The NYC Insider's guide to the NYC running is inspired by the thoughts and experiences of a New Yorker who has run the NYC Marathon twice and is now training for 5 Half Marathons - one in each of the five boroughs.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Yeah for Yoga!
There was no question that Sunday's run bothered my aching left knee. But miraculously, doing the stretches in a televised yoga workout yesterday afternoon made me feel much, much better! I'll have to admit that as I was breathing and stretching I didn't think much of my first attempt at yoga, but once I finished and realized how great I felt, I was incredibly impressed!
I awoke yesterday, race day, to pouring rain, thunder and occasional flashes of lightning. My heart sank. I had known that there was a threat of thundershowers, but I hadn't expected to see them before I even headed out the door!
I quickly dressed, snarfed down a half bowl of cheerios and a little orange juice, grabbed an old umbrella and rain jacket (items I wouldn't mind disposing of as I ran) and headed out.
When I got there I found more bad news: my assigned line-up position was approximately a mile north of the start line, meaning that if we did the usual shuffle up to the front, it would be about 20 minutes after the horn sounded before I'd actually do any running. Considering I was already a 1/2 hour early, I resigned myself to quite a while of waiting around.
Despite all these ominous signs at the beginning, though, the race went rather well. While I didn't achieve the pace I had hoped for, I still finished well under the 3 hour limit and felt rather good afterward. I stopped for fluids more than I usually do in race conditions, but boy did that Gatorade taste great as the miles went by! I loved the bands, the spirit and signs from the crowds, the quirkiness of some of the runners (one juggled three balls as he ran, another dribbled a basketball), and the dedication of the volunteers.
I was almost overcome with emotion to the point of tears as I left Central Park and started up 7th Avenue, seeing the street closed off just for us and the lines of spectators who were there to cheer us on. About halfway along the avenue, volunteers handed out cool sponges which I used to wipe the sweat off my face and neck -- it felt wonderful!
By the 11th mile, my knee was really bothering me and I walked longer than usual after my Gatorade break. Big mistake. I should have remembered from my 8-miler how deadly a long stop can be and it hurt tremendously when I started up again, and probably took well over 200 meters before I regained my grove. I must be aware of this on marathon day: if I just keep plugging along, even at a slow jog, I will be far better off than if I try to walk it out.
I saw my family just before the finish. I had been a little worried that I would miss them since I had called to tell them to hold off since I had expected quite a delay to my start (but ended up going over the tape less than 3 minutes after the horn). I was so proud and happy that they were there!
It felt good to be done and to know that I can do it. It gives me great confidence for November!!
Before I go, I must remember to take some Ibuprofen and Glucosamine Chondroitin plus put a little Ben Gay on the still-offending knee. Wearing a little sun screen is a good idea, too. I also need to eat something sustaining and have something to drink.
I've received an increasing amount of advice as my first half-marathon approaches. Here's a round-up:
Mind the heat. The high on Sunday is predicted to be 86 F and although we'll be running early in the day (the horn sounds at 7 am; we are supposed to be in our corrals by 6:30 am), heat exhaustion could still be problematic. There will be misting stations and plenty of beverages (both water and Gatorade) throughout the course. I'm told there will even be "iced towels" at the finish. I've heard that keeping your neck cool is a good way to keep your core temperature down.
Wear sunscreen and a hat. I've been doing this anyway because at this point in my life, a red, peeling face is the last thing I need (plus those "smile lines" are becoming more and more apparent).
Eat something halfway for a burst of energy. I really struggle with this one. I've tried energy bars and goo and I just don't think I could stomach either during the midst of a race. For the moment, my plan remains eating before and after but not necessarily during. I will count on the Gatorade for energy and hope it will give me the get-up-and-go I need to finish on time.
Drink enough but not too much. I usually think about hydration in terms of daily intake instead of what I drink during a workout. I plan to make sure I'm well hydrated going into the race and then drink only when I'm thirsty - not at every station - and even then only a few mouthfuls at a time to avoid stomach discomfort.
Enjoy the finish. I definitely plan to do this!
Nike appears to be a big sponsor of the race (which is why I picked up race materials at Niketown yesterday) and results will be posted at their web site.
