Tag Archive | central park

Race Report: Run as One, 4Miler. Getting CLOSE.

Another 4 miler yesterday. The last one, two weeks ago exactly, had gone great and I did 28:12. This one, the Run as One, was the exact same course but I decided to switch up my shoes. I decided to pick up my racing Saucony type A5 which is one my lightest pairs… They’re just 5 ounces and about 4mm offset. I wasn’t sure I was ready for it, but it turns out, it made a huge difference. You have to think of everything when you’re just trying to save a few seconds!

As usual, Juan and I walked/jogged the 1.5 miles to the start. I only had like 4 ounces of coffee and a gel. It’s better if I don’t eat before these races… I usually end up dry-heaving at the finish line, sooo: less is more. The walk was gorgeous!!! Last week when we did the More Half and this week… it’s been great, all the trees are blooming and it smells DELICIOUS!

Gorgeous, right??? Amazing. April and October are just the best in the park!

So, we got to the start, undressed, and headed for the corrals. I found so many friends in my corral! I asked everyone who was going for about 7:02 pace and got not takers. Soon, it was go time. This time, I had my watch and music again. After three races with neither, I decided to add those up to the equation again. Still tinkering with this a bit! Still, I didn’t look at my splits the whole race, I guess I’ve gotten used to running naked… The race happened fast, nothing to report, other than in the last mile I picked up a LOT of people (that probably went out too fast) and ended dry-heaving again for 20 seconds at the finish.

28:06!!! that’s… 6 seconds faster than 2 weeks ago!! Wohooooo!!! And 6 seconds away from my TWO YEAR OLD PR!!!!! it’s gonna happen people!!! SOOON!!!!!!!!!! OR else.

Now, notice how I run ALL the tangents…

Why are you friends not doing tangents??? yes, it’s very crowded, but sometimes, usually after mile 2, there’s space to do this! SO many people out there running on the wrong side of the road… !!!!

Now check out my laps (disregard the one I lapped over, as I hadn’t heard the click). I love looking at my splits after…

I obsess over this stuff. I care so much more about pacing properly than the finish time. I think this one went great. If the average pace was 7:02, a 7:18 start (up Cat Hill no less) is quite conservative and great. Mile 2 is always the fastest and the only one with no hills, so it’s bound to be fast. Mile 3 is usually when I start to slow down a LOT, but somehow I was able to hold it here, I don’t remember hurting that much either. And Mile 4 HAS to be the fastest, which yes!!! Very happy with how this went. Though I didn’t have a clue what pace I was doing where. Running by effort is SO MUCH EASIER!!!

I saw Juan soon and my team mates. We hung out for a bit! I was HUNGRY.

Stats Time:

Finish time: 28:06 Average Pace: 7:02

Previous PR: 28:00 From: April, 2013

Age Grading: 70.74%

Overall Place: 664 of 8,098

Gender Place: 63 of 3,910

Age Place: 6 of 445

This is very good-looking. I like the over 70% percent there, given that is usually my goal and 6th in my Age Group is not so bad either in one of these races. I was quite pleased with myself for having cut off another 6 seconds in two weeks… If I can get rid of an extra 7 seconds for the next 4 miler in two weeks, that’d be a PR!!!! I am SOOO CLOSE I can smell it!!!

Pacing the #morefitnesshalf. Such an interesting task…

Apr22

hey friends! So, I run a half this past weekend but I wasn’t racing. Or or just Running. I was an Official Pacer. Such a cool task you say, right? Man, I hadn’t stressed about a race in… forever? Probably since my first half ever, the NYC Half, in 2006!!!

Anyway, I offered to do the 1:50 group, as I had raced the NYC Half mid March in 1:39 so 1:50 sounded like I could do it without stress… that pace was already taken and as I am doing a marathon this year for the first time in… ever… I don’t want to run for 2 hours! So I stepped up and took the 1:45. Ouch, It was going to be tight, but, hey, it’s Central Park, I can do it!

Anyway, I got myself super stressed out about it. About everything! I was supposed to do even pacing… WHO RUNS EVEN PACE??? I have NEVER! You start slow, then you go fast, then you get tired, then you go mental in the last 3 or 4 if you did it right. Well, I was told to come in under 1:45 (which is 8 pace) and to shoot for 1:44:30, so 7:58 pace it is!!! I made a pace bracelet, I fussed with my watch, then tried Juan’s Garmin 920XT as it has (fast and slow) pace alerts but decided to go with mine, I know it well and don’t want to stress with anything new! I was so scared I’d forget to charge the watch, I was having nightmares, I really drove myself crazy (and prob everybody else). It’s so easy to mess up your race and live with it, but when other people depend on me, I get super stressed. I don’t know why it’s so stressful when people depend on me, obviously (why I never wanted to get married or have kids, or plants even!!!!). Then I stressed about the stick, you know, the one with the pace group time on it. I wasn’t getting the stick until race morning, as well as the singlet, so I’d have to figure that out later.

Ready to go!

See what I did? Instead of carrying it in my hand, like every pacer does, I covered it in duct tape, then I put it inside an arm warmer, then I stuck it inside my bra, and added a second bra for extra pressure. Gosh was I HOT!! But it worked, and NO chafing!

I got to the corral, walked around to make sure everyone saw me there, the question of the day was “what pace are you doing?” #7:58 was trending! I had a big group around me. I was right at the start line in the blue corral and probably 1 yard behind Deena Kastor, quite insane!

See the blue sign right on top of Deena’s head? c’est moi!

We got moving and soon enough we became one big happy group. Juan was lapping around us, sprinting, and taking approximately 50 million pictures. cutting them down to 15 was HARD. That mile was a bit slow because it was quite crowded.

Mile .5

Don’t we look so happy? Check out Chelsea on my right; she somehow stuck by me the whole race and got a 14 minute PR, that’s INSANE guys!!!!!

Mile 1 as you can see…

The stick was still not moving, which was great. Pacing was averaging 8, we’d go slower on the hills, faster on the downhills and catch up when we needed. I’d signal when I’d go get water and try to give out as many course advice as I could, as well as pointing out fluids, mile splits, or when to speed up or take it easy (hello Harlem hill!). Other times, I just read the signs and laughed. My favorite was a guy on our way up to Harlem Hill with a “I hear fast women” so I pointed him out to whoever was single in the group. Someone had to do the talking, you know?

It’s funny that I remember most of this people around me

West side, lap 1 still

How amazing does the park look?

