Today had me rethinking this whole marathon thing. Michelle and I planned to meet in the park a little later since it’s getting nice and cool and don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn to beat the heat. We planned to meet at 8:30 but I didn’t make it out there ‘till 9:30. When we started training I was always the one sitting in the park waiting, but the last two times she’s been sitting there all perky and ready to conquer the world, just waiting for me.
We got off to a nice start. Did a five mile loop, skipping the big ugly monstrous hill up at the top of the park, but running all the smaller ones nice and solid. We were both feeling good. Then turned out Michelle had to leave early right after we had started the four mile loop and I was all ready to go too. But after she left I was like why I don’t have to go…so I’m feeling like Super Woman and all and I’m like I’m gona run these fourteen miles. The next seven miles went great…I did a loop then started another loop…matter of fact I decided since I was by myself I was finally going to try that run/walk thing. I had a nice little thing going. I walked up the hills and ran the rest of the way. Actually it seemed to be saving me a lot of energy. I was like, “I’m gona finish this strong!”
Well right around mile 12, E-man just lost it. Usually he starts crying, I feed him, he’s happy and I put him back in the stroller and keep running. But not this time, I fed him and put him back in that stroller and he looked at me like, “You’ve gota be kidding! Not the stroller again!” and just started whaling. I mean he was crying with tears and everything…I just felt horrible. But I had nowhere to go but on because at this point I was stuck at the top of the loop far from any train or anything…at least from any train that was going to Queens. I was ready to sit down and start crying myself. I would have called my BD to come get us right then and there but he was in Europe at the moment working so I picked up my baby and I carried him the last two miles. Those were the two most back-breaking miles. He was trying to be okay but he really just wanted out of the park, out of the heat and in his crib or to go crawling or whatever. He was better when I carried him but still a little fussy.
By then, my back was killing me, I was starving, I was exhausted, I’m holding my at-least-18-lb-baby and pushing the jogging stroller with the other hand. That was some workout. I barely dragged us to the diner next to the train station and sat down with a big sigh of relief and ordered a plate of eggs and bacon with French fries and toast, a grilled cheese sandwich with a pickle and coleslaw, a glass of tomato juice and a chocolate milkshake. The waiter looked at me and said, “So you want the tomato juice AND the milkshake!?”
I ran/walked a total of 14 miles, but with all the hills and with carrying E-man the last two miles and all, it was more like doing 18-20…that was some workout. But it got me to thinking, I’m all about pushing myself to the limit and all, but I can’t push my baby. And the problem is my BD would be happy to watch him, but I’m still breastfeeding. So I don’t know if this marathon thing is gona happen or not at this point, I really don’t. I just can’t put my baby through that, it’s so not fare to him. I just don’t know. It’s been one crazy week. I haven’t ran all week and it’s Thursday now. My BD has agreed to take us back to the track tomorrow. And then it’s supposed to rain all weekend except for Saturday afternoon so we’ll see about getting a long run in then. I guess I’ll just run ‘till E-man starts fussing or ‘till I can’t run anymore. And do a small loop that’s close to the train so I’m not stuck out in the boondocks when one of us looses it next time. We’ll see. I could sure use some motivation at this point. I just don’t know. I’ll keep you posted.
Showing posts with label recovery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recovery. Show all posts
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Track Training
This week I did some track workouts. After not running on the weekend…a mixture of excuses…E-man was sleeping through the night but I guess at six months he’s going through a growth spurt and all of the sudden he wants to get up every two-four hours and eat again.
So after a sleepless night, Michelle calls me up and says, “Hey you know it’s raining outside.” And I’m like oh cool no run today, can’t take my baby out in that. But by the time I did get up the rain had cleared up and I started feeling guilty.
So Sunday I got my BD to take me to the track and he watched E-man while I ran around the track, 2-3 times moderately fast, 1 time walking recovery…repeated 3 or 4 times. Ended up running somewhere between 3 and 4 miles.
Went so great my BD decided to join me on the track the next day. There were a surprising amount of people on the track for a Monday…I guess because it was Labor Day and all. I pushed the jogging stroller for the first half of the run then he took E-man for the remainder. It’s nice to have a break from pushing the jogging stroller sometimes but I almost feel naked or something…like an extension of me is missing.
My BD had watched this guy the day before so we decided to copy him. We ran the long half of the track as fast as we possibly could like we were running for dear life, then walked the loop at the end, then raced the other long half, and then walked the end again, repeating ‘till we were exhausted. Did the same distance as yesterday – about 2-3 miles.
Tuesday took off. Wednesday met Michelle in Central Park. We decided we are really going to make September count since it is our last month to really get the hard core training in. At least the second half of October we should be taking it easy before the marathon.
We had a good run in Central Park on Wednesday. We ran up and down a hill that’s about a quarter of a mile long two times. Then we ran a four mile loop. Then we ran up and down the hill another two times. It was pretty cool. Looking forward to a good fourteen mile run on Saturday.
So after a sleepless night, Michelle calls me up and says, “Hey you know it’s raining outside.” And I’m like oh cool no run today, can’t take my baby out in that. But by the time I did get up the rain had cleared up and I started feeling guilty.
