3 years ago I dreamed of it, and 4 days ago I made it come true! #timehop #dreambig #dreamscometrue #hardwork #determination #motivation #inspiration #tcsnycmarathon #wearemarathoners #marathoner
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Mile 26; I’m 400 feet from the finish and I heard my name being yelled and screamed out loud, and look to my right and my soulmates were there! Best surprise ever!! My aunt and two cousins were there cheering and screaming with excitement it was the final push I needed at the finish line!! And they gave me the most awesome recovery basket after with chocolate, vitamin water, icy hot, foot scrub, band aids, kt tape, headbands, a facial mask, and some Chapstick! Best basket ever!! #tcsnycmarathon #wearemarathoners #memories #family #soulmates #runhappynyc
Our finish from the live feed on ABC ch.7! The 3 of us just clicked from start to finish looking out for each other the whole day, and this finish was a very special moment for us, we were all in pain, but together we kept pushing, and together we had an amazing marathon experience I will never forget! Thank you for the memories @p1ernaszlocasz2011 & @run4life_33! 😘😘 #tcsnycmarathon #wearemarathoners And no, I’m not done flooding my feed with pictures! 😁 unfollow if u must!
Monday, November 3, 2014
I’m still on a high after yesterday’s marathon, and seeing and sharing stories with my running family this morning was great! So happy and proud of everyone for overcoming the wind and the obstacles yesterday! And I got my medal engraved too this morning! 😊 #tcsnycmarathon #wearemarathoners #marathonmonday
Sunday, November 2, 2014
How many of your friends became marathoners or ran a marathon today?? @therunningchef caught great shots at mile 21! And I’m so inspired by all of these people I’m lucky to call friends and teammates! Guys we showed up today and we all did an incredible job in that horrible wind today! #tcsnycmarathon #wearemarathoners
My newest hardware! I love it!! And I had the best time today, it was really the best experience I’ve ever had running, I enjoyed the marathon from start to finish, even when it was hurting I was so happy to be there and experience it, and to have two friends by my side the entire time, and my family and friends all along the course I felt like such a rockstar! NYC was where it was at today! And then I hugged @nyrrmaryruns at the finish line and told her thanks for throwing the best party of the year! #tcsnycmarathon #marathoner Oh and I’m totally rocking my medal for the whole week!
This marathon was so much fun, and I had a blast because the three of us stuck together from start to finish pushing each other the whole way! I wouldn’t have had this much fun of it weren’t for them, my marathon sisters, I love you girls! @run4life_33 @p1ernaszlocasz2011 #tcsnycmarathon #marathoners
Saturday, November 1, 2014
I have the best family a girl could ask for! It’s race day and the first picture I see are these signs they made for me with my Instagram pics from running throughout the years! 😢😢😢 I’m gonna be crying all day! I can’t wait to find them! My family will be located in Queens with these signs, cowbells, and big yellow happy face balloons! 😄😄😄 let’s give them one hell of a show runners!!! #raceday #tcsnycmarathon #showtime #letsgo #runhappynyc #tcsnycm #nycmarathon #nyir #nyinstarunners #family #justdoit
Flat Kathy is all ready to go tomorrow! And almost ready for bed, though I doubt I’ll be sleeping much! See you guys in the morning and good luck to everyone!!! If you want to track me look me up by number via the TCS NYC Marathon app or via nyrr.org/live! 😘😘 #tcsnycmarathon #RWNYC #runhappynyc #nycmarathon #tcsnycm #nosleeptilnov2
Me with me at the expo! #tcsnycmarathon #tcsnycm #nycmarathon #nosleeptilnov2
fitoverfifty it was at the Jacob Javits Center!