I have to say, this was one of the most amazing weekends to be out there race. Every single tree in the park was blooming. I would have been really distracted if I had been racing, I am not gonna lie about it. I was ogling and smelling and wishing I could stop for pictures!

Juan did 9.5 miles, can you tell?

After we had crested Harlem Hill, the second time (which: UGH), it actually got a little crowded as we were lapping runners in the first lap, so there was a lot of of weaving. And also, since mile 2, I was SO SO SO HOT. I kept pouring water on my shirt and bras, ugh, I have no idea how people had long sleeves, or pants. On another day, I would have ripped the singlet off (hard to do with the stick there) and run in a bra!!! Why do I get SO hot???

just one more!

The last mile we brought it in hard. As soon as we got to the Mile 12 marker I told everybody to GO or to hold on to my back for their lives. My last mile was a 7:14… eek, but you know, the sub 1:45 was guaranteed at the point, I wanted to see how hard I could push them all. 😉

Juan was waiting by the finish of course!

My thumbs means… I didn’t mess up the pace!!!

And… done!

I am not gonna lie. I was really worried that I’d go too slow or too fast. It’s hard to do even pacing in a course as undulating as Central Park, and I always run by effort and not pace. But was I SO happy to have done this.

As soon as I crossed the finish line, I went to the side and waited with my stick. Every other person would thank me, even people I had no idea were pacing with me!! It was really sweet and I was so happy to have helped so many people. As I had never used a pacer, I had no idea how many people would follow me…. seems like I was able to help!!!!

should I have kept my eyes open???

Check out this awesome shot from the race page!

And that’s Chelsea, see? Besides the volunteers, I think I high fived 500 people in those 10 minutes there!!!!

I saw Juan, had my apple, got my Gatorade and mylar blanket and went to wait for Flor who was a bit behind. We then waited for the awards ceremony, hey hey, TWO masters in the top 3, which… Deena Kastor… I love her…

Oh Natalie Morales run the race too (and Ivanka Trump, but she was behind and I didn’t see her)

Natalie Morales run a 1:38 (or so she told me, I didn’t fact check!)

There’s Mary Wittenberg, Deena Kastor, and the rest of the top 3 and the rest of the today show team and the More peeps.

So then we went to EJ’s for brunch and of course, I was freezing. I am always either boiling hot or freezing. WTF? So, there’s one more cool experience to add to the book! (no, there’s no book, that’s what the blog is for!)

Run for the Parks, 4 miler. YES.

Apr13

So, yesterday I was doing another 4 miler… What a random distance right? Well, 4 milers are a very common distance in the Central Park racing scene, just cause we’re different like that (or because it’s a very convenient loop!)

I’m signed up for every single race in Central Park for the next few weeks, so my constant diet is speed on Tuesdays (800s or 400s with the Breakfast Club), then easy Wednesday (easy like 9:30 or 10, ok!) then easy Thursday and then I race. It’s quite limited what you can do when you’re racing every weekend because you gotta recover and then mini-taper, and I do super two-days tapers, even for a 4 miler! So, less quantity and more QUALITY for a few weeks #bestdiet

Plus, it seems like Juan and I are in a super crazy food roller coaster. Before the races, we clean our act super well, but the two days after the race we make up for it. Yesterday, after the 4 miler, we went straight to Shake Shack, then by 2 pm we had a whole bucket of Ben and Jerry’s, plus a bag of bark thins, plus milanesas for dinner. But we right back on the horse, don’t worry! Anyway, the RACE! almost forgot!

the day before we volunteered handing out shirts for 5 hours at NYRR. 5 hours standing… my back was hurting!!! SO BAD. Is that a thing or is it because I am 40 now? WTF! I felt so old when I woke up Sunday morning to go to the race… eeeeek. oh well. nothing will mess up my race #noexcuses people!

so, we’ve figured out our race day game so tightly by now. We leave home 1 hour before the race start, we walk or jog to the start to warm up, leave our warmup clothes and head to the start corral 15 minutes before so we don’t freeze… but yesterday was in the 40s, SO NICE AND WARM! man, we were happy puppies! Spring Puppies. We did see a puppy I liked after, that kind I like, whatever they are called, but it was tiny, soo tiny, I could have put it in a sandwich and nom nom!!!!!

So, waited for a while… like 30 minutes. I don’t know if it was the Spring in the Air or what (sounds so unbelievable right?? haha) but the race was bopping and people seems really happy. Or maybe it was my husband’s outfit making people smile…?

Btw that was my first year wedding anniversary gift, how cool a wife am I?? (he got me diamonds so he wins, fine!). I had done the 10K in 7:20 pace the week before, so… I assumed 7:15 was a safe bet for a pace, right? Who cares? Well, I wasn’t wearing a gps so it wouldn’t matter as I’d go by effort as I usually do. I just wanted to have a finish time expectation (right at 29 minutes?!?!) as usual. I did decide to bring my gps, which detaches from the bracelet and attaches to a clip, so I’d clip it in the back and not watch it during the race 😉 Smart!!!!

Race On! I get to the red corral (Juan goes ahead to blue) and find Ellen, who is going for 6:40, and Jon who said he’d do 7:20. Ok, I figured I’ll tuck behind Jon for a while. First mile has Cat Hill so I tried to go out easy and relaxed. Jon left me easily fast, so I figured I was going at 7:30s or whatever. oh well. EFFORT, not pace! SO I just trucked and tried my best to not get bored (I still do miss the music!).

Mile 1, because I looked at the race clock, seemed to be 7:05 so… ouch. Or, oh oh. Well, mile 2 is fast so I pushed the pedal a bit. By the 102 transverse I was passing a lot of people that went out too hard. Once you turn into the West side things get painful, so I tried my best to not despair or slow down. By the reservoir, I see Ellen up ahead… she seems WAY too relaxed, WTF? So I run up and ask her what’s going on, something about her leg and how she’s phoning it in. I told her to focus on my ass, fun conversation ensues, we start running together taking turns to push ourselves all the way to finish! So happy I found her, or I would not have pushed that hard. Or may I would have, I have no idea now! It is always SO much easier with race with someone else! I sprint like a maniac once we turn and… DONE!

I saw Juan right there, he’d done great and I was sure I was under 29.. but who knows. When I started the watch, I clipped it in the back and apparently I also stopped it. UGH. that’s 3 races in a row I can’t get this crap figured out!!!!!

