MASK on - carrying a big stick! I'm sorry, protestor or not (his vest says no more drug war), some weirdo runs up behind you in a gasmask and a stick in some weird uniform IN A PARK - freaks me the hell out. I dont do horror movies for a reason... It got me AGAIN when i guess he stopped for a pee break and you ran up only to see him standing still in the woods ... *shudders* ugh.
Anyway - slowly but surely, we made it through - a few water stops, a few gatorade stops... We had coaches on every other point - so it was good to see a few of them, especially after some of the tough hills. I try to extend a bit going up hill so that i get through it a bit quicker - its still hard, but it helps. We did good through the first loop, and around mile 12 I caught a major cramp in my side, but managed to run through it. We'd taken a water stop at some point between 12 and 13 and the small time I took to walk for a bit there seemed to help calm it down, so it was good.
We crossed the finish at just about 2:30 - so since we started at 7minutes, it was safe to say we did it just under that...
I turned around after we crossed the finish to grab a shot of the finish line-- turned around and Kate had disappeared...
I walked by the Gatorade stand -- which was near the bathrooms - stretched a bit and waited around to see if maybe I saw her -- and she was gone...
I walked toward the bandshell even to see if maybe I'd catch her out there somewhere. Nothing.
I hadn't gotten her info, so it wasn't like I could have hit her to find out where she'd gone - even though we both ran with our phones...
"Sounds like you had an angel..." Jen said when I told her about it yesterday. I hadn't admitted it out loud but it was my thoughts exactly when it happened. She showed up just when I needed after going to the wrong spot, stayed with me for the whole thing, and disappeared right after. She shows up in my running pics (i'll spare yall, i look wretched) but if she didnt I'd be totally spooked.
So shout out to Kate - wherever you are - Thanks!!
Randomly enough - on my way over to the bandshell, I heard a song that sounded way familiar -- Its a track called "Beggin" by a group called Madcon -- i listened closely to realize it was live, and not a recording -- and they had just performed! they were the last act that i'd worked when i was at the label (was in music pr) and there they were...
duh, its a Norwegian festival, and they're from *drumroll* Norway!
So I had to go over and say hi - sweaty, salty and all, it was good to see the guys. (Hear their song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h96Qo0tRBQ)
There were some kids playing that had done the Troll Run - a race for the kids that morning. It was nice to see them - a nice reminder to why I was raising money, to the organization that I'd joined in order to fill my own personal goals of running the NY Marathon.
Adorable.
Took me forever to get out of the park and head over to Popovers (East side vs West side exits in CP can get confusing...) but these were SO worth it... YUM!
And that -- wraps up my Long Run Recap ...
next weekend: 20 miles in New Jersey. Hopefully it wont take me so long to recap that one!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
...and now, a message from our Head Coach...
"....All summer and fall our TFK members, metro, national and international, have been training for this fantastic race for the greatest of reasons- helping to provide physical education and health and fitness programs to the children in New York and elsewhere. In doing so, you have immeasurably improved your own level of fitness and health and well-being. I thank you on behalf of all of us at Team for Kids for being part of this wonderful team, and it is my deepest wish for you all that you achieve both a successful marathon, and continue as I have to enjoy the lifelong benefits that regular running and exercise can provide."
Word. Thank you to our Head Coach for keeping us all motivated, even when we may be achy and pained and thinking this sucks. ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
We're doin it for the KIDS!
Word. Thank you to our Head Coach for keeping us all motivated, even when we may be achy and pained and thinking this sucks. ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
We're doin it for the KIDS!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Jamba post run break at Whole Foods. Acai is so super mandatory. Anti-oxidants!!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Its official: New York Marathon: Nov 7, 2010. See yall out there ;) #26for26
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Post run snacks: I eat my applesauce thru a lil hole. He thinks its weird. I don't care. Lol
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Marathon support in more ways than 1: thanks to @etrebarclay & @powerbalance! #26for26
Shoutout to mr blackmon for giving me what's in his pocket for TeamForKids!! Dollar a mile! #26for26
Brand Loyalty...
I have arch issues, so my sneakers have to support that, and unless they can, I can't rock. I've been a Nike lover forever and with everything outside of training, I rock em with love.
The last two pairs that I trained in were Mizuno and I ran SF08 in New Balances -
This year, since they've been so run down, I've been getting some knee issues and random aches and pains due to the wear and tear.
I get refitted at Fleet Feet in Montclair to check how my feet have changed and make sure that I have enough support so that I don't have any issues.
We settled on these Bowerman editions after trying on two pairs of New Balances, a Mizuno and a Saucony. I liked the Saucony pair a lot actually, but found the Nikes to be a bit lighter with still a good amount of snug.
Will update on how that goes!
communicated via @isBerry!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Getting ready for the half...
Definitely got on a train to go to NYRR headquarters - (on EAST 89th) only to find out number pick up was at bandshell! (WEST 72nd)
Sigh!
Let's go....
communicated via @isBerry!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Raising it up! http://bit.ly/bW6xmN we're still going for one more week! $1000 countdown!
communicated via @isBerry!
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