Friday, October 31, 2014
These last two days have been amazing, and have helped with my nerves big time! I am so grateful for all of my friends and family, each and every one of you have been making these moments amazing! 💕 #tcsnycmarathon #nycmarathon #nyrr #nyinstarunners #runhappynyc #memories #runningfamily #blessed #nosleeptilnov2
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
#latergram Earlier before my run I checked out the finish line! It’s so nice!! And it was awesome to run past it twice during the group run, I was remembering what it was like to hand out medals last year, and how excited we were just to wait for all the finishers, and the sense of joy all around us the whole day! It’s getting so real now, with the expo tomorrow, and pasta dinner with the running fam, I’m ready to make some awesome memories! #tcsnycmarathon #NYiR #nyinstarunners #finishline #memories #tcsnycm #nycmarathon #nosleeptilnov2
Run with @bartyasso tonight? Yes please! Nice easy run with Bart Yasso in Central Park this evening, and I guess the excitement led to a pace of 9:49! And I got to see @amazing1983, and a few others from the running family! So excited for the rest of the week to come! 4 days to go! Awesome run @nyrunningco! #tcsnycmarathon #training #NYiR #nyinstarunners #runhappynyc #runnersworld #run #runner #runchat #runhappy #runfree #brooksrunning #ravenna #flexitpink #fitfluential #memories #wwchat #wwmafia #nosleeptilnov2
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Trying to stay calm these last few days is going to be impossible! I’m so anxious and excited I have no idea how I will manage! My run tonight helped with some of my emotions, but I really just can’t wait for the day to be here already! #tcsnycmarathon #training #nyir #nyinstarunners #run #runner #runchat #runhappy #brooksrunning #ravenna #RunHappyNYC #flexitpink #fitfluential #wwchat #wwlife #wwmafia #wwsisterhood #memories #excited #nosleeptilnov2
Monday, October 27, 2014
The Final Countdown
OMG. 6 days. That’s it! On Sunday morning I will begin a 26.2 mile journey within the five boroughs of New York City. My hometown, my heart, and my life. I love New York City, there is no place like it, I feel blessed to have grown up here. And to get to be part of the biggest marathon in the world, is amazing!
This taper hasn’t been the easiest either. Since I ran the Staten Island Half on Oct. 12th, I’ve had some pretty tough runs. Tendinitis in my hamstring for one is pretty uncomfortable, and I’ve been nursing it as best I can, but it has affected my pace, and I won’t lie and say I’m not worried about how it will feel this coming Sunday. But I keep telling myself whatever happens at this point is out of my control, and to just enjoy the day that lies ahead of me!
I can’t help but also think of how my life has gotten to this point, and all the hard work it took to get here. I was talking with a co-worker about my thoughts during these last few days, and when I mentioned that I keep thinking of what got me to the marathon, she simply stated, “when you started running races right?” But I told her, “No, it was almost 6 years ago when I decided to change my life.” When I quit smoking, quit binge drinking,quit letting the demons of my past control my life, and I decided I wanted to live a healthier life. Had I never made those choices, there’s no way I could have made it to the starting line of the marathon. I’m proud of myself for not giving up like I used to, for once in my life I stuck to something, and never stopped no matter how bad or good it got, I just did it! And because of that, crossing the finish line on Sunday will bring me so many emotions of pride and happiness! I am proving to myself that because I took the time to believe I was worth it, and I found the courage to love myself again, I really can do anything I set my mind to even when it may seem impossible at first.
This week will be a constant reminder of how far I’ve come, and I’m going to celebrate and live in every moment! I’m looking forward to being at the expo on Thursday with my sister, and then with friends on Friday. I’m looking forward to my final runs, as I’ve completed my training better than I thought I would. I’m looking forward to the carb filled dinners. The final race preps of my gear and clothing, and having everything in order before the big day! I’m excited to be part of the opening ceremony and represent my father’s country in the parade on Friday evening. I can’t wait for the memories I’ll create with my running family, and the celebrations in the days to come to enjoy all of our success!
I will be one nervous mess, but I’ll be a happy mess at the end. At the end, I become a marathoner, and all of this will have been worth every moment. Marathoner….you think I can put that on my resume???
