So! Excited! To just go out and ruuuuuun.

Peanut Leap Cascade at Palisades Interstate Park. 

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Workout Types(s): Trails and strength training (a.k.a. lifting heavy garbage bags)

Miles: 9+

Where: Palisades Interstate Park

Notes: Good times.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Workout Types(s): Road running

Miles: 8+

Where: Central Park

Notes: My Morton's Neuroma hit by mile 6 and it was unpleasant, but I was pleased because it normally starts by mile 4 when I train on roads.

Training notes:

Alrighty, I am back in business and am re-entering Training Beast Mode.  As of this weekend, I am officially done with the winter ills and am so (!) excited(!) to go out and just ruuuuun.  

Saturday 

My run on Saturday morning was glorious.  Besides crashing a couple of times (I was a bit overeager in hurtling down a hill), I felt really in tune in my body and managed to find this wonderful rhythm with my legs and feet that made me feel like I could run forever.

If you want an intense workout, going up and down these cliffs is a seriously good time.

Trail connecting the Shore Trail to the Long Path.

Sadly, I had to cut my training short as I had plans to volunteer with a local trail organization doing post-Hurricane Sandy clean up.  One of the requirements for Western States 100, Vermont 100, and Wasatch 100 is to volunteer at least eight hours either at an ultramarathon or with a trail volunteer group.  Eight hours is a pretty small time commitment, but I think the race directors' objective is to encourage ultrarunners who have never volunteered before to start because once you do, it is really difficult not to want to volunteer again.  When you volunteer at a race, you really appreciate the work involved in making sure the race is a success; when you do volunteer trail work, you realize how much effort is necessary in maintaining the paths we love.  Also, it's fun!  I always meet the most interesting people and I always learn something new, running and/or general life-wise.

Getting instructions from Palisades Interstate Park trail supervisor Christina Fehre.

This past weekend, I was fortunate to volunteer with an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps team who came all the way from Ohio to help out with post-Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.  We worked with Palisades Interstate Park trail supervisor Christina Fehre to help clean up the debris washed up along the Shore Trail.

Garbage ready to be shipped out.

And there was quite a lot of it.  I personally collected two large garbage bags completely filled with mostly plastic bottles of all types.  Other items collected were tires, barrels, styrofoam, insulation, plastic bags . . . it made me sad to see so much trash along the trail, but I was really glad something was being done about it. 

Lugging along a garbage bag along this rock scramble was entertaining.

We found some makeshift swings.  We weren't sure if they were sturdy, but they looked so inviting! 

We were scheduled to work for only four hours on Saturday, but there will be future volunteer trips as the weather gets nicer.  Next weekend I am supposed to volunteer with the Bearclaw group at Longpond Ironworks State Park, but since I want to do some major mileage this week, my plans are still tentative.

Sunday

Sunday's run was uneventful.  I ran the Central Park loop and reservoir loop and saw a few folks along the way, including Rick Thiounn and his fiancee, Lauren Healy as well as Stephen England, another Western States-bound runner.  My Morton's neuroma on my right foot started to act up by mile 6, but it wasn't nearly as excruciating as before and so I was able to finish my run.  I think my regimen of acupuncture/serrapeptase/physical therapy/change in footwear is working.  That being said, I am still visiting a podiatrist later today because it never hurts to get another opinion. 

Alrighty, so this week should be a blast.  Lots of climbing, lots of running, and lots of strength training.  I can't wait!

Running on ice is (not) good for you.

I find out how good my Microspikes really are.

Scott and I decide to slide down the ice!  Note: the trail is actually a lot steeper than it looks.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Workout Types(s): Hiking trails

Miles ran: 12ish

Where: Harriman State Park

Temperature: High teens, low 20s

What I wore: Elita turtleneck, Northface fleece, random vest, and random windbreaker, elita thermal leggings, Adidas leggings, random ankle socks, Bondi Band, microspikes

Sneakers: Inov-8 Rock-lites 315

How I felt: Happy

What I thought about while running: I wish I could go to a real trail every day.

Food consumed: Zico coconut water, two zone bars, oatmeal

Notes: Mileage was low, but that was because the terrain was difficult with all the ice.  We spent at least four hours on the trails.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Workout Types(s): Recovery, Roads

Miles ran: 13ish
Where: Central Park

Temperature: 30ish
What I wore: Elita turtleneck, Northface fleece, elita thermal leggings, random ankle socks, Bondi Band
Sneakers: Inov-8 Rock-lites 315

How I felt: Solid.  My neuroma acted up half way, but it was fine.
What I thought about while running: Felt like I could run forever.

