Tag Archive | nyc marathon

NYCM2011: FootLocker Run – Bart, Ryan, Bobby, Carrie, Steph, well… everyone was there!

Nov4

Before this: NYCM2011: All over the press / NYCM2011: At the NYCM Press Conference

It turns out, I have a million rituals come race week. Every day I swear I will eat better and go to sleep early. That’s usually a FAIL. Thursday I go to the expo, Saturday I try to keep it quiet (though this year I am going to cheer on the 5K, coach a couple of hours, dinner with a team I coached for the marathon, etc, etc…).

Rituals are good. They give me a sense of stability. When you have a non-stop-crazy life, they really do help.

Race Week Wednesdays, I go to the Footlocker Run with Ryan Hall and Bart Yasso (here is last year’s post, when Steph and I dared chick Ryan!).

As soon as I got there… overload!!! I knew EVERYONE there. Is that why I am Miss Manhattan? Seriously, everyone! So I had to catch up super fast with everyone. Not easy, it’s such a busy week with SO much happening!!!

new york city marathon 2011 Footlocker five boro challenge nyrr expo elizabeth maiuolo run footlocker (3)

You know Steph in the far right (an accidental runner!!!), man I love that girl. And you’ve seen Blaise before too, my training partner. On the left are two team mates: Lisa and Alejandra.

Carrie Tollefson was there too doing some interviews and we chatted for a bit. Somehow, I didn’t take any pictures…

new york city marathon 2011 Footlocker five boro challenge nyrr expo elizabeth maiuolo run footlocker (4) john honerkamp

John is one of NYRR’s coaches and the brain behind all the math and genius put into the NYRR training programs. I got to test them before they launched earlier this year and they were pretty fantastic! He’s also a fabulous runner (and a fun to watch rabbit!), with an 800 meter specialty. Obviously, we can’t run together!

Before I even made it inside, with all the chat, I (and Staten Island) got called in to take picutes with Bobby Curtis, who will be running his first marathon this weeekend! He’s from PA and did his first half this year in Philly, with a 1:01:53. Ridiculous.

new york city marathon 2011 Footlocker five boro challenge nyrr expo elizabeth maiuolo run footlocker (1) bobby curtis new york city marathon 2011 Footlocker five boro challenge nyrr expo elizabeth maiuolo run footlocker (1) bobby curtis

The guy is super sweet. We talked about the course a bit and I asked him to not pass us on Sunday without pacing us for a few miles. Because, why not? I really hope he does well!!

Soon after, Ryan and Bart and Mary made it into the store and there was some talk about a certain marathon…

new york city marathon 2011 Footlocker five boro challenge nyrr expo elizabeth maiuolo run footlocker (9)

Steph… a runner in love…

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new york city marathon 2011 Footlocker five boro challenge nyrr expo elizabeth maiuolo run footlocker (13)

This is Janine, who works 24/7 and is SO amazing. She’s been with NYRR for 7 years and you’d think she’s 15! I love her. And she lives very close to me so I’ll be stalking her to come run with me soon after all this is done!

new york city marathon 2011 Footlocker five boro challenge nyrr expo elizabeth maiuolo run footlocker (15)

My Footlocker peeps. Also amazing people. I have to say, out of the whole Footlocker Five Borough Challenge experience, the thing I love the most is the people I have met. Seriously ridiculously inspiring and amazing and fun people. Love you guys!

Ok, enough talk and pictures, running time!

new york city marathon 2011 Footlocker five boro challenge nyrr expo elizabeth maiuolo run footlocker (16)

That’s Ryan Hall right there. Somehow, Steph, Blaise and I were keeping up. How does Ryan do 9 minute miles??? I am sure it hurts. He had said earlier his easy pace is 5:30, pffffffff.

