A Tale of Two Races

Sorry sorry sorry for being so so so MIA! I have actually had responsibility at work, plus a full class load, and I just accepted the world's most perfect internship--that happens to require that I give up a full weekend day every weekend from now until June, plus lots of friends in town, trying to help friend find apartments, and become mary kay ladies...you get the idea.

In any case today I ran Grete's Gallop Half Marathon. I ran this race last year and it was definitively, the worst race of my life. I stopped several time and wanted to cry a few times! I had never had this happen, but the humidity was around 90% and it was HOT and miserable.

This year was a very different story. This morning it was COLD! Well, around 48 degrees when I left the apartment. I was wearing long black yoga pants, huge sweatshirt pants, my OBAMAthoner dri fit tee over a long sleeve waffle t-shirt, and a retro nylon nike jacket, and a scarf for good measure. I am ridiculous! I checked everything in baggage except my Obamathoner shirt, yoga pants, and fuel belt.

Miles 1-2-awful, I was stiff and my feet were sore from doing extensive walking around the city in heels yesterday, but that wore off after a bit.

Miles 3-4 kind of awful, but not too bad. I was really regretting going out last night, but I hadn't seen one of my very best friends in months, and we had rescheduled like five times. So I had one small glass of wine and a few hours of great conversation.

Miles 5-6- finally hitting my stride, not feeling super energetic, but at least I was no longer seriously concerned that I was going to suffer for 8 more miles.

Miles 6-7-Flying high! At around halfway I started to feel euphoric. I was running a very steady pace and generally joyful. I knew I could finish no question.

Miles 8-11-still rocking it but I felt my first rain drop around mile 6. By mile 8 it was definitely raining...but at least no one had spit on me, like I thought with the initial drop. Nevertheless, I was kind of cold. However, the rain made me run faster and stronger. I wanted to finish before a downpour could start. Of course, it wasn't like I could do five miles in 15 minutes, so I knew I might have to be uncomfortable for around 50 minutes. Fortunately the rain stayed very very light.

Mile 11-13.1-my ipod ran out of gas. I took the time to try and focus and run with my arms. I was annoyed because my playlist was awesome and the battery was supposedly full charged! Luckily, it didn't really effect my run, even if it was less fun in silence. I continued running strong and got my best time ever for a half 2:10:15. Last year, I got 2:25:45, so clearly today was much better.

I finished feeling awesome! So good, that really want to run a marathon this fall, but I need to start putting school first. I recently had an honest reflection about my future career, and I have been putting my social life and my job and time wasting activities first, and those really can not be my priorities. I can excel academically, but I have to work incredibly hard to do it. I have always been jealous of those who can do no work and get 4.0s. So for now academia must come before my beloved friends; my beloved, therapeutic blogging; before my current job and job search; and before running marathons. However, I will still blog a few times a week with new ideas, workout and deals.

However, this race marks my 9th Road Runner Race this season....which means, I AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY FOR the ING NYC MARATHON 2009! Woo-Hoo!!!!!!!!!!

This post is getting long, but I wanted to mention a couple cool things.

First, I got my fabulous tee, pictured above at Jack Rabbit Sports. Where I have been 3 times this week, first buying my new amphipod, and then some shot blocks, and then the OBAMAthoner tee. It is really my very favorite store, the staff are so cool! Plus, 10% off every time I go!

Second, the Jack Rabbit Sports Indoor Tri Series is starting, sign up! It's so cool!

Thirdly, did everyone see that Kelly Ripa is once again talking about Physique 57 in a magazine? I love it but three covers? Shape, Fitness, and now Shape again.

A fabulous reader let me know that in addition to the video of Kelly at P57 on the Physique 57 website, Marie Clarie also has a few clips straight from P57 founder Tanya Becker. She also mentioned that there is a new dvd with a similar workout called the Tracy Anderson Mat Workout based on Gwen Paltrow's and Madonna's workouts. It could be worth checking out.

All right off to clean and study study study! xoxo

Please excuse any errors. I was typing really fast.

