26 point 2

sigh. having run the marathon the past three years, it pains me a bit to say that i’ve decided not to run the marathon this year.  this has not been a new or sudden decision though.  after running the nyc marathon last year, my body and i had a heart to heart and asked for a break! the training, stress and anxiety all took a serious toll on me mentally and physically, and decided that if i wanted to continue enjoying the sport, the best thing to do was to take a break.  as of now, that break just means a year off from the marathon.  i’m sitting here now to write this post because i am starting to see posts on social media, see runners with water bands, and hear people talk about their long runs.  i even saw a sign for the tune up run in central park.  all of which made me reason that as happy as i am to take the break, i’m also a little sad to not be running this year.  the marathon is by far one of the most challenging, coolest and most inspiring experiences that i’ve ever had.  i’m super excited to stand on the side lines and cheer this year, but i know on race day i will feel a bit of jealousy for not being out there on the course.

to clarify, when i say i’m taking a break this year, i don’t mean i’ve stopped running.  i’ve still been running 5 miles a day, mostly on the treadmill ( ehhh) but i try to get in a longer run outside on the weekends.  however, by longer run right now i mean 6 - maybe 7 miles :) i’ve also been doing lots of classes in the meantime, like soul, pure barre, and i’ve recently been doing a lot of hot yoga.  i just signed up for a month at moda yoga in the west village - its $40 for a whole month - cant beat that! i’ve challenged myself to try to get there all 30 days this month, which i know is most likely impossible, but we’ll see what happens - i’m 4/4 so far! 

every thanksgiving, since 2004, i have run in a 4 mile race- The Run 4 The Pies. back in 2004, it was a tiny little local race, maybe 800 people total, and everyone got a pie for running.  running this race has been a fun tradition and as i’ve gotten older, its been a fun way to get to see friends when i come back home for the holiday.  over the years, its grown in size, and this year there were close to 2,000 runners!

i’ve never taken the race too seriously; but the last time i ran, i had just run the raleigh marathon, and i was in probably the best physical shape ever.  i ended up placing 3rd in my age group - but that year, they only gave medals to the top 2 in each group (womp womp).

so this year, i traveled home with a goal in mind - place in the top of my age division and get a medal! i wasn’t sure this would pan out as it had been almost a month since the nyc marathon, and i had been in a bit of a running slump and had done zero speedwork training to race a 4 miler.  

wow, i cant believe its taken me over 2 weeks to sit down to write this. i have so many mixed emotions about this race so tbh ive been avoiding it.

the start: i woke up at 4:40 am, my alarm went off and i was wide awake.  i got dressed and had a little bit of oatmeal.  i was unsure of how, what and when to eat due to the logistics of the start.  i left my apt at around 5:25.  my dad went downstairs to get a cab with me, and about a block away from my apt i realized for forgot the bag i had set aside with the rest of my breakfast so i had the cab driver go back around and my dad met me downstairs (thanks dad!).  i made it to the bus stop by 5:50 am where i joined the 3 buses full of runners with team in training to head over to staten island

we arrived on staten island at around 6:40 am. i made a friend on the bus ride over so we stuck together through the security and metal detectors and helped each other navigate the entrance to the village.  when i say village, i mean village.  it was as if a temporary city was set up for the 50,000 people waiting for the marathon to start.  we were divided by colors. mine was orange.  in each of the color sections there were rows of portorpottys (very impt) and tents with water, coffee, bagels etc.  people were everywhere, just sitting, chilling, sleeping.  it looked like a homeless village! it was interesting to hear all the different languages being spoken- the nyc marathon is truly and international race! i sat patiently on a nice patch of grass in the orange section for close to 3 hours.  i visited the portorpottys no less than 7 times! 

when they finally called my wave, i found my coral, and waited a little longer (and of course visited the portorpottys 2 more times).  as we moved up to the start line i felt all sorts of emotions.  i was so excited to be running but felt exhausted from the hours spent just getting there.  at 10:15 am, i finally crossed the start line and was off!

