Happy New Year- Oh a NYC Marathon Recap

So apparently it is 2014?  Where has the last 20 days gone?  I can't believe it is almost February!

I am going to do a brief recap here is that is O.K with everyone.

1.  I still need to update you on the NYC Marathon and I am pretty sure that is going to come right now.

 I went into this race with a goal of 4:59:59.  I trained my butt off, I think this may have been one of the few times I went in with a goal and 1. didn't get it, 2. tried really hard in training for it.  With the weeks approaching the Marathon I moved my goal like to 5:15-5:20.  Well, that didn't happen either.  I finished at 5:55:14.  I should be proud and happy I finished "THE NYC MARATHON", but I am not. I didn't even want a redemption run.  Well, that is a lie.  I wanted to run the Jacksonville marathon but I knew I couldn't handle the training right after a marathon and listened to my body. I went to NY with these thoughts in my head about what an amazing race this is going to be.  NYRR pulled out all the stops, that I do agree with!  I received the previous years medal, a cute little rubber bracelet with both years on it and of course bought everything in site at the expo.  I read blogs and blogs about what to look out for, pacing, crowd support, everything, you name it, I did it.  Unfortunately, I did not find it what is was cracked up to be.  I didn't think the crowd support was fantastic and maybe that was just me?  I felt it was "thin".  I think that has a lot to do with how long the race is, and I don't mean that it is 26.2 miles.  Elites start around 9, while I started around 11.  That is a whole two hours the spectators are waiting just for me to start and we know, it took me a lot more than 2 hours to get to the point in which people are cheering.  There were lots on times there was no one there.  I am sure the crowds were a little lighter after the Boston Marathon, oh, and it was cold and the winds were 20+ miles per hour.

The course was hilly, I knew that going in, but I definitely did not realize how hilly the course was.  The wind didn't make it easier and damn, you are in Brooklyn for a long ass time!  I was ready to be out of Brooklyn so quickly!  Thank goodness I had my Christ a there with me with our matching outfits!    At mile 15 We stopped to use the restroom and we waited almost 10 minutes.  Christa told me to go on, but looking at my watch and knowing I wasn't going to hit any of my goals, I stayed, I still had 11 more miles to go and it was going to be better with company.

My ITBand started screaming at me less than a mile like and I knew it was going to be bad!  I stopped to walk and stretch.  I wanted to just keep going and finish, I had to remind myself that I don't want to remain injured so I had to play it careful.  Soon we saw my family!  It was so nice to see them, they grabbed pictures, we gave hugs, it was fun.  *Note to family and spectators* If your runner is trying to go for a certain time, don't stop them for pictures.  Luckily my time was out the door, I just wanted to be done.

I do have to say though, I don't think I ever hit a wall.  There was water every mile which also slowed us down because you stop every mile whether you need water or not when you are with someone :)

I had nutrition every 45 minutes to 1 hour.  Boy, thats a lot of nutrition once I was out there!

I got to see DEE who was running as an Achilles Guide.  She is amazing!

It was a great chance to see family :)

At least we know how to have fun!

See Ya Next time NY.. Just kidding!!! 

Questions for you:

1. Have you ever gone into a race and then the expectation just ruined the experience?  Have you had the opposite happen?

2. Have you run the NYC, what were your thoughts?

3. What was your favorite race? Doesn't matter, distance, sports, etc!

ALso, I am training for a triathlon now and feel free to make a donation so I can actually go through with it!!  http://pages.teamintraining.org/sun/anttry14/ghimelfarb

I will be updating all my loyal readers with my training soon :)

Also, I just realized this turned out to be a full recap of the NYC Marathon, not life.. I guess you may hear from me sooner than later!

NYCM Training Week 8: Take 2

I have to say, this week of training I am not proud of.  I managed to get in one run and to say I am disappointed is an understatement.  Fortunately, some of it was out of my control.  

This week, once again, I am linking up with Meghan and Kat.

I can't believe there are only 70 days until the Marathon.  Where has the time gone?  Are there really only 10 more weeks?  Do I really start tapering in 7 weeks?  I sometimes wonder how on earth I am going to finish 26.2 miles upright!  I know I am more committed this training season than last, but damn, this shit is hard!

Back to the scheduled post of making excuses...

This week, on Tuesday, I ran a whole 4 miles.  :(

But that is better than 0 miles :)

Unfortunately the weather was the reason I wasn't able to get my week day runs in.  As soon as I would get back home from work the skies would let out horrible roars!  Monday it was bad so I moved that run to Tuesday.  I set out to do 8 because I was scared this would happen Wednesday.  I managed 4 and probably should have stopped at two because it was lightning and thundering and I was trying to hard to ignore it yet I know that is not what I should be doing.  I knew it wasn't right over my head at the moment so I just made a loop and stayed close to home.  Wednesday it was rainy and stormy and same with Thursday.  

See, I do have a gym membership but,

1. I hate the treadmill ( I need to get over it)

2.  There are no fans over the treadmills at L.A. Fitness so that sucks

3. 8 miles on the treadmill, ugh!- I can run 8 miles without stopping outside, but 8 miles on a treadmill will take me eternity.  How do you people do it?  Slow the speed, make it faster, what do you focus on?

This weekend was also full of excuses.

I had 17 miles of bridges that I WILL do next weekend!

It was poor planning and overcommitting on my part.  I also may have signed up for a TRI that took place on saturday that I never did..That is for another post.

Friday after work I went to the Backstreet Boys concert and didn't make it to Behns till after 12.  I was not going to run on less that 4 hours of sleep and be miserable, especially since we had the summer of Rum festival we were really looking forward to that evening.  With that being said, would I really be able to wake up Sunday for a long run after the summer of rum?  Realistically, in hind sight, I should have, but didn't plan accordingly.

