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 :)

Marathon A-listers... such amateurs!

I was reading this article a few minutes ago and it got me thinking, why do we think it's such a big deal when A-listers run the NYC marathon? Well, I should actually rephrase that, because I don't think many New Yorkers actually care, but why does everyone else get hyped up about it. Yes, it's so very nice of them to run for charity and to also spend 4-hours surrounded by "normal" people, but really, why all the hype? What makes them different than the other thousands of runners out there shedding sweat and tears to raise money or just achieve a personal goal?


Although I must say that I found Actor Ryan Reynolds' post marathon comment quite humerous. After crossing the finish line, he told the Daily News, "I am going to allow three to four hours for my scary marathon face to go away and then I am going to eat my body weight in raw dough"

Huh! That's a heck of a lot of dough!! But let's get serious, only an amateur would care about their "scary marathon face". The rest of us just embrace it and go get drunk to numb the pain and to forget about how silly we look walking down the street. :)

But I am feelin' him on the dough comment. Personally, I dream of Philly soft pretzels after finishing a marathon. yum!!!!!!

I Feel it All !

NYC MARATHON 2008

Wow! What a show yesterday!



It may have been a bit chilly for spectators, but what an unbelievably perfect day for distance running!


Watching a marathon (especially in NYC) is truly magical. It's so hard not to let the passion that flows from over 37,000 hopeful, energetic, and enduring marathoners permeate your soul. It's incredible! And there's just something about the buzz of this city that puts the icing on the cake.. and make's you "feel it all". :)


Congrats to all the 2008 finishers!!!

All Aboard!

Where will you be at 4:45am the morning of November 2, 2008? If you are planning to join the other 40,000 some people running the 2008 New York City Marathon tomorrow morning, you'll most likely be getting ready to hit the road to get on over to Staten Island.

And if you're planning to make your way to Staten Island via the Staten Island Ferry, you may just see my bright and smiley face at the ferry terminal. I've signed up to volunteer tomorrow to help as an escort and "unloading marshal". I'm not certain at this point if I'll be actually on the ferry or just at the terminal (Staten Island side), but I'm pumped to help out in any way I can!

Hope to see you there!



Best of luck to all our NYC 2008 runners!

PS: Remember to turn your clocks back tonight!

"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

Who Wants To Be a Champion?

Champions are so much better than millionaires!
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Besides, what's ONE million dollars really worth anymore? Seriously!

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Champions accomplish great feats, get cool medals and get to take inspiring pictures with their fans; while millionaires just go crazy and spend their new found money on drugs, loose women, and gas for their ridiculously expensive cars. Trust me, I saw it on 60minutes!

Champions are so much cooler!

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So what are you waiting for? Be a CHAMPION!!!

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Oh, I forgot to tell you how..

The Parkinson's Disease Foundation has marathon spots open for Chicago or Berlin. You would have to raise $2,500 (yes, CHAMPIONS must sometimes solicit money from others to achieve true greatness!), but you get online training (from active.com), a personalized webpage, an awesome singlet, long sleeved tee, visor, some other cool freebies & fundraising tips from the staff. Plus you would get the satisfaction of raising funds for PDF, an organization which is trying effortlessly to unlock the mysteries of a Parkinson's Disease, a chronic and progressive movement disorder which effects more than 6million people worldwide!

Here's where to go for more information or to sign up!!

BEAR IT ALL!

I don't know if anyone saw the Grey's Anatomy premiere last Thursday. I can't tell you how many times I gagged watching it! It was gross, but GREAT! Well, I might be the only one who still watches that show, but I couldn't help bringing it up since one of the main story lines has to do with a bear attack (or in the Grey's episode, the ugly aftermath). Coincidentally, the interview below by Runners World is with Johan Otter, marathon runner and bear attack survivor! However his is a story with a triumphant outcome. And darn straight you better believe that being a runner helped Johan survive!

I hope that no one reading this ever finds themselves in such an awful situation. But in our own little way, we're all survivors! Of course we are, we have to be, it's what keeps us coming back for more!

Keep on surviving my dear runner friends.. and stay safe! :)





3:30.. not too shabby. Great Job Johan!

Change Your Shoes, Change Your Life!

Yup, it's back to ASICS for me!

Now, I'm not (fully) attributing my injury to my trail of the the NIKE Structure Triax 11, but since my hamstring pain did significantly worsen about a week and a half after wearing the new shoes, well, I thought it smart to see if going back to my ol' trainers might help. I obviously now know that there's no muscle tear and no serious damage to my lower back, hips or the hamstring itself. And so, it's shooting in the dark to see what works... and I'm just hoping and praying to hit the target!



The pain is still there (walking, sitting, you name it) even though it's now on six weeks of no running. I'm crawling out of my skin to get back on the road! I did sneak out this past weekend for a slooooowwww 30min run and it hurt, but I managed.



To re-cap my progress (or lack there of) with this injury, after getting clean MRI results at the beginning of April, I was referred to a Exercise kinesiologist who studies Chiropractic Medicine, however he did not take my insurance. I called back to my Doctor to see if he could recommend someone else, but I didn't hear back for a week. So, in the meantime, I scheduled and appt with a chiropractor I had gone to back in Fall 2006. Tonight will be my second visit to that Chiropractor and I'm hoping this helps! My Doctor's office did finally get back to me with another name, but it was for a Physical Therapist. I'm not sure what direction to go in.. so I haven't called that office just yet.

As far as my own prognosis, I really am starting to think it's my sciatic nerve and I've noticed that it hurts more then I wear flat shoes. Does that make any sense to anyone out there? I'm sort of in a catch 22 though considering my leg hurts less when I wear a slight heel, but my sesamoid bones get irritated when I'm in heels. go figure!



Well, either way, I need to be back out on the road in two weeks. I signed up for the NIKE NYC Half Marathon and I DON'T want to sit this one out! .. I also can't settle for racing it half assed! So, we'll see!

Get Pumped for Boston 2008!!!

I can't make it up to Boston this weekend, but best of luck to all of our Boston 2008 competitors this weekend!! Rock it out!! :)

Here's a short course preview to get you psyched for the big event:

BOSTON 2008!

It's taper time for all you Boston 2008 participants out there and here's a little preview courtesy of Bart Yasso and Runners World to help get your psyched for the big day (as if you aren't already psyched enough!!). I must warn you though, Bart seems a little confused in the video and although he mentions that the Boston Marathon is "this weekend", this is definitely a preview for the 2008 Boston Marathon which is not until Marathon Monday April 21, 2008. Maybe this was just an editing snafu!!

And the only other comment I have is that the footage of "runners village" in Hopkinton must have been taken at the 2007 marathon since it looks like a rainy sloppy mess. Let's hope the weather is not like this come this Marathon Monday!! My experience of runners village was much more enjoyable.. and dryer! It's always best to prepare for the worst but hope the best. Here's hoping for unbelievably perfect running weather in Boston come April 21st!

So, is anyone out there thinking of heading up to watch the woman's trails? I'm contemplating braving a trip on the fung wah to go catch this event. It's sure to be one exciting race!