I am still running!!

I haven't post in over a year! But I have been running a lot! As much as I wanted to have a "diary" to document all the running related things I have feel a little apprehensive lately about sharing information in the internet and that is why I haven't been posting. 

Last time I post I was training for my first 100 miler and now I have completed 2 along with many other 50K and 50 milers.  I am really happy that I was able to complete my first 100  in my first attempt,  many people needs few attempts until they are able to do it so I feel very satisficed with my results. Second 100 was even better, I felt much stronger and I was able to finish a little faster in a much more difficult course.

In relation to my injuries, if I stay in the trails my hip doesn't give much trouble but my back is another thing,  no matter how much strength training I am doing I still get a lot of pain in my back when I past 10 miles but I have developed a strong pain tolerance I guess :).  Running on the roads make it worst so I really try to avoid road races and marathons as much as I can. This doesn't really bother me as anyway I don't really like running marathons anymore, ultras are much more fun!!!

I want to share a write up that another ultra runner sent me. I met her while running Vermont 100 and she has put a very nice race recap . It is a bit long so I am only sharing since the moment we met. Enjoy!! New York city Marathon next...pacing for Achilles International, it will be a nice way to maybe say good bye to road marathons!

Vermont 100 – July 2013 – Jodi Weiss

Claudia and I became a team as we headed out of the mile 59 aid station. Claudia and I had played leap frog throughout the day, but it wasn’t until those long haul miles that we aligned forces.  Although we were over the half way point, the last 40 miles in an ultra is the equivalent to me of a lifetime – 40 miles on tired legs and a tired brain is just such a long way to go! We pushed the flatter roads and trails, speed walked the up hills and tumbled down the down hills. We passed the aid stations somewhat rapidly at first, determined, but with each steep climb, we grew a bit more disillusioned. And yet, it was clear to me that Claudia had the right fighter mentality to carry on – we were going to finish, somehow, some way we would get through this! Our big goal was mile 70, which meant the return to Camp Ten Bear. From there – only 30 more miles to go! At some point around 8:30 pm, darkness set in, and we put on our head lamps, our eyes and senses adjusting to the darkness. I have a love/hate relationship with darkness in ultras – there’s always a sleep away camp, fun we are out in the middle of the night in the woods appeal to me, and then there’s the more realistic, grown up version of being out in the woods: It’s dark! There are noises! This is like being in a horror movie! Anything or anyone can jump out and get me!

Through the trails, into the mud, alongside the horses – and the inevitable what goes up must come down

I came to dread the trails and look forward to the road – it was a timing thing. The roads were easier to navigate and I didn’t have to worry about mud or any technical trail, which meant that I could more efficiently on the roads. The trails, though, while not overly rooty or technical, were technical enough, and muddy enough, in conjunction with the climbing and descents, to merit careful footwork and mental attention. There was one point, around mile 65, in the darkness, that Garesh, who I had driven from our hotel to the race start that morning, screamed out “Jodi!” and turning for a brief moment, I almost lost my footing down a steep incline and flew forward. A heart attack moment, and I steadied myself quickly, and lucky for me and the folks in front of me, I didn’t create a domino effect. Garesh grabbed me, steadying me, his bright grin smiling at me – “thank goodness,” he said when falling was no longer in my fate. Due to the excessive rain the week prior to the race (Lake Champlain was at record highs and roads had been so badly flooded they were closed!), there was plenty of mud and muck along the way. And that would have all been fine, only there were horses sharing the route with us, and as they apparently got to where I was going before I did, portions of the journey were especially sloppy and slushy and messy.  At first, it was fun, exciting, to see the horses beside me and to watch them pass me by, but when the trails got a bit messy and technical, I was not interested in traveling close to the horses; I often stepped aside to let them pass by.

