I will run for food!

Let's just say I was inspired..

The Hungry Man Marathon may not be NYC's premiere running event of the season, but will it will cause a few runners to salivate none-the-less. This event is taking place later today in the city. Runners in the form of five-person teams will scour the city to hunt down 26 participating restaurants and 2 taco stands in search of a souvenir/proof of their find. The bonus comes after each team crosses the finish line which is when the 60+ participants will get to sample food from most if not all of the participating restaurants. A fellow runner friend of mine helping the West Side YMCA to run/organize this event, which is in it's first year of existence. I'm sure it's going to be a huge success!

You're lying if you can't agree with me that one of the best parts of being a runner is getting to do some extra "fueling".. even better when it's post race!

Best of luck to the Hungry Man participants. Run fast and eat up!

- TRC :)

Running in the Rain!

I'm heading up to Central Park tonight to do a short (ceremonial) fair well run with RUNNYC! It's been so long since I've gone up to run in the park and it looks like this will be my final chance to do so before surgery next week. I'm a little bit bummed because it's raining here in NYC, but as my grammar school track coach, Mr. Guano always said, "It never rains on a runner". :)

See ya in CP!

AWESOME!

I can totally get through 3 miles. :)
Almost Famous is one of my favorite movies!
What a great event! Go Nike!
LOVE IT!

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"The only true currency in this bankrupt world...
is what you share with someone else when you're uncool. "
- Lester Bangs, Almost Famous

Super Legit Bogus (or maybe not?)

I was wondering why I hadn't heard anything about Nike's 1/2 Marathon Training- Special Event Runs. You know, those super cool summer EVENT runs that I brag to all my friends about. The events that I look forward to each summer since I've been in NYC (okay, to be fair that's only 2yrs) and that are the key social running events of my ENTIRE SUMMER!!Did that just make me sound super lame. oh, whatever...

Well, it seems as though RUNNYC has pulled the plug on the "Downtown/Midtown/Uptown" events they previous did in order to get runners geared up for the Nike 1/2 Marathon. And I know I'm not in super running shape and technically not supposed to be running on my injured leg, but for these events I would have most certainly made an exeption. They were just so much fun.

Anyway... gossip on the RUNNYC runner rumor mill is that they are doing a special blow out event for the Nike Human 10k race. The event will supposedly have all of the fun things that the former summer events had, but this time with some live music to kick it up a notch. Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see when/if we get the official event announcement.

Just remember, you didn't hear it from me. :)

Um... I suppose that's a little hard now that I went and posted it on the internet. whoopsie!

"Favorite Thing" Fridays - SUMMER TIME!

This weather just gets me so excited! And the forecast for this Memorial Day Weekend - Summer kick off is looking fan-friggin'-tastic!

Now, I have to admit, I'm not much of a fan of the heat when I'm running. Some people can run mid-day during the summer and be just fine. Me, not so much! But mornings and late evenings are just golden. LOVE IT!

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Also, RUNNYC will probably kick up it's Nike Half Marathon Training Events soon which are always a highlight of my summer. The opportunity to meet up with running friends at various parts of the city... getting a quality run in and then eating, drinking and of course DANCING at the NIKE post run parties is definitely a highlight of any summer work week!

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This weekend I'm off to Virginia (it's for lovers, you know? ha! lame!!). But I'm hoping to get in some good runs now that things are feeling a bit better. I had my sixth appointment with the chiropractor today and she beat me up pretty badly with the graston tools, but things feel like they're shifting around in there.. so I'm taking it (still) as a good sign. It's small steps for me, but I'm feeling so much better about things!

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Here's how the past week's training shaped up:

Training Plan: - May 18-27

Sunday: AM: 3miles

Monday: PM: Run on the Charles: 35mins

Tuesday: PM: Traveling and tied up with work - DNR :(

Wednesday: PM: Bridge Runners Run- HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKLYN BRIDGE - 5miles

Thursday: PM: Swim - Workout:

WARM-UP: 300m, 200m (pull), 100m (kick);
Wkout: 3x200m, 3x100m, 4x50m (pull, finish), 100m

Total: 1800m

Friday: AM: Didn;t get to ride :( PM: Run - 30mins

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STILL AHEAD:

Saturday: Virgina is for LOVERS!! Happy Memorial Day (Weekend) Run/Swim - TBD

Sunday: VA - Off (should have brought my bike)

Monday: VA - Run: 35mins

Tuesday: Back to NYC - RIDE MY BIKE!!!!

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HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY, EVERYONE! Have a fabulously fit and exciting weekend!

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XOXO,

TheRunnerChick

Birthdays... How Exciting!

It's not every day that one of the most beautiful bridges in the country turns 125yrs old. Hopefully you know how I feel about the Brooklyn Bridge by this point

...words just can't describe!

