Running Life on Hold

So it's been almost 6 months since my last "race" and it was fun run at that. I've been hampered by injury. It happens to all runners, and I was foolish to think I could avoid it. I guess my luck ran out. I've been rehabbing my leg and I hope to start running again soon. But my physical therapists (yes, plural) say it may be a while. But I'll get there.

SEB Tallinn Half Marathon

I pulled a muscle some weeks back that killed my plans to run the Night Half Marathon in Rakvere and I thought would quash my Tallinn Half plans. But when race day came, I said to hell with it and decided to go for the half.

I'm glad I did. It was a good run for me, even though it was slow. I ran all of it (except for the water stops and some short hills at the end) and my leg didn't bother me at all.

The run itself was well supported. Good water stops, although I was surprised by the fuel they put out: sugar and rye bread. A couple of places had bananas, too.

I was surprised at the smell running along Tallinn Bay. Other people had mentioned it before, but this is the first time I'd really noticed it.

At least there wasn't much running on the cobble stone.

Getting Ready for Marathon Training

This week I actually made it out to a running group session. It was a big crowd, about 12 people, and it was a hill workout with a coach. It was a good for me because it was a lot of exercises that I haven't been doing, such as knee lifts, muscle strengthening and stretching.

It was a tough workout, too. I was so sore and I messed up my calf muscle. You know when you get a charlie horse in your leg? I had that for the entire last half hour of the training session and ended up limping back to the start.

My takeaway: I have a lot of work to make up.

My leg is going to heal this week, but I'll still try and do some short runs very slowly.

I also went to a yoga class today to help with the stretching and the strengthening. I use to poo-poo yoga class, but the one I went to this morning was quite the workout. The teacher was really good about giving the students some individual attention and correcting poses.

A headstand and a bridge. Those are my goals for this year. When I was a kid I could do both as easy as sitting down and by the end of the year, I hope to be able to do both again.

The Highs & Hurts of the Helsinki Half

Sorry for the alliteration. I did want to incorporate "hell" into the title because in some ways it was a hell-ish race for me.  But I'll get to that in a moment.

First the positives. It was a well run race. I loved that I could do packet pick up the morning of the race. It didn't hurt that the race didn't start until 10:30am. It's not my ideal time for starting a race, but considering I arrived in Helsinki around 9:30pm and didn't get to my hotel until around 10pm, I was happy to sleep in and have a "lazy" morning. They had a lot of people on the course making sure you went the right way and groups of people cheering you along. That was very nice. And parts of the course were incredibly beautiful and scenic.

Now the not so great. The race started and instead of taking to the streets, we took to the sidewalks for the first mile. I'm not a fan of that. It turns the event into a large group run and not really a race, in my mind. We ran near the railroad tracks in what was one of the less scenic parts of the course both on the way out and on the way back in. The course snaked through a bike/running path. I'm not a fan of this because, invariably, other people - bikers, other runners, walkers - also use the path. It's my big pet peeve with the Zooma Annapolis. Towards the end, when we got back into the city, they cordoned off part of the sidewalk or running path so runners had it to themselves, but it's not idea in my mind.

But my biggest complaint was the medical tent, or lack there of.

I've been luck and have never needed aid after a run. But my hip has been acting up and during the race it was very painful. By the time I hit mile 10, I knew I wanted to stop at the medical/aid tent for some help: an ice pack, some ben-gay type substance, you get the picture. I crossed the finish line close to 2:37 after I started. There was no tent. I started hobbling looking for it and was told to go to the building. The finish and the building were probably about 750ft - 1000ft away.I went to the building and was told it was at the finish line. I went back to the finish line, where I was told it was near baggage claim. I went to baggage claim and saw a first aid sign, but saw baggage people, not first aid. I asked them and they said it was at the finish. You get to the picture.

By the time I limp my way back to the finish and ask yet another different staffer where the aid station is and am told it's back in the building, I almost have a breakdown. I start getting very bitchy and relate how I've been going back and forth and my leg hurts. By this time, the first guy in the building who told me it was out by the finish has appeared and they huddle and talk in Finnish as I'm in tears. They get a first aid lady to help me. She tells me I probably pulled something and I should sit down. She brings me inside and sits me down and leaves. I sit for about 5-7 mins, trying to stretch and trying to punch or rub the pain away. No go. I get fed up and start limping back to the hotel because I think at least there I can get ice on it. Lesson: never get injured at the Helsinki Half again.

