tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336899469401506282024-02-08T06:30:47.003-05:00Challenging the BodyYou have powers you never dreamed of. You can do things you never thought you could do. There are no limitations in what you can do except the limitations of your own mind - Darwing KinsgleyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-25271128263331363972013-10-12T17:21:00.001-04:002013-10-12T17:21:46.897-04:00I am still running!!
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-B3wVU4cQo/Ulm52ee-CQI/AAAAAAAAElQ/IGNdSgwS2_s/s1600/971899_10201533762127049_805547005_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-B3wVU4cQo/Ulm52ee-CQI/AAAAAAAAElQ/IGNdSgwS2_s/s320/971899_10201533762127049_805547005_n.jpg" width="232" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">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!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>. 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!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Vermont 100 – July
2013 – Jodi Weiss<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Through the trails,
into the mud, alongside the horses – and the inevitable what goes up must come
down<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">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. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Calories on the go<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">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<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">What it’s all about<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">More done than not<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few miles later, Matt left us and Sondra
took over team Claudia. New stories, new pace, new energy! </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Mile 92 and counting<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">We were almost done! Claudia and I had decided that we were
not going to stop at the 92<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> 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? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">And then it was over<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">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. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">What I didn’t know
then<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">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. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know then that during that trek from
Miami to Deerfield Beach,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-45876192290620274722012-07-03T13:37:00.001-04:002012-07-03T13:38:59.771-04:00You 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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every time I think I already know about the best runners in
the world I discover I am actually so wrong!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today I will introduce you to Jerry Dunn or “Marathon Man “as he is
known.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but when you read all his accomplishments
there are no doubt that he has earned his nickname!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;">
</span><span style="color: #351c75;">Jerry Dunn was born in 1946 in Indianapolis, Indiana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He started running when he was 29 years old
and these are some of his accomplishments:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Vt9iDqZ63M/T_MqS-zENQI/AAAAAAAAEiM/Z6ZSeKqyUAY/s1600/imagesCA40AMSP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Vt9iDqZ63M/T_MqS-zENQI/AAAAAAAAEiM/Z6ZSeKqyUAY/s1600/imagesCA40AMSP.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but he completed 11 hours or 44
miles on it and then moved outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>28 degree temps, overcast sky and little or no
wind. His goal <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was to make it to the
Crow Peak Brewery by 6PM for the beginning of his <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>self-hosted party. He arrived at 5:42 having
walked the entire 21 remaining miles. Still took<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>him less than 17 hours to complete it at age
65!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;">
</span><span style="color: #351c75;">In 2000 he ran a record 200 Marathon distances in 1 calendar
year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah…this is still an unofficial
world record!!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1999 he ran Los Angeles Marathon course on 14 consecutive
days<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;">
</span><span style="color: #351c75;">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</span><span style="color: #351c75;"> he ran Los Angeles Marathon <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>13 consecutive days</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;">
</span><span style="color: #351c75;">In 1997 he ran the 13.1 mile course<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1996 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as a way of
celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Boston Marathon, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>began running the entire course on March 21st
and ran it every day for 26 consecutive days. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 26th day coincided with the official 100th
running of the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boston Marathon. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;">
</span><span style="color: #351c75;">Also in the same year he successfully completed 104
marathons in a single calendar year, at that time a world record.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh and he got married during the World Disney Marathon at
mile 9 <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is the founder and race director of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Black Hills 100 Ultra Marathon, Lean Horse
Hundred and the Run Crazy Horse 13.1 / 26.2 races but <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he has never been able to run them on race day
as he is always working and cheering for the runners. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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 <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> …..I am really happy
that I will have the honor to run with him in my first 100!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poor guy….he will have a stalker following
him <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><strong>Don’t limit your challenges … Challenge your limits, and
have fun doing it. – Jerry Dunn</strong></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"><o:p>* Information from LeanHorse blog and other newspapers interviews and articles.</o:p></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-69529397259415549942012-07-01T09:32:00.000-04:002012-07-01T09:56:10.508-04:00I forgot I have a Blog :)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TeYAr0fZBJM/T_BPJvxzb5I/AAAAAAAAEhw/AWSdgaJuR4s/s1600/No+Matter+How+Slow+You+Go+-+You+Are+Still+Lapping+Everybody+On+The+Couch.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TeYAr0fZBJM/T_BPJvxzb5I/AAAAAAAAEhw/AWSdgaJuR4s/s200/No+Matter+How+Slow+You+Go+-+You+Are+Still+Lapping+Everybody+On+The+Couch.jpeg" width="149" /></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">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. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />I will stop with this as it is not worthy. I will move on to my own business. :)</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ynkDCFoLaw/T_BIUnyjpfI/AAAAAAAAEhQ/VUVH7YUnUBo/s1600/524364_3910754608448_1058144677_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ynkDCFoLaw/T_BIUnyjpfI/AAAAAAAAEhQ/VUVH7YUnUBo/s200/524364_3910754608448_1058144677_n.jpg" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear Mt. 50K</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">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!</span><br />
<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;">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 <a href="http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-retrolisthesis.htm">retrolisthesis</a>.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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”. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-82hliIzv4HQ/T_BIOQizMTI/AAAAAAAAEhA/xlCmpvioTDI/s1600/484213_4068953843330_1634006502_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-82hliIzv4HQ/T_BIOQizMTI/AAAAAAAAEhA/xlCmpvioTDI/s200/484213_4068953843330_1634006502_n.jpg" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DC 50M</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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! <br />
<br />
Around March I started to feel better so I reassumed my training. <br />
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.<br />
<br />
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. <br />
<br />
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!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GsPClUVa5i0/T_BMr3T62oI/AAAAAAAAEhk/-xSYQ1h4BTw/s1600/385678_3875790574369_1085253251_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GsPClUVa5i0/T_BMr3T62oI/AAAAAAAAEhk/-xSYQ1h4BTw/s200/385678_3875790574369_1085253251_n.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ouch!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rixp7THLK6A/T_BIRwSuoSI/AAAAAAAAEhI/Nxo22QGJAoE/s1600/556430_4055581829038_70827514_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rixp7THLK6A/T_BIRwSuoSI/AAAAAAAAEhI/Nxo22QGJAoE/s200/556430_4055581829038_70827514_n.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">skin treatment </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
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. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
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!!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IvDfObmUYBM/T_BGO0sYFsI/AAAAAAAAEgw/KneSNjXJKq4/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IvDfObmUYBM/T_BGO0sYFsI/AAAAAAAAEgw/KneSNjXJKq4/s200/3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I burned my friend's shoes :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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!! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Details on the race and training coming soon!!</div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-75877168248582754832011-12-30T16:24:00.000-05:002011-12-30T16:24:27.679-05:00Medals holder from my brother<span style="color: #674ea7;">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</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6fNtqM0DYgQ/Tv4qzHAVChI/AAAAAAAAEgM/Vujx-c6sWrg/s1600/medallas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6fNtqM0DYgQ/Tv4qzHAVChI/AAAAAAAAEgM/Vujx-c6sWrg/s640/medallas.JPG" width="596" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-41156720299954367612011-12-29T17:00:00.001-05:002011-12-29T17:01:29.742-05:00Bye bye 2011....it was a great running year!!<span style="color: #351c75;">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. </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZGCC_Kk9ek/TvzefVKaczI/AAAAAAAAEfo/hZF9_F-6dWY/s1600/IMG_3054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZGCC_Kk9ek/TvzefVKaczI/AAAAAAAAEfo/hZF9_F-6dWY/s320/IMG_3054.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #351c75;">My youngest follower!!</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #351c75;">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!!! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">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. </span><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">The day after that I went on vacation to Argentina, to visit my family, and I was <span style="background-color: white;">hoping to</span> 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. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">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. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">The pain stayed with me constantly for the rest of week and not even anti inflammatories helped. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">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...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">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. </span><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z63-xGZYPMY/TvzfXK-CDcI/AAAAAAAAEf0/Ii9DfrDniJc/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z63-xGZYPMY/TvzfXK-CDcI/AAAAAAAAEf0/Ii9DfrDniJc/s200/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #351c75;">Berlin</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #351c75;">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!!! </span><a href="mailto:##@@#&$#@$%&$"><span style="color: #351c75;">##@@#&$#@$%&$</span></a><span style="color: #351c75;">@</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">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! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">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!!! </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CMlwB_YlgY8/Tvzg1cwN9dI/AAAAAAAAEgA/aZm8yTx1Q8A/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CMlwB_YlgY8/Tvzg1cwN9dI/AAAAAAAAEgA/aZm8yTx1Q8A/s200/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" width="188" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><strong>Running with Bart Yasso!</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #351c75;">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!!!