A Trip Down Memory Lane

Today I didn't really feel up for running, but I know that just getting out there can change my attitude, so I put on my new Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11s and left the house. I ran through the town of Oyster Bay along South Street, which is where I encountered the first jackass of the day. I'm clipping along and this guy is signaling me to stop so I take out one of my headphones and he goes, "Slow down! I could give you a speeding ticket!" Really? Gag me. If this man is in law enforcement, we should be ashamed and frightened. Tell me he gets some kind of reduced salary for stupidity.

After some intense eye rolling (and I may or may not have called him a jackass), I hung a right on East Main Street. East Main Street turns into Cove Road. I haven't run on Cove Road since last winter, and it's a lot more pleasant without snow. I saw the Teddy Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary on my right, and thought it might make for a nice run. I was right. The TR Bird Sanctuary has nicely maintained, mulch-covered trails. I took off my headphones, enjoyed the sounds of nature, and got a little hill workout in. The people who work at the Sanctuary is very friendly, and I (figuratively) ran into staff members on my way out. We greeted one another, and then I set off back along Cove Road.

The Teddy Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary

Another shot of the trail at the TR Bird Sanctuary

The further I ran, the better I felt, so I decided to turn today in to my long run day. This made sense because I have stuff to do tomorrow anyway. I saw Yellow Cote Road approaching and made a right onto it. The East Woods School is on Yellow Cote Road. I graduated from East Woods in 2001, and decided to see the tall building on top of the hill. I haven't run that driveway since a Turkey Trot in the late 90s, and it was still difficult.

The East Woods School

After reminiscing about the good olds days, and realizing that I looked like a creeper stalking small children at day camp, I headed back out. Forgive me forgetting about Discovery Camp. I went to the school for twelve years. Just because I am a sweaty mess in a sports bra and shorts doesn't mean I don't have every right to be there. Who sends their kids to Discovery Camp anyway? Now I had to get home, so I ran to 25A and headed west. The remaining 3.5 miles (give or take) of my run were filled with many jackasses. I have come to expect the men leaning out of gardening trucks to oggle me, but today reached a new low. And the Jackass of the Day Award goes to the guy in a G Wagon (honestly, who still drives those?) who drove into the breakdown lane and tried to play chicken with me.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11

I bought my first pair of Brooks running shoes last weekend. I'm in love. After more than a year struggling to run in shoes that just never felt right, my new sneaks have me running happy.

Brand spanking new sneakers.

The Adrenaline is a support shoe available for both men and women. It feels cushioned, but not so much that I couldn't feel the road. I felt like I was able to run in my "real gait" if that makes any sense. The shoes fit my arches and are very comfortable. When I left for my run this morning, the right heel felt loose and began to slip, but I tightened the laces and corrected the problem.

Yes, my nail polish matches my new shoes.

I have taken my new Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11s on road (asphalt), pavement (sidewalks), track, and mulch-covered trail. These versatile shoes held their own. They provided the stability and support I need, while remaining lightweight and comfortable. Two thumbs up from In Shape Out of Mind.

Reunited with Bonne

Bonne Marcus taught me everything I know about fitness. Before I met Bonne, I was a girl who spent 30 minutes on a treadmill five days a week and wondered why I didn't have any muscular definition in my upper body. I skipped regular meals and relied on six-packs of sugar-free Red Bull to get through the day. Then I discovered Bonne and group fitness. The very first class I went to (back in 2007) was Cardio Intervals. Today I had the great pleasure to take this wonderful class again with my wonderful friend.

Bonne now teaches at the Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center in Roslyn, New York. The JCC has a beautiful Wellness Center that is available to its members, as well as the public for a fee. Us non-members can attend a group fitness class for $20. Bonne very nicely put me on the guest list.

So this morning my alarm goes off at 6:57 am and it takes me a moment to figure out what's going on. Do I have work? Which work? Where am I? Do I have to drive to Brooklyn? Are there children involved? Once I remember that I am getting up to go workout with Bonne, the biggest smile appears on my face and I go in search of an all black workout outfit. I need to look slim. I've put on 20 lbs. I'm kind of embarrassed.

I ate oatmeal and almond milk for breakfast (stay tuned for a post about breakfast choices in the near future), and head off to the JCC. It's conveniently located off of 25A and I arrive in plenty of time.

Bonne's classes are most importantly fun. I have never been unhappy in one or itching to leave early. If you're not enjoying yourself, it's more difficult to give 100% of your all. It's doable. I've done it. It's not pleasant. The next best thing about Bonne's classes are the variety. Bonne says she's ADHD when it comes to exercise, and this means that you get to use lots of great fitness toys. After a solid warm-up (I love marching. More people should march) we got on the step for some basic rights and basic lefts. I've said it before, but it bears repeating: Step is the best thing that you can do to firm up your legs. All of your muscles are targeted from your calves to your inner and outer thighs. You can work your glutes and your core while working your legs from different angles. Step is great, and not offered nearly enough. Today we also used the BOSU, medicine balls (really cute little ones that I found much more manageable than the bigger balls of the same weight - keep the dirty jokes to yourselves), and resistance bands.