I picked up my number and chip for Sunday's half-marathon and got so excited about the whole thing that I decided to finalize the song list I'll have on my ipod. Here it is:
Let's Get It Started by Black Eyed Peas
Baby Got Going by Liz Phair
Hey Baby by No Doubt
It's My Life by No Doubt
Just A Girl by No Doubt
Don't Speak by No Doubt
Running by No Doubt
That's The Way It Is by Celine Dion
I Drove All Night by Celine Dion
I'm Alive by Celine Dion
A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton
Whenever, Wherever by Shakira
Objection (Tango) by Shakira
Beautiful Liar (Album Version) by Beyonce/Shakira
Livin' La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin
Vacation by The Go-Go's
Tonite by The Go-Go's
Go - 2006 by Moby
Gloria by Laura Branigan
Get On Your Feet by Gloria Estefan
Rhythm Is Gonna Get You by Gloria Estefan
Forever And For Always by Shania Twain
Bless The Broken Road by Rascal Flatts
You Are Loved [Don't Give Up] by Josh Groban
Invincible (Theme From "The Legend Of Billie Jean") by Pat Benatar
Bleed It Out by Linkin Park
Run by Ben Kweller
Breathe (2 Am) by Anna Nalick
Don't Look Back by Boston
One Step At A Time (Main Version) by Jordin Sparks
My excitement for Sunday's race is building. I am thinking that perhaps tomorrow I will mosey down to Niketown to pick up my number, scoring chip, and participant shirt (and whatever other goodies are available). There is no race day pick-up and since I am cutting back on my training (so as to have "fresh legs"), I should have time.
My eight miles today is the longest I'll do before the 1/2 marathon on Sunday. I had hoped to have more long runs in and more distance achieved, but this will have to do. I just feel happy that my knee made it ok!
I didn't set out to train for the marathon as a way to lose weight, but I certainly expected that it would be a byproduct. So why am I finding that I've actually gained a few pounds in the last month or so? It's getting worrisome enough that I'm thinking of taking drastic action. I've always been a big fan or carbs and so don't think I could go completely carb-less a la Atkins, but I am thinking of trying Wendy Chant's "carb-shifting" plan which alternates "carb down" and "carb up" days and promises dramatic weight loss similar to Atkins and extreme fasting programs. My plan is to shift to this after the big 1/2 marathon on Sunday. I'm really a believer in the so-called Mediterranean diet, but am hoping that some fast results will boost my spirits and get me back on track for better eating longer-term.
With just over a week to go before the big race, I've started to get more serious about managing my knee pain. Bought new sneakers that are supposed to offer better cushioning, have started to take nasty smelling Glucosamine & Chondroitin capsules, am trying a new knee brace (my third) and bought some Ben-gay and Aspercreme. I remain optimistic that if all else fails, I bear the pain as long as possible and walk it out when I can't.
I started out early for my run this morning. The day is supposed to get quite hot and I wanted to be sure to get my miles in before the heat became oppressive. I noticed right away that my ipod battery was low, but often I've found that I can still listen for an hour or so even when the battery light glows red. But today it was not to be. Less than a mile out, I was out of tunes! I had great hopes of completing the run anyway, and made a valiant effort to do so, but ultimately, I found it was just too hard to run without my musical motivation, and I cut off the last few miles, vowing to do better tomorrow.
As my 1/2 marathon approaches, the NYRR club's emails seem to become more frequent. But I don't mind: the latest email had plenty to get me excited for the big day (even if my knees still hurt dreadfully during my runs). Here is some of the latest:
Before the Race Runners must pick up their race materials at Niketown (rather than going to the NYRR offices as we usually do, or picking them up on site). But this could be a good thing, since we are promised that there will be more than race numbers and scoring chips at Niketown, like info sessions, and chances to meet VIPs.
Course Entertainment We're told that dozens of bands, DJs, and dance troupes will perform along the course to keep runners energized and entertained. From swing and jazz to rock and gypsy punk, there will be something for everyone. And if we look up when running along Broadway at 43rd Street, we might even catch ourselves on the live WABC-TV telecast of the race on the Jumbotron.
Post-race Festival Usually there are bagels and apples, but apparently this time the hard-earned treats include Jamba Juice smoothies, Nike shoe trials, music, the awards ceremony, professional athlete meet-and-greet and raffle drawings.
At last I was up to 4 miles yesterday with minimal pain (although I feel a few twinges in my knee this morning). While it is still a far cry from the 13.1 I need to do on the 27th, it is definitely a step in the right direction. My plan for the week is bike ride today, run again tomorrow (4-5 miles), cross-train again on Thursday (swimming perhaps?), and then see if I can finally manage the 6-mile Central Park loop on Friday.
I got an email reminder about the NYC Half-Marathon today, which described it thus:
"The NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE will take place Sunday, July 27, on a spectacular course that starts in Central Park, runs through Times Square, crosses 42nd Street to the West Side Highway, and finishes at Battery Park with a view of the Statue of Liberty."
It sounds wonderful! Now if only my knee will cooperate enough so that I feel confident that I can do it!
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