the race: 

overall race - it was a tough, tough course.  i practiced parts of the course, but i wish i had practiced the last 6/10 miles.  i felt strong for the first 17 miles, but after that i started to lose myself mentally and physically.  the last 3 miles were some of the toughest i’ve ever run.  i’ve been trying to black them out of my memory but they keep coming back! my goal was to finish at any time that started with a 3.  I ended up finishing in 3:59:22, so mission  accomplished! however, i was secretly hoping to beat my chicago time from last year, or at least come very close to it, which didn’t happen, but overall, i am still happy with my time! 

here’s a breakdown of each mile:

Mile 1: 9:32 - over the Verrazano bridge - throngs of people, impossible to move, this pace was slow and looking back, is a minute that i could have shaved off of the my final time :(

Mile 2: 8:11 - a little fast, but was able to open up my stride after the mess of mile 1

Mile 3: 8:17- felt good

Mile 4: 7:48 - way too fast, dont know what i was thinking here, but got a little caught up in the excitement and the energetic crowds

Mile 5: 8:21 - felt fine, still maybe a little fast

Mile 6: 8:26 - got in to a bit of a rythm

Mile 7: 8:35 - i think this was around fort green.  in my opinion, this area had some of the best crowds.  the people were excited to be out there and were cheering for everyone.  i had my name on my shirt so i kept getting random people yelling my name and cheering for me which was a nice little boost of confidence!

Mile 8: 8:35 - getting in to the groove, but was ready to et out of bk

Mile 9: 8:38 - same as mile 8

Mile 10: 8:40 same as mile 8 & 9

Mile 11: 8:59 - i looked down at my watch and started to realize that i may have gone out too fast for the first 10.  i read something about running this race in negative splits, to keep it slow for the first ten and then speed it up for the second 10.  i find this to be extremely challenging, and requires practice and discipline, something i had not practiced for this race. so i tried to calm it down and steady the pace for the next few miles.

Mile 12: 8:45 - got in to a better pace here

Mile 13: 8:41 - felt good about this pace - ohh we’re halfway there!

Mile 14: 8:57 - started to get slightly bored, ran through queens here but i was excited about the 59th street bridge to come

Mile 15: 8:55 - the 59th street bridge, although this was challenging, i was pumped about this part of the run.  there were no spectators so it was time to tune out the world, turn up my music and get in the zone. i had practiced this bridge so i knew what i was getting in to and i knew that was just temporary.  i saw lots of people stopping to walk on this bridge which gave me a little boost as i stayed in the zone and kept my legs moving the whole time. the great part about this bridge is that it drops you off in to manhattan!

Mile 16: 9:57 - this was the run down 1st ave.  and possibly the biggest shock of the race.  i was sooo excited for this part.  i had watched from here last year and i remember the crowds being loud and insane.  however, when i came off the bridge on to 1st ave, the crowds were quite.  while i understand people had been standing out there for hours by the time i got there, it felt like the thousands of people standing out there were waiting anxiously to see their one friend pass by, and until that friend went by, they just stood there in silence.

Mile 17: 8:51 1st ave, the crowd was at least 7 people deep. was crazy to see so many people out there for runners lol

Mile 18: 8:58 - i started to feel tired and groggy.  i kept an eye out for my parents as i knew the street number they would be by.  i caught them right as i passed by. they were standing in the front row with their cameras ready and they didnt even see me when i passed by.  i yelled out for my mom and they saw me just as i ran by! (thanks for coming guys!)

Mile 19: 9:16 -leaving manhattan.  things start to get fuzzy here.  i was starting to lose steam mentally and physically. i definitely started hitting the wall

Mile 20: 9:32 - i was thinking about all the things id rather do than finish running. i could easily just stop at mile 20 and be done for the day

Mile 21: 9:24 - i think there was a bridge here. i dont even remember what mile it was at.  if i were to see the bridge now i would probably laugh at how flat it was, but at the time, it felt like i was climbing mount everest.  lots of people started walking here as well. 

