Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Record sellouts and rising prices.
Today was the day that the 2013 Marine Corps Marathon opened for registration. I am signed up to run it for a charity, so I luckily avoided the registration process. From the talk on Facebook, I knew it was going to sell out quickly. Given the debacle that happened with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon registration process, I was hoping Active was not the platform being used. Alas, it was and Facebook was on fire with complaints of the system crashing. Running has become immensely popular and with it so has the idea of a completing a marathon. 5 years ago I would have never imagined myself preparing to train for 26.2 miles, but a lot has changed since I started running. Registration fees for half marathon and full marathons are seemingly increasing each year. I plan on qualifying for the 2014 NYC Marathon by completing the 9+1 option. I will have the pay the over $216 fee (if not higher next year) which 2 years are was $156. People say that running is a cheap sport. Not if you want to run comfortably (technical gear, sports bra, etc) and not if you like to run races. I am as guilty as any other runner because I have willingly paid some stiff fees for races.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Allstate NY 13.1 race review
I ran or shall I say ran/walked the Allstate NY 13.1 Half marathon on Saturday 3/23/13. I was not looking to PR on this race given that I had just PR'd for both the half marathon and 5K distances in the last 4 weeks. I, however, did not expect this to be my slowest half marathon. Going into Saturday, I thought the predictions for 40 degree range temperature would fare well for race day, wrong! Saturday was very windy and cold to start. I also was dealing with mild upper respiratory issues (stuffy, runny nose, scratchy throat) that were not serious enough for me to skip the race.
I have not been inside Flushing-Meadows Park since I was in elementary school, so I had no idea of what I would be dealing with. I was dressed in layers so that I could remove if deemed necessary. I immediately ran into a photographer who saw my Black Girls Run! shirt and wanted to take a picture and I obliged. I met up with some of the BGR! ladies and which took a couple of pics with the photographers.
I am a little spoiled by how NYRR does their corrals at races. The only set up was signs along the side for different projected finish times. There were pace groups and I had planned to run with the 2:30 group for the most part and break off in the last 3 miles. I never saw the pace leader for that group. I saw the 1:20 to 2:00 pace groups, which of course are out of my league. The 2200 or so runners haphazardly lined up and we started at 9:05am. Within the 1st mile I started feeling the headwinds which would lead to my undoing. I started off in the 10:45 min/mile range in the first two miles but then dropped off. My track jacket also ended up around my waist very early on. The combination of strong wind sending cold air into my airway and some discomfort in my left hip led me to start a run/walk strategy. I used the songs playing in my one ear to pace my run/walk.
The course was awful. Lots of turn, roundabouts, mud, and having to go across 3 foot bridges twice. There were puddles to avoid and an area where we had to run over swap land because the paved area was flooded. I kept in range of a few people who would pass me when I took walk breaks and then I would pass them once I started to run again. I kept this up until around mile 11 when I knew I could just run for the last bit of the race. I was so happy to see the finish line. It was nice to hear the announcer say "and another member of Black Girls Run! one of our biggest group. I had a little energy in me to doing a little flying move at the end. I finished in 2:32:16 nearly 3 minutes slower than my very first half. It hurt my pride a little; but I finished and finished upright (so that is all that really matters). I even had one guy tell me he was chasing me the whole race!
The best part of the race was the medal. It is awesome! Also the pictures Marathonfoto took are pretty cool. There is a really cool one of me with the unisphere in the background. I don't know if I can convince myself to spend more $ on a race that I didn't really enjoy. It is $65 for all images and $29.95 for just one! I managed through the soreness to have brunch with my running buddy Shalena and her friend at a nice spot in Forest Hills. Allstate is a one and done for me; I will not be running this one again.
The Unisphere and I
My run buddy Shalena and I
The best thing about the race!
I have not been inside Flushing-Meadows Park since I was in elementary school, so I had no idea of what I would be dealing with. I was dressed in layers so that I could remove if deemed necessary. I immediately ran into a photographer who saw my Black Girls Run! shirt and wanted to take a picture and I obliged. I met up with some of the BGR! ladies and which took a couple of pics with the photographers.
I am a little spoiled by how NYRR does their corrals at races. The only set up was signs along the side for different projected finish times. There were pace groups and I had planned to run with the 2:30 group for the most part and break off in the last 3 miles. I never saw the pace leader for that group. I saw the 1:20 to 2:00 pace groups, which of course are out of my league. The 2200 or so runners haphazardly lined up and we started at 9:05am. Within the 1st mile I started feeling the headwinds which would lead to my undoing. I started off in the 10:45 min/mile range in the first two miles but then dropped off. My track jacket also ended up around my waist very early on. The combination of strong wind sending cold air into my airway and some discomfort in my left hip led me to start a run/walk strategy. I used the songs playing in my one ear to pace my run/walk.
