Reservoir

Today: 7 miles
Week: 13 miles
Workout: Niketown - 3 loops of reservoir - return

First loop of the reservoir was about 6:20/mile. The second loop was about the same. Ran half of the third loop hard and did the rest of it slow. Easy jog back to the 65th St. stretching area.

Today: 6 miles
Week: 6 miles
Workout: One full loop of Central Park.

It was supposed to be an easy run. But by the end of the run, we were running under 7:00/mile.

Today: 6 miles
Week: 28.5 miles
Workout: One loop of Central Park

47 minutes.

East Drive

Today: 4 miles
Week: 22.5 miles
Workout: Niketown - Central Park's East Drive - 102nd St Transverse - return

It finally feels a little like winter. I have a craving for more turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie!

Thanksgiving = Football

Standing behind the Jets' sideline before the game

Jason Taylor after the game

Sanchez warming up on exercise bike

Mark Sanchez warming up

No running for me the past couple of days. I went to the Jets-Bengals game at the Meadowlands last night. Seats on the 30-yard line! I had an early Thanksgiving meal before heading to the game. Then I had access to an all-you-can-eat lounge! I was able to watch Rex Ryan give his post game news conference. As if that wasn't enough, I also had access to an outdoor standing area just behind the Jets' sideline.

West Drive Run

Wednesday: 7 miles
Week: 18.5 miles
Workout: 63rd & West Drive in Central Park - around top of park - a little further than 102nd St. Transverse and return.

Lower Loop

Tuesday: 5 miles
Week: 11.5 miles
Workout: 3x Central Park's lower loop

Nice, steady run @8:00/mile.

Mile Repeats

Yesterday: 6.5 miles
Week: 6.5 miles
Workout: 4x1 Mile on lower loop of Central Park, clockwise from middle of 72nd Transverse to stoplight/crosswalk connecting to Columbus Circle. Recovery back to start, to complete full lower loop.

5:56, 5:45, 5:29, 5:30. My first hard workout since the marathon.

Philly

Today: 4.5 miles
Week: 34.5 miles
Workout: Running with friends in the Philadelphia Marathon

I caught the Bolt Bus to Philly yesterday, with plans on cheering for some friends who were running the marathon. I was fortunate that Allyson and her friends had space for me at their hotel. It was so conveniently located, I left the hotel a couple of minutes before 7:00 a.m. (the start of the marathon), ran a few blocks, and was able to catch the leaders passing through the first mile. I saw Allyson but didn't see anyone else. I walked over to Mile 6, and saw the leaders pass through again. And again, I saw Allyson but didn't see anyone else I knew.

From Mile 6, I took a rather long walk to Mile 15. It was probably a little over a 2-mile walk. I waited for a few minutes and Abvi saw me. Good thing too because I would have missed him. I ran with him from Mile 15 to 16. He seemed to be doing great. Good enough to have a conversation anyway.

I headed back to Mile 15 to look for others, and Paul saw me. He was running with Steven, so I hopped ran with them for a mile or so. I turned around again and headed back towards Mile 15. Alanna called me on my cellphone, and said she ran with Allyson at Mile 8. I couldn't quite hear everything Alanna was saying but thought I heard her say that Allyson was in pain and might not finish the race. I was thinking that explained why I hadn't seen her yet. But it turns out, based on her finishing time, she may have been running faster than I anticipated. She may have been right behind me when I was running with Abvi or Paul, so that when I turned to head back from Mile 16 to Mile 15, I may have missed her.

Anyway, I crossed the street and waited at Mile 24. While I waited, I cheered and clapped for the marathoners. It's nice that they all had their names on their bibs. I wonder why the NYRR doesn't do that for the NYC Marathon. I was shocked when Allyson was the first person I saw. I couldn't figure it out. How could she have passed Abvi, who was on 3:30 marathon pace? I thought she was trying to do a 3:45-3:50 marathon! (It turns out that she was in the corrals with the faster runners.) She had to stop a couple of times, but when she was running, she seemed to be keeping up a decent pace.

