Happy Hour

I hit a milestone in my return to the sport on Wednesday, by running for one whole hour! A quick glance over my logs tells me I haven't done that since December 17th last year. 60 minutes was a physical and mental hurdle that I'm glad I've finally crossed. What's more, it felt pretty good - a little faster than of late (though who the hell really knows.)

I've spoiled it all however but not running a single step since. In my defense, I have been fighting off a bit of a nasty cold this week, but that's probably just an excuse. If I'm being completely honest, I must admit that I'm suffering from quite a lack of motivation at the moment. Maybe it's just too much like hard work for my lardy body, maybe it's just that I'd rather spend every waking moment with my baby, maybe all that time off killed the passion after all, maybe this is just a temporary bump in the long road back to fitness...

I head back to work next Thursday and my mind is preoccupied with many related issues, the least of which is: how the hell do I fit running into my schedule? I was planning on running home from work on a regular basis, but what do I do with the breastmilk I'll have pumped during the workday? If I carry it in my little rucksack, won't it be butter by the time I get home? I could run to work in the morning, but that takes some serious forethought, in terms of having clothes, shoes, jackets, towels, bottles etc. etc. already stored up at the office. I like to think of myself as a pretty organized person, but the new challenge of long stressful working hours + commute + housekeeping + baby + marathon training I fear is going to demand of me a whole new level of planning and discipline that will stretch me to the limit. But there are plenty people who have far more on their plate than I am soon to have. I just want to know - how do they do it? I regularly read blogs of folks who have more than one kid, work full time and run upwards of 100 miles a week. Just how is that possible? Do you have incredibly understanding partners? Do you ever actually see your children? Do you fall asleep at your desk? Any practical advice for fitting it all in would be very welcome. Especially from new mothers!

Speaking of whom...I want to wish Kate and hubby Marc huge congratulations for the birth of their new little future runner. We can't wait to meet you Rory!

Merry Christmas

Hope you're all enjoying very happy holidays with your friends and family!

Running this week:
Monday: 23 mins, Florida
Wednesday: 45 minutes, Florida
Saturday: 16 minutes, local Sunnyside streets (whoops, poor planning - had to cut it short)
Sunday: 48 minutes, complete Queensborough Bridge route, (finally - a good run!)

Oh The Humidity!

Kyla and I just returned from a week in Florida visiting her Nana, Aunts, Uncles and friends. I would have blogged sooner but my mother-in-law owns the relatively useless WebTV so I gave up.

The week was very fun, I'm so glad we took the opportunity before I go back to work (less than two weeks from now - ARGH!) I got a few runs in - but nearly every one was miserable: slow and painful on hilly routes in hot and humid conditions. I forgot just how much my body hates heat and humidity now - that terrible 2005 summer of training and races came flooding back.

We were met at home by a pile of cards and pressies for Kyla - not least of which is this amazing dress from Chelle, whom I've now concluded to be the most talented person on the planet. Matt immediately earmarked the dress for Kyla to wear November 4th while cheering on mummy in the marathon, providing she hasn't grown out of it by then of course.

This was the only running related present Kyla received - besides this adorable race-winning bear (thanks again Ryan & Esther). I can't wait for her to grow old enough to appreciate him.

Now I have to scramble to get ready for my dad's arrival tonight. Word is he's going to be just a few hours late in spite of the chaos that is European airports right now.

Running last week:
Thursday: 32 minutes, around Floridian gated community
Saturday: 23 minutes, ditto
Sunday: 40 minutes, ditto
(I was hoping to begin reporting my runs in miles rather than minutes, but alas, that would still be too pathetic...)

The Salt in the Stew

I finally had my Timex Ironman strap fixed, and wore it all last week. In case there was ever any real doubt that I'm slower now than bb (before baby), that thing really gives it to me straight. At the height of my fitness, one complete hill loop used to take me about 2:25 mins, now it takes 3:10, my favourite Queensborough Bridge out and back route used to be 38 minutes, now it's 45. There's no escaping cold, harsh reality when that digital readout is staring you in the face.