Mile 22: 9:51 coming back towards manhattan.  i think i felt like i was going to throw up at some point here.  i could have easily eaten a full on sandwich because i felt hungry, but i also could have also easily puked at the same time.

Mile 23: 9:45 - this was the worst mile of the race.  i had heard about this mile - museum mile - i think is what they call it.  it goes up 5th ave in to central park, and it is a slow and steady incline.  one of the most cruel and painful hills i have ever run.  i will never look at 5th ave the same way

Mile 24: 10:25 - entered central park, which again was filled with hills. i was mentally out of the zone at this point.  all the mantras and positive thoughts i had prepared were lost in space.  i felt defeated, and could not get back in the zone. there were rolling hills that seemed to be playing mind tricks with me.  there were crowds of people and i felt embarrassed to stop, but at one point my legs gave out and i had to walk. this was the first time i checked my watch for my overall time.  i did a quick calculation, and knew that i could most likely still get to the finish under 4 but id really have to race!

Mile 25/26  9:44/9:55 - out of the park and down central park south. i tried to enjoy this last bit, but i was in so much pain that i just wanted it to be over.  i was glued to my watch and was counting the minutes and seconds until it was over.  the minutes felt like they were flying by when i finally rounded the corder in to the park, i was racing (or at least it felt like i was) to the finish line.  

Mile 26.2: 3:59: 22 - crossed the finish line and felt like i could have sat down for the rest of the day.  i found a seat on the side an a medic immediately came over and told me i needed to either stand up and go to the medic tent or keep walking.  i told her to let me live and that i just needed to rest my legs (lol, like comon lady!) after a few minutes i got up and grabbed my medal!

wow.... that was exhausting to recap.  i feel like i just ran the marathon a second time.  

its marathon eve!!!! i imagine this is what kids feel like on christmas eve (i dont celebrate christmas). im a ball full of excitement and nerves.  no matter how many miles and months of practice, i dont think i will ever truely feel ready or a marathon.  there is so much about a marathon that is really just about that day.  the weather, the course, the amount of sleep you got last night....what makes the marathon so exciting is that you never know what to expect.  you can train and plan, but when it comes down to it, its about how much heart and willpower you have when you get to that starting line.

i’ve run 1,300 miles since the start of this year.  each of those has been in preparation for tomorrow (the good ones and the bad ones). my gear is all set out and i’m loaded up on h2o and carbs. i’m soo excited to see what tomorrow brings! 

t minus one week! holy ahhh! the nyc marathon is just about here.  today i ran my last long distance run before the big one!  i’ve missed a few posts here over the past few weeks, so since the last 20 miler, i did a 17 miler, and a 15 miler, and today i did 10 final miles from my apt to and around central park.  i heard they had started to set up for the race, so i thought it would be a good way to get mentally pumped, and that i did.  the risers at the finish line have been brought in, some of the signs are up, and it was filled with people that were doing the same thing as me.  i got a little jittery running through the finish line, and i cant wait to cross it and for this race to be over soon :)

looking back at my training for this race, i’m feeling anxious and nervous and excited all at the same time.  while i’ve gotten in the long runs necessary, i haven’t been able to get in the weekly milage i would have liked to.  i’m hoping that mental strength and adrenaline will make up for this on race day! 

my parents will be arriving on thursday evening.  i’m planning to head over to the race expo after work on thursday, to avoid what i’ve heard are huge crowds on saturday.  the expo is one of my favorite parts of any big race.  its so exciting to see so many runners and running enthusiasts in one place. and i def  want to get some cool nyc marathon gear.  

