Inspiring Runner of the Week: A NYC Marathon Vet

This week's inspiring runner is a gal who I actually don't know too well, but I have sense we share many things in common: Southerner, music, a love of surfing, fun, books...I actually met Caroline in book club and when I've been able to attend I always like what she has to say. I remember around this time last year, at a book club meeting, Caroline had to leave early to get to bed to prep for the follow morning's long run. She said she was running the marathon. I felt a spark. "Hey, I've been wanting to do that," ran through my head. Thus, I give you Caroline, a recent NYC Marathon vet...

At what age did you start running and what motivated you to get involved in the sport?
The first time I remember running distance was in middle school for the cross country team. I think I joined because all the cool girls were doing it, and our coach (also the swim coach and Spanish teacher) sort of made us do all three. After a few years of cross-country practice, followed by basketball practice, I decided to choose one, and I went with basketball. I equate distance running at a young age to a sort of muscle memory - I remember doing it and how to do it, so it was easy to pick up later in life.

How has running changed your life?
Running has been my prozac, at times. I've given it some of the greatest commitment that I have for anything.

What do you get out of running? Why do it?
Specifically from running the NY marathon last year, I saw New York in half a day - all packaged together and cheering me on! More generally, running is a physical release, and a mental challenge.

What is your favorite race (distance) and what is your best Personal Record (PR)/ fastest time?
I like the short races in the fall (4 or 5 miles). My best 4-mile pace last year was 9:05 min/mile.


(Caroline, mile 9, NYC Marathon, 2010)

Where is your favorite place to train?
I like mapping out a new route on mapmyrun.com, and choosing streets around my Brooklyn neighborhood that I haven't seen before. It's harder for me to run long distances in unfamiliar places because it's mentally harder to pace myself.

Do you have a favorite or most meaningful running experience (a race or a day when you pushed further than you thought you could go?)
The NYC marathon last year.

Do you have a favorite song on your ipod to run to?
My guilty pleasures were the songs I listened to while I run. My ipod all-stars: Michael Franti (everything), Cee Lo Green's "F**k You!", Frightened Rabbit's "The Loneliness and the Scream", A Tribe Called Quest's "Vivrant Thing", Mos Def's "Quiet Dog", Dr John's "Let the Good Times Roll", Marc Broussard's "Home", and drum roll…Hanson's "Penny & Me". Yes, Hanson. I know. (That was a lot of info, but I thought you might find a few to check out from my list. I enjoy sharing playlists with other runners because if nothing else, it's funny.)

What do you find most difficult about running and how do you overcome this difficulty?
I get mentally bored while running, and I don't feel the "runner's high." I feel great afterwards, but not usually during. I overcame it by having a race goal and knowing that after I finished that race, I wouldn't pressure myself into doing more if I didn't want to. Physically, my biggest challenge is my IT bands, and I worked through them with a good ole' foam roller.




Do you have a race coming up? When and where?
Nothing planned because (as in previous answer) I promised myself I wouldn't put pressure on when the next race would be after the marathon.

Do you have a favorite movie or book about running?
I keep wanting to read Murakami's "What I talk about when I talk about running".

Can you offer me any advice on how I can best train to get to the 2011 NYC marathon finish line?
Training will give you confidence. That's the fascinating part - trusting that the schedule you (and thousands of other people) follow will get you there. As one friend put it, "the power of progression." Also, take ice baths after your long runs. It sounds horrible, and it is, but it's worth the horror.

What's your best advice for fighting negative thinking when faced with a challenge like running 26. 2 miles?
Bribe yourself. Meals (pizza in particular), a surfboard, vacations, clothes, a massage, new running clothes... I promised myself anything and everything, and it worked.

Thank you, Caroline! Sure we we had more time to hang...see you soon at book club, I hope!

Marathon Bandits! Cheaters or Happy-go-Luckies?

Read about them here!!

(photo found on this blog)

The Magic of Falling in Love with Running

(AKA: This week's inspiring runners!)

Last Monday we ran 6 miles, two long loops on the bridle path around the reservoir. As crappy as the previous Saturday's 12 miler felt, this 6 miler felt an equal amount magical.

