Manhattan Half Marathon

Central Park 8am.
Temperature 14 degrees.
4500 runners.

I guess 500 people stayed home tucked in bed under warm blankets where the other 4500 belonged. Funny it didn't feel that cold. That's because after about 10 minutes of standing in the corral waiting to start your extremities go numb. It's an odd feeling. You're body is in motion but you can't quite feel it. You know the feeling when your foot falls asleep then you try to walk on it? That's kinda what it feels like but with no feeling.

So I didn't set any goals for this half today. I had to run 15 miles total so I was just going to run 1 mile before and 1 after. I got there in plenty of time to do that but refused to get out of the warm car and get to the start line. I also spent a lot of time debating what to wear, what not to wear, etc. I finally headed over to the start line at 7:45. Race started at 8am. The first mile I was seriously mad I didn't wear my ski mask. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out which was more numb, my face or my toes. Everything pretty much thawed and feeling was restored by mile 3. Alright, now we're having fun! So I trudged along with no problems after that. It was funny seeing people with icicles hanging off of their hair from the sweat! Crazy! At the water tables the water was frozen on the tables with icicles hanging off them. Poor volunteers out there today!

So back to trudging along and who do I pass around mile 9? Hoda Kotb from the today show and breast cancer survivor. Read her story here-http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26967472/ She was just running along on the opposite lane for non-racers with a huge smile on her face. I thought to myself if I pass her again I'm gonna yell out to get rid of Mario Cantone as guest host. That guy's voice just makes me want to jump off a ledge. Don't you love when you get distractions like this during a race? Before I knew it I was coming into the 13th mile. On my Ipod Beyonce decides she's gonna bring me home. "All the single ladies, put your hands up. Oh, oh, oh!" Love that song! Thanks Gabygoo!

13.1 miles in 1:56:04. Not too shabby for not racing it! I cross the finish line, remove my chip and turn around for two more miles. When I'm done I get my chocolate chip bagel (cause that's the real reason I dragged my butt 25 miles from my warm bed to run in 14 degrees and might I add had about 30% less chocolate chips this year!) and head back to my warm car. Hoping of course it's still there. It is New York City afterall.

To run or not to run, that is the question.

Sunday Morning weather? 17°F Feels Like 7°F.

Not bad if you aren't still recovering from a cold and ear infection. Fortunately I've had frostbite in the past so I know the signs & symptoms should I have any.

Supposedly there are 5000 registered runners for this half marathon. These die hard NYRR's will be there no doubt. If only 4,899 runners didn't show up I may have a chance to place. Hey a girl can dream right?

You talkin' to ME?

I often run past this church at the beginning of my runs. In the past I've seen running references on the sign. This is the most recent one. I sometimes wonder if the pastor is trying to speak to me. I mean come on, who else runs past this church? I don't care what Pastor Bob says. I'm running-ALL THE TIME!

DEDICATION

14.5 miles in a snowstorm. Do I feel like superwoman or what? I have to say that running in snow is akin to running on sand. I have a feeling this is gonna hurt a little bit. 15 wks left to the New Jersey Marathon! After next week I officially start the long runs cause ya know 14.5 ain't long according to Mr. Pfitz!

Baby it's cold outside!

Well not as cold as it has been. 30 degrees beats the 16 degrees we had just 3 days ago. What a difference. Per Pete Pfitzinger's 18/55 plan (18 wks with a 55mile weekly cap) I ran 4 miles today. http://www.roadtoboston.com/djapps/trainingPlans/genPDF/5/displayStartDay/6/planStartDay/6/Miles/schedule.pdf

Tomorrow is my a scheduled "medium" long run of 12 miles. Pfitz doesn't consider it a long run unless it's 17 miles or longer. I have mucho respect for Pfitz. It has definately made me faster. The question is how much faster can I get? I'm gonna tweak this plan to a 60 mile weekly cap. Because going to 70 is just nuts! Wait, I am nuts!

Confessions of a blog stalker

I'm gonna come clean and admit to being a blog whore. Yeah I stalk bloggers, on a daily basis. What is this fascination with blogging I wonder? I'm the person who never journaled or even kept a diary so this should be interesting. For any stalkers who may be interested I'm probably gonna bore your details about my running life. Be prepared. Occasionally I'll throw in some other fun stuff, be prepared as well!