I want all of you runners who are super fit right now, who are achieving PRs or just feeling great when you run, to stop for a second and be grateful for it. Because one day, for whatever reason, your body wont be doing it for you, and you'll miss it. A lot. That sounded much more melancholic than I intended. I'm actually enjoying the challenge of getting back in the game. It's just that I don't think I appreciated when I was really fit, at the time. And it's worth doing. Take a second right now to be thankful for the running fitness you currently have.

Don't get me wrong, I'm actively thankful for loads of things in my life. I have my health, a happy marriage, our gorgeous apartment with the Manhattan skyline view (just wished we owned it, is all.) Though I've complained bitterly about it before, I do have a decent job, working with great people for a super cool company in a super cool NYC office. Not to mention a ton of amazing friends, and of course the beautiful, healthy daughter I've imagined all my life. Living without the pleasure of a comfortable run is no hardship. Just to be able to run at all is enough for now.

I see my running as the salt in the stew. It's not absolutely necessary, but life is much, much better for its inclusion. It brings out the flavours of all of life's ingredients, and makes me able to appreciate every single one of them all the more.

Running last week:
Monday: 35 mins, 5 hill reps and warm up/down
Wednesday: 45 mins, round track while watching team mates tear it up
Saturday: 45 mins, QB Bridge route, felt strong
Sunday: 56 mins, 96th/Columbus - home in Queens via Central Park, felt slow and difficult, but excellent to be navigating the streets of Manhattan again

postscript - the foam roller is no longer torture! All of a sudden it doesn't make me squeal in pain. I'm convinced I'm staving off injury by using it regularly, as well as by keeping the weekly mileage increases under control.

All The Threes

I turned 33 yesterday and Kyla is 3 months old today. This means I have been on planet Earth 132 times longer than she has. Wow.

My new age does not concern me in the least, partially, I suspect because becoming a parent has rendered such events totally irrelevant to me, but also because for some odd reason I have spent the past two years prematurely believing myself to be 33. Now there's a trick to feeling forever young. Instead of lying about your age by underreporting - start telling everyone you are two years older than you really are. That way, your real age is always a pleasant surprise!

Thanks for all the shoe advice. I paid heed, and now they are packaged up and ready to return. Now I need to resume my search for on sale Brooks Addiction 6 size 6.5B. *sigh*

Brand Spanking New...

...shoes.

I ordered them online, only to discover on their arrival that I accidentally ordered 'narrow fit'. Now, as my husband so charmingly pointed out, my feet are a lot of things, but narrow they ain't. Thing is, they kind of feel ok...and I'm absolutely loathe to return them (because I'm cheap and lazy,) so is it ok to run in shoes that are a smidgen cramped?

Damn it, I think I know what you're going to say...

The Unsophisticate

Recently, while surfing the running blogosphere, I was struck by something quite startling.

As most of you probably know, two minutes into an RBF perusal and you're knee-deep in heart rate monitoring and VO2 max and Lydiard plans and Garmins and intervals and and and and...

For someone who's supposed to be passionate about this pastime, I realise suddenly that I'm not very - at all - sophisticated about it. Sure, I'm a member of a running club, I subscribe to RW, I blog and read others' blogs about the sport. But the closest I've come to sophistication in my training is following an NYRR marathon schedule and owning a 30-split Ironman Timex.

One day I'm going to have to start putting some real thought and structure into my training like so many of you do. Common sense tells me that if I'm ever to stand a chance of fulfilling anywhere near my potential, I'm going to have to apply a little more savvy and a lot less randomness to what I'm doing.

I'm not talking any time soon. I need to get my mileage back over 20 mpw and my weight back down below 120 lbs for gaaadsake, before I even begin to think about anything remotely advanced. But when I am ready, where on earth do I start? How do I pick from the vast array of training options and philosophies out there? Which gadgets are worth using? Who of the experts are worth listening to?

These are the tenebrous thoughts clanging around my mind while I lumbered round the 'hood this week. Speaking of which...

Chuffed to say I've been out 5 times in the last 7 days. If nothing else, for now at least I have consistency. I'll take that.
Monday: 40 mins, Warm up, 6 hill reps, warm down
Wednesday: 27 mins, Local Sunnyside/Woodside streets
Thursday: 35 mins, Cropped QB route
Saturday: 48 mins, Astoria streets (woo hoo, longest run yet)
Sunday: 24 mins, Local Sunnyside/Woodside streets