The course was awful. Lots of turn, roundabouts, mud, and having to go across 3 foot bridges twice. There were puddles to avoid and an area where we had to run over swap land because the paved area was flooded. I kept in range of a few people who would pass me when I took walk breaks and then I would pass them once I started to run again. I kept this up until around mile 11 when I knew I could just run for the last bit of the race. I was so happy to see the finish line. It was nice to hear the announcer say "and another member of Black Girls Run! one of our biggest group. I had a little energy in me to doing a little flying move at the end. I finished in 2:32:16 nearly 3 minutes slower than my very first half. It hurt my pride a little; but I finished and finished upright (so that is all that really matters). I even had one guy tell me he was chasing me the whole race!
Friday, March 22, 2013
Time on my hands
I am sitting here with some free time on my hands, so I decided to post. As I mentioned in "A little about me", I got into running as a well of getting back into shape. In the summer of 2011 I found myself at the highest weight ever for my 5'8 frame; nearly 240 lbs. I was without health problems but two things were glaringly obvious: I was not setting a good example as a health care provider and eventually I would have health issues if I continued like this. I started doing zumba and power-walking in the park. My clothes started fitting looser but the scale stayed the same. I was feeling good as well.
I had wanted to give running a try for a long time, but never had the guts, motivation or support to do so. Pretty soon I started doing intervals of jogging and walking in the park until I was able to do pretty long intervals of jogging. On Thanksgiving morning I was in the park and came across of group of women wearing sweatshirts that proclaimed "Black Girls Run". My interest was piqued.
There has always been talk that Black women didn't "work out", "run", etc because of issues with our hair. There is the sobering statistic that 4 out of 5 Black women are overweight or obese. Obviously it is not just a problem for Black women but a problem for many Americans. Black Girls Run! started as a blog created by two sorority sisters as they took on their own issues with fitness and starting run. One of the founders had her own mother proclaim to her that "her uterus would fall out". That blog grew into running groups in cities across the country.
Going back to that Thanksgiving Day, I went online to find out more. I went to the site which led my to the Facebook group for Black Girls Run! NYC. I joined and looked into the weekly group runs that were being held. That next Tuesday I was out at the 7pm Prospect Park group run and I never looked back. I was of course the last woman to complete that loop, but I didn't do it alone. The BGR! motto is "No woman left behind". One of the NYC ambassadors Nykia came back and finished the loop (which consists of that dreaded Nellie Hill). I kept coming back for group runs. I met other women in the group who lived right by me. I started running early mornings (in the middle of winter) with my new running buddies.
I starting seeing more results from being more active and also making lifestyle changes. I cut out soda and juice (I have them sparingly now) for water and seltzer. I have not eaten beef or pork in years but I started looking into other changes to make to my diet. Chickpeas, quinoa, and more veggies added. I have a sweet tooth and I don't stay away from sweets; I eat them in moderate. Surprisingly I found myself not craving some of those bad items anymore. I never looked at my changes as "dieting"; this was a lifestyle change.
My involvement in BGR! and hearing the ladies talk about doing half marathons, 5Ks, etc eventually had wanting to enter a race of my very own. Late winter of 2012 many ladies were planning to run the More Half in April. I did not think I would be ready for that one, so I sat out. Eventually the bug got me and I signed up for the Verrazano Half marathon along Shore Promenade. I followed a beginner's training schedule which got me up to that day April 27, 2012. It was a sunny but cool day and I had the support of a couple of my new BGR! friends along the course. I had no particular goal time for the race but didn't think I would finish before 2:45.
I had probably shed about 20-25 pounds by that day. The gun went off and once I was near the start, off I went. I didn't run this entirely. I ran and took walk breaks as needed. Occasionally I would look ahead and see someone who I would use as a target to catch up to. Two hours, 29 minutes, and 26 seconds later I crossed the finish line. It was an amazing finish. I finished just under 2:30; which was unbelievable to me. Not too long after than I found myself signing up for more races: 10K, 5milers, 5k, and another half marathon. I lost more weight, and with that (and adding in cross and strength training) I was becoming a faster runner. With the help of a running coach I set my goals on running at half marathon at a 10:30 min/mile pace. That meant cutting over 9 minutes from my 2nd half marathon Diva Long Island in October 2012 which I completed in 2:26:36. Months of running including speed workouts, hills, tempo runs paid off at the 2013 Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon which I completed in 2:17:10, a 10:28 pace.
I run now because I love the way it makes me feel. I feel completely free. I enter races because I like trying to beat my former self. I decided to do a half-marathon a month in four months challenge as I way to feel out my endurance before committing to running a full marathon. Half marathon number two of four is tomorrow. I am not trying to beat my last time but I plan on enjoying feeling free!