i’m also hosting a bagel brunch after the race for some friends, so fingers crossed that i don’t die during the marathon so i can make it for bagels after :) jk jk. maybe its not the best idea to host a party after running a marathon, but it will at least be a good source of motivation during the race to know i have all my friends (and bagels) to come home to!

the 20 miler! it happened!

this weekend the weatherman warned of hurricane joaquin coming to town, but growing up in florida, i know better than to buy in to the hype.  we got some rain on friday, but other than that, (thankfully) the storm did not make landfall up here. and so i ran according to plan on saturday morning, all 20 miles of that plan!

when i woke up though, it was 54 degrees and drizzling a bit - not ideal weather, but i figured it was a good way to practice for race day, since there’s no guarantee of good weather. i bundled up (tshirt, sweater, raincoat, gloves, hat, the whole kit and caboodle) and headed out, up the west side highway.  i ran the furthest north i have run before - all the way up in to the cloisters- and back.  

the run felt good.  miles 1-6 were easy, 7-13 felt harder than they should have. 14-17 felt so so, and then mile 18-20 felt way easier than they should have.  i even had negative splits starting around mile 16, which i was pretty surprised about.  i think with the crappy weather and the cooler temps, i started out at a bit of a slower pace to see how my body would react.  i kept it slow and steady, and by the end i still had a little more juice.  this is good, and what i hope i can do on race day.  pace myself well enough that a)dont die and b) feel strong at the end.

i havent decided the rest of my training schedule yet, i still need to take a closer look at the calendar, but im definitely going to do 1 more 20 miler, if not 2 (but that might be a bit ambitious).  

there are a few ways to get in to the nyc marathon

1) lottery - you end and you get a spot - easy peasy

2) 9+1 - through the nyrr, if you run 9 qualifying races throughout the year, and volunteer at one race (or donate a certain amount of money) you can get guaranteed entry in to the nyc marathon for the following year

3) run with a charity

i have entered the lottery 3 times, and still have not gotten in, i attempted to do the 9+1 last year but it gets hard to find enough weekends to commit to races, so i decided to bite the bullet this year and run with a charity.  i was nervous about the fundraising requirement, as i hate asking people for money, and i hate when people as me for money for these types of things, but the fundraising process has really surprised me.  i have been so surprised by how supportive people have been! 

i chose to run with Team in Training which supports the LLS (Leukemia & Lymphoma society),  great organization, and one that many people can get behind donating to.  TNT sets you up with all the tools you need to be successful at fundraising - they set you up with a webpage and templates to easily send out emails to potential donors.  they have also been super supportive with weekly emails and group runs (i havent gone to any of these yet, but i read the emails which are helpful!)

i committed to raising $3,500 and as of today, i am SO close to reaching my goal.  i have currently raised $3,401, meaning i am just $99 away from reaching my goal!  i have few outstanding emails to friends that im hoping will come through and get me to my goal, so fingers crossed that i can reach my goal by Oct 16!

this weekend’s run was long, and tough.  i was planning to do 16 miles, as i wanted to take it down a notch from the previous weekend, but ended up adding on another mile to make it 19!  

i have been trying to research about the nyc course so i can get both mentally and physically prepared for what people describe as one of the more challenging courses. my research reminded me that i have yet to train over any bridges, and according to my research, the 59th street, or the queensboro bridge, is one of the toughest of the race.  this bridge is tough for a few reasons: 1) its a decently long bridge, a little over a mile 2) during the race, no one other than runners can be on the bridge, so it is apparently a bit of a mental drain since there are no cheering fans to keep you motivated 3) its a relatively long gradual climb, tough to run at any time and especially since it is 4) strategically placed at mile 15 of the race (yikes!)