Should I post this picture, should I not??? Steph, sorry, I sent it to you last night so YOU could post it, but I can’t resist. I love these two sooooo much, I HAVE to post it: (SORRY LOVE!)

new york city marathon 2011 Footlocker five boro challenge nyrr expo elizabeth maiuolo run footlocker (19)

I have to mention I kept saying all day, and repeteaded thru the run: I HAVE THE BEST FRIENDS IN THE WORLD. I do.  Speaking of which, back in the store after 3 miles…

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The guys doing their thing… and I was doing mine!

new york city marathon 2011 Footlocker five boro challenge nyrr expo elizabeth maiuolo run footlocker (23) bart yasso bobby curtis

Ooooops, I was directed to pose in for a pic with all of them!

How on earth did I blink for this????? SOOOO not me!!!!!!! Re-do! Re-do!!!

After this:  NYCM2011: Have you seen a Marathon Morning like this? /  NYCM2011: Get Ready, Set, GO! / NYCM2011: Beyond The Finish Line (finally the last post!) / NYCM2011: Marathon Monday (Ed, the breakfast, Carrie, the press conference, etc.!) /

NYCM2011: At the NYCM Press Conference

Nov3

Before this: NYCM2011: All over the press 

Yesterday was the press conference for the Footlocker Five Boro Challenge team, at the Marathon Pavillion, which is where Tavern on the Green used to be. Everything will happen in there this weekend, the interviews, the NYRR shows, more press conferences, and come race day… this will be epicenter. It also helps that it is located just a few yards away from the finish line.

I got there early and took some pictures. This is the week when Fall officially starts for me, so the trees are gorgeous (the ones still standing after the Snoctober we just had, around a 1000 trees in the park suffered, and they need to clean it all up by this weekend for the marathon!)

In Central Park West there are already lots of preparations going on.

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That’s my city!!!!

footlocker five boro challenge team new york city marathon 2011 press conference (5) manhattan

Going into Marathon Pavillion/Tavern on the Green/The finish line!

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They’re starting to build the finish line!!!! Bleechers have been up for over a week now!

And onto the Marathon Pavillion, where all the Press stuff is already set up. This is where they do the NYRR TV!

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The Tiffanny Cup the Five Boro Champion gets. I really would not even know what to do that with. Who are we kidding, I’d break it in 5 minutes…

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Oh hello, picture time already?

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I guess I’ll sit here then!

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Yeah, my marathon nails are out and not embarrassed! My team starts to get there! Rob/Bronx! Sal/Queens!

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Then the conference starts… NYRR and Foolocker spoke about the Challenge and gave some info. Then we each did our own little talk, for 5 minutes. I wanted to do a little collage of the pictures of me speaking (but I didn’t): it looks like I am dancing. My hands are just everwhere!!!!

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I know you must be wondering what on earth is she talking about that she’s gesturing so much? Spreadsheets, processes, systems, Linux, C++.. ah, I am so dramatic!!!

Then a few photos with the team!

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Again, who knows what I’m doing…

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What is this about??? mmmm, not sure. Oh, oh, I guess I am telling them how we’re gonna JUMP UP!??!?!?

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Then God, I mean, Mary, comes over to say Hi.

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On the other side of the room, NYRR is on. And guess who is there… yeah, Carrie!

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She’s super sweet. Loved her!

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Other press conferences happening in the room: Kim Smith!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Overall, not a boring day, I’d say! 😉

After this: NYCM2011: FootLocker Run – Bart, Ryan, Bobby, Carrie, Steph, well… everyone was there!/ NYCM2011: Who wasn’t at the expo? / NYCM2011: Have you seen a Marathon Morning like this? /  NYCM2011: Get Ready, Set, GO! / NYCM2011: Beyond The Finish Line (finally the last post!) / NYCM2011: Marathon Monday (Ed, the breakfast, Carrie, the press conference, etc.!) /

NYCM2011: All over the press

Nov2

Where do I start? So much I need to catch on, but I will start with things I think you might enjoy: the press!!!

This first one is one my absolute favorites!

