Thursday, August 27, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
ive been reading a lot about how cycling for cross training and recovery is very beneficial to runners and has even been proven to help you run faster. ive tried spinning once before at my gym. it was awful, so naturally i was hesitant to try again despite all the good things ive been reading.
my girlfriend leigh is an avid spinner and raves about her spinning studio. on friday morning i decided to put all her good talk to the test and join her for a class. the experience i had at soul-cycle was amazing! it completely changed my strong feelings of hate towards the sport.
as apposed to my last spinning experience the instructors at soul-cycle understood i was a first timer and really took the time to make sure everything was just right before class. they made sure my shoes were the right fit and i was comfortable on the bike. proper seat and handle bar adjustments were made for my body. there was no guess work on my part.
the studio was kept dark and the music loud. it was sweaty and motivating.
i usually rest on fridays in order to give my body a break before saturdays long run. the class was challengeing enough to make me feel like i had a good workout but didnt exhaust me either. i would love to be able to spin every friday morning from now on but its a little on the pricey side so its not really an option. however, im now armed with new knowledge of how i should feel on the bike and i am open to trying another class at the gym.
my long run this morning felt really good! im not sure if it had to do with the weather, all the yummy food i ate for dinner last night at landmarc, the spinning, or a combination of it all. all i do know is that i ran 17 strong miles today and it felt awesome!!
there was no picture taking during our last week of summer streets because it was raining and my camera is already crappy enough, no need to add water. we started at bethesda and ran south to chambers street where we crossed over to the west side highway. normally running the highway on a sunny day is brutal, theres little shade and water fountains are sparse. but because of thunderstorms lingering in the area it was cool and pleasant. we headed back to the park at 72nd street and finished our workout with the 6mi loop. my running buddies for the day, stephanie and natalie, kept conversation and encouragment flowing and we all survived the 17 together strong.
my girlfriend leigh is an avid spinner and raves about her spinning studio. on friday morning i decided to put all her good talk to the test and join her for a class. the experience i had at soul-cycle was amazing! it completely changed my strong feelings of hate towards the sport.
as apposed to my last spinning experience the instructors at soul-cycle understood i was a first timer and really took the time to make sure everything was just right before class. they made sure my shoes were the right fit and i was comfortable on the bike. proper seat and handle bar adjustments were made for my body. there was no guess work on my part.
the studio was kept dark and the music loud. it was sweaty and motivating.
i usually rest on fridays in order to give my body a break before saturdays long run. the class was challengeing enough to make me feel like i had a good workout but didnt exhaust me either. i would love to be able to spin every friday morning from now on but its a little on the pricey side so its not really an option. however, im now armed with new knowledge of how i should feel on the bike and i am open to trying another class at the gym.
my long run this morning felt really good! im not sure if it had to do with the weather, all the yummy food i ate for dinner last night at landmarc, the spinning, or a combination of it all. all i do know is that i ran 17 strong miles today and it felt awesome!!
there was no picture taking during our last week of summer streets because it was raining and my camera is already crappy enough, no need to add water. we started at bethesda and ran south to chambers street where we crossed over to the west side highway. normally running the highway on a sunny day is brutal, theres little shade and water fountains are sparse. but because of thunderstorms lingering in the area it was cool and pleasant. we headed back to the park at 72nd street and finished our workout with the 6mi loop. my running buddies for the day, stephanie and natalie, kept conversation and encouragment flowing and we all survived the 17 together strong.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
i sleep in later on weekday mornings than on the weekends due to the early start times of all our running events!
sunday morning i was up at the crack off dawn to go cheer on my fellow teammates who were running the nyc half marathon! the race started at 7am at the engineers gate in central park (90th & 5th ave) so i knew i needed to make it to times square before 7:30 to see the front runner come through.
the nyc half starts in central park and completes 1 and half full loops before sending runners through the heart of times square and over to the west side highway. the race continues down the west highway finishing at battery park city.
by attending other races you pick up pointers for when your own race day approaches. things like where to put your name on your singlet so people can see it clearly and cheer your name. big black letters on a white background stand out or big white letters against the purple of the TNT singlet look great too!
as people run by and see the race photographs they throw out different poses like two thumbs up or victory arms. i think that peace signs are way over done and making a sad face just sends the wrong message.
the last important thing i learned is to always make sure you look like your enjoying yourself. you never know where your teamates are going to pop up and be cheering you on!
here are a few of my photos from sundays race...
team in training on the reuters big screen in times square!
the front runner & winner of the 1/2 marathon
here they come!
sunday morning i was up at the crack off dawn to go cheer on my fellow teammates who were running the nyc half marathon! the race started at 7am at the engineers gate in central park (90th & 5th ave) so i knew i needed to make it to times square before 7:30 to see the front runner come through.