Calories on the go

For this race, I had trained to use gels. They are easy to carry, and in the Florida heat, I have found them the easiest way to get down calories. That said, come race day, everything changes for me. I did manage to get down a few gels early in the race, but somewhere along the way, I was not interested in gels. I ate…a few bites of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches here and there, some potato chips, and at Camp Ten Bear, I ate watermelon and took a few sips of Boost, which I have not drank in over a year. I ate cantaloupe at one of the aid stations, which was delicious and I tried to eat a cookie at Margaretville, but I wasn’t very interested in it. Later in the race, I resorted back to gels when I started to feel depleted. I drank a bit of coca cola here and there, too, but relied most heavily on water. I didn’t have food issues this race, but I also didn’t have that much of an appetite. I know, though, that I need to get in calories, and so do my best to get something down when I can. I remember at some point in the race thinking about the gluten free ginger cookie I ate the prior night at the barbeque, and feeling nauseous over it. I also ate some M&M’s at the 84^th mile aid station. One thing there was not a shortage of this race, was aid stations! And yet, as there was so much climbing, I felt as if I needed each of the aid stations to replenish my water.

What it’s all about

For me, a race is really about my relationship with myself – how deep inside of myself am I willing to go to find the energy and strength to go on. It’s about the story I tell yourself – am I a winner? A loser? A quitter? A go getter? Am I a person that looks out for others? Am I someone who takes responsibility for myself, or am I someone who seeks excuses when the going gets tough? And there’s not any one answer – during a race, I become all of those selves, but when I cross the finish line, because I choose to believe I am heading there, who is that self? That’s what each race seems to teach me. Whoever I may be when I start the race, may not be who I am when I cross the finish line. And often, that’s a good thing.

For me, a race is an exercise in perseverance, an opportunity to focus and quiet my mental chatter, much like I do each day when I roll out my yoga mat and start my practice. A race is about persistence, passion, believing, and trusting in the universe and in ourselves.  I passed High Hopes Farm and smiled, because I did have high hopes – for this race, for my life – I had hope, or maybe a trust that everything was exactly how it was supposed to be, that I was right where the universe wanted me to be and that this experience, like all others in my life, was perfect and that there was nothing I needed or wanted – that all I had to do was just be and keep going and keep believing, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that everything was perfect.

More done than not

Claudia had two friends meeting her at Camp Ten Bear/70 miles, who were to pace her through the night – a married couple, Sondra and Matthew. To my good fortune, I became part of team Claudia and got to share the next 19 miles with her crew. First Matt led the way, telling us stories all the while, and then his wife Sondra took over, at around mile 79, and led us for the next ten miles. I rarely have a crew come out to help me on a course—I tend to run a lot of races with running buddies—but then, there, in Vermont, on that course, I was overjoyed to be part of a team. It was just too dark, too much between hills and trails and roads for me to have to face it all on my own through the night. Team Claudia talked about everything, from Vermont life (Matt and Sondra had lived there during his MD residency), to dogs and hikes and New York City, my hometown and where they all lived, to running and activities and the crazy course we were on.  Our one mishap happened right after we left the mile 70 aid station – we turned the wrong way on the trail, missing one of the yellow arrow plate markers and headed up a super steep tree covered hill. It was as if we were climbing up a hill that had been destroyed by a hurricane. As we climbed, tree limbs scratching our flesh, I could not imagine that it was the right way. It was just way too everything—steep, technical, and impassable! And then, as if by magic, a crew of runners called out to us and pointed us in the right direction. Climbing down, making our way towards the right trail, we were relieved we hadn’t gone too far off course, even if we had lost some time as a result.

Around mile 75, I intersected with a runner who had been slowly deteriorating for the last 10 or so miles. He was grimacing in pain.  Claudia and Matt leading the way, I was close behind, so when the deteriorating g runner asked me, “How far do you plan to go?” the question startled me. He and his pacer at that moment were busy searching for large branches which they were using to make him make-shift canes. “ I plan to go to the finish line,” I said. “Huh,” was his response, and it was clear that in his smugness, he doubted that Claudia and I would finish.  A few miles later, Matt left us and Sondra took over team Claudia. New stories, new pace, new energy!

