NYC Half Marathon training week 2

Slow down! Slow down! TIME

I swear, I can’t catch my breath!  It’s already the last week of the semester and the stress of students testing is ridiculous.   I want them to do amazing (Why don't some students care if they do well?)- I need AP students :)

Just wanted to show my pinterest fail 

We are already in the second week of the new year and I just completed my second week of half marathon training.  Wasn't yesterday just Thanksgiving?

This week of NYC Half Marathon training went surprisingly well.

Many days this week the weather was nice.  I was also put on steroids last week and I was told I may have kick ass workouts while I was on them, yea, I believe that to be true!  

I didn’t know how this week would go with being back to work and staying up way to long creating review games, etc. for my students.  By Wednesday, I was in bed with the lights out at 7:45.  Unfortunately I was not sleep till 9 but hey, I will take it!

To keep it short, here is how this week went

Monday: 4 miles, two at tempo.  9:42, 9:29- I am hoping this isn’t JUST because of the roids

Wednesday: 3 mile recovery

Thursday:  7 mile long run @ 11:20 pace - I am so tired I was so surprised by this.  (Shark week also came the next day, TMI- which could be why this was a faster paced run for me)

Saturday: 3 mile recovery with Behn

Sunday: 2.7  I was surprised I made it that far.  It was miserable!  This Florida humidity is truly killing me slowly!

Thats how my week went, how was your week?

This week my students test and we start getting ready for 150 new students in my classes! WooHoo!

This week I also hope to start making plans to go to NY to run this race.  Anyone else plan on being there?

Oh, and happy half birthday to me!

Why I hired a Run Coach

Hi there!  How was everyones weekend, mine was too short of course and it was depressing knowing it was time to go back to work :(

On Saturday I posted how I was accepted and and mow training for the NYC half Marathon and hired a run coach.

At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to apply for this, if I was chosen that would mean an added expense this year of flying up, possibly getting a hotel room (I love love love staying with my family but this time I would be with a friend), the endless shopping and eating in New York.  It also meant training again for a half marathon.  

Ever since February I really haven’t enjoyed running.  It began to be a task, the weather was getting warm, and I was burnt out.  Instead I joined orange theory fitness because I liked the way it made me feel, it pushed me outside my comfort zone and I wanted to tone up for the wedding and the cruise.  I lived for going to classes, seeing if I can get my heart rate into the orange zone, how high can I get my calories?.  

I decided to give it a go and once my friend Diana and I were notified we had gotten into the race she contacted our old team in training coach for a plan, she sent that to me and we were ready to go because she is also training for New Orleans half marathon (GO DIANA!)  I know myself and I know I am not accountable. If someone isn’t checking up on me, if I don’t have specific workouts, and paces to hit; it isn’t going to get done and I slack of.  I need specifics, its just me and it's how I work.

I have been reading Abby’s blog for a long time now and followed her running journey, her ups and her downs and it resonated with me.  Abby is very relatable, at least from reading her blog.  I knew she was getting certified to be a run coach and knew she would be the perfect fit for me.  

I was also too scared to ask Coach Steve to make me a plan and coach me again, I feel like I have let him down by not following a plan he made for me when I was supposed to run a race in October.  I didn’t have to heart to run it, I wasn’t prepared, and I knew it wouldn’t make me happy.  I also need some coddling right now.  And, I didn’t want to disappoint him. I also didn’t want to feel obligated to run with a specific group for long runs or speed work.

Abby and I spoke, I sent her my info and the next day she had a plan for me!  I am super excited to start and in my opinion, I rocked the first week!  I love how quickly everything went.  

This is me "stretching" at Disney

Side note, this is why I can't play those games on your phone that need another partner, I can't wait!  

I can’t remember the last time I trained for a stand alone half marathon so running less than 20 miles a week is so weird!  I don’t plan to PR this half marathon because I am not in PR shape, but if I do, hey!!! I definitely plan to use this race to see where I am physically. I want to do Dopey in 2017 (It has been a goal since it was announced)  and after Dopey I hope I can PR having all those extra miles on my legs. - I guess I should start saving.

Here’s to 2016!!!

One Joey picture for good measure!

I will certainly keep you all updated with my training, I am the worst at remembering to take pictures so they may be sparse and hopefully I won’t be too boring!

3k Beer Dash [Giveaway!]