Just be sure to be there on May 21st and be ready to celebrate! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKLYN BRIDGE!

"Favorite Thing" Fridays - NIKE Discounts & Free Stuff!!

Okay peeps, this is two discount alerts in one week. So it's sort of obvious where my budget conscious mind has been these days.

First up, we have the 20% off code "MAYSALE" available for use at check out on nike.com until Sunday May 11th.. Does Mom fancy something nice from nike.com ??? Just asking!

Next up, for all you morning-sunshine craving, concrete treading manhattanites, tomorrow morning NIKE is generously giving a 30% post-run discount for RUN NYC members at NIKETOWN (located at 6 E 57th St btw Madison and 5th Aves) in manhattan. So get your run on and shop all before noon... what a fabulously productive way to spend the morning! :)

And for us Brooklynites, could there be a new Saturday morning run club option??? The answer is YES! A group will be meeting this Saturday @ 9am at the Starbucks-Park Slope, Brooklyn. This inaugural RUNNYC- BKLYN run will take place through Prospect Park and will offer Starbucks Frequent Runner rewards.

Personally, the 30% Niketown discount sounds like the winner in this Saturday morning runclub - borough rivalry (at least for this week), but we all know that for some of you, morning runs are more about the location convenience (if contemplated at all).

So.. there seems to be plenty of options out there for you to fulfill all (or most) of your discounted/free stuff cravings~

Don't forget to check out the RUNNYC facebook page and NEW May runclub schedule on InsideNikeRunning.nike.com

Do or Die!

(click the pic for a larger view)

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Do it up BridgeRunners style on Saturday April 12th and RUN FOR HAROLD to support the Harold Hunter Foundation!

Check the BRIDGE RUNNERS website for more information on the distances and the THREE different start times for each distance.

I'm so sad I have to sit this one out, but I can't wait to hear from all of you about how much fun you had! The Bridge Runner events never fail to please! But remember, just because I can't make this event, doesn't mean my legend won't live on... I can't be held down for long!! muah!

Have a fantastic run!!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Great job to Coach Cane's Killers for winning the RUNNYC Nike+ Challenge!! Unfortunatly I had to punk out of this one considering my current hamstring issue, but the competition was fierce and the energy of everyone involved was impressive. Great Job to everyone who was involved!

Make sure to check out RUNNYC's April Calendar!!

"Safety Never Takes a Holiday!"

If there is one thing they remind us of over and over at RUNNYC, it's that "safety never takes a holiday"! I for one normally feel very safe running in Manhattan and Brooklyn. And I must admit that although I try my best to be on guard, sometimes I tend to drift into that sublime meditative running state when I'm on on my own.. and I'm not always ready for the unexpected. No matter where you are, you need to do your best to be prepared.

A good friend and former college teammate of mine recently sent me this article about a recent mugging in Central Park. So, as a much needed reminder to everyone out there, be alert and be looking out for one another as well.

Also, I think at this point everyone should be running with a Road ID. In the article above, it says that the victim had his cell phone on him but could not speak to the 911 operator. Luckily a few bikers were able to come to his aid and help him out. Having your personal information on you during an unfortunate situation such as this will help medical personnel identify you and contact your loved ones a lot quicker.

Have a great run today... and BE SAFE!!

Sunday- FunDay- RunDay

Today's Training: After two intense days of cross training... it was back to basics this morning. I got in a nice 8mile run over hills followed by striders and some core strengthening work. Ah.... it was chilly but wonderful to be out running again!

Review of Week#3 Training Schedule -(March 3 - March 9):
Monday: 3miles
Tuesday: PM: RUNNYC (5.8 tempo run) total: 7.5m- 4 X 20 sec striders
Wednesday: PM: 6miles
Thursday: AM: 6.5miles
Friday: AM: 60min -YOGA, PM: 60mins Ultimate Street Fighter class
Saturday: cycling session at City Coach 17miles (including warmup/cool down)
Sunday: 8miles, 4 X 20 sec striders
Totals: 31 miles + 60min of YOGA + 60min kickboxing + 17miles of cycling

Thoughts: Well, losing the Saturday running mileage lowered the original goal number (35miles), but I got in some quality cross training with yoga, cycling and kickboxing. The run Tuesdasy night with RUNNYC kicked my butt and I was still recovering through Thursday. Friday's Yoga+Kickbox combo top off with a spur of the moment late night dance party with some friends made Saturday's AM cycling session way more of a challenge!! Shorty got LOW on the dance floor and it defintely did a number on her hamstrings and quads (esp after 60mins of kickboxing!!). Whoops!

But all in all it was a great training week. I got in lots of quality core work and I'm really diggin' the YOGA class I've been going to. It's unlike any other yoga class I've ever attended. It combines lots of core strengthening and stretching poses but with very high repetitions. The instructor is great and the class leaves me wonderfully exhausted but refreshed at the same time.