Anything that can go wrong....and a little bit of luck

Okay, today's race was a challenge almost from the start.
I hadn't planned on going out last night, but my roommate and I each got invited to parties in the building, and went to both. Lappin up the vino, not a great pre-race plan--thank god the Fitness Women's Race start time was 9:30...late for races! I had to be there before number pick up and registration closed at 9:15

8:06 So this morning I woke up feeling okay, but a little less than 100% on the clarity side of things. I brushed my teeth, removed last night's mascara (finally tried my givenchy phenomen' eyes--good, but not worth the hype), threw a few things in a bag, and was running a little late. I made down a few floors in the elevator when I decided to go back and grab some cash, just in case.

Good news, there was no hurricane and it was not pouring, or even raining! But there was at least 90% humidity! Thank god for my ultra thin Hind running shirt, this thing is so light I almost feel naked in it!

When I went back up I got my key stuck in the door. I was definitely not happy because I hate hate hate to be late. I am extremely laid back, but something about being late freaks me out! So I went to the front desk and the maintenance guy was right there! So I asked him to go retrieve my key and leave it for me at the desk. The guy being right there was super lucky!

8:32AM I ran out of the building got a much needed SF Red Bull and the Duane Reade downstairs, and alternated that and water on my run to the subway.

8:36AM The train was pulling in when I arrived.

8:41AM I arrive at Grand Central and transfer to the 6 uptown-holla JLO

8:45AM I get off the subway and my ipod speakers stop working! WTF PS My ipod made a miraculous recovery after the white screen incident! So now I am ipodless for my race! I really was hoping to get a good time as I had been training a lot and had a good shot at improving!

8:46-9:05AM-I search desperately for a Duane Reade to buy new headphones, but on Lex, Madison and Park on the upper east side, Duane Reade does not mix with Dolce and Gabbana. So I make a last ditch effort to head east--out of my way--to see if the less classy 3rd ave has a DR.

9:06 No luck. There is nothing open that would sell headphones, so I hurry west to the park and check in around 9:10, enough time to pick up my goody bag and a t-shirt and an extra bag for my roomie, they said it was fine! (see below)

Magazine, Quaker Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bar, Mini Luna PB Cookie Bar (ate it on the way home), Body Wash Gel, Quattro Razor, Girl Scout Alumnae Registration Card

Function Light Weight Acai Pomegrante drink with ECGG. Tasted just like Diet Snapple Raspberry Iced Tea. Fine tasting, but nothing special.

9:15-I put on bib and secure chip to shoe. and head to corrals

9:30-Race starts. Despite the fact that I had no tunes for the first time in forever, I actually liked being aware of what was going on around me. I could focus on finishing. I could listen to others conversations. (People listening on the run.) There were a lot of first timers in the race!

Mile 1 I took easy

Mile 2 I was feeling good so I speed up

Mile 3 I concentrated on short strides and low arms during the uphills. Lifting my knees and flicking my feet back to make the hills easier. Then widening my arms and my stride during the downhills. You really run with your arms as much as your legs, the legs will do what the arms do as Ramon says.

Mile 4 I tried to speed up a bit, even though I was breathing harder than normal for me. I tried to relax my face, arms, shoulders and hands and put the energy in my legs. I was actually freezing at this point because I was so soggy, most people were just pouring sweat from the crazy humidity!

10:15ish At the end of the race, I felt pretty good. A girl came up to me and asked me how the race went. I said pretty good and asked her how hers went. She said she didn't feel very well and it was her first race. I made sure she got some water and told her that it was common to feel a little sick to the stomach in the beginning. She asked if I had run any races or marathons and I said that I was doing the NYRR races to qualify for the NYC Marathon in 2009 and I had run the Nike Women's last fall. She was signed up for this fall's Nike Marathon with TNT. I lost it! I was so excited for her, I probably scared her. I told her it would be the best experience of her life; the TNT coaches would be right there on the course; there were massages, pedicures, chocolate and Tiffany's, and it was basically the greatest race ever. I wished her luck and assured her she would be fine!

I ended up getting my best time of the season, and the worst Age/Graded Percentage of the year. Kind of funny!