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">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!! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">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</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red;">HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAPPY RUNNING MY FRIENDS!!</span></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-84731745671256744102011-10-27T16:01:00.000-04:002011-10-27T16:17:33.829-04:00....look who is back :)<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">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 </span><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How many times have I said this?? </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">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).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">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. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">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 </span><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-47878525002467693562011-07-12T15:20:00.000-04:002011-07-12T15:20:21.969-04:00What do you do when you are supposed to run but you don’t feel like doing it?<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;">May be you need a rest day…so take it…..listening to your body is very important but if you are just being lazy…..</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;">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:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;">1- Take a rest day</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;">2- Go the gym </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;">3- Run anyway</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;">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…</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;">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.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;">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 </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UjUMzhXRp_4/ThyYz5hpJ6I/AAAAAAAAEe8/wqlcsIN4Wk0/s1600/GarfieldLazy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #073763;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UjUMzhXRp_4/ThyYz5hpJ6I/AAAAAAAAEe8/wqlcsIN4Wk0/s320/GarfieldLazy.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #073763;">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!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;">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!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;">5- Think about your goal… there is much more than today’s run in your decision!! Focus!! focus!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;">6- I don’t listen music when I run but if this helps you…set your favorites songs and rock it!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;">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!!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;">God... 6 miles can be so tough sometimes!!! </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-63436944763339317772011-07-06T23:52:00.004-04:002011-07-07T00:10:28.081-04:00A little behind with my posts but moving forward with my training!!<span style="color: blue;">With all the craziness of the long weekend I didn't post about my last week training and now just seems to be so far away!! </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">I think the balance of the last week and a half is good...except for Sunday :) ....I have been feeling really good and my legs feels almost normal again....I think I am finally recovered from the ultra and can focus a little in my speed.....Berlin: I am going for you and a PR!!!! </span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><strong><u>Monday:</u></strong> Hill work out....1.5 miles warm up 7 x 1/4 mile hill repeat recovering on the downhill (I am following Scott Jurek advice to adapt the ultra training for my marathon training) 1.5 miles cold down</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><strong><u>Tuesday</u></strong>: Speed Class ...1 mile warm up, run 3 min On, 1 min Off, 2 min On, 1 min Off, 1 min On, 2 min Off...and repeat...we did it in a hilly area of the park so it was a combination of speed and hill work...and a very humid and hot afternoon!! (On= fast, Off= recovery pace)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><strong><u>Wednesday:</u></strong> 17 miles bike ride</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><u><strong>Thursday:</strong></u> 7 miles tempo run</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><strong><u>Friday:</u></strong> off from running or biking - I did crunches, push ups and others....oh yes...I am starting with core training!! it was about time!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><u><strong>Saturday:</strong></u> 16 miles @ Marathon pace</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><u><strong>Sunday:</strong></u> well....I was supposed to ride 40 miles :) but when I woke up it was raining and ...well.....I took an additional day off...shame on me! I was lazy!! </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><u><strong>Monday:</strong></u> 8 miles - easy</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><strong><u>Tuesday:</u></strong> Speed Class - 1 mile warm up - 12 x 400's repeats fast with 1 minute recovery in between....first time in a long time I was able to run some of the repeats at 6:38!!! and the others at 7:30!!! for my pace...that was fast!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><u><strong>Wednesday</strong></u>: I was a mentor with Team for Kids and we did speed work out... I was the pacer for the slow group so the pace was slower than my own speed class but still a good workout... we did 1.3 miles warm up, 5 x 400's repeat with 300's recovery in between, 1.3 miles cold down.</span><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><strong>Everything is mental....if you think you can do it...you will do it!!! keep training!!</strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-84381320424273939142011-07-06T23:01:00.001-04:002011-07-12T22:30:36.982-04:00I have been spotlighted!!!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">As some of you know I am a member of the New York Flyers. I really like and enjoy running with them because there are so many talented runners in the club! as a new runner I am learning from them in every run!! I also like that there are many different types of runners in the club so I can be running with a sprinter one day and with an ultramarathoner in the next one. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">The club has a blog and also a quarterly newsletter where sometimes they Spotlight some of the runners with a biography.....I have to admit that I was really surprised when the editor told me that they wanted to include me as the member spotlight for the June newsletter....I don't think I have a very interesting story not to mention that my runner career is really short and not really very outstanding :) anyway I was honored and I accepted. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Can you believe that some members that I didn't know have recognized me in the street and told me that they like it!! LOL...it is kinda fun but at the same time a little scared....people I don't know now know things about my life. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">The newsletter it is only available for members so I can't share the link, which is sad as it is a really nice article with photos etc....but I thought it could be nice to share it with my blog readers too....after all it is already out there ...and what is in the Internet it is not private anymore!! but don't expect any juice info here...it is not that personal!!! LOL</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Spotlight on Claudia</span></strong></div><strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">CPA / Runner / Ultra Marathoner</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #351c75;">In case you were wondering where my accent is from ...</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">The Early Years</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I was born and raised in a small town approximately 30 miles from Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Although it’s a short distance, I didn’t spend much time in the city when growing up. My family has a huge house there, and I spent a lot of time outdoors. My grandfather used to have a big garden that at times seemed more like a farm than a garden. He had rabbits, ducks, chickens and a lot of vegetables. I still remember when my baby brother was born, my grandfather gave me one of his rabbits to sleep with as I didn’t want my mother to go to the hospital without me. I squeezed the poor rabbit the whole night! I was just 3 years old but remember that night very clearly. (Or maybe I have heard the story so many times that I think I remember it?) </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_meQlgnLkvQ/ThUbiCaPD1I/AAAAAAAAEeM/en0l_3D979s/s1600/2-+Dancing+Tango+-+Elementary+School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_meQlgnLkvQ/ThUbiCaPD1I/AAAAAAAAEeM/en0l_3D979s/s200/2-+Dancing+Tango+-+Elementary+School.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="color: #20124d;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">When my grandfather passed away I picked up his farming hobby and started my own garden. For many years I had not only beautiful flowers but also tomatoes, lettuce, carrots etc. I spent a lot of my free time working in the garden. I used to dream about having my own Japanese garden at home but I didn’t have money to buy all the materials I needed. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I was a very active child and spent a lot of time playing outside, climbing trees and fighting with my brother and cousins; I was the only girl in the family so I needed to learn how to defend myself. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I have a very small family: my grandma, my mother and my brother. We are a very typical “Italian” family. My grandparents were from Italy and we kept most of their lifestyle where family and food are the center of the universe! Life in Argentina is different from the lifestyle here. Families live together and when you go to college you don’t leave home. Actually most of the people leave home just when they get married! Can you imagine that? And even then you probably buy a house a few blocks away from your parents or in-laws. I always thought my life would go in that direction too. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">My teenage years were very tough and I needed to grow up very fast, but I had a wonderful mother who took care of my brother and me and to whom I owe everything I am now. I learned at a very early age that if you want something you need to work for it, that nothing is granted in life. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">My mom taught me the importance of education. She always took care of giving me the best education she could afford, even if that meant that she couldn’t go on vacation, buy a new dress, or even a good meal. She took me to English classes because she thought it was good to learn a second language, wow! as if she knew my future! Mothers know, right? But I was horrible at it! It was really difficult for me and I used to tell my mom that I didn’t need it because I would never live in a place where people speak English. Lesson learned — NEVER SAY NEVER. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">However, I was a good student, a nerd actually. Seriously! I always wanted to get the best grades and be the best one at school. I was the one sitting in the first row all the time and knowing all the answers, but English was always my Achilles heel. If you haven’t spoken with me I must warn you, I have problems with the “J” sound — it comes out “sh”. I can’t pronounce GYM and when I say “John” people think I am saying “Sean”. Other than this, I think you should be able to understand me! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Anyway, the classes helped me to make some money. I started my own “business” teaching English to other kids in the neighborhood. I wasn’t that good, but for those kids, who had no idea about English, I was like Mark Twain. And their parents were happy to pay me for their lessons. </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">During high school I was part of the softball team at school. I was a pretty good pitcher but I was not crazy about sports, and I dedicated most of my time to study. In my family, school and study were a priority, and sports and arts were not important for anyone around me, as I grew up without considering these essentials. </span></div><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">College Bound</span></strong><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br />