At Mile 25, I turned around and head back towards Mile 24. Abvi came by, and he seemed like he was still on his goal pace. So I was surprised when he had to stop and walk a little. But it was only a for a few seconds, and he took off again, at what seemed like an 8:00/mile pace. Very impressive for someone who was fighting off obviously painful hamstring cramps.

At some point after Mile 25, Abvi had to stop again, and I was worried he wouldn't make his goal time. But he took off again. I made it to what I thought was the last hill before the finish. I spotted some friends in the crowd and so did Abvi. Those supporters and nearing the finish line must have given Abvi a boost because he took off. I wasn't able to see his finish. I decided to hop out of the race while I still had a chance and try to make my way back and see if I couldn't spot Paul and Steven. I decided I didn't have enough time to run back to Mile 25. So I just found a spot about 400 meters from the finish and managed to see Steven and Paul go by.

We were able to meet up with each other at the finish area. Everybody seemed very pleased with their results. I went back to the hotel to pack. It was about 1:00 p.m. when I left the hotel. I had 5 hours to kill before I caught the bus back to NYC. Fortunately, instead of waiting for hours, I was able to catch a ride with Alanna and Stu.

It was the quite the eventful running weekend. I'm in desperate need of sleep, but it will have to wait until Thanksgiving.

Saturday: 9 miles
Week: 30 miles
Workout: Central Park @65th St. - lower loop - bridle path - 2 extended bridle path loops - 65th

Immediately after the run, I ran to Engineer's Gate to volunteer for the Knickerbocker 60K. I did that from 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. I saw quite a few runners I knew in the race. What an awesome achievement for those runners!

After my volunteering duties were over, I caught the Bolt Bus to Philly to watch the marathon the next day.

800m Repeats

Today: 8.5 miles
Week: 21 miles
Workout: Niketown - E. Drive in Central Park - 5 repeats from 84th to 94th Street - Cool down back to Niketown.

Did 4 repeats under 8:00/mile pace. Did the last repeat @6:00/mile pace. Looking forward to watching the Philly Marathon on Sunday.

Cat Hill Repeats

Yesterday: 5.5 miles
Week: 12.5 miles
Workout: Warm up from Y to base of Cat Hill. Run two sets of 4 repeats.

Today: 7 miles
Week: 7 miles
Workout: Central Park's 65th St & E. Drive - uptown on E. Drive - top of Harlem Hill - return to bottom of hill - up Harlem Hill again - turn around and head back to 65th.

I don't really have muscle soreness from the marathon. But my calves are still tight. Unusually warm night. I lucked out and finished my run before it began raining.

Today: 6 miles
Week: 14.5 miles
Workout: Niketown - E. Drive - 85th - 1 loop of bridle path extension - 1 bridle path loop - exit 85th - Niketown

Legs are still tight. I'm guessing it's going to be another week before they feel back to normal.

Today: 3 miles
Week: 8.5 miles
Workout: Central Park @65th on E. Dr. - lower loop - W. 79th - return

Knee felt great! Can't wait to get back into regular training again.

I'm inspired when I see Courtney come out to run.

http://www.womanaroundtown.com/sections/living-around/courtney-the-marathoner

Yesterday: 3 miles
Week: 5.5 miles
Workout: 2 lower loops of Central Park

YES! The pain in my knee seems to have disappeared!

Tuesday: 1.5 miles
Week: 2.5 miles
Workout: 1 lower loop of Central Park

Owwww! Still have the knee pain.

The Day After

Monday: 1 mile
Week: 1 mile
Workout: Ran about halfway around the lower loop of Central Park.

I went to sleep Sunday night feeling quite good. It was a different story when I woke up Monday morning. My left ankle felt as if someone had been banging on it with a hammer while I was sleeping. Both calves were very tight. I felt much better later in the afternoon.

