Trail Running

I ran through the woods with my 14-year-old niece this summer. She is working to improve her speed on what will generally be 2-mile trail courses this fall. Although I could barely keep up with her pace (she had to circle back a few times to make sure I hadn't taken a wrong turn), I encouraged her to do one more lap than she usually does. So in the end, we both had a great workout!

I'll be away for two weeks starting tomorrow, so I'm really going to have to think about how I'll work in all my runs while I'm travelling. It won't be easy, but I'll pack my running gear so that I'll be ready!

Running Up the West Side

Here are some of my favorite things about running up the West Side:

• The boats moored at the 72nd Street Marina
• Memories of the dotcom party at the restaurant above
• The awe-inspiring Intrepid
• The chance to see cruise ships pulling in and out
• The natural grass plantings - so reminiscent of the beach grasses where I grew up.
• All the boardwalk choices (I try a different path every day)
• Running next to the Hudson River.
• The wonderfully maintained flower gardens south of 90th St.
• Conquering the uphill climb to Central Park

One more day to go...

I've been enjoying my runs along the Hudson River. Too bad I only have one more day to go (I'm running home from dropping my child at camp; once camp is over, I'll go back to my usual places - there will be no need to go all the way to the west side).

Today's Race

I felt a bit laden down from last night's take-out Chinese food. I'm not sure if it was the salt or the MSG (or maybe I just ate too much), but I felt bloated all night and this morning. So it was a real effort to make it through the 4 miles. Still, I had my best pace so far this year, so at least I feel good about that!

Looking forward to a day off...

It's been a long time since I've run three days in a row (I've been trying to go out every other day) and I felt the effects of a bit of fatigue today. So I'm looking forward to NOT running tomorrow so that I'll have fresh legs for Saturday's race.

Central Park Run

I am planning to participate in the Run for Central Park race on Saturday and so have been thinking about my plan for the race. I find that it helps to think in advance about what I will eat and drink before, during, and after the race. I also check out the race course - even though this is in Central Park where I run regularly, I like to think about exactly where I will start and finish and (in this case anyway) look forward to all the downhill slopes. Whenever possible, I pick up my number and chip the day before the race, so I don't have to show up early just to wait around at the start. Thinking about all these details in advance helps calm any nerves I have on race day.

Cheap Gear

I'm always looking for inexpensive running gear (especially these days when I'm trying to live like a tightwad). It can be hard to find though, especially women's running shorts with a pocket at a decent price. So I was pleased to see Runners' World's round-up of the best bargain running gear in the latest issue of the magazine. Here are items I'll be considering for future purchases:

• Champion Double Dry Sport Short ($20)
• Danskin Medium Density socks ($2.50)
• C9 by Champion Seamless Racerback Bra ($17)
• Fruit of the Loom V-neck Racerback Bra ($14)

Of course I'll also continue to check out end of season sales at my local running store.

Two Days; Two Runs

I usually run in the morning when the weather is cooler and I haven't gotten bogged down with the details of the day yet. Because of scheduling flukes, both Friday's run and today's were in late afternoon instead. But they couldn't have been more different.

Friday's run was an exhilarating 3-miler along the East River. I felt good and ran considerably faster than my usual pace. I could smell the salt air from the harbor and the barbecues from families enjoying the gorgeous weather. All was right with the world.

Today, my 4-miler in Central Park was a chore. My legs felt heavy and I had no energy. The smell of hot dogs from the food vendors was nauseating. I couldn't wait to be done with it.

I probably won't run again until Tuesday, when I'm hoping to run on the West Side. Let's hope it's more like Friday's than today's.

"I Might Die"

When I read the blurb in today's NY Times about a race in which organizers have participants sign a waiver that asserts "I might die," I thought of the tragic death of the Olympian marathon hopeful in Central Park last year, the increase in hyponatremia among road race participants, and the fear of heart attacks that caused NYC's Corporate Challenge to become more of a spring than summer event. But I didn't immediately imagine that folks are actually creating events with the hopes of gaining the title as the "world's toughest race." You can add this to the list of events, like ultra marathons, which I am unlikely to ever attempt!

Faster, not further

I've been working on my speed lately, running shorter distances at a faster pace. Not only do I want to avoid the knee issues that have plagued me in the past, but I'm hoping to have a much better time when I run the NYC marathon again next year.

I'm also trying to watch what I eat more carefully. To help me, I've been logging my progress on Thoughts.com. The positive feedback, and the knowledge that people are watching, should serve as a good motivator.