Heading out of the aid station at mile 84, two cars passed me, their headlights blinding in the darkness, but what I was able to make out was that the first one had the initials KW in it, and the second one did, too. KW: Karen Weiss. What I love about those moments in an ultra, or in life, is that I don’t have to lend thought to it; the moment I saw those license plates, I gazed up into the foggy sky, and took in whatever stars were visible and thanked my mom for being there with me, and always seeing me through. 

With Claudia and Sondra beside me, we headed towards aid station 89, the first break of day apparent in the horizon. It was cool and the air was frosted, but with each step, we were making our way to the finish. We jogged as much as we could, and stopped to walk when our legs commanded us to do so. We passed some of the most beautiful farm houses and took in such a peaceful and optimistic sun rise – it was a new, glorious day, and we were okay: focused, moving, and happy. At the mile 89 aid station, we glopped our legs with Ben Gay – my legs became a frozen and numb nothingness under me. Claudia at one point had burning/freezing legs and she wondered if something was wrong. I drank a Boost, or as much of it as I could get down, and then we were off! I was feeling better, happy! The sun had risen in full bloom, and with the light of day, everything was hopeful: the birds were singing, the cows were standing and Mooing – and I thought, when was the last time I heard a cow Moo so loud and clear. There were moments of bliss when we were on stretches of road. Road was easy – road meant we could look straight ahead, road meant we could pick up speed, gain some time, move! But then, there were the trails. And there were even some of the high grass fields thrown in, which were soupy, slushy messes.

Mile 92 and counting

We were almost done! Claudia and I had decided that we were not going to stop at the 92^nd mile aid station – we had enough water and the more progress we made, the better off we were. Onward was our mantra. But then, as I approached the aid station, I saw my dad’s back as he sat in a chair. Was he waiting for me? Was he working at the AS? I screamed out to him, and then I was upon him. “Dad!” I called out, stopping for a moment, hugging him. “How are you?” He gave me his happy-as-can-be-smile and said he was fine. One of his new aid station buddies told me that they had been looking for me all race, which made me smile – I was on the course the whole race. Where else could I have been?

Claudia, adhering to our no stop decision, screamed at me – “keep moving, let’s go! No socializing! We are not stopping!” I explained – “it’s my dad!” and she didn’t get it at first, until I told her again pointing at him – “my dad!” And then she got it but still motioned for me to come along, which I did, telling my dad that I would see him at the finish line.

And then it was over

We jogged and walked, walked and jogged, lamented over our legs, over the hills, over this race, and then we hit the joy streak at mile 95, when we realized that it was almost over – that soon, this would be a memory. That we would not be climbing hills forever. The end of the course went something like this: uphill, more uphill on the road, then back into the trail, then more uphill, then some level ground that was joggable, then some downhill, then road, then more trail, and uphill, uphill, just when you thought you were done with only 2 miles to go, more uphill, lots of soupy/muddy/messy trail which went on and on and then, out of the trail more uphill, and then finally, still climbing, a bit more to go and then exiting with only a stretch of grassy land separating us from the finish line. The race was over! Done! 29 hours and 11 minutes.  I didn’t remember one minute of struggle as I crossed the finish line – hills? What hills?! I loved ultras in that moment – I loved everyone on the course, I loved the volunteers, I loved Vermont! There was my dad, there was Sondra, there was Matthew! My dad’s ultra, which consisted of over 30 hours with no sleep and volunteering all through the day/ night/ day was also over.

What I didn’t know then

That morning when I finished Vermont 100, I didn’t know that I would be running long again the following Saturday – 36 miles from Miami to Deerfield Beach, and then 8 more on Sunday (that was when I bailed and decided it was time for yoga!) with some of my FUR buddies.  I didn’t know then that during that trek from Miami to Deerfield Beach,  I would seek shelter from a thunder and lightning rain storm at a Motel 6, and later, sitting on the curb, in the pouring rain, eat my first bean burrito from Taco Bell, then jog past Fort Lauderdale Airport, the planes approaching their landings right above. I didn’t know then, that the following Sunday night, I would be sitting with a group of folks – some ultra veterans, others having completed their first 2-day ultra trek from Miami to Palm Beach, in a restaurant in Palm Beach, playing with puppies, who resided at Big Dog Ranch Rescue, which was the cause for which we were involved in the ultra trek. And it was a good thing I didn’t know, because when that race was over, I was so happy that I didn’t have to run another ultra for a bit!

