2015 miles in 2015 blog: The Best Is Yet to Come!

Here we are, almost 2 months into 2016 and I am still buzzing off of this 2015 miles in 2015. It took a tremendous toll on my legs as I am still in recovery as I update this blog. Despite all this, the show must go on. More New York Road Runner's (NYRR) 9+1's, more marathons and run-cations, more connecting with other runners, and more recovery and stretching. So let's break down how I reached 2015 miles in 2015 and what I plan to do to make 2016 another amazing run year. 

With New Year 2015 fast approaching, I made some necessary changes to keep this running habit consistent, putting myself in a position to meet new people that would accommodate my growth as a runner. In my constant connections with runners all over social media, I stumble upon a challenge to run 2015 miles in 2015 through  Run The Edge (a group that included professional marathoner Kara Goucher) that promoted a healthy, goal oriented  runner's lifestyle. Since I had accidentally run 1750 miles in 2014, including 3 marathons, NYRR 9+1, and weekly training miles in preparation for all my races, I figured I can get the extra 265 miles I needed in 2015 to hit the goal. This would take consistency, a relentless approach to running, and discipline.

Logging all my miles with mostly my Garmin 620, and a few on the Nike + app on my phone, here is a breakdown of my mileage for each month: 

• January - 100 miles (Joe Kleinerman 10K, Fred Lebow Half)
• February - 107 miles (Al Gordon 4 mile, NYCRuns Central Park Half)
• March - 193 miles (Rock n Roll DC Half)
• April - 177.1 miles (NYCRuns Queens Half)
• May - 124.65 miles (Long Island Marathon, Airbnb BK Half, UAE Healthy Kidney 10K)
• June - 138.66 miles (Queens 10K)
• July - 270.51 miles (Run Selfie Challenge)
• August - 145.21 miles (Self Transcendence Marathon)
• September - 191.68 miles (Rock n Roll Virginia Beach Half, Bronx 10 mile)
• October - 155.38 miles (Back to back - Rock n Roll Brooklyn Half and Staten Island Half)
• November - 162.05 miles (TCS NYC Marathon, Berkeley Half)
• December - 249.78 miles (Ted Corbitt 15K)

Grand Total = 2015.02 miles. I completed the challenge with a 17 mile on New Years Eve in Central Park as New York Road Runners were setting up for their Midnight Run. Running all these miles didn't exactly help my previous injuries. It did teach me to be more careful with my body and finding the delicate balance between pushing my limits and proper recovery time. Although I did achieve PR's in my 10K, Half marathon, and twice in the marathon, my goal of reaching Boston didn't happen, thus delaying m ultimate goal of running all 6 of the marathon majors.

So what will I do to make 2016 even better! My New Years resolution was to stretch more and run smarter. All throughout the year I've had to defend my high mileage running to fellow runners by making note of the challenge I was undergoing. This gave me an excuse not to go all out on most of my runs. This allowed for better pain management from my hamstring injuries and my newly discovered hip pains. (That's a whole other story worthy of another blog post). 

With a nice healthy running break in the first month and a half of the year, I've been taking it easy on my races. The smart runner in me has decided to go easy on my 9+1 requirements and not go for PR's. Less running in the winter and more active stretching with the foam roller. Eventually when training for my Fall marathons get into high gear, I'll be doing more yoga for runners through the DVD I bought.

And finally, to bypass the whole lottery system (I never gain race entry through lotteries anyway), I decided to run the Chicago marathon as a fundraiser for the DetermiNation of the American Cancer Society.

So there you have it! After a slow start for recovery, 2016 is going to be my best year yet! No doubt about it. 

2015 TCS NYC Marathon Prep: My Need for Speed

Bronx 10-mile PR 1:04:53 September 2015

Here we are, marathon week and the emotions are building up. I have a sense of the energy that will be waiting for me as I journey through the five boroughs from last year's experience. Training for this marathon in particular was intense. This whole year has been one where I've finally found myself on my desired path in all areas of my life, not just running. Sacrifices made where excess baggage was removed permanently, while the things and people that mattered remained. All due to my year long PREPARATION for the 2015 TCS NYC Marathon and my 2015 miles in 2015 journey. 

Speed: I had to get faster. Since my Team In Training days, I've always looked forward to the summer where I can get some high intensity speed training in that would reap great benefits in the Fall. After this year's Brooklyn Half, I ran two 10k's - the United Arab Emarites Healthy Kidney and the Queens Five Borough Series. (And thank you to those who donated to the National Kidney Foundation on my behalf, I haven't forgotten you. Be on the lookout for a special thank you this holiday season). Although I achieved a PR and my second fastest 10K under hot and humid conditions, respectively, I knew I had the potential to finally break 40 minutes. I needed recovery. The coaches and fellow runners at Central Park Track Club literally screamed at me to cut back on my mileage and focus more on high intensity workouts. This meant HONEST track work and tempo runs, with some soft surface long runs as we get closer to the marathon. 

