Cincinnati Running

This past week was my first time running back in Cincinnati since the Flying Pig. I decided to hit the Lunken Bike Path, because I wimped out on the Cincinnati hills. Plus, it was conveniently located and I could keep track of my mileage (each loop is 5 miles). So...I realized that running in Cincinnati vs New York is really really quite different!

CINCY: Humidity is out of control
NY: Humidity is WAY out of control (my parents think it is because I live in a concrete jungle).

CINCY:I counted 12 bunnies in my path on my run
NY: The only wildlife I've ever seen in Central Park are pigeons, wrens and carriage horses

CINCY: Bikers who announce their presence politely and stay out of your way
NY: Bikers who try to run you over and then curse you out for something or other

CINCY:About 6 other runners on a Saturday morning
NY:Too many runners/walkers/bikers/tourists to count

CINCY:I can hear my footfalls
NY: I can hear traffic

CINCY: When you are finished you get in your car and drive to get home
NY: When you are finished you get on the subway and try to stay as far away from people as you can since you are disgustingly sweaty

I also noticed that the humidity is DIFFERENT. This was weird to me, because I always thought humidity was humidity, but I guess I was wrong. For the first time, I actually FELT it in my lungs. It felt like it was pressing down on them and made the first mile or so hard to breathe until I got used to it. I was also very surprised that New York seems to be MORE humid. I always thought Cincinnati was the most humid place around. Of course, I am not gauging this through any scientific method...just the ponytail test. My ponytail wasn't soaked through after my 10 miles like it usually is in New York after my warm-up.

Anyway, I'm sure Coach Ramon has some crazy hill workout planned for us tomorrow. So I'm glad that today is a rest day. :)

New York Running Company

A couple of weeks ago I went to my first running store here, the New York Running Company. I needed to get a fuel belt and I opted for the bottle carrier one because I just don't think I'd like having all those little bottles bouncing around on my waist. Plus, I personally think they look kind of dorky. I know, I know, the one I got is really not that much better (in fact, some may call it a "fanny pack" which is about as dorky as you can get) but for some reason I think it is less dorky. Just a personal thing.

I also had to get a Nike armband for my new Christmas toy, my nano (the one in Tiffany blue, of course). It had to be the Nike armband because Bill also got me the little chip that you put in your shoe to keep track of your workout, pace, mileage etc. I still haven't used this because I haven't actually gotten the velcro for it yet. (I don't actually have the Nike plus shoes, so I need to hack mine). But anyway, the Nike + armband is the only one that works because it is the only one that allows for the little module that you have to attach at the bottom. I can't wait to use it! I am just being lazy. Maybe I will go out and get the velcro today on my lunch break :)

Anyway, The New York Running Company was a pretty decent running store. They had just about everything I needed AND they are on a subway stop that is close to my apartment. They didn't have EVERYTHING though. I think I was spoiled by the Running Spot which had just about anything you could ever think of needing for your runs and a lot of things you didn't even think of. But I am remaining optimistic. Because EVERYONE runs in NYC and come on, it's the home of the New York Marathon! So I am just going to keep shopping around. Anyone who knows of a great running store in Manhattan, please let me know!

Running Therapy

Let's face it, New York is much much speedier than Cincinnati life and the LAST thing I want to do when I get home is run. I am just physically and emotionally exhausted. And it doesn't help that it gets dark here around 4:30 pm.

However, since now I run with Bill, we MAKE each other go out to run. Last night my wanting to slack was even unspoken. I didn't want to run and was totally thinking of blowing off my run (it was only a 20-30 minute recovery run on my schedule) but as I was walking home from the grocery store I called Bill to tell him I was running late and he said "okay, well I'm dressed and ready to run when you get home". Oh well, no more slacking.

It ended up being a good thing, because it ALWAYS makes me feel a little more centered. It is a good way to wind down after work and before going back to my messy apartment. Plus, I think the cold air is good for me. Or at least it feels that way.

So maybe that's why there are so many runners in New York. It's cheaper than therapy and cheaper than a gym membership ;)

Back in the Groove

Elliptical running is not the same, but hey, at least I am doing something right?

After Bill left last night I jumped on the elliptical for 4 miles. I don't know WHY it seems to take twice as long to do elliptical work than actual running. It is pretty annoying. But there is no way I could have run outside last night. Dodging traffic is one thing, dealing with the crazy wind is another. Apparantly winds are like at 50 mph or something crazy like that. All I brought are a pair of running tights and some long sleeved tech shirts. Brrr.

I do find it a lot easier to work out since I have a gym right in my building. It is so funny how just a 15 minute drive is such a barrier when it comes to going to the gym.

I am trying to think of practical running things to put on my Christmas list this year. I already asked for a big heavy jacket so I can brave the sub-zero temperatures (if they come). I also signed up for Runner's World (but STILL haven't gotten my first issue :( I know there was a cool website that had all kinds of running gear that I loved, but I guess I have to wait until I get home to remember it. I found them at the Chicago Expo and bought a shirt that said "Marathon Ho", which I find myself wearing all the time. :)

Tonight is weights and maybe biking. Tomorrow I am up at 5am for a long drive to Connecticut. Bleh.

Running on Empty :)

OK, so my life has certainly gotten LESS hectic although that would still be considered hectic for most people.

Luckily though, I DID get some running in last week even though I was working from 6am-7pmish (including the commute) AND even though I was in New York. And its a good thing because I really pigged out on food that I really shouldn't have.

I have to admit, it was the girls on my team who really motivated me. We were sitting in sessions all day and they kept saying how they HAD to go to the gym, no matter how long work took and no matter how much they really didn't want to go.

So I got in some treadmill running (yuck). I absolutely hate treadmill running. I swear the settings are always wrong. Like, I was DYING but I was only going 6 mph. A ten minute mile? Come on! I'm running MUCH faster than that right now. Especially since I could only really take 2 miles on the treadmill.

I also got to run in the neighborhood I was in, the West Village, which is my all-time most favoritest area in New York.

Then, when I got home, I begged Bill to go running with me last night. We did about 4 miles in the neighborhood (where I HATE running). I took the first mile out WAY too fast at 8:51. Whoops. I felt like I was dying the rest of the time as a result, but then one of my favorite running songs came on at the end, "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen. I must have really picked up the pace because I left Bill in the dust (and he is speedy). I didn't even realize it because I was in "the zone". Bill came up and was like "did you like, really pick up the pace?" ZAP! Out of my zone. So I listened to the song again to get back into it, but really, it didn't work (it never does). And besides that, we were really too close to home at that time.

I finished with a 9:06 overall pace. Hurrah!

And THAT's without the excitement of running in a crowd!