Despite my infrequent updates, my training schedule has remained very much on track.
Two weeks ago I completed race #7, the American Heart Association Start! Wall Street Run & Heart Walk. They called it a "run" but a better description might be "run amok". Essentially, 17,000 people were unleashed onto the narrow, rickety, century old streets of lower Manhattan and guided through a twisting maze of potholes and steel construction plates. The result was three miles of insanity as runners were transformed into hungry, wild refugees battling for the next airdrop of food. Nothing I had ever experienced could have prepared me to jump into that seething mass of insanity.
I finished in 24:58 for a blazing pace of 8:19, my all-time fastest for an organized run. All I know is, I complete the race and it counted towards the 9 I need for the NYC Marathon.
Since then, training has taken on a more relaxed pace. We spent Memorial Day weekend in New Hampshire where I split my time between running and biking. There's nothing like the rolling hills of NH to build up endurance.
Friday was spent doing a nice 6-mile run from our house out to the General Store and back. I think I did in in about 59 minutes excluding the water stop. On Saturday I completed a strenuous 18-mile ride to Wolfeboro and back going up some monster hills. I took it easy on Sunday and did 21-miles out to Mirror Lake and back. The ride on Sunday was spectacular and reminded me what I liked about biking in the first place. Too bad I now have to balance that off with running.
The rolling hills were almost constant. Just when the terrain seemed to be taking on an even grade, a nice hill would drop in front of me.
Returning home, I ran the loop around Prospect Park on Tuesday at a nice clip. I've since learned that it's a 3.35 mile route which seems like child's play at this point.
The climax of the last couple of weeks came over the weekend. On Saturday I did the PP Loop in 29 minutes. The hardest part of the run was just getting out of bed. On Sunday, I set my sights on 10 miles. While I have completed this distance before, I have not done it in a long time. And, I have generally been running shorter distances faster, rather that extending my reach. This time was very different. I paced myself, drank regularly, and watched my heart rate. The result was a very respectable 100 minutes. More importantly, I could have kept going. Maybe not forever, but definitely for a couple of miles
Other news:
- I did not win the lottery for the NYC Half Marathon in July. This is a bit of a let down after all my preparation but I'll get over it. I was really looking forward to running down Broadway from Central Park to the Battery. Maybe I'll just jump in!!
- I ordered and received my Road ID which now enables me to run or bike without my wallet. This simple, ingenious device contains all of my vital information on a bracelet in case I am hit by a car or pass out during a run. They are a great company and I STRONGLY encourage anyone running or biking to get one.
- My colleague Amy completed the San Diego Marathon in about 4 and a half hours. This is a huge accomplishment for her.. She's been training aggressively for about four months through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team In Training Program. We've been comparing training stories in the office and seeing her complete the mission has reinforced my focus on doing this in November.
- The drawing for the NYC Marathon is tomorrow.
....and the quest continues
Two weeks ago I completed race #7, the American Heart Association Start! Wall Street Run & Heart Walk. They called it a "run" but a better description might be "run amok". Essentially, 17,000 people were unleashed onto the narrow, rickety, century old streets of lower Manhattan and guided through a twisting maze of potholes and steel construction plates. The result was three miles of insanity as runners were transformed into hungry, wild refugees battling for the next airdrop of food. Nothing I had ever experienced could have prepared me to jump into that seething mass of insanity.
I finished in 24:58 for a blazing pace of 8:19, my all-time fastest for an organized run. All I know is, I complete the race and it counted towards the 9 I need for the NYC Marathon.
Since then, training has taken on a more relaxed pace. We spent Memorial Day weekend in New Hampshire where I split my time between running and biking. There's nothing like the rolling hills of NH to build up endurance.
Friday was spent doing a nice 6-mile run from our house out to the General Store and back. I think I did in in about 59 minutes excluding the water stop. On Saturday I completed a strenuous 18-mile ride to Wolfeboro and back going up some monster hills. I took it easy on Sunday and did 21-miles out to Mirror Lake and back. The ride on Sunday was spectacular and reminded me what I liked about biking in the first place. Too bad I now have to balance that off with running.
The rolling hills were almost constant. Just when the terrain seemed to be taking on an even grade, a nice hill would drop in front of me.
Returning home, I ran the loop around Prospect Park on Tuesday at a nice clip. I've since learned that it's a 3.35 mile route which seems like child's play at this point.
The climax of the last couple of weeks came over the weekend. On Saturday I did the PP Loop in 29 minutes. The hardest part of the run was just getting out of bed. On Sunday, I set my sights on 10 miles. While I have completed this distance before, I have not done it in a long time. And, I have generally been running shorter distances faster, rather that extending my reach. This time was very different. I paced myself, drank regularly, and watched my heart rate. The result was a very respectable 100 minutes. More importantly, I could have kept going. Maybe not forever, but definitely for a couple of miles
Other news:
- I did not win the lottery for the NYC Half Marathon in July. This is a bit of a let down after all my preparation but I'll get over it. I was really looking forward to running down Broadway from Central Park to the Battery. Maybe I'll just jump in!!
- I ordered and received my Road ID which now enables me to run or bike without my wallet. This simple, ingenious device contains all of my vital information on a bracelet in case I am hit by a car or pass out during a run. They are a great company and I STRONGLY encourage anyone running or biking to get one.
- My colleague Amy completed the San Diego Marathon in about 4 and a half hours. This is a huge accomplishment for her.. She's been training aggressively for about four months through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team In Training Program. We've been comparing training stories in the office and seeing her complete the mission has reinforced my focus on doing this in November.
- The drawing for the NYC Marathon is tomorrow.
....and the quest continues
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