19.2 + 30

I completed my first very long run on Saturday with a 19.2-mile journey from Park Slope to Columbus Circle and back. Despite three separate stops for food, water and bathroom, the distance took only 3:34 to cover. That included treks over the Manhattan Bridge on the way in to Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge on the way out.

Looking at the numbers, I burned about 2554 calories during the trip. The first half took just 1:32 while the return took 2:02 and included all the stops. I began the run at about 7:00am and was home around 10:30am. Note to self: stay clear of cookie dough flavored protein bars. In the end, I think I lost about 2.5 lbs during the run.

The impressive part of the trip was not the distance but the pain in my right calf and left knee. The last time I did a long trip into Manhattan I nearly shredded my legs. This time this time was very different. The pain during the run was completely manageable, thanks in part to the consumption of four Ibuprofen at the start of the day.

Here's a Google Earth image of the route I took:

I felt so good, in fact, that on Sunday afternoon I did a 30 mile bike ride in Prospect Park. I had intended to keep the pace very manageable at around 16 mph but looking at the computer when I finished, I read 17.8mph. That is a great indicator of performance for the upcoming MS Ride which I am attempting to complete at an average of 16 mph.

I recovered on Monday and did an easy 3.9 mile run in Prospect Park on Tuesday morning.

My concerns about the NYC Marathon center around three basic subjects:

1) How can I ensure that I will not have to use the bathroom during the race? This was not a critical problem on Saturday but my concern about having a bathroom to use definitely colored my pace

2) What will the temperature be like and how will that impact what I wear? On Saturday I ended up running in a long-sleeve biking shirt and my fall weight biking tights. Hopefully, the temperature will be consistent during the days prior. Last year looked like this:

Mostly Sunny
High: 59°F
Precipitation: 0%
Wind: WNW 15 mph
Max. Humidity: 54%
UV Index: 3 Moderate
Sunrise: 6:29 AM ET
Avg. High: 58°F
Record High: 78°F (1975)

3) How can I avoid injury between now and race day? This is really the wild card. If I get into an accident or something during the MS Ride, I will have just a few weeks to recover. That's a scary thought. I'll just do my best to be careful.

Based on the training schedules I have been following, I am on track to complete the NYC Marathon. That's a nice feel after all these months.

Picking up the Pace

It's Friday and I have already run 17 miles (5 on Monday, 7 on Wednesday, 5 on Thursday). Tomorrow, I am planning to run 18. Assuming I complete the run tomorrow, it will be the longest I have ever run in one week. According to one schedule, I should be running another 3 miles tonight.

I just checked through a list of 12,000 people from NYC running in the marathon. It was kind of thrilling to see my name on the list.

I have some guilt about not riding my bike since the NYC Century ride. I really should go out on Sunday if my legs hold up.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A massive, marathon size THANK YOU to all of my wonderful, generous, thoughtful sponsors for putting me over the top. As of today I have raised the minimum amount ($2500) for the Thomas G. Labrecque Foundation, enabling me to run the 2008 NYC Marathon. This is a tremendous personal milestone for me and I really cannot thank everyone enough for getting me to this point.

Additionally, as of today, I have raised more than $2,000 for the National MS Society, easily qualifying me as a VIP rider for the 2009 bike tour. As one of the top fundraisers for 2007, I will be wearing a number corresponding to my rank among the 5,000 riders who did the tour last year.

Look for me wearing #100 at the starting line of the this year's MS ride!!

Both organizations are still accepting your donations so, if you have not done so already, please consider supporting one or both of these very worthy causes.

Inspired by JLo

Is it possible for me, in this media-driven, tabloid-saturated age, to be honestly inspired by the selfish act of a mere celebrity? When I found out that Jennifer Lopez completed the Malibu Triathlon on Sunday, I was more than a little bit surprised.

But not shocked.

As a new mother of twins at 39, I have to tip my hat to her for completing the whole course (1/2 mile swim, 18 mile bike, 4 mile run) in about 2.5 hours. She could not have done this without some level of commitment. Judging from the photos, she obviously put in some time. (Nice to see her riding a Specialized S-works bike!!)

Clearly, if I can train for a marathon and two century rides, anyone can. So, good for you JLo!

As for me, the rubber is truly hitting the road and the training is getting serious. On Saturday, I completed my longest run to date -- 16.25 miles from Park Slope to the Koeppel Mazda dealership in Woodside, Queens. (3:04:38, 2487 cal, 145 avg. hrt). I packed two Powerbars and carried a bottle of Gatorade with me. ALong the way I purchased a bottle as well. You should have seen the repair manager's face when I told him I ran all the way there to pick up my car. Priceless.

More importantly, I felt really good at the finish line.

After resting on Sunday, I did a nice 5 mile run on the treadmill on Monday night in a blazing fast 45:36. And I felt REALLY good at then end of that one.

I stopped by Jack Rabbit Sports on Sunday to talk with Todd, the manager and my unofficial running coach. He had suggested wearing triathlete shorts to do the NYC Marathon. As an official "Iron Man," I pretty much take his word as the gospel.

So, for my run on Monday, I did it in biking shorts to get the sensation of running in a pair of wicking shorts. It worked out pretty well so I will probably splurge and get these shorts.

Check Up

NYRR offered a free pre-marathon check up last night and, according to a whole pile of physical therapists, doctors, residents and sports medicine people, I am capable of doing this race despite the nagging pain in my left knee.

They suggested that I strengthen my quadricep muscles and ice my joints after running. Apparently, relying on Ibuprofen is not such a big deal.

Afterwards, I swung by the gym, did some leg lifts and ab work, and ran 7.25 miles.

And my knee was killing me.