 

 

You don’t need to be the faster runner to do great things and if you don’t agree with me just read this and think again

Every time I think I already know about the best runners in the world I discover I am actually so wrong!!   Today I will introduce you to Jerry Dunn or “Marathon Man “as he is known.

If we look at marathon times he might not be the faster marathoner (best Marathon time 3:23 in 1985 in Chicago…still super-fast for me! but not close to any world record)  but when you read all his accomplishments there are no doubt that he has earned his nickname! 

Jerry Dunn was born in 1946 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  He started running when he was 29 years old and these are some of his accomplishments:

In 2006 to celebrate his 60th birthday, Jerry ran 60 miles on a 1/8 mile indoor track at Black Hills State University. This effort raised over $1000 for a climbing wall at the local middle school. 480 circuits in 14 hours and 42 minutes. Last year to celebrate his 65 years he used the same track  but he completed 11 hours or 44 miles on it and then moved outside.  It was  28 degree temps, overcast sky and little or no wind. His goal  was to make it to the Crow Peak Brewery by 6PM for the beginning of his  self-hosted party. He arrived at 5:42 having walked the entire 21 remaining miles. Still took  him less than 17 hours to complete it at age 65!

In 2000 he ran a record 200 Marathon distances in 1 calendar year.   Yeah…this is still an unofficial world record!!!  He actually did 21 "official", marathons. In addition, he would run the course perhaps a dozen times before the actual race. He would arrive in town early and use the course for his daily run. Then come race day and run the official event.

In 1999 he ran Los Angeles Marathon course on 14 consecutive days

In 1998 he ran 29 consecutive days on the NYC Marathon course……first 28 days on the original marathon course in Central Park and the 29 day was the actual marathon race. Also in the same year he ran Los Angeles Marathon  13 consecutive days

In 1997 he ran the 13.1 mile course  of  the Indianapolis 500 Festival on 13 consecutive days. The same year he ran the Megan’s 24 Hour Track Run . . . Jerry ran 74 miles in 16 hours. He then took a five hour nap in a tent in the infield. Went start line of Portland Marathon on Sunday morning and completed the event in 5:31:23, thus accomplishing his goal of 100 miles in less than 30 hours elapsed time.

In 1996  as a way of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Boston Marathon,  he  began running the entire course on March 21st and ran it every day for 26 consecutive days.  The 26th day coincided with the official 100th running of the  Boston Marathon.

Also in the same year he successfully completed 104 marathons in a single calendar year, at that time a world record.

In 1991 he ran Shore to Shore in 104 days. Transcontinental run, logistically organized and executed a solo run from San Francisco to Washington, DC in 104 days, raising awareness and funds for the working poor.  Began running in San Francisco with the goal of running to Washington DC. The total mileage was 2707, of which he ran 1900 and cycled the rest.

Oh and he got married during the World Disney Marathon at mile 9 J

He is the founder and race director of  The Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon,  Black Hills 100 Ultra Marathon, Lean Horse Hundred and the Run Crazy Horse 13.1 / 26.2 races but  he has never been able to run them on race day as he is always working and cheering for the runners.

This year for first time he is running all the races in a single year at age 65/66…..he said it is his way to prepare for retirement J …..I am really happy that I will have the honor to run with him in my first 100!!!!  Poor guy….he will have a stalker following him J

Don’t limit your challenges … Challenge your limits, and have fun doing it. – Jerry Dunn

* Information  from LeanHorse blog and other newspapers interviews and articles.