the nyc half starts in central park and completes 1 and half full loops before sending runners through the heart of times square and over to the west side highway. the race continues down the west highway finishing at battery park city.
by attending other races you pick up pointers for when your own race day approaches. things like where to put your name on your singlet so people can see it clearly and cheer your name. big black letters on a white background stand out or big white letters against the purple of the TNT singlet look great too!
as people run by and see the race photographs they throw out different poses like two thumbs up or victory arms. i think that peace signs are way over done and making a sad face just sends the wrong message.
the last important thing i learned is to always make sure you look like your enjoying yourself. you never know where your teamates are going to pop up and be cheering you on!
here are a few of my photos from sundays race...
team in training on the reuters big screen in times square!
the front runner & winner of the 1/2 marathon
here they come!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
saturday morning continued our out of the park running adventures! this weeks long run took us from battery park city, over the brooklyn bridge and into downtown brooklyn. we ran through fort green and williamsburg and then over the williamburg bridge back to manhattan. our route joined with a few blocks of summer streets before cutting cross town to the west side highway. we ran down the west side of the island finishing back at urban athletics in the downtown winter gardens of bpc.
i was resting and stretching with a few of my teammates after our run and i made a comment about feeling gritty and gross because i was covered with dirt from the road. turns out it wasnt dirt i was covered in, in fact it was salt that i had sweated out during the past 15miles!
generally when we sweat it contains salt (our pee too)- it's what allows us to excrete water and helps to cool us down. because we were running in extreme heat yesterday our sweat was evaporating and leaving the salt crystals behind. kind of cool, right?!
losing too much salt during a workout is a bad thing and can ultimately lead to a condition called hyponatremia, which means low sodium levels in the blood. sodium is required for our bodies to function properly so while working out its not only important to hydrate and replace the water that is lost but to also maintain sodium levels.
sports drinks are a good way to replenish the body of electrolytes and salt but they arent for everyone. personally, gatorade during a run upsets my stomach. instead i opt for "salt licks" or "salt shots."
licks and salts arent too glamours, they taste like the ocean, but desperate times call for desperate measures! we took a pit stop at a mcdonalds and grabbed a few of those mini salt packets from the condiment trays. all you do is pour the packet in your palm, lick it all up and chase with water. very simple and very necessary.
the red lines marks our route
Brooklyn Bridge
not all graffiti is ugly
approaching williamsberg hill... i mean bridge
mile 7 and still smiling [ erin & me ]
"oy vey!"
willys bridge
crunch gym outdoor fitness class
i was resting and stretching with a few of my teammates after our run and i made a comment about feeling gritty and gross because i was covered with dirt from the road. turns out it wasnt dirt i was covered in, in fact it was salt that i had sweated out during the past 15miles!
generally when we sweat it contains salt (our pee too)- it's what allows us to excrete water and helps to cool us down. because we were running in extreme heat yesterday our sweat was evaporating and leaving the salt crystals behind. kind of cool, right?!
losing too much salt during a workout is a bad thing and can ultimately lead to a condition called hyponatremia, which means low sodium levels in the blood. sodium is required for our bodies to function properly so while working out its not only important to hydrate and replace the water that is lost but to also maintain sodium levels.
sports drinks are a good way to replenish the body of electrolytes and salt but they arent for everyone. personally, gatorade during a run upsets my stomach. instead i opt for "salt licks" or "salt shots."
licks and salts arent too glamours, they taste like the ocean, but desperate times call for desperate measures! we took a pit stop at a mcdonalds and grabbed a few of those mini salt packets from the condiment trays. all you do is pour the packet in your palm, lick it all up and chase with water. very simple and very necessary.
the red lines marks our route
Brooklyn Bridge
not all graffiti is ugly
approaching williamsberg hill... i mean bridge
mile 7 and still smiling [ erin & me ]
"oy vey!"
willys bridge
regroup at the end of willys bridge
hydrate! hydrate! hydrate!
crunch gym outdoor fitness class
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
there's a rule in distance running that states "nothing new on race day" meaning dont wear a new pair of shoes, try a new brand of gels, change your stretching routine, etc, etc. you dont know where those new shoes might rub and cause blisters, what the gels might do to your tummy or accidently pull a muscle- you dont want or need any surprises on race day.
pretty much every week i add something new to my training and take it for a test drive. this weekend kicked off summer streets and i really wanted to bring my camera so i introduced the runners pak. now, this isnt your mothers "fanny" pack from those summer family vacation days, its sporty and chic!