I had wanted to give running a try for a long time, but never had the guts, motivation or support to do so. Pretty soon I started doing intervals of jogging and walking in the park until I was able to do pretty long intervals of jogging. On Thanksgiving morning I was in the park and came across of group of women wearing sweatshirts that proclaimed "Black Girls Run". My interest was piqued.
There has always been talk that Black women didn't "work out", "run", etc because of issues with our hair. There is the sobering statistic that 4 out of 5 Black women are overweight or obese. Obviously it is not just a problem for Black women but a problem for many Americans. Black Girls Run! started as a blog created by two sorority sisters as they took on their own issues with fitness and starting run. One of the founders had her own mother proclaim to her that "her uterus would fall out". That blog grew into running groups in cities across the country.
Going back to that Thanksgiving Day, I went online to find out more. I went to the site which led my to the Facebook group for Black Girls Run! NYC. I joined and looked into the weekly group runs that were being held. That next Tuesday I was out at the 7pm Prospect Park group run and I never looked back. I was of course the last woman to complete that loop, but I didn't do it alone. The BGR! motto is "No woman left behind". One of the NYC ambassadors Nykia came back and finished the loop (which consists of that dreaded Nellie Hill). I kept coming back for group runs. I met other women in the group who lived right by me. I started running early mornings (in the middle of winter) with my new running buddies.
I starting seeing more results from being more active and also making lifestyle changes. I cut out soda and juice (I have them sparingly now) for water and seltzer. I have not eaten beef or pork in years but I started looking into other changes to make to my diet. Chickpeas, quinoa, and more veggies added. I have a sweet tooth and I don't stay away from sweets; I eat them in moderate. Surprisingly I found myself not craving some of those bad items anymore. I never looked at my changes as "dieting"; this was a lifestyle change.
My involvement in BGR! and hearing the ladies talk about doing half marathons, 5Ks, etc eventually had wanting to enter a race of my very own. Late winter of 2012 many ladies were planning to run the More Half in April. I did not think I would be ready for that one, so I sat out. Eventually the bug got me and I signed up for the Verrazano Half marathon along Shore Promenade. I followed a beginner's training schedule which got me up to that day April 27, 2012. It was a sunny but cool day and I had the support of a couple of my new BGR! friends along the course. I had no particular goal time for the race but didn't think I would finish before 2:45.
I had probably shed about 20-25 pounds by that day. The gun went off and once I was near the start, off I went. I didn't run this entirely. I ran and took walk breaks as needed. Occasionally I would look ahead and see someone who I would use as a target to catch up to. Two hours, 29 minutes, and 26 seconds later I crossed the finish line. It was an amazing finish. I finished just under 2:30; which was unbelievable to me. Not too long after than I found myself signing up for more races: 10K, 5milers, 5k, and another half marathon. I lost more weight, and with that (and adding in cross and strength training) I was becoming a faster runner. With the help of a running coach I set my goals on running at half marathon at a 10:30 min/mile pace. That meant cutting over 9 minutes from my 2nd half marathon Diva Long Island in October 2012 which I completed in 2:26:36. Months of running including speed workouts, hills, tempo runs paid off at the 2013 Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon which I completed in 2:17:10, a 10:28 pace.
I run now because I love the way it makes me feel. I feel completely free. I enter races because I like trying to beat my former self. I decided to do a half-marathon a month in four months challenge as I way to feel out my endurance before committing to running a full marathon. Half marathon number two of four is tomorrow. I am not trying to beat my last time but I plan on enjoying feeling free!
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Races to date
My completed races. My first ever race was the Verrazano Half Marathon in April 2012 (of course I would start with a half!)
