RESULTS!

Jonathan Carroll's RESULTS! class at the Great Neck Equinox should be marketed as a runner's conditioning class. I went to this forty-five minute class on Monday and we did every exercise I knew I should do to strengthen and stretch my legs, but usually won't do on my own. We also worked our core and did some upper body work.

I love Jonathan's classes because he uses the step. The step is an old-school and under appreciated tool. My legs always look the best when I've been at step class. You can do lunges off the back, lunges off the side, repeater lunges, hamstring curls... and everything is more effective because of the change in levels. Jonathan had us do a bajillion (okay 56) calf raises. My legs were killing me!

If you're like me, and you tend to avoid your conditioning exercises, find a class like this to enhance your overall fitness while you continue to run.

Mile 22 Bags

I just discovered Mile 22 Bags. This Missoula, Montana based company will make you custom-made bags out of your race bibs, t-shirts, pictures, and other memorabilia. How awesome is that? They are also strangely affordable. The Finish Line Bag, a classic tote that comes in small or large, is priced at $70 and $80 respectively. I'm eyeing the messenger bag that is currently in development.

I think these bags have a lot of potential. They would be especially cute if you chose a theme, such as marathons, races run in a given area, or maybe the bibs from the same race but different years. Another idea would be to pick items of a certain color - I'm always partial to blue.

Check out the different Mile 22 Bags at http://www.mile22bags.com/bag-styles/

Recovery Runs

I've been reading a lot about running and the science behind running. The recovery run is a short and easy run that is meant to allow your body to recover (clever name, huh?) without sitting on the couch. Runners struggle with the recovery run because it doesn't really feel like you're running. I totally get that. Why do I want to slowly run when I know I can pound the pavement like a beast in search of blood and glory? Well, apparently I want to because it's going to make me a better runner.

Today I set out to run a fartlek, but it quickly became clear that I wasn't feeling a speed workout. I included a few bursts of energy, but I mostly stayed between 8 and 9 minute miles. The stress fracture in my foot started to ache, but I aimed to run 3 miles in under 27 minutes, which I did. I think this is a recovery run, but to be honest, I'm not really sure. I think it would be beneficial to wear my heart rate monitor next time to accurately measure how "easily" I am running.

Wall Street Run and Heart Walk

Tuesday was the Wall Street Run and Heart Walk. New York Road Runners insisted there was nothing they could do about changing my walker bib to a runner one, so I ran the race unofficially. It wasn't that big of a deal, and I wasn't the only person wearing a green bib running, but I didn't have a d tag. I timed myself from the moment I crossed the starting line to the second I crossed the finish line, and I ran the three miles in 22 minutes even.

The course was a lot of fun. We ran all around the Financial District, taking over the streets and even the sidewalks. I've never seen the running of the bulls, but I imagined I was one of those bulls as I barreled down the road, jumping and weaving around pedestrians and slowpokes. I considered trampling a few but I figured it might negatively affect my time.

The first mile was pretty solid, if a little curvy. I ran it in 7:40, which isn't too bad for the number of people I had to pass. Mile 2 seemed to take forever, but I beasted (yes, it's now a verb) it in 7 minutes. The last mile was just absurd. We were directed towards the water, and then the course narrowed. Suddenly we were being funneled into this narrow pathway that has cement blocks to prevent vehicles from entering. I definitely almost took out my kneecap. It was nearly impossible to get around people as we approached the finish line. The potential to shave 10 seconds of your time is diminished when you're boxed in on all sides.

Overall a great evening. And if you are the attractive young guy I almost took out at the corner of Water and William, please send me an email.

Frozen Banana Stand

If you find yourself with bananas that are about to over ripen, you can make banana bread. Or you can cut them in half, store them in a baggie, and stash them in a freezer. Make sure you peel them first. (Learned that the hard way.) You can use the frozen bananas in protein shakes. I have found that frozen bananas make shakes creamier, and you don't have to use as much ice.

The NYRR Website

The New York Road Runners registration website drives me nuts. It seems very simple to use, until you realize that accurately signing up for a race is near to impossible. Maybe it's just me. Between my annoyingly long first and last names, the different billing addresses I use for different credit cards, and the fact that I sign up for races when I should be doing something else - I never seem to get my information right. The first time I ended up with a bib claiming I run 11:21 minute miles. Yeah, that's right: RUN. This time I ended up with a bib claiming I'm an eighteen-year-old walking a 3 mile race.

NYRR claims there is nothing they can do to fix this and that the race is closed. If I'm allowed to walk it, I think I should be allowed to run it. I think I'm just going to run it anyway and time it myself.

Seeing Clearly

On Thursday I wore my eyeglasses to go running for the first time. I was so tired I just couldn't bring myself to shove my contacts into my poor self-deprived eyes. I see people do it all the time, but I never workout without my contacts. About two tenths of a mile into this run, the obvious occurred to me: I run in sunglasses all the time. Why would eyeglasses be any different?

I wear rimless frames, and by the end of my quick run I was noticing the sides, but I'm pretty sure I would notice sunglasses that small too.

I'm still not sure how people wear eyeglasses to plyo-intensive fitness classes though.

Race Shirts: Good Luck Charm or Bad Omen?

Most races distribute t-shirts to the participants before the race happens. You typically pick up your shirt when you pick up your bib number. Sometimes I pick up my race packet in advance, but if I'm driving, I'll just arrive a little early, pick up the swag and store it in the trunk.

Some runners wear their race shirt for the actual race. I would never. I think that wearing a shirt for a race I haven't completed is tempting fate and will result in a DNF next to my name. The dreaded Did Not Finish will never be next to my name unless I am forced off the course by medical personnel, or I'm dead. If I'm dead, please just drag my body across the finish line.

I've formed a nice little collection of race shirts. The Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC) gave out sick technical t-shirts for the 25K and 50K I did. Of course one is orange and the other is Grey Poupon yellow, essentially unwearable colors. Hands down, my favorite shirt is the large cobalt blue sweatshirt I got for running the Oyster Festival Town Supervisor's 5K.

Saved By the Strap Part 2

Awesome run tonight! I ran from my apartment to the F train at 63rd Street. Took that down to West 4th and met the Professor on Varick and Houston. We ran along the West Side Highway until 55th Street and then cut east and north to Columbus Circle. We ran through Central Park until parting ways so the Professor could go to his gym. I continued on until 72nd Street, where I exited the park and continued running until my Nike+ said 5 miles. I actually ran closer to 5.5 miles, but I forgot to start the run on Houston. I hate when I do that. I walked the remaining distance back to my apartment as a nice cool down. Guess what? I covered 7 miles today and knee doesn't hurt at all! Thank you Pro-Tec!

Check out Pro-Tec's products at http://www.injurybegone.com/

Saved By the Strap Part 1

Yesterday I went to the Super Runner's Shop in Huntington and bought a Pro-Tec IT band compression strap. It's the best $20 I've ever spent. I was able to walk to and from the subway, up and down the stairs from my classroom, and I've already run 1.38 miles with it. I'm on my way downtown to meet my running partner. Part 2 of this post will be post run.