I am slow, but clearly training more helped. Imagine if I had my ipod! lol

Here is a look at my NYRR Race History--I am not a speedster!:
Race Name, Date
Distance(miles)
NetTimeOverallPlace
AgeGraded %

Fitness Games Women 4M September 6, 2008
4.0
37:54
50.7 %
Run for Central Park July 19, 2008
4.0
39:08
49.1 %
WABC Fight/Prostate Cancer June 15, 2008
5.0
49:56
48.4 %
Japan Day June 1, 2008
4.0
38:26
50.0 %
Run As One, TGL Classic April 13, 2008
4.0
38:29
49.9 %
Scotland Run 10K March 30, 2008
6.2
1:00:47
49.9 %
NYRR Fred Lebow Classic January 12, 2008
5.0
48:07
50.2 %
Norwegian Festival Grete's Grea... October 6, 2007
13.1
2:25:41
45.1 %
NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix: ... September 23, 2007
13.1 miles
2:14:00
49.1 %

12:00ish When I got home I had my 3rd shower in 24 hours--so humid and made a big salad ( i never use ice berg, but somehow I got it and had to use it before moving onto my beloved spinach and purple cabbage) and two big oat bran, kamut flake, double vanilla kashi oatmeal pancakes with banana.


Check out this CRAZY variety of sprouts from the Sproutman!

I have about 50 different oatmeal pancake versions. This was the first time I used oatbran, it was a bit dry, so use oatmeal to increase moistness. Plus I got a call during the first one and forgot to add in the sliced banana!

Here is the recipe--I don't measure anything, so these are estimates:

1/3 cup oatbran, about 11/2 TBSP kamut flake and kashi creamy vanilla instant oatmeal, a dollop chobani vanilla (plus another big dollop to top), two egg whites, pinch baking soda and celtic sea salt, 1/2 banana, best to add before flipping or mashed in.

My classic recipe is

roughly 1/3 cup oats, generous sprinkle kamut flakes and coconut flakes, 1/4 cup egg whites, dollop plain yogurt (although flavors are yummy also), dollop whipped cottage cheese, pinch cinnamon, sea salt, baking soda.

Fruit of choice added to top while cooking first side and before flipping.

Favs include: banana, berries, sugar free apple pie filling or sugar free cherry pie filling-so creamy and delish for special indulgences, fresh chopped peaches, dried unsulphured cherries.

Depending on type of fruit I usually top with about two teaspoons ( i estimate)of high grade 100% maple syrup or raw almond butter.

Not too much to say this week. I'm a little tired from traveling home and starting classes last night.

But here's the weekly buzz!

Physique 57 Specials (aka a discount-yes, a bargain-no)

September 1 - September 15, purchase 57 Days of Fitness and receive 57 days of unlimited classes. The investment in your fit and shapely physique is only $750 (that's $23.50 per class if you visit 4 times a week!).

Pair Down Deal
When you and a friend who is new to Physique 57 both take 14 classes within 4 weeks, you receive a few special gifts. One $50 Gift Certificate to Le Pain Quotidien and 10% off your next Physique 57 class package.

Yoga Challenge

Om's Yoga Challenge is back! They challenge you to attend 30 classes in 30 days in October, joining is free, the $139 monthly unlimited class package suggested. Not a bad deal! If you join the class, you get 10% off other special workshops, including Yoga Cook Eat.

http://www.omyoga.com/workshops/2008/03_Challenge.htm

Nike Clearance Picks

Here are a few cute pieces of apparel on clearance at Nike.com!

Nike Base Layer Short Sleeve T-Shirt now just 14.99

Nike Border Tennis Jacket $31 from $65

Nike Knit Acceleration Shorts $13 from $38

Great read of the week: The Perfect Fit from Trying to Heal

I totally related to this because pants NEVER fit me! I have loved wearing skirts and dresses all summer because they always fit and hide everything! But fall is here, and I now have to face putting pants on fresh out of the dryer, which often requires a lot of sucking in, wriggling and hopping! On the bright side, if the worst thing I have to face this fall is tight pants, life's not that bad!

Great info of the week: What is the Best Running Shoe? Very informative article by my fav sports store: Jack Rabbit Sports.
Don't forget to try the Shoe Dog Shoe Finder or the Runner's World Shoe Finder for some running shoe options tailored to you. But always go to the store to test them out before purchasing!

Personal Buzz

I am doing the Fitness Mind Body Spirit Games 4 Mile Race in Central Park tomorrow. And tut tut, it looks like rain, yuck!