We hung out with a few friends and team mates right by the race watching everyone finish and share race stories. There was a LOT of people (7,751 to be exact) and SUCH a lovely day. Hopefully from now on they’re all like this where I am not racing to get home in the warm shower. We stayed for the lottery (which, bummer, we didn’t win!) and then walked through the park, to make time before we get home, because Shake Shack opens at 11 😉 we’re disgusting and we know it. As you can see, I enjoyed the sun. Then the results came out by 10:20 am.

Uh, was I excited!

Stats Time:

Finish time: 28:12 Average Pace: 7:03

Previous PR: 28:00 From: April, 2013

Age Grading: 70.51%

Overall Place: 671 of 7751

Gender Place: 60 of 3733

Age Place: 5 of 449

This is very good-looking. 7:03 pace?!?! Well, that’s not so far from my 7:00 pr in this distance. I like the 70% percent there, given that is usually my goal and 5th in my Age Group is not so bad either in one of these races.

I was quite pleased with myself. Still not a PR but SO close, SOOO CLOSE! The Dashing Whippets women’s team came second overall also! yey yey team work!

Then, you know… heaven to make it all more amazing

Ah, life is so amazing sometimes!

Now, back to stressing about this weekend’s Women’s More Half. I’ll be in the Corral 1 pacing the 1:45 group. I am so nervous about this… I have to make sure I do even pacing through the race… interesting! I am used to racing by effort and not pace and to negative split halfs so I start slow and then drop the hammer. Even pacing seems SO weird and nonsense. But I am taking it as a long tempo, even effort, and taking each mile as a 7:58 goal. We’ll see. Wish me Luck!

this, so you STOP worrying about Sunday’s weather forecast for the NYC Marathon:

Oct28

“faster runners, who generate more heat, benefited from cooler temps, with the top one percent (green line below) peaking at 38.9°F. Midpackers (red line) do best in the mid-40s.”

full article, and some science and charts, here.

I agree. I love 37 to 47 as a range based on the distance. If there’s a chilly wind, we’ll just add a layer, trust me, you’ll be FINE. And you’ll run FASTER

1- because you don’t get as tired when it’s cold(er) than when it’s hot(ter).

2- to warm up

and who knows, maybe the wind will be on your back! Ummmm, hot chocolate afterwards! Of course after that macintosh apple we get at the finish, the most delicious treat I look forward to for 365 days!

Also, it’s only Tuesday, it can change so MUCH from here to Sunday. Don’t think about it until Saturday!

Race Report: 2014 Staten Island Half

Oct13

How convenient is it to run a half marathon the week before another half marathon? You’ll know exactly how to pace it!!!! Well, that part I had covered. I had crushed and burned at the Grete’s Great Gallop the week before so I knew

– I had to start a bit slower and save it

– my final avg pace of 8:01 could turn into something a bit faster if I had some grip over the first 5-7 miles.

I had still had the same cold I had the week before, so I wasn’t sure my performance would be any better. On the other hand, the course is a bit flatter… It was easy to plan though. I’d go out easier than last week: 8:15s or around there and at 7 miles, on the turnaround, I’d start pushing it.

GETTING THERE

Well, I’ve never been one of those people who had issues with the ferry or anything. Yesterday, I did. there was a 7 am ferry, a 7:30 ferry, and an 8:00 ferry. The race would start at 8:30 half a mile from the ferry terminal, so the 8 am ferry was out, it’d leave us in SI at 8:30! So, we got there at 7:23 to board the 7:30 boat. We line up, everyone starts going into the boat, and at 7:35 they close the doors. WTF??? “the boat is moving, are you on the boat??” texted Blaise from the boat. NO!!!!! Crap. They left without us. “It’s not that crowded in the front of the boat”, great! now I am going to make it late to the start, have to wave around like a maniac, UGH, flashbacks to a week ago missing connections when coming back from the honeymoon. The Staten Island turned into JFK and LGA and all my worst possible scenarios. I hate travelling.

Luckily, all the drama in my head, and poor Juan’s ears, dissipated when another boat decked at 7:46 and we quickly left! We made it to Staten Island at 8:15 so we hushed to the corral, undressed and in 5 we were moving. No time to get cold waiting!!!! YEY. #win

THE COURSE

Well, the course is pretty flat. there’s about 3 hills but they’re little (smaller than Cat Hill) and one nasty bump at the end I didn’t appreciate. Still, quite an easy course and I liked it. There were enough spectators to distract us, a few bands and DJs and quite some action…

THE ACTION

Ugh. At Mile 5.5 (or something) I saw a runner (a man, around 55 years old) lying on the floor, with a police car and he was getting chest compressions. I was so shocked I almost stopped on my tracks. I barely kept running. About 15 or 20 minutes later, after the turnaround, my mile 8 or something, I saw they were putting him on a stretcher so made me feel a little better. I felt so stooopid running when someone’s live was at risk, i really wanted to stop. You always hear about those races fatalities but it was shocking to see it happening. It took me a while to shake it off. What was I supposed to do? but also, how do you get that out of your head??

More here: http://www.silive.com/eastshore/index.ssf/2014/10/police_revive_staten_island_ha.html

MY RACE

Well, it was tough to relax. An 8 pace which should have been easy, was not. My breathing was still shallow and I was coughing and had som fun mucus that wouldn’t let me breathe. LET ME BREATH! Anyway, I tried as best as I could to relax and it wasn’t working. Then I tried to just slow down. It was tough to relax knowing last week i was toast at mile 10. What if the same thing happened??? UGH. Eventually by Mile 8 or 9I started relaxing and feeling normal… by Mile 11 I was able to push a bit harder and finished in an ALL OUT sprint, which was quite exhilarating!

If you look up there, I didn’t start as slow as I wanted to… even with the little bump on the first mile. Miles 5 and 10 are way slow, but looking at the course profile I can see why! Look at Mile 5 highlighted int his next image:

And look at mile 10, see:

I guess that’s why I slowed down. I really don’t remember the hills being that bad, other than the one on mile 10, but with my chest filled up with stuff the whole race was a hard-breathing hill… what a great workout though, right?

THE FINISH LINE

So, the finish line was at the Staten Island Yankees Stadium. A new finish so I had no idea what to expect. this is what it looked like, from Juan’s pictures. He was waiting there the whole time.

The last half a mile I passed a lot of people. A LOT. I had some nasty speed sprint fever and I burned it down. Then we turn onto the stradiums entrance, which was EPIC, and oh crap, we’re running on fake grass: ugh. Way to slow my sprint down 😦 Still a great finish line… as epic as Brooklyn I’d say!