Magical because the rains lifted and the skyline glistened at sundown. Magical because I felt like I was floating. Magical because my head was in the right place. Magical because I was honored to run with Coach Sid.

First, you gotta read this article about Coach Sid and his wife Coach Asteria.

(pic taken after my 16-miler)

Sid and Asteria EXUDE warmth, care, passion, and running. They are two of our Team for Kids coaches and I'll admit, I go to team practices more to be around them than to run. Sid makes you want to move your feet. He discovered running in his late 30's and now in his early 70's he holds several World Championship titles for his age division. Sid's magic is he inspires you to fall in love with running. Asteria's magic is a kick in the ass when you need it (once she saw me walking, furrowed her brown and screamed, "No! Keep going!") and then she'll count it all joy and celebrate with you when you've accomplished your run. And I'll tell you, it feels great that out of 100+ team members, they know MY name.

I found myself running alongside Coach Sid on a magical Monday night. I think my pace was around 9:30. That's fast for me! He asked, "how are you doing?" To which I replied, "good, but am not sure I can keep up this pace." He responded, "We're gonna keep going, I'm right here with you." And keep going we did. He pushed me and I went toe-to-toe. On our final downhill, he coached me through some strides and our final pace was 8:20-something. He said, "see, you didn't think you could do it. you can." To which I replied, "Coach Sid, you have a gift from God and I thank you for sharing it with me." A 70-something ran my butt off and it was great.

Last night, another magical Monday, we ran a very easy 4 miles to recover from our 16 on Sunday. I found myself in Sid's group again, running with him the last 2 miles. We talked about pacing for the marathon. I expressed my worry that I wouldn't finish in under 5 hours and as a result would not get my name in the New York Times. I'd run 11 mins/mile during the 16 and if I do that on race day, my time will be over 5 hours. But I often find myself running between 9:30 and 10 mins/mile on shorter training runs. Sid assured me I'd finish in under 5 hours. He said encouragingly, that I have an easy pace and that many runners would kill for my easy pace. I'm not totally sure what that means as sometimes running doesn't feel all that easy to me, but hey, I'll take it!

Before I knew who Sid was, I'd see him at races, shouting encouragement from the course. I always wanted to know who that guy was, and now I count it magic to know both he and Asteria and magic that I am falling in love with running.

16 miles

I ran 16 miles yesterday, my longest run yet. My goal was to stick to 11 mins/mile. NYRR set up a great mock marathon/long run...folks ran between 16 and 20 miles in Central Park, complete with water every couple miles and a Gatoraid/munchie station at the start of each loop.

I had a running buddy who I allowed to pull me past the 11 min/mile pace setter. We ran 9:45/mile for a while. I shouldn't have done this, because mile 12 became a bear (which may have been a lack of fuel issue as well).

I did not take free Gu after mile 6 (the first loop) because my only experience with Gu made me very ill. So I ate a tiny handful of peanuts from my pocket and drank Gatoraid. At mile 11, the next stop at the Gatoraid station, I felt I was pooping out. So I tried a 1/2 pack of Gu and some pretzels. Heading into mile 12 was hard...the munchies had not hit my blood stream yet and I felt tired. I walked about 100 feet and then an old woman shuffled alongside of me. She was a talker, so I decided to shuffle with her...at about 13 min/mile pace. This was the best thing for me. I ran with her and talked for 2 miles and then resumed my 11 min/mile pace until the end.

Even though I was one of the last Team for Kids members to finish. I felt so good about this run. But I need to get my fuel plan down. And today, I don't feel so bad. Some soreness in my quads, but overall, I feel great. Yay!

A Taste of Thai fundraiser - date change

Sawasdee!
(this means hello in Thai)

Life changing.

It's been the theme of my past 16 months.
From doctoral work to parenthood to training for the NYC marathon, most everything I've been involved in of late has been life changing.

It is said, "we are never the same for having seen the moon on the other side of the world." I took an exciting trip to Thailand this summer & had the fortuitous opportunity to go to Thai cooking school.
I loved it! And I'd like to use my burgeoning culinary skills to change the lives of children in New York City.

In training for the NYC marathon, I must raise $2620 for Team for Kids so I can get to the finish line. TFK establishes running programs in underserved schools that lack Phys Ed classes with the goal of fighting childhood obesity.

