"So You Wanna Be An Olympian?" - Thoughts?

The picture posted above is from the latest installment of ESPN's e-ticket coverage of "Olympic Hopeful", Kathryn Bertine. Kathryn Bertine a former ice skater, professional triathlete and author was approached by ESPN and asked to give two years of her life to pursing her dream of qualifying for the 2008 Olympics. The latest article is the ninth installment focusing on Kathryn's self reported progress since the story began in August 2006. As the first article back in August '06 states,

"For the next two years, Bertine will chronicle her Olympic quest for E-ticket. While finding a spot on the 2008 U.S. team is the ultimate goal, Bertine will take every opportunity along the way to stop and smell the sweat socks ... and to share the smell, taste, sound and feel of the experience with you. You'll meet coaches, teammates, competitors, good guys, bad guys, people who will make you laugh, make you cry, make you cover your eyes in horror. You'll find out what the day-to-day life of an elite athlete is like, get a feel for the kind of sacrifices necessary, see for yourself what kind of politics is involved. "

It's an interesting and controversial story of a "regular" athlete turned "elite" cyclist (in 18mths) who wants to get to the Beijing Olympics at any cost, meaning, in any sport (although she's chosen cycling), and as a representative of any country. Yes, any country!! In this latest installment, Kathryn, after failing to make the U.S. Olympic Team is now searching for "athletic adoption" and seems to have secured hopeful interest by St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean. ...And she's now off to attempt to receive dual citizenship there.

I'm not certain if anyone out there has been following this story, but I have a hunch that a few of you have. I think Kathryn's progress over the past (almost) two years is interesting and she's had quite a few fascinating revelations and memorable experiences along the way. I particularly like this quote from Kathryn in this latest (9th) article, " But I now understand that the purpose of human existence is to ask questions, no matter how outlandish, and seek answers, no matter how much the odds are against you. Ask, ask, ask. And when you can't find the answers to life, check your spam box. Hope hides in the strangest of places."

Although I admire her dedication and resilience, I'm not sure what I think about this whole project. And to be honest, I'm jumping into this a bit late and I haven't had a chance to read the entire story. But I'd love to hear some thoughts on this story and Kathryn's overall "progress" at this point. Do you think this is a good idea? What are the pro's and con's if she does end up competing for St. Kitts and Nevis in the 2008 Olympics? What will this prove if anything if she makes it to the Olympics?

NYC Half Marathon - July 27, 2008

"You have a confirmed spot in the 2008 NYC HALF Marathon
Presented by Nike!"

..and another "add" to the 2008 race calendar

Sweet!

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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Ultimate Street Fighter ...Or Something Like That!

You may have noticed I've thrown a "Cardio Kickbox" class in to the mix over the past few weeks. I signed up for this class, officially labeled as "Women's Self Defense", to learn a few new moves to protect my sometimes risk taking (a.k.a. dark alley running) self. To my pleasant surprise, the course instructor has insisted to "make us sweat" while we learn how to throw proper punches and kicks. I totally love it! Great music, an intense punching, kicking, squatting, ducking routine followed by some ab work. It's a great cross training workout that leaves me wonderfully sore all weekend long.

In the first class, after I jabbed full out into my instructors hand held punching target glove, she endearingly referred to be as "a beast". hmmm??? well, as I saw it I had two options, I could either embrace my new inner street fighter self or back off and wimp out. I quickly chose to step up and whale into the punching pad yet again. Life's just too short not to release your inner beast every now and then!

Hey Mikey! (S)he Likes It! - Triax and Training Update

Nike Structure Triax Update - Week 1
So, it was a bit of a bumpy start and I still think the shoes are a bit snug, but with the addition of new (longer) laces and just the normal breaking in of a new shoe, I have to say, so far so good. It's amazing what a difference changing your laces or the how you're tying your laces can make. And so, I'm diggin' the new shoes.



Week#3 Training Schedule -(March 3 - March 9):
Monday: 3miles
Tuesday: PM: RUNNYC 6-7m- 4 X 20 sec striders
Wednesday: AM: 5miles
Thursday: PM: 6miles (tempo- tbd)
Friday: AM: 90min -YOGA, PM: Women's self defense/cardiokickbox class-55mins
Saturday: 5.5 miles, 4 X 20 sec striders OR cycling session at City Coach
Sunday: 8miles
Goal Totals: 35 miles + 90min - YOGA + 55min kickboxing (+ cycling)

Evaluate, Restructure, Regroup & Move Forward

Things are looking a bit different around here at http://mindofarunner.blogspot.com/ . Let me know what you think about the change. Be honest! :)

Sad to put this graphic to rest already (below), but I it was a fantastic starting point.


Also, check out my newest blog endeavor, http://whereirun.blogspot.com/. To give credit where credit is due, my boyfriend thought of the idea and pushed me to get it started. He got me interested in this other blog, http://ifoundyourcamera.blogspot.com/ which served as the inspiration for this new endeavor. I've seen some spectacular pictures as I've bounced around to your sites, so whereirun will be a collage of sorts of the favorite running places of all sorts of runners out there. I think this could be GREAT, but it's only as good as those who participate, so send your photos and captions to me at therunnerchick@gmail.com.

Review of Week#2 Training Schedule -(Feb 25-March 2):
Monday: DNR
Tuesday: PM: RUNNYC - 7miles - 2 X 20 sec striders
Wednesday: PM: 5miles
Thursday: PM: 6miles - Burrrrr.. it was COLD outside!
Friday: AM: YOGA, PM: Women's self defense/cardiokickbox class-55mins
followed by 2mile run
Saturday: 4.5 miles,
Sunday: 7.5miles, 4 X 20 sec striders
Total: 32 miles + YOGA + 55min kickboxing

Thoughts: My overall mileage increased a bit and I'm feeling stronger, but getting back on a regimented training routine has been difficult with work and life (..and weather). Something always seems like it gets in the way. I'm on the right path, but I need to continue to increase mileage over the next few weeks with not letting the little things (i.e. core work) and threshold training go.

Triathletes, as a runner pursuing triathlons, I'm having a hard time dealing with lower (running) mileage as I incorporate cycling and swimming into my routine. If there are any runners turned triatheltes out there, do you always track swimming, cycling, running mileage separately? Sounds like a silly question, but I was almost tempted last week to add my cycling mileage into my running mileage... just so I could see the numbers go up! ...But I resisted the urge! :)