I then bent down holding my knees and coughed for 10 minutes straight. SO GLAMOROUS, I know.

because 4 cups of Gatorade are not enough

heavy heavy staten island half medal

THE FINISH IS A PARTY

WOW, that finish escalated quickly!! the sun was nice, w could sit in the grass, I saw many team-mates in a minute and we were all happy just laying around. So much for being tired or layering back up so I couldn’t turn the cold into enterofluebolaenza. Nah, I’ll just hang out here.

why is he eating my apple?? WHY? oh, being married and sacrifice and all that smush

Stats Time!

Finish time: 1:43:39 (a minute faster than last week’s 1:44:53). Average Pace: 7:55

Previous PR: 1:37:35. From: March, 2013

Age Grading: 65.26%

Overall Place: 1614 of 9518

Gender Place: 271 of 4466

Age Place: 39 of 742

Official NYRR Staten Island Half race results and pictures

Soon Juan andBlaise and I headed for the ferry, got back on the Island, had brunch and run some 5 miles more. I turned Sunday into a double. the second run was NOT pretty. Actually, you can barely call it a run, but I didn’t stop once and had an avg 9:47 pace so I am counting it. This cold has annoyed me to no end this week.

Well, so… now I have the NYC Marathon in 3 weeks and I am not sure of my goal, as I HAVE NO IDEA what the hell I could have raced if I wasn’t sick… so my NYC marathon prediction guess will be interesting… 😉 let the gambling begin:

Guess my Finish at the 2014 NYC Marathon and win a prize

Race Report: Grete’s Great Gallop

Oct8

I did not run a step on my honeymoon, so there went a whole week. Then, when I got back I run on Wednesday and then… I didn’t feel so good. By Friday, I was shivering, feeling feverish, my chest was tight and my throat was hurting. Booohooo. I had soup and tea and honey and all the crap people do when they’re fending some bug and felt better by Sunday so I decided I’d take a crack at the Gallop. Even if I didn’t win, it’d be a good excuse to get out of the apartment and get a decent run on.

Basics about the Gallop: it’s two loops of Central Park, not the easiest/fastest but close to home and I know the course well. Piece of cake!

It was sunny out but around 47 degrees, brrrrrrr, so early in October for such cold!

Nothing to do while waiting for the race to start……..

The husband stayed with me by the corral so I could be warm until the last possible second. When the national anthem was done, I threw all layers, pants and jacket over the corral and went. I felt okish. Slow, sleepy and with a tight chest, but the legs seemed fine. I had a racing singlets and short tights, but kept a long sleeve shirt and gloves for at least the first mini-loop, as I knew I’d see him again and didn’t want to get cold and risk my health.

I started out easy and soon I noticed I was running at a decent clip. Mile 1 was 8:06. I thought it was fast but I kept telling myself I had done 8:16 in the Tune Up (3 loops of the park!!!) so I had to believe that I could sustain in. We’ll see. By Mile 1.5 I saw Juan again and dropped my long-sleeve!

Kept the gloves! I also had shuffled for a bit with a team mate I didn’t know, Young. Poor thing, we run together 100 meters and he was already laughing at all the shoutouts and attention I kept getting. He laughed that he wasn’t famous and we talked about how we both felt. One had some sort of bug and one had a hangover. That makes for some interesting miles… I told him I thought I’d do between 1:45 and 1:50 and to drop me when he felt like it but I think the hangover caught up with him soon as I seemed to lose him. Mile 2 was 8:08 and then the interesting part happened: going into Harlem Hill (which you know is a lot harder in this direction, clockwise) I run a 7:41 and a 7:54. Who knows. Heading back on the east side was a 7:51 and it seemed like I had this down. I remember feeling well and strong and hoping I felt the same way on the second loop. It did seem fast, but really, I had no idea what I had with me that day!

When I get off Harlem Hill, closing in on mile 6, I see Juan again and there goes the gloves! Now I am free to run as naked as I possibly can! Mile 6 was 7:58.

Then I decided it was time to fuel. I didn’t want to stop but I thought I HAD to. I had a gel, sipped some water, and started running back up again. Mile 7 was 7:44 and then things started to unravel.

Not just because my husband loves that BURST button on his phone but because the gel didn’t sit well with me, for some odd reason. I don’t usually have issues with them. Who knows. My stomach got tight, my chest got tight. I remember trying to figure out why I was running IN PLACE and I knew both things were an issue. My stomach was turning and I felt like I couldn’t breathe anymore. My pace felt like I was doing 11 minute miles. In a second, I had no energy left and I just wanted to be done, there was no kick, nothing. Mile 8 was a struggle at 8:20. I do remember I felt well for a bit and thought I had it back and I’d feel better: mile 9 was 7:44. But no. Once I was on mile 10, I was done. I tried to kick, there was no way. The last 3 miles were a drag and there’s nothing I could do about it.

Mile 10: 8:28 / Mile 11: 8:15 / Mile 12: 8:19 / Mile 13: 8:15 / And the last bit was at 7:04 pace.

But really, the last miles were awful. Though you wouldn’t be able to tell, right?

Here’s all the laps, see how bad it went?

You could argue that I started fast. I don’t think I did. I don’t usually start fast and I think if my stomach wouldn’t have played a trick on my, that’s a pace I could have held up. who knows though?

Stats Time!

Finish time: 1:44:53. Average Pace: 8:01

Previous PR: 1:37:35. From: March, 2013

Age Grading: 64.49%

Overall Place: 1205 of 5973

Gender Place: 281 of 2950

Age Place: 48 of 445

– NYRR Grete’s Great Gallop (13.1) race results

I finished ok, Young and Russell caught with me, there were some pictures, the one below appeared in the NYRR Photo Gallery

Soon I had found Juan (with my warm clothes!!!) and Patricia who run a 1:36… well, I am so far from that. So glad she still lets me run with her!!

There were some race pictures I will be buying soon. Sharing here but I don’t know that it’s common to get so many good pictures!

Well, so… now I have the Staten Island half this next Sunday. It’s 4 days away and I haven’t run since Sunday, and my chest is still a mess.. what to do, what to do?????

And… we’re BACK!

Jul29

I guess I hadn’t told many of you so when people see me running and they haven’t seen me in weeks or months, they are perplexed: “you’re running now?“.

