1L Takes Manhattan

I won't argue with your assessment of the race if it was based on how you felt...but I'd take those numbers any day! Looks like a well executed pre-marathon half to me.

Hope the back gets to feeling better.

Michele, no matter how you look at it, you did great on this half. You're in a good position to hit your target time.

This has been a very crazy week mostly due to the weather and the high school championships in just about every fall sport.  Monday was a rest day and I also went to my (other) massage therapist.  She is a miler that I knew from Atlanta, so I know that she is more tuned into runner issues.  I knew that my tight lower back issues were due to tight QL and glute medius muscles, so I had her work specifically in that area.  Felt much better when I left.  

Tuesday we were due for our weekly track workout  - gearing down to 1 x 2K, 1 x 1mile, and 1 x 1k - but not only was the weather miserable, but there was a soccer game or football game occurring at every local track around.  We showed up at our normal track, drove to the next one, ran to the 3rd one, only to find them all occupied.  Not only that the rain was coming down in buckets with a 10 mph wind off the lake and temps in the high 40s.  What fun! My normal group ended up running 5 slow miles (slow because of the wind, cold, footing, and darkness), but we laughed, had fun and did it.  The reward was to meet at the local brewery, but when we arrived the place was packed so we all just headed home to warm showers instead.

Based on that, I ended up doing my speedwork on Wednesday on the dreadmill.  It was still raining and cold and I went online to check and the local soccer matches were still occurring that night.  I also drove by the high school in the morning to see that the temporary bleachers were still up and out into lane 3, etc.  Never mind dealing with that and the wind, I figured I could get it done indoors.  I ended up running the 2K at 7:35 pace, the 1 mile at 7:10 pace and the 1K at 6:50 pace.  I figured this was the right range and I only did 200 m in between.  Overall I ran 5 total miles in 40 min.  Funny as I remember when that was a training run!  

Today it looks like an easy run yet again maybe with some faster miles at the end.  The rain has finally stopped and it is a bit warmer (it is supposed to get up to 60F) today.  It looks like Saturday will be the warmest of the week (up to 70F again) and I hope it is as the current long range forecast for NY is a low in the 50s with temps going into the 60s.  I have the luxury of starting at 9:40 am, but still, I've gotten used to colder temps so 60s might feel warm.

Regarding the Half, I think it's a sign of high fitness right now that you were able to put down a great time while not feeling it. I think this bodes very well for your Full.

Well, it was a beautiful evening last night, so we ended up repeating last Thursday night's workout running 7 miles with 5 at tempo pace.  I ran with two women that are a bit slower than I, so I slowed my pace a bit from last week, but we still ran 8 min miles which felt very good even after doing speedwork the day before.  I thought to myself that it would be so great to feel that good at that pace during a marathon again - well, maybe I'll feel that good at marathon pace.

So far the weather is looking a bit warmer than I've gotten used to for NYC, but the weather is always a question until race morning, so we will see.

And no Taper Madness here!

So Ohio high school championships are going on now.  I guess so with the cold weather coming.  How many games in a season does a high school team play, before the playoffs?  I know Texas goes well into December, when the championship games are played in a dome or retractable roof stadium before Christmas.  It's like a 4 week playoff.  And we're a wee bit warmer, certainly.

Good luck in NY, too.

Good work on getting the speedwork in, and on your nice tempo run. You're in a good position to do well in NYC.

I'm intrigued by your using a massage therapist. I've never tried one myself. Is it a big help, and is it covered by insurance?

Mark B wrote:Good work on getting the speedwork in, and on your nice tempo run. You're in a good position to do well in NYC.

I'm intrigued by your using a massage therapist. I've never tried one myself. Is it a big help, and is it covered by insurance?

Yes.  Probably not, unless you can get a doctor to write a script for it, then some of the cost is decreased.

ounce wrote:And no Taper Madness here!

So Ohio high school championships are going on now.  I guess so with the cold weather coming.  How many games in a season does a high school team play, before the playoffs?  I know Texas goes well into December, when the championship games are played in a dome or retractable roof stadium before Christmas.  It's like a 4 week playoff.  And we're a wee bit warmer, certainly.

Good luck in NY, too.

Actually, they are for soccer, xc, and any other fall sport except varsity football - those don't start until late November.

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:Good work on getting the speedwork in, and on your nice tempo run. You're in a good position to do well in NYC.

I'm intrigued by your using a massage therapist. I've never tried one myself. Is it a big help, and is it covered by insurance?

Yes.  Probably not, unless you can get a doctor to write a script for it, then some of the cost is decreased.

I use a foam roller almost daily, but when I just can't get to something and it threatens to shut me down, I head to one of two massage therapists that I use.  I find that it helps me a lot and as for insurance, I'm sue it would, but I never actually submit it as I'd never meet my deductible anyway.

You do sound well prepared for a great run in NY! Enjoy.

last longish run this morning (12 miles) before NY, and the easy 9:18 pace felt like crap.  There is no possible way that I can run 26.2 next Sunday - nope, not ever.

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:last longish run this morning (12 miles) before NY, and the easy 9:18 pace felt like crap.  There is no possible way that I can run 26.2 next Sunday - nope, not ever.

And taper madness strikes again...

nkrichards wrote:

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:last longish run this morning (12 miles) before NY, and the easy 9:18 pace felt like crap.  There is no possible way that I can run 26.2 next Sunday - nope, not ever.

And taper madness strikes again...

Yup. yesterday's 6 felt real easy, but it was a recovery run after all.

I think you're going to do great! I just hate what tapering does to the brain.

Julie wrote:I think you're going to do great! I just hate what tapering does to the brain.

No matters and I am coming down with a cold as well.

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:

Julie wrote:I think you're going to do great! I just hate what tapering does to the brain.

No matters and I am coming down with a cold as well.

Noo! I caught a cold to take the bullet for you, Michele! So take 10,000,000,000 grams of Vitamin C, drink 50 gallons of chicken soup, get 18 hours of sleep for the next three nights.. and you should be fine!

Hm. Taper madness may be catching...

Last speed session last night, and although it seemed slower than the last couple, I'm actually thinking different.  After all, we never get to run in lane one (only on the curves) and seem to be mostly in lane 3 and weaving around HS band members with tubas for quite a bit.  Mr. Garmin seemed to indicate that we were right on target.  Cool thing as the weather cleared up just in time for our speed session and as we are the only group left to "race", it was a welcome site.  It has seemed like every Tuesday we have had some sort of weather event right down to the pouring rain last week.  We have had several workouts where we ran in between storms or were rained on, and it looked like this one would be no different.  However, about 15 min before we were to get started, the rain stopped and there was a rainbow in the sky.  Very cool.

Nice! Now, let's hope the weather cooperates for NYC this weekend.

I hope your cold is completely gone by the race and for good weather, too.

Mark B wrote:

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:

Julie wrote:I think you're going to do great! I just hate what tapering does to the brain.

No matters and I am coming down with a cold as well.

Noo! I caught a cold to take the bullet for you, Michele! So take 10,000,000,000 grams of Vitamin C, drink 50 gallons of chicken soup, get 18 hours of sleep for the next three nights.. and you should be fine!

Hm. Taper madness may be catching...

Mark seems to be proving the new theory of Sympathy Taper Madness.

Cold is definitely gone - yeah.  Last 4 miles with 2 at tempo pace (7:40 and 7:27), and I guess I'm ready.  Made sure to run along the lake to feel the wind (which is always in your face no matter what).

Good news that the cold is gone.

Getting closer!!! NYC!!!!

You're ready! Now sleep well these last nights.

Suh-WEET!! You are ready to rock!