Thursday, October 16, 2014
The Long Run
About 2 weeks ago I ran my longest distance yet, 20 miles! Now this was no ordinary 20 mile long run, it was a journey of sorts, a very wet one! During the week before, the forecast called for some heavy rain that Saturday morning, but I had planned on getting my 20 miles in that day no matter what! So when I woke up that morning and seen the gray skies I was facing, I knew it was going to be a long day! I could have waited til the following morning to do my run, where the weather called for blue skies, and beautiful fall weather, but on the day of the marathon will I really have a choice?
I headed to the Niketown store in Manhattan to meet up with the Nike NYC group for their long run, I decided I would at least start my run with them to get my momentum going, then leave and finish the run on my own. When we departed and headed to the West Side Highway, the weather wasn’t too bad, it was warm, and seemed like the weather might hold off for awhile. I was running with the slowest pace group which was 10:00+, but the pacer we had was pretty fast, I ran one of the miles in 8:39, which is ridiculously fast for a 20 mile long run, when my goal pace is around 12:00 min/mile. I knew I was going to have to leave them sooner than I wanted to, otherwise I’d be burned out toward the end of the run. We took a water break 5 miles in, and after some water, and a few bites of a Cliff bar, I left the group and headed for Central Park.
Upon my departure, the rain started coming down! First a drizzle, but then just heavy rain, with wind, and no signs of it clearing up! I felt defeated at first, like these 20 miles I had set forth to do really weren’t going to happen! By the time I made it to the park, I was drenched, nothing on me was dry, and it was really messing with my concentration. I kept thinking, “ there’s no way I’m really doing this!”, “ these conditions are too crazy!”, and “maybe I’ll cut the run short and save the 20 for next weekend!” But I kept going, squeezing the water out of my sleeves to my jacket, and looking for cover under a tree every so often to find some relief from the rain pelting at my face! 9 miles in and it was really coming down, worse than before, just sheets of water pounding at me from every angle, my fingers becoming prune like, and my feet, soaked, and heavy!
Originally I was going to run the park, and head to the 59th street bridge, and run my way home, but I never expected this kind of downpour it was incredible! And the runners I did see in the park looked just as miserable, but just as determined as me to get their runs in. I took cover under a tree, and called my boyfriend, I needed to hear him tell me I was crazy, and to go home! Minus the crazy part, he did tell me I should consider ending the run and head home, and save the miles for next week, and I agreed and said I was going to run at least 14 miles, and head home. But once I started running again, I knew that if left the park, I’d slow down with the traffic and really go home. Deep inside I really needed the satisfaction of completing those 20 miles. I needed to not give up on myself, even in those conditions. When I reached the west end by Columbus Circle, I needed to go to the bathroom and wring the water from my clothes, my jacket in particular was weighing heavily on me, and causing me to slow down. In the bathroom I must’ve wrung at least a gallon of water from my jacket and socks, I even left a puddle behind in the stall! Oops! And girl problems reared its ugly head at the same time! As if this run wasn’t hard enough already!
But then something cool happened, I headed back to the park, and saw a banner for the marathon on a street lamp, and it was the motivation I needed to get through the rest of the run! I headed back to the park to finish 10 more miles, and as hard as it felt, I was doing it, and I felt pretty bad ass! I’ve run Central Park so many times, that it can be a bit boring for me, but that day there was something about the rain that made it go by without feeling like torture. And there’s also something beautiful about the rain, and the calm, quiet, peaceful atmosphere it creates.
18 miles, in I was very ready for the run to be over with, it was still raining but it was a lighter rain, but at that point I was so soaked, I couldn’t tell. My legs were looking for relief but my pace was still very consistent and I was pleased with that! When my watch finally beeped and showed 20 miles on the screen, I stopped, and I cried. I wasn’t expecting to cry, but it happened, and I was filled with pride, and such a great satisfaction for finishing in that weather! I felt like I was really going to be able to finish 26.2 miles, and nothing could stop me, not even the horrible rain!
Of course, shortly after I finished the rain stopped, and the sun started to come out!! But I was proud, and I felt like it was radiating off of me, even though I felt like a wet dog! I went into the nearest Dunkin Donuts, and got a bagel, and a cup of hot chocolate, it was heaven! I knew being wet I’d freeze on the subway on the way home, but that hot chocolate actually saved me from that cold feeling!
