Colon Cancer Challenge 15k

Posted on April 3, 2012 by scoopsontherun

The last time I did a 15k it coincidentally marked the start of my training for the Miami Half Marathon, interestingly enough the same thing happened with my Brooklyn Half Marathon training. The last time I wrote about a 15k I mostly mentioned how it was a distance I was still trying to figure out. I got closer to my PR in that race but still wasn’t too sure how I felt about it.

This weekend ended up being much better, perhaps because I never thought about it distance wise and maybe because I ran seven miles the weekend before on a much hillier route. Is hillier a word? I’m going to say yes since spell check didn’t pick it up so now I just have to hope it means the same thing.

My PR in this distance was the Colon Cancer 15k back in 2009, also my first ever 15k. On Sunday, I had my second best time in a 15k and was only two minutes off that PR. So overall I am very happy with that result. I never felt tired and I never thought about the distance. This could be because I saw Karl and his friend Pam several times on the course and cheering each other on kept my focus where it needed to be.

The evil polyps in the giant colon

Or it could have been the fact that I walked through the giant colon before the race!

Not too make fun of the event because it was for a serious cause and I recently found that a family friend’s sister died from colon cancer but the giant inflatable colon is somewhat legendary in the NYRR running ranks.

One year the colon was not at the race and I cannot tell you how many people were saddened by its absence. I’m not just talking about myself. I know plenty of people who look forward to this event because of the colon. Also, we got lollipops or lollipolyps as a friend pointed out after going through it. Bonus!

Next up is the Scotland 10k plus and additional four miles for my training. It’s Easter weekend and there is the possibility that my mom may be released from her PT rehab facility at the end of the week and my uncle may come up. If that happens I may miss the race for the first time but will gave to figure out getting that 10 mile run completed.

But for now, I’m liking the 15k distance a bit more than the last time I ran.

 

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Forced Rest?

Posted on March 29, 2012 by scoopsontherun

Sometimes when you are super busy worrying about other things and you’re not necessarily focused on your running something strange can happen — you get better at running.

Since my mother entered the hospital my running has become erratic at best. I would normally go running every evening and have a nice little dinner when I got home. Now my evenings are spent sitting by my mother’s bed in her physical therapy rehab facility. That has left me with running only on weekends and trying to win the battle with early morning running. I have tried eight times and by trying that means where I actually set the alarm clock. Not setting the alarm clock means I’m not evening thinking about it. So far it’s Scoops – 2 and Bed – 6. The first time I was successful was right before we moved our clocks back and the second time was when it was warmer. Now it’s just cold and dark at 5:00 am and I am just not going to win that battle.

Maybe this lack of running is something that my body needed for a bit. With a 15k race coming up on Sunday I had realized that maybe I should go out and run six or seven miles instead of the usual four that I run. I chose a very hill route in Connecticut and ran seven miles with a decent pace. The only real struggles happening at two incredibly steep hills. I felt good and ready for this weekend.

But, I am going to have to make a better effort at this early morning running thing and soon. Registration for the Brooklyn Half Marathon finally opened and I was able to register. Not sure if I want to attach any really goal to this other than making a good showing but I still have to do some work. While I have proven to myself that I can run a half marathon with little to no training I don’t like that feeling when I’m in the starting corral. I want to know that I put in the work.

Most of this training will still be while trying to balance taking care of my mother and taking care of myself. I have to realize that some mornings these runs are just not going to happen depending on how things went with my mother the night before. And that’s ok, I’ve learned and am constantly reminded that being emotionally tired is just as draining, if not more, than physically tired. It’s that forced rest that gives your body and soul that extra kick when you get back out on the road.

P.S. I promise a less philosophical Scoops the next time around.

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NYC Half

Posted on March 18, 2012 by scoopsontherun

I love this race. At first I thought it was just for the brief section of the course that goes through Times Square but since this was the first year that I didn’t run it, I realized that I love the whole thing. I’m not going to miss it again.