I was supposed to run the Narva half this weekend, but that seems more and more unlikely.

Starting Small

Since the move....well, even before it....my running has been slacking. It really shouldn't since I have half marathon in 3 weeks. Part of the reason is I've finally succumbed to a running related injury: plantar fasciitis. I'm supposed to be doing more stretching of that area. And I try. I'm thinking of getting the night splint to help.

But now that I've gotten over the jet lag, I've done some short runs, usually 3-milers. I will up it to 6 miles next week and 10 the week after. And the week after will be the half.  Even though I've been taking it easy on the mileage, I've been trying to end the run on a hard note. Well, try isn't really accurate. I'm forced to since my temporary home is on the top of the hill. I can run up the cobblestone road. It's a long slow hill.

 

I run up this and then a shorter little hill. But on my loops around the little park at the base of Toompea, I saw some stairs. These stairs lead to the overlook a couple of streets over from the apartment. So, the last couple of little runs, I've been hitting the stairs. I can't run up the entire thing, but I'm hoping by the time I move, I can.

My Last ING NYC Marathon

So, last November I ran what I swore would be my last ING NYC marathon. My training was shoddy but I laced up my sneaks saying to myself, "You will savor your last marathon, you will just enjoy the race." And surprisingly, I did. Very much. I ran most of it. Usually, it's more walking than running by the last 2 miles. But most encouragingly, I saw a lot of familiar faces on the race course cheering me on. It helped.....a lot.

It was an amazing experience. I ran it in just over 5 hours. Had I not stopped for the port-a-potty, I think I could have broken the 5 hour mark.

I qualified for this year's marathon, too, through 9+1. I kept getting the emails saying, "Don't forget you have guaranteed entry." I even got a couple of automated calls reminding me I had to sign up by a certain day. My mind went wandering back to how great that race felt, and of course, my desire to break the 5 hour mark in NYC.

So I did sign up to run another NYC marathon. At least last year was my last ING NYC. This year will be my first TCS NYC marathon.

Running Brooklyn

With the changes going on in my life, I took the last minute opportunity to run the Brooklyn Half marathon. I figured it would be  a nice way to see Brooklyn before I left. For a NYRR race, it was huge. I think there were more than 25,000 runners in the race. They had to set people off in 2 waves. Not surprisingly, I was in Wave 2. It was packed.

Waiting in the corrals at start of #brooklynhalf vine.co/v/bE0E1J0QXzg
— caitlyn kim (@caitlynkim) May 18, 2013

I finally got to cross the start line about 38 minutes into the race. The course went around Prospect Park. This was the green, pretty part of the race, running past some pretty brownstones, and watching people and their dogs playing in the park as thousands ran by. Then came the boring stretch: Ocean Ave. We were on that for about 5-6 miles until we hit Coney Island. I kept waiting to see signs of the beach because then I'd know the finish line was near. Alas, all that running straight ahead never seemed to get us to the beach. Until....finally I could see the boardwalk and then we hung a right and crowds were there and you could see Luna Park and all the rides. We got to run on the boardwalk. It was fun.

GR, MR and I ran it from work. And GM also ran. And even with the large crowds -- and the fact that it took about 20 minutes to leave the finish area -- I was able to meet up with everyone.

My only complaint was getting home from the finish. The subway was packed and it took about 1:15 for me to get home. It only took about 30 mins to get to the start at Prospect Park. Oh well.

We Run DC

Finally. After years of trying for the Tiffany's finishers necklace, I'm finally the proud owner of one. I earned it, not running the half in San Francisco, but running the inaugural Nike Women's Half Marathon DC.

Having run around much of the DC area, I was pleased with the course. It was really quite nice.

There were some stretches on highway on or off ramps that I could have done without, as well as other long stretches without much shade.  But, for someone who started out as a skeptic, I was pleasantly surprised by how well run the race was. My biggest complaint was that finishers' shirts were not going to be given out until you actually finished the race. To me this screamed, horrible backlog as soon as you crossed. It wasn't the case. There was a bit of a line, but I still got through in about 7 mins. The race had plenty of water stops and even (smartly) had shot blocks in groups of three, rather than gu. (YAY!!)