I also need to find time for my long run this weekend. I just don't have the energy to do it after work. I don't think I want to run 12 miles in the rain tomorrow. So if it is going to happen, it is looking like early Sunday before a 12:30 brunch.

This is the test to determine if I want to sign up for the Philly full marathon in November. I have a lot on my plate with work (and looking for a new job that involves considerably less soul sucking), school (I have an econ class this semester which is no joke for liberal arts Meliss!) and wanting to have some type of social life! But we shall see, I do love the glory of training and that beautiful finish line.

TGIF Folks!

Race and Wrap up

Thursday: I was really tired from Wednesday's workout, and building my nightstand and barstools, so I went to the gym to escape...a detox workout if you will. I did a very easy 30 minutes on the elliptical and 10 on the bike. Since I wasn't sweaty, I went into the sauna to just relax for about 10 minutes...ahhhh!

Friday: I really only had time to workout in the morning.
I was not an energetic exerciser that morning, lots of yawning on the elliptical. I did 15 elliptical, 15 walking at 5% incline at 4.5 mph, and 5 on the rower. Then 50 squats on the bosu.
I don't think I've mentioned this, but I am quite a bootilicious girl--very disproportionately to the rest of my body, almost comically so, thus I try to tighten as much as possible.

The weather has been SO AMAZING that I have been doing a ton more natural exercise, walking, walking,walking. I can't bear going underground and miss out on the beauty of the day. So I walked about 20 blocks to pick up my lunch from my favorite salad spot Benvenuto, and got an amazing, avocado, spinach, sundried tomato, sprout, edammame, broccoli, cuc and carrot salad with some balsamic and a slice of whole grain bread. Yum, then I hiked back.

I took the subway to NYRR to pick up my race packet, then walked from 5th and 89th (enjoying a glimpse of the Gugg.) to Grand Central to catch the subway. This was a quick walk, the typical NYer walk like your late even if your early. I got to pass my favorite NYC building the GE, formerly RCA Victor Building. I am not sure why it is my fav, but I do love it. I have always been an architecture dork, but building so much furniture (the ikea stuff is barely more than a sapling when you take it out of the box), I appreciate all the detail and work that went into the gorgeous old buildings even more.

So my quick hike home to change did add a bit to my daily exercise tally, but later that night, after 3+ glasses of wine, the elevators weren't really working so I hiked up 20 flights in heels! Luckily my date was a good sport!!! The laughing and talking on the way up really winded me!

Saturday: 30 elliptical, 20 rower (while watching Maria Sharpova kick ass), 20 minutes bike. Later I decided to climb all 29 flights of stairs, since I am no longer in a 3 floor walk up, I think I will do the whole trek every other day to make up for it. Plus, I REALLY want to do the Empire State Building Run Up at some point. I am a nerd!

Sunday-Japan race (4 miles), plus walking from 102nd and the west side to grand central, probably another 4 miles, but incredible SLOWLY.

The race went well, although I arrived a little late, so I literally sprinted to bag drop off to make it to the start line on time. It was pretty funny that the majority of the people on the uptown 6 this morning were doing the race. Why else would anyone be up so early? It has been a sporty subway weekend. It was nice to feel the comraderly though. I have been on quite a few trains that have been completely dominated by METS clothing. I would say 75% of people were wearing at least one METS item, and of those people, 90% were wearing more than one.

Oh yeah, the race. I was able to really focus on form. "I Tiki tiki" as Ramon would say: short strides with little arm swings on the uphills and then wider strides with larger arm swings on the downs and flats. Halfway through I thought to myself that a sugar free Red Bull would have made the race a lot better--lol. The course was the easiest 4 mile loop of the park, 102nd down to 72nd street transverse and back up. The only thing that it made it slightly more difficult was that the uphills were on the second half. Plus it was much sunnier on the east side. It was great that they limited registration, so I didn't feel like I was stepping on anyone. I still feel right in the 50% for my age gender though. :(

It was great to be in the park again, but the cherry blossoms and daffodils that made my heart swell a few weeks ago were gone. When you live in concrete ugliness for too long, flora and fauna is pretty exciting!