3/3/13 Coogan's Blue's, Salsa, and Shamrock 5K 29:48 5K PR
2/24/13 Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon 2:17:10 Half-Marathon PR
2/4/13 Gridiron Classic 4 Mile 44:15
12/15/12 Ted Corbitt 15K Classic 1:40:31
12/2/12 Join the Voices 5 Mile 51:14
11/22/12 PPTC Turkey Trot 5 Mile 49:59 5 Mile PR
11/3/12 Run for Prospect Park 5K+ 33:23
10/7/12 Diva Half Marathon Long Island 2:26:36
9/6/12 Drive to End Hunger BGR 10K 1:10:05
9/3/12 Labor Day 5K 30:40
6/30/12 Take Your Base 5 Mile 1:04:07 (worst race ever)
6/24/12 Achilles Hope & Possibility 5 Mile 57:22
6/9/12 Mini 10K 1:10:03 10K PR
4/28/12 Verrazano Half Marathon 2:29:24
3/3/13 Coogan's Blue's, Salsa, and Shamrock 5K 29:48 5K PR
2/24/13 Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon 2:17:10 Half-Marathon PR
2/4/13 Gridiron Classic 4 Mile 44:15
12/15/12 Ted Corbitt 15K Classic 1:40:31
12/2/12 Join the Voices 5 Mile 51:14
11/22/12 PPTC Turkey Trot 5 Mile 49:59 5 Mile PR
11/3/12 Run for Prospect Park 5K+ 33:23
10/7/12 Diva Half Marathon Long Island 2:26:36
9/6/12 Drive to End Hunger BGR 10K 1:10:05
9/3/12 Labor Day 5K 30:40
6/30/12 Take Your Base 5 Mile 1:04:07 (worst race ever)
6/24/12 Achilles Hope & Possibility 5 Mile 57:22
6/9/12 Mini 10K 1:10:03 10K PR
4/28/12 Verrazano Half Marathon 2:29:24
2013 Race Calendar
I am sort of going half crazy with my race calendar. I am doing 4 half marathons; one each month from Feb to May with smaller distance in between. I am of course not planning to race full effort all of these; but will pick and choose. I am using the races to keep me committed.
Completed
Jan 1 Commitment Day 5 K
Feb 3 NYRR Gridiron Classic 4 mile
Feb 24 Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon
March 3 Coogan's Salsa, Blues, and Shamrock 5K
Upcoming Races:
March 23- Allstate New York 13.1 Half Marathon Flushing Meadow Park
April 7- Cherry Blossom Ten Miler Washington D.C.
April 21-NYRR Run for the Parks 4 Miler (3/9 for 9+1 for NYC Marathon 2014)
April 28- Nike Women’s Half Marathon Washington D.C.
May 5- Broad St 10 Miler Philadelphia, PA
May 18 Brooklyn Half Marathon
June 8 Oakley/NYRR Mini 10K New York, NY
June 30 Achilles Hope and Possibility 5 Miler New York, NY
July 6- Color Run NYC 5K Brooklyn, NY
August Plan for Percy Sutton 5K
Sept 8 Plan for BGR! Sweat With Your Sole 10K Charlotte, NC
Sept 15 NYRR Bronx 10 Miler
Sept 29 Plan for 5th Avenue Mile New York, NY
Oct 12 Rock and Roll Brooklyn 10 K
Oct 27 Marine Corps Marathon Washington D.C.
November Plan for PPTC Thanskgiving Turkey Trot Brooklyn NY
December Plan NYRR Ted Corbitt 15K Classic
Whew! I plan to enjoy running my ass off.
Second chances.
Coogan's Salsa, Blues, and Shamrock 5K recap
This was my third race of the year. I did the NYRR Gridiron
Classic 4 mile and Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon last month. I
came into this race with plans to sub-30 and officially PR at the 5K
distance. I had unofficially finished a 5K on New Year’s Day at the NYC
Commitment Day run in 27:30, but it was not scored so to me it does not
count. My previous best was 30:40 at the 2012 Labor Day 5K on
Roosevelt Island. I was still on a runner’s high from a half marathon
PR at the RnR Half exactly 1 week prior. Due to typical subway mayhem
on a Sunday in NYC, I arrived to the start later than I anticipated.
Bag check was a cluster@#%@! I pulled off my sweats quickly and then
chucked my bag over the barrier into the section for my bib number (No
way was I going to wait to walk all around a bend just to get there). I
met up with ladies from my running group Black Girls Run BGR!NYC for
greetings and our usual pre-race photo. I headed over the corrals to
get ready. Taking a looking around I saw that the race was going to be
quite congested. The people in Washington Heights came out to cheer
the runners on. It took well over 9 minutes for my corral to get to
the start line. Off I went. Within the first mile I had to dodge
around walkers! I am not speedy and walkers should have been two
corrals behind me! The front runners were already heading back down to
the finish. Ducking and dodging was the name of the game. I had kids
running in front who stopped dead in their tracks out of nowhere
(can’t fault them though) but the adults should know better. I am not
afraid of hills (though I have a big love/hate relationship with Harlem
Hill in Central Park) but because this course was new to me the hills
were tough. I ended up stopping to walk for problem 10 sec twice during
the race. On the second walk one of the ladies from my running group
gave me the extra push I needed to get back on track. I was still
within in my goal and I pushed toward the finish. It was nice to have
the different mix of Irish folk music, blues, and salsa bands playing
along the course. With seconds to spare I hit my mark: 29:48, 9:36
min/mile pace! I don’t know if I would run this again, but who
knows. I official PR’d and completed my 2nd out of 9 races to qualify
for the 2014 ING NYC marathon.Just a little about me.
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