Yearly totals (but not really)

Just took a quick look at my Garmin log on my computer, only to see that it has a very disappointing 166 miles on it for 2011.  Granted, I got my Garmin in May, and have about a 50/50 shot of remembering to actually wear it (forgot it the morning of the marathon, so I definitely lost out on 26.2 for the year).  New Year's resolution is to be more consistent in training (no huge gaps with no running at all) and also to actually log what I'm doing so I can have impressive totals like everyone else.

Cheers to 2012. Going to be really upset if the Mayans were right and we're all done before I can finish the NYC Marathon (should hopefully be registered Jan 2!)

Back in action

After three frustrating weeks of not being able to exercise whatsoever due to that whole "hole in the lung" thing, I finally got cleared to start up again yesterday after a visit to a pulmonologist.  Her technical title (well, what it said on her name tag) was a genetic specialist, which made me a bit confused.  She spent most of the time trying to identify additional risk factors for a reoccurrence, which is where things start to actually rapidly deteriorate in terms of future health.  Couldn't find any, so back to the grind I go.  


I'm having a lung function test done next week to make sure my asthma's under control just to be safe--people have been way too concerned over this, to the point where my grandmother told me women aren't meant to run that far.  Clearly, this is a challenge.  


Hoping to get back out for a moderate jog tomorrow; hopefully somewhere in the 3-4 mile range.  I want to be ready for Monica and my "anniversary" race--the Ted Corbitt 15k on December 17th.  

Well that's a buzz kill

I was hoping that my next post would be about my successful completion of the Prospect Park Duathlon, which was supposed to be my first race involving a bike. Unfortunately, a small part of my lung decided to collapse the night before instead, so I spent the night in the ER and have to be cleared to exercise again. The condition is called spontaneous pneumothorax and I'm working on figuring out exactly how serious that is. The ER docs made it sound like something that happens from time to time, but we'll see what the pulmonologist says before I get back on the road.

The rules of the road

When I decided to write this post, the only thing I could think of was a clip from Rocko's Modern Life (circa the last time I rode a bike) from some time he had to go to driving school--it had a ridiculous animated video that went through the Rules of the Road in dramatic fashion.  Given that the one thing I have definitely determined about biking is that NYC roads are terrifying, I thought I'd take a look at what the actual regulations are and pass them along to all you future-bikers.  Also, useful to know that you can be righteously angry at the delivery bike riding on the sidewalk against traffic.  

The main resource I used to put this together was the NYC Bike Smart guide, which goes through essential biking regulations and tips (such as how not to get your bike stolen because you are locking it with a part of the bike easily removed, like the seat). It's worth taking a look at for the helpful diagrams, which actually show how you are supposed to make that awkward left hand turn through rush hour traffic without getting killed. 

The easiest way to think about bike rules is that they are the same as for a vehicle.  Cyclists have to stay on the road unless they are under 13, follow the direction of traffic, and have to follow stop signs and lights.  Bikes also have to yield to pedestrians, which clears up the, "well, it is harder for them to stop...maybe I should get out of the way?" while walking or running to the park.  Some of the regulations are common sense, like having a white front light and red tail light when riding at night or before dawn.  But, a couple other things that are illegal aren't as obvious.  It is technically illegal to ride with more than one headphone in at a time, and bikes are required to have a bell as well.  I'm not sure how many of the cyclists I see in the park have bells.  

NYC DOT also provides a map of the entirety of NYC that lists where bike paths (there are parked cars between the bike path and traffic), bike lanes (the green painted lanes on roads), and bike routes (basically, bikes sharing with cars) are located throughout the city.  Very helpful to check when planning your first bike rides--the bike paths are definitely where I would have preferred my test rides had taken place, instead of full construction in SoHo.  

Finally, you will inevitably have to take your bike on the subway.  Unfortunately, there isn't too much help on this end.  MTA suggests that you wait for essentially an empty, non-rush hour train and only use entrances that are staffed so you can enter with the service gate.  I will support that second option, having brought my bike through a turnstile (a big no-no) at Union Square with the help of a very friendly Chinese woman who gave me advice on how to make it fit...in zhong wen.  If you're venturing on the subway with your bike, make sure you've thought out the entrances and exits, in any case.  They are the trickiest parts. 