Running 20 miles in the rain, was special, even though the conditions were very less than ideal, but I feel so strong because I did it! I never could imagine that I’d be so close to finish line, but I really am that close, and on November 2nd, I’ll make it there!
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Going the Distance
Wow, I’ve been MIA…seriously, marathon training takes up so much time and energy, and then I have my actual life to tend to, that blogging is always last. Makes me sad because I love to write, and express my thoughts, I want to be a better blogger, I really do, so hopefully I get better…baby steps, right?
Anyways, here we are with 6 weeks to go til the big day, and I actually feel ok. I thought my anxiety would be worse, but so far its been ok, maybe once its October I’ll actually start freaking out! I feel so lucky so far because I’ve done every run on my schedule except for 3! I was sick last week, and the week before we went to a baseball game that wasn’t planned, but still missing 3 runs out of 12 weeks of running ain’t so bad. I don’t think I’ve ever been so dedicated to a training plan before, I’ve done 9 half marathons, and at least half of those races I was lackadaisical with my training runs.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m following the Novice 1 plan, from Hal Higdon, some may think the mileage for this program is low, but for me it fits my lifestyle, and as a runner, I tend to do better with lower mileage, I suffer from plantar faciitis, and had an old hip injury, and when I do too much, my body suffers more. So far my plantar has been the only thing to really bother me during training.
In the last three weeks, I’ve run my longest distance runs 15, 17, & 18 miles. I never thought I would make it past 13.1 miles, but I have, and I feel much more confident that I will finish the marathon strong.
My 15 miler, was a true testament to my determination to finish what I started. I joined Nike NYC for a group run that took us from midtown, to the East River, to RFK bridge into Randall’s Island, and back into the city down the river again. I departed from the group and ran over the 59th St bridge back into Queens, and ended my run in Long Island City in Gantry Plaza park. It was one of our last really hot days this summer, the humidity was at 90% during the morning, there was no wind, and it was the hottest, stickiest run I’ve done. My pace was terrible, and I wanted to give up so bad, each mile felt like torture, but I was going to finish no matter what. It was so hot that I made mistakes fueling during my run, 4 miles in, I downed a bottle of Gatorade, later I took my powerade gel, and then again around 6 miles in another bottle of Gatorade, more gel, and then around 9 miles, I had water, because Nike ran out of Gatorade, and that was around the same time I left the group. All I remember is feeling the sun beam down on me, and making me feel like I was suffocating. Then I looked down at my hands, and they were swollen! Immediately I knew it was all the Gatorade and powerade gels I took, it was too much too soon! As I was crossing the bridge, and struggling to get over it because the heat exhaustion was killing me, I text my boyfriend: “4.5 miles left, and I’m doing horrible.” He simply replied: ‘you can do it babe, your not doing it for time.“ I don’t know why but his words made me start balling out crying, and not out of misery, because he was right this marathon wasn’t about being the fastest to me or doing it in a certain time frame, it was about finishing, that’s it. That text gave me the boost I needed to keep going those last few miles, when I hit Long Island City, I was boiling, stopping at every water fountain to splash water on myself, but 3 hours and 36 minutes later I finished my longest run, and I cried happy tears, because as much as I wanted to give up, it was never going to happen.
