Sunday, September 27, 2009

Aah Chicago in the Summer

So today I kicked it up a notch and I did 8 miles. That was what the Team in Training Schedule said to do. It was perfect running weather and approximately 70 degrees. We live about 2 miles from the lake front. Therefore, I ran the 2 miles there and 2 miles along the lakefront.I have to say it made me appreciate what I love about Chicago. The lake was gorgeous, as was the skyline. Chicago skyline in the summer has to be seen at least one point in your life. It's an amazing break from the hustle and bustle of the city. There are beaches, boats, restaurants, water, set amid an amazing backdrop of Navy Pier and the Chicago skyline. I would have taken a picture, but no way in heck I am carrying a camera during my run.

When all was said and done I wound up doing my 8 miles, one of the longest runs I have done, in about 1 hour and 13 minutes. Not bad at all and it worked out to like 9:12 miles. I even surprised myself a bit. Next weekend I will be in New York, and the great forces that are Beth and Moser will combine for a training run. Now I have talked to Moser and he did 6 miles a 9:12. I am not going to say I did better...but I certainly did go longer...

Monday, September 21, 2009

Ironwoman

So I just read Moser's post and that is sad and all. However, in the immortal words of Nelson from the Simpsons, ha ha! Anywho, I have been staying on top of training. I didn't go on the group run Saturday morning even though I woke up to do so. If you knew how comfortable my bed was you would totally understand. However, I decided to run yesterday. So by the time I wasted my day away and decided to go running it was 4 pm and I was ready to hit the streets.

4:02 pm starts raining. Therefore, I did my 6 miles at the gym on the treadmill. I also did 150 sit ups, 60 assisted pull ups, and 15 push ups. You totally should get tickets to my gun show. I am also going to run tonight and keep up with my program of running and spinning throughout the week. It is perfect running weather in Chicago (mid 70's) and hopefully it stays that way. I need to hold onto the nice weather and wonderfulness of Chicago for another two weeks until it gets cold and the spite sets in.

I have decided to end every post with a segment that I derived from Peter Griffin, ala Family Guy and a little thing I like to call "You know what really grinds my gears."

You know what really grinds my gears, people who go to the treadmill right next to yours when the gym is almost empty and make sure to grunt and wheeze, and then look over at you just to make sure you know exactly how hard they are working out.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

What goes down...

...must come up. Especially on out-and-backs, like the one I ran yesterday. Mile 2 is pretty much all downhill, which is very nice...except for when it becomes Mile 4. Then things take a turn for the worse.

Still, my pace on the back half matched my pace on the front half, 9:01/mile, so I guess I handled the hill pretty well. Today was a make-up for missing yesterday morning's group run before heading down to Baltimore for the Red Sox game (go Sox!).

Also this past week, I learned that I will never ride my bicycle on the service road, or without my cell phone, or without some sort of tire repair kit.

As I was turning from New Hyde Park Road on to the westbound service road, a one way, 3 lane, 40 mph entry and exit point for the Long Island Expressway, a nail ripped a hole in the side of my tire, and cars were nearly knocking me over at high speeds. But wait - it gets better! There was pretty much no place for me to stand on the side of the road, because of the bushes and trees, so I got to stand in a pack of bushes, holding my bike up and away from the road, waiting for some break in the traffic.

I finally got one and managed to ride my bike, with the flat tire (walking would have been too slow and dangerous), to Community Drive, from which I figured I would walk home (about a 2 mile walk). But wait - it gets better! I couldn't walk along the service road to Lakeville Road - a much better and less hilly choice - so instead I got to walk down Community Drive, with a large downhill and a very large, very steep uphill on Pond Hill Rd.

I made it back home, where I learned that I could have been picked up by car if I had had my cell phone with me.

A good time was had by all. Now I have to go get ready to watch Giants-Cowboys. Go Giants! See you next week.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Getting my run on.

So, I have in fact been working out this week. I am starting to set up a rhythm, and even found people to run with. I missed the group run yesterday morning because the bf and I are searching for homes. I think we found the perfect place for us. 1800 square feet, near public transit, 2 blocks from the lake, walking distance to some restaurants. Only problem it was the first day we went out. Either we are decisive or just dumb.