so i used this knowledge to my advantage this weekend.  the night before, i mapped out a course for what i felt would be a good length and would give me a chance to practice running that bridge on similarly tired legs. i ran from my apt down the west side highway, around the tip of the island at battery park, up the east side (it got a little dicey as i was running up to 59th street because there was lots of stuff and security at the UN this weekend, so i had to run on the sidewalk of 2nd avenue which messed up my groove in an important part of my run) and across the 59th street bridge.  i got there around mile 12, and after running over and back, i figured what the heck, and ran over and back again! i figured i might not have another chance to train on the bridge, so i might as well do it now.  the second over and back was around mile 15, which worked out perfectly for practicing what it will be like on race day.  the bridge was honestly not as bad as i was expecting.  it is a gradual climb up for longer than the downhill, which is annoying, but now that i know what to expect i can handle it much better.  after running the bridge, i followed the marathon course down to 1st ave, which according to my research is one of the best parts of the race.  there is a slight uphill and then a nice downhill, accompanied by screaming fans as you enter manhattan and make your way to the later part of the race. i watched the marathon for the first time last year at around 67th street and fist ave.  i remember seeing the runners come down off the bridge and begin their trek down first ave, and the vibe was completely electric.  fans were cheering, runners were experiencing highs, it was just magical.  i am excited just thinking about that part of the race.

after coming off the bridge, and reaching mile 18 along 1st ave, my legs felt shot, and since the roads were not blocked off like they will be on race day, it was tough to run and worry about pedestrians and street signs (stopping and starting your body at 18 miles is extremely difficult). i pushed myself to finish out strong at mile 19, and i was so glad i did.  i felt so accomplished, and happy with the milage and terrain i covered.  

overall, this run was good, but tough (having to dodge pedestrians and worry about street signs all along 2nd and 1st ave, which i wont really have to deal with on race day, made it a challenge). 

this year i have noticed that my long run recovery seems to be much longer than in the past. maybe my past training has all just blurred together and i’ve blocked out the painful memories, but i dont recall needing as much recovery time in the past.  

after my 15 mile run, i took the next day off as a rest day.  i set out for a 5 mile run the next day, and had to take the next two days off as i felt a pain in my ankle and didnt want to risk an unnecessary injury.

after my 18 miles run i took the next day off as a rest day, but today, the second day after, i also feel leg pain (shin splints, tight calves) and will most likely take the day off from running (will try to get some cross training and weights in at least).  

Guys! I RAN 18 MILES!!!

I had a busy weekend to say the least.  My mom came to visit so we had lots of fun bopping around the city and saw some shows, but before i even knew she was coming up this weekend i had signed up to run in a nyrr race.  they host a nyc marathon tune up, which is basically a group long run.  it was a whopping 18 miles! and i am soooo glad that i did it.  prior to this weekend, my longest run was 15 miles.  i didnt have time to do a long run last weekend when i was home in fl, so i was nervous to make the jump from 15-18.  but the 18 miles this weekend felt great.  the course was a bit boring - 3 loops around central part, but it was a great practice run to get me in the mindset i need to be in for the upcoming marathon.  the large loop around central park is 6 miles, and its a good place to practice because it has a nice mix of flat, rolling hills, and 2 relatively steep hills.  there was water and or gatorade at every mile, which was a great way for me to practice and try out a new fueling plan. typically when i go out on long runs on my own wear a fuelband with gatorade, and i have also worn them in the past 2 marathons. however, for this marathon i want to get rid of the fuel belt and just wear a lightweight spybelt with some sport beans.  using the preset fueling stations seemed to work out for me, it gave me something to look forward to at each mile marker, and helped me to ensure i was getting plenty of fluids. im still debating if i will wear the fuelbelt on raceday though, i like having fluid at any and all times if necessary. (does anyone have any comments or suggestions for me about wearing a fuel belt vs not for the actual marathon?)

there were thousands of people running the race, which made the 18 miles more bearable.  usually when i go out for long runs on my own, its pretty boring. i sometimes find myself looking at other runners, wondering how many miles they are running that day, and when certain runners are going faster than me, or look less tired than me, i tell myself they are probably just doing 2 or 3 miles.  so it was fun to know that everyone around me was running the same amount of miles, and it was a good way to compare how i was feeling to how others looked (to me at least).  