So, hopefully you can learn from some of my more amateur mistakes/questions, and have a smooth experience biking in the city.  I for one will continue to find roads terrifying and stick primarily to bike paths and the park.  

36th Marine Corps Marathon

Race Recap: Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC
Distance: 26.2 miles
Final time: 4:33:32 (PR)


So I've just about recovered from last week's Marine Corps Marathon, which means that if I wait any longer to post the recap, it's not going to happen. 

Expo truth bomb. 

Last week's race was my second marathon and second MCM, which meant a couple things about my preparation: I was definitely more relaxed about the entire experience, and I knew which pains were acceptable pains and which pains were warning signs.  As a result, I came into the race better prepared and completely healthy, which can't be said about last year (twisted my ankle the night before...let's not talk about it).  

That is snow.

The one big problem approaching the race was the weather: the forecast for Saturday, the day before the race, included 36 degree temperatures and snow.  Not exactly what you're expecting for a fall marathon.  I watched the forecast obsessively, checking more for the high temperature than the snow--I wanted to run in shorts and a t-shirt for a high anywhere over 50.  Unfortunately, by the time I got to DC, the high was hovering in the mid 40s, and I knew the starting line was going to be chilly to say the least.  The expo on Saturday was filled with people trying to make last minute decisions on what to wear, buying gloves, hats, armwarmers and anything that looked both warm and suited to running.  I'll admit that I caved and bought a headband to cover my ears, since I realized I'd forgotten my own while on the bus to DC.  I think most people overdid it though--there were tons of abandoned clothes much further onto the course than last year, and people overheating in way too much gear by the end of the race. 

Tash left me a surprise!

Getting to the start had some hiccups--I forgot my inhaler and had to go back to get it, and then realized once I was past the point where I'd have time to turn around that I forgot my Garmin as well.  By the time I reached the Pentagon, I'd halfway convinced myself that having a "run how you feel" marathon would be good for me instead of focusing on a split.  My main concern was that I'd sprint out of the start and end up dying somewhere painfully and publicly on the Mall.  I was confident that I'd be able to beat the bridge at mile 20/21 and avoid the dreaded Straggler Bus (literally, a struggle bus), but had told friends and family to catch me on the Mall, at mile 17.  


After 30-45 minutes of nonstop shivering and a conversion to a strong belief in arm warmers, the race started, leading to amusing moment #1: While waiting to be able to cross the start line, the course DJ put on Party Rock Anthem.  As soon as it hit "every day I'm shufflin'" and the beat dropped (you know what part I'm talking about), about 70% of the crowd started dancing in some form, no matter what age.  Hilarious. 

Nice view of Georgetown from mile fourish

The first half of the race breezed by, through arguably the hilliest part of the course, past cheering Virginia residents, wonderfully familiar views of my beloved alma mater, and a team of British soldiers running the course with their 50 pound packs on their back.  There were several groups running with packs, but this was the first time I'd seen a British unit participating.  Let's hear one for the Allied Forces.  Also had a surprise run-in with Julian, who was outside Georgetown Running Company.  


The first half of the course is also the most congested part of the race, with all 30,000 people jockeying for position and trying to figure out what pace they want to keep for the next 26 miles.  There are points when your pace is not up to you-you have to run with the crowd and hope that enough space will open up for you to make a move, speed up, or slow down.  This is one of the most frustrating parts about racing, but also probably kept me from going out too fast.  

Another year evading the Straggler Bus

The second half of the course went pretty well too.  I saw Emily, Becca and Mike, who were making friends with their multilingual signs, as well as my family, who seem to have figured out how big marathons are after seeing this one.  I stopped to talk both times, which probably prevented me from breaking 4:30. Oh well.  Inevitably, the Crystal City miles were the worst, with a turnaround and the fact that they were the last 4 miles.  They also put the new Dunkin Donuts munchkin station at mile 24, which has to be the worst possible location for something sweet. I certainly didn't feel like eating anything at that point, let alone a donut.  