</span></div><span style="color: #20124d;">I studied accounting at the University of Buenos Aires where I got my degree as a Public Accountant. In Argentina, the most prestigious universities are public, and most students have to work full time as well as attend school. I wasn’t the exception and I knew I would have to work if I wanted to study because I needed to help my family. </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I started working in an administrative position in a full time job just 15 days after finishing high school. I was 17 years old and I haven’t stopped working since then. </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">For the next six years I worked all day and then commuted for two hours to attend classes at night. The system is different in Argentina. Once you choose a career it generally takes a minimum of six years to complete if you are a good student. During those years I was very busy working all day, going to college at night and studying on weekends. Sports were not part of my life at that time. In fact I was totally a couch potato! When I think about those days and how active I am now I cannot believe the difference! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">My career brought me to the Big Apple!</span></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">During my last year at college I began my career as an auditor. I joined an international firm as a beginner auditor assistant and started a great career. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">For the next nine years I gained experience. Year after year I was promoted until I became a Senior Manager. I was lucky enough to find my career and what I like to do when I was very young. I love my work and I am not shy to say that I am really good at it. </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r_mVnbJ32Nk/ThUbld2gOkI/AAAAAAAAEeQ/dbJ88hsXddE/s1600/4-+New+York+-+New+York.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r_mVnbJ32Nk/ThUbld2gOkI/AAAAAAAAEeQ/dbJ88hsXddE/s200/4-+New+York+-+New+York.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #20124d;">Six years ago my boss told me that they wanted to send me to New York City for two years to represent Latin American in the Global Methodology department of the firm. It was a good opportunity for my career, but I was really confused about it at the same time. I never thought about leaving my country and my family. I didn’t even have a passport because I had never travelled outside Argentina before. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">It was a tough decision since I was very close to my family and I felt responsible for them. However, my mom, even though she really didn’t want me to leave, gave me her blessings and told me that I needed to take the opportunity. Everyone was trying to convince me, but I was feeling very guilty about leaving my family. I remember a female partner in the office who called me and said “You can’t say no! Do you watch Sex and the City? Your life can be like that! You must go to New York!” </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I came to New York to meet the people I was going to work with and they took me in a boat ride around Manhattan. It was night and there was a band playing “New York, New York”, on the boat. That was the first time I saw the city. It was like in the movies for me, I never dreamt of something like that, and I was pinching myself to make sure I was really awake. I felt on the top of the world! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Some months later I moved to New York, I had a job but no family or friends. I didn’t know anyone in this country, but I felt in love with the City immediately and I knew I had arrived home! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Getting Active</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zqyWdKsZBHk/ThUbnRoIqEI/AAAAAAAAEeU/0wCChosjyeo/s1600/6-+Hiking+-+Breakneck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zqyWdKsZBHk/ThUbnRoIqEI/AAAAAAAAEeU/0wCChosjyeo/s200/6-+Hiking+-+Breakneck.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #20124d;">I joined a hiking group and I started to go hiking almost every weekend, but sometimes the hike was just too slow for me. I had too much energy to just keep walking and I started to run in the trails. My friends were telling me that I should join a trail running group, but at that time I had no idea that such things exits. These were my first steps to trail running! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">The next few years were amazing for my career and my personal life. I got to learn a lot working for the most important partners in the firm as well as travelling around the world for free! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I had a great position that allowed me to travel for meetings to many countries in Europe. Work was not very demanding though. It was something easy for me and that gave me a lot of free time to enjoy my trips and also New York. Also, during this time I took the CPA exams to become a CPA in the US. It was a reward for many years of hard work. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">After three years of “Living La Vida Loca” they wanted me back in Argentina, but I was not ready to leave yet. Mom gave me her blessing again (I told you we are a very Italian family!) and I decided to quit my job and stay here. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">New job, new life and a new love — running</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">It wasn’t the best time to take this decision as it was the beginning of the 2008 economic crisis and most people were laid off. I was really lucky and it just took me one resume, one day and one interview to get a job in a similar company in the same position. My mom was right, studies do help and a good resume can open many doors even if you don’t have any contacts. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Finally, after many years of hard work, I took 3 months off before I started working in my new job. It was at this time I started to run. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">My first time running was with a co-worker who almost forced me to go with her. I always thought that running was so BORING! She took me to the reservoir and we ran two loops non-stop — my first 3 miles ever! I had no idea about running or running gear; I didn’t have running shoes so I ran with golf shoes! Yes! I ran for the first time with golf shoes, cotton jersey and cotton spandex in a very warm July day! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nm47-rZhUdM/ThUbpqJVnsI/AAAAAAAAEeY/n37oSVbQOpk/s1600/8+-Running+NYC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nm47-rZhUdM/ThUbpqJVnsI/AAAAAAAAEeY/n37oSVbQOpk/s200/8+-Running+NYC.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #20124d;">The next day I went back by myself and I did 2 loops again. The following week my friend took me to Urban Athletics and I bought my first pair of running shoes. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">For the next 3 months I kept running the reservoir loop adding a little more every few weeks, my goal was to be able to run a complete loop in the park without stopping. How easy does that sound now, but at that time it was a huge project for me. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">The day before the 2008 NYC marathon I was able to run my first Central Park loop. While doing it I crossed the finish line and saw the preparations for the marathon but I had no idea what that was all about. I was totally clueless about running. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">The next morning, I saw in the news that they were running just 2 blocks from my apartment and I went to First Avenue to check it out. I didn't even know how long a marathon was at that time. I was on First Avenue and could feel the energy of the crowd cheering the runners on. I decided right then that I was going to run the following year and the crowd will cheer me on too! I went back home and Googled the NYC Marathon. It was too late to do the 9+1 so I decided to join Team for Kids, and five months before the marathon I started training with them. First, I needed to build a base, so in January 2009 I ran my first half marathon having only done a 10 mile run on the treadmill! I didn’t drink water because I didn’t want to stop and I didn’t eat a gel because I didn’t know about them! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I learned all these things with Team for Kids and it was there where I also learned about the Flyers. Glen Wiener and Brian Hsia were my coaches. After the marathon I decided to join the Flyers because I wanted to keep running. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">So, a year later, there I was, running the 2009 ING NYC Marathon and thousands of people I didn't even know were screaming my name for 26.2 miles. That day I knew I would never stop running. I love running because I feel peace when I am out there. I can connect with my body and the environment. I don’t think about anything else other than the road, and since I don’t use an iPod (not even in my lonely long runs) I can perceive things that otherwise I would have never noticed. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Running long — Ultras</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Soon after running my first marathon, my friend Celia Kajula started to speak about this crazy idea of running an ultra. I thought she was crazy because we just ran our first marathon and almost couldn’t even walk for a week afterwards. She kept speaking about it, and at that time I also became friends with Deanna Culbreath, an amazing ultra marathoner. So I started to Google about ultras and getting more and more information. Soon the idea sounded interesting. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Just some months after running my first marathon and before even signing up for my second marathon, I was already signed up for my first ultra, a 50 miler, which I did last October in 10:05 hours. I will never forget the moment when I crossed the finish line; it was the most amazing feeling of accomplishment I have ever felt. That day I knew that I am going to run ultras for as long as my body will allow me. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I was motivated by the idea of expanding my physical and mental limits. I need motivation all the time, I need a goal. The idea of completing a 50-mile ultra seemed a new frontier for me. I believe that with proper training and dedication anyone can run far. Having the determination and persistence needed to train for an ultra is the most important part of the training. I wanted to explore how much determination I had to push myself when my body says “STOP!” </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">A week before starting the training for my first ultra I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hip, and even though three doctors recommended that I not run longer than 5 miles at the time, I decided to keep running. I did everything I could to recover from the pain: exercises, joint supplements, ice baths. I almost did the whole training in the Bridle Path to avoid the concrete. Have you ever run 27 miles in the path with no iPod? Trust me — it is boring! I have run several “solo” marathons in the Bridle Path. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I have a very demanding job and during winter I work around 70 hours per week, including Saturdays. Training with this busy schedule it is not easy and most of the time I need to do my long runs before going to the office. It is not easy to squeeze a 26 miles long run and get to work on time when you are a slow runner! </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dH2PqozD-jM/ThUbxsMo9cI/AAAAAAAAEec/loki4MbTuZI/s1600/13+-Emerald+Run+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dH2PqozD-jM/ThUbxsMo9cI/AAAAAAAAEec/loki4MbTuZI/s200/13+-Emerald+Run+2010.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #20124d;">I have been training with some Flyers that fortunately for me are early birds, so we get together on Saturdays at 7:30 AM to do loops in the park. Just to mention some: David Gains, Ed Altman, Elle Green, Steve Hewett and others. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Sometimes I go earlier and do 1 or 2 loops alone and then I join them for the rest of my long run. I am happy to be in such a great running club and have the privilege to run with people with so much experience who are so supportive. Being a relative new runner, I am like a sponge absorbing all the information I can from all the amazing people in our club. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">A couple of weeks ago I ran the 50K North Face Endurance Challenge Bear Mountain as a training run because in a few days I will be running the North Face Endurance Challenge Washington DC 50 miler. I am looking forward to it. [Editor: Claudia fiinished the DC 50 miler on June 4th in 80° temps!] My dream is one day to be able to run 100 miles. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Giving Back</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Running has given me so much that I wanted to give it back. Last year I joined the NYRR Young Professional Committee. The group raises funds and awareness for NYRR’s community-based youth running programs which promote physical health, emotional well-being and personal achievement in schools and community centers in New York City, across the United States and around the world. I am very involved with this group and we organize many events during the year. I hope the Flyers keep participating in these events as it is a great way to spread our love for running! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Other random things about me:</strong></span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d;"></span></div><ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Until I was 20 years old I seriously considered being a nun. </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I love cooking. I almost never order food and I can’t leave my apartment without having breakfast first, never! My grandma always told me that you have to have something in your stomach before leaving home and even now I still follow her orders! </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I am very determined. When I was in my early 20’s I decided to move a pile of rocks the height of a house with my own hands. I got blisters, calluses and my hands were bleeding, but I moved the rocks. It took me 3 complete weekends. </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I have a running blog that is on my firm's intranet. At the last Christmas party some people wanted to have a picture with me. So funny! The day before my first ultra, the marketing department sent an email to the whole firm saying "Run Claudia, Run!" I got around 200 emails wishing me good luck. They are very supportive with my running. I guess there are not that many “ultra auditors” . </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I met my best friend at college 18 years ago — this is the longest relationship I have ever had! In all these years we have never fought. </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I have more good male friends than girlfriends, but my few girlfriends are gold! </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I am very handy and I can repair almost everything at home. I also know how to change all the fluids and the oil in a car. </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I ran a race dressed up as a fairy and my picture was the main photo in the NYC marathon website for a week! </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I don’t hunt but I know how to shoot a gun. </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I don’t know how to swim so I will never do a TRI, but I just bought a road bike and I hope to do a duathlon soon. </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I love horror movies and I don’t scream watching them. </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I don’t like avocados! Why does everything in New York have avocados? </span></li>