I am in the home page of Women’s Health today!!! (at least for right now). WH belongs to Rodale, just like Runner’s World and Running Times… So when I talked to Susan, who wrote the article, she knew ALL about me, as she used to work at RW!!! Ehem, I was a bit shocked at how much she knew and was super prepared. Small World it is! So I wasn’t surprised when I saw her write up. The full article is here if you want to read it.

women's health elizabeth maiuolo inspiration

women's health elizabeth maiuolo inspiration women's health elizabeth maiuolo inspiration women's health elizabeth maiuolo inspiration

You’ll like this part (I hope!):

“Runners are the best people,” she says. “They’re really friendly and they will stop to help anybody in any race.

“Runners end up getting into the most amazing adventures. They will put on a pair of shoes and be ready for anything, which is something I think most people would be really scared of. Runners have that mentality that you can just do anything and go anywhere—it’s kind of hard to stop a runner. Those are the kind of people I want to hang out with.

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NYRR’s official ING New York City Marathon website has this picture up right now:

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Link is here to the official site, where the pictures from Race Week are.

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Here is another blog, FitChickinthecity, who picked up on the story, with more pictures from the press conference that happened today (I will post about that ASAP).

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I was on WCBS2 News, and have the clips, but will have to upload somewhere to be able to share… more coming soon, a bit overwhelmed (and exhausted at the moment!).

Are you guys super pumped too????????? Run with THE Bart tomorrow and Ryan Hall. So, you know… more pictures coming!!

After this: NYCM2011: At the NYCM Press Conference / NYCM2011: FootLocker Run – Bart, Ryan, Bobby, Carrie, Steph, well… everyone was there!/ NYCM2011: Who wasn’t at the expo? / NYCM2011: Have you seen a Marathon Morning like this? /  NYCM2011: Get Ready, Set, GO! / NYCM2011: Beyond The Finish Line (finally the last post!) / NYCM2011: Marathon Monday (Ed, the breakfast, Carrie, the press conference, etc.!) /

NCYM2011 – How I get ready for race week (VERY silly post!)

Oct30

Some people taper, some people carboload, some start to go to sleep early, some diet… I only do one thing: my nails.

As I am doing a bunch of interviews, photo-shoots, and press conferences in the next days, this is VERY important. (Right?)

Deciding which way to go was not easy

I am being interviewed tomorrow by Carrie Tollefson (YES, Carrie Tollefson) for the Daily Cooldown. You can see her NYRR episodes on NYRR TV. I am not gonna lie, I like to have NYRR TV on in the background when I am home…  (Dork!). Then there’s a few more events this week, the expo, the press conference, stuff and more stuff. Oh,and a 5 Mile Race tomorrow, with photo shoots before and after too.

What? Have you not seen me in the cabs?? Pfffff.

Anyway, like I always say, “When there is a NEON option, you always pick NEON”. (MsRitz trademarked!)

Yeah, that’s some ridiculous SNOW!!

PS: I guess I’ll leave the blues out for Philly!

NCYM2011 – How I get ready for race week (VERY silly post!)

You

Oct27

You are being watched.
You ARE.
I am not talking about the Big Brother kind of way, but something a bit different, a bit less creepy and a lot more on the inspiring side.
You know. You’ve heard it. Just wanted to remind you.

You know that every single time you lace up, you run the streets, or you are out there early with your bib, people are watching you. Your family, your friends, your neigbor, the deli guy, the woman in the crosstown bus, the bus driver, the kids heading to school, the passing cars… You are being watched. If you have kids around, they are DEFINITELY watching your every move.

And they are paying attention. They are following you closely. They are learning. They are getting inspired. They are noticing that there is no special secret to do this. You just put the shoes on and you go, nothing really that special about that.

And maybe one day they will come to he realization that if you can do it, so can they. And they will discover the equalizing power of running. And you know you will have made a huge difference in their lives.

So please don’t forget about running etiquette. We want them to know that we are not crazy people. We are just happy that we get to do this, though sometimes some bad apples might make us look bad.