the weather was perfect, it was about 75, not too sunny, and not too chilly. the first few miles were ok, and finally got in to a groove around miles 7-10.  i felt my legs get a little fatigued starting around mile 13, but i pushed through, and got a final jolt of energy towards the end. since i knew this was just 18, i sped up a little to finish strong, but i tried to keep a steady pace in an effort to mimic the actual race, since on race day, i wont get to stop at 18 :( 

overall, i was super happy with how the tune up went.  i felt good, i felt strong, and i felt mentally in the zone.  this weekend, im planning to run some of the bridges, hopefully get a 15 -16 mile run in.  and then the following weekend, my goal is to do a 20 miler!

anyone else running the nyc marathon? how’s your training going!?

its been a minute, but i’m excited to check back in to report that marathon training is in full swing!

i am running the NYC Marathon in just 7 short weeks and I am super excited about it.  i entered the lottery (for a 3rd time this year) and as you guessed, I did not get a golden ticket.  but i decided that this is the year, so i am signed up with Team In Training to run the big race this year.  Team in Training raises money for the LLS (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) which is an awesome organization, so not only am i pumped to run the race, but im also pumped to get to raise money for people that really need it. CANCER SUCKS, right?! more on the fundraising later (I’m oh so close to reaching my goal)

my last post was about a running low, which i remember quite clearly, and i am happy to report that i have come out of that low, and im back feeling good about my runs.  i am not following any specific training plan for this marathon (i didnt for the other 2 either) but my general plan is to pack in as many miles as possible to get my legs and mind in the zone.  as of 3 weeks ago, i have been taking my long runs more seriously.  starting at 12 miles, i’ve been trying to add at least 1 mile on to my long runs each week.  so far i have done a 12 miler, a 14 milers, and a 15 miler, and to be honest i have felt really good and strong during each of them.  hydration and nutrition have been key in each of them.  as much as i feel like a nerd wearing my fuelbelt when i go running in NYC, it is so necessary.  I find that drinking gatorade during long runs is essential for me.  it keeps me hydrated and replenishes the important electrolytes i lose so quickly.  

i know that i have been ignoring some key elements of my training so far though and im hoping to incorporate those in to my plan over the next few weeks. for sure, i need to practice running the bridges and some elevation. so far i have only run the hill in central park once. running hills is tough but so good for you. i need to get in some more hill training asap.  i also need to practice the bridges, as im pretty sure the course covers a few of them (i should take a look at the course too!)  and last but not least, i need to practice some sprints. this is always the one that gets me. i say i need to do it and somehow, i just never find the motivation and/or time.  hopefully i can find the time to do some over the next few weeks.

thats all for now. i’m signed up for the nyrr marathon tune up, which is basically a good way to get in a long run with lots of other people and hydration stations, in 2 weeks, so ill be back to share my thoughts and progress then!

running has its highs and lows. there are streaks where running can make you feel your highest of highs, runs where you feel on top of the world, like you could run for days.  and then there are runs that require you to muster ever ounce of energy you have in your body to just move your feet one in front of the other.

over the past few weeks i have been going through a running low.  up until may and leading up to the bk half, i was elated to be running the way i was.  i was rocking out sub 8 minute miles, as if they were #nobigdeal and pr-ed at the bk half.  but since then, each run has been so incredibly tough.  ive been trying to analyze if i’ve been doing anything different. ive noticed a few things (ive been doing my morning runs outside rather then the tredmill, which should actually be easier, but hasnt been) but i think the main thing is a cluttered head. 

ive been in what feels like a rut at work and in life, and i think those thoughts are cluttering my mind and consequently my runs.  its crazy how everything going on outside of running has such a clear impact on running.  

the mantra that got me through todays bk half: 

“ I feel good, I feel strong. Pain is temporary, PRs are forever!” 