Yesterday's cycling session was particularly disappointing. I got off to a slow start since the bike City Coach has generously lent me (until I get my own) was given a new seat which from the moment I hopped on... was an obvious problem. Let's just say it was particularly painful... and pretty much hurt like a little b*tch. The seat is designed so your sit bones rest directly on both sides of the split (picture on right). .. And HOLY HELL!!, it was painful. I had to sit on a towel for extra cushioning about half way through and finished the ride as bent forward as possible to take the pressure off my screaming sit bones. On top of that the bike wasn't changing gears correctly and kept skipping over gears as I tried to adjust. The big gear wouldn't even slide up to the big wheel (I know, I need to learn my cycling terms!) so I had to stay on the middle wheel. So, on top of my legs feeling like lead (from the kickboxing and dancing night before) there were several factors that distracted me from having a good ride. I was bummed about it, but I understand that sh*t happens.
I've learned a few lessons this time around... so hopefully next week's ride will be better! :)

Last Night's Run - RUNNYC

Here's last night's run with RUNNYC (click the map link below). The figure 8 loop we ran was about 5.8 and with the addition of our warm up and cool down, a few of us added on an extra 1.8miles. The weather was perfect and the rain held out. I couldn't keep up with the front group, but I was pushing pretty hard for the 5.8 loop and kept it rolling in through the finish. I had an excellent run and was on quite a high afterwards. I even had some awesome company for my cool down and striders after the run. Thanks guys for A. making me cool down and B. being such troopers with the striders!



So, I also signed up for the Nike+ challenge, so I'm excited to use the Nike+ for the first time and check it out. Everyone who signs up will be assigned to a specific team (teams will be selected on March 15th) who they will represent for the actually challenge which goes from March 17th through April 8th.

Tonight's Training: Five miles on the West Side Highway. I couldn't get myself out of bed this morning (shocking!!) to get it done in the AM... so if I can't rock it out at lunch, I'm heading out afterwork.

Doesn't Everybody Like a Challenge?

I'm thinking about giving this a shot.

Seems like it could be fun, but I don't have the Nike +

...so I'll see how that will work out tonight at
RUNNYC Run Club. :)

Anyone out there run with Nike+ and want to give me some feedback? :)

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And I'll run in the rain 'til I'm breathless...

...when I'm breathless I run 'til I drop. Hey!

Things got a little wet and wild on the Central Park loop tonight. I love running in the rain!! As my highschool track coach would say on miserable rainy days, "It never rains on a runner". I say this line frequently and people always tend to look at me like I'm crazy.

So, I ran the five mile lower loop clockwise with RUNNYC run club tonight (on map - light and dark blue combined loop). I came through in 37mins, which wasn't too bad considering I wasn't feeling 100%. The run started out great until Worku's group dropped my slow draggin' self. Just wasn't my night and they were pretty much cookin'! After the 5-er, me and my fellow (drenched) running chica, dropped the boys (lame) and added on an extra 1.7 lower loop for good measure (on map - light blue lower loop). We also threw in a few striders after the run on our way back to Niketown, because we're just that bad-ass! :)

The total run was a bit over 7miles (with the back/forth from Niketown), but we'll log it as 7mi!

(Once again, you can click the pic (on left) to see a larger map of the CP loops.)

And after I got back to Niketown and changed out of my sopping wet clothes, I got to spend the next 45mins on the train back to Brooklyn gazing lovingly at my BEAUTIFUL Blue Nike Structure Triax 11 trainers. If they feel half as good as they look, I'll be kickin ass and taking names all spring. Booyah! :) Phil, you're the best Ekin in the world! Thank you!! :)

I'm breaking these babies out tomorrow and I'll post the pictures then too. So, for now,
happy running to all and to all a good night!!

Some Runner Support

Ironically, after I blogged about stress yesterday and was on a mad dash out the door (to head up to Niketown for runclub), I was confronted by a total stress case. A burnt out, teary eyed, "end of my rope", ugly ball of thick, sludgy, uncontrolable stress!

So, having just had my daily boost of blogger self esteem (a.k.a. vent session), I felt it was my duty to help shed some light on this poor child's perpetual rain cloud. She was the perfect example of a runner who could no longer bare the burden of the training stress compiled with the stress dumped on her by other "stress-heads" of the world. I do think she left our chat feeling better about her currrent predicament. But she took off leaving me still dressed to run, too late for runclub and feeling like my life energy tank was on empty. I called friends for some runner support, but everyone was busy or already out on the road. Finally, a few colleagues showed up and I convinced them to hit the west side highway with me for a nice out and back 6miler. Problemo Solved! Phew!

