Double By-Pass

What is that you ask? It's the name of a run that includes two awesome bridges!

• Saturday morning: I am geared up and ready to go. Hair in braided pigtails, calf guards on, shorts, visor, fuel belt with gatorade and gu. I look like a running freak, for sure.
• Meet TNT peeps at Finish Line physical therapy at 8:30 am.
• I end up in the elevator with 7 guys. I remark "it's my lucky day". They take one look at the dorky girl in braid and calf guards (next time I will wear my retainer too) and they look away. Ha. Good morning to you all as well...bitches.
• I spot Heather and Lorraine. Whew. Too big of a run to do solo.
• We get our pep talk, directions and head out the door.
• I got my garmin, I am the fearless pace leader. Let's go!
• This run was AMAZING. I know I say that alot, but it really was.
• We started out running across 23rd street to the west side highway.
• Down the west side highway (it was sunny, cars were whizzing by, flowers and trees were in bloom and the hudson stench stayed low)... coaches Michael and Steve ran by and said "hi Jen" (swoon...maybe it's the pig tails) :)
• Head left at Chambers street, just in time to Gu. Yummmy. Had to dodge some crowds and tourists, but not too horrible.
• Next move- over the Brooklyn bridge. I've driven over but never on foot. There was a pretty decent uphill (all on wooden slats) but both the view and the bridge is breathtaking.
• Bridge: intricate series of cables and steel. View: statue of liberty, circle line & south street sea port.
• Ran over the bridge, made two quick lefts and we were on the Manhattan bridge.
• Manhattan bridge reminded me alot of the 59th st (my favorite bridge). Traffic and subways whizzing by, a steady uphill that levels out and then a nice downhill
• End of the bridge, right on Bowery, past Canal street into the heart of china town. Mmmm. Stinky fish smell at 10am (my favorite, ask my parents about that). Streets were super crowded and we were out of place for sure (have I mentioned my braids)?
• Right on Delancey, time for Gu 2...wow, Delancey is a long as street. Hrm. brrrt. Excuse me. Tummy feels funny, You girls (brrrttt) run ahead. I'll be okay. Oh no, oh no. Gu hit me hard. I may have to poop...except there is nothing around here...hrm. I guess behind that mini van will do!
• Whew. Thankfully I slowed down and my tummy settled. Poop incident avoided.
• Ran parallel to the Willamsburg bridge, up the stairs, over the FDR and onto the east side...
• I've only run east side way up...down was amazingly pretty as well. Lot's of people out running, setting up bbq's, etc.
• Ran to 23rd street, made a left and headed back to 23rd and 6th. I stopped at 23rd and B'way bc my watch told me we had gone 11.3 miles, which was good enough for me for the day.
• Back to finish line, ate a bagel, hydrated with a bloody mary, hung out with my friends, flirted with the cute coaches, and out.

Sooo tired, but a very inspiring run. Run on Pigtail, Braids, Calf Guards Girl, Run on!

Running to a Halt

After my race last week, I will admit, I was a bit sluggish about running.

• Monday: dedicated pilates day. No run.
• Tuesday: was supposed to run after work, but it was cold, windy and started to rain. No run.
• Wednesday: group training in Central Park, but it was cold, windy and started to rain. No run (see the trend here). I also promised Lorraine and Heather I would help out at their fundraising happy hour. It turned out to be so much fun. Bud lite 1, run 0.
• Thursday: it was cold-ish, windy and rainy. I sluggishly went over to Mike and Cupcake's desk and told them to convince me to run. Mike ran Boston on Monday. He was limping and was like- it's so great outside, I wish I could run right now. Go run. So I did (thanks Mike) :)
• Run was AMAZING. I did my usual 4 miles on the westside highway (2 up, 2 back)
• This time, however, I had my snazzy new Garmin watch (I had it for my race last Sunday but couldn't figure out how to use it).
• I knew my legs felt good and my stride was perkier than usual...but it wasn't until my watch told me I was running 11:30 min miles that I believed it!
• My weeks and weeks of training finally kicked in. I showed real running improvement!