*I was given a complimentary entry in exchange for this post.  All opinions are my own.*  

I cannot believe that it is almost April!  Where has the time gone?  This weekend I did my first triple brick and I did my first Open Water Swim!  I will have a whole separate post for that coming up in the future!  It was AMAZING!!!

Just over 30 days till it is time to TRI

The NYC Half Marathon I ran on March 16 was COLD!  I ran it in 2:18:52 and that being said, I get aero bars for my bike!! Since I obviously know nothing about them, any recommendations?  I will also give an update on my race also!  I was very impressed with this race, my time, and my weekend!

This upcoming weekend, March 29, I am participating in the 3k Beer Run presented by tbt*.  I am really excited it takes place downtown and benefits Girls on the run.  I have always wanted to be involved in Girls on the run.  

What:

The event is a  part of the Gasparilla Criterium + Cycling Festival presented by Cigar City Brewing  and Bright House Networks. The fun run will take place on the criterium course and  all participants will receive a complimentary Cigar City Brewing beer and a  commemorative T-shirt. Runners will also receive beer discounts at the post race Pro Criterium Watch Party!  If runners are under 21, they will receive a non-alcoholic beverage. 

I plan to run this for run as I will probably be doing another triple brick and boy was I exhausted last weekend and cranky!!

When:

Saturday, March 29, 2014

4:30 PM

Where:

Lykes Gaslight Park

410 N. Franklin Street

More Fun Stuff:

Dress up!!! Awards are given for best costume!

Registration is $20.00 in advance

$25.00 onsite

Go Register here!

Just for you, I have a giveaway and this is what you need to do!  Check back thursday!! Winners will be be announced!

Just leave a separate comment below if you do one, or all, of the following:

-tell me you want to run this race!

-follow me on Twitter @risforrunning

-tweet the giveaway: leave the link in the comments

-follow me on Facebook

-LIke Cigar City Brewing on Facebook

Goals for the NYC Half 2014

I can't believe I head to New York tomorrow and my last half marathon of the season in Sunday, just 4 days away!

The Weather

The weather forcast is something I am not used to: A low of 25 and a high of 43.. I am not sure if this is something I am supposed to be happy about or not.  My last race was 70 degrees and 100% humidity at the start.  I am looking forward to not sweating before I cross the start line.  I am nervous for how to dress.

I just packed mot of my stuff and I have pants, capris, short, Procompression socks, tank top, tshirt, long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, gloves and a tiny hat.  I will be walking from my aunts Apartment on W 75th to W 59 to the entrance.  That is actually what I am most nervous about.  I am hoping the weather helps with making me a little faster.

I am excited about this run to be here and I am also excited for it to be done with.  I entered the lottery so long ago and wasn't accepted.  NYRR changed the route to allow for more runners and I accidently pressed the button to allow me to re-apply.  I got it.  I am using it to go up and visit family.  I am excited to see family and hopefully friends but I also would love to lay in bed and relax the rest of spring break.

While training for the NYC Marathon my speed did not increase, it may have stayed the same or decreased actually.  A few weeks ago I started working on speed but nothing major.  After the Gasparilla 15k which I ran with Behn, I set a time goal for this race.  I really surprised myself at Gasparilla.  I hardly give myself enough credit.  Then I got a cold.  I am still battling with the aftermath of a cold; the cough, headache, sinus..No fun.

My Goals

But here are some of my goals for you *Knowing this may be a challenging course with hills* My current PR is 2:12:11 and when I signed up for this race, I wanted sub 2.  I also plan to have my camera out because after all, I will be running through my favorite part of the world, Times Square!

A Sub 2:16  Not sure this is possible, but I will try!!!

B:( This was my original A goal but I think I can do a little better if I really push it )Sub 2:20:  This allows be right over 10:30 miles.  This is a hilly course and I have not been training on coursed.  This is very doable as long as my snottiness goes away and I am not too effected by the cold.  (last time that happened I peed 9x during a marathon)

C: Sub 2:30  I went 2:26:XX at the Best Damn Race and I was hurting for days afterwards.  Maybe it was due to the humidity, lack of training, but anything really.  Getting to that pace was damn hard!


I really am looking forward to seeing how far or how close to my PR I can make it.  I want to see where I stand in terms of last year.  My PR is exactly a years difference in time.

Questions for you:

How do you determine your goal time?

Are you running the New York City Half?

Have you tried the new Ben & Jerry's Core flavors?  I tried the Karamel Sutra Core and I am obsessed!

Have you donated to my fundraising page for my first triathlon?  It's quickly approaching!