Ok, maybe next year. I already signed up for the Self-Transcendence Marathon in Rockland State Park by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team. That meant a high mileage summer as well as the track and tempo workouts.  On any given Tuesday night, you can catch me at the East 6th Street Track near the FDR Drive where I worked on achieving a whole new level of speed performance. 400s, 800s, recovery, repeat, 600s, Yasso's, and pickups. All different combinations on any given week designed to compliment your tempo and weekend long runs. I can speak about this in my marathon blog, but for now, let's talk about the preparation.

East 6th Street Track along the East River

Was it working? Was I getting faster? Before I answer that question, I first must say that these workouts were painful. I kept up with my massage regimen to ensure I had the proper recovery. I needed to be able to keep up with the new speedy friends I made in the running club. Sure we are all there to help each other and it wasn't a competition, but we did bring the best out of each other. Being around the team at workouts,  New York Road Runner races, and Central Park Track club events always gave me the energy and inspiration I needed to make sure that my PREPARATION was at its best. That meant weekly physical therapy sessions for strengthening and injury prevention, as well as my massages. If I knew I didn't have what it takes to give at least 80% at the workouts, I didn't bother showing up and opted for slow recovery runs instead.

USATF National Club Track and Field Championships July 2015

One Central Park Track Club event that was truly inspiring was when I volunteered at the 2015 USATF National Club Track and Field Championships at Icahn Stadium. Post collegiate, mostly amateur athletes competing for the joy of it, with some impressive performances. So impressive that a particular fellow Manhattan College Jasper and Olympian was in attendance. Seeing my friend of 20 years, and 4 time Olympian, Aliann Pompey, was just the boost I needed to grind out those summer speed workouts. I remember vividly our college days where she practically lived on the track while I was buried in engineering books. Her work is a testament for the need to do all the little things that pays dividends in the future: Run, recovery, nutrition, repeat. Today she's Commissioner of the Guyana National Sports Commission and is actively involved with mentoring and educating youth in the New York City area. When speaking to her today, she is still the same humble, soft spoken person who never let success change her. The difference between her and her peers is she took that extra step to understand the challenge before her. Aliann was HONEST in her PREPARATION to achieve what she set out to achieve. All while remaining calm and never allowing the task at hand to overwhelm her. 

With all that said, you don't have to be an Olympic athlete to meticulously PREPARE for the task at hand. Any runner, at all levels should be HONEST in how they prepare to achieve their running goals. Take for example, Christine Cook, whom I've had the pleasure of conversing with through her NYC Marathon Runner's forum she created. 

Christine posing at the Verrazano during the 2015 Staten Island Half

After searching online for forums where people would share info about PREPARING for and participating in the New York City Marathon, Christine decided to start one of her own to accomplish just that. In less than a year it quickly grew to over 1000 members (and counting) with people from all walks of life within the United States and overseas. 

What makes Christine and the group so unique: 

1. It's not just another blog forum for like-minded runners. The common ground that all the members share is their participation: past, present, and future, in the New York City Marathon. 

2.  Christine actively engages and encourages members to post about their weekend running and non-running adventures. This keeps us all thinking about our training with tips, suggestions, and comments being shared. 

3. Meet ups are sometimes scheduled so that active forum members can meet face to face and have a better feel from the people they converse with on a regular basis. 

Not only is this impressive to me, but also inspirational. Christine realized that a great way to PREPARE for the New York City Marathon, was to create a one stop shop for information sharing and social interaction that fulfilled a need that was previously unmet with such efficiency. Not only did she use the technological tools available to her, but was able to attract runners at all levels to share their experiences in a way that would provide a community benefit.

So I ask myself: Did I do everything to PREPARE for the biggest marathon in the world? Did I incorporate lessons learned from last year? Did I do all I could with the time available to me to get faster? With chronic pain in my hamstring from last year's Lehigh Via Marathon injury, did I do all I could for injury prevention? Can I do better? Was I HONEST with my training and expectations for this year's marathon? Well these are question I prefer to answer after the race. I would rather enjoy the moment and the pre-marathon festivities now. Stay tuned for my marathon blog post after the race. 

HONEST PREPARATION: Hamstring Stretches at Brooklyn Health Physical Therapy