Age is not a Factor: Armstrong

Apparently, for real-live athletes, age has no longer become a factor in their lives. This was demonstrated most profoundly during the recent Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Today, however, that concept took on a whole new meaning with the late-breaking announcement that Lance Armstrong would return to the saddle and ride in the 2009 Tour De France.

Twice during the ride on Sunday, when it felt as though my legs would seize up, I thought about my age and just how old I was compared to so many others around me. Many were half my age.

Now, at 37, Armstrong is going where no man has gone before. For many who follow professional riding, it was strange to see Lance on the cover of Velo News recently riding in a cyclocross race -- and coming in 2nd. It's no surprise that he wants back in the action.

Like so many others, I am inspired by his story. Knowing that I will be running in the NYC Marathon with him makes it even more exciting.

The NYC Century Ride

Yesterday, under beautiful blue skies, I completed the first leg of my Fall 2008 Endurance Triple Crown -- The New York Century.

Despite numerous obstacles and almost getting lost somewhere in Queens, I completed the ride in 8 hours, 10 minutes and 23 seconds. I burned through roughly 6,000 calories, lost four pounds and traveled at an average speed of just 12.4 mph.

That is an incredibly slow pace. However, it's important to remember that the ride is America's ONLY all-urban century. None of the roads were closed to traffic. Thus, when riders were not riding on a bike path or greenway, they were dodging oncoming car and bus traffic as well as pedestrians, Rollerblades, and other cyclists. It was almost impossible to build up any momentum and speed because we kept hitting lights and busy street corners. Just clicking in and out of the pedals was a challenge.

Throughout the trip, I witnessed numerous close calls with cars. I was almost clipped once but the car was going so slow it would not have mattered. The route was littered with cyclists repairing flat tires and covered in scrapes and bruises. Considering my tires had 1500+ miles on them before the ride, I'm very surprised that I made it through without getting at least one flat. I had two spare tubes just in case.

As I said to one rider in the first couple of miles, this should be called "The Most Dangerous Ride in America."

The ride began at the top of Central Park at 110th Street and Lennox Ave. at 6:00am SHARP. In order to get there at 5:30am, with enough time to collect my thoughts, get a route sheet and use the bathroom, I needed to leave my house at 4:30am. That corresponded to my alarm going off at 3:55am. I did not return home until 5:30pm.

The ride leaves Harlem in the pre-dawn darkness. However, less than 30 minutes later, we are crossing the Brooklyn Bridge -- just as the sun is cracking over the horizon. It's truly a breathtaking moment. Unfortunately, we had only traveled about nine miles at that point so no one was in the mood for stopping.

The real pain didn't hit until about mile 60, when my back started to give way. By 75 miles, I was dying for a rest. That's when I struck up a conversation with a guy named Andrew who stuck with me for the last two legs of the trip. He moved to NYC from Minneapolis about a month ago to work for the NYC Historic House Trust. He was doing the ride on a fixed wheel bike, without a water bottle and carrying 15 lbs. of stuff in a backpack. I'm shocked he finished it -- and so was he. It was the first time he had ever done a large group event. I tried to convince him to do the MS ride and took his number as we parted but I think it may have been a 3-hour friendship. Either way, I know he helped me along some of those lonely stretches and I think I helped him.

We made it back to Central Park by about 3:00pm. Overall, I felt pretty good. I couldn't stop drinking for hours afterwards. I probably downed four 16oz. bottles of Gatorade before finally falling asleep.

Around mile 10 my left knee started aching badly and, luckily, I was ready. Before leaving the house, I grabbed eight tablets of Ibuprofen. I wanted to hold out as long as possible. By the time we hit mile 35 or so, I really needed the medicine so I took four. Within 30 minutes, the pain had subsided and was dull enough not to pose a problem. Later, at the 75 mile stop, I took two more tablets and gave another one to Andrew.

I'm sad that I needed the painkiller to get me through but happy that I took them. I'm sure I never would have been able to finish all 100-miles without it. The big payout came on Monday morning, when I woke up feeling fine. In all honesty, I almost felt good enough to run!

Tomorrow I'm going to get back into a regular pattern of running and try for 16-18 miles this weekend. If I can do that I'll feel like I am making progress towards the Marathon.

Why Am I Doing This?

Over the last several days, I have spent a considerable amount of time asking myself a very simple question: why am I doing this? Why have I subjected myself to this silly game?

Most days, the answer that I give is this: to be able to say that I did it. To be able to look back on 2008 and say that in one year I completed nine NYRR Races, two 100-mile bike rides, and one NY Marathon. While that may not be much of an achievement for many people, it will mean a great deal to me. At a time in my life when most of the accomplishments in my life seem to center around my children, this is something I am doing purely for me. If that sounds selfish, you are obviously not a parent.

A few years ago, my friend Tom and I were talking. He said that on a personnel application, he was asked about his hobbies. As a busy father and huband, it suddenly dawned upon him that his spare time was rarely spent doing anything on his own or for his own enjoyment. If he could grab a minute, maybe he'd watch a football game. Otherwise, it was his job, his son or his wife.

This weekend, I will be riding in the first of my three main events this year: the NY Century Ride. I did this ride for the first time last year and had a great deal of difficulty. Not only is the ride long, the roads are all open for traffic, raising the stakes as every rider must dodge traffic, pededstrians, dogs and a host of other obstacles. The route is poorly marked and marshall's are virtually non-existent. It's a day-long game of follow-the-leader -- even when you can't see the leader.

Plus, there are lengthy portions of the trip where I will have to walk my bike over bridges and across muddy parks. Sometimes the ground is covered in sand, mud or even glass.

I completed a nice 20-mile ride this morning in Prospect Park to try and work out some of the pain in my left knee. It appears to be healing. But slowly.