“New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There’s nothin’ you can’t do
Now you’re in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let’s hear it for New York, New York
New York”
— “Empire State of Mind”, Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys
Happy New Year everyone!!! I am giving up on sleeping in these days. With work during weekdays, occasional weekend work, and running, there is just no chance. Boy, do I miss the days in college when I could go sleep at 4am and wake up at noon, or even just last year when I would be able to wake up at 9 or 10 on the weekends.
Last weekend, I raced a 10K on Saturday; the Joe Kleinerman Classic 10K in Central Park with NYRR. Not only was this my first race since the Philadelphia marathon, but it is actually my first 10K race. With all the training, I’ve run plenty of 6-milers, but never in a race setting in freezing temperatures. Besides being cold, I ran okay, didn’t fully race it since I was planning on running another 6 right after for my Miami training. Oh and also, this is my first race as a NYRR member in my attempt to achieve 9+1 (9 qualifying NYRR races and 1 volunteer event) for guaranteed entry into the 2014 NYC Marathon. I usually get a glare when I say that I’m trying to get entry for the 2014 NYCM, but let’s just leave it at getting entry doesn’t mean I have to actually run it in 2014, it just gives me the chance to if I want or defer the entry until 2015. I also have to mention with the 2012 marathon resolution from NYRR, I signed up to use my 2012 entry to for this year’s NYCM, now, I just need to decide if I will train with the Alzheimer’s Association team.
With all this running, I clearly do a lot of shopping. Since November, I invested quite a bit in winter running clothes and while I don’t particularly like running in the cold, I’m really glad I am getting use out of my layers. However, some recent purchases that I am excited about are two pairs of running shoes. I had all intention of trying a new brand of running sneakers once the marathon training was over, but that’s before I saw the multi-colored Asics Nimbus 14. I am hoping the mileage works out that I can run in these for the NYC Half in March. I also purchased a pair of Asics Gel-Lyte 33 for cross training purposes. I haven’t worn either pair yet, but I’m excited. I had to stock up before Chinese New Year (see entry #4)!
Today was D-Day for me… D = Decision. Today was our longest run before Miami and it is the day I was going to make a “final” decision about whether or not I will run the full or switch to the half. While, I had every intention of running the full, I wanted to make sure my mind and body could handle it and after surviving my 17-miler today quite well (so far), I am fully onboard (no pun intended!). Our long run today was the 5-mile loop in Central Park and then cutting across to the West Side, then running up north to the Little Red Lighthouse at Fort Washington Park (around 174th Street, immediately below the George Washington Bridge) and back. The team ran to the lighthouse a couple of times previously but I missed those runs, so today I was determined and boy was it worth the trip! The views were incredible even on a foggy morning. There’s so much to New York – love it!
In preparation for Miami, I’ve been going to the chiropractor once a week and he wants me to continue until the race to make sure I continue feeling okay. In general, I’m feeling about 95-100% on a given day running; some days I feel a slight strain, others, I feel normal. Anyway, during my last appointment, he made me promise to not run another marathon for a little while. I happily agreed. Don’t get me wrong; I love running, and I love running with my teammates, and the feeling I get after I finish a run, but training has just taken up so much time and I need a break from a regimented training schedule. I am really looking forward to finishing the race in Miami, eating a ton of food, lying on the beach and then not training for a little while; this will be my hibernation period. I’m pretty sure I will still continue to run a couples times a week, go to hot yoga and barre classes and just enjoy the freedom to create my workout schedule. I’ll come out of hibernation towards the mid to end of February, in time to get some speed work and longer runs in before the NYC Half.
My post would not be complete without some mention of food, right? Well, since New York is such a big part of this post, I thought this NY Post article would be appropriate. Both amazing yogurts, just a little on the sweet side, I actually prefer Siggi’s, an Icelandic Skyr-type yogurt, also from New York. With that, I bid farewell for now, as I go prepare our dinner.