The following week I had 16 miles on my schedule, but I felt like I could do one more than that, so I set out to do 17 miles that day. Again, I chose to run with Nike NYC, and this time we were running the outside of Manhattan, from Midtown, down the East River to the Staten Island Ferry, then across to the West Side Highway, and all the way up to 96th Street in Riverside Park, then east heading into Central Park for the finish. It was finally beginning to feel like fall outside, and for this run, I wanted to work on fuel, and was hoping my pace wouldn’t be as bad as the previous week. I had a great long run, I stuck with the group most of the time, and this time I fueled with water, and coconut water, and took only one gel, and ate a Cliff bar along stops in my run. I had such a strong run, I think I must’ve been smiling the whole time, because I felt great, and was so happy I was off the struggle bus I had been on the previous week. I lost the group around 13 miles in, because I missed an exit we were supposed to take, and when I realized it I was about 14 miles in! So I went back, and even though I had left the group, I stuck to the planned route. Around 15 miles in I slowed down significantly, and I think it was only because I was trying to figure out where to go, and once I hit Central Park, I was able to pick up my pace again, and finished my 17 miles in 3:24, faster than the 15 I ran previously. I was ecstatic! I felt like I redeemed myself in those 17 miles, and proved to myself that I could run that distance at a pace I was comfortable with! I felt like a warrior, like maybe the idea of 26.2 miles wasn’t so crazy after all!
Then this past weekend I was supposed to run only 12 miles, since it was my recovery week. So much for that because I was sick the entire week, and only got one run in. But I chose to run 18 miles instead because, this week I have 18 for my long run, but have the Bronx 10 mile race and a baseball game on Sunday, and a concert the day before…so there’s no way I can run 18 miles before or after work during the week! I feel confident enough that changing my schedule and switching weeks won’t hurt my training at this point. I also had intended on running with Nike again, but since I had been sick, and was still congested and coughing, I knew I’d lose the group, and they were headed to the Bronx, so I really wasn’t comfortable being lost on my own, so I stood in my neighborhood! Now running that far alone is really not easy at all, there’s no one to push you but yourself! I ran the first 5 miles around my park, and then headed to Jamaica Bay for 5.5 miles out and back, and then finished my last two in my park. Now it wasn’t a bad run, I held my pace for awhile, but then the sun came out, and when its on me for too long I feel like I’m roasting, and it distracts me. And also I think running the sidewalks didn’t help either because I had to keep stopping. Mentally I was in the run, but toward the end, I got bored, and realized I need that group motivation for these long runs, so going forward I plan to run them with Nike til training is over. I finished my 18 miles in 3:55, and I was proud, because I had been sick, and did this on my own. And now I feel strong enough to tackle on 20 in a few weeks! This run was just pure satisfaction, because I proved to myself once again, that I can do this!
I ordered two pairs of sneakers while I was sick too, and I’m hoping one of them will carry me to the finish line in November. I’m also hoping they help with the pain in my plantar, it tends to flair up around 14 miles in, so hopefully a new shoe, kt tape, and massages will help!
Anyways, thats all I got for now, hopefully this time next week I’ll have a new post up! I promise guys I really am trying to be a better blogger! Just taking it one post at a time!!! XOXOXO, til next time!
Thursday, August 21, 2014
TCS New York City Marathon - Get Your New York On Challenge
Link: TCS New York City Marathon - Get Your New York On Challenge
I just entered the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon Get Your New York On Challenge. Read my story and VOTE for me!
It would be so awesome if you guys could vote for me! I would love to win this opportunity!
Marathon Madness
So I’ve been very MIA in updating with an actual blog! I know I could type on the app with my iPhone, but I also hate when the app closes in the middle of a blog! So bare with me! Marathon training is very time consuming, and I feel like I’m stretching myself out as far as I can go as it is, but I really want to blog when I can!
So far I’m 8 weeks into my 18 week training program, and so far its been going pretty good! I’ve had a few bad and ugly runs, but I know its those runs that are going to help me during the marathon. Because pushing through those moments you’d rather give up, are the ones that show how much heart you really have.
Currently I run 4 days a week with one day of cross training. I’m trying to add in one more day, but I’m not always successful in doing so. Sleep is getting harder for me, I’m beginning to feel anxious about the rest of my training. The month of September is when all the mileage really starts taking place, and I’m just hoping I can manage it! So far I’m also really glad I chose the Hal Higdon Novice training plan, because its pretty simple and flexible when I need it to be.
I’m always hungry now too! Ugh, if I could control my stomach that would be perfect! I’m doing my best to eat healthy foods, but I get these late night hunger pains in my sleep! I know I’m eating enough food, because the scale isn’t going down, it actually went up a few pounds. (Depressed about that but, not stressing my weight that much.)
