My Next Half Marathon

After finishing the Brooklyn Half marathon last week, I wasn’t sure I wanted to train for another half marathon. I thought, in the back of my mind, that I may take a break during the winter months and focus on something entirely different, like strength training or swimming. But, just a week later, I find myself excited to hit the pavement again. I also know that very few things can motivate me during these cold, dark winter months like running.

Brooklyn Half Marathon

Since Katie loves my race medals, I figured that on January 20th I’d give her another one. Last night I signed up for the New York Road Runners Fred Lebow Half Marathon. While some people may think I’m crazy to sign up for a January half marathon, I’m excited.  It’s no secret that running through heat and humidity is challenging for me. But, give me the right gear and I will gladly go for runs in sub-freezing temperatures. This course is two loops of Central Park which will be a fun change since I rarely run in the park these days.  Even though this is one of New York Road Runner’s smaller half marathons, they still offer pace groups, medals, swag and course support. Another added benefit is that it’s only $40 which is far less expensive than most area half marathons.

NYRR Al Gordon Brooklyn 4 Miler

Since the race is in twelve weeks, I returned to training yesterday.  Since Laura and I made such great progress together this past training plan, I’ve decided to work with her again. Having a coach will help keep me focused and motivated during these cold, winter months as well as ensure I’m continuing to get stronger. Once again I will be running three days per week, but my cross training will look a little bit different. Since this half marathon will be filled with hills, I will be focusing on building my strength.  Here’s a look at how we’re building strength into the plan:

  • Three runs per week
  • One Pilates class per week (requesting glute focus from the teacher when possible)
  • One spin class per week (focusing on power classes with lots of climbs)
  • One strength workout per week

Now, which of my local friends can I convince to join me for some cold weather fun or at least some company on upcoming training runs?

 

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A Successful Long Run

11 mile long run

Greetings from the other side of this morning’s long run!  While I’m thrilled to have the run done, I’m also glad that I have four more long runs before my goal half marathon. There were a lot of great things about this morning’s run, I hope to feel a little bit stronger each week. I’m also hoping that fall weather arrives in Brooklyn and STAYS because I am done with the heat and humidity. I am glad that I finally took time, before the run, to make sure I was set up for success. I’ll share those changes with you in a few, but first, let’s chat about the workout.

The directions for today’s workout were to run 11 miles, keeping the first 9 miles between 9:50-10:30 and then aiming to run 9:00 minute pace for the final two miles. Thanks to the below steps, I was able to hit all of the paces except for the goal pace of 9:00 for the final two. I’m not sure if it was the humidity, hills or where my body is in training but I couldn’t seem to get the final two miles below 9:40. I’m not letting this put me in a panic for race day since I know that I still have five weeks of training ahead of me and that while I’d love to break 2:00 hours for the upcoming half, right now my body and mind are enjoying the training and that is the best gift!

Since these few changes helped me start the run in a good spot physically and mentally, I thought it would be helpful to share some of the changes I made for this week’s long run that helped me have a good run.