Thus, you are cordially invited to join me in changing the lives of school kids across the five boroughs.

A Taste of Thai

Saturday, September 10th, 7 pm (after I run 17 miles)


The Menu:
Green Curry
Chicken in Coconut Milk Soup
Stir Fried Pork with Holy Basil
Khao Soi
Deep Fried Banana
Black Sticky Rice Pudding

(did you know the only time Thais use chopsticks is when they are eating Chinese noodle dishes?)


A $40 suggested donation is requested
(all of which is tax deductible & receipts will be provided)

Bring friends, but please RSVP by by August 31.



(if you cannot make the fundraiser, but would still like to give,
donations can be made at my fundraising page:
http://www.runwithtfk.org/Member/PublicPage/6295

you can also check out my marathon blog:
http://www.opportunitiestojump.blogspot.com/ )


Kob Koon (thank you) for helping me, a NON-athlete,
reach a life changing goal!

Post Run Popsicles!

I love Team for Kids. After our 5 mile recovery run last night, we were treated to popsicles! How awesome is that?!

This is my team member and semi-neighbor Alison...we don't some runs together and I hope to do some neighborhood running w/ her as well. Super nice girl...and so interesting! A scientist and a photographer. Love meeting new people!

14 mile morning & eating in the tub

14 miles in the bag, baby! I'm surprised at how happy we look after this morning's long run. Believe me, I walked slowly down the subway stairs. Next week I'll remember my flip flops. I could not have done the run without these folks: Jen and Edwin. So fab to find folks to run with.


14 miles is my longest run to date. Last week's 11 miles felt doable. I was glad when it was over, but wasn't hurting. Today I'm hurting a bit for the first time in a looong time. And tired! Here's the Team for Kids drink break at 7 miles. Love the Team for Kids staff! Encouraging! Generous! Thank you for the Gatoraid! Happy to say when I reached 13.1 miles I was ahead of the 1/2 marathon time I clocked back in May.


Jen ran the marathon last year with TFK and shared her wisdom with Edwin and I. We ran the "candy cane" course 2x...from 62nd Street north along the bridal path to the 102nd street transverse, across to the east side and south to 72nd where we turned around and ran back around to 62nd street. We did this 2x, so the conversation was a Godsend.


Post run stretching.


And.... my first ice bath. I hate cold water. So I ate a bacon-egg-and-cheese-on-a-roll while I soaked as a distraction.

The next few Saturdays will look like this: 13 miles next week, 16 the following, and 18 the next. Oh my.

Chocolate can help my workout?

The NY Times says so here! (But less is more).

:: simple summer pie ::

New Yorkers typically do not have central AC, so I try not to use the oven in summer. Here's a simple summer no-bake pie that we enjoyed a couple weeks ago...

1 (6 oz.) Ready-Crust graham cracker pie crust
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

With mixer, beat cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in condensed milk‚ until smooth. Stir in lemon juice, and vanilla. Pour into crust. Chill. Top pie with summer berries.

Yum.

Running in Hot Springs

Ewww...



Sorry for the icky pic, but I am happy to announce I got my 11 mile long run in on the family vacay in Arkansas. We all headed to Hot Springs for a weekend at the lake and I found a very friendly running group The Spa Pacers (much like the group in St. Augustine, but named for Spa City, which Hot Springs is also called) and they welcomed both me and my brother in law Ryan (also training for NY) with open arms and a warning: our terrain is hilly. They weren't kidding...I conquered The Mountain and I feel pretty good about it.


(Bath house row)

I'd never been to Hot Springs, but found it to be a charming little town...loved running through downtown past historic bath houses, theaters, and shops. We looped a city park before heading up West Mountian (in Hot Springs National Park) and down the other side through a historic neighborhood, back through downtown and on out the Greenway, a trail made along an old railroad track.


(lounging post-run in an old hot springs tub)

What a lovely group of kind and supportive people, the Spa Pacers are. And what a lovely run. The site-seeing took my mind off the humid 11 mile run and I always love that.

We head back to NY today...it's supposed to be 111 degrees here today. New York is looking like a comfortable 92. I'll take it. I'll admit I haven't gotten a run in since Saturday...but I plan on joining Team for Kids Wednesday night. Another speed workout...