I am taking this as a rest.recovery week.  This was the first week with the kids, my ankles have been hurting more, I think from being on my feet all day in terrible, no good for your feet shoes, and I was exhausted!  

yea, Backstreets back...Allright!!!

I ran into these pretty ladies at Rum Fest.  Don't mind the hair, no one else did.  It was a little humid apparently.

This week I will try my darm hardest to run as much as possible to get my monthly milage over 100 miles!!!

How do you get your runs in on the treadmill, are there any tricks I need to learn?

Are you training over summer and wondering where your speed has gone?  I miss mine and it's making me sad!!! How do you get it back?

NYCM Training week 6 & 7: Take 2

I can't believe how quickly the last two weeks have gone by.  I really meant to do a recap for week 6 but work started up and there went my time to do anything.  I can't get over how often some people blog?  Please give me hints on how you make the time?  By the time I get home it is time to run, shower, and go to bed!

I am going to make this post short because I am still hopeful the lightning and thunder will stop here and I can get my run in.  If not, at least I will have blogged and todays run will be moved to tomorrow! I am not going to lie, I do think my legs need an extra rest day but will get to that later.

I am linking up with Meghan and Kat this week for their Weekly Workout Roundup!

Week 6

Monday 8/5: 5.24 miles  1.5 in 18 minutes then 3.71 @ 11:19 pace and 

Tuesday: Rest

Wednesday 8/7 3.7 @ 11:41 pace Tempo run (Tempo at 11:57)

Thursday 8/8 planned for 7 but slept in :(

Friday Rest Day 

Saturday 8/10 Christa's Graduation run 14 miles of bridges. 12:17 pace- this was pretty good minus except for the terrible stomach ache and therefore had to walk more than I would have liked

My new Camelbak and my sweaty body

Christa's graduation with Christa, Coach Lyle, me, and Coach Teresa

Week 7:
monday 8/12: 4.06 miles @ 11:34 pace
Tuesday Rest day
Wednesday 8/14 7 @ 12:25 pace.  This run I am not sure how to describe.  Work started monday and I came home and took a 2 hour nap.  This was incredibly hard but I did not stop at all to walk.  The pace would just not GO!
Thursday 8/15 6 mile progression run 11:29 pace- felt good for the most part.  Used the last mile as a cool down and the first mile I just couldn't slow down.  I got the miles in :)
Saturday 8/17 16 miles @ 12:45 pace.  This run went pretty well.  We walked about a mile because who I was running with wanted to walk to I took the brake with them!Some felt great and some felt hard.

I have noticed this whole week my legs were so sore.  I went in Saturday with sore legs which is beneficial come race day but made running 16 pretty annoying.  I also don't have a working ipod.



Those were my last two weeks and tomorrow my students come!  I am really excited to enlighten a whole new bunch of students.  I am hoping to be as productive as possible during the school day so I can leave on time to run.  Waking up at 4:45 doesn't leave much time in the evenings to get everything done.  I am proud that I got all my runs in last week. I am thinking my body is so sore because it is actually following a training schedule!  

Oh, I also made this for my classroom!

This came in the mail for me to review so I am excited to try it out.  I did receive this from fitluential :)

For all you bloggers, how do you stick to a blogging schedule?

What did you do this week that made you proud of yourself?

What songs should I add to my hopefully new ipod ??

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NYCM Training: Week 5

Another week of Marathon Training has flown by.  This week wasn't as great as I wanted it to be, there were a few ups and downs but I am determined to make my last week before school starts to be great!  July was a great month so I am hoping to replicate that!

This week I am once again linking up with Meghan and Kat!  Yay, two weeks in a row, what has come over me?

Monday: 7/29 

4 easy miles.  11:56 Pace.  The first 1.5 were great.  I wanted to go to the local Fit2Run group run but as I was about to leave it started to lightning and thunder.  I went for a run around the neighborhood when it finished.  My stomach started cramping and was locked out of the gate!  It was grand.

Tuesday: 7/30

Cross training.  I cross trained, yay!  If any of you have followed my training before I am very good at not cross training.  That is another goal this training cylce, to incorporate cross training.  I went to the pool at the gym and swam a mile.  36:16 minutes.

Wednesday: 7/31

7 easy miles. 11:444 pace

Went around the neighborhood again.  Went after the rain and the mosquitos were out in full force! 

Thursday:8/1

This could be forgotten.  My plan called for 5 miles at MGP with a warm up and cool down.  I tried this run three times.  I first woke up at 6 to run.  I got .5 miles and my stomach was cramping so I walked home.  I went back to sleep, looked for houses and then went to the gym. At the gym I warmed up again, put it to GP and my chest hurt.  It hurt to breathe.  I called it quits and drove to Bayshore.  I ran 2 miles under GP and called it quits because I just couldn't go.  I walked back and had a scenic view of of the beautiful houses.  I think my body is rebelling because it hasn't ever actually followed a training plan completely.  This is where I freak out because I have to start work, which  I will need to drive at least an hour each way, and work way too many hours a day.

Friday: 8/2

Rest day! Hallelujah!

The only part I like about Bayshore

Saturday: 8/3

10.65 miles

This was supposed to be my 14 miler down Bayshore down with TEAM.  Unfortunately, I went to bed and woke up with a stomach ache.  The humidity got the best of me, my ankle was killing me and it was not my day.  With all that being said, I was maintaining a pretty good pace for running by myself.  Too bad it ended too quickly!

Sunday: 8/4

Rest day take two!

Sugar Overload at the Rays Game for Rest Day