I had so much fun, and it was great to see Bonne. If you live near Roslyn, definitely check out Cardio Intervals on Thursday mornings and Super Sculpt on Tuesdays.

Racing Athena

Most people can't believe this when I tell them, but I am 145 lbs. Actually, the scale said I was 145.6 lbs this morning. Or as my mother said the other day, and I quote, "How do you run so much, and so fast, and...?" My weight qualifies me to race as an Athena, which is a euphemism for heavier woman. I haven't signed up as an Athena in the past because I tend to place in Long Island races as a "regular runner," but I have my eye on this week's Runner's Edge 5K Women's Run. If I come in first place as an Athena, I win $100. Now $100 isn't that much, but it is a new pair of running shoes, so it makes me question if it's worth it. I'm pretty positive I can win my age group regardless, but winning money would be pretty awesome. Athena, the Greek goddess of war, is also the goddess of strategy. Signing up under a different class might be a strategic, and profitable, move.

P90X - Ab Ripper X and Shoulders & Arms DVDs

So guess who finally got to try P90X? I jumped out of bed this morning (okay, maybe I sprawled out covered in baby blankets for about twenty minutes), put on my workout clothes (my C9 shorts are getting a little snug, FYI), and went to grab my new yoga mat from my car. It was time to work my abs.

With great anticipation, I inserted the Ab Ripper X DVD into the player. I was so excited to see Tony Horton in action. He promised 349 moves of core crushing greatness. I couldn't do all 349. I suddenly realized how out of shape I have gotten since my peak fitness in February 2010. I could also feel my trail run abused quadriceps screaming for mercy. None of the moves on the Ab Ripper were new to me, but I did like the format. It's about 15 minutes long, gets straight to the point, and provides modified intensities. It would definitely deliver results.

Then I moved on to the hour-long Shoulders & Arms DVD. I haven't worked out my upper body in forever, but miraculously I still held my own. P90X Shoulders & Arms is five rounds (if you include the Bonus Round) of shoulders, biceps, then triceps exercises. You repeat each round. I really enjoyed this workout. My favorite exercise was the Deep Swimmer's Presses. This kid taught me how to do them in high school and I love them. You perform a bicep curl into a shoulder press, and then reverse the move to complete one rep.

The Two-Angle Shoulder Flys were also a good move, and flipping hard. I'm at my parents' house and I was able to rustle up a pair of 15 lb weights, which may have been a little heavy for this. You sit up straight on a chair (I went with the toy box) and perform one fly, then you lean over your legs and do your next fly. Everyone completes 16 flys. Of course I misunderstood the first round, and thought that 1 rep was one fly at each angle, and couldn't believe that I was supposed to complete 16. Turns out that would be 32. Oops.

I learned a new move today called Crouching Cohen Curls. I'm not very good at them yet, but you squat down, and put your elbows at the inside of your knees. Then you curl your biceps. I didn't use a mirror for this workout, so it was difficult to check my form. I'm trying to stop relying on mirrors so much, because 1. needing a mirror to workout is inconvenient and 2. I want to be more aware of my own body and muscles.

I am thrilled that I finally get to test out P90X after five years of watching (loving/obsessing over) the infomercials. I borrowed these DVDs, but I think I may become the proud owner of my own set in the near future.

Monday Morning on the Greenbelt Trail

Today I returned to the Greenbelt Trail, home of the Greenbelt Trail 50K that kicked my ass last May. I have a sick pair of La Sportiva trail running shoes and two working legs, so it was high time I got back out there.

The Greenbelt Trail

I drove east to Cold Spring Habor this morning and parked by the library. You can access the northern part of the trail from the parking lot that is located on the right side of 25A. After a quick climb, you are overlooking the harbor.

You can see the view of Cold Spring Harbor

The trail heads south and goes to Massapequa. It is cut into sections by different major roads. I decided to the run the portion that goes to Route 108 because it only required me to cross Lawrence Hill Road. I wasn't in the mood to become roadkill this Monday morning.

Nike+ GPS map of my route

Trail running is so different from road running. It takes focus to navigate the tree roots and rocks while ascending and descending along the paths. You have to be aware of where you are going and mindful of the white blazes that mark the trail. It's peaceful and difficult. I was winded after the initial climb, but I soon found my rhythm. I pushed myself today, but I was also sensible. I was surprised by how easily I got back into running the trail even though I hadn't been there in two months. I guess eight solid hours will really acquaint you with an area.