I think I’m doing ok with managing my life and training, but that’s because the first 8 weeks were pretty easy, it’s the next 10 that I’m a nervous ninny about!
But I’ll do it, because I’ve never wanted something so bad before. I was never even supposed to be a runner, I was an overweight hot mess! And the fact that I’m here today and I’m able to say I run and am training for a marathon is mind blowing, but I’m proud of it. Because I’m doing it, and I will do whatever it takes to get to the finish!
Til next time…hopefully its a short hiatus, I’ll try and update weekly going forward, as the intensity increases, so fingers crossed! And thanks for all the support!
xoxo
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Day 1
Today began my journey to the finish line of the TCS NYC Marathon. Well my training that is, the journey to this decision started long ago, but today is when it all becomes real and the real hard work starts! I chose to follow the Hal Higdon method after reading his book, Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide. The schedule has tolerable mileage during the week, and long runs that gradually increase maxing at 20 miles. I could try a plan with more mileage, but my only goal is to finish healthy. Besides slow and steady wins the race, and I don’t want to rush through it, I want to relish every moment that day brings me!
Today’s run called for 3 miles. I had issues with my Garmin, so I had to use my Nike+ app, and logged 3 miles in 32:37 with a 10:52 pace per mile. The weather was muggy, and humid, and the air was very thick! But my run went very well, I took it nice and slow, and ran with ease! But I do need to invest in a water bottle ASAP, I was thirsty really fast, and I know the longer runs ahead will definitely require me to hydrate throughout!
All I know is that I have a long road ahead, but I’m going to give it my all, and try my best to do what it takes to get to the finish line!
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Still breathing!
Need to write up a blog will do hopefully this weekend! Many things I want to do, and the beginning of marathon training is on the horizon! Anxiety is kicking in!
Monday, June 9, 2014
The Battle Continues
Still trying to find a balance and control, over my healthy lifestyle. I’ve been so stressed out lately, and have a lot of things outside of my running life going on. My stress loves food. I haven’t been terrible staying on track, but by the weekend I’m a mess! What I need to really do is focus on staying on track all week, and allow myself to cheat on the weekends within my points and weeklies. My goal this week is to stay within the daily points range during the week, and save as many weeklies for the weekend, so that when it does come, I’ll have more than enough points, that I won’t feel so guilty, and go off the deep end!
My workouts have been pretty good, worked out 5 days last week, ran twice! I feel like I’m lacking in my running, but then I had to remind myself, that this month I wanted a break from running. Beginning July 1st, marathon training starts, and I don’t want running to feel like its all I do by then, because I’m sure by November it’s mostly what I’ll be doing each week! I also am hoping to fit strength training at least 3x a week when I hit marathon training. I like to do Jillian Michael’s DVD’s, because most of her workouts are no more than 35 minutes, so if I wake up at 5 am, on those mornings, then I can still fit in my run or cross training after work, before my house wife duties kick in!
Being a housewife is a whole other battle I still have yet to conquer! So far I think I’m doing ok, I just hope when marathon training begins and progresses that my guy will be understanding that I won’t feel up to tackling everything that needs to been done at home right away!
I’m also hoping to post weekly updates on marathon training until November, I’m thinking of coming up with a pros and cons format for weekly updates, that way I can make changes where necessary! We’ll see, my life is so hectic sometimes that I have no clue what I may be doing in the next 5 minutes!
Till next time…
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Panera is Evil
Had meetings all morning at work, and the host of said meetings brought the office lunch since the meetings cut right into our lunch hour (which is a whole other story, that I disagree with!) Lunch was a Panera nightmare! Bread, sweets, gooey fatty foods, that had the hidden healthy stuff within it! Either way bc Panera is a) way too expensive b) far from where I live & c) not very WW friendly, I hardly if ever eat it. And to top it off the conference room is located in the basement with no cellular service, so I couldn’t even look up PP values for anything! (Only WW friendly peeps will get this!)