I’ve been doing a lot more reading int he past 2 years than i have in the 25 years prior.  And lately i have been really in to books about running.  The list so far includes:

1. Born to Run

2. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

3. My Life on the Run

4. The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances

I would like to feature some book reviews here on 26.2 and after reading The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances, I had to share my thoughts.

This. Book. Is. Awesome! Well, just as an fyi, this is not really a book; its more of a comic book.  I didn’t know much about The Oatmeal or Matthew Inman before reading this book- i saw it pop up on my friend’s Goodreads list, and quickly added it to mine, as the title sounded catchy.  I was sitting on a plane about to take off and was panicked because I couldn’t figure out what book to buy on Amazon for the 5 hour flight.  I flippantly one-click purchased this book, and opened it up to realize it was a picture comic book.  I huffed, realizing it was too late to return, and was not what i was expecting.  So i left it in my library for a few days and went on with my life.  But a few days later, i was bored on the subway and decided to give it a try.  I started reading and was hooked. It was hilarious!  I found myself LOL-ing in public and felt slightly embarrassed. 

Inman illustrates and describes what running is like in such a funny and universal way that this book is great for people who hate running all the way to ultra marathon runners who run for 48 hrs at a time.  He captures the essence of every thought and feeling that has ever crossed a runners mind at any poing in time.  From the feeling of eating everything in site and justifying it by your 20 mile run the previous day, to the thoughts that fly through your head during a marathon.

If you have not read this book yet, stop what you are doing right now, and read it!  It will take you no more than 2 hours, and you will not regret it!

 in my last post i said i was going to try and get in some speed work, and i am a woman of my word!  spring is finally starting to pop up around here, and wednesday after work it was close to 60 degrees (!) so I decided to run outside. there is an outdoor track but it is all the way on the east river and i didnt feel like making the trek (there is also an indoor track at chelsea piers, but you have to either be a member or pay for a $50 day pace to use it) so i tried to find somewhere along the west side to do some sprints.  there is a pier right on 24th street that i used.  

i havent done speed work in FOREVER so it wasnt pretty.  the pier i ran on wasnt very far, i thought it was maybe a quarter of a mile, but after i checked my watch for my splits, i found out that it was only a .11 sprint.  wahhhh. that .11 distance felt like death! i told myself i was going to do 5 of them, and by the end i was winded. it really showed me how much i need to up my speed game if i want to really get faster.  

speed work is what i like to think of as a frenemy.  its your best friend, because its what actually will make you faster and perform better on race day, but it is your enemy because it is to hard and hurts so bad.  thus, i call it my frenemy. its a necessary evil, that sucks to do, but once you have done it, you feel soooo much better, and you will notice significant improvements in your running.

here are my splits - they are nothing to write home about, but its a starting point, and im hoping to make it over to the track to do some real speed work now that the temp is rising and staying lighter later. after the 5 sprits i did another mile or so at fast pace - i dont think my watch picked it up properly though, so im not exactly sure how fast it was.

the weatherman said 40 and sunny, so i was pumped to run outside, but i got up early and when i got out the door, it was still a chilly 25 degrees.  whatever though, spring is coming and i cannot wait!

i figured id get in a solid 7-8 miles outside but made it to 10, no problem, which made me super happy because i havent done a 10 mile run in a while.  i've  been starting to think about the upcoming bk half, and how i need to start training for that, so today's run made me realize that i am in pretty good shape for that race.  with the weather starting to warm up, the clocks moving forward tonight bringing more daylight, im excited to start getting in some extra miles to get ready for the bk half in may.

i still needed my handwarmers today, but the sun was out, and i could feel it trying to bring more warm vibes. my pace was pretty on point for where i want to be right now. im hoping to get in some speed work over the next few weeks to give me that extra push to try and get a new half pr. ill keep you all posted on how this plan pans out, obviously.