I am. It all started back again, out of nowhere, with July, and I’ve been doing around 25 miles a week consistently, even some enthusiastic speedwork. Slow, and frustrating, yes, but back on the horse. Mid-July I made myself a NYC Marathon training, program, the exact same one I’ve been using for all my NYC Marathons, since my first in 2008, I know it works for me, and so far so good.

Mind you, that plan, where I am mostly hitting all the workouts, says I can do a marathon in 3:32, which would not be a PR but a bit better that the miserable Boston race I did (untrained!!) at 3:49! A 3:32 marathon translates into a 3:37 in NYCM.

I am so excited about the speedwork though, that I somehow convinced Daphne and Kettia to move this week’s tempo to today. And instead of the prescribed 8:03 pace we did: 8:03 (nailed it), 8:09 (still yeah!), 7:44, and 7:32. Plus, these were on hills and dirt, so you can safely take at least 10 seconds off of each.

Finishing Speedwork Feels good.

Feels really good to be able to feel the come back.

It’s not easy. I don’t always still have the motivation. But having good friends with me just make it A LOT easier. Daphne should start getting paid to pace, she’s a natural rabbit. No matter what sort of run it is, she’s ALWAYS keeping it honest. It’s exactly what I needed. Kettia tends to push my ~~buttons~~ pace too, but as neither of us are 100% committed I sometimes convince her to back off, boo me.

It’s going well. I did 12 last weekend, my longest in a long time, and it felt like I was doing 20, during and the whole day after. I was so exhausted. Not sore or in pain but overall tired. 14 this weekend… and on and on hopefully. Good thing is, it’s Summer Streets already, which has me so excited!!! Everyone I know is doing Team Champs so I’ll have to find someone to run with (anyone? 14 miles at 9:30 pace? I promise I’ll chat so much you won’t even notice the miles!) but things are moving. And I am already over 100 miles this month, that is the first time this year!!!!! Yeah, I’ve been quite lame with the running for a WHOLE YEAR. That included two marathons (plus a million medical things!) but that just proves you that anyone can finish a marathon!

My big lesson is that it’s all in your head. In the good times, and in the bad times.

Running Valentine’s Week – in Runner’s World!

Feb11

We just caught this on runnersworld.com, go to #46. Happy Running Valentines’s Week!!

If you want to see more pictures like this, click on the link above, if you want to see more pictures of our romance stuff… here:

NYRR’s Ted Corbitt 15K – Winter Wonderland!

Dec16

I promise it gets fun towards the end..

Well, I am not going to get anyone riled about this one. If something, this is a testament that I can sometimes control my pace… I was NOT racing, I barely showed up to get my last NYC marathon qualifier in and I had one hundred other things I had preferred to be doing. Actually, snow was in the forecast so I spent most of the day before and the night checking to see if they would make it a fun run (you get credit towards the marathon but you don’t even have to show up!) but they didn’t. I was exhausted. I had just come back from Buenos Aires two days before and my husband was super sick with a bronchitis (fever, coughing, the works) so there was no sleep and I really didn’t want to leave him alone at all. I was going to be back in less than two hours and it was early, and the start was less than a mile from the apartment so I knew he’d be okay, but he had a horrible night and neither of us slept. I got up to this:

Oy.

It was not supermotivating. Because, mostly, I am in really crappy shape. I haven’t trained in months. I was tired. I had overeaten in my Buenos Aires vacation until I food-poisoned myself… I was coming off a rough week. Plus, coming back from the nice early summer runs in 70 degrees to this frigid cold… I really didn’t want to go!!!!!

But, alas. I HAD to. I really had no choice.

My plan was to get there as close to the start time as possible so I wouldn’t freeze waiting around, not check a bag, run as easy as I could without freezing, and run straight home after I finished. Does that sound like a race strategy? No, I know. But it’s because I wasn’t racing. I was just completing the course and going home without even stopping. Lame, but it’s all I had.

So far from last year’s NYRR’s Ted Corbitt Classic 15K!!! I had a fantastic race, did a 7:27 average and loved the distance… this time, I would be happy to keep it smart and finish without dying or slowing down (ha, like my last race, the NYC Marathon!)

My race, time, and pacing was quite uneventful, as we could all expect, see some veeery conservative (though NOT dying at the end) pace here:

Nothing to write home about… 11 minutes slower than last year and I barely cracked any effort zone… 8:37 average pace (1:20:10 official finish time) in 9 miles is not even a tempo…!

But… WOW.

It started snowing AS soon as we got moving. I am not kidding. It was freezing cold, we were all shivering and dreading it. Then as soon as the horn blew, SNOW showers… Em, gladly I was covered up like a maniac and I had clear sunglasses to protect my vision (I’ve fallen with clear weather, so why make it riskier?) so I was prepped for it! It was gorgeous. I am not sure I would have loved it if I was racing. People were slipping left and right and I saw a lot of people struggling to see, the snow was coming from everywhere!!! But… it was gorgeous! I don’t have many pictures as I left the hubs locked in, but there’s a few amazing pictures in the NYRR race gallery. I felt awful for the volunteers and spectators, I am sure they were frozen. But 9 miles are over soon and in a bit, with two loops the park, I crossed the finish and kept going home, covered in snow and ice, and ready for a hot chocolate. What a race to cap off the year. Winter is here.

(help!)

20 most inspirational runners in the US via dailyburn

Nov26

this is crazy, but somehow I made it in there with Sarah Reinersten (my husband’s crush), Team Hoyt… seriously. A great list minus the one! Read the list here.

Discombobulated but truly honored. Thanks!

Yes, I am still here… (plus the Knickerbocker 60K)

Nov19

Just don’t call me from a blocked number… Well, I know I haven’t blogged in a couple of weeks… lots happened and not a lot happened.

In the Running sense, I seem to be at a standpoint. I am always slow past the marathon, I am tired, it was freezing a few days, so it all amounted to a big whole of not running much. I didn’t run for 10 days after the marathon, then I went on a 5 mile run with my friend Kettia last week, then I did around 8 miles during the Knickerbocker 60K in the park and then I run last night, a crazy almost 6 miles at 10:40 pace. See? nothing exciting at all.

What’s exciting is all the other stuff. So much stuff that I barely thought about running. I had my Naturalization Oath two weeks ago, and became a US Citizen

With that, they took my green card and I went on a frazzle as I am going overseas in two weeks! Emmm, I need to get a US passport ASAP to be able to come back in! Expedite and Run around I did, passports get done in one day!!!

