Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Note The Key Words

This past weekend I went down to Ocean City, MD to visit some friends and missed my first Saturday team run. Not to fret- all you readers (aka meg flan the sole reader of this blog) I didn't let that stop me. I woke up early Friday morning (on my day off nontheless) and went for a "nice 5 mile run" on the trail from Cedar Creek Park to Jones Beach.

I say "nice 5 mile run" in quotation marks because lets be honest, how nice can a 5 mile run actually be? It's one of those watchamacallits...unbiased opinion, pretty ugly, seriously funny...oxymorons. Sorry, I had a mental lapse. Must have been a result of my run and the lack of oxegen to the brain that came with it. Or maybe I'm still recovering from the weekend...

In all seriousness though, my run wasn't that bad. That being the key word of course. I did miss running with the team, but I suffered through the entire 5 miles in just over 50 minutes (51.55 to be exact). I don't know where this 10 minute mile pace comes from, but hey I'm not complaining! Well...I am when I'm doing it..but...you get what I mean. Running with somebody really helps and the past 2 weeks I have been running with this lady Susan, who is also my mentor. Team In Training gives everybody a mentor, somebody who has already participated in a TNT event before, who is there to answer any questions we might have. That is if we had questions that couldn't be answered by one of the coaches, fundraising coaches, or other 8 million resources we have. It's seriously crazy how much support the program provides for us.

Even with all the support, its still a lot of hard work and very time consuming...and we are only in week 5! Only being the key word here. I can't believe we are already in week 5..I feel like we just started and the coaches are saying we are still in the beginning, but wow! 5 whole weeks of running everyday. Go me!

Yesturday and today I had 3 miles. Word to the wise: Going out for a drink with co-worker before running 3 miles isn't the smartest idea in the world...especially after taking 2 days off. Anyways, I did my 3 yesturday after work (and possibly a drink with forementioned co-worker) and got in early this morning and did my run. I'm still not sure what time of day I like running the best, as they all have definate advantages and disadvantages.

  1. Morning Runs- I like because I get it over with. I like running in the city and the streets aren't too crowded. It's not very hot out. I don't like because I have to wake up extra early and the day drags on for-ev-er(should be said in the same tone as Squints in The Sandlot).

  2. Running during my lunch break- I reason that I'm getting paid to run, as I get paid for lunch. I don't waste time either before or after work. I don't like because I have to change in the middle of the day/run/shower/change and go back to work.

  3. Evening Runs- I like because I don't have to wake up early or run during my lunch break. I don't like because it ruins any attempt of being productive after work and I sike myself out to much, dreading it all day.

I find it more enjoyable to run in the city, and because I have absolutely no sense of direction I have simply been running from the corner of 56th and 6th over to 5th and up to the Met (82nd)then back which is 3.03 miles. It's a nice run because it goes along side of Central Park and I don't have to worry about crossing too many streets. Thursday we increase our daily mileage to 4, which I'm starting to get a little nervous about. Okay, maybe not a little...a lot. Okay, now I just need to decide where and when to do this four miles...oh yeah and raise four grand.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Why Do I Bother

mapping out my runs before hand? I always manage to get lost anyway. Last night I was scheduled to do 3 miles, ended up off course and somehow managed to cross a major road...didn't realize it until I was on my way back and on the other side of Newbridge Rd. Hmmmm. When I got home and attempted to figure out where and how I ended up wherever I was, I was unable to figure it out...while looking at a map of course. Bad news: I added an extra half mile (at least) to my run. Good news: I still ran the whole thing. Better news: I finished 3.5 miles in 35 min...exactly a 10 minute mile pace.

So my car is broken and I have no idea what is wrong with it. Dad dropped me off at the train station this morning and I took the 6:52 train, got into Penn at 7:30, and was at the gym at like 7:45. Normally when I go to the gym before work I take the 6:18 train, but beings that I now have to adapt to my parents schedule, I took the later train. I had just enough time to get my scheduled 3 mile run in before work. Unfortunately, it was pouring out, and I really didn't feel like getting lost in the rain or slipping on the sidewalk, so I just ran on the treadmill.

You ever notice that the sidewalks in front of buildings is really slippery because they need to be stone or something, and not concrete? I slip on them all the time...especially when it's wet.