If you see a pedestrian, a driver, or anyone, smile or wave. They should never think that there is a separation between us and them, so they can also, at some point, see that they can do this too. Make sure you tell them how good you feel, how happy it makes you, and how hard it still is sometimes. But that all the sweat, and the time, and the soreness is worth it. And how it will change their lives too.
Make sure you are kind to every single one of them, and have patience. Don’t push them. They’ll get to it when they get to it. There is no point in forcing someone to do something that should be fun.
I believe that running fixes everything, but they have to get to that point where they are open and ready to bring it into their lives and embrace the changes. Don’t forget that it’s not easy when you start: most of us were physically unprepared and scared. Tell them that that is ok. 
Have them come with you for a very easy run. Start with a walk if necessary, so they’re not overexerting themselves trying to impress you.

Tell them about your finish lines, your biggest accomplishments, the things you’ve seen or gone through, the people you’ve met, the places you’ve travelled to, how much you eat, how many running friends you have, or the bling; and as soon as you detect that spark in their interest, bring them on to our cult.

YOU are all out there doing your part to make this world better. Spread the Fun. Pay it Forward.

You

(me) In the Daily News…

Oct13

I wasn’t lying, I am IN the paper, see???

Hahaha, just kidding, I have the clips below!

Yes, those are pictures of Kara and Scott in my office, and both are signed! 

Anyway, not sure if you can see up there, but there’s three pictures of me in those 2 pages. It was really surreal to open the paper and see that.

I got the paper before I got on the train (it’s literally a 9 minute ride) and the guy sitting accross from me, reading the same paper, kept staring… yeah, a bit weird… but I never blushed!!!

So, here are the three pages. First, the cover of the insert:

I love that my name is there as if people would think “ah, lets see what EM has to say about this!” Hahahaha!! Fiiiiiine, it’s pretty neat!

Here is the inside: 

And the last page, hugging all 4 other boro runners, in Central Park:

Here is the post from the day we did this shoot a month ago.

Sooo, in case you wanted to read the little interview up there: it’s here:

I kinda love that picture (and got lots of compliments on it), because it is SOOO photoshopped!!

 

Anyway, I got a lot of requests for autographs today (so embarrassing), lots of calls, emails, and congratulations, which is always amazing. I would assume everyone is sick of seeing me everywhere (I am almost there!!) but people are SOOO nice… which is something shocking when you’re a bit embarrassed. Well, let me know what you think! Hope you like!!!

 

(me) In the Daily News…

In a different world…

Sep2

this is what I look like…

Wow, I need someone to retouch all my pictures from now on!! I have lipstick on!!!

Btw, notice the ING NYC marathon colors…? And, if you are curious, here is our page with our stories in the ING NYCM website… There you can see everybody’s stories.

PS: For all of you who participated in john227’s “Contest! Guess Ms.Ritz’s new career!” post, I will compile them and select a winner. But there’s no criteria, I’ll just pick the “best” one in a couple of days in case you still want participate, and you’ll win some piece of running gear!

In a different world…

Here we go again

Jul8

For the third year in a row… Gotta get ready for the NYC Marathon!

Ten days until the “official” training begins. Only 10 days left of freedom, of “I run whatever I want to“, at “whatever pace I feel like“.. Oh, I am going to miss this “in-between-marathons“ phase SO much!

Bye bye traveling at the last minute and just because. Bye bye last minute decisions about races and runs. Bye bye Friday nights!!! Hello countless Nutella jars!

I am still looking at some more races so the program will have to be adjusted (a lot), but I will have to plan around it to keep my mileage and pace on track. My main goal is to get to the start line injury free! I really want to enjoy the marathon this time (unlike last november’s fiasco!).

I am using SmartCoach just like in my previous three marathons (2 NYCs, 1 Boston). Sixteen weeks. 500 miles. 7 runs longer than 16 miles, peaking at 40 miles per week (average: 31 miles per week). Four pikermis included.

I still need to find training shoes I like… Eeeek, why do they have to change models so much from one year to the next??? Huh?? WHY?

And now, to the MsRitz’s NYC Marathon Awards… Best News Ever!
My sis (little MsRitz) would be coming all the way from Argentina to watch the race. How super OSOM cool is that?? I am SO excited. SO excited. I am SO SO SO SO HAPPY!

 

Hopefully, she’ll see something like this: NYCM 2008
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And NOT something like this: NYCM 2009
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Fingers crossed, right?