The white blaze that indicates the trail on the right

I attached my Nike+ chip to my trail shoes and tracked my run. I didn't realize that locking the app and then taking pictures would pause the run, so part of my run is missing, but I followed the same trail back. Overall, my run should be about 3.78 miles, and it took me an hour. I can run that distance on road in about thirty minutes. Trail running really is a different sport, and one that I think I enjoy more than road running. The opportunity to run surrounded by trees, plants, animals, and the occasional Chinese hiker is one I am very thankful for. I'm also returning to the Greenbelt Trail 50K in 2012, so I have some serious training to do. This time around, I'll be doing the ass kicking.

I have to practice my descents.

The Beast in Action

Crossing the Finish Line at Last Month's Lousy T-Shirt Race

This is what running a 5K at 6.58 minute miles looks like.

Boomer's Cystic Fibrosis Run to Breathe 10K

I awoke at 6:15 on Saturday morning, rolled over, and muttered, "F*ck, we need to get up for that race." For once I did not blackout, and I had full recollection of the previous evening and the various alcoholic beverages I had consumed. It's the evenings you wish you didn't remember that you always seem to recall. The boy wisely chose a banana for his pre-race meal. I went with a 5 Hour Energy, three Advils, two gulps of cold coffee, a bite of his banana, and a 2% Fage yogurt. I may or may not have taken my Ritalin because I honestly can't remember, but I'm thinking I did not.

We had a pleasant walk over to the park. The race began at East 69th Street, went up to the Harlem hills, circled back around, and then ended at the 72nd Street Traverse. The first two miles were uneventful, if a little painful, and then the boy's knee began to act up. I took his decision to walk as the perfect excuse for me to take a little break. By this time I was regretting my decision to attend Friday night's birthday dinner, especially my decision to chug through it. After a brief respite, I went back to running the remaining 4.2 miles of the race.

Although the weather look beautiful, Saturday was hot with 93% humidity. Running with a hangover is bad enough, but running in humid sunshine with a hangover is just cruel. I felt sick. I could feel the yogurt in my stomach curdling. I could taste vodka and cigarettes. Basically, I was in my element. I had already determined that I wouldn't be PRing so I just enjoyed the ride. I like to think of these races as punishment for my poor behavior, and similar to reciting Hail Marys or whatever guilt-ridden Catholics do.

I had to walk through the aid stations. Even though I ran with a water bottle, I needed to drink two to three cups at each stop, so walking made more sense, and it gave my muscles a nice break. I really never felt like I was racing, and at 8.15 minute miles, I really wasn't. I finished in 51:09, 2 minutes and 10 seconds longer than last month's still-drunk dash at the NYRR Mini 10K. Eventually, and I mean this, I will run a 10K fully sober and well-rested.

Workout? #fail

I had to be up in West Hartford last night for something very important, but unfortunately I also had a job application project due today. I obviously did not complete it before driving up to the West HartBeat, and the thing is due at noon, so I had to stay at the boy's place in good old Gun Wavin' New Haven in order to get a good night's sleep to wake up early to finish the damn thing. It's not really such a hardship to stay with him, and I did get some solid rest. The boy left for work, I commandeered his desk, and I managed to finish the project with 1 hour and 3 minutes to spare.

Bored, and done rummaging through his refrigerator, I remembered that he has the entire P90X DVD collection and I had my workout clothes in the car. Excited to finally enjoy the moves of Tony Horton, I scampered over to find my shoes when I remembered that this is New Haven and you can't just leave the doors unlocked to an apartment in a strange housing complex while you run over to your PT Cruiser to grab your workout gear. Momentarily saddened, I refused to give up hope. Surely the boy had a spare key lying around somewhere. I texted him. He said he did not.

Left with nothing else to do, I Facebook stalked my ex and finished the rest of the blueberries.

So Many Things to See at the Sea Shore

So Daddy paid for my season sticker to TOBAY beach. My sister and I packed up the PT Cruiser and headed down to the South Shore. It was a beautiful day today, and we found prime beach real estate. Then my sister went to sleep and I was left reading July's issue of Runner's World.

Today was my rest day, therefore I ended up restless. I took off down the beach, barefoot and in my bikini. I ran at the water's edge for probably half a mile before turning back. I was running at 5K pace, but I felt amazing afterwards. My legs felt great. The best part was jumping in the water afterwards.

Satisfied with my physical activity for the day, I settled into my beach chair. The Tony Tape-Ups who had invaded our space during my run returned with a dead and decaying shark. Very cool, but dragging around a dead fish is definitely an act of animal cruelty. By this time I had gotten sand in my suit so I headed over to the showers. There I saw a giant seagull keeled over under one of the shower heads! Seriously?! Was this some kind of sick joke intended to frighten small children? I returned to my towel to work on my back tan. Beach running is now high on my list for summer activities.