</ul><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-25282214423721077352011-06-27T14:55:00.000-04:002011-06-27T14:55:49.437-04:00Long run and bike riding!<span style="color: #134f5c;">Just a short update on the training side....The second half of the week went even better than the first one!! I think I am finally recovering and I can start my new training plan for the second half of the year. I felt much stronger and I haven't have a single pain or soreness. Friday was my first day off since the previous Friday and I really enjoyed!!! On Saturday morning I met my usual Saturday running group and we all went for a long run. Some of us needed to do 16 miles and others 14. I am one of the slower in the group so when they are doing their " easy runs" for me it is really like a tempo run!! LOL </span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">I still need to figure out my pace "goal" for the next marathon. With all the ultra training I am not sure anymore about my pace. I have been slower but because I was tired. I am not really sure how much I can improve if I am not exhausted for running a "marathon" every weekend!! I think it will take me a couple of weeks until I can see the effects of being "rested" and the result of the speed work on my pace. </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">I did the 16 miles faster than my last road marathon pace but slower than my half marathon pace on Brooklyn a few weeks ago (Not that I was looking to do that pace for this run as that was one of my best half) .</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vaO1ufg1YfI/TgjQ8ludGNI/AAAAAAAAEeI/JCEmhpBMPQg/s1600/206987_1991818556246_1266864713_32424099_7560442_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vaO1ufg1YfI/TgjQ8ludGNI/AAAAAAAAEeI/JCEmhpBMPQg/s200/206987_1991818556246_1266864713_32424099_7560442_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #134f5c;">I have also started to do more cycling this week and hopefully I will keep doing it at least 2 times per week. My goal is to do a short ride during the week (@ 15 miles) and a long one on the weekends. It is a great cross training and I am also hoping to do a Duathlon sometime soon.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Thursday: 15 miles bike ride</span></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">Friday: Off</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Saturday: 16 miles (2 complete loops in Central Park + 1 lower loop)</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Sunday: 32 miles bike ride</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-16631562022381616302011-06-23T17:42:00.004-04:002011-06-23T20:03:26.098-04:00How to train for any distance as an ultra-marathoner!!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hc05mk9uGBU/TgOyKGNxEsI/AAAAAAAAEd8/qr70bD8MhCQ/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hc05mk9uGBU/TgOyKGNxEsI/AAAAAAAAEd8/qr70bD8MhCQ/s200/untitled.bmp" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott Jurek and I</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="color: #351c75;">I am sure you have already noticed that I am very organized and basically a nerd!! I have spread sheets and lists for everything!! So when I attend to runners conferences, forums or presentations I take notes!! Lot of notes!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">A time ago I went to a presentation from Scott Jurek where he shared with us tips to apply ultra marathons training for marathons an half marathons. </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I am sure he won’t sue me for sharing this!!! </span></div><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">All the training data comes from my notes from his presentation and I will just add some comments and order to the info. (Appologies in advance if any of my data is wrong...I did my best to take good notes :))</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">He started speaking about <strong><u>Specificity</u></strong>. Something that seems to be basic but maybe sometimes we can easy forget about this. </span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: magenta;">“ Training should be relevant and appropriate to the sport in order to produce desired training effects.” </span></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">In another words, we should know the event requirements i.e. endurance, speed, distance, terrain etc. We should also know our strengths and weaknesses and do specific “smart” training and be aware of our body. Always ask yourself “ Why am I doing speed? Why am I training hills? etc ” Know the why of each work out”</span><br />
<br />
<strong><u><span style="color: #cc0000;">Back to Back</span></u></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">One of the key training "secrets" from ultra-marathoners are the “ Back to back long runs”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">This is a technique to develop endurance and it consists of 2 long runs performed on consecutive days to train muscle fatigue. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">It is a way to simulate muscle fatigue at 2/3 or 3/4 of race distance. This can be applied in the following way to shorter distances training:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"> <u> Saturday Sunday</u></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Ultras: 30- 40 miles 25-30 miles</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Marathon 15-16 miles 14-15 miles</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Half 7 -9 miles 7-8 miles</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">1 every 3 to 4 weeks. </span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #38761d;"><u>Uphill tempo runs</u></span></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Uphill tempo runs should be done at lactate threshold (85% to 90 % of 10K – 15 K race pace) for 20 to 50 minutes. A good guidance to know this pace: it should be a pace you can hold for at least 60 minutes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">This type of run develops aerobic power and specific strength for up hills. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Ultra: 2 x 40-50 minutes up hill.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Marathon: 2 x 20- 30 minutes or 1 x 30- 50 minutes</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Half: 1 x 20 – 30 minutes</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">If you don’t have a hill around, you can still do the workout using the treadmill at a 3% to 5% for beginners and 5% to 10% experienced runners.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><strong><u>Down hills repeats</u></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Consecutive down hills runs of 1 to 30 minutes develops eccentric strength and muscle fatigue resistance.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Ultras: 2 x 20-30 minutes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Marathon: 7-10 x 1-5 minutes</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Half: 7-10 x 30 seconds to 1 minute</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">If you don’t have a long downhill around just repeat a small downhill more than 10 times.</span><br />
<br />
<strong><u><span style="color: orange;">Recovery runs</span></u></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Easy runs (50% to 60% effort) of 30 -75 minutes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Allows the body to actively recover from hard efforts with mild aerobic training effect. It can be done before and after hard sessions. </span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #351c75;">Ultra: 60- 75 minutes</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Marathon: 45- 60 minutes</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #351c75;">Half: 30- 45 minutes</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: blue;"><strong><u>Doubles</u></strong></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Running twice in a day at 50/75% effort. Develops fatigue resistance, aerobic conditioning and in some cases acts as active recovery.</span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Ultra: 60-70 minutes</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #351c75;">Marathon: 45-60 minutes</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #351c75;">Half: 30-45 minutes</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<strong><span style="background-color: white; color: orange;">Thanks Scott!!!</span></strong><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: orange;"><strong><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></strong></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><strong>Now get out and move your legs!!! Everyone can train as an ultra runner!!!</strong></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-35644982573751859592011-06-23T00:07:00.002-04:002011-06-23T00:41:15.312-04:00Mid week balance: Almost back to normality!!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">This week training has been much better!! I am slowly going back to normality!! Last Sunday I did my longest ride bike ever 29 miles and I think I am finally liking this new sport. I just needed to start doing it with friends, it so much fun!! even if you are not riding with them all the time just knowing that they are around and that they will pass you or you will pass them or just get together at the end...it is much more excited with friends!!! </span></div><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I am also enjoying my role as a mentor but I have learned one lesson: the days I am assigned to work with the beginners I need to get my run done before, I can't count on getting my miles with them as you never know when you will need to walk the whole work out to help someone. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Yesterday I did my first speed class of the year!! wow...I have really avoided it for this long? It is not a secret that I am not a fast runner but I used to have a decent pace which I have lost during the last year for just focusing on ultras. I didn't do speed classes and I was tired all the time for doing so many long runs that my races very getting just slower and slower!!! It was time to do something about it!!! I will try to focus more on my speed during this second half of the year...we will see if I can stay away from ultras for some months...and work more in my half and marathon pace ...Berlin here I go!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6NzI-K_vfIw/TgK6xlUN3dI/AAAAAAAAEd4/bsbIYw2Dsmk/s1600/rain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6NzI-K_vfIw/TgK6xlUN3dI/AAAAAAAAEd4/bsbIYw2Dsmk/s320/rain.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>Soaked but happy!!</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #351c75;">This is what I have done these days:</span> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Sunday: 29 miles ride bike</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Monday: 5.5 miles run</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Tuesday: Speed class - @ 1 mile warm up - 1 x1 mile, 2 x 1/2 mile, 4 X 1/4 mile- @ 1 mile cold down</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Wednesday: 6 miles ...soaked tempo run with my friend Celia (tempo for me, like a walk in the park for her!! she is much faster than me!!)....final pace a little slower that our plan...it was pour raining, we got soaked and we were dragging our soaked shoes around the park...couldn't even see where we were running!! Murphy law: after 30 minutes the rain stop and it was sunny!!</span> </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><strong>Just 2 days until Friday!!! woooooohoooooo...hang it there!!</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-13427659338889717182011-06-18T13:19:00.003-04:002011-06-18T21:37:23.215-04:00Are we, simple mortals, condemned to the one day rule?<span style="color: #0b5394;">It has been 2 weeks since my 50 miler ultra and I haven't totally recovered yet. Even though I wasn't sore after just 2/3 days, my legs are still tired. I am happy that I didn't get injured and that my hip pain latest just 2 days but I was hoping to recover faster from the muscle fatigue :( to start my training for my next marathon. I took a week off and started running last Sunday again. During the week I worked out every day except Friday but I am not happy with the quality and quantity of my runs.