Like any Nike race, it was crowded. For TG and I, the race didn't really thin out until around mile 11/12.

There were some unique touches. They had a collage of every runners name made that lined the side of Barnes and Noble on Thomas Jefferson. So I also had a very valid excuse for stopping in to Baked & Wired. I found TG and XO's name, as well as yours truly on the mural.

The best part of the race was crossing the finish line, seeing the young ROTC cadets in their tuxedos and silver trays with blue Tiffany boxes. The necklace was pretty, and it's a "medal" I'll wear. But as always, it was fun to run with TG, even if I held her back, and catch up. And of course, have post-race drinks.

I finished the race in 2:21:07. Not bad, considering how little training I actually did for the race.

‘Excuse Me, Is There a Remedial Spinning Class?’

Soul Cycle. There is a cult surrounding this spinning studio. I happened to live about a block and a half from one, and in trying to mix up my exercise regime, took a class.

First thing to know, this is a spinning class where you need biking shoes. Yes, I mean the clip in shoes. No one told me how to actually clip in, but I managed. And then I started spinning away. But it wasn’t just pumping the legs away. There are moves in this class and you have to be coordinated enough to spin and do the moves together. Turns out I’m not that coordinated. I left the class in my socks, since I couldn’t get the clips out. A spinner next to me leaned over and told me to just take off the shoes and get off the bike that way. I left wondering if there was a beginner class.

I took a second class today, hoping it would help. It didn’t. I left halfway through. I couldn’t hear what the instructor was saying and I just felt so uncoordinated and bad at this. I left the class and actually asked if there is a beginner class. There isn’t. It’s just something you’re supposed to get better with over time. Let’s face it patience is not a virtue I possess in great quantity. They did give me list of instructors that help newbies like me.  But it was still discouraging.

As much as I liked the cardio aspect of the class – and I was sweating throughout and my legs were sore the next few days after the first class – I hate being so bad at it.  I could see why so many people like this studio. It is a workout – core, arms and legs.

Maybe third time will be the charm.

Running in the Cold

I don't mind running in cold weather. In fact, I prefer it over hot, humid summer weather.  It may take more time for me to warm up and get into a groove, but I do....eventually.  This morning, it was about 20 degrees when I went out. But the sun was out and it wasn't too windy, so off I went.  I even did a different route; I went north to the 102nd street transfer, and then headed south on the west side. Instead of going down to the 72nd street transfer, I decided to run the loop around the Great Lawn.

It also helped loosen up the legs. On Saturday, I went skiing at Camelback. The first time, this year, that I got to go ski. My legs weren't too bad after, but on Sunday, I was feeling it. But it was worth it.

All in all, I nice President's Day weekend

Running Lake Tahoe

At the end of September, I went to SG and ZE's wedding in South Lake Tahoe, California. It was a beautiful ceremony, right on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

When they sent out the weekend wedding events, they mentioned that the post-wedding brunch would be held right along the course of the Lake Tahoe Marathon. Needless to say, that peaked my interest.

The Lake Tahoe Marathon is not one race, it's actually a weekend long running and tri smorgasbord. They had a 20 miler, which was just one mile more than I needed to do for my marathon (that wasn't) training that weekend, so I signed up. It's a point-to-point race. So all the different races start at different points along this one course.

Getting home fairly early from the wedding reception, I laid everything out so I would be ready when I got up in 5 hours to go grab the 6 am shuttle.

I got to the shuttle location, which was really empty, with about 20 minutes to spare. It was really empty. I was basically in a parking lot. Something about it wasn't right. That's when I unclipped my bib to double check the time. That's when I saw I had the time right, but I was in the wrong location. I had 20 minutes to "travel just down the road," according to the hotel front desk.

Just down the road turned out to be about 4.5 miles away. I'm running down the street at 5:40 a.m., it's pitch black, and I'm hating myself for not checking. About 2 miles in I realize just down the road really isn't just down the road, and I will miss the shuttle.

I have about $10 on me, but I'm not seeing a cab. So I think, maybe I can get the half marathon shuttle or the 10k shuttle. About 1.5 miles away from the pick-up point, I finally flag down a cab. It's 6:15 am he drops me off just shy of the stop (he was on his way to another pickup). And I think to myself: do I try and talk myself into the half marathon or the 10k? The half marathon starts at 9:30am, the 10k at like 8am. (The 20 miler was supposed to start at 7am.) I have to check out by noon. I opt for the 10k and figure I will run the opposite direction for about 3 miles, run back and then start the 10k. I figure with the running to the start, it will get me to around 18-19 miles total.