Now, get ready for my trip, start packing, get a new iphone, get all set up at work, get excited about Thanksgiving sign up for races for when I am back, and oh, cheer for my hubby doing his first ultra, the Knickerbocker 60K.

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (1)

Juan ready to run his first ultra!

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (2) ken tom

And they are off, Ken, in yellow and blue, also doing his first! And Lisa, a super ultra veteran!! wohoooo!!

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (3) juan becerra

Guess who! ok, 1 lap done, 8 more to go!

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (4) juan becerra

more fun, well, it was like 6 or 7 hours of fun actually…

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (5)

Juan on the west side

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (6)

Tommy was flying!!!

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (7) tommy pyon sung

And flew to an Overal Third Place. AMAZING. 60K is like over 37 miles people!!!!

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (8)

That’s a LOT of salt/sweat… oh oh

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (9) tommy pyon sung sky canaves

Sky, on the left, got Second Woman, amazing job!! and Tommy. Both in my running team!! Congrats guys!

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (10) sky canaves gordon bakoulis

Top three Women: 1. Gordon Bakoulis (in the middle) a BEAST, seriously. Serious. 2. Sky Canaves, on the right, love her! and 3. Julie Kheyfets, didn’t know her but CONGRATS ALL!

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (11)

AND, HE’S DONE!!! Congrats Ironman/UltraRunner!!!

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (12)

we all love our BLING

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (13)

I never thought I’d see this: he smiled through the whole race, and he looked so strong. NOT normal for a first ultra… I think!

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (14) tommy pyon sung

I love these people!

knickerbocker 60K nyrr new york road runners central park results photos (15)

I had to let him hug me as sweaty as he was… I had no choice 😉 Congrats Juan!!!!!!

It’s a been a fun and busy two weeks and I promise I will get my act together. After the delish and long-awaited Thanksgiving. And after my trip. And maybe after the Holidays. So, someday. You’ll be there, right???

Most Creative Wedding Present EVER

Oct16

Well, so there was a lot of food at our Wedding Ceremony in Central Park. It was a picnic after all. And we didn’t bother with a cake so a lot of our friends brought us wedding macaroons, big big Crumbs Colossal Cupcakes, all sorts of delicious stuff that we ate over a whole week. You guys are the best!!!

Now check this out: my friend Stephanie baked the most delicious and cute cake ever (plus the brownies I inhaled in the spot!):

And Elaine… oh Elaine, you have to see this to believe it:

Amazing right??? SO CUTE. SO SO CUTE.

thanks guys!!!

Our Central Park Wedding Ceremony

Oct14

Posts before this one: A Running Engagement / Engagement Pictures / I get married today!!! / A PR Wedding!

Oh, sorry this took a bit. It’s been 3 weeks?!?! Time files! Anyway, I am assuming you’ll think there is a LOT of pictures here but you have no idea how much I (and our AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHER RICHIE HILDEBRAND) struggled to select just a few. Seriously. He’s truly amazing. I have no idea how to get down to 100 or 200 pictures from 4 or 5 hours of pictures, which if you know me, was probably around 3 million pictures… Thanks Richie for the patience… you’re a SAINT.

Anyway, our ceremony would start around 4 pm in the Lake Pond in Central Park, where we’d meet our friends, so we took off around 2:30 for a picture-taking stroll through the park.

juan becerra elizabeth maiuolo wedding central park richie hildebrand

At Engineer’s Gate. Ready to roll through the park and take some pictures…!

We met Richie at Engineer’s Gate, and Pablo and Ana came with us. Pablo is Juan’s best friend, the guy who introduced us a long time ago, and our wedding officiant, who had flown in from Buenos Aires for the occasion. Ana, my only sister, also flew in from Buenos Aires, and as her dress was matchy, she was my maid of honor. 😉

First we took some pictures where we got engaged, with Fred Lebow:

Notice how the bouquet and everything matches in a purple kind of way?? Well, Juan got the tie first, because I insisted for weeks: I love purple and he hates it. But still, he made the first move (he’s SUCH a keeper!!!!). Then on Thursday when my sister arrived, I tried it all and she suggested my dress needed to belted. So, my dress thingy matched his purple thing, then I bought him the purple square, and then, that morning, Juan and Ana went to buy flowers and she made me the bouquet. Could we be any more low-key??

More Fred Lebow pictures with the whole gang. Click on the pics to make them bigger.

Don’t my sister and I look alike? huh? We then started walking north, and took some random pictures all over!

how do you pick just one?!??!? Richie!!!

We then went up to the Reservoir, on the north side of course… It was so windy… I sent the boys in for a try out first 😉

I think this is one of the most photogenic areas in the city… you tell me:

We just can’t stop doing stooopid faces…I don’t know what’s wrong with us.

It’s windy!! Then we did some by myself… not sure why, but they are nice!

Before you say anything, I hate those shoes. I hate wedges. HATE them! But… we’d be doing the ceremony and everything else in the grass and I figured a stiletto would get stuck, then dirty. I was wrong, I should have tried it, but oh well.

We then headed to the bridge north of the reservoir, right in front of the Tennis courts… how do I NOT know the name of it?!?!

I am SORRY, I can’t pick just one.. you have no idea how many I decided to put aside for the blog while I cried… but I am sure you haven’t seen wedding pics like these: GOOFBALL!

We can’t seem to be able to walk together without holding hands.

I love this one so much:

Maybe it’s because I tend to fall so much… and he’s good at catching me!

UP THE BRIDGE! (I love these ones too!!!!)

And some more random pictures…

OKAY, ready for this….? We are running…

OF COURSE WE ARE RUNNING!!!!

Then, after everybody was ready to sit down, give up, and/or cry, we headed towards our wedding spot, as per our park permit! The Pool Lawn. The pool lawn is gorgeous, there is a little waterfall, an amazing arch, and a pond with marvelous willows. (Plus a dirt track and the steepest downhill to sprint in the park!)

We then went down to the Arch and Waterfall. Soap-opera face:

I love these!!

By then, we had walked like 2 miles in two hours in the sun, taking pics. So, everyone was tired, hot, hungry, it was 4 pm, so we walked the extra 300 meters to our spot! There was already a lot of people and we had to get the party started!!

Christine, Sarah, and Juan

Pablo, Sole, Katie, Juan, Martina, and.. Daniela!

Sole, Katie, Daniela, and Martina

Caroline, Jeff, and us

well, Pablo is a magician… and we couldn’t stop him! 😉

the family! my aunt in the middle and my cousins, Karina and Carlos!

wait, wrong sister!!!