I decided to try running a little in the evening. I felt good once I got warmed up. But all of a sudden I felt a lot of pain in my right knee. It felt like I wrenched it somehow. Uh oh.

NYC Marathon

WSY Finishers

Today: 26.2 miles
Week: 50 miles
Workout: Start in Staten Island - Brooklyn - Queens - Manhattan - Bronx - back into Manhattan - finish at Tavern on the Green in Central Park.

I woke up at 3:00 a.m., ate a small breakfast, and was out the door at 4:00 a.m. The 1 train was only running to Chambers Street, so I had to hop on a shuttle bus. I missed my scheduled 5:30 Staten Island Ferry. That turned out to be a good thing. I was able to stay inside the ferry terminal for 20 minutes and remain warm. Got off the ferry and got on another bus to the start area. I met up with Denie and Alanna. We grabbed bagels. I was starving. Megan arrived. We talked a bit. Then I head to my starting village. The Green Start Village.

I got in the portable toilet line. It wasn't much of a wait. The area was crowded. I got my bag organized and went looking for my UPS baggage truck. Five minutes later, they were announcing that my corrals were opening. I got to my corral with about 10 minutes to spare, before they closed it. It was one hour before the start. Volunteers had us move forward. The corrals were closed, but I could see a crowd of late arrivals trying to push their way passed three female security volunteers. Some runners finally broke through. I felt sorry for the volunteers.

Twenty minutes before the race, I took off one of my sweatshirts and try to throw it on top of one of the buses. It didn't quite make it and landed on someone's head. Oops! Sorry! They're showing the professionals on a big video screen. Everyone cheers for Haile and Meb. I eat my first GU. The cannon goes off. We start running. It's nice to be moving. I take off my second sweatshirt and toss it.

Almost perfect weather. I was worried about staying warm during the almost 3 hours I would have to wait before the start of the race. It turned out to be fine. As always, the crowds were amazing!

I started struggling a little when I got to the Bronx. Something is up with my calf muscle. It got really tight, and I thought it was going to cramp up. I started having visions of my 2008 marathon where I did a LOT of walking. But I managed to continue running even though I had to slow down quite a bit in the last 3 miles.

