A New PR

There's been zero running the past few days, so the PR is sadly in a new bowling score, not because I've gotten speedier.

Pathetic compared to the other scores on the screen, but if you saw my other scores from the night, you'd be cheering, too.

After spending 11 hours on the train on Friday, I arrived to snow, snow, and more snow in Pennsylvania. And since I'm a fair weather runner and deathly afraid of slipping on the snow and ice, I decided to enjoy the snow from inside and take Saturday and Sunday off. Have you seen this video? This is what I thought would happen if I attempted a run:

Now the snow is gone, I'm back in New York, and I'm ready to take my last run of 2012!

Holiday Recap

Merry Christmas! Tomorrow I'm heading back North, but tonight I'm enjoying one last night sitting by the fire, snuggling with my puppies, and hanging out with my mom and dad. We had a great Christmas- lots of family, lots of love, lots of food, and surprisingly, lots of exercise!

We started Christmas celebrations by decorating the tree...

He was slightly perturbed his nap spot was taken over by presents

Then welcomed grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins for Christmas Eve dinner and gifts...

The Walker siblings. We do Christmas Eve in our fanciest of fancy.

And I was crazy about this darling new addition...

Excuse the crazy eyes. Love this little darling girl! She's not too sure about me...

Then spent Christmas Day opening stockings and family presents, eating sausage biscuits and doughnuts, and relaxing by the fire watching Home Alone and Christmas Vacation...

And spent lots of time burning off holiday treats at the gym.... or what I like to call, balancing treat intake. My runs this past week included an 8 mile run on Sunday (9:40 pace), a 5 mile run on Christmas Eve (9:30 pace), a 3 mile walk with the pups on Christmas Day, and a 4.5 mile speed workout (8:53 pace) on Wednesday. 

I loved the speed workout-- it's one I've done before, and last time I did it, I had to drop the speed down in able to finish it. This time, I added 10 minutes to the workout and ended feeling strong:

(adapted from Carrots 'N Cake)

Today was a rest day, and tomorrow before I get on the train to NYC (via Allentown), I'm going to do the speed workout again. Yes, train. Flights were way too expensive so I'll be on the train for 10 hours and 28 minutes. Here's too lots of reading, finally watching Pitch Perfect, and hopefully not going crazy.

Sad to leave home and Christmas, but excited for 2013!

Christmas is over?

Home For The Holidays

After spending 15 hours in a bus, then a car, on I-95 South yesterday, I'm finally home for Christmas! I took the bus from NYC to DC, where my brother and sister picked me up for the longest unintentional road trip ever. Turns out, everyone who lives on the I-95 corridor decided to go driving yesterday.

My sister took this sometime around 11pm as we finally crossed the border into SC!

We kept ourselves entertained with comedy roulette- I have never listened to so many stand-up specials in my life. Now it's finally time to relax and enjoy Christmas with the family! We're decorating the tree tonight (a long standing tradition) and tomorrow we'll have the entire family over to celebrate!

Speaking of home for the holidays, have you seen this SNL skit? It's like they interviewed my family it's so spot on:

Fair Weather Runner

I woke up this morning ready to go on an 8 mile run... but then I looked out my window. Pouring rain and blowing winds? No thank you. I don't mind running in a drizzle, or running in the rain if it starts when I'm already out, but starting a run in the rain? Not my thing.

So what's a girl to do? Curl back up in bed and enjoy an extra hour and a half of sleep ;) Probably a good thing since I'm still in a cookie coma from last night' cookie exchange party. Which, by the way, is the best idea ever. Everyone brings 3 dozen of their favorite holiday cookies to enjoy at the party and take home at the end.

(just 1/2 of my haul! Isn't the snowflake pretty?)

Such a fun way to celebrate the holidays! And now my office will get to enjoy some treats, too ;)

Today is my last day of work in 2012! My office decided to close from Christmas to New Years, and I couldn't be more excited about a little break. I can't wait to head home to SC tomorrow, but today I'm celebrating a special day with my favorite guy ;)

YES.

Finally!  A positive update from NYRR. Can you guess which option I'm choosing? ;)

Dear Marathon Runners:

Thank you all for your patience during the last seven weeks as we have worked through issues related to the cancellation of the 2012 ING New York City Marathon. Hurricane Sandy was a devastating event for our city, and our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims and their families as they work to rebuild their homes and lives.

We are sorry that it has taken us longer to resolve these issues than we had originally hoped. We have been working to offer the best possible solutions in order to meet the needs of the many different groups associated with the Marathon.

Our goal was to offer a range of options to each of you so that you can choose which option works best for you.

