Tag Archives: running

NYRR 4-Mile + NYC Running Show

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What would you do if you woke up to this gloomy scene? I wanted to roll back over and go back to sleep, but I was registered for the NYRR 4-Mile. I checked Twitter to see if any of my friends were bailing. Ashley and Ali weren’t, so I decided to (wo)man up and do the damn thing. I knew I’d be really mad at myself reading their race recaps, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep, anyway.

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That I have to walk Bailey before I can leave for a race is the best thing ever and the worst thing ever. When there’s good weather, it’s great. I’m excited to get out there. When there’s bad weather, it makes it that much harder to go back out once I bring him back to my apartment. I got a preview of the rain this morning, brought him upstairs and turned right back around to leave before I could change my mind.

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I huddled in the bandstand with a few hundred other runners trying to keep dry. Finally, Ashley showed up and we chatted for a few minutes and walked over to the corrals, where we ran into Melissa, who looked like she REALLY didn’t want to be there. We all started together but separated within about 30 seconds of the start. I knew from the start that I wanted to PR at this race, and I figured it was probably within reach.

The last four-mile race I did was the Race to Deliver in November, which I ran in 35:15, about a month after the marathon, when I still felt like my legs were a little heavy. I did a lot of speedwork for the half-marathons I ran last month, so I knew I had it in me. The first few minutes, I ran a bit gingerly. I was really afraid of slipping on the rainy road, breaking something and never being able to run again. The course was the same as the Race to Deliver–it ran a small loop counterclockwise. There were a few uphill climbs, but there were also a TON of downhills.

Running three half-marathons last month helped a lot mentally. I just kept thinking “I ran three times this distance THREE TIMES last month. I totally got this.” I only checked my watch at the mile markers, and all of my miles were UNDER 8:45. (8:25, 8:08, 8:39, 7:57, and the last .05 at a 6:55 pace!) Less than two years ago, when I started running, I was running nearly 12-minute miles. It just goes to show what hard work and stubbornness can do. I crossed the finish line at 33:28!!!

Afterwards, I went to the JackRabbit Running Show with Ashley and a VIP.

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It was sort of a glorified expo–even in the same building, the Metropolitan Pavilion, where most of the expos are held.

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But I bought some goggles for my upcoming tri.

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Ashley got some new sneaks (and poured water all over this poor man when her hood flipped over when she was trying on these shoes)

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There were jazz hands. Um, my hands were too cold to properly jazz-hand.

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And there was ladies’ Body Glide? We asked the Body Glide guy–he said it’s just the same as the men’s. Yup. Marketing trick.

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Yeah, I was pretty wet.

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When I got home, I ordered an egg and cheese on an everything bagel. As you know, I usually get bagels after I run. They’re amazing, but eating nothing but carbs means that I’m usually hungry again within an hour. I decided to go for adding some protein, and it was delicious!

I’ll be walking around with a smile all day today after my badass PR in the rain, thankyouverymuch.

Review: Physique 57 + Sexy Spring Strength Challenge Check-In

If you’ve read my blog for more than, say, a day, you know I am not a morning exerciser. I am not a morning person. But when I’ve paid for a class and know that I have a friend waiting, I can do it.

This morning, I put some on Lululemon (I feel like I need to dress to impress for these sorts of classes. Whether it’s true or not, it makes me feel better.) and met Jess at Physique 57 for a 7am class. I made sure to go to sleep before 10 last night so that I could actually get out of bed and make it. The studio, on 57th between 5th and 6th, is about a mile and a half from my apartment. It would have been a few stops on the subway (and I have no idea how reliable the subway is before 6am, but I’m guessing not very) or a mile and a half run. I decided to run there so that I could kill two birds with one stone: getting there faster and being badass.

I ran into Jess outside Starbucks and we walked in together. I told her I was pretty nervous and glad that she asked me to take the class with her, since I never would have tried it alone. Kelly Ripa is supposedly a Physique 57 fanatic, and I had visions of every single woman in the class looking and being as hardcore as her. We did some light cardio exercises to warm up before launching into quads, which Jess had told me was the hardest part of the class. She. Was. Not. Kidding. My quads were SHAKING.

Most of the exercises were really hard, but I was able to power through most of them. (It’s pretty similar to Bar Method, which I also tried with Jess.) Most of the exercises focused on the core and legs and used balls, stretching straps and mats.

The great thing about these kinds of classes is that they’re small (I don’t think there were more than 10-15 women in this class), so the instructors give you lots of attention. When I tried the Bar Method class, that actually scared me off (I felt like I was dumb and doing everything wrong and was embarrassed), but I realized they’re there to help. The 57-minute class actually flew by, and before I knew it, we were stretching. All new Physique 57 students get a second free class, so I think I’m going to try it again on Wednesday morning–anyone want to come? (Shameless plug: if you go and say I referred you, I get a free class. That’s T-H-E-O-D-O-R-A B-L-A-N-C-H-F-I-E-L-D.)

I ran home to round out my workout this morning to one Physique 57 class plus a 3-mile run. SWEET. I’ve been in a great mood all day, and I get that working-out-in-the-morning-extra-endorphin rush. Must. Make. Habit.

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I couldn’t stop thinking of bananas after this workout, so I had a sunflower butter and banana sandwich for breakfast. Are you surprised?

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For lunch, I ran over to the City Chow Cafe in Equinox and had a turkey burger with Brussels sprouts (when did I become obsessed with them?) and sweet potato.

I’m fudging things a little to make this workout a part of strength training challenge for the week, since I technically started the week on Monday afternoon last week.

So how’d I do?

My goal for this week is to try Physique 57 again and also try to make myself do a strength workout, by myself, in the gym.

How’d you do and what are your strength goals for the week?