So Sunday I got my BD to take me to the track and he watched E-man while I ran around the track, 2-3 times moderately fast, 1 time walking recovery…repeated 3 or 4 times. Ended up running somewhere between 3 and 4 miles.
Went so great my BD decided to join me on the track the next day. There were a surprising amount of people on the track for a Monday…I guess because it was Labor Day and all. I pushed the jogging stroller for the first half of the run then he took E-man for the remainder. It’s nice to have a break from pushing the jogging stroller sometimes but I almost feel naked or something…like an extension of me is missing.
My BD had watched this guy the day before so we decided to copy him. We ran the long half of the track as fast as we possibly could like we were running for dear life, then walked the loop at the end, then raced the other long half, and then walked the end again, repeating ‘till we were exhausted. Did the same distance as yesterday – about 2-3 miles.
Tuesday took off. Wednesday met Michelle in Central Park. We decided we are really going to make September count since it is our last month to really get the hard core training in. At least the second half of October we should be taking it easy before the marathon.
We had a good run in Central Park on Wednesday. We ran up and down a hill that’s about a quarter of a mile long two times. Then we ran a four mile loop. Then we ran up and down the hill another two times. It was pretty cool. Looking forward to a good fourteen mile run on Saturday.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
I Love New Yorkers
I’m back! I took two weeks off to recover from the NYC half on 7/27/08. I really was fine the next day – mostly I was just trying to get myself psyched up again and also trying to get some work done. But today I decided no matter how much or little I get done in a given day, I must make it my priority to run so that’s what I’m doing. Running is my therapy. If I don’t run, I go stir crazy no matter how busy I am doing other things. It’s my therapy, rejuvenation, revival, memory retrieval, attitude booster, stomach trimmer, cellulite sucker and so much more…got to have my running.
So Sunday I met my friend Michelle in Central Park and we took it easy. We just did a 10k. We were laughing at the fact that when we first started out, a 10k was such a monumental task and now we’re like oh we’re not really doing much today. Just a 10k. Sunday and today, I felt great during the run, but starting with Sunday…;
Michelle was struggling because she had worked out hard in the gym the day before and was still aching, so we just took it slow which was fine with me. I could have ran that pace all day. We just did a full loop of Central Park which happens to be a 10k (6.2 miles). Next week we’re going for two loops.
Now the funny part is always after the run, getting the stroller on and off the subway. The F train which I normally take was not going back to Queens so I walked another ten blocks (total of twenty blocks = one mile AFTER I ran the 6.2 miles in Central Park). Now the train that was working (the R train) does not have an elevator going down to the platform, so I carry the stroller down three flights of stairs only to get to the bottom and realize that there’s no way to get the stroller through the turnstile. So I have to carry the stroller back up to the top and across the street to where there’s a gate to take the stroller through.
And this is the part I love. This woman comes walking up the stairs – I’m already half way down carrying my jogging stroller, my baby, my diaper bag, etc, etc, and this woman without looking first comes walking up the stairs right bellow me instead of on the other side where it is completely empty. Then she finally looks up and notices me when she’s about to crash into us and at this point she glares at me like what am I doing walking down her stairs! I love New Yorkers!
But other than that the run was uneventful and totally boosted my confidence which was good because after the half marathon I was thinking no way am I going to be able to complete the full. Now I’m confident that I’ll do just fine!
Now today was great. Actually I ran into an old friend today and we we’re chatting online, as a result I got very little done this morning. 4:00 I said if nothing else I’ve got to run – so I grabbed E-man, the jogging stroller and my over-packed diaper bag and we headed to the train station to Central Park.
Today was all about hill training. I picked a hill in Central Park which is about six or seven blocks long and I ran up and down that hill eight times. It was great – something about the day. We’ve been having a lot of rain over the past couple of days, so there’s that jungle like feeling in the air that you get after a good rain, and it was about sixty-five degrees, breezy, plenty of oxygen, just felt great. I ran up and down that hill feeling so psyched and after I finished I was ready to run a loop in the park, except for those thunderclouds brewing in the sky and I hadn’t brought a rain cover for the jogging stroller.
I was laughing because walking home I was exhausted and I realized I’m so used to training less than I should and being exhausted after every run that if I have any energy left after my run I feel like there’s something wrong. I think I didn’t train hard enough or something. I feel like I got to go run off all my energy until I can barely drag myself and my baby home. I was laughing today thinking, “It’s actually a GOOD thing that I have enough energy to get home and I don’t want to bite everyone’s head’s off when they don’t go running out of my way.”
So yeah, I’m feeling good about this running thing. Some days are good, some are bad, and the last couple days have been good. I’m going to make it a goal to run three days every single week, no matter what, cause like I said, everything is better when I run. And mostly running is better when I run more often because you know that famous idea that we so often forget – everything gets better with practice! ;-)
And my baby – he’s doing great. He loves the runs he loves anything that takes him out of his crib, outdoors and into the fresh air. And he loves being around people. On the train, in the park, wherever, he just loves blowing bubbles and talking to everyone and laughing – he’s such a charming little fellow – I’m so proud of my sweet, social little boy.