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dRhtfb9oYtw/TfzbMZWMuSI/AAAAAAAAEds/EAKKMtpoHCM/s1600/tired_runner-758794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><img border="0" height="260" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dRhtfb9oYtw/TfzbMZWMuSI/AAAAAAAAEds/EAKKMtpoHCM/s320/tired_runner-758794.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">Sunday: 3 miles</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Monday: 6.5 miles - easy- as I was mentoring a beginners group</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Tuesday: 15 miles bike ride </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Wednesday: 4.5 - again very easy with the beginners group</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Thursday: 13 miles bike ride - Hard...hills repeats</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Friday - off</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Saturday - 6 miles</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">This is really a low millage week for me but my legs feel "heavy" and I can't run fast. Also I am really tired!! I have been sleeping so much!!! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Today I was hopping to do 2 loops in Central Park but I was running so slow that it didn't make any sense to keep going. I was energy less even though I had a lot of carbs yesterday. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">After my previous 50 miler I did some research and read forums and most of the articles mentioned that in "general" takes 1 day per mile to recover after a huge effort. That means 50 days!!! I think that the last time took me like 3 weeks and then I ran the NY marathon and around mile 22 I felt pretty tired. I was hopping that being this my second 50 miler I could recover sooner. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">There are many people that are ready to race again just after a couple of days, not to mention those ultra runners that runs another ultra just the next weekend!!! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I think is so hard to tell how long it could take to each person to recover. Everyone is different to start off, we are trained to different levels of fitness and of course we all have different predisposition to recovery naturally. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I also looked at my races and workouts during the last 2 months and it does make sense that my legs are tired...after a very hard training and crazy work seasons. I noticed that for the last 3 months I have done much more long consecutive runs (20+ miles) than never before and just during May I ran : a trail hilly marathon, a 50 K at Bear Mountain ( the most difficult course I have never run) and the 50 miler......all this in just 44 days!!! May be I do need to give my legs some credit and let them to be lazy for a couple more days!!! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>Dear Legs: I will try not to get mad with you these days, I am thankful for all the effort and good times you gave me and I will patiently wait until you recover. I know you will then catch up with the training, </strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>Love my inner runner!</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Listen to your body!!! it is also part of your training!!</strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-62191768735294889312011-06-14T23:50:00.000-04:002011-06-14T23:50:52.725-04:00Running with Marshall Ulrich...it wasn't an empty run!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hfnna9zjDX0/TfgiVWdbGnI/AAAAAAAAEdk/KrdrxP_Q-PA/s1600/with+marshall+ulrich.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hfnna9zjDX0/TfgiVWdbGnI/AAAAAAAAEdk/KrdrxP_Q-PA/s200/with+marshall+ulrich.JPG" t8="true" width="200" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75;">During the last 2 years I have been very lucky and had the opportunity to run with many elite runners. Most of them has been very nice but everyone knows about my preference for Scott (Jurek) who until know has been by far my favourite runner. This Sunday I had the honor to meet and run with Marshall Ulrich and he definitely made it to the top, now Scott has to hare his podium!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">We were a small group for the run so we all get to run and chat with him. Since the moment we met him I noticed how nice and kind he is. He introduced himself to everyone and during the run he was very chatting and asking questions about how we have started running, why, etc. I mentioned I am from Argentina and he told me about his expedition there to climb the Aconcagua and how he lost his passport in the mountains and needed to get a new one in Buenos Aires. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">He is a very charismatic person and you just need to look at him to discover that he is also a gentleman. He seems to be very calm and down to earth. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">After the run more people joined us and Marshall did a presentation of his book "Running on Empty" which relates part of his life and how he started running, but mainly it relates his run across America. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I have to admit that I wasn't aware of all his accomplishments and once he started with the presentation I was astonished!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ABGTgH21T_8/TfgoObiYhQI/AAAAAAAAEdo/Ks2HJGsuYUU/s1600/cover_large2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ABGTgH21T_8/TfgoObiYhQI/AAAAAAAAEdo/Ks2HJGsuYUU/s200/cover_large2.jpg" t8="true" width="135" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75;">I am now in Chapter 5 and with every page I read I keep saying "wow"!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">It is very interested to read how he started running, why and how running changed his life in so many aspects.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">The love he felt for his first wife is just a story by itself, one that could easily make it to a movie. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I am not an avid reader and I have to admit that as much as I like running, in general I don't like reading running books. </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Nevertheless, I can't put this book down!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">It is more than a story about a runner, it is real, touching and inspiring in much more aspects than running. It is a book about running that even non-runners could enjoy.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> It is the story of an ordinary man that one day became extraordinary.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">He is an ultramarathoner, explorer and elite extreme endurance athlete. You name it and he has done it all even though he didn't start running until he was 28 years old! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">• Completed more than 120 ultra marathons averaging over 125 miles each. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">• Reached the summit of each of the Seven Summits, including Mount Everest, all on first attempts. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">• Competed in all nine Eco Challenge adventure races – something only two other people in the world have done – and has completed 12 expedition-length adventure races. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">• Crossed Death Valley a record 21 times, including a solo and 586-mile quad crossing. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">• Completed a 3,063-mile run across America, equal to 117 marathons in 52.5 days, breaking the Masters and Grand Masters record; the third-fastest crossing ever on the San Francisco to New York City route. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">• Won the Badwater 146-mile race from minus 282 feet to the 14,494-foot summit of Mount Whitney a record 4 times – and still holds the record to the summit. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #351c75;">• Finished a record 15 Badwater146 ultra marathons. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">• Completed the Leadville Trail 100 and Pikes Peak Marathon on the same weekend – a feat no one else in the world has achieved. </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">• Completed all six 100-mile trail races, finishing top-10 in five of them, in the same year – and was the first person ever to do so (in 1989). </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #351c75;">• Won two silver medals in the national 24-hour championships, with a PR of 142 miles.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><strong>You can closed your mouth now!!</strong></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-21951350417779906582011-06-14T14:59:00.001-04:002011-06-14T15:17:37.619-04:00And what's next???<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I can’t believe that I already ran the ultra…I mean…I had that in my mind for the last 5 months and now it is gone…I feel empty. I worked so hard to accomplish this and now in just 11 hours it was over. It is rewarding and sad at the same time. It was even tough to move the race from the box “ what I am running next” to “ Races Completed”. I think it will take a couple of days or weeks until I get engage with my next challenge and I feel excited again with my training and the new goals.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V8-ilUREXXA/TfetG8EodCI/AAAAAAAAEdg/WXSvslmpwIE/s1600/tired-legs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V8-ilUREXXA/TfetG8EodCI/AAAAAAAAEdg/WXSvslmpwIE/s200/tired-legs.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><strong>I need to give a rest to my legs!</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #351c75;">Last night I did my first serious run after the ultra and it was really tough! My legs felt perfectly well during the week and I thought I was 100% ready to start training for Berlin but I guess I still need to recover a little more. After just running 1 mile I could feel my legs very tired and heavy. I did 6.5 miles that felt like another 50 miler!! After all it has just been 9 days since the ultra!!! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I was supposed to start with speed classes this afternoon but I have made some changes to this week schedule so my legs can fully recover. It doesn’t make sense to start a new training season with tired legs. Instead I will ride my bike tonight!! I have a Century coming soon and I haven’t started training yet so it is a win win situation…cross training and put some miles on the bike!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I have been working on my schedule for the next 4 months so I can accommodate both, running and biking. Of course running is most important for me. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I know I said I couldn’t run another ultra soon as I wanted to focus on my speed for the second half of the year so I can PR in Berlin but the bells are ringing again and I am looking for another 50 miler …..I am addicted!! Not sure whether I will do it or not yet but I have started to look at some 50 miler for the end of the year.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I am very looking forward to another training season!!! It has being just 9 days but I already feel training withdrawal!! I need to go back to the routine and my goals!! I am missing the excitement of training!! Yes I know…it has only been a week!! LOL</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Did I tell you I am going to be a mentor in Team for Kids this year? I am very excited about it!!! My first day as a mentor is tomorrow and I have been assigned to help the 4 miler group. I will be the sweeper and run in the back to make sure nobody is left behind and help the people that may struggle with the distance. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">And here we go again!! I think I have too many goals for the second half of the year…not to forget that I am also going on vacation to Europe for 2 weeks plus I have a friend visiting and we will be doing some short trips to DC and Boston….it is going to be a busy summer/fall!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">The next 6 months at a glance:</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3nf39sirYJo/Tfesmq8A0wI/AAAAAAAAEdc/VFIngsRCMTs/s1600/rotation-startseite-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3nf39sirYJo/Tfesmq8A0wI/AAAAAAAAEdc/VFIngsRCMTs/s320/rotation-startseite-1-2.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: red;">Berlin !</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">- Queens half - July</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">- North Fort Century : 100 miles bike ride - August </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">- Berlin Marathon – September</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">- Staten Island Half – October 9!!...just the day after I arrive from Europe it will be a tough one!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><span style="color: #351c75;">- NYC Marathon- Nov 7th</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">- Possible another 50 miler??? @ November 19…to be confirmed…</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><strong>You can do more things that you think you can!!</strong></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-73640972861065506082011-06-10T23:19:00.000-04:002011-06-10T23:19:58.997-04:00Things people always ask :)<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Many people ask me all the time about details so here you have those personal details you wanted to know!!!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v4CH1xpo3dA/TfLXBKV3_zI/AAAAAAAAEdY/-s2UdMQqN2g/s1600/porta-potty-runners-best-friend-sm-163x300.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v4CH1xpo3dA/TfLXBKV3_zI/AAAAAAAAEdY/-s2UdMQqN2g/s200/porta-potty-runners-best-friend-sm-163x300.png" t8="true" width="108" /></a><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br />