Anyways back to the work out thing. Today I did 6 miles and Friday I did 5 miles. Both days I was able to run by the lake and it was beautiful. Nothing better than the Chicago lakefront a nice day. I need to try to remember how much I love it when winter comes and I once again despise all that is the Midwest.

Btw, thanks to everyone who donated!!! It means soo much to us. This training and run is all for people we all loved who have been affected.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Season Kickoff

We're almost at $1,000! Make your donation online today at:

http://bit.ly/jewsforjogging

TNT's NYC chapter officially kicked off the winter season today, with an introduction of all the coaches, mentors, and TNT staff. It was a pretty big group - about 20 or 25 of them, for the 40 or so runners. Among the highlights was when they asked cancer survivors to stand up and introduce themselves. About 8 got up on stage, 2 of whom were diagnosed and recovered when they were teenagers (one has been a TNT coach for the past 5 or 6 seasons), and 2 of whom are currently undergoing treatment (one was diagnosed only 3 months ago). The last person to go was the mother of the team's honored patient, a six-year-old boy who was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of three and who will be involved with the team as we train for Disney.

After the meeting, all 60 of us walked a few blocks over to Central Park and did a 30 minute out-and-back at a "conversation pace" - that is, slow enough to comfortably talk to your neighbors, about a 10:45 pace for me. The point wasn't so much for distance (I was among the faster people, meaning I went among the furthest distances, and I didn't even hit 3 miles), as it was for getting 30 minutes of cardio exercise in and meeting some of the other people running this season.

Overall, it was a good experience. Everyone I talked to was really nice. It was a great change of pace from talking to Beth.

Aside from that, I had a pretty busy week, workout-wise. I ran 10K in under an hour on Tuesday night, then had the last pre-season group run with TNT on Wednesday night, a 4 mile run at conversation pace. I took Thursday off, then dragged myself off my couch and to the gym on a rainy Friday for half on hour on the bike and a little time on some machines.

The last part turned to be pretty stupid. I hadn't done that in months. My arms are ridiculously sore now. Typing actually hurts, so with that, I'm going to end this post. See you next week.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Back from Jersey

Did you know that 56% of your tax-deductible donation goes to patient/community services and research? Help us in the fight against leukemia, lymphoma, and other cancers by visiting:

http://bit.ly/jewsforjogging

You can also learn more about where your money goes here.

I'll admit it. Beth has me beat in mileage - my best week so far is 15.48 (my total since August 29 is 20.48 - you can follow my training log online here). Unlike her, however, I also threw in some bicycling and - wait for it - pilates. Yeah, that's right. Pilates. Now, I don't mean to imply that this somehow makes me better than her...but it does.

Wednesday night was my first group TNT experience. I had run the Virginia Beach 1/2 marathon with TNT in 2004, but I lived in Maryland and raised money for my sister's chapter, in Delaware. As a result, while I got all the great benefits TNT has to offer during the event weekend, I wasn't able to join in the group training. This season hasn't kicked off yet, but TNT NYC did organize (for the first time) a couple of pre-season Wednesday night workouts, and this time, I am taking full advantage.

This week's pre-season workout was a 1/2 hour beginner pilates session, followed by a 2.5 mile out-and-back in Central Park at "conversation speed," the speed where you can comfortably chat with the person next to you without out of control heavy breathing, about 11:30/mile. There were about 20 other people at the workout. The pilates session was tough, but I wasn't anywhere near as sore as several people told me I would be. This leads me to believe that I most likely have superhuman strength.

...Or I was doing it wrong. Definitely one of the two.

Aside from that, I haven't done much noteworthy in the past week. I did a couple of 4 to 5 mile runs, a 10 mile bicycle ride, and I'm trying to remember to work in at least a couple of core and muscle strengthening exercises, usually push-ups and crunches, after a run or bike ride.

Over the weekend, instead of working out, I had a rehearsal dinner, wedding, and post-wedding brunch in New Jersey, so I traded in my running shoes for drinks, dancing, and deep-fried oreos. Turned out it wasn't much of an excuse - two people at the wedding who are training with TNT for the NYC marathon had run 16 miles the morning of the rehearsal dinner. Thanks to Shelby and Tara for showing me up :)

Tomorrow I run in the morning, then Wednesday night is the last pre-season workout before training kicks off on Saturday.