Garmin 1. Run 1. Jen's improved running 1. It's a win win for all! Run on improved Jen, run on!

Another Sunday Raceday...

10 miles on Saturday. 4 Miles on Sunday (8am race) = a very tired weekend Jen.

• One of my friends just asked me where beer drinking, wing eating Jen went...she's still around I said, but only comes out to play once every few weeks now.
• Sunday's race was the usual 4 miler in the park. Same route...start at 72nd st, up cat hill, cross 102, down the west side and back over to 72.
• The difference this time was that my legs almost remembered the hills that I ran in the park the day before, which allowed my mind to forget them. So I just ran.
• It felt great. I shaved another few seconds off of my time...got a bagel and 2 free containers of Zico coconut water at the end (a good $8 worth) :)
• I was in such a daze that I somehow managed to exit the park at 59th st instead of 72nd...
• Hopped on a bus (all I had were my keys and a metrocard).
• Went home, did laundry (running = lots of dirty stinky clothes), took a shower and a nice long nap....zzzzzzz

Ahhhh. A rather nice relaxing Sunday if I do say so myself. Run on 4 mile Jen. Run on.

Interlude...

In the words of Jack Johnson:

It's as simple as something that nobody knows that her eyes are as big

as her bubbly toes

on the feet of a queen of the hearts of the cards and her feet are all

covered with tar balls and scars...

He must have had me in mind when he wrote that song...Oh the woes of running. My feet are not going to be flip-flop "summer ready" for a very long time.

Calluses, blisters, and bubbles, oh my.

Run on ugly toes, run on!

Running in Circles

Literally. Saturday in Central Park. 10 miles. Two 5 mile loops (one upper, one lower).

• Cat Hill 2x (named that bc of the big statue of a black panther that sits on a rock).
• Harlem Hill 1x (I don't think I could do it twice). Named bc it's located at the top of the park at 110th street.
• The 3 hills between 102nd st & 85th st: 2x.
• Good thing I practiced hills Wednesday night.
• Legs started out heavy as usual, but warmed up around mile 4 (a bit sad that it takes me that long to warm up).
• Lots of gatorade and gu kept us all going.
• Gu kicked in the last mile or so and I got that great feeling again.
• My back straightened up slightly and my legs just started to go. Felt so good!
• Yummy brunch afterwards at Uptown Lounge with my running crew and mentors.

Run on Straight runner, run on.

Wednesday Night Hills

Unfortunately for me, running isn't always flat, and it isn't always slow (unless I move to a sleepy senior town in Florida).

• Wednesday night Central Park- the hill near Lasker pool.
• Group assignment- run up it as fast as you can, over the crest, while maintaining the same amount of effort.
• Run hard we were told. Breathing should be hard. Welcome to my world asswipes- my breathing is always hard.
• Whatever. Running friends were busy so I ran with my TNT mentor, Yasi.
• While extremely motivating, she kicked my ASS on the hills (and she is a run walker).
• Whew. I think I may throw up. Oh, I said it outloud. Oh, Coach Michael said if you throw up once, he takes you off the hills. I wonder if he'll notice me running with 2 fingers down my throat!
• I was SO close to puking. SO close (it's the awesome feeling you get when trying to run too fast and breath at the same time).
• Didn't happen. I didn't get out of the hill workout.

A few runs behind as always but trying to post them soon. Run on pukey pants, run on.

Sunday Raceday

As I've mentioned before, I now have to run 4-5 mile recovery runs on Sundays. I am also part of NYRR and need to run 8 races this year to qualify for the NYC marathon next year. So I have been combining my Sunday recovery runs with NYRR Sunday 4 mile races. I am SO efficient.

