Running Along the Thames

In August and September, I did a lot of traveling and running. I didn't travel to run this year as much as last, but since I've been marathon training and I had different things to do in different cities I used the runs to see a bit of where city/town I was in. First up was Henley on Thames in the middle of August.

My friend GF and her husband spend a year in this bucolic town. It really, really lovely (as the Brits would say). The town center was bustling and there were food stands in the middle of the square with everything from paella to pimms cups. (The pimms cup was yummy.)

They live right along the Thames, which has a trail running along side. It was a no brainer where I was going to run. I got a preview of it the night before, when GF and I walked along.

It was a warm weekend and people were actually swimming in the Thames. (I had asked GF if people did, and she said no. Then about 100 feet further up people were jumping in!) What was really great though was seeing all the activity in the Thames -- the different boats and even ducks rocking the '80's mohawk.

But I think my favorite was the car boat. I couldn't figure out how it worked. I guess it's like those duck boat tours, but I wasn't sure.  The fact is though it still looked so much like a car and so little like a boat. I kind of imagined it as a car driving through a flooded road -- except for the fact that if it was flooded that car would have stalled out and been stuck there.

Anyway, it was pretty. I woke up early on Sunday and went up the path to the locks. It was fun and the trail even turned into a bridge across the lock/Thames twice. The running path then took the form of a dirt path with lots of high grass surrounding it. There was even a tent with some people sleeping inside it I imagine. But I turned around and went the other way.

A 1980s music festival was happening that weekend as well and the path went right along the festival grounds. So I was dodging people in their finest '80s get up. It wasn't a paved path, but a dirt path so I took it kind of easy. But I also had fun just people watching -- the festival, the other runners, and even the swimmers. Yes, swimmers! There was a swimming race of some sort.

It was fun to see. I ran a little bit faster than they swimmers swam, not surprisingly. But as I mentioned earlier, there are locks -- apparently there are 45 locks in total along the Thames River. So the swimmers would get out of the water walk a bit and get back into the other side of the lock and then start swimming again.

I think it was the Bridge to Bridge Henley Swim. The date and time work out. Anyway, I ran past another lock and then the trail went through more high grass so I hit a one lane road for about half a mile and then turned around and headed back.

It was warm and I only had a bottle of water. I thought it better safe than sorry. It was still a beautiful run and a nice way for me to see a bit of the English countryside.

Yes, I've Been Runing...But You'd Never Know It

It's been awhile since I posted. I haven't stopped running. I just haven't been keeping good track of it. That needs to change. And I've taken some steps to ensure that it will. I signed up for a marathon training group.

As some of you know, I'd been toying with the idea of getting a coach for awhile. I asked around and a couple were recommended. I spoke with them and chose one. He runs a marathon training group and thought that might offer a good mix for me: group runs with some individual sessions.

This weekend's long run was 9 miles. That should have been nothing for me. But the weather was hot and humid and  I don't know, it just wrecked me. I walked during this run. It was bad. And my legs are killing me. I don't know what happened. The week before the 7.5 mile run was a cake walk.

Running the Bridle Path with a Run Group

After almost a year, I finally made it to a NYC Run Group -- The Running Co. at Colombus Circle. The loop they did was something they called the lollipop. You run up the bridle path (the stick) and then circle the Reservoir (the lolli part). It was fun to learn a new party. (Of course Garmin didn't pick me up until I hit the Res), but as with my previous run group experience, I lagged far behind. In fact, so far behind that when they went around the res, the went clockwise. I didn't know any better and went counter-clockwise. I saw them pass me and that's how I knew I was going the wrong way.

Still, for about the first mile I kept up (with the stragglers), so it was a mini speed workout for me. I'm used to being the lagger on group runs. It's fine, especially when I know the course. I felt a little stupid since I didn't really know the course they were using and couldn't see which way they went (that's how far I lagged). But, every once in a while I wish there was a slow runners run group. It'd be nice to actually chat with some of the other runners while I do my run, not just before it. Based on the time I think I ran just over 4 miles. I'll have to do that full lolli run to get an accurate distance. (I decided to run home once I hit the 72nd st. Transverse rather than run back down to Columbus Circle.

Need to Re-Think How to Clock Mileage

Once again my Garmin failed to locate satellites when I started my run. I do wait a bit on the street corner for it to try and locate, but after awhile I just feel funny standing on the street corner, watching this bar on my watch almost become full and then just drop down to half way again. So I will start running figuring the Garmin will catch up with me...eventually

But it means I don't get an accurate gauge of my pace and time.

For example, today Garmin didn't find me until after I'd hit the park and crossed it. And it didn't take me 17 mins to run a mile.

I used mapmyrun.com when I got home to gauge the distance (just shy of 3 miles) and then went to daily mile to log that and the time that Garmin gave me to get pace. Now I run in Central Park enough to get a general idea of how far I go, but really I want to know exactly, otherwise how will I know if I'm getting faster or slower.

All this has me thinking about whether it's time to retire my Garmin, shell out $$$ on a new one or try and figure out who to run with my iPhone.

Honestly, this is primarily a summer problem. In the the other seasons I run with jackets or a vest that has a pocket that I can stick my iPhone into and use any of my apps to clock the run and get distance. It's the summer, where running shorts or skorts don't have pockets really that I really tend to depend on the Garmin. I could use one of those arm band things, but in the past I've found them annoying and they chafe. I try not to run withe race belt because I always just feel weird with it. And honestly, I like the freedom that running without my iPhone or only just my shuffle affords me.

Suggestions anyone?

Anti-Gravity Yoga

A friend of MP's talked about taking this anti-gravity yoga class and it piqued my interest. So, yesterday I decided to try out a class. Anti-gravity yoga is yoga that involves a hammock, where you can do some aerial moves as well as hang upside down and really get some good stretching in.

So those are the hammocks -- it's 9 feet worth of material. It was really different. You could use the hammock as a bar, as resistance and good leverage. We hung upside down -- the first inversion -- for a good five minutes -- or at least it felt like that. I was losing sense in my legs and with all the blood rushing to my head I was getting very dizzy. I couldn't do any more of the inversions because I was already really dizzy and feeling a bit sea-sick. The best was this cocoon position at the end where you basically lie down flat in the hammock. I dozed off there!

I'm going to try it again. This time eating before I go -- hopefully that will help and I'll be less dizzy.

I know it felt like a good workout, and I'm sore today. Always a good sign in my book.

In other news, I went for a run this morning. Only 3.5 miles, but at least I got in a run before the 90 degree weather hit. I didn't use my Garmin. Instead I tried the GPS version of Map My Run app. I've been enjoying it a lot. It seems more on point than the Nike+ GPS.

Getting a Running Coach

I'm hoping getting a running coach will help with my running doldrums. At the very least, it should get my marathon training in gear. I had met with a coach last summer, but with the move nothing ever came of it. JM has been working with a coach for all her IM training and it has been going really well for her, so here's hoping a coach helps.

Lack of Motivation

Last weekend, I got ready for my 10k race. Got my running gear on, walked to the start to pick up my bib and headed to the start. I got to the corral early. I had about a 25 minute wait before the start of the race. I stretched. I looked around and I tried to get excited about the race. But I couldn't. I did not want to be there. I did not want to run. So about 10 minutes before the start, I left.

I couldn't believe I actually did that, but I was just no feeling it. I have been sluggish as of late, but I did managed to go out Sunday for a run. It was just over 4 miles and it felt good to be out there, but I need to start putting on miles if I'm going to run a marathon in the fall.