So the moral of the story is, we're all in this together and if anyone knows this, it's the running blog network that continues to share and support on another through thick and thin and even slow internet connections :)

It's been a LONG day... and this is quite a weak wednesday post, but that's all you'll get from me for now. Peace out!

SOS!!! How do I Run Through Stress?

Whether it's stress from a recent or lingering injury, stress from not understanding why you're not physically where you want to be (training wise), stress from work, family life or a recent tragic incident; we ALL experience stress in our normal lives. Some seem to handle it better than others (yes, those slightly annoying people that just don't seem to skip a beat), however we're obviously not machines and dealing with the stress of everyday life is a challenge to athletes of all levels.

An article from the Running Journal titled, Developing a Psychology of Success, challenges us all to keep an open and positive mind. To become a confident runner and to get out of our heads and focus on what we CAN do (instead of the "can'ts"). This article has a few really great suggestions on how to train your perception for your benefit. We all need to be constantly reminded to have a positive outlook, especially at times it seems like everyone and everything around us seems to want to break our spirit.

The article offers this recommendation, "Learn to be your own biggest fan even in the most difficult of times Treat yourself with the encouragement you would give your best friend if they were in the same, challenging situation that you are in."
We can often be our own worst enemies or biggest critics. Appreciate your accomplishments and take positive lessons from your mistakes.


My absolute favorite quote from this article is, "Reality is what you make it be". I like to keep it simple (kis), so I'll leave you with that. :)

Off to RUNNYC! :)

Día de los Presidentes!

HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY! I love Mondays off!!

Wouldn't everyone just be more productive if we had three day weekends EVERY week (my apologies to those of you who had to still work today). Seriously though, starting a work week on Tuesday is just lovely!

So, in honor of Presidents Washington & Lincoln .....and thoughts of a world where we never have to work on Monday again, here's my training plan for:

training week#1 (Febuary 18th - 24th):

Monday: 5miles, core routine - Enjoy the 60-degree weather and a Monday mid-morning run through Brooklyn. Spring Fever?... hells yeah!
Tuesday: AM: YOGA, PM: RUNNYC in the evening (6miles?), 4 X 20 sec striders
Wednesday: Cross train - two options currently: 1. 6:30am cycling session at City Coach OR 2. post work - pool running workout
Thursday: PM: Tempo run - 5miles (details on next Thursday's blog), 4 X 20 sec striders, core routine
Friday: AM: YOGA, PM: Women's self defense/cardio kickbox class-55mins (long story)
Saturday: 6miles, 4 X 20 sec striders
Sunday: 8miles
Total: 30miles + weds cross train + kickboxing

Central Park in the Snow

My run tonight was excellent!! I didn't care much for the route the group did tonight (on map to the left: three counter clockwise lower loops -the light blue loop crossing at 72nd St ) but the scenery was enough to keep me going happily in circles. The snow was a bit hard on my hamstring injury since it didn't provide for much traction and on the east side the snow was blowing furiously (and somewhat painfully) into my face, but it was all worth it. From every angle, the view looked like it belonged in a picture frame. There was hardly any one out and the city hadn't started to even plow the roads, so it was quiet and peaceful.

It's extremely difficult to map out loops on www,mapmyrun.com, so I'm just posting a map of CP and you'll have to take my word for it that it ended up being close to 6mi with the run back/forth to Niketown (home base).

** Click on the map for a clearer view. The lower loop is about 1.7 and the run to/from Niketown is about a .5 mile.

Let it Snow.... Finally!

Just when I thought it wasn't EVER going to snow in NYC again, all this wet flaky white stuff started to fall from the sky.

Well, it's RUNNYC night and I'm not going to let a few flakes and a slippery surface stop me from my weekly date with Central Park. I'll post my run later tonight. Wish me luck!

RUNNYC - RUN CLUB

Since Tuesday nights are typically my RUNNYC - RUN CLUB night, I thought I'd send a reminder that for all of February Run Club is giving away a free gift too all new runners (and not just those in NYC).

I've made so many fabulous friends through RUNNYC and the fantastic part about it is that we are all at different levels of running. Some might (and do) call my group of friends "the clique" but it just because we've banched off into so many other areas of interest (ex: wet-n-wild wednesdays, game nights, happy hours in the city, dinner and dance parties, etc...).

I'm not even someone who typically likes "group running", but the benefits of the support of fellow runners and experienced coaches are immeasurable. I got hooked early on after moving to the city since RUNNYC hosts phenomenial runs/parties around the city. It was an excellent way for me to run parts of the city that I would have never even thought to visit.

Overall the group attracts such a wide range of runners but there is always someone at/around your level to run with... and you just can't beat the bag check and post run-free food!

Check out locations in your area or hit up a group run even if/when you're in town for a visit.
It's always free!

So, what are you waiting for? Come Run With Us!