• Problem is, I hate racing.
• Other problem is, the 4 miles course is the same each week. Cat hill the first mile, somewhat flat the second mile, then 3 evil freaking hills the third mile, then downhill.
• ANOTHER problem is, I am not a fast runner. I am not a racer. I think I am more endurance and distance, at a nice, easy pace.
• All these runners start out, they push, they shove, they zig zag...and then they reach the hills and they walk. Sooooo tempting to run by and make faces or mean comments. But I don't (I need to save my air for more important things, like breathing).
• So I ran my race. Yvette, Geline and Mike were there to cheer me on at the end.
• I got a little over-zealous towards the end as I picked up my pace to cross the finish line.
• I realized I was going too fast, but I was so close, I couldn't slow down.
• My stomach did I huge roll over and I didn't know if I was going to throw up or poop my pants. I kept going.
• Luckily, neither happened.
• I walked it off, ate a bagel and some water and felt better.

Run on poopy pants, run on.

Running the State(s)

So one of the coolest things I have discovered about running is that well, I can run places. I don't have to take the subway or have a car, I can just run. Admittedly, I've only tried this running from my apartment to my sister's apartment in Jackson Heights. But still, it worked.

• Saturday 8:30 am run
• Standing at the foot of the ramp to the GW Bridge.
• It was COLD. Wind blowing, no sun. I knew I layered correctly for the run, I just had to get moving.
• Coaches told us where to go and we were off.
• Ran over the GW. Super windy but a nice flat run and an amazing view.
• Ran down a huge hill (shit, I am going to have to run up that hill on the way back).
• Ran through Fort Lee and Englewood and into Palisades Park.
• It started to warm up. The park was gorgeous. Cliffs on one side, the Hudson river down below.
• We ran by time, so Heather, Lorraine and I turned around at the 45 minute mark (after some Gu and gatorade).
• I started to run up the big hill but had to stop and walk. Hills really really kill me. Probably more mental than physical, but I hate them.
• So made it up the hill, started running again, got to the GW and the GU kicked in (a bit later than last time).
• All of a sudden, I was flying. My legs felt so light and were going so fast. I was having a hard time catching my breath, but it felt so good, I didn't want to stop.
• So I kept going until the end. My friends were a few minutes behind and caught up in time to stretch.
• We had an amazing breakfast at Malecon (176 and Bway). $19 total for 3 of us.

OMG. I think I experienced my first runner's high and I loved it. Now I have something else to chase after (instead of boys) :) I am amazed that I ran from NY to NJ and back. Run on state runner, run on.

Central Park Hills and Heat

Liquor before beer, in the clear. Beer before liquor, never sicker...

Central Park's cat hill and humidity. Never sicker.

• Wednesday was the most summer-like day we've had yet.
• I woke up slightly headachey and took 3 advil on an empty stomach. Not a good move.
• Stomach was burning all day and I just felt out of sorts.
• Decided to attempt my group hill run anyway.
• I had nothing in me. Nothing (except some leftover gas from lunch and even that didn't even help to propel me up the hill) :)
• Talk about a bad running day...this was my worst yet.
• Positive side: met my running friends in the park and we had yummy mexican food afterwards and margaritas the size of my head.
• Oh, and there was no sign of the flat leaver :)

I get to try again next Wednesday. Run on flat runner, run on.

Spring Run

So the weather last week was amazing and I tried to take advantage of it.

• Decided to run Riverside Park- 4 miles (2 up, 2 back).
• It was warm with a slight breeze. Good day for running.
• Path was crowded, apparently everyone had the same idea as me.
• I love how when the weather starts to warm up, guys immediately run shirtless.
• I tried running after a few of them, but they were too fast. Or scared :)
• It was a really nice run and I got to see an amazing sunset over the Hudson/NJ on my way back.