Food consumed: Zone Bar

Notes: Didn’t feel cold – hooray!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Workout Types: Physical therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractor work

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Workout Types(s): Trails, 6 a.m. and midnight workouts

Miles ran: 7ish
Where: Neighborhood, Flat Rock

Temperature: 20ish
What I wore: Elita turtleneck, Northface fleece, elita thermal leggings, random ankle socks, Bondi Band
Sneakers: Inov-8 Rock-lites 315

How I felt: Solid. 

What I thought about while running: Gosh, I’m tired.   

Food consumed: Zone bar.

Notes: I should go back to doing my midnight runs in Manhattan.  Jogging after midnight in the suburbs is kind of scary.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Workout Types(s): Tempo running, climbing, strength training

Miles ran: 7.5 miles of tempo running, 1 mile of climbing.
Where: The Gym
What I wore: Honolulu Marathon tshirt, elita thermal leggings, random ankle socks, Bondi Band
Sneakers: Inov-8 Rock-lites 315, Dr. Scholl’s foot bad for my neuroma issues.

How I felt: Solid.  Wearing the foot pad gave me a blister.  The funny thing, it's been so long since I've had blister issues that I wasn't sure what I was feeling at first.

What I thought about while running: I wish I could run faster.

Food consumed: Zone bar.

Notes: My weird neuroma needs to go away.  Stat.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Workout Types(s):  4:30 a.m. run. 

Miles ran: 6ish
Where: Road/Flat Brook

Temperature: 50ish
What I wore: DWG 50K Shirt, elita thermal leggings, random ankle socks, Bondi Band
Sneakers: Inov-8 Rock-lites 315

How I felt: Sleepy. 
What I thought about while running: I think I am a morning person.   

Food consumed: Nothing.

Notes: I think running at 4:30 might be better for me.  Less stress in the mornings in terms of getting ready for work and such.  In this case, I only got up because I had to drive my parents to the airport at 6 a.m. and by the time I got home, I had fifteen minutes to shower, dress, and book it to work. 

Friday, January 31, 2013

Workout Types(s):  Normal morning run.

Miles ran: 6
Where: Road/Flat Brook

Temperature: 30s
What I wore: DWG 50K Shirt, Northface fleece, elita thermal leggings, random ankle socks, Bondi Band
Sneakers: Inov-8 Rock-lites 315

How I felt: Worried.
What I thought about while running: Where should I run this weekend?   

Food consumed: Nothing.

Notes: Friday morning runs are the way to go.    

It's been a busy week, so I did not much time to post this.  But as busy as I was, I still had time to train, so train I did.  

My only cool training day was running the trails at Harriman State Park last weekend with Scott Martin and Garth, two ultrarunners from New York.  For those who know me, I have a natural talent of getting lost and following imaginary trails.  But thanks to Scott and Garth, they kept me on track, so I had a good, but slightly cold time along various sections of the park.      

Our run was generally uneventful, but I did have one moment of hilarity.  We had to do some ice/water crossings and most of the time, I was cautious and avoided the ice like I was playing the lava game.  Unfortunately, towards the end of the run, we came across this ice section that had dog foot prints.  I saw the dog a bit earlier and he looked sizeable, so I figured the ice was safe for me to walk on.  However, I neglected to consider that he was on all fours and was able to distribute his weight on a greater surface, and I was tromp, tromp, tromping on my Microspike-clad sneakers.  So my feet fell through, but fortunately the water wasn't deep and the ice water felt great.  Bonus: My Roc-Lites did a great job at shedding water, so my feet were dry by the time we got back to our cars.  

That's all I have time to write for now.  I still haven't decided where to run this weekend, so if you have a cool idea, let me know and I will be happy to join.  I just found out yesterday that I have time to do some long runs this weekend.  As of now, I will probably do Harriman super duper early tomorrow and the Long Path in the Palisades on Sunday.  Or maybe the reverse, I don't know.  We'll see what happens when I get up in the morning.   

Where my foot fell through the ice.  Tee hee hee.

Scott and Garth! Garth said he has been using those same gloves for two decades now.  Now I don't feel so bad for wearing the same thermals for fifteen years.

My silly iPhone decided that it was too cold to behave and kept on turning off even though it had more than enough battery, so I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked.  Next time, I am bringing a real camera.