it held my camera and 3 gels and wasnt a nuisance. it stayed snug around my hips the entire workout. the pak is definitely a keeper and will be with me on race day! (i recommend nathan sports 5k runners pak)
the first day of summer streets was great! tnt kicked off the event at 7:30am along with the commissioner of transportation, janette sadik-khan at foley square. i ran a half marathon distance (13 miles) in 2hrs and 15mins with bathroom and water breaks along the way. it was awesome to be able to run freely down the streets of nyc and not have to worry about being hit by a speedy taxi or tourist bus. im looking forward to this upcoming weekend when we run over the brooklyn and williamsburg bridges!
tnt booth at foley square
coach ramon giving us his pre-event kickoff pep talk
getting ready!
the girls who keep me going erin and tracey
pretty much every week i add something new to my training and take it for a test drive. this weekend kicked off summer streets and i really wanted to bring my camera so i introduced the runners pak. now, this isnt your mothers "fanny" pack from those summer family vacation days, its sporty and chic!
it held my camera and 3 gels and wasnt a nuisance. it stayed snug around my hips the entire workout. the pak is definitely a keeper and will be with me on race day! (i recommend nathan sports 5k runners pak)
the first day of summer streets was great! tnt kicked off the event at 7:30am along with the commissioner of transportation, janette sadik-khan at foley square. i ran a half marathon distance (13 miles) in 2hrs and 15mins with bathroom and water breaks along the way. it was awesome to be able to run freely down the streets of nyc and not have to worry about being hit by a speedy taxi or tourist bus. im looking forward to this upcoming weekend when we run over the brooklyn and williamsburg bridges!
tnt booth at foley square
coach ramon giving us his pre-event kickoff pep talk
getting ready!
the girls who keep me going erin and tracey
Friday, August 7, 2009
thank you! thank you! thank you!
a giant thank you to everyone who came out last night & helped me raise over $400 for the leukemia & lymphoma society!!
i cannot begin to describe how truly grateful i am to all my friends, coworkers and to all the strangers who came out, or rather in, to the bait shack last night and donated! i had surprise visitors from as "far" as rhode island to as close as my darling next door neighbors popping in to show their support :)
the turn out for my first fundraiser was bigger and better than i could have imagined. i feel blessed to have such a amazing group of cheerleaders that aren't afraid to risk brain freezes and upset stomachs for swamp water races and the embarrassment of belting out 80's ballads or disney classics during karaoke.
of course none of this could have been at all possible without the bottomless hospitality of my brother jimmy's team!... to jon who gave me the "go", melissa for supplying the bracelets, mike who oversaw the event, sammy who guarded all the funds and to the greatest bartenders a girl could have asked for, KATIE AND TROY! (that's them below!)
the infamous "swamp water"
anthony & bob doing "you've lost that lovin' feeling"
a little top gun is always a crowd pleaser!
i cannot begin to describe how truly grateful i am to all my friends, coworkers and to all the strangers who came out, or rather in, to the bait shack last night and donated! i had surprise visitors from as "far" as rhode island to as close as my darling next door neighbors popping in to show their support :)
the turn out for my first fundraiser was bigger and better than i could have imagined. i feel blessed to have such a amazing group of cheerleaders that aren't afraid to risk brain freezes and upset stomachs for swamp water races and the embarrassment of belting out 80's ballads or disney classics during karaoke.
of course none of this could have been at all possible without the bottomless hospitality of my brother jimmy's team!... to jon who gave me the "go", melissa for supplying the bracelets, mike who oversaw the event, sammy who guarded all the funds and to the greatest bartenders a girl could have asked for, KATIE AND TROY! (that's them below!)
the infamous "swamp water"
anthony & bob doing "you've lost that lovin' feeling"
a little top gun is always a crowd pleaser!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
i am very much looking forward to this weekends practice! not only am i excited to increase my run and surpass another "mile"stone but this saturday also kicks off summer streets!
every year, for 3 weekends in august, the DOT closes down park avenue from 72nd street to the brooklyn bridge to car traffic and opens it up for bicyclists, walkers, and of course runners! crunch fitness holds exercise classes along the route turning the city into an outdoor gym.
TNT is venturing away from our beloved bethesda terrace and heading downtown to run over the brooklyn bridge. im pretty sure we can all run the 6 mile loop in the park with our eyes closed by now and a change of scenery will do us good!
i intend to bring my camera along which should make for an interesting run for me and a great treat for all of you later!
every year, for 3 weekends in august, the DOT closes down park avenue from 72nd street to the brooklyn bridge to car traffic and opens it up for bicyclists, walkers, and of course runners! crunch fitness holds exercise classes along the route turning the city into an outdoor gym.