So, I tell the guy at the shuttle drop-off site, he lets me on and I settle in for the 25 minute ride to the start. When I get to the start, just before mile marker 20, I take off in the opposite direction. The 10k starts at the crest of a major hill, so I head downhill. And all I can think about, besides how stupid I am, is how beautiful it is, and how it's still kind of dark.

At the bottom of the hill, people are setting up music and water stations, but I just chug along, enjoying the views, if not the altitude.  Then I start looking for port-a-potties. I hit mile marker 19 and then 18, as buses carrying half marathoners drive past. As I get towards mile 17,  I see a couple of other runners.  I figure they must be really fast marathoners. I go a little bit past that and start heading back the way I came.

The run helped calm me down a bit. As you can imagine, I was really kicking myself. It also didn't help that I didn't bring any water with me. (I figured I'd just use the water stops along the course.) By the time I got back to the water stop at the base of the hill, it was ready to go. I grabbed a water, listened to some music and then prepared for the hill. Hill is an understatement. Tahoe is surrounded by mountains, and this was running up a mountain. Granted, it wasn't as bad as the "hill"from miles 15 to just before 17, but it was larger than anything else I had run.

I had to stop and walk a bit, but when I got to the top, the 10k still hadn't started. There was a delay. So, what did I decide to do? I ran back down the hill. Here's a video of the band that was playing just past the base of the hill.


Anyway, by the time I got back to the top, the 10k had finally started and off I went. It was mostly downhill from there. I was sluggish for most of this run. I blame it on the altitude, but it was fun. There was some nice crowd support, and the scenery was beautiful, even when they had us on bike and walking trails.

When I got to the site S and Z's brunch party, I peeled off and chatted with the newly married couple, for about 15 mins. And then got back and finished the last mile and a half of the run.

When I got to the finish, they gave me the 20 miler finisher medal, even after I told the person that  I didn't start at the 20miler. I didn't have a chip or bib chip, and since it wasn't a competitive race,  I didn't think to find the timekeepers to let them know. (I got an email a couple of weeks later, someone challenging my "time" and I explained what happened to the organizer.)

All in all, the run is worth it just for the views. I had a great time in Lake Tahoe. Stayed at a really cute hotel, Basecamp.

 

They even had a fire at night, where you could roast marshmallows and make s'mores. I think it won my heart, right then and there. Would stay there again. (And interesting note, the guy who checked me in was running the full marathon!)

I even managed to get a short hike in at Van Sickle Bi-State park. Why is it a bi-state park? Because it straddles Nevada and California!

I have to stay I loved the way they marked the border between the two. The other thing I missed about the western part of the country, just how big everything is. Mountains, trees, even the pine cones!

All in all, it was a great weekend to be back in the Lake Tahoe area!

Cold, Cold, Go Away!

I'm not talking about the weather. I have a cold. I've had a cold for several days, even though it has felt like several weeks. I actually want to run, but I get winded walking briskly down the street. This does not bode well for half marathon training.

First Run of New Year

I ran today. It was the first time in, well, in a long time. I went just over 30 minutes, running around the Reservoir. It was also really cold, 23 degrees when I went out and 25 degrees when I came back.

Happy 2013.

Running 2013

Since the marathon that wasn't I've been very lazy with my running. I did the Jingle Bell 8k in Washington, DC. But I'm starting to think about the races for the coming year.

It's looking good. If for no other reason because my Nike Women's Half lottery luck has turned for the better. I got into the inaugural Nike Women's Half in Washington, D.C. TK said the San Francisco one was very crowded when she ran it, so I'm preparing for that. Still, the little blue boxes should make it worthwhile....or at least I hope.

The other run that I have signed up for this year is the Dingle Half Marathon. I'm very excited about this. Aside from the fact that I've never been outside of Dublin, the course looks beautiful. And Guiness makes everything better.

Otherwise, in February I'm running the Gridiron Classic.  And I'm leaning towards running NYC marathon in 2013. But I've still got time to decide on that one.

Happy Running!

