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TRAINING RECAP – WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 7, 2015

Happy Monday you guys!

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In order to help make this Monday a bit better, I’m sharing the winner of the Timex Ironman GPS+ giveaway at the end of this post. That ensures that at least one person ends this day feeling like it’s Christmas in September! Speaking of which, there are 16 Fridays until Christmas but that is a topic for a whole different post. OMG.

Instead of dwelling on that let’s talk the upcoming running fun and last week’s workouts.

I’m so excited that Reach the Beach week has finally arrived! Wednesday evening I’m heading up to Boston with Team New Balance for a tour of the New Balance headquarters followed by the 200 mile relay race through New Hampshire on Friday and Saturday! It’s going to be a great weekend with lots of new friends but man oh man is there a lot of work to do between now and Wednesday at 6pm when my out of office goes up.

Last week’s training wasn’t perfect but I know that with all the running I’ll do this week, it was the perfect week to play it smart. I felt a slight twinge in my left hip Friday afternoon which caused me to skip this week’s tempo run in favor of a yoga class. Luckily foam rolling, ice and a little bit of rest left it feeling better.

Just a reminder, my goal is to do one yoga class and two strength workouts in addition to my weekly runs while also allowing for at least one recovery day.

September 7-13th, 2015 Training Recap

Monday:  I felt every ounce of beer that I drank during the holiday weekend as I completed my “easy” 3 mile run which never felt easy. But, after procrastinating all day, I was proud that I finally went out for a run at 5 pm.

Tuesday: The 60 minute Bar Method class was a killer as it combined pretzel with chair at the barre but after just three classes I can feel myself becoming accustomed to the moves and getting into the poses with more precision. We did three sets of push-ups and I was able to do 42 of the 60 on my hands and feet which definitely gives me something to work towards! If anyone wants to join me for a Bar Method Brooklyn class this month, let me know! I’m loving it so far!

Wednesday:  I’m still trying to figure out the best mid-distance route in our neighborhood but the 5 mile route ended we put together for this easy run was perfect. We ran down towards the waterfront and did three miles down there before running back towards home. I’m definitely making sure that I allow five minutes before and after my run for dynamic stretches and foam rolling.

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Thursday: Scheduling workout dates is the best way to ensure that I don’t push snooze on my morning alarm and get my workout done. I had the pleasure of sweating through a 6:30 AM Uplift Sculpt Fusion class with Theodora, Ashley, Evann, and Jess.

Friday: Due to our weekend schedule, Bo and I knew that getting our long run done on Friday was the best option. We woke up at 4:15 AM in order to squeeze in 11 miles before work. The 11 mile run included two bridges and plenty of hills, perfect training for New Hampshire’s many hills during this weekend’s Reach the Beach relay.

Saturday: Before an afternoon of wedding dress shopping with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law, I headed to Bar Method for my first Saturday morning class. I didn’t love how crowded the class was but Katie did a great job still ensuring that she gave everyone personal adjustments. Even in the crowded class she gave me helpful adjustments for my left hip twinge and helped me get deeper into the stretches at the end.

Sunday: I was supposed to do a tempo run Sunday morning but played it smart and went to the complimentary Lululemon yoga instead. I love the weekly yoga offered at Smith Street Lululemon each Sunday at 9 AM and even brought two friends and my sister-in-law and mother-in-law this week!  The 60 minute class included lots of standing poses but it helped provide us with some zen before another day of dress shopping.

Your turn: If you’ve run a relay race, what tips would you give me and my team before we pack for the weekend?

The giveaway winner is Jennifer Apfel! Congratulations! Please email me with your contact information.   

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A Hilly New York City Training Run

This morning we were going to be running our first race in Vermont, the Maple Leaf Half Marathon.

Unfortunately due to adult priorities like work, we had to change our plans last minute and stay in town this weekend.

dont make me adult

Instead of running a half marathon through the lush mountains of Vermont, we ran 11 miles yesterday morning in honor of 9/11. We used bridges to simulate hills and ran through both Brooklyn and Manhattan to switch things up a bit.

Our morning started at the way too early hour of 4:15 when our alarms went off, signaling that it was time to get dressed and chug some coffee before heading out the door. Luckily we both bounced right out of bed thanks to the previous night’s 9:45 bed time.

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You know what makes delicious long run fuel? Homemade banana bread muffins with a smear of almond butter.

By 4:45 we were out the door, keeping a 9:45 pace as we headed towards our first bridge of the morning: the Brooklyn Bridge. We carried a handheld water bottle and one pack of Honey Stinger chews with us to fuel our run. Our goal for the run was to maintain a steady pace, include some hills and test fueling methods.

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Running over the Brooklyn Bridge while New York City was still engulfed in darkness and a dense haze was very ominous until we hit the midway point on the bridge and saw the American flag waving in the darkness. Tears came to our eyes as took a moment to appreciate all the city has provided to us and gave quiet thanks to those people who lost their lives on September 11th.

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After exiting the Brooklyn Bridge we headed north on the East River Path towards the Williamsburg Bridge. The path was empty except for a few people heading home from bars and a few cyclists. We headed back over towards Brooklyn via the Williamsburg Bridge which is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world at 1.4 miles. I forgot how wide the path is on this bridge versus the other ones in NYC – what a treat!

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Once we arrived back in Brooklyn we ran through Williamsburg, BedStuy, Crown Heights, Park Slope, Gowanus and back to Carroll Gardens. The gentle incline never seemed to end and as each mile passed my legs screamed just a bit louder.

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We were able to talk during the entire run while maintaining a pace around the 9:40 range until the final two miles which were downhill, allowing us to flush out the legs and keep a sub 9 minute pace!

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This was a weekday personal distance record for Bo, as historically he would have rolled over and gone back to sleep, saying he’d do the longer distance on the weekend. Instead, he was able to experience the Friday morning runner’s high as he walked through the office at 8am, explaining to people that he’d already finished his long run.

Some people think we’re crazy to wake up this early but at the end of the day, it allows us to train for a half marathon without impacting our social plans. We both love being able to squeeze in social workout dates on the weekend without worrying about our run. This morning I’m taking a Bar Method class with a girlfriend while he can go on a long ride.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

 

 

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A Great NYC Summer Run

You know those runs that go exactly as planned? Everything clicks and you feel as if you could run forever? Luckily, that is what Bo and I enjoyed yesterday morning.

I don’t think it was a coincidence that we enjoyed a strong, fast run yesterday. Unlike week’s past, we set ourselves up for success.

Friday night we cooked together, whipping up a delicious Frutti di Mare and spent a few hours watching Orange is the New Black and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. We both foam rolled and stretched before going to bed at 10pm. Yes, we went to bed on a Friday night at 10pm and it was glorious.

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Even though our alarm clock went off at 6am, far earlier than either of us would like on a Saturday, we felt rested and refreshed. We sipped on some NUUN, coffee and had a few bites of bread and peanut butter before heading out the door 30 minutes later.

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We chose to run early on Saturday for three reasons: avoid crowds, avoid heat and get it done before we headed out of town for the day.

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We created a great path which allowed us to enjoy both the water views and breeze off the Hudson River as well as NYC’s Summer Streets. On three consecutive Saturdays, August 1st, 8th and 15th, NYC shuts down seven miles of streets so the public and tourists alike may bike, run, walk and play in the streets from 7am until 1pm.

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It is AWESOME and includes five rest stops, outdoor yoga, bike tune-ups, a Vita Coco sponsored slip and slide, as well as music and lots of other great activities.

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Yesterday morning’s run was such a blast. Since we were rested, the miles came far easier than last week’s long run. Our goal was to keep a 9:45-9:50 for the first seven miles and then drop the pace for the final mile. Due to rested legs, proper fueling and perfect weather we were able to finish the 8 miles at an 9:26 pace including the final mile at an 8:02 pace!

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Hope you guys had a great weekend and remember, if your run doesn’t go well take a few minutes to think about how you can make it better next time! Our goal for the next few weeks is to make sure we are well rested for long runs!

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