MARATHON RUNNERS All 2012 Marathoners may choose one of the following three options: • Option #1 - Refund. While NYRR has always had a no-refund policy for the Marathon, given these extraordinary circumstances, we are offering runners who were entered in the 2012 Marathon, and were unable to run due to the cancellation¹, the opportunity to obtain a full refund of their 2012 Marathon entry fee (excluding the $11 processing fee); OR • Option #2 – Guaranteed entry to the ING New York City Marathon for 2013, 2014, or 2015. Entrants in the 2012 Marathon who choose this option will be granted guaranteed entry to the Marathon for the year they choose. Runners will be required to pay all processing and entry fees at the time of application (in the given year), with fees maintained at the same rate as those paid in 2012; OR • Option #3 – Guaranteed entry to the NYC Half 2013. Entrants in the 2012 Marathon who choose this option will be granted guaranteed entry to the NYC Half 2013, to be run on March 17, 2013. Runners will be required to pay all processing and entry fees at the time of application. Availability will be limited. ¹ Applies to runners entered in the 2012 Marathon who had not cancelled prior to October 24, 2012. 2013, here we come!

One Note

Over the past two days, I've taken two runs that look nearly identical:

December 18th, 5 miles along the East River:

December 19th, 6 miles along the East River:

Almost identical, even down to a frustrating Garmin. I love the Garmin... when it can hold a GPS signal. Luckily, it can when I'm in Central Park or running by the River, but can't find/hold a signal to save it's life in midtown Manhattan. But during my 1st/last miles when I'm getting to those running spots, it's pretty darn disheartening to look down and see some wild number like an 11 minute current pace when you've just been running 2 minutes faster! At least I can look at moving time after my run to see a more realistic pace.

The two runs also tell me I'm a pretty one note runner. I know ZERO about pacing. And I have ZERO strategy- people write about holding back at first during a race then picking up the pace later, going for hard/easy runs, and I'm learning I'm absolutely clueless. I just go out and run, and even if I tell myself to 'push it' or 'relax,' it seems like I just fall into the same pace. Definitely a goal for 2013: learn how to pace myself, find an uncomfortable, hard pace, and learn how to run with a strategy.

Today is an inadvertent rest day. I was supposed to bake cookies last night for a holiday cookie exchange party tonight, but it didn't happen. So instead of waking up early to run, I'm up early baking bacon chocolate chip cookies! I told you I'd never lose weight from running, and plus... 'tis the season ;)

(via Girl Who Ate Everything)

Now it's time to eat some cookies for breakfast!

Let There Be Peace On Earth

Every year, my church in SC puts on the same Christmas pageant. No theatrics, no 'of the moment' costumes and extra fluff, just the important story of Jesus' birth. And every year, at the end of the pageant, little angels pass out candles. One candle is lit, and as the light is passed around the room, everyone starts to sing 'Let There Be Peace On Earth.' By the time the song is finished, the room is awash in soft candlelight  and you can't help but feel the love in the room.

I didn't get to go to the Christmas pageant this year, but the song couldn't be more on my mind. Let there be peace on Earth, especially for everyone grieving in Newtown.

A Week Of Highs And Lows

This week was definitely a week of highs and lows (as far as running goes). After thinking I was ready for a double workout on Tuesday, I woke up Wednesday feeling awful. Everything hurt- my arms and shoulders were so sore, my calves felt like tight little sausages, and my right foot was in agony. I know the arm/shoulder soreness was from yoga and my lack of upper body strength, but I was stumped about why my legs and foot was hurting.

I decided to take Wednesday off, and foam-rolled, stretched, and iced my foot instead. I woke up Thursday, and even though I still wasn't feeling great, slapped on some compression socks and went for my scheduled run. And it was AWFUL. I averaged more than a minute slower than what I've been running, and only made it 6.4 miles out of my scheduled 7. The most frustrating thing was feeling like I was pushing myself, but not going anywhere. And my foot was still throbbing. I made sure to spend some extra time stretching and foam-rolling, but I was still really tight.

When I woke up Friday still hurting, I took another rest day. And then on Saturday, I ran faster than I have years! I ran the Ted Corbitt 15K (9.3 miles) in Central Park, and it was absolutely perfect. It was a little chilly at the start, but I ended up having to take my jacket off around mile 4. I just felt like I was cruising the entire time- just effortless.

I ran the first mile in 8:48 and remember thinking I wouldn't be able to sustain that pace, and I tried to settled into a more relaxed, even pace When my Garmin vibrated at mile 2, I couldn't believe it was actually faster than the first... and kept getting faster until the end. I'm awful at 'digging in' at the end of a run, so I was shocked to see my last mile was an 8:15 pace. I couldn't have had a better day!

(I ran an extra 1.7 miles so I could have 11 for the day)

I'm not sure why I felt so awful during the week and then so great during the race, but I think it was a sign I was trying to be too ambitious with my fitness level. It seems a bit silly to say running 4 miles + yoga is too much for my body to handle in one day (especially reading other bloggers who pound out 10+ miles every day), but right now, it's just too much for me. Until I build up my upper body strength, I'm going to stick to what's worked since I started training for the NYC Marathon back in July--- running 3 days during the week, a long run on Saturday, and cross training on Sunday. No need to feel worn out, tight, and hurt!