I also did some strength at the gym when I got home. Lots of abs (on the ball, mountain climbers, with the medicine ball and on the hanging contraption), a few squats and lunges (very few) and then arms. Wow, I am kind of concerned about how weak my upper body is. After about 2 sets of 15 of about 6 different exercises, my arms were searing. And I could only do 5 push ups easily. I tried to do a second set, but could barely eek it out. I must do some reading on proper arm exercises and work up more strength. I love lean toned arms, so sexy!

I hope everyone had a great weekend with gorgeous weather! xoxo Meliss

Lazy Day and Japan Run Booty

I had full intentions of running to Socrates Sculpture Park and taking one of their free yoga classes this morning. They really have a lot of great offerings:

(On a side note, pretty much all NYC parks have free yoga classes during the summer, so check out websites for nearby offerings--okay, I am lazy today!--I'll get my act together for you guys and do a listing later this week too.)

Yoga in the Park
Saturdays, May 10 - September 27 (rain or shine)
First session: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Second session: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Pilates in the Park
Sundays, May 11 - June 29 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (rain or shine)

Tai Chi in the Park
Sundays, May 11 – September 28 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (rain or shine)

Capoeira in the Park Saturdays, May 10 - September 27 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (rain or shine)

However, I woke up at 6:30am with quite the wine headache and really felt the need to take the morning slow and laze around a bit. Although, if I had known I was going to wake up so early, I would have definitely decided to go out dancing with friends rather than being lame and staying in, so it would have been worth it. I feel as though I am being punished...haha.

I decided to take a stroll down along the piers by the water, I live in Long Island City right on the water's edge. It was incredible, the quiet of the water and the stateliness of the skyline, even though it isn't a sunny day, it was beautiful in it's own way. I also discovered a little garden area that filled me with joy!

There is something about living by the water that I find so restorative for the soul. I always feel more at peace with a greater sense of clarity when I am by the water, even without the sound of the ocean waves lapping onto the beach, it's still quite magical. This is technically my third time living by the water, first on Martha's Vineyard, next for a couple months at the South Street Seaport and now in Long Island City, on each occasion I felt and now feel like literally the luckiest person in the world.

I'll add pictures at some point! But for now I'll put in the view from my bedroom, even on my crappy camera it's pretty cool. I want everyone to move into my building or at least come visit!

This is the Manhattan skyline, my camera really sucks, but you can see the Chrysler Building. This is looking out to Queens with lots of bridges.
This is proof I am in LIC, with the Citibank Building standing tall.

After strolling around the piers, making love to my new neighborhood. I headed up to the roof deck of my building to read some magazines. I was all alone, which was quite a switch from last night when the cabanas were hopping and the vino was flowing. I am not sure which I prefer, although I definitely appreciated the "me time" today!

I'll definitely head to the gym at some point today, but first I think I will tackle building some more furniture, hanging pictures and curtain rods and the never ending organizing process. I will NEVER move again. Famous last words.

In other news, I am doing the Japan Run tomorrow. I went to pick up my race packet yesterday, since the race starts at 8am (Why?) and they aren't doing day of packet distribution (why?) and NYRR is on 89th (why?) so I didn't want to be forced to make a trip uptown if I ended up having afternoon plans today. Anyways, usually I don't really pick up anything except my shoe chip (which records your time) and the bib (so they know you are not a bandit runner), but this race seemed to have quite the mother load of goodies, so I figured I might as well pick up the jam-packed tote, compliments of Mitsubishi.

I thought I would share. If you have never run a race, sign up for a 5k, it's always fun to get free stuff and there is no need to be intimidated. Short runs are for all levels, and serious runners rarely waste their time with community runs, there are just too many people to get a good time.

In the bag: Chocolate Peanut Butter Soyjoy bar. I hear they are pretty gross, but my curiosity will probably get the better of me.

The T-shirt. Definitely don't need another t-shirt, but it's kind of cute and unlike most race t-shirts, not MASSIVE.
There was also this really big electrolyte fuel stuff. I really don't think I could take this much substance without gagging. Plus, it's only 70 cals total (really?) which defeats the purpose of having a quick source of energy on the run. I am not impressed.This is actually really awesome, a Zagat guide to the best Japanese restaurants in the US!
Water bottle, can't have too many.A laptop case?
Lots of info on running and marathons in Japan.

The important stuff. Shoe chip and safety pins--always forget them!


And the bib!

Happy Saturday. I'll let you know how the race goes tomorrow.