I forgot I have a Blog :)

Seriously! I guess I like running more than writing about it.   Have you noticed how some people tends to write more than what they are actually doing and how much some people complains all the time about their performance and try to find excuses for running 10 second slower! it really annoys me.  Too much food, I didn’t sleep well, I have been working a lot….etc, etc… Can’t they just assume that we all have bad runs and an excuse doesn’t change it…deal with it! It is not that you are going to lose your sponsor! Come on! Just enjoy it and love yourself for whatever you are capable to do. Trying to improve is good, don't get me wrong, I try to improve all the time abd we all like to improve and move forward but think that you are a failure because you don't always perform as well as you wish is not cool!  After all, this is a hobby for most of us and it should make us happy but sometimes I feel some people feels miserable about it.

I will stop with this as it is not worthy.  I will move on to my own business. :)

Bear Mt. 50K

In summary this is what has happened during the first half of the year. I will try to catch up with more details on some interested running adventures soon!

Towards the end of last year I got bursitis in my hip. This time was much worst, to the point where it was even painful to walk. It took me more than 3 months to recover and be able to run again. Basically I didn’t do much running from December 2011 to March 2012. I had to go to physical therapy 3 times per week, rest and take a bunch of antimflamatories. No running really sucks!!! (excuse my English :) ) I was like an animal in a cage and just when I thought nothing could be worse, I was diagnosis with retrolisthesis.

Of course again the doctors said I should not run. My doctor consulted with a colleague and after seeing my "puppy" face they said “ well, you can run but without a watch, you will never be a champion, you should not try to run fast, that will make it worst and it will hurt. We know you will still do those ultras but take it easy, don’t push it, listen to your body and stop if you have pain”.

DC 50M

I really didn’t need them to tell me I will never be a champion, I have never been fast and I don’t care that much about it. If I can run I am happy!! No matter how fast or slow, though it is not nice to heard someone telling you that!!  It even made me want to go out and try to run 5 minute mile to prove them wrong.....LOL...yeah sure!! ...not even a chance!

Around March I started to feel better so I reassumed my training.
Even though I try to think I am perfectly fine the true is that I have pain in almost every long run and the faster I try to run the more painful it is. Some days I fell perfectly fine and I almost forget about my hip and bsck being a mess but it always comes back.

During my ultras I need to take some pain killers every 4 hours to keep going. I am luckly that my body seem to handle the pills well.  I try not to abuse and only  take them if the pain is really bad and towards the end of the races.   I am not complaining about it, after all I can still run and that makes me really happy. It is just another factor I need to consider as hot weather, rain, be tired etc.  Should not be an excuse and I will never use it as one.

Holly Molly, it was hard to get the distance back!! I felt so out of shape and unmotivated that I had only one option……I had to sign up for some ultra asap!! That way I could be forced to run!

ouch!

I did the North Face Endurance Challenge 50K at Bear Mt. and it went well. As a fun note, I felt at mile 14 and sprained my ankle very badly (still hurts me now when I wear high heels),  I ended up running 16 miles with a bag of ice tied to it...it was actually pretty funny and made me feel so hard core!! and also STUPID!!! I should have stopped but I am too proud to have a DNF.

After that I did some short races and the Brooklyn half. I did not perform that well but I had a lot of fun. I also crewed for my friend Deanna who was running 150 miles in Vermont. 

skin treatment

A month later I ran the North Face Endurance Challenge 50M in Washington DC. I love that race! This year it was like doing a tough mudder! It rained all week so the trail was covered in mud and water. My back gave me some troubles during the race but  I just tried to forget about it and keep running. Someone told me during the race that the difference between a regular runner and an ultra-runner is that we have more tolerance to pain…he said most ultra-runners have some type of pain at one point but we all keep going. I think I agree.

I recovered really well after this race and just 2 days later I was running again. The following Saturday I did a 10K race. The following week I ran 10 miles almost every day and I was feeling really strong.

I thought a lot about my dream of running a 100 miler and at one point I was almost decided not to do it as I was afraid how I will handle to keep running past the 50 miles point if my back hurts. When I finished the 50 miler I asked myself whether I would turn around and do it again.....the answer was" Hell not!!

I burned my friend's shoes :)

You know the saying that you need to forget your last marathon before thinking about the next one? Well,  I kept thinking about it and thinking and thinking and thinking!!! And even though the logic told me I should not do it my heart was telling me to DO IT!....Heart WON and I have signed up for my first 100 miler in just 2 months!! 

