Spring running

The girl and I went to Mexico the week before last and I had all these ambitions about running 15 miles while I was there (I'm training for a spring marathon) and getting her up to eight (she's training for a spring half marathon) that went to pot. I was lucky to plug away at five per day and she made it for all of three (one day) before heading to the gym muttering something about the humidity and head wind in both directions.

Vacations are meant for relaxation and eating anyway, right?

I actually didn't start out this post to talk about my vacation, rather my runs this past weekend.

I had a really tough run on Saturday - 17 miles in CP which turned out to be 16. Everyone was in town including those of us who recently moved to Boston so it was a nice group. But it was warmer than I thought it would be and I was over dressed. I wound up taking off my windbreaker and tying it around my waist - something I NEVER do - after about six miles. I was okay for most of the run, but when I got to mile 16 I got a jarring pain at the top of my tuchas on the right side.

I had to stop running. Luckily I was at the 72nd Street transverse and could cut the last mile down by 1/3. About five minutes into my walk, I untie the windbreaker and like magic, my tuchas doesn't hurt anymore.

Lesson learned.

Here's the run:

I'll write about Sunday's run later this week. I gotsta get back to work.

First Nike Free run

Went out for a quickie after work last night. I was FREAKING out and having a temper tantrum because my Garmin couldn't find a signal and I decided to do something I never do, actually start the run before the signal was found.

So, I head into the Park and start going north on the west side (which I also never do) and less than five minutes into the run, who do I run in to? Bobby K of course! Not only did my mood lighten up, but the Garmin seemed to find a signal immediately. A magic man, that Bobby K is!

So the shoes. First of all, they were light. And I mean LIGHT. I felt like I was wearing slippers. I bought the lightest version so I didn't expect too much padding and that's what I got. I did the first half of the run pretty slow to get used to the shoes. I did notice a tightness in the ball of my foot about two miles in and my calves are a little sore this morning, but overall, beyond the lightness and lack of cushioning, I didn't think they were so great. I did have to stop twice to retie the laces on my left shoe, something I NEVER have to do on my NB. I found that to be a pain in the ass.

Not sure what all the hype is about. I'll continue to use them for a mid-week run until I destroy them, which I don't think will take too long.

Here's the run:

If you click on the map and look at my pace and hearth rate, you'll see a huge jump between miles 3 and 4. My ego got the better of me and I didn't want some guy to pass me so I sped up to leave him in the dust :-)

Crushed!

I stayed out in the BK last night to gather some stuff as the G/F and I are going to Mexico on Saturday! Asta la vista cold rain and snow, I'm heading to the beach for a week!! But I didn't sleep well and am SUPER tired today. I was planning on hitting a yoga class tonight but am rethinking.

While the running is not back to where I'd like it to be, I did manage to tuck a solid 30 miles into last week which is a good start.

I also bought a pair of Nike Free on Monday just to see what they're like. Now that New Balance has discontinued my fave sneak (the 1060 line), I'm on lookout for a replacement. Oh, who am I kidding, I will always be a New Balance guy. And I'll never switch to Nike, that's like going from your favorite locally, owned and operated coffee shop to Starbucks.

It's just wrong.

That said, anyone have experience with the Nike Free? Maybe instead of Yoga, I'll take my Free out for an inaugural run . . .

Running

No posts for a long time, I know, I get it. I don't like to blog that much anymore even when I try.

I took a look at Google Analytics this morning and it seems that this space is still getting some traction. Maybe I can try to commit to two posts a week, we'll see what happens when I get busy at work.

Maybe a good place to start is the event plan for 2011? I'll try that.

I don't consider the races (including half marathons) I run with the NYRR "events" per se. So excluding that list, here's where I netted out:

1. New Jersey Marathon - May
2. SBR Sprint Tri - June
3. Stissing Tri and Central Park Tri (both Sprint distance) - July
4. New York City Triathlon (Olympic distance) - August
5. Chicago Marathon - October
6. NYC Marathon - November

Think that's enough?

It's Marathon Time!

Training time that is.

BK and I did 16 two weeks ago and only 13.1 this past weekend (it was the NYRR Bronx Half Marathon). Yesterday was SO much better than the Queens Half (when my Garmin 405 pooped out - sent it in for repair Friday so I'm relegated to the 305 for now - luxury probs). While it was a little humid, it was just a really, really nice day to be out and running.

I ran with the Hizzo and BK for the first eight or so miles and then took off on my own.

While it wasn't a PR, it was a course record I think (I still need to check) and I was fully happy with the time and run.

Here it is:

Disturbing Trend

Wasn't able to participate in the SIG ride this past weekend. When I awoke on Saturday, I thought my head was going to explode.

I've never had allergies before and wanted to chop my fucking head off.

I've since started taking Zyrtec, we'll see how that goes - although so far it's a little bit better.

I ran 30 less miles last month that I did the month before (78 vs 109). I guess this makes sense since the boys aren't training for Paris any longer. But it still made me feel "less than."

On the plus side, even with missing a 65 mile ride, I increased my cycling mileage by a modest amount (295.5 vs. 271). Those numbers are usually double what they are at this point, but I have been spending more time running than on the bike.

I introduced DvB to River Road on Sunday. And despite not being ready for the hills and the brutal humidity, I think she did fairly well. Here's the ride we did after the run I did with the boys (posted below the ride).

Ride:



Run:

Last weekend

Saturday's ride was BEAUTIFUL.

We were in what I called Hedge Fund Country. Every house was bigger than the last and every third house was on the market :-)

A Dog and I peeled off the ride to chaperon Julie and Adrienne to the train - we took a more direct route since they needed to get on an earlier train (and we wanted to hammer). I had to hold him back when he jumped on the front of the line. All said and done, I like to think I held my own while pulling.

Between A Dog and I, we pulled 75% of the ride.

Here it is:


The second lap is the hammer-fest post lunch.