</span><strong><span style="color: blue;">1- Do you stop to go to the bathroom? </span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">I noticed that men stop more than women!! They need to go every five minutes!! No kidding!!! I don’t stop for this that much….just 1 time in the whole ultra!! I drank at least 10 liters of water but you also sweat a lot!! LOL</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">2- Do you ever stop? Or walk? </span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Yes, I do. Every person has a different strategy. Some walk every XX miles or minutes, others when they are tired, others on the hills. I walk on all the big hills and when I feel I am getting really tired I walk to recover but I don’t walk that much. I use it as a last resource for when I am dying, it is incredible what a 2 or 3 minutes’ walk can do for you! No, I don’t sit and in the aid stations I try to go in and out as soon as possible. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">3- What do you eat?</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Aid stations has a lot of different things you can eat and you also have the option to have a drop bag at one aid station in case you want to bring your own food. I don’t eat that much actually. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Here's what I ate before and during the race:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Pre-race:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">• 2 bananas</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">• A coffee</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">• I had 2 bites from bagel with peanut butter but it was too early and I wasn’t hungry</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Miles 1-15:</span></div><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;">• Orange (only one slice)</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">• Gatorate or similar, not sure which brand they had </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">• 2/3 sips of coke at the aid station</span></div><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;">Miles 15-35:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;">• Orange</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;">• Banana, ¼</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">• Some chips</span></div><span style="color: #0c343d;">• 2/3 sips of coke at the aid station</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;">• Gatorate or similar, not sure which brand they had </span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;">• Boiled potatoes with salt (less than one potato in total)</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0c343d;">Miles 35-50:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;">• Orange</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;">• Some chips</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0c343d;">Also I had:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;">• 1 electrolyte pill per hour</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;">• 1 power gel per hour</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;">• A lot of water!!! There were 13 aid stations and I refilled my bottle in each one !!!</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: blue;">4 - Do you eat a lot afterwards? Do you recover soon?</span></strong><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BXIe6egR0a4/TfLW9i98RfI/AAAAAAAAEdU/I6zmYfh3y7o/s1600/ice+bath.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BXIe6egR0a4/TfLW9i98RfI/AAAAAAAAEdU/I6zmYfh3y7o/s200/ice+bath.bmp" t8="true" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #0c343d;">Surprisingly, I felt pretty well after finishing. I went back to the hotel and I took and ice bath!! I always take ice bath after my long runs!! They do help! I knew I had to eat something but I wasn’t hungry. My stomach was totally messed up for so many gels. I tried to eat some chicken but it made me feel worst. I had some dessert and that seemed to work better. A peanut butter bar with almonds and caramel!!! I think I needed some sugar!! After 5 hours I started to feel like I'd been hit by a car, and all I really wanted to do was lie down under blankets. I woke up at 2:30 AM and the only thing in my mind was FOOD!!! I knew this could happen and I planned ahead since I was in a hotel room. I needed something salty and also some protein!! Salt vinegar chips and chicken salad!! Yeah!! I was feeling like a person with eating disorders!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">On Sunday I felt surprisingly good. I was sore, but no more than after a long run. I woke up at 5 AM, drove to the airport and by noon I was already back in NYC. Two hours later I was walking to Central Park to meet some friends. I spent the afternoon with them and came back home in the evening…I was walking slow but I wasn’t dying. The next morning I was a little more sore, as you know it takes 48 hours to really feel the pain!! But still it wasn’t that bad. My hip pain was bothering me a little so I iced for 3 days and decided not to run even though my legs were feeling good and ready to run just 3 days after. I haven’t yet running but just because I want to take care of my hip and be sure there is no inflammation there. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">I am planning on running tomorrow and start my Berlin training next week!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-52747507429724072702011-06-10T22:55:00.038-04:002011-06-10T23:08:57.556-04:00There's a reason it's called the Endurance Challenge!!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VgqxlmtCVe8/TfLN77BFqjI/AAAAAAAAEcw/ZatB-0QTdpU/s1600/the+start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VgqxlmtCVe8/TfLN77BFqjI/AAAAAAAAEcw/ZatB-0QTdpU/s320/the+start.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>Starting line - 5AM</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Last Saturday June 4rd with a high of 84 degrees I ran the North Face Endurance Challenge Washington DC – 50 miles in eleven hours twenty nine minutes and finished 163/239 (250 started the race). </span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">The cut off time was 13 hours but my personal goal was to do it in less than 12 hours.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">My previous 50 miler time was 10:05 but it was a much easier course and in perfect 60ish degree weather. In my limited experience, in most cases the marathon course can change your time by minutes, may be even ½ hour but in an ultra or trail race it can mean hours. It is not easy to compare your performance because of the differences in technical difficulty, elevation, etc; except you run the same race or one with very similar ratings. My previous 50 miler was on a hilly course but on the road; it was a totally different experience. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">The race runs through the Algonkian Regional Park, the Great Falls Park woods and along the cliffs of the Potomac river in Sterling, VA.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">The course has difficulty ratings as follows: 3 out of 5 stars for “elevation change,” 2 out of 5 starts for “technical terrain,” and 3 out of 5 stars for “overall difficulty.”</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br />
</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c_mUXoi0zp4/TfLOHkoUMtI/AAAAAAAAEdE/hsLgwnzjL5Y/s1600/river.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c_mUXoi0zp4/TfLOHkoUMtI/AAAAAAAAEdE/hsLgwnzjL5Y/s320/river.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>Potomac River - 3 loops in this cliff</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Overall, it consists of 50% single track, 30% dirt or gravel double track, 10% gravel carriage road and 10% paved road. The Great Falls sections are highlighted by some intense elevation changes, with steep-but-run-able climbs up to 300 feet. The River Trail covers what is widely held as the marquee section the event: up to three miles of tip-toeing and hopping along bluffs high above the Potomac River. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">This race featured 50 miles of some of the prettiest trails I’ve ran. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">The event started pretty early for the 50 miler group, it was dark and we were required to wear a headlamp for the first 2 hours. Failure to carry it could automatically disqualify you. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">While getting ready to start I looked at the other runners wondering who will be the winner. I am not that familiar with all the Ultra athletes so I couldn’t recognize any face other than Dean Karnazes who was a guest. He didn’t run but he was there all day to host the event. I noticed that many runners were his friends and also many others seemed to know each other. I felt like a baby runner in between all those ultra marathoners and I wished there were some Flyers there with me!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;"><strong>Miles 1-15: Dark and little chilly at first but soaked after just 30 minutes!!</strong></span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">When I stepped out of my hotel at 3:20 AM it wasn’t really very hot or humid; actually it was a little chilly. By 5:30, having been running for only half an hour in the dark, I was drenched in sweat. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">In previous ultras my strategy has always been to start at the end of the pack, I am always the last one and in general I start passing people in the last 20 miles. This time I wanted to try something different and I went out faster. The first section of the race was easier than the rest and that was one of the reasons why I changed my strategy. Also, I noticed there were very fit and competitive athletes doing this race and I needed to push hard if I didn’t want to be the last one! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bF4sdXJyTzQ/TfLN99kq4xI/AAAAAAAAEc0/CHSkfLa7Tgw/s1600/with+headlamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bF4sdXJyTzQ/TfLN99kq4xI/AAAAAAAAEc0/CHSkfLa7Tgw/s320/with+headlamps.jpg" t8="true" width="206" /></strong></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>Headlamps for the first 2 hours</strong></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">The first 2 hours were fairly quick, in a narrow single path with hundreds of runners that were all in line. You could see all the headlamps aligned on the path. Soon after this section the trail opened up to a wide gravel path, I was running a little faster than my marathon pace but I knew I was going to slow down in the more technical section. At this point some of the runners in the back started to pass me. I can’t lie…I didn’t like that feeling at all!! I knew this was going to </span><span style="color: #20124d;">happen but still I didn’t like it. I have to admit that I like the other strategy more as passing people is much more fun than being passed!!</span></div><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">I tried to keep my pace and didn’t let the anxiety to trick me!! it was just mile 8 and there were 42 more miles to go!! </span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">These miles were uneventful, with the exception of a blister that I </span><span style="color: #20124d;">felt developing on my right foot and 1 crash just after the 5:00 am start when I tripped on a root while trying to take a picture for this post and landed hard resulting in a bruised arm! (Lesson learned: take pictures just when you can see where you are running and in flat safe sections of the race!)</span></div><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">We ran some quiet trails along the river and every runner were just trying to get into their pace before arriving to mile 15 were the difficult part of the race was awaiting for us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Miles 16-35: 7 miles loop - Breathtaking, challenging and fun- the first time. </strong></span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9rZ50SR9P2I/TfLOCTH7ULI/AAAAAAAAEdA/59aK4aywqi4/s1600/rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9rZ50SR9P2I/TfLOCTH7ULI/AAAAAAAAEdA/59aK4aywqi4/s320/rock.jpg" t8="true" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>Some of the rocks :) and girls motivation!</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">The most difficult part of the race was a seven-mile loop that took us right along the Potomac river, where we literally had to jump from rock to rock, about five feet from the edge of a hundred-foot cliff that dropped straight down to the Potomac river. When we were not in the cliff we were running through huge rocks, hills and stairs!!! Yes, there were some wooden stairs on the way!! Anyway, the first time was fun and unexpected.</span></div><span style="color: #20124d;"></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <span style="color: #20124d;">By the second time you started to think “ a single false step could quite literally kill me” and the cute stairs became “ Oh god, the stairs are coming soon!!”