Since I actively maintain a running blog with updates on WordPress, I’ll just provide training update links to that page.
Random/"Rundom" Thoughts
-Yay! It’s Global Running Day! In case you did not know:
Global Running Day is a day that celebrates the sport of running. It is held annually on the first Wednesday of June. Participants of all ages and abilities pledge to take part in some type of running activity by submitting their names through the Global Running Day website. The inaugural Global Running Day was held on June 1, 2016. More than 2.5 million people from 177 countries pledged to run more than 9.2 million miles. New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio, declared June 1, 2016, to be Global Running Day in the City of New York. 2014 Boston Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi led a group run from the Boston Run Base, and the Atlanta Track Club organized a “run around the clock” event, where at least one person from the Atlanta metro area would be running every hour of Global Running Day.
Source: Wikipedia
-Not only does Global Running Day fall on June 2 so does International Sex Workers' Day.
-While I did not log in any miles for Global Running Day, I did purchase a 3-race pack through Run Rock n Roll. So that counts, right?
-These races (probably half-marathons) are my top picks.
Va Beach: I have not run a race in my home state or home city since my high school cross country days back in the late 90s
Madrid: I was supposed to run this marathon last year. Wait, I gotta double check to see if my last year's registration will roll over to this year.
San Antonio: I really like this city.
New Orleans: I have not returned since graduating college back in '02.
-Eek! Only 156 days until TCS NYC Marathon; I need to get on my training grind.
-Some running positivity . . . I guess.
Social media plug:
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A run down memory lane - New York Colon Cancer Challenge 15K (2012)
As some of my previous posts may indicate, it has been really tough to get back into my running grind. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was running 5 - 6 miles on a daily basis, but this initiative has kind of fizzled out. I think the lack of having in-person races has contributed to this lack of zest for running. In my mind, I’m kind of like what’s the point of pushing myself during training runs when I have nothing to train for. I figured that I could revisit some of my previous races as a way to reignite my love for running.
Background:
Before I get into the New York Colon Cancer Challenge 15K, I want to mention how I got into running. Actually, this review about my entry into running would be useful because I do not remember much about this race from 2012.
High school and college:
During my high school days, I used to run cross country and track (1600m and 3200m). I admit that I was not the greatest runner and pretty much participated in these sports to make myself a well-rounded college applicant. As a college student in New Orleans, I did join my college’s cross country team, but I never really got into it for the following reasons:
The humidity in New Orleans humidity no joke.
Because of the humidity index, practice started at 5/5:30 AM.
I never really acclimated to the humidity.
I never really loved running THAT much to put myself through all of that “stress”.
How did I get back into running:
I pretty much did not start running again until the first year of my postdoc. At that time, I would commute to and from the lab by riding my fancy road bicycle to work. Unfortunately, the rough NYC streets + a fancy road bike with thin tires do not really mix so I would constantly get flat tires. One day before going to work, I noticed that BOTH of my bike’s tires were flat. Rather than wasting time changing the tires, I decided to run the 3.5 miles to work. Ok, 3.5 miles does not sound like much, but I used to live on Roosevelt Island, which meant running over the Roosevelt Island and 59th Street Bridges. In my mind, those 3.5 miles were like running 5 miles. Over time, I started increasing the distance from 3.5 to 7 miles by adding a loop around Roosevelt Island before running through Long Island City to the Upper East Side.
A few of my labmates were avid runners, who constantly asked me if I considered running a half- or full-marathon. Anytime someone starts running, they are always asked if they plan on running a marathon. Honestly, I did not consider this at all but one of my labmates told me about New York Road Runners’ 9+1 guaranteed marathon entry. For this program, one would get guaranteed entry into an NYC Marathon if they run nine NYRR-sponsored races and volunteer for one. Basically, I was like why not and what do I have to lose.
What a long background; let’s get to the race.
New York Colon Cancer Challenge 15K (2012):
Distance: 15K; Date: April 1, 2021; Pace: 8:38min/mi; Location: Central Park, NY; Overall Place: 1,188 of 3,032; Gender Place: 873 of 1,559
Since I ran this race almost 10 years ago, I do not remember much about it. However looking at my pace, I’m really sad to see how much my running fitness has decreased over the past decade. Then again, I have aged 10 years so I guess that it’s par for the course.
Looking at the finisher stats, I was pretty much on par with running an average pace of the male runners. My finishing time (1:18:36) was about 10 seconds faster than the average. I guess that makes me above average, right? After completing this race, I was hooked on that running life. Honestly, I was so proud of myself because this was the longest distance that I have run since . . . well ever. Following the race, I was like LET’S DO THIS AGAIN, and LET’S SEE IF CAN RUN EVEN FASTER.
SOCIAL MEDIA PLUG:
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Just checking in
I have to say that there have been a few downs over the past couple of weeks. Nothing too serious - no illnesses, no deaths, no insane fights, etc. It seems that I have lost motivation and general joie de vivre. Perhaps, this is just the Monday blues talking.
Running:
Eh, running (or the lack thereof) has been pretty much a sh*tshow. I think that I just need to start from the basics and build up my running prowess. I pretty much should a running reset and start running as if I'm training for my first 5K and go from there. In my opinion, I think that I have been setting my expectations a bit high and disappointing myself when I do not meet them. While I'm waiting to hear if I am running this year's NYC Marathon, I found a 24-week couch to marathon training plan that I'm going to do. Yes, most may consider 6 months a bit much for training for a marathon, but this plan starts off very easy. Also, the plan is broken up into distinct goals: 5K to 10K; 10K to half marathon; and half marathon to full marathon. Let's see what happens.
Weight loss journey:
HA! See above.
Bouldering:
I have been going strong (at least in my mind) with bouldering by hitting the bouldering gym 2-3 times a week. Unfortunately, I have not been progressing that much in my new sport. Maybe 2021 is just going to be the year where I suck at everything. I think one of my issues is not planning out my routes (or beta) on the wall.
That said, I do have an intro to bouldering technique class on Friday, which hopefully will help out. Also, I think that I need to watch some videos to see how the pros handle those weird grips. Right now, I'm still going back and forth between V0 and V1 walls. Perhaps, I should still to this V -500 wall. ;)
Plans for the week:
-Since I pretty much live and die by Google Calendar for work, I should set up a fitness Google Calendar. As a matter of fact, I can begin populating it with workouts from the couch to marathon training plan.
-Figure out why I have been so 'zestless' lately. Maybe it's because summer is around the corner, and I am nowhere where I want to be physically. Then again, that is 100% my fault . . . no one made me eat crappy takeout during this pandemic. Hey, admitting that you have a problem is the first step.
Social media plug:
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