Time to start the ceremony… we only had a permit for 2 hours! (plus cleaning time of course!).

Pablo was officiating, and he had 4 pages of stories to share… Juan and I had written our own vows, five each, which we read, and it all went very fast. We have it all on video (ask me for the youtube link if you want to see it!!!) and it’s just 10 minutes, but it was fun, funny, and it really meant a lot to us to get to say that out loud, in front of a lot of people, and in the park. We had done our own vows before our City Hall/Sept 3rd wedding too, but it makes the commitment to each other so much more official…

if you know me at all, you know I do this a lot

Done! All SO FAST! Oh well.

I am not sure how this happened… I think this was Richie’s idea… That’s Adam and Michelle who are getting married in a few months too!

Kevin and Jill (plus Ned in blue)

Steph (who also got married the same week as we!), me, Ana, and Lo!

(Sky) Erik, Patricia, and baby! (Tom)

Wedding Cake by Steph!

Christine, Daniela, and Sole

Of course I am eating, and Helen

Sky, Martina, most amazingly creative gift ever, and me. PS: Sky came straight to the park right from her 6 hour race, which she WON. Jeez! Amazing

Patchoux, my friend and training partner, and me! Plus baby Lillie!

Martina being Martina

matchy-matchy? Well, YES

It’s never official until there is a jump shoot!

Or this.

Well, that was it. Soon it started to get dark, and we got cold and REALLY hungry. So we headed to a restaurant for food, and to relax. It was so much much fun. It all went so fast (proposal to this was 1 month exactly) but I am not sure I would have wanted to do anything differently or take more time. We have now the rest of our lives to do stuff (I don’t think I ever would have spent a month or a year planning a party…! EVER), figure stuff out, enjoy each other, get in trouble, and RUN!

Well, so, if you wanted more pictures, yes, there’s more, all in random order, from our guests!!

to all of you who came: thank you guys!!! you made our day so special… we hope you had fun!!

In case you needed more links:
A Running Engagement
I get married today!!!
Engagement Pictures
A PR Wedding!
NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile – the Wedding Version

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(August) Biomechanics Coaching Session GIVEAWAY

Aug2

JULY’S GIVEAWAY RESULTS!!!

Wow, July’s giveaway was a hitttt!! Thanks all for participating!! As picked officially by rafflecopter here, the winner is… Kashi D!!

I know a few of you will be disappointed you didn’t win, so I am hosting another giveaway for August!! See below and participate!

———————

Nine out ten people I have coached were wrong when describing their running form. And if no one had video-taped them before, how could they possibly know?? Have you ever seen your running technique close up, frame by frame? No matter how fast or slow you are, there is always something you can do to perfect or injury-proof your running skills.

Not sure what you are doing, form-wise? Or why it sometimes hurt? You know you could run better, faster, or more efficiently? You know you could glide…? Have you been injured? You know you should change your form but not sure what or how?

I am here to help!! I am giving away a Biomechanics Coaching Session a month!

Why do you need a Biomechanics Coach?

Very simple! Running is a skill and it needs to be mastered to avoid injuries and become effortless.
Over 80% of runners get injured every year, and most injuries are caused by a lack of certain skills.
Master the skills of running and you will become an efficient and injury-proof runner!

There are many ways to enter, simply follow the super simple instructions in the Rafflecopter giveaway!

At the end of August, the widget will randomly generate a winner and we’ll announce it here. PS: one condition, we are meeting in Central Park for the session!

And, if you don’t want to wait or just have bad luck with raffles, email me and we can set up a 1×1 session.

The Sprinkler WitchHunt Theorem

Jul18

Today we got up early (which is 7 am for me!) to get the run out of the way. It was gonna be HOT (and my runs Tuesday and Wednesday had been super hot and slow. So, I woke up, saw this (keep in mind, this almost feels like 100 at 7:30 AM!)

feels like 96, at freaking 7:30 am!

for you all europeans! (Davide!)

and braced myself. I drenched my sports bra and shorts before putting them on. Wore my superwet thickest headband, my hair dripping, and was all ready.

Still, this was the run felt like!

Mmmmm of course I decided Juan and I would do repeat Harlem Hill loops. No, I am NOT kidding. Weather is going to wild on me? ME TOO!!!

Then, we added a few miles on the briddle path, chasing every single sprinkler out there. We’d stop, get soaked, keep going. It really was fun. You can call that a “fun” run through hell.

PS: weirdest thing happened- I got a tan!! We were running in the shade and just one hour of running. I run at that hour all the time and I never got the tan lines before. I think the air was baking me or something about the uv index maybe (I have no idea!), but I had crazy three-hours-at-the-beach tan lines. Juan did too. This weather is just wacko.

Now work, ice pops, and a fun race later: The 2nd Annual Dizzy Bat Race. If we don’t melt before. Slurpees for lunch!!

Remember:

My new motto I stole

Jul16

True story- I commented this morning:

As hot as it is out: EMBRACE IT. Even if super slow, or walk, go take it in. Next week’s 80s and 70s will feel like winter. I promise!

Lora, of ‏@LVrunsNYC and this blog, replies: Amen! A strong fall is earned in the summer!

And my brain clicked.

PS: this week has been HELL on FIRE in NYC….

I like to run

Jul15

I like to run at night, early before work, in the middle of the day and with the sunset.

I love to run in the city, in the countryside, by the beach.

I like to sweat, get soaked in the rain, and get runners’ tan lines.

I like to run for no reason and I like to run to define myself.

I like to tempo, have fun at an easy pace, do mile reps, and run for hours and hours.

I like to come back home ready to keep going with my day and wanting to take a nap and sit out the rest of the day.

I like to run with the bright sun in my face, and with the stars as my running partners.

I like to run with no goals and like to race and get better.

I like to run with friends, with my dad, with my boyfriend, and I like to run alone.

I like to wear as little as possible and I like to wear all my running gear and make it match.

I like to line up at races, pace with people, chase each other, finish races, spectate, and congratulate everyone.

I like to run in cities I don’t know, maybe get lost, get a little worried, and use my running shoes as my escape from anything. I like to enjoy the comfort in the same old familiar route I could run with my eyes closed.

I like to greet friends and new people in my runs, and I like being invisible.

I like to have many running shoes, shorts, singlets and sunglasses. I like that I can run without most of it.

I like running. I love the million different choices and opportunities for challenges and fun.