When NYRR switched this over to a lottery for entry I knew my chances of getting in would be slim. Last year I missed out on the lottery but ran as part of a charity for The Trevor Project. That was such a great experience that I swore they would be the only charity I would run for. Unfortunately, they did not put a team together for this year’s half so when I didn’t make it in through the lottery this year’s half became a no go. With everything else going on in my life that was a good thing. I’m not complaining but watching it on TV this morning made sad.

Look at me running through Times Square in 2009. I've got my game face on.

Crowds come out for this race unlike other half marathons in this city, mainly because of the marketing push of NYRR and the elite runners participating. Then of course there are the tourists walking around Times Square and just happen upon a race.

Not being able to run in a race that you love helps you realize how much you really do enjoy running. I’ve played other sports like soccer and tennis and I can honestly say there is nothing quite like the feeling you get from running. It is a sport where you really get out of it what you put in to it. Whether it’s the feeling of exertion or the sense of accomplishment at running a certain distance there is nothing better.

I’m determined not to miss the race again and will suck it up and run in the four remaining half marathons in the NYRR Half Marathon Series. This leaves Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. All but Brooklyn will be happening during marathon training so that should be fun. But it’s a fun that I’m looking forward to.

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Brooklyn Half Training Plan

Posted on March 12, 2012 by scoopsontherun

Nothing gets me more excited that plotting out a training schedule for a half marathon or full marathon. There’s something special about planning all the hard work you’re going to do and knowing that you have a date on when you can see all that work come to fruition — you hope.

The Brooklyn Half Marathon is on May 19 and even though New York Road Runners has not opened up registration yet I have to start plotting out the schedule so I’m not, “oh hey, I have a half marathon to run tomorrow.” That actually has happened before. It can be done but it’s not pretty.

I don’t know if I have any specific goals for this one other than the fact that I just want to run the race. But because I didn’t get into the NYC Half Marathon through the lottery and my charity did not put together a team this year I don’t want to miss out on guaranteed entry again. (That was a run-on-ish sentence.) This guaranteed entry means that I have to run in four of the five half marathon series. I didn’t run the Manhattan Half because that was a week before the Miami Half so that leaves Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island. The last three happening during marathon training.

Putting the training plan in my calendar also makes it look like I have a real social life instead of just looking at an empty calendar. I have plans people! Would it be bad if I also added things like stretching and foam rolling into my calendar or does that come across as too desperate?

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A Morning Run

Posted on March 7, 2012 by scoopsontherun

I have always been amazed and somewhat in awe of those runners who can get up super early in the morning and go running and then actually go to work after. I wonder what time these people actually have to be at work.

For me, I start work at 7:30 in the morning which means that getting up to go running means the alarm clock goes off at 5:00 am and then nothing else can go wrong as my entire schedule is tight. I tried this once before I it never worked out quite well. The amazing thing is that I can do this when I am on travel even when my work day starts at 7:00 am. I’m odd like that.

With my mom still in the hospital, my evenings have been spent with her which has left no time for running and leaving me at another try of this running at 5:00 am thing.

I laid out all my clothes the night before like a good little running girl and went to sleep a little earlier. So far so good. The alarm went off at 5:00 am and I started contemplating how comfortable my bed was. It was very comfortable. Then I thought about resetting my alarm for my normal 6:00 am. Then I thought I would be angry at myself for not running that I actually got up and ran.

I actually enjoyed it! I was awake and alert and although I ran less than my usual base run I got this thing done. Headed back home got ready for work and made my usual train.

I’m a little sleepy now at work but that could also be due to everything else that is going on in my life. I will definitely try this morning running thing again.

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Coogan’s Recap

Posted on March 4, 2012 by scoopsontherun

With everything going on in my life right now, I didn’t have any expectations for this race in terms of time. My one and only goal was to run and enjoy this great course. I certainly did that and a little more.

