NYCHalf Training: It's Taper Time!

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: 3.5M (2 lower loops of Central Park)

Wednesday: Rest

Thursday: 2M

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 5M

Sunday: Rest

Hey! Look at that, it's already taper time. Fastest training ever :) Nothing to report last week because there was nothing active going on. 

Tuesday, Pam and I decided to go to the park to run together. Since neither of us had run since Princess, we needed motivation. I don't think we were planning for it to be as cold as it was- I was seriously worried about frostbite with just a fleece lines UA long sleeve and a short sleeved race shirt. Neither one of us had a garmin or a gymboss either. I swear we made plans. But it's all good. We survived. It was nice running outside. We're going to try to make this a weekly thing and even incorporate workouts in- because when left to our own devices we clearly aren't getting it done. 

Dinner was a gigantic salad from the Whole Foods buffet. In case you're in the market for a healthy active partner, that's where it's at. Everyone grabs dinner there after the gym or the park- and I do mean everyone. The 20 people deep express line proved it. But the line was totally worth it- the salad was amazing. I even went back on Saturday after my long run for another one. 

Friday night, I attended a social for my running club and swore I was going to meet up on Saturday for the fun run. 4 drinks later, I remembered I had brunch plans (saved by the bell!). I knew if I didn't run with them on Saturday,  I wasn't going to have another chance for a couple of weeks. 

On the way to brunch, I got some serious runner envy- the weather was a gorgeous 50 degrees and everyone was out. I was really excited to run in perfect weather. By the time I got to the park, it was predictably crowded, my legs were heavy and I just wasn't in the mood. Bummer. But I still got a good 5 mile taper run in AND a delicious salad from Whole Foods. 

The game plan for next week is to roll and stretch as much as possible to get ready for Race Day. The NYCHalf makes me a little nervous because life got in the way of getting faster. So, we'll see! 

(3things) new favorite race distance, To Russia with Love and Maleficent

I think I've re-evaluated my new favorite distance. I'm usually a HUGE advocate for the 10k/ 6.2 miles, but I'm slowly realizing that it might be a TAD too short for me nowadays. Don't get me wrong, it's still a great distance for getting miles in, and not taking up your whole day. BUT the half marathon distance is still a little too far (especially after this weekend. But again, it was the farthest I had run since the marathon and once I get back into it, I'm sure it'll get easier). With all that said, I'm kind of loving the 15k or 10 mile distance. Sadly, those are not as popular distance races as I'd like. 

I stumbled on this initiative that Front Runners New York is doing and I think it's awesome. I hope they get enough miles to run there and back! You should log your miles here.

Earlier this week, Disney released a new trailer for Maleficent, including a hauntingly amazing remake of "Once Upon a Dream" by Lana del Rey. From the trailer, the movie looks like it's going to be from her point of view of the Sleeping Beauty story. Maybe I was thinking too "Wicked" and hoping it would be more of a prequel but I was a little disappointed. So, from here on out, I'm not putting too many expectations on it. But whatever the story is, she is my favorite and it's really important they get the story right. . . she was wronged!! haha. .  Anyone else feel this strongly about a fictional character?

WoW: Alternatives

Substitute soccer/flag football/ ultimate frisbee with a cardio class at my gym and you have one of my secret weapons. It usually does the trick and most of the time I'll even squeeze in a couple of miles after. Hence, last night!

What alternate secret weapons do you use to get yourself out there?

Joining a running club

I've been thinking about joining a running club for about a year and a half now. Keywords: Thinking about it. I say I'm going to, but I never get around to it. Or I'd tell myself as soon as I finishing training for [whatever I'm training for at the moment]. Technically, it was the marathon training that had me crazy focused last year. Then I took a break. And here I am again, thinking I should join a running club.

Most of the clubs in my area have $20 annual dues, weekly meetups and entire calendars with training and social events. All good things. If I hate it after one time (which you don't have to join right away either; most let you come to a couple of practices before you officially join), I can think of a lot worse things to waste $20 on. It's a total win-win.

When I was training for my first half marathon with TNT, I really liked training with the group. That is how I met my running partner and PIC after all! It's nice to have people in your life that share the same goals and crazy ideas of what productive weekend activities are. They're built in people to go to brunch with after a long run. Of course, it also helps with the accountability and I fear as the summer settles in, getting motivated is going to get harder. Again, these are all good things! So, what's with all this hesitation?! 

Then I start some more thinking, which leads to a whole bunch of excuses. I'm very set in my ways; changing my routine hasn't been a high priority (until recently). Plus, training outside seems to be a real inconvenience to me lately. Hence the thought process: why do I want to go ALL the way up to Central Park to train during the week and then trek back to Brooklyn when I can just go to my gym (in the AC!), a block from work, then go home? Can't you see the motivation to train, people?! Clearly, I'm in seriously bad shape! Need more local running friends to help! 

Maybe I am worried about being too slow. I have a few friends in the running club(s) I've been eying and I get mixed reports. Some say the marathon runners are fast, others say they're not. I read that for most groups, if you're new, they will pair someone to run with you for your first couple times going. All I know is I am definitely ANYONE'S definition of slow and would hate to make someone slow to my pace just because I'm new. And on top of that, I'm not just slow, I'm a slow run/walker. That's a whole lot of variables that make it really hard to find compatible running partners. 

So, with all that being said, I just need some sort of push to do it- kind of like the trying those new classes thing. I'm hoping by putting it out there, in the interwebs (because the internets never forgets, people!) that maybe this will be my push!

What are your thoughts on a running club? Are you a member of one?