. </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><span style="color: #20124d;">Some people were even too much aggressive when passing you in this section. Hello!!! Let’s try to survive first!! You can pass me after the cliff!!! </span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">The third time around was done in survival mode!! The cliff wasn’t that breathtaking anymore and you couldn’t mind not to see the waterfall never again in your life!! </span></div><span style="color: #20124d;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">The only good thing about the third loop was that we were close to be just 15 miles away and back to the shaded part of the trail!!</span></div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ch1SXAe52YA/TfLN__o9jdI/AAAAAAAAEc4/FCwbzeo9Fv8/s1600/the+cliff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ch1SXAe52YA/TfLN__o9jdI/AAAAAAAAEc4/FCwbzeo9Fv8/s320/the+cliff.jpg" t8="true" width="213" /></strong></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>The Cliff!!!</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I was feeling really good and I was now passing people that have passed me before!! PACE YOURSELF!! That is the key to run ultras. I am slow but I ran steady and I don’t do much walking on my ultras. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Many people run ultras as fast as they run marathons but I am not fast running marathons neither!! I hope to get faster as I get more experienced on runner ultras, for now I try to be realistic about my time goals and the main objective is to finish STRONG!! I couldn’t like crossing the finish line walking!! I like to finish strong and smiling. I love running ultras and I want to push myself but I also want to enjoy it. I don’t want to say “never again” after finishing!!!</span> </div></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">The terrain was difficult, rocky and with many ups and downs. At this point I started to feel pain in my ankles for all the jumping in the rocks and the down hills. Anyway, with 15 miles to go I was really having fun! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">When I run shortest races and even marathons I always feel I will be able to finish it and the biggest concern is whether I will get a personal best or not. In an ultra my biggest doubt is whether I will finish or not. I don’t want to say that this is the same for everyone but I could think so.</span><br />
<br />
</div><span style="color: #20124d;">There is a point where you know you will make it. Mine was around mile 32. There is not a logical explanation as still so many things can go wrong but you feel excited, energized and unstoppable!! This is the moment when you said out loud…” Yes, I am having a great race and I have no doubts I will finish this!!”. You don’t think that much about your time yet, this comes later.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Miles 36-50: Sometime things are not as you remember. The down-hills are now up-hills </strong></span></div><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">At the aid station in mile 35, we started our way back to the finish line. It was a nice feeling to know that there were only 15 miles ahead and that I already knew the course or at least that was what I thought. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">I remembered some nice flats and downhill trails from the morning. I guess there are so many things going on your head when you are running for so many hours that you can’t think straight!! ……now we were going uphill!!...nice!!</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9i0UryukAHM/TfLOJIKzROI/AAAAAAAAEdM/JpnGRzRPF6s/s1600/finishing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><strong><span style="color: #38761d;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9i0UryukAHM/TfLOJIKzROI/AAAAAAAAEdM/JpnGRzRPF6s/s320/finishing.jpg" t8="true" width="218" /></span></strong></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Finishing the 50 miler!!</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #20124d;">At this point I started to think about the 13 hours cut off time, my pace and how many miles per hour I was going to be able to run. GPS watches die after 5 or 6 hours so this time I decided to use my Garmin just as a watch.</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">When you have been running in 80 degrees for more than 8 hours even the most simple equation became impossible without a calculator!! I panic!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I started to think I was not going to be able to cross the finish line on time, that I was running to slow, that I didn’t have my headlamp and I was going to be in the woods at night etc….your mind can trick you!! I had plenty of time and there was no way I was going to be in the woods at night. I told another runner about this and he laughed …“ OMG, you have plenty of time!! Look how you are running at mile 35 while others are walking!!” I guess he was right, I was running, I was feeling well and I just had 15 miles to go!! </span></div><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">A little more than 2 loops in the park…come on I know I can run two loops in the park..I kept telling myself.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">By mile 37 I had no water as there were a huge gap between the 35 miles aid station and the next one at mile 42. It was a hot day to run all these miles without water. In this case 5 miles it is not 1 hour running!! And it was pretty hot!! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">I was dying for water and I had no idea how far I was from the next station. In ultras there are not miles markers on the course as in a marathon. The aid stations are your reference for the miles. I think this was the worst part of the ultra, not only for me but for other runners too. It was here where I saw many people walking for miles! Many runners that looked really “fit” were not running anymore and we were all asking each other the same question “ Do you know how far are we from next station?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">When I got to the aid station, I was the happiest person in the world!! One of the volunteers filled up my bottle with iced water!!! It was the best thing ever!! So fresh, so cool, so …water!!!! It was like a boost of energy!!! I didn’t even eat anything and just started running again …happy with my cold water…I could hear the tick tick of the ice cubes while running and felt refreshed!! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">With only eight miles to go I was decided to keep running without stopping. I was certain that I was going to finish this thing. I ran almost the entire remaining distance, stopping only two times in the aid stations at mile 5 and 1.7 for more water. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">It was at the 45 miles aid station where this couple told me that they were dying and couldn’t run anymore until they saw me passing by….they said I inspired them to run again. It is nice to inspire people and I felt good that they said that. We ran together for one mile and them I left them behind. Later I saw them finishing just 10 minutes behind me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">Mile 48.5 - The moments just before you achieve something pretty spectacular that you've been working for a long time it's surreal and indescribable. I looked at my watch and I knew that even if I had to crawl to the finish line I was going to make it before the cut off time. I started to run faster. </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-26E3KLntPmw/TfLOI7gX9fI/AAAAAAAAEdI/Bd5JSuWZGJ0/s1600/jumping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-26E3KLntPmw/TfLOI7gX9fI/AAAAAAAAEdI/Bd5JSuWZGJ0/s320/jumping.jpg" t8="true" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"><strong>I did it!!!!</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Another runner approached me. We passed each other several times during the day and he finally started to speak with me. It was an Asian man in his 50ish. He told me that he had run the race 5 times already and that he was training for his fifth 100 miler. I told him about my dream of one day be able to run a 100 miler too and he told me he was sure I will, that he saw me running very strong all day. He said “You should go for it!!” As if I need more people encouraging me to do crazy things!!! LOL</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">As we approached the final quarter mile I could hear the music and the crowd cheering. I cried. He looked at me and said…let’s go!! Keep up!! Run faster!!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">After 50 miles running in silent, there were people cheering, clapping and screaming to us. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I cried again and felt a knot in my throat. I was going to make it. I was going to catch my dream again. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">When people ask me why I like to run ultras I always wish they would feel what I fell the few seconds before crossing the finish line. I cannot find the words to describe it. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #20124d;">After 4 months of hard training I crossed the finish line and it was over. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-38754878009901075882011-06-02T19:20:00.002-04:002011-06-10T23:14:35.068-04:00Counting down the hours!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: #351c75;">I am tapering and I am nervous!!! I'd rather be running now! I have slowed down my runs the last 2 weeks and I feel heavy so heavy!!! I have been eating a lot and I haven't weight my self since Bear Mountain....I don't need to do it....I know I have gained weight but I can't dieting now!!!! Monday will we another week and I will start a new training plan...hopefully all the weight I have gained training for the ultra will go away!! I might be the only ultramarathoner that gain weight!! LOL seriously !! but I was hungry all the time!!! and I can't run a marathon every weekend eating just lettuce and tomatoes!!!! </span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I just finished packing and tomorrow morning I will be leaving to DC....50 miler is on Saturday!!!! I am flying because the ultra is 50 miles away from the city (may be I should just run from there :)), close to the Dulles Airport so it is more convenient to fly there that take the train to the city. The hotel is just 16 miles away from the airport and the race is another 6 miles away from the Hotel....I will rent a car to go around. I will arrive tomorrow at noon and first thing I will do is to drive to the start line!!! I want to make sure I won't get lost at 3:30 AM!!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">We have a very early start 5AM, bag checking closed at 4:30 and bid pick up is at 3:45AM... may be it is better just not to go to bed!!! LOL. </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I am still working on my logistics...should I go to bed very early, take an sleeping pill?? how come I will fall sleep at 6 PM??? should I have dinner very early or wake up and have dinner later, will I be hungry to have breakfast so early?? Will I find some whole wheat pasta around the hotel? Too many decision !! and I am nervous!!! what to wear!!!! It will be hot, very hot and I don't want to chafe!!! </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I bought a huge Vaseline and just hope I can take it through the airport security with all my suncream, gels and pills!!! electrolytes pills looks very suspicious!! LOL...white powder :)) my luggage doesn't look normal AT ALL!!!! I have 15 power gels, Advil, cramp pills, headlamp.....you name it and I have it!!</span></div><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I will try to squeeze all this through security......don't want to check my bag!!! imagine if I lose any of my essentials!!! NO WAY!!!</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Now I will take a hot bubble bath...relax with some candles and concentrate on the goal....I like to visualize myself crossing the finish line and thinking how I will feel...then I know I will do it!!!</span></div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ItKuDwINmfQ/TegZ5LjVXiI/AAAAAAAAEcU/1rFzxOrYNWo/s1600/DC.jpg.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ItKuDwINmfQ/TegZ5LjVXiI/AAAAAAAAEcU/1rFzxOrYNWo/s400/DC.jpg.bmp" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #351c75;">Course map...out and back with a 3 loop in a trail called "Difficult Run"...mmm...that doesn't sound good :(</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: red;">I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT....IT IS NOT HOT, IT IS NOT HUMID, I AM STRONG!!!!I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT....IT IS NOT HOT, IT IS NOT HUMID, I AM STRONG!!!!I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT....IT IS NOT HOT, IT IS NOT HUMID, I AM STRONG!!!!I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT....IT IS NOT HOT, IT IS NOT HUMID, I AM STRONG!!!!I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT....IT IS NOT HOT, IT IS NOT HUMID, I AM STRONG!!!!I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT....IT IS NOT HOT, IT IS NOT HUMID, I AM STRONG!!!!I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT....IT IS NOT HOT, IT IS NOT HUMID, I AM STRONG!!!!I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT....IT IS NOT HOT, IT IS NOT HUMID, I AM STRONG!!!!I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT....IT IS NOT HOT, IT IS NOT HUMID, I AM STRONG!!!!I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT....IT IS NOT HOT, IT IS NOT HUMID, I AM STRONG!!!!</span></strong></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-55515991416953206492011-05-25T21:14:00.001-04:002011-06-10T23:15:39.013-04:00Celebrate National Running Day with NYRR's Young Professionals Committee!