NJ is like a not so pretty date...when the light hits it a certain way, it can be pretty :)

Bunny Hop

Still a few blogs behind so short and sweet:

We were "strongly encouraged" by our TNT coaches to add Sunday Funday Recovery 4-5 mile runs into the mix (since when is a 4-5 mile run considered recovery). So after my 8 miler last Saturday and some ice (back and left calf), I went to sleep :)

• Woke up at 7:30 am on Easter Sunday, ate some graham crackers and water (sounds a bit like prison) and took off running.
• I ran from my apt on the UES, over my favorite bridge (59th street), up Northern Blvd, to my sister's apartment in Jackson Heights.
• Interesting note: there were no other runners on Northern Blvd (maybe no one runs in Queens unless being chased).
• Got to D & Mark's apartment, had my second breakfast (I am beginning to eat like a hobbit), showered, took the boo-boo kitty ice pack and headed upstate for Easter.

Run felt pretty good. I enjoy running to a destination. Maybe I will start a group for that. Destination Runs. I like the sound of it.

8 Mile

and not the Eminem soundtrack :)

• 8 miles. That is the farthest I have EVER run.
• Met my TNT group in the park last Saturday. It was gorgeous out.
• Ran from the 72nd St traverse, across the west side to Riverside park, down to 14th street and back up again.
• GU: if you don't know what it is, look it up. Vanilla bean is AMAZING. It's like eating pure cake batter. Not more than 3 minutes later Lorraine and I were cruising. I don't know what they put in it, but me likey.
• Downfall: running back up the stairs at 72nd and RS Park. Um, ew. Who put stairs there.
• Overall, it was an amazing run. Felt great afterward.
• Treated ourselves to omelettes and french fries at the Boathouse. Yummm.

Run on Jen, Run on...

Asthma & Flat Left on a Hill!

Still catching up from last week....I'll try to be brief.

• Had my cardio fit test on Tuesday (have I mentioned that I can't breathe when I run).
• Got diagnosed with exercise induced asthma. Got an inhaler.
• Not upset about the above...actually more excited at the prospect of being able to breathe while running.
• Had group training on Wednesdays. Learning to run hills in Central Park.
• Got there late. Missed the group. Debated leaving or running the reservoir loop 2x.
• I was wearing my TNT shirt. Some guy was like- hey, TNT, I know where they went, follow me.
• I was like, I run slow. He said no worries, I'll stay with you.
• We got to cat hill. No TNT group, but other late random TNT peeps (later learned they ran Harlem Hill)
• Mr "I'll stay with you" paired up with another chick who ran at his speed and flat left me on the hill. WTF.
• Whatever. I ran up and down the stupid hill 5x.
• Met up with the rest of the group in time to stretch and ran into my mentor friend Noah.
• Went to happy hour with Noah & team and had chicken fingers and waffle fries. Mmmm. Hit the spot.

Okay, so I know to be on time next time and not to run with random boys who will leave me on the stupid hills.

Can't....Breathe...

Sorry, I am a bit behind, but I am still running :) In fact I ran the NYRR Colon Cancer 4 miler last Sunday and it was effing cold.

• It was in the low 40's but felt like 36 I think. I HATE running in the cold and thought I was done with it for the season. Guess not.
• Met my friend Yvette (who was hiding in a coffee shop) and walked to Central Park.
• Checked our bags and met up with our manager, who was running too.
• We all headed towards the start line and of course, our bib numbers were different colors. 
• I subtly tried to look at my manager's bib. Unsuccessful so I just blurted out "what's your time". He's like a 7 minute mile, so he left us.
• Yvette ran with me for like 2 minutes, but she is under a 10 minute mile, so she left me :) (I told her it was okay)
• So here I was, running another race solo, being passed by 85 year old speed walkers.
• I pushed myself because, well, it's a race :) 
• I couldn't catch my breath the ENTIRE time. It's like I was running out of breath and winded. NOT a fun feeling.
• I was looking forward to the finish line. Baby James, D and Mark were there to cheer me on.
• I beat my total time by over 2 minutes from my last 4 mile race and got my pace down from a 12:40 to 12:05 minute mile.
• It felt good afterwards. Had an amazing brunch with friends and family and hit Bloomingdales afterwards (an AWESOME post race treat).

Lot's more to come...I am just like 3 blogs behind right now. Keep reading! Run on Winded one, run on.