The NYC Marathon That Wasn't...And Then Was, Sort Of

After saying the 2012 ING NYC Marathon would be on, it was called off Friday just before 5:30 p.m. I was surprised that the city and NYRR said it would go on after the destruction from Sandy, but when they did I was prepared to run and redeem myself from last year.

There was a lot of opposition to putting on the race, which I agree with. And this post isn't about whether it should have happened or not (it shouldn't have). Nor is about whether they should have called it off sooner (Which, frankly, I think they should have. I didn't spend as much to travel to this race as tens of thousands of other runners did.)

This is about the death of my dream. Given the loss of life, homes and dreams, my running dream pales in comparison, but it was still my dream.

Last year, I ran what I had hoped would be my last marathon, the 2011 ING NYC Marathon, until my no results result came in. I knew right away I'd have to run it again. I wanted a run that wouldn't have  a little asterisk by it -- at least in my head. I wanted a time that showed splits. Since then I worked -- and ran -- with that goal in mind. Getting a sub-5 hour for the NYC marathon and retiring my camelback in favor of half-marathon races and shorter distances.

When I went to packet pick-up I was so happy to see the D-tag. I thought to myself, "Thank God! My time will register!" The only downside was I'd have to be bussed to the start at 6:30am, meaning I'd have to wait in the cold for a couple of hours.

On Friday, I ran around the still-closed Central Park, but could see the work that had gone into setting the race finish up. I foolishly let myself believe the marathon really was going to happen. I'd run this marathon one last time and be happy with whatever time I got and then retire from marathon races.

But by 7:30 p.m. I was on the verge of tears. It was canceled. All this hope and anticipation that had been building since the city and mayor announced the race was on just came crashing down. All the miles logged, the early mornings to run before it got hot or to meet up with the race group, the chaffing i put up with, the mental preparation I had done for the marathon was for nothing. All those times at mile 15 or 16 or 20, where I pushed myself saying 'It'll help on race day' was for a race day that never happened.

I got home, stared at my 2012 bib and race shirt and then put them away.

Sunday morning, what would have been race day, I decided to go for a short run in Central Park. I know, marathoners planned on volunteering on race day, but others planned on running the full 26.2 in the park, a throwback to the early years of the race.

I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't expect to see thousands of runners clogging the drive or the people cheering us on, handing out water and waving signs. It was really moving and it had to be a great motivator for those running the full 26.2. It reminded me what marathon running is about: pushing yourself when others and even you think you can't. They kept me running longer than I had planned. I  ran 8, ending at the finish line, or just short of it.

Ultimately, that's what the NYC marathon is turning into for me: a reminder of falling short and something that remains out of reach.

I'm guaranteed entry next year, but I don't know if I'll do it. Maybe I'm not meant to get a good run out the NYC Marathon. Maybe this will always be the marathon in my mind that has an asterisk next to it.

All I know is that -- for this year -- my goal, ambition, dream and hope all rolled up into one day is gone. And it makes me sad.

Running in Toronto, Eh

The last time I was in Toronto, Canada, it was for a 9th grade orchestra trip. Over Labo(u)r Day weekend, I was in Toronto for my friend JF's wedding (He and his fiancee D had a really beautiful ceremony and threw and awesome bash afterwards). It was a great city (and I'll blog about the city later), but the day of the wedding I did a long run -- 14 miles. I headed east along the river. The concierge had recommended the path.  It was fairly industrial for a the first few miles. I passed the Cirque du Soleil tent and then another cirque like circus, but then I got to "the Beach." It was small and wooded, but really pretty. There was a running path that I took that provided a lot of shade and cover and was pretty.

But before long I was back on the road -- even after taking a detour to a marina. But I needed the miles so I forged ahead. About 500 feet about the bike/run path started up again so I went with it for about a mile and turned back. I had seen a park entrance and thought I'd log some miles in there. It was a nice -- and turned out -- big park. Tommy Thompson Park is called an urban park. It actually reminded me a lot of Wilmington, NC, -- wide open spaces, beautiful blue sky and the sound of water lapping on the shore. There were a lot of people running and biking in the park.

Then I headed back the way I came. By the time I reached downtown Toronto I was still a mile short so this time I headed west along the path. I stayed along the water, dodging all the people in line for the ferry to the islands. I didn't make it the the Toronto Tower, but I got to 14 miles. And my legs still felt good enough to dance at the wedding!

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?