I'm not a fan of treadmill running for a couple of reasons. Actually, I should rephrase that- I'm not a fan of running, especially on the treadmill. I love to people watch. Being on the treadmill really limits my ability to do so. Nobody wants to be running next to the weird girl who keeps looking all over the place. I also don't like that you have to set the machine for the amount of time you want to run, I'd rather just put in that I want to do 3 miles and thats that. And then you have to worry about how fast you want to go. I don't know...I want to go as fast as I can to get the stupid run over with. Let me sprint this last half mile so I can be done already...no not on the treadmill. I mean, yeah I could adjust the speed, but then I'd have to adjust the amount of time I'm scheduled to run for, then I'd actually have to sprint, and lets face it- it's too much work, I'll just stick this last little bit out. But I do have to admit I enjoy the fan blowing in my face and this morning I watched a Yankee- Angels game from 2004 on YES, when the Yanks came back and won it in extra innings. What better way to wake up than seeing my boys come through with a nice win. Okay maybe treadmill running isn't that bad...I mean at least I didn't get lost. But I did almost fall off the side of it...good thing the hand rail was there...

Monday, August 20, 2007

What A Weekend...

So Saturday morning we had our TEAM 4 mile run at Cedar Creek Park. Might not sound like too much, especially when compared to the 26.2 we are gonna be doing in January and ya know what, it actually wasn't that bad. And that includes the 2 miles of hill repeats we had to do. I mean, lets be honest, who doesn't want to get up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday to run miles of hills. After the run, we had an injury prevention clinic at the Tacapusha museam in Seaford. I've passed it like a million times, but have never been there before. Beings that I was one of the first people finished running (Crazy right?!) I was also one of the first people there. Matt and I completed a complete tour of the museam...all 10 minutes of it and even managed to solve the bonus questions on the 2nd graders scavenger hunt. It was pretty educational.

Of course I didn't get back from the run and clinic until 11 and I was getting picked up at 12 to go to the mall to find shoes and accessories for Saturday night. I figured I would try some dresses on, but if not I would just wear a simple black one. Well of course I can't stick to my plan and ended up buying a new dress. But, for the record, I am obsessed with it and will be wearing it every chance I get. Anyways, all of Saturday was a big rush but ended up being well worth it. We managed to book a hotel last minute, which in the Hamptons is pretty much impossible...especially for one night, but we did it! Needless to say, we had a great time.

Sunday was a rest day...thank god...because I was exhusted from Saturday night.

Today is 3 miles and you would think I would have learned my lesson last Monday about procrastinating running until after work, but nope...thats the plan. Anybody feel like running in the rain with me? please...

Friday, August 17, 2007

101 Things About Me

  1. I don’t make New Years Resolutions
  2. I make them on my birthday.
  3. I started that this year.
  4. I always said if I could be 1 age for my entire life I would be 23.
  5. I’m 23 right now
  6. And determined to make it the best year of my life.
  7. In January, I’m running a marathon
  8. The furthest I’ve ever run is 3.5 miles
  9. I hate running
  10. I used to get out of breath from walking up 4 flights of stairs.
  11. At that time I was also smoking 5 packs of cigarettes a week
  12. And drinking almost every day
  13. I quit smoking 326 days ago
  14. I still love to party
  15. I hate going to work hungover
  16. But I do it anyway
  17. I get paid to watch television.
  18. In elementary school I wasn’t allowed to watch tv during the week
  19. When my parents would leave the house my brothers and I would sneak in and watch.
  20. Then army crawl on the floor when my parents pulled into the driveway so they couldn’t see us leaving the tv room.
  21. I have one older and one younger brother
  22. And a dog
  23. Besides my own, I don’t really like animals.
  24. The other day I locked myself in my car because I saw a raccoon.
  25. I thought it was going to attack me.
  26. I am definitely not a country girl.
  27. I went to college in the country.
  28. I hated not being in an urban area.
  29. But loved college
  30. And wish I could go back
  31. I spend way to much time on facebook.
  32. I can’t complete a sentence without using the word “like” or saying “ya know”
  33. I don’t really wear makeup
  34. But I can’t go 2 weeks without a mani/pedi
  35. My biggest pet peeve is when people mix black and brown.
  36. I literally just go the chills thinking about it.
  37. My college roommate pointed out facts 32-35 to me.
  38. She’s my best friend
  39. We were randomly placed together freshman year
  40. There was also another girl
  41. We kicked her out after 1 month.
  42. She thought I hated the world.
  43. I didn’t…I just hated her.
  44. On average, I read a book a week.
  45. I still live with my parents
  46. I can’t wait to move out
  47. I want to live in Manhattan
  48. But will probably end up in Brooklyn or Queens.
  49. Besides Long Island, I’ve lived in Maryland, Deleware and Budapest, Hungary.
  50. I’m from the same town as Lindsay Lohan.
  51. People constantly say I look like her.
  52. I don’t get it.
  53. I have dirty blonde hair.
  54. I carry an umbrella and sunglasses with me everywhere I go
  55. My sunglasses always have to match black and brown too.
  56. I also always have my cell phone, i-pod, train pass, a book and pen
  57. I can’t wear closed toed shoes in the summer
  58. I’m not a big fan of them in the winter either.
  59. Everything hanging in my closet must face the same way.
  60. I have separate closets for tops and bottoms.
  61. They are in different rooms.
  62. Everything hangs in color order.
  63. My tops go from darkest to lightest.
  64. The bottoms from light to dark.
  65. My dresser is also color coordinated.
  66. I’m a very picky eater
  67. I’m not a vegetarian but don’t really eat meat.
  68. I love seafood
  69. I hate cheese.
  70. I can’t be in the same room as an open bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos.
  71. It will make me throw up.
  72. I love coke.
  73. But hate pepsi.
  74. When I was in second grade I got my tongue stuck to a pole.
  75. I hate the movie A Christmas Story.
  76. I can recite every line in the movie Newsies.
  77. I also know every song and dance.
  78. I’m tone deaf.
  79. Literally can not hear the beat…ask anyone.
  80. I have no sense of direction.
  81. I normally don’t realize I went the wrong way until I’m over a bridge.
  82. I’ve ended up in New Jersey when driving to the Hamptons.
  83. Growing up I wanted to be an astronaut.
  84. I’m deathly scared of heights.
  85. I hate walking up and down stairs, being on escalators, and walking in and out of elevators.
  86. I love the ocean.
  87. I love the New York Yankees.
  88. I have season tickets.
  89. Two words…bleacher creatures
  90. My goal is to visit all 7 continents.
  91. I’ve only hit 2 so far.
  92. I studied abroad in college.
  93. Freshman year was my favorite.
  94. I met my bff’s the first week of school.
  95. I am still best friends with all of them.
  96. Growing up I couldn’t sleep without my stuff animals- “lambie” and “teddy”
  97. I brought them to college.
  98. I lost “teddy” at a rest stop in Delaware in Jan ’04.
  99. I couldn’t sleep for weeks.
  100. I still miss my teddy bear.
  101. Growing up scares me.

A Week In Review

Last night we had our Fundraising Seminar which gave a lot of ideas to help with fundraising. I have spent every night of this past week writing letters and addressing envelopes and am nowhere close to being done. I knew putting in the training was going to be difficult and time consuming, but I didn't expect the fundraising aspect to be so hard.


On a positive note, I have been keeping up with my training and haven't missed a day yet! I talked to one my college roommate last night, and like most of my friends, she still can't believe I'm doing this. I think they all thought it was a joke or something, but its not- I'm running a marathon...in January (ahhhhh)! The thought of it is exciting and scary at the same point. I've never been a runner and still don't classify myself as one, but I'm slowly making the transition. Keyword there being slowly.


Monday was my last 2 mile run, which I completed while doing a 9 min mile pace. I was tired all day and procrastinated, so didn't go out until after work. (Note to self- I am not a fan of running after work.) I think about it to much and it almost gives me anxiety. Even though it was only two miles, the thought of having to go home and not be able to relax or have the evening free sucked. I would much rather wake up and get it over with. When I run in the am, it makes me feel good about myself. Bad part being I say "its okay, I ran today, I can eat that huge ice cream". I find myself saying that almost everyday... I think I'm gonna be the only person in the history of the world to get fat while training for a marathon. I'm serious..I justify every chocolate bar, blt, and ice cream on "oh, its okay, I'm training for a marathon".


Determined not to have a repeat of Monday's lousy feelings I went running during my lunch break. Tuesday's run had to be 3 miles. So, like the responsible, directionally challenged person I am, I mapped out a nice run through Central Park. I have run there before and always manage to veer off course somehow, all the while staying on some path or another and eventually ending up back where I started. Well, that was the truth- at least until Tuesday. I finally figured out the right place to turn around a mile in..which I did fine. Then I was just supposed to follow that street along and I don't know how, but I ended up in the middle of nowhere. I was no longer on the road, no longer could see anybody, and was surrounded by wildlife. Not like deer or bears or anything, but squirrels and chipmunks and birds. Nontheless, I was not happy, I was tired, and I was lost. But I still kept running. To make a long story short, I spent most of my run lost in the woods of central park, but I do think I managed to find almost every hill there. Sweet life. I got back to the gym and when I checked my ipod, I saw I ran for 40 minutes without stopping! Whooo who!

Wednesday is cross training and I decided to bike, lift and do abs. Pretty uneventful.

Thursday was a pretty exciting day. My friend called me and invited me to a party in the Hamptons on Saturday night to celebrate Boulevard Magazine's upcoming issue. Of course I had plans- but come on, we're talking VIP party in the Hamptons. Obviously I dropped all other plans and the search (well more like panic) of planning began. I still had to run, go to my fundraising meeting, and get a bunch of work at the office done. Not to mention, find the perfect outfit and a hotel for Saturday night. I decided a nice run up and down 5th Avenue would put me in the right mindset to mingle and party with people who are so obviously out of my leauge. I ran along 5th up to the Met and back to the gym which is just over 3 miles in 32 minutes. I don't know where I am getting this 10 min. pace from but hey, I'm not complaining. After the fundraising meeting I did a little unsuccessful shopping than came home, ate dinner real quick, and went to the pool to swim some laps.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

And so it begins...

Well, I officially signed up with Team In Training last Wednesday. Unfortunately, I was unable to convince any of my Long Island friends to join me on this "journey" but I still have some hopes for my McD bias....(ahem Beth..Jessi...Nicole).

This past Saturday was our first "Group Training Session" and I think it went pretty well. On our training manual (yes, I have a strict manual that I have to follow everyday) it said we were running 2 miles. So of course I think to myself that 2 miles really isn't bad and I've been running 2+ everyday to start training (albeit on a flat treadmill with a fan blowing directly on me) so it would be okay if I go out on Friday night before my MORNING run on Sat. Good thing I kept it easy Fri because Sat was the most humid disgusting day ever. Oh, and just for good measure we did 3 miles with the first one being all up hill. Sweet life.

I ran with another girl and 2 guys all around my age. It was weird because I was in the front of the group and haha I have *never* been in the front of any type of run. I was pretty proud of myself being able to run with them for the most part. Eventually the other girl and myself fell behind into my more comfortable spot towards the middle/back of the pack (but not until the 2 mile mark so...) while the guys went ahead. While we were running, the four of us all talked about our running experience. Well, I guess I should say the three of them talked about their running experience and I just thought to myself "what the @#$@ did I get myself into"! The one guy Matt's goal is to finish the marathon in under 3 hours, the other guy Peter has ran a bunch of races before but mostly 5 and 10ks, and the girl Barbara has completed 2 half marathons and is training for her first full. So yeah, I felt a little out of my league but everybody keeps reassuring me that a lot of people start with no prior running experience. Everybody was really great helping each other out. I think I ended up finishing toward the middle-back of the pack. But for now, I don't really care...as long as I finish.

After we completed our run they had bagels and energy drinks for us. Then we had a shoe clinic to find the perfect sneakers for our feet. Not gonna lie, I can't remember the last time I bought a pair of shoes based on comfort with no regards to what they looked like. It was a whole new world to me and although I might not have the cutest pair of sneakers (def not my color) they are pretty comfortable. I guess when I'm running 26.2 miles comfort is more important than looks. (NOT to be misunderstood with any other time when style clearly outweighs the importance of comfort!)

Yesterday I went for a run during my lunch break with a plan of starting at my gym and running up and doing a loop in Central Park. I mapped out my required 2 miles and was ready to go...or so I thought. Of course I got lost in the park, didn't turn where I was supposed to and ended up on 72nd street. I ended up just running along the outside of the park down 5th Ave. and back to the gym on 56th. When I got back to work and mapped it out, the run equalled just over 2 miles. I attempted to do the same run this morning before work- just backwards (starting at the gym to 5th then finishing through the park and back to the gym) but ended up turning a little to soon. Whateve, "little miss directually challanged" still did the required 2 miles. Tomorrow we are scheduled to cross train which I'm pretty excited about because let's face it...I'm not a big fan of running.

I really need to start my fundraising and I'm more nervous about not being able to raise $3800 than actually completing the marathon. Please help and donate http://www.active.com/donate/tntliny/tntlinyCDummey as it goes to a really great cause...and come on who hasn't said "I would pay to see YOU run a mile"...well now you can..and I'm not just doing "a mile"...I'm doing 26.2!