Details on the race and training coming soon!!

Medals holder from my brother

My brother made this holder for me. He made it all by hand with an old piece of wooden from a church he is restoring

Bye bye 2011....it was a great running year!!

I am so original that I have been doing my balance of the year!!! LOL...I am sure this is a very original idea right??.......After carefully thinking about it I am really happy with the balance.

My youngest follower!!

I only have one of my goals still pending (a sub 2 half marathon) but I have achieved all the other goals I had for the year!! woohooo....at least now I have already one goal for 2013 :)...it is always good to keep something to be looking forward for...(this is a nice way to say it !!). I have run 3 marathons, one 50K, one 50 miler, 5 half marathons and other races...doesn't seem a lot but I am happy it is much more that the previous year......and now I feel I even need to do much more in 2013!!!

After the NYC marathon last November I haven't been running that much,  may be just 3 times!! yes really!! Two weeks after the marathon I ran 12 miles with some friends that were running an ultramarathon  and in someway and started to have a horrible pain in my hip during that run.  

The day  after that I went on vacation to Argentina, to visit my family, and I was hoping to get some runs done there since it was spring and I was missing the warm weather. I rested for a couple of days and when the pain was gone I went for a short run. I only did 4 miles but after that I had such a horrible pain that was even difficult to walk.  I decided to take the rest of my vacation easy and I didn't run at all for the next 2 weeks.

Back in NY  and with no signal of hip pain I decided to go for run....I did 6 miles and that afternoon I couldn't even walk again.  I had a party that night and walking with high heels were really painful. 

The pain stayed with me constantly for the rest of week and not even anti inflammatories helped.

You might wonder what the doctor said? ..well...I didn't go... :)....I know what I have and I know what they will tell me....I took another 2 weeks off, no running at all and just doing some training on the stairs (oh...I got into the Empire State Building run up!!!)....the pain was still there...

I got obsessed again doing research about osteoarthritis, treatments, supplements etc...I am really scared about not be able to be as active as I am now......always the same conclusion....it is not proved that running can make it worst but it is not recommended and in general everyone says that people with osteoarthritis eventually has to stop running as the pain is really strong.  

Berlin

Also,  I have read that as you are loosing  cartilage between your joints the movements are less smooth and you also lose flexibility to move your legs...dammit...I am already slow enough and now I am loosing movements!!! ##@@#&$#@$%&$@

Anyway...I won't let this to interfere with my running dreams...(I hate people that complains all the time)  ....I have been running with this pain for the whole year and I am glad I have never used it as an excuse...if you can't handle it...go home!! LOL... but stop using things as excuses!! That is my motto!

I started to feel better this week and since Sunday I have been able to exercise 4 consecutive days and my pain is not that bad...it is even less every time I run (knocking wood)....hopefully I will be back in full training soon!!! God that I miss that!!!

Running with Bart Yasso!

After 2 vacations, post marathon blues, the holidays and not being able to run...well....lets just say that I have started an strict diet this week!!!!

I have signed for 2 races in January, before my time off,  so  I am not sure I will have enough time to train for them but I might just do them anyway and have fun!! 

I am having a hard time deciding which marathons/ultramarathons I want to do next year...I do hate my busy season at work because most of the races I really want to do are a couple of weeks after my busy season so I know I won't have enough time to train for them...I need to think a little more about what I will do next year...I still have 2 days until 2013!!! but I better decide soon as races are filling out  so fast now...even ultras!!! unbelievable!!! I was looking at one 100 miler @ July...and it is already full!!! I couldn't believe it...more than 350 people signed up already....and there is a waiting list....yeah a waiting list for a 100 miler!!!  ARE WE ALL CRAZY!!!! HAHA

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAPPY RUNNING MY FRIENDS!!

....look who is back :)

I have totally failed in my goal of keeping my blog updated!! I haven’t written in a very long time!! So many things have happened that now it is even tough to try to summarize what I have been up to! I don’t want to spend much time trying to tell you all the things that I have done but will try to do a brief summary and then once again try to go back to normal posting J How many times have I said this??