  • Run on fresh legs. I stayed off my legs yesterday and enjoyed a complete rest day. While I did a bit of foam rolling and some stretches, I spent the rest of the day sitting at my desk working or relaxing on the couch. While some people prefer to take the day after a long run as a rest day, my body responds well to active recovery such as a spin class the day after a challenging run.
  • Lay out my gear the day before. Since my closet is in Katie’s nursery, many mornings I’ve realized last minute that SOMETHING was in my closet. I laid out my shoes, socks, shorts, sports bra, tank top, fuel, water bottle, Garmin and Apple Airpods downstairs so this morning all I had to do was come downstairs and get ready. While this may sound like a no-brainer, I’d overlooked this important step for my previous runs.
  • Give my pre-run breakfast and coffee time to digest. As soon as my alarm went off at 5:30 I dashed downstairs and drank a glass of water with NUUN and peanut butter toast. I spent the next forty-five minutes sipping coffee and reading the morning news before getting dressed. It felt so much better to head out for my run feeling fueled versus feeling like I head a heavy stomach. For the past few weeks I’ve been eating just 10 or 15 minutes before heading out for a run which doesn’t allow my food enough time to digest and hit my bloodstream. 
  • Do my pre-run stretches and warm-up. I know I’m not the only person who often shirks pre-run stretches and warm-up in favor of starting my run. Since I had so much time this morning, I took 2-3 minutes and did the full circuit which includes arm swings, leg swings, lunges and more.
  • Switch things up and listen to a mix of music and podcasts. I’ve been listening to podcasts for the past few long runs and while I enjoy them, I woke up this morning craving some of my pump up music. It was fun to start the run listening to my Spotify marathon playlist from 2015, filled with everything from Ludacris to Calvin Harris. When I refilled my water bottle at mile five I switched over to Lindsey Hein’s podcast. It was so fun to listen to my friend Charlie share her story and it felt like we were running together.
  • Run without stopping for lights and traffic.  I pushed through eleven miles of rolling hills today in order to avoid traffic and stoplights. While the hills left me exhausted, it was such a nice change of pace to zone out and run in the park. I felt safe the entire time since it was packed with runners training for fall races and the light along the lake was gorgeous during my first loop. Since the Brooklyn Half Marathon includes a loop of the park, I think I’ll do the rest of my long runs here!
  • Plan something fun. Last night Bo and I realized that the timing worked perfectly for he and Katie to meet me at the Prospect Park farmers market. For the last few miles I was dreaming of an iced coffee and pumpkin muffin that I knew I could buy there while perusing the stands.

pumpkin muffin

 

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My Favorite Summer Running Outfit

If you follow me on Instagram Stories, then you may already know that I’ve been wearing a few items on almost EVERY run. In fact, I love these pieces so much that I ordered a second pair of each item.  These items have me feeling confident and comfortable during my runs and have worked well on every style of run – tempo, long, sprints, or conversational. They’ve allowed me to log miles in the rain, sticky heat and perfect days in between without any chafing or feeling like the material is hanging off my body. I remember, back in the day, when I ran in Nike Tempo shorts, that I would worry that the moisture would weigh them down so much that they would fall down. Or, that unfortunate under arm or inner thigh chafing that I thought was “common” during humid and hot running.

Nope. 

This gear has me jumping out of bed and excited to run even when it’s 4:55 AM. Today this gear helped me log 3 miles and then head to the Pilates studio for a challenging 60-minute tower class. While I may not have smelled very good by the end of the 90-minute workout, I was comfortable.

  • Visor – Since having Katie, I rarely go out for a run or outdoor workout without a hat or visor as my melasma seems to flare after even just short exposure to the sun. This bright, lightweight Brooks Run Happy visor is a fun way to block the sun, keep my hair out of my face and spread the Run Happy vibes.  It’s easily adjustable thanks to a velcro back closure and the sweat-wicking material ensures that I’m not wasting energy or time wiping sweat out of my face during my workout.
  • Sports Bra – The Brooks Uprise Crossback sports bra has quickly become my favorite sports bra. It is a medium impact bra that keeps me supported during even the toughest of workouts without being complicated. Since I’m a B cup I don’t need much but this one delivers beyond my expectations thanks to the breathable cups, shape and support from molded cups, and comfort due to the soft material. I also love that the pads aren’t constantly coming out in the wash since this bra has molded cups versus removable pads. It is currently on sale for $26 on Brooks and Nordstrom Rack.
  • Tank – The Brooks Ritual Tank is loose, breathable and bright. The flattering tank includes a mesh back that allows for air flow while the broad arm openings minimize chafing. I love that it’s available in multiple bright color combinations, including the blue and teal that I’m wearing in these photos. It’s on sale on Zappos and Brooks so be sure to snag it before it sells out! It runs a bit large, as I am wearing the medium and typically wear a large in most Brooks tops.
  • Shorts – Okay, I still can’t believe that the Brooks Greenlight 7″ Short Tight is my new favorite running short. I thought after years of running marathons in super-tight CW-X compression shorts, I’d given up on this style of short but Charlie and Zoe convinced me to give them a try. I figured they’d be unflattering due to the fitted nature but instead, they are the opposite. The wide waistband, smooth design and supportive material holds everything in while still being breathable. There are two pockets that easily fit keys, cash or credit cards as well. You can find these at Zappos and Brooks. While they aren’t on sale, they are well worth the $46.

All pictures are Anna Rachel Photography 

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