So I chose what looked the least harmful. I had half an Italian combo sandwich, side salad of lettuce, and a pickle. Well, thank god my instincts told me to hold off on the kettle chips included with the sandwich because that lunch cost me 17 PP! That’s more than half of my daily allowed value!
I thought about that sandwich the entire time I worked out tonight at the gym! But it’s tracked, and there are NO meetings with lunch tomorrow! :)
Panera is Evil, that is all.
Finding my Mojo
This past weekend has me feeling like I’m in such a rut, it’s so hard to get out of. I’ve made horrible food choices, binging to the point where I’m sick, and I don’t care. And I slacked on my workouts since last Wednesday. I don’t understand why I don’t have the same drive anymore. I feel unfocused and like mentally it’s all to much to deal with. My only goal this week is to try harder, to get better, and hopefully see some results.
Here’s to trying yet again, and never giving up.
Fingers crossed.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Shmooze & Booze
Marketing party for work today. Lots of alcohol and good food. I’m sold! Hahaha, not really bored out of my mind and I’d rather be home, watching trashy television!
Today is a New Day
On Saturday, May 17th, I ran in the Brooklyn Half Marathon. It was my 9th half, and only my second time running Brooklyn. The course is pretty amazing, starting from the Brooklyn Museum, to Prospect Park, and then down Ocean Parkway to a finish, on the boardwalk of Coney Island. It’s pretty spectacular, the spectators are awesome, and the energy of Brooklyn pride can be felt all over!
I went into this race, telling myself to only have fun, and that I wasn’t going for a new personal best. I ran the NYC Half in March, and the women’s half last month in Central Park, and all the training was beginning to take a mental toll on me. My mind needs a running break every once in awhile!
I started out easy, and I felt great, I was really excited to get to the finish! By the time I hit the 5k mark, I was 31:34 in, and that was about a minute ahead of my pace for the NYC Half, which I PR’d in. So I felt great, and kept pushing on in to Prospect Park. The park was the hardest part, it had all the elevation for the entire course, so I slowed down a bit but was still on pace to finish with a PR. Once I hit 7 miles, I thought I was on my way to a new PR!
But then around mile 9, I started feeling my quads tightening up, so I took a few breaks to walk it out, but was determined to get my PR. I stopped at a few water stations, alternating between, water and gatorade, but the pain in my legs just wouldn’t let up. I went from a 10:30 pace, quickly to an 11:35 pace, and slowly felt myself being defeated, by the pain in my quads. I pushed through mile 10 and 11, and let go of my PR, and decided then I just wanted to finish strong. Mile 12 the cramps became excruciating and terribly uncomfortable, but the boardwalk was just ahead of us, and there was no stopping me! Then with 800 meters to go, it was just pure pain. I had to stop, I thought if I didn’t stop, my legs were going to give out, and I’d just collapse. I walked through the pain, and I knew it could be seen on my face, because the spectators helped push me through it! Their cheering, and kind words of support made me force a smile and run the last few hundred meters!
I felt so many emotions once I crossed the finish line. I first felt disappointed because I lost the chance to PR when I was so close! Then of course I felt pain! But when I looked at my time of 2:26:24, I realized that it wasn’t my worst half time. It was a minute better than my half last month, and I overcame the defeat my body felt! I was suddenly so proud of myself, because I chose to continue, and not give up! And sometimes that’s the hardest thing to be able to do! After trying to figure out what went wrong, and talking to a nurse, I’m most certain I took in too much potassium, I don’t usually drink gatorade, but because it was a warm day, I wanted to stay hydrated, and with that on top of my fuel packs, and the banana I had before the race, the potassium was too much at once and caused the cramps! Go figure!
So today I walk away from this half, proud as ever, because I could’ve easily gave up and walked to the finish, completely defeated, but I ran with a smile on my face, and got half number 9 under my belt!
Til July 1st, my goal is to stay on track, and on point with Weight Watchers, stick to short runs, focus on cross training, and strength training, so we’re ready to take on marathon training!
Today is a new day! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)