Running and the City

Jul9

Ah, NYC…

Everyone has a completely different fantasy or experience of what this city is about…

I was talking to a coworker who is leaving town soon. She’s from the south (of the US) and she is used to quieter places, a more relaxed life-style. She was telling me how she doesn’t love the city much because it’s loud, dirty, smelly, super expensive, aggressive, crowded… all those things that I know are true.

Her description was accurate. I get it. I could see it from her perspective and hate it. But, for most of us, all those “bad” things are just the price we pay. Or even the reason why we stay.

It’s common to say that it is one of those places you either love or hate. You either take it or leave it. There’s too much to put up with if you don’t love it.

I can say, with all my heart, that I love it. All those things she mentioned, can be ignored 99% of the time. They can also be celebrated. I like leaving my apartment and not know where I am going to end up. I love meeting people everywhere that are so weird, so weird, that I should probably run away if I wasn’t used to this craziness. You have to be expecting the crazy, the ugly, and the magical every second; and you better have your eyes open or you’ll miss it. You get used to walking around all day with your eyes and your heart ready. There is no comfort zone here. And I don’t want it. I love that I can get in a fight in two minutes, or make a new friend around the corner. You just never know which one will happen first. Ah, yes, always on eggshells.

Yes, if one thing, I’d say living here is exhausting. That’s my word for this city. It can be party/run-all-day-and-night exhausting, or putting-up-with-this-stooopidity exhausting. But I am ok with it. If sleep and rest is the price, I’ll pay up.

But I get it, when I leave the city…. it’s like going through withdrawal. I shake for a few days, crave it, and then I am over it. I get the toxins out of my system, I get some rest, I relax, I stretch out, and I don’t even want to come back to pack up my stuff… Like someone who’s scared of having to deal with crazy and is now happy, warm, and comfy. When I come back, ah, when I come back I always cry a little in the plane when I see the skyline. I always miss this. I love this mess. I want to lace up and go to the park. I really don’t need comfy for now. I want to go out and get lost in the random faces. I want to get in trouble. I want to go to the Met. Do some disgusting shopping. Talk to strangers. Eat burgers and cupcakes. Get in a fight and fall in love all over again.

I never said I wasn’t crazy. I have no problem admitting I do fit in here.

And being in a place where it is so easy to lose yourself, it’s also imperative that you find yourself. I really did find myself in NYC.

A Biomechanics Coaching Session – July Giveaway

Jul2

Nine out ten people I have coached were wrong when describing their running form. And if no one had video-taped them before, how could they possibly know??

Have you ever seen your running technique close up, frame by frame? No matter how fast or slow you are, there is always something you can do to perfect or injury-proof your running skills.

I am here to help!! I am giving away a Biomechanics Coaching Session this month!

Why do you need a Biomechanics Coach?
Very simple! Running is a skill and it needs to be mastered to avoid injuries and become effortless.
Over 80% of runners get injured every year, and most injuries are caused by a lack of certain skills.
Master the skills of running and you will become an efficient and injury-proof runner!

There are many ways to enter, simply follow the super simple instructions in the Rafflecopter giveaway! At the end of July, the widget will randomly generate a winner and we’ll announce it here. PS: one condition, we are meeting in Central Park for the session!

And, if you don’t want to wait or just have bad luck with raffles, email me and we can set up a 1×1 session.

Giveaway: customized Official NYRR ING New York City Marathon Online Training Program (or for a half marathon!)

Jun28

I used this program twice already, for the 2011 Footlocker Five Boro Challenge NYC Marathon, and then this year for the NYC Half. You enter ALL your running information in there and it gives you a predicted finish time. You get a (weekly or daily) email with the workouts and you have an online hub where everything is recorded, listed and explained. If, midway through the program, you run a race and want to adjust your times, you can do that! It’s really cool because you can customize with your personal history and data, but also with races and times that happen thru the training, and keep it realistic. Plus, it gave me workouts I had never tried before… It also predicted I’d run a 1:35, which I thought was ridiculous (my last halves had hovered around 1:42s); and, I did 1:35:37!! I definitely recommend it. Also, you get the support of all the NYRR coaches, so, why not?

For this giveaway, we have available a program for NYCM marathon OR any half marathon.

You have THREE chances to play and win:

– Post below a comment: what you will be training for starting July 15 and why you’d like to win it, and maybe what you think your training needs help with = 1 entry

– Follow me on twitter, comment below you did so and your username = 1 entry

– Follow this blog via email (bottom right in the bar there –> on the right), comment below you did so = 1 entry

Every entry counts, do all 3!!! The 16-weeks program starts Monday, July 15th., so on July 8th we’ll randomly select a winner! Super easy, right? Go for it and, also, share!

—

And in case you want to keep reading about the Official NYRR ING New York City Marathon Online Training Program here is more info, and their website:

The Official ING New York City Marathon Training Program is unlike any other; it uses data you provide about your fitness level, race experience, and scheduling needs to generate a workout schedule that will prepare you to run your race. Input your age, gender, training history, race results, and schedule to start training like a pro for November 3, 2013. You’ll be able to set realistic goals, and your online program will adjust as your fitness changes.

Other marathon training plans are neither dynamic nor flexible, they don’t cater to your schedule, and they aren’t specific to the ING New York City Marathon course. Our program uses proprietary insights from the NYRR marathon-finisher database and unique knowledge of the NYC course to get you on track. Let our experts take you all the way to the Central Park finish line!

runningandthecity

and by "the city", I mean NYC.

Tag Archive | central park

Race Report: Run as One, 4Miler. Getting CLOSE.

Pacing the #morefitnesshalf. Such an interesting task…

Run for the Parks, 4 miler. YES.

this, so you STOP worrying about Sunday’s weather forecast for the NYC Marathon:

Race Report: 2014 Staten Island Half

Race Report: Grete’s Great Gallop

And… we’re BACK!

Running Valentine’s Week – in Runner’s World!

NYRR’s Ted Corbitt 15K – Winter Wonderland!

But… WOW.

20 most inspirational runners in the US via dailyburn

Yes, I am still here… (plus the Knickerbocker 60K)

Most Creative Wedding Present EVER

Our Central Park Wedding Ceremony

(August) Biomechanics Coaching Session GIVEAWAY

The Sprinkler WitchHunt Theorem

My new motto I stole

I like to run

Running and the City

A Biomechanics Coaching Session – July Giveaway

Giveaway: customized Official NYRR ING New York City Marathon Online Training Program (or for a half marathon!)

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But… WOW.

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