Category: Runs

Today I did a short run over the bridge and into Manhattan. It was 3.31 miles at a 7:09 pace. I was really goading myself, trying to memorize the feelings of going fast on the Queensboro Bridge for Sunday, when I’ll cross it again for the NYC Marathon. My strategy, if I can handle it, is to push up the bridge, and once I’ve hit Standpipe 4 where the bridge levels off, to push myself still on the flat surface, then really push myself downhill. Granted, this is somewhere around 15 miles into the race so that might not be available to me, but the hope was that memorizing the feelings of speed may help me lock better into that pace one amounting.

Here are today’s deets:

I stopped where I did to catch the subway to pick up a package at my old work. The pressure of my old work closing helped push me to go fast, in addition to the logic of intense training the two weeks before a marathon.

I haven’t really been able to exploit the intense-training principle this year. Tuesday and Wednesday I was on a commercial with long hours in challenging cold, and while it was a commercial as a runner and got to run, I didn’t really run for training benefit from what I estimate. I did, however, get to collect some rest. These last couple weeks have been brutal on me. I’ve been working every day for about 17 days straight (if you include the conference I attended), and I’ve been doing it on 4-6 hours of sleep most of those times. Tuesday night I got about 9 hours of sleep, and today I got in a nap in addition to a nice night’s sleep.

Not working today means more time to focus. I barely know what I’m up against for the NYC Marathon, having simply opened my race packet. I’ll attend the expo Friday or Saturday. I’ll do some planning tonight. I’ll get my mind about this. I’ll figure out a goal pace and see what it will take and if I can manage. At this point, my training has been so erratic, it’s much too hard to predict my finishing time. I think I’ll beat my finishing time for my last NYC Marathon (3:28:03), which was done in 7:56s 5 years ago. I’m a better runner than then, at least I think. Will I qualify for Boston again? I’d have to do a 3:15. It’s really hard to say. Wish me luck.

This evening after the general semantics symposium ended, I went for a 10.01-mile run. The headwind was strong which made me more aggressive as I fought its effects. I only ran 7:28s, but I felt faster than that. Actually, in looking at my other 10-milers, today’s was faster than many of the recent ones! Here are the deets:

My legs and cardiovascular system felt pretty good. I ran shirtless in 47-degree weather, which was “crazy” I know but exhilarating. Before I had an ArginMax and quercetin as well as a PowerGel. After, I had penne a la vodka with chicken.

It’s hard to make out what 7:28s mean over that course. The NYC Marathon is a week away. Am I scared? Yes, I’m scared. I’m busy and it’s hard to find time for everything. It’s hard to find time for adequate rest. I’m so wrapped up into a schedule that is somewhat out of my control, and training is demanding. I’m just keeping on. I don’t know what to set my goal time as. Stay tuned.

This morning I eked out another training run before my calltime! I got up at 5:15am to squeeze out 10 miles over the Queensboro Bridge and around Central Park. I did much slower than what I felt (7:44s), though I did do considerably faster than yesterday (8:05s). My legs, particularly around the back of my ankles near my Achilles, felt stiff but manageable. I think the high humidity played a factor in my recent slow speeds, though certainly the dip in my training has had some impact. For example, over a month ago I covered this same route in about the same temperature in less time, though the humidity may have been much less. Still, it’s remarkable I could even get this run in in light of my intense schedule right now, which when I think of it nearly makes me want to cry. Here are today’s deets:

I’ve been dosing up on ArginMax and quercetin like last year, and I did for today’s run, too. I also had 1 ibuprofen. My shoes seem to me close to shot or beyond shot, and I’m trying to figure out if I’m going to receive my new Mizunos in time for the NYC Marathon so I can test them out.

Yesterday was around 70, today 64, but they felt about the same, and didn’t feel all that humid, honestly–just wet.

There isn’t much more to report outside of just getting in this darn run. It was dark nearly the entire run, so that was kinda cool. Now, onto the next thing to do today!