Run across Brooklyn

Yesterday morning I skipped the team run. There was no way I could have ran 15 miles without sleep. I really really tried. To make up for it I planned to run from Columbus Circle to Coney Island (about 15mi). Not really a plan, more of the spur-of-the-moment idea because I slept through my previous plan of running CP 2 1/2 times then going to the Met. I left late so I started at City Hall instead.

The bridge was packed. I hated running down Flatbush Ave. I felt like everyone was starring at me. I'm sure I looked funny with a fuel belt, backpack, bottle of water in one hand and a phone in the other while moving at Turtle pace. "You don't know where I'm going and you don't know where I've been."

It was around that point that I had to break out the mp3s. It's not good have any negative thoughts while running long distance and I needed friends. By Prospect Park I was feeling better. I didn't dare to run through it. I'm sure it's a simple path but I am not familiar. After following the contour I made my way to Ocean Parkway. The same path as in the Brooklyn Half Marathon. Then it was mostly counting the alphabet avenues and others thrown in there until I hit Ave Z. then Neptune Ave! By the time I met the boardwalk the sun was setting and I was aiming for the silhouette of the Parachute Drop.

Squam Lake

Last week Bonnie invited me to vacation with her family in New Hampshire. We hiked, kayaked and swam. It was a lot of fun. I drank beer and ate ice cream every day. I got some miles in too. Mostly ran along the highway into and across a small town. On the other side there was a covered bridge that I used as my turnaround. It was about 5 miles total. My longest run was 8 miles around the Pond in Jamaica plain, Boston.

Bronx Half-Marathon 2:44:57

Meaghan and me


Me in lots of pain from my side stitch.
I forget how much weight I've gained until I see these photos.

Somewhere in Wonderland. I mean the Bronx.

To make it brief I will copy from my Dailymile page:
I got a little stitch somewhere before mile 5. It went away but came back with a vengeance at mile 7. Deep breaths, water and walking wouldn't make it go away. I'm looking forward to the next Half-M. still aiming to beat my PR of 2:35.

In case you aren't familiar, a stitch is a pain in the side (usually the right) that happens sometimes while running. I'm going to guess I was dehydrated and try not to think about that race anymore. Except that I will start off slower (I really did feel good for the first 4 miles...), drink lots of water everyday, even more a few days before a long run, and if I feel that terrible again I can do the run/walk technique I learned from a team member. Run 3 minutes, walk one minute cycles.

12 miles and little bit more

This is the map of Saturday's 12 mile run with TNT. Park Ave was closed off for an event called Summer Streets. Saturdays in August, Park Ave is closing car traffic for runners, walkers, cyclists, skaters. I like the word run-walker.

Practice started at 8am on 52nd street. Somehow the fear of being left far behind down Park Ave motivated me to come early. To run long distance at 8am I need wake up at 5am for breakfast...and then usually fall back to sleep a little longer. Still, with my nocturnal nature I will probably have 2 to 4 hours sleep.

I'm pretty sure my Rome Marathon was run 2 1/2 or 3 hours sleep. Mostly it was nerves. Terrified of sleeping in caused me to barely sleep at all. But the marathon turned out ok.

This 12 mile run turned out well too. By starting with the group, I realized that I'm not as slow as I thought. Although miles 9-11 were a struggle. I had a stitch for about half a mile then got a foot cramp, then another stitch. The cramp stared me more than the stitches. With very large breaths those will soon go away. With the cramp, I focused on the fact that my bag was still at 52nd street. I had to finish for my bag. Around 12, I was feeling pretty good again. Maybe not good enough to run an extra mile but still not bad. Oh yes, and I didn't have to use the bathroom. That is very important because it will add time to my race.

Running Through Tornado Warnings

Friday night I went for a 3 mile run in central park. I started at 110th, down the west side, around the reservoir and back up the east side. It was sunny and close to 8pm. At the turn, dark clouds began to roll in from New Jersey. Within a few minutes a sepia shade washed over everything like something from the dust bowl era . Schools of leaves were blowing loopty-loops just like a movie...

Then the rain hit hard. Still about a mile and a half from home. Cyclists were racing to get out of there. A few other runners still headed down town. I was just trying to maintain an 11 min mile and watch for falling trees. By the time I made it to 110th Street the lighting and thunder were in sync. One crashed right over my head. So I dashed into the subway instead of the deli which only 30 more feet. Down stairs at least 20 more people were waiting out the storm. Most of them were still dry. Now soaked and freezing I crossed my arms over my chest. A man pointed at my new shoes and said something in Spanish. I assume he told me they were ruined or soggy. I'm not sure. The tunnel became more packed as exiting riders decided to stay and more wet people came to hide. But in about ten minutes the storm let up and everyone was free to go their way again.

I didn't know the city was even under a tornado watch let alone a warning until the next day. If this video is ever deleted. It's the news being quite excited about the storm.