<span style="color: #351c75;">NYRR's Young Professionals Committee (YPC) is a group of volunteers, of which I am a member, dedicated to New York Road Runners’ mission to transform lives through running. Specifically, the group raises funds and awareness for NYRR’s community-based youth running programs which promote physical health, emotional well-being and personal achievement in schools and community centers in New York City, across the United States and around the world.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Please join us in our next event!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">What: 3 or 5 mile Fun Run and Happy Hour at the Gin Mill</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">When: Wednesday, June 1, 2011</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Fun Run 6:30 p.m. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Happy Hour 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Where: Meet at 81st and Central Park West, just inside Central Park for the run.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Happy Hour is at the Gin Mill (442 Amsterdam Avenue)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">How: Get your ticket today! Space is limited! $20 includes fun run, appetizers, cash bar featuring drink specials, and two raffle tickets. We will run, rain or shine. Bag watch will be available.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Proceeds support NYRR's Youth Programs which impact nearly 100,000 underserved children each week. To learn more, visit www.nyrrf.org. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/176650">Buy your ticket here!!!</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-11025643573120133632011-05-18T21:09:00.001-04:002011-06-10T23:16:17.623-04:00Sneak peek of my next race course!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>Washington DC....ME.....50 Miles..... and this wonderful scenario!!! </strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong></strong></span> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>The Trail goes through Algonkian Regional Park, Great Falls Park and the Potomac Heritage Trail. The course keeps runners on their toes with ever-changing terrain. Overall, it consists of 50% singletrack, 30% dirt or gravel doubletrack, 10% gravel carriage road and 10% paved road.</strong></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RzlJeZXXXbc/TdRk4BPqgSI/AAAAAAAAEbg/h4hi7UHzPuw/s1600/dc_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RzlJeZXXXbc/TdRk4BPqgSI/AAAAAAAAEbg/h4hi7UHzPuw/s320/dc_05.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vdfe-wZyxVQ/TdRlCmOoa8I/AAAAAAAAEbo/7zbDX5lUg44/s1600/dc_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vdfe-wZyxVQ/TdRlCmOoa8I/AAAAAAAAEbo/7zbDX5lUg44/s320/dc_13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>The Great Falls sections are highlighted by some intense elevation changes, with steep-but-run-able climbs up to 300 feet. The River Trail covers what is widely held as the marquee section the event: up to three miles of tip-toeing and hopping along bluffs high above the Potomac River. The tedious-but-scenic time it takes to cover this section is more than offset by cruising sections of undulating trail in the river basin.</strong></span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1zmwX_tbeeg/TdRk1ssaqzI/AAAAAAAAEbY/N0T22LXxmgo/s1600/dc_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1zmwX_tbeeg/TdRk1ssaqzI/AAAAAAAAEbY/N0T22LXxmgo/s320/dc_04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o8jUPbhG3gE/TdRk3TztkJI/AAAAAAAAEbc/rfZu2_MWiow/s1600/dc_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o8jUPbhG3gE/TdRk3TztkJI/AAAAAAAAEbc/rfZu2_MWiow/s320/dc_10.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-21_fdg9G4zg/TdRk5tbURoI/AAAAAAAAEbk/ti7jg6V7T5Y/s1600/dc_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-21_fdg9G4zg/TdRk5tbURoI/AAAAAAAAEbk/ti7jg6V7T5Y/s320/dc_11.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DQHnKEiEBdI/TdRszHWGjMI/AAAAAAAAEbs/LVDm9EuOkcs/s1600/DC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DQHnKEiEBdI/TdRszHWGjMI/AAAAAAAAEbs/LVDm9EuOkcs/s320/DC.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Elevation Chart</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-49029584839794884692011-05-18T12:54:00.001-04:002011-05-18T14:28:55.211-04:00North Face Endurance Challenge 50K - Personal report<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I cannot hide my "love" for ultras and for trails so trail ultras and me are just mean to be together!! I have been a runner for almost 3 years but before that I used to be a hiker. Unfortunately between work and running, I haven't had much time to ralso keep hiking, weekends are just not long enough for both hobbies but I think that now with trail running I can just do the two together!! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span></div> <br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w_X1vnf2-MM/TdF2eZZfkLI/AAAAAAAAEa4/zxneuVq2BUg/s1600/north+face+endurance+challenge+50K+5.7.11+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w_X1vnf2-MM/TdF2eZZfkLI/AAAAAAAAEa4/zxneuVq2BUg/s320/north+face+endurance+challenge+50K+5.7.11+001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75;">We ran up that mountain!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">It was a very early start, a friend picked me up at 4:45 AM ( yeah...that early!! which means I woke up at 3:30AM to get ready!!!) and we drove to Bear Mountain. The race started at 7AM but the parking lot was not in the starting line so we needed to arrive on time to take one of the school buses from the parking lot to the place where the race started. It was a cloudy morning and it was expected to rain but fortunately for us they weather forecast was again wrong and the day ended up being sunny and nice. For me it was a perfect running day. We were running on the woods so even though you could see the sun it wasn't really warm and I didn't get any sunburn this time!! </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">In general I am not nervous about the races, I guess I have a lot of condidence but jsut 5 minutes before starting I always feel these butterflies in my stomach...and this time wasn't different. I wondered What was I doing there and repeating to myself "you are going to start this and you won't be done for at least 9 hours, do you understand ?? are you sure you want to do this? To calm myself down I kept thinking that it was a short ultra, 50K....you have already run 50 miles ...you can do this!!! </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mmQzegwMnbU/TdF2OKaNs6I/AAAAAAAAEaw/u_dEKaJHIZc/s1600/north+face+endurance+challenge+50K+5.7.11+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mmQzegwMnbU/TdF2OKaNs6I/AAAAAAAAEaw/u_dEKaJHIZc/s320/north+face+endurance+challenge+50K+5.7.11+026.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Soon after arriving we met some friends and we all started running together in the back. And when I say in the back...it was really the back!! we were the last ones...once again as in my previous ultra my strategy was to start slow and pick up the pace in the second half. </span></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">By the time we arrived to the first aid station we were not the last one anymore. I didn't feel great during the first half of the race so I decided to slow down my pace for some miles. I was now behind my friends. </span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I just ran my own pace and started to focus trying to recover my energy. In the next aid station I met them again. At this point I was felling energy less so I ate some chicken soup!!! I have never eaten soup in a race before but I thought the salt and something warm could help me...and wow it did!! not sure what that soup had but I started running a completely different race!!</span></div><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I was feeling so good!! After that everyhting was different. I was feeling really well and focus in my goal (yes I had a very specific and competitive goal!! I always do!! I need a motivation...but sorry can't share it!!). </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmwJi-hnd6Y/TdF2bg4wk4I/AAAAAAAAEa0/D-exJ-rXlHw/s1600/north+face+endurance+challenge+50K+5.7.11+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmwJi-hnd6Y/TdF2bg4wk4I/AAAAAAAAEa0/D-exJ-rXlHw/s320/north+face+endurance+challenge+50K+5.7.11+023.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75;">My stops in the following aid stations were very brief, I just didn't want to lose the moment !! Some people stop a lot in the aid stations and also to take many pictures but I don't....I am in and out as soon as possible. This might be an ultra and we might run slow but for me it is still a race and I still care about time so aid stations are just to refill my water, grab some food and keep going as soon as possible!! Also if I stop for a long time then it is tough to start running again.</span></div><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I remember the last 2 aid stations because the people there were particularly friendly and they all told me how good and strong I was looking (we all say this when volunteering right? LOL). The truth is that I was feeling really strong!!! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The last couple of miles were pretty runable and I was really excited and happy about the race so I ran it as fast I could considering the rocks and mud :). </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I finished felling strong and when I asked myself " Do you think you can keep running??" the answer was YES!!! and that was the moment when I finally felt that I am ready for the next big challenge!!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SEuLUvx9ZTE/TdPT518lg1I/AAAAAAAAEbQ/AAlVIWaIK40/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SEuLUvx9ZTE/TdPT518lg1I/AAAAAAAAEbQ/AAlVIWaIK40/s640/3.JPG" width="596" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Some pictures!!</strong></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--j5_09wkIqA/TdF0XZoivNI/AAAAAAAAEac/lAPOtMuyKMw/s1600/4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--j5_09wkIqA/TdF0XZoivNI/AAAAAAAAEac/lAPOtMuyKMw/s320/4.bmp" width="211" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w8ovO4IHzNI/TdF2Ks6LsTI/AAAAAAAAEas/1aw8CeBE_so/s1600/north+face+endurance+challenge+50K+5.7.11+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w8ovO4IHzNI/TdF2Ks6LsTI/AAAAAAAAEas/1aw8CeBE_so/s320/north+face+endurance+challenge+50K+5.7.11+025.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V4HX1AUS5g4/TdF2CSpqHOI/AAAAAAAAEak/R5vtIpvtOEo/s1600/229247_2038231038785_1334531019_2353367_102487_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V4HX1AUS5g4/TdF2CSpqHOI/AAAAAAAAEak/R5vtIpvtOEo/s320/229247_2038231038785_1334531019_2353367_102487_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John and Matt, they ran the Marathon relay</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lozN8zAJfrs/TdF0BrZvUgI/AAAAAAAAEaU/hKm3ntUDCkQ/s1600/6.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lozN8zAJfrs/TdF0BrZvUgI/AAAAAAAAEaU/hKm3ntUDCkQ/s320/6.bmp" width="206" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFbKs7KMd7s/TdF0aQ47fGI/AAAAAAAAEag/aT7U_FCiJ2s/s1600/2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFbKs7KMd7s/TdF0aQ47fGI/AAAAAAAAEag/aT7U_FCiJ2s/s320/2.bmp" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tPLtGmLAwsM/TdF2E59pkGI/AAAAAAAAEao/d-gzY8yZcS4/s1600/240326_2038031113625_1329676478_32386703_1716156_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tPLtGmLAwsM/TdF2E59pkGI/AAAAAAAAEao/d-gzY8yZcS4/s320/240326_2038031113625_1329676478_32386703_1716156_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Courtney and me, we ran a huge part of the race together</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-qdKdhnjpo/TdPT29xjIOI/AAAAAAAAEbM/Vczc5ImqU6o/s1600/7.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-qdKdhnjpo/TdPT29xjIOI/AAAAAAAAEbM/Vczc5ImqU6o/s320/7.bmp" width="298" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Are you ready for your next challenge??</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;"><strong> I AM!!! </strong></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-65122665953563818832011-05-11T23:42:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:36:39.124-04:00North Face Endurance Challenge 50K, race report and tips for beginner trail runners<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CMOZHLBGfkI/TctWjUYi7VI/AAAAAAAAEZE/Dnh3QIUkZgg/s1600/230409_2038031113625_1329676478_32386703_1716156_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CMOZHLBGfkI/TctWjUYi7VI/AAAAAAAAEZE/Dnh3QIUkZgg/s320/230409_2038031113625_1329676478_32386703_1716156_n.jpg" width="176" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #741b47;">This is a draft report I am writing for the New York Flyers' Blog (my running club). I will write a more detailed report about my race soon!!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">The North Face Endurance Challenge offers a unique running experience that allows people to push and exceed their personal limits on the trail. These events are held in different regions across the country and last weekend it was the turn for the Northeast. For the past five years, the chosen place was Bear Mountain, NY.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></div><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">The event follows a two-day format featuring a 50 miller, 50K, Marathon and Marathon Relay on Saturday, and a 5K, 10K and Half Marathon distance on Sunday. </span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">The North Face Endurance Challenge at Bear Mountain is the perfect event for the trail runner who is looking for a supreme challