Running in the Drizzle

I finally ran today. I think I did about 4 miles. I say this because my Garmin did not locate until about 15 or 16 mins on the page. As you can see below, the green start a little further north than the stop. Still, I'm glad I got out there. Better to run, than not run. And I won't be running tomorrow, so it was now or never.

The Lazy Streak Continues

I need to start running regularly. I need to start running regularly. I need to start running regularly. I need to start running regularly. I need to start running regularly. I need to start running regularly. I need to start running regularly.

Do you see a theme here?
I last ran on Saturday. What have I done since then? Baked cupcakes.

How Long Does it Take to Run Up the Empire State Bldg?

10 minutes and 28 seconds. The winner of the Empire State Building Run-up traveled up 86 stories in 10:28. It was not the winner's best time, which was 10:10.

Heel Striker or Forefoot Striker?

A couple of years ago I read the book Born to Run. It was essentially a book about why runners get injured, yet this tribe in Mexico has always been great distance runners, seemingly unhampered by injury. For me, it was the first time I had really thought about how my foot lands. Personally, I don't think I'm a fast enough runner to be effected, but after reading the book, I did run out and buy a pair of nike frees. (I was hoping to work up to the vibram five finger shoes, which look like gloves for your feet, but didn't.)
It's supposed to help a runner change or be more aware of their foot strike. Anyway, I've stuck with my conventional running shoes, because I was getting pain from the transition and, with marathons last year and the year before, I didn't want to mess with too much change.

An article in the New York Times is making me reconsider. A study based on data from Harvard's track team found that heel strikers were more prone to injury - a twofold greater risk. It might be time to really change and make sure I'm a forefoot striker.

4 Mile Morning Run

I actually got up early and ran today. It was a beautiful day for a run. I was motivated by the fast time I had at Sunday's race, but also because I did some baking and I needed to burn the calories!

NYRR Gridiron Classic

It was a chilly start to the Gridiron Classic 4 miler. There were plenty of Giants fans on hand, as well as some Patriots fans. I even saw some Jets jerseys represented. Despite being cold, I did manage to run faster than I had in a long time. It was a U-shaped course this time, and I liked it. You get most of the hills done in the first two miles. But Central Park is hilly, regardless. As I told NM, for every downhill there is an uphill out there.

My running buddy for this race was NM. She hadn't really done any training for this run, but she was zipping along. It was really impressive! It's going to be good for me to run with some faster than me. I did today's race in 40:55 (chip time). I haven't run that fast in awhile. It felt good.

I started out slow, but each mile I got faster. The last mile was a sub 10 minute. Not bad considering how crowded the course was. I don't think we every really got out of the pack.

In honor of Super Bowl Sunday, and the name of the race, there was a football toss ahead of the race start. So, I threw the ball, not far, but I threw it.

Here are the shirts of the races I've run this year.

Still Being Lazy

I didn't run today. Was definitely less productive than yesterday, but I did start writing about some of my Seoul trip. I will be good tomorrow. I will!!!!

It's Official...

I'm a NYC Marathon finisher!

It's still a bit frustrating that I don't have any splits, but at least I won't have to put an asterisk by my Year of 13.1!

I wish I still didn't want to finish in under 4:30!

Manhattan Half Marathon

Last year, this half was the coldest one I ran. This year, it sold out so quickly that I didn't have a chance to run it. So, instead I volunteered at the race.

It wasn't as cold as last year, but it snowed and the race was not canceled. It was turned into an unscored race.

I have to give props to all the people that ran it. It looked tough.

It made volunteering seem easy in comparison. It also makes me think that instead of procrastinating, as I always do. I should go out and run today.

ChiliFest 2012

I haven't been doing much running, so what did I do instead? I went to NYChiliFest 2012. It was a lot of fun. And there was a lot of chili: texas-style, hand cut meat, spicy, really spicy, really really spicy, unusual (tripe chili anyone?). You get the point. Some were really good. The winner - La Palapa - was one of my favorites of the night - the chef talked about all the different ways she used chili - dry, fresh, rub. It was spicy, but yummy. Dickson's, which donated the meat, made a very spicy chili that I could barely eat, especially since I didn't have any water to wash it down with, only beer. This was just a sampling of the chilis I tried. There were a lot more that I didn't take pictures of.