TNT is venturing away from our beloved bethesda terrace and heading downtown to run over the brooklyn bridge. im pretty sure we can all run the 6 mile loop in the park with our eyes closed by now and a change of scenery will do us good!
i intend to bring my camera along which should make for an interesting run for me and a great treat for all of you later!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
sweet saturdays
its just past noon. ive already accomplished a great deal and have much to tell about it :)
first things first, this morning i ran 10 miles! woohoo! the park was crazy crowded with NYRR's long training run in progress but it made for great people watching and helped keep my mind off the miles. this is my longest run to date!
i had my first experience with energy gels during this mornings workout. energy gels are very beneficial to the distance runner by delivering a direct boost of carbohydrates to the body. theres no fat, protein or fiber giving them rapid onset and making them easy to digest. energy gels also promote recovery and enhance overall performance while on a long run.
gels are taken every 40-45mins with a water chaser. they come in a variety of tasty and not-so-tasty flavors. this morning i tried strawberry banana which was pretty good. but my second one was chocolate and oh! hello cake batter! delicious!
i noticed a difference in my pace, energy etc. compared to last weeks 9 mile workout. i will definitely be carrying gels with me on my long runs from now on. they're cheap too running about $1 each or $20 for a 24 pack.
^these guys are always in the mall playing as we finish up practice on saturday mornings.
on my way home from practice i grabbed 2 bags of ice at the grocery store and prepared for my first ice bath. "brrrr" is right!
long runs are essential when training for a marathon but they also increase risk of injury. seeing as ive already been nursing an injury and dont want to push it further, i sucked it up and braved the infamous "ice bath"
fancily termed cryrotherapy an ice bath constricts blood vessels and decreases metabolic activity in the muscles, reducing swelling and tissue breakdown. great idea based on the long term effects but no sugar coating here, its FREEZING!
best advice if youre thinking of diving into an ice bath of your own, be prepared... and i dont just mean mentally! if you just fill up the tub and sit, trust me, youre in for the longest 15 to 20 minutes of your life. think back to when being put in a 5 minute time-out felt like eternity. same deal!
wear a sweatshirt, hat, gloves, ski mask, whatever it takes to keep your top half warm. bring a book, make a playlist of all your favorite songs, do anything it takes to distract your mind from the fact that your sitting in freezing cold water voluntarily. i dont recommend talking on the phone. lets be real, its not smart and we all know, it probably wont end well. the first 5 minutes are torture but after a while you do get used to it. really! ha!
follow up with a nice warm shower (take off all your arctic gear first) this will help the return of blood flow quickly to the tissues and aide in getting the byproducts of cellular breakdown to your lymphatic system ( very important) and of course a warm shower will also help in thawing the rest of your body out!
first things first, this morning i ran 10 miles! woohoo! the park was crazy crowded with NYRR's long training run in progress but it made for great people watching and helped keep my mind off the miles. this is my longest run to date!
i had my first experience with energy gels during this mornings workout. energy gels are very beneficial to the distance runner by delivering a direct boost of carbohydrates to the body. theres no fat, protein or fiber giving them rapid onset and making them easy to digest. energy gels also promote recovery and enhance overall performance while on a long run.
gels are taken every 40-45mins with a water chaser. they come in a variety of tasty and not-so-tasty flavors. this morning i tried strawberry banana which was pretty good. but my second one was chocolate and oh! hello cake batter! delicious!
i noticed a difference in my pace, energy etc. compared to last weeks 9 mile workout. i will definitely be carrying gels with me on my long runs from now on. they're cheap too running about $1 each or $20 for a 24 pack.
^these guys are always in the mall playing as we finish up practice on saturday mornings.
on my way home from practice i grabbed 2 bags of ice at the grocery store and prepared for my first ice bath. "brrrr" is right!
long runs are essential when training for a marathon but they also increase risk of injury. seeing as ive already been nursing an injury and dont want to push it further, i sucked it up and braved the infamous "ice bath"
fancily termed cryrotherapy an ice bath constricts blood vessels and decreases metabolic activity in the muscles, reducing swelling and tissue breakdown. great idea based on the long term effects but no sugar coating here, its FREEZING!
best advice if youre thinking of diving into an ice bath of your own, be prepared... and i dont just mean mentally! if you just fill up the tub and sit, trust me, youre in for the longest 15 to 20 minutes of your life. think back to when being put in a 5 minute time-out felt like eternity. same deal!
wear a sweatshirt, hat, gloves, ski mask, whatever it takes to keep your top half warm. bring a book, make a playlist of all your favorite songs, do anything it takes to distract your mind from the fact that your sitting in freezing cold water voluntarily. i dont recommend talking on the phone. lets be real, its not smart and we all know, it probably wont end well. the first 5 minutes are torture but after a while you do get used to it. really! ha!
follow up with a nice warm shower (take off all your arctic gear first) this will help the return of blood flow quickly to the tissues and aide in getting the byproducts of cellular breakdown to your lymphatic system ( very important) and of course a warm shower will also help in thawing the rest of your body out!
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