Oddly enough, one of my favorite things about this race is taking the subway to W. 168th Street. This is probably the most popular 5k in NYC and to see hundreds of runners all getting off the train and making their way to the race is always a little exciting. It helps to reinforce the fact that you are not the only crazy one doing this running thing.

For once I started the race nice and easy and ran at a comfortable pace. This is one of those races, no matter how short it is, where you want to keep that pace in check due to the many hills on this course. I felt good the whole way and felt that’s had managed the hills well. I really didn’t look at my Garmin too much just in case I was going super slow.

But during the second half of the race I started picking people off, like the woman running in her leather jacket. That is always a good feeling and even better were the cheers from my running buddies. Oh and most of the second half is downhill so I had a nice negative split.

When I finally crossed the finish line and dared to look at my Garmin I was impressed with the time. I knew it wasn’t a PR but thought it may have been my best Coogan’s. Sure enough when I checked my race history only phone I did get a nice course PR and even better, I was only 18 seconds off my 5k PR.

I needed this run for so many other reasons and got some nice bonuses too boot.

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Coogan’s It Is!

Posted on March 3, 2012 by scoopsontherun

After my mother got stabilized in the hospital I had finally let my mind wander to the weeks ahead and thought at the time that any future plans would have to be put on hold. Yes, she was that bad for a while. But as her bed kept getting moved further and further from ICU I let my mind wander to actually running the Coogan’s 5k tomorrow.

My initial thought was, “Hey I usually don’t head over to the until the afternoon so I can fit it in.” But then guilt set in and I thought it might not be such a good idea. But after sitting with her yesterday and today, as well as a nice pick me up chat with  my uncle I’m going to run this thing. Primarily for the reason that I need it.

It seems that my previous post on the mental health benefits of running was apropos to my current situation. The first week that my mother was in the hospital I didn’t run at all and to be honest my heart wasn’t into it. The second week, I got a little twitchy. Although it could also have something to do with reading a marathon training book at her bedside.

The first day I ran again it basically turned into a speed workout with all of the adrenaline that was bottled up from the previous week. Later I would find out that while was out running my mother was getting her breathing tube removed. Two days later when I got out for another run, she got moved out of the ICU. Coincidence, yes, but I like to think that those things are connected.

In order for me to continue to have the energy and strength that I am going to need to help my mother through her recovery that means I have to stay healthy and strong as well. When I don’t run I feel the exhaustion of sitting by her hospital bed even more and the chores that have to be done at home seem overwhelming.

Running gives me that strength and I know that running in one of my favorite races and seeing some of my buddies is the medicine that I desperately need to get through this. So tomorrow I’ll getting into my salsa, blues and shamrocks groove and run a 5k for my mom.

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ICU

Posted on February 28, 2012 by scoopsontherun

I apologize for the lack of posts of late. Last Monday, probably began one of the worst days of my life when I found my mother barely responsive. Not to go into too much detail, I’ll just say that if I hand’t gotten her to the hospital when I did I would have been planning her funeral. I have been spending most of my days and evenings in the ICU at Greenwich hospital. Thankfully, she is recovering nicely and will hopefully be leaving ICU within the next couple of days and we can then begin her next phase of recovery.

While speaking with many doctors and nurses that old sports analogy about her recovery being a marathon kept popping into my head. It got me thinking about my running, which I have only done once since she has been in the hospital. In particular, it got me thinking about running in another marathon. When registration for the 2012 marathon opened she said I should do it again and I told her I would think about it.

Sitting at her bedside and seeing plenty of other people who can’t run a marathon helped me make up mind. I am going to run the 2012 NYC Marathon. I plan on registering this week and running it for my mom and all those people who can’t.

It means more long runs in the summer and more non-stop talking about the marathon. I apologize to all my friends in advance.

Let’s do this thing!

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Meds

Posted on February 15, 2012 by scoopsontherun

Image courtesy of clker.comWhen I was training for the marathon this past year I read another blog (can’t remember which one) where they compared running to a manic depressive person. Some days running takes its meds and some days it doesn’t.

I always prefer when it does take its meds, it makes life so much easier and I question myself less. It works well for both of us so running, please take your meds all the time.

I had taken some time off after the Miami Half mainly due to a sinus infection so I really only started running seriously again this past weekend. I expected it to be somewhat sluggish and it certainly felt like that. My legs felt heavy, I thought I was breathing heavier, and certainly did not feel “fast.” Of course when I got back home and synced my Garmin I realized I was breathing heavier because I was running faster. What was great was that I didn’t feel worse for the effort when I was done, it felt like I had a good workout.

Running also serves the purpose of being my daily med. A twitter pal of mine (I seem to be borrowing a lot of thoughts from the Internet today) wrote something along the lines of, “You may start a run angry but never finish it angry.” For the most part I do agree. How many times have we had a bad day at work and the only thing we want is to go running because we know it will make us feel better? Often, when I start a run angry I tend to push myself harder with the need to work out that aggression. Note to self: Do some speedwork on these days.

There are days however, that I do finish a run angry. Usually that has something do with the run itself or something that happened during the run like inconsiderate drivers. Seriously, whay can’t drivers look both ways before they turn or let the runner go before trying to kill them? But I do usually find that the anger goes away quickly afterwards, usually with the help of some red wine.

Speaking of which, doesn’t the dinner you make after an evening run always taste awesome, especially with red wine?

Yes, I know that there have many scientific articles written about how running is a great anti-depressant but work with me here I wrote this for the layman!

Today, I registered for eight races. My spring running is almost planned out and I’m kind of excited about that. I really hope that running continues to take its meds so that I can maybe get a PR or two.

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CSI: Miami Half Marathon

Posted on February 2, 2012 by scoopsontherun

I could use some help from Horatio, Calleigh, Delko, and Natalia. I need them to find what little speed I have for these destination races disappears to. For the third time in a row I have had my slowest times for a half marathon.

While I’m a little concerned about that slower time I’m not too disappointing in the result and I try not get too upset because so many things can go wrong when you travel. There are delayed flights, traffic, sleepless nights, not so great hotel neighbors, time differences, etc. You name it. Any of these things can throw a wrinkle into all that great training and destroy you on race day.

Mine started off with a delayed flight out of LaGuardia, traffic in Miami, hunger, and not being able to pick up my bib on Friday afternoon. This meant a little more running around on Saturday than I would have liked and then a slightly sleepless night on Saturday. Then let’s throw in some weather conditions, like the 82 percent humidity at the start of the race and you’re guaranteed to have a fun time!

You have to love a race that allows you to put your nickname on the bib. It was great to hear total strangers yelling out "scooooooops."

I am happy because I was able to get a negative split for the middle section of the race and I have an idea on what I have to work on for the last third of the race. Parts of the course were a bit crowded due to some construction, narrow roads, and people who walked in groups. I may have wasted some energy by weaving around a bunch of them during the second half of the race. I did have to push myself the last couple of miles and I’m not sure if that was more mental or physical.

Overall the course was amazing. For good portions of the course we were surrounded by either the Atlantic Ocean or Biscayne Bay. We got to run through South Beach and great little neighborhoods along the Venetian Causeway. All the people along the course were awesome as were all the volunteers.

My reward was an upside down palm tree.

While I may not have finished in the time range I wanted I really loved this race. I loved being in warm weather and being on the ocean. It reminded me that my five year absence from Miami was too long. I don’t want to wait that long to see the city again so I signed up for the race in 2013.

My goal for 2013 will be to run better (shouldn’t that always be a goal?) and perhaps earn a medal with a right side up palm tree. Although my upside down own has grown on my and is the perfect example of how I live my life which goes against the norm at all times.

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