Double Stuff Tuesday

I wish it was of the Oreo version. And no, I didn't take up gymnastics, but Oreo sadly didn't have a runner daily twist. I skipped yoga on Sunday so I pulled double duty today... and I'm pooped. I know people do double workouts on a daily basis, but I learned I'm a little weakling. My arms were shaking like jello by the end of my yoga class, something I really need to work on!

Good thing my run was much more enjoyable- I met up with a friend and ran about a mile of my 4 miles with her, which made the run go by really fast :)

I looked at the results from the Race For Recovery virtual race today-- out of the 112 runners who completed the 5K, I placed 40th; out of the 61 runners who completed the 10K, I placed 20th, and out of the 16 people who completed both the 5K and 10K, I placed 5th.  Looking at the other times for people who ran both, my 5K time is relatively slow, but I made up for it in the 10K. Something to work on!

Run stats: East river run, 4.17 miles, 37:51 min/9:05 min/mile

Race For Recovery

When I saw NYC Running Mama had organized a virtual race to support Sandy victims, I knew I wanted to participate. I felt so villainized the week of the NYC Marathon, and I still can't think about the experience without crying. Runners in general were (unfairly) painted in such a negative light, and I was even personally attacked by an Internet troll. It was such an awful time, but it's been so inspiring to see how the running community has banded together to help in a multitude of ways. 

The virtual race raised money for the Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation- Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund, and the race has so far raised $10,795! It was really simple- a $20 donation paid your 'entry' fee, and then you were encouraged to give more if you could. Unlike a traditional race, winners weren't determined based off time, but from how much money they gave. You could either run a 5K or a 10K, or both-- whenever you wanted, as long as it was before midnight on the 8th to be counted in the 'race.'

I decided to run both the 5K and 10K, and even though I was hurting a bit from staying out until 2:30 the night before, it felt great to get out there and be a part of something. Even though I had a terrible headache the entire time, I couldn't help but smile and think about how great runners are :)

I'm still having a few issues with my little Garmy-- it works great in the park, but from 59th street to my apartment, it's a literal dead zone and it can't hold a signal worth shooting. I actually ran close to 10.5 miles counting the run up to the park, but the watch completely lost signal while running up so I decided to just restart it in the park and go until I reached 9.3 miles. Here are my splits:

See how in mile 8 and 9 the time and moving time are so far apart? Major issues with keeping a signal with the Garmin; I came out of the park around mile 7.4, and when I map out the distance on mapmyrun from the edge of the park to my house, it's more like a total of 9.6, not 9.3. 

Does anyone else have this issue in Manhattan? Regardless, so happy to have been a part of this experience!

My 5K split: 28:01

Then, my 10K after: 57:39

Not too bad! :)

Runs from earlier in the week:

Wednesday: Central Park Run, 6.01 miles, 57:49 min/9:37 pace

Friday: East River Run, 4.04 miles, 36:35 min/9:04 pace

Playing Santa

Today I got to play Santa :)

I signed up to participate in the NY Cares Winter Wishes program, which matches you with kids who could use a little extra cheer during the holidays. Irving wanted a remote control monster truck, and it was the highlight of my day finding the perfect one for him:

Probably the most exciting Christmas present I'll buy this year!

On the running front, I did a speed workout at Blink today that nearly killed me- 3.3 miles in 30 minutes and I was dripping in sweat. I've been running outside so much lately I've come to loathe the treadmill, but having the speed change ever 1-2 minutes made it go by quickly.

(taken from Carrots N Cake)

Tomorrow, take 2 with the Garmin! 

A Rough Start

My sweet boy gave me the most wonderful birthday present....

A GARMIN! And not just any Garmin, but the best one they make- the Forerunner 610. It's a touchscreen and probably fancier than my computer. Which made little Garmy and I get off to a rough start. It wouldn't pick up a signal, and was saying I was running an insane pace (like slower than walking). I think it had something to do with being in midtown Manhattan and the cloudy weather, because once I got into Central Park it worked like a charm. I poked around on some blogs, and it looks like I need to update some software... which is terrifying to me since I'm always afraid I'm going to mess something up! Fingers crossed it works. Eeek!

What's really cool about the Garmin is all the stats it gives you:

Mile 1 and half of mile 2 were in midtown Manhattan, as was Mile 8. Fishy, right? But in the park I was cruising ;)

Now off to tackle the software update....

Run stats: Saturday: Central Park, 9.04 miles, 1:25:36/9:28 pace; Run on Thursday: 5.64 miles, 52:47/9:22 pace