Since my last post I have run several races, the most important once are the Queens half (July), Conservancy run for Central Park 4 miler (first PR in a long time!),  Berlin Marathon(September – I will have an special report on this one) and Staten Island Half (October).

Training has been going great and I have been doing speed classes all summer. I PRd in Berlin even though I was sick for the previous 2 weeks and I wasn’t feeling totally recovered that day.

The second half of the year was more about quality on my runs than distance. As per my running related volunteer work, I have paced several long runs as the Long Training Run 1(July) and 2 (August)  and the 3 Bridges Run (October), all 20 millers and I also have been a mentor in Team for Kids all summer. I really enjoy to do these activities and help other runners with their training as they also help me to stay motivated! Irena blowed away my 100 bike ride, yeap it was schedule for that weekend so it got cancelled. They couldn't reschedule it for another weekend so now with the fall here I will need to wait until next year to sign up again for it....bummer.

Next challenge is NYC Marathon in just 10 days, I haven’t decided yet if I am racing it or just doing a fun run....sounds crazy to say that you do a marathon for fun right?, may be I will refrain for saying this to non runners :) as they already have enough material to call me crazy.   I did push a lot in Berlin…I gave everything I had and I don’t want to push my body after what happened there (details to come!!). I got the PR I wanted for this year so I don’t feel the need to race NYC but who knows….maybe I have a good day J

What do you do when you are supposed to run but you don’t feel like doing it?

May be you need a rest day…so take it…..listening to your body is very important but if you are just being lazy…..

Last night I needed to run but I felt like just sitting down and watch TV. I was not sored, I was not injured, I hadn't worked hard.......I had no real excuse......I did it for 5 minutes and then I stood up and got ready. I told myself to at least get dressed and see if I was feeling better about running…. But I was feeling the same way…” I don’t want to move my legs, I don’t want to go anywhere” ….I evaluated my options:

1- Take a rest day

2- Go the gym

3- Run anyway

Option 1 had most of the votes  but I knew that I was going to hate that decision later. I went to the gym during lunch time and did weights and abs so option 2 wasn’t really very good…that left me with only one option……go running… but how to make sure I was going to really finish my run ?? I have a list of things I do when I feel this way…

1- Do an easy run. You don’t want to run, you feel lazy but you finally decide to put yourself out and do it…so at least don’t kill yourself…take it easy and give your body a little of the rest it is asking for. Make it fun, enjoy it!! Go to your favorite place.

2- Run in a place where you will meet people you know. You might end running with someone and that will motivate you or if you are like me and you don’t like people to see you walking… ……there is no way I will walk where someone might see me 

3- Run far from home so you are not tempted to cut miles every time you loop around your apartment!! I try to split my run in 2 and run away from home until half the distance……there are not way to come back other than running!!! …and don’t take your metro card with you!!

4- Think about this run as an endurance training…….you are tired you don’t want to run, your legs don’t want to move…that is how I feel in the middle of an ultra!! But you keep going…you need to finish it…running in a bad day allow you to practice how to keep running when your body says STOP!! This is a good training!!

5- Think about your goal… there is much more than today’s run in your decision!! Focus!! focus!!

6- I don’t listen music when I run but if this helps you…set your favorites songs and rock it!

I finally went out and did the 6 miles I had in my schedule. I ran an easy pace what was a good recovery from the long run and bike ride over the weekend. Also, since I have speed class tonight, a slow run couldn’t kill me. I was tempted to stop several times but kept telling myself that if this were one of my ultras I couldn’t stop……that I needed to push it…..I started to think about the last 50 miler and how tired I was but I kept running…so HOW COME I WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RUN 6 MILES!! I also thought about the 100 miler and how mad I want to do it….but wait…how come I will ever train for that if I don’t even want to run 6 miles!!....KEEP RUNNING CLAUDIA!!!! ....as I always say…EVERYTHING IS MENTAL!!! I felt so much better when I was done!!!

God... 6 miles can be so tough sometimes!!!