My one complaint about the race was the backup at the finish line.  I crossed and immediately had to come to a complete standstill.  There was a crowd at the finish line-something I'd never seen before.  We were also being told we couldn't sit in the finish area, so I had to take a quick shot of Iwo Jima before being hustled out into the finish festival in Rosslyn.  

Slightly different angle than last year?

All things considered, it was a great race.  I'm happy with my time, I'm happy with the experience of running, and I'm glad that I extended my Marine Corps weekend participation to four years (two 10Ks, two marathons).  I think the marathon is one of the best opportunities for civilians to interact with military service members if they have no other connection to the military through friends or family.  I'd hesitate to approach a soldier in uniform in a train station or airport, but from the team greeting us at 6 am as we shuffled out of the Metro, to the soldier singing about our remaining 25 miles at the 1 mile marker, to the Marine who handed me my medal and joked with me at the finish, the marathon makes me feel appreciative of and connected to the military like few other things do.  


Guaranteed entry means I'll be running NYC next year, and therefore not running the MCM.  Hopefully I'll be able to make it down for the 10K, because there is definitely a reason this is the People's Marathon and keeps runners coming back year after year.  

Just a casual jog with Bart Yasso

You knew this would still have tons of running, right?

Last night I hustled uptown after work to an event co-hosted by Runner's World, Mizuno, City Sports, and Bart Yasso. There were more people than seats, and even 20 minutes early I ended up standing in the back and missing the swag for the first fifty people.

The event was a combination gear test/3-5 mile run/Q&A-turned-motivational talk from Bart. I opted out of testing both the Mizuno Wave Rider (none of the Mizunos I've ever tested have been comfortable to me, and I wasn't about to switch shoes 4 days before Marine Corps) and the Breath Thermo long sleeves, because it was pretty hard to figure out who was organizing that part with everyone dressed for a run.

After a quick intro, the group head out into midtown. Monica and I opted for the five mile loop despite a sinking suspicion there would be no food left by the time we got back-I had 5 scheduled for today with no time to run it, so a quick switch fixed that. The people leaving work were rightfully confused when at least 60-70 people ran by/through/around them and into the park. Props to Riley, who made sure the three of us running 9min pace at the end of the fast group didn't get left behind in the park.

The highlight of the night was definitely the talk afterwards. The product reps did their job to get me interested in trying some of the Mizuno winter gear once it's cold enough, and Bart used the high percentage of people running either Marine Corps or NYC to turn the Q&A into a marathon pep talk. After stories about crowds of naked runners and two runners tossing a third over the gate barring the finish at Comrades, he connected his experience to that of every runner (and a recommendation to try negative splits-running the second half of the race faster than the first). The night ended with on a pretty profound note: "This may be your last race. You never know what might happen tomorrow. So get out there, and enjoy it."

Yes sir.

Bringing my (now-signed) copy of Bart's book with me to DC for some MCM inspiration. Good luck to everyone racing, and catch you on the flip side.

Intro to tricuriousity

The best way to deal with taper madness (that feeling of anxiousness due to the fact that you are running 20ish miles/week less than you were, and have more free time than you remember what to do with) is to set my next aspirational goal. With my second marathon on Sunday, I think I have running for extended periods time down-it's time to diversify. 


I've been tri-curious for a while, between getting emails for races from running mailing lists and hearing about friends' experiences.  Now that I've finally committed and bought a road bike, it's time to go from "I haven't been on a bike in five years" to a sprint and hopefully Olympic tri by this spring/summer. 


Whatever part of me thought that marathon training would mean I'm basically set to start tris probably should have realized that there is more to them than base fitness and the ability to swim. In any case, I figured I'd document the road bumps I've already run into and the ones I'm sure I'll hit in the future to keep me honest about training and peer pressure people to join. 


So, next time you see me in the park, watch out-I might be on a bike I'm still learning to ride.