Mile Splits
Mile 1 8:30 (Damn! It's windy on the Verrazano, and I hope all those guys aren't peeing against the wind.)
Mile 2 7:17 (Ahhh, that's more like it, instantly feel warmer after getting off the bridge. I take off my long sleeved shirt and toss it. I'm now only wearing my YMCA singlet and arm warmers.)
Mile 3 7:32 (These crowds are great! Eat my second GU.)
Mile 4 7:10 (OK, now DON'T let these crowds make me run faster. Stick to the planned pace of 7:20 - 7:26)
Mile 5 7:04 (DOH! That was too fast. I'll slow down in the next mile.)
Mile 6 7:02 (Arrrggggh! These crowds make it almost impossible for me to stick to my planned pace.)
Mile 7 7:10 (OK, that split was a little more reasonable. Maybe my original goal of finishing in 3:15 needs to be upgraded to 3:10. I'm feeling pretty good. No no no. Don't get carried away.)
Mile 8 7:17 (Great! Let's keep the pace right here.)
Mile 9 7:17 (Yes! 1/3 of the race finished, and still feeling good.)
Mile 10 7:10 (Try not to think about the fact that I still have 16 miles left.)
Mile 11 7:16 (High five a few kids.)
Mile 12 7:16 (Dammit! Having trouble getting my GU out of my back pocket.)
Mile 13 7:12 (Hit halfway in just under 1:37. If I can just run the second half in 1:33/1:34, I can hit my goal of 3:10)
Mile 14 7:19 (Passed a guy dressed up like one of the members of KISS. I will NOT let someone dressed up in a costume beat me!)
Mile 15 7:25 (Uh oh, the bridge looms. It looks steeper than all the other times I've practiced on it. Bring it on! I love hills.)
Mile 16 7:22 (I can hear the crowds in Manhattan, and I can't even see them yet. I'm getting goosebumps.)
Mile 17 7:15 (The Niketown cheering section! Woo hoo!!! Wouldn't have noticed them if it weren't for Lex leaning way over the barricade.)
Mile 18 7:06 (Uh oh, starting to feel some tightness in my calf.)
Mile 19 7:21 (Know Kenley will be around here, so let me try to keep up my pace.)
Mile 20 7:38 (OK. Passed Kenley. Now I can slow down. But didn't want to slow down THAT much! Hmmm...can't seem to see myself on the big screen video.
Mile 21 7:42 (Taiko drummers. Cool! Forget about 3:10 finish. Let's go back to original goal of 3:15)
Mile 22 7:35 (I think I can make it to the finish without cramping.)
Mile 23 7:38 (See some guys from Niketown, and they are VERY vocal! And I think DJ was around here too! Thank you for being there! Maybe I can manage 7:30s the rest of the way. It's only 3 more miles.)
Mile 24 8:25 (7:30s is NOT going to happen. I need to remind myself why I do this. Let's modify the goal again. 3:15 is not going to happen. Let me focus on NOT walking, and maybe I can still make 3:20 and qualify for Boston. I think I see Alex on this mile. He's cheering loudly. I can do this!)
Mile 25 8:15 (I'm in trouble. Every step is painful. Was that Bernie and Maciej??? I'm embarrassed at how slow I must look to them. But 3:20 is definitely in reach.)
Mile 26 8:28 (I try to exaggerate my arm swing to generate some speed. Observers must be thinking, "That guy is swinging his arms a lot, but he isn't getting anywhere." I think a couple of hundred runners pass me on this mile, but I'm still running! 800 yards to go. I'm going make it. 400 yards to go!)
Mile 0.2 1:57 (200 yards to go, and Taegin blows by me like I'm standing still. Now that's a marathoner! She is awesome!!! I cross the finish line, stop my watch, and feel a sense of relief.)

Unofficial finishing time: 3 hours 16 minutes 38 seconds. Qualified for Boston 2012.

I have to walk a mile just to get my bag and walk out of Central Park. I catch up to Taegin, we share marathon stories. Then I walk another mile back to the West Side Y, to meet up with friends. Along the way, many strangers congratulate me. Makes me feel good even though I didn't hit my goal of 3:15. Despite the calf problems, I feel better after this race than any other marathon I've finished. I feel good enough to go out and get something to eat. Now I'm ready for a hot bath and some sleep. Next year, I think I'll just watch the marathon.

Today: 3 miles
Week: 24 miles
Workout: NTNY - Central Park, Engineer's Gate & back

Nice little warm-up and stretch. Beautiful day. A lot of marathoners in the park.

Today: 6 miles
Week: 21 miles
Workout: Central Park 65th - 72nd Transverse - West Drive - top of Harlem Hill - return

Ugly weather. I'm glad it's raining now rather than on Sunday.

Today: 4 miles
Week: 15 miles
Workout: 63rd & W. Drive in Central Park - run up to reservoir - cut across park along bridle path to Engineer's Gate - exit bridle path - run down and around lower loop - end at finish line of NYC Marathon.

1/2 of the WSY Men's marathon team was running tonight.

Today: 6 miles
Week: 11 miles
Workout: Niketown - lower loop - west side of C. Park - 72nd Transverse - E. Drive - 102nd Transverse - turn around, retrace route.

I think the temperature at the time I began the run was about 47 degrees. It felt colder! I need to make sure I have plenty of clothes to keep me warm in Staten Island while I'm waiting for the marathon to start.

Today: 5 miles
Week: 5 miles
Workout: 5-mile loop in Central Park at conversational pace.