On the way to the train station after the run, it started pouring rain so I’m running as fast as I can (and that’s actually much faster than I ever go when I’m running just to run) trying to keep him from getting soaked, stopping under every awning to take a breath and he was just laughing and blowing bubbles, he thought it was hilarious.
Under each awning where we stopped, there’d be a group of people huddled up waiting for the rain to stop and he’d look around and smile and start blowing bubbles and making faces and talking to everyone…it was just great. And in turn they’d laugh and talk and start pulling pictures of their little ones out of their wallets. I love New Yorkers when it’s raining. That’s the thing – New Yorkers will be so jaded and then you’ll share this moment like a rainstorm or an especially creative “money-requester” on the subway or something and all of the sudden you become the friendliest person. I love it. And my five-month old baby fits right in. He just loves talking to everyone.
Well back to running…I’ll keep you posted. Thanks for reading. Your comments appreciated!
So Sunday I met my friend Michelle in Central Park and we took it easy. We just did a 10k. We were laughing at the fact that when we first started out, a 10k was such a monumental task and now we’re like oh we’re not really doing much today. Just a 10k. Sunday and today, I felt great during the run, but starting with Sunday…;
Michelle was struggling because she had worked out hard in the gym the day before and was still aching, so we just took it slow which was fine with me. I could have ran that pace all day. We just did a full loop of Central Park which happens to be a 10k (6.2 miles). Next week we’re going for two loops.
Now the funny part is always after the run, getting the stroller on and off the subway. The F train which I normally take was not going back to Queens so I walked another ten blocks (total of twenty blocks = one mile AFTER I ran the 6.2 miles in Central Park). Now the train that was working (the R train) does not have an elevator going down to the platform, so I carry the stroller down three flights of stairs only to get to the bottom and realize that there’s no way to get the stroller through the turnstile. So I have to carry the stroller back up to the top and across the street to where there’s a gate to take the stroller through.
And this is the part I love. This woman comes walking up the stairs – I’m already half way down carrying my jogging stroller, my baby, my diaper bag, etc, etc, and this woman without looking first comes walking up the stairs right bellow me instead of on the other side where it is completely empty. Then she finally looks up and notices me when she’s about to crash into us and at this point she glares at me like what am I doing walking down her stairs! I love New Yorkers!
But other than that the run was uneventful and totally boosted my confidence which was good because after the half marathon I was thinking no way am I going to be able to complete the full. Now I’m confident that I’ll do just fine!
Now today was great. Actually I ran into an old friend today and we we’re chatting online, as a result I got very little done this morning. 4:00 I said if nothing else I’ve got to run – so I grabbed E-man, the jogging stroller and my over-packed diaper bag and we headed to the train station to Central Park.
Today was all about hill training. I picked a hill in Central Park which is about six or seven blocks long and I ran up and down that hill eight times. It was great – something about the day. We’ve been having a lot of rain over the past couple of days, so there’s that jungle like feeling in the air that you get after a good rain, and it was about sixty-five degrees, breezy, plenty of oxygen, just felt great. I ran up and down that hill feeling so psyched and after I finished I was ready to run a loop in the park, except for those thunderclouds brewing in the sky and I hadn’t brought a rain cover for the jogging stroller.
I was laughing because walking home I was exhausted and I realized I’m so used to training less than I should and being exhausted after every run that if I have any energy left after my run I feel like there’s something wrong. I think I didn’t train hard enough or something. I feel like I got to go run off all my energy until I can barely drag myself and my baby home. I was laughing today thinking, “It’s actually a GOOD thing that I have enough energy to get home and I don’t want to bite everyone’s head’s off when they don’t go running out of my way.”
So yeah, I’m feeling good about this running thing. Some days are good, some are bad, and the last couple days have been good. I’m going to make it a goal to run three days every single week, no matter what, cause like I said, everything is better when I run. And mostly running is better when I run more often because you know that famous idea that we so often forget – everything gets better with practice! ;-)
And my baby – he’s doing great. He loves the runs he loves anything that takes him out of his crib, outdoors and into the fresh air. And he loves being around people. On the train, in the park, wherever, he just loves blowing bubbles and talking to everyone and laughing – he’s such a charming little fellow – I’m so proud of my sweet, social little boy.
On the way to the train station after the run, it started pouring rain so I’m running as fast as I can (and that’s actually much faster than I ever go when I’m running just to run) trying to keep him from getting soaked, stopping under every awning to take a breath and he was just laughing and blowing bubbles, he thought it was hilarious.
Under each awning where we stopped, there’d be a group of people huddled up waiting for the rain to stop and he’d look around and smile and start blowing bubbles and making faces and talking to everyone…it was just great. And in turn they’d laugh and talk and start pulling pictures of their little ones out of their wallets. I love New Yorkers when it’s raining. That’s the thing – New Yorkers will be so jaded and then you’ll share this moment like a rainstorm or an especially creative “money-requester” on the subway or something and all of the sudden you become the friendliest person. I love it. And my five-month old baby fits right in. He just loves talking to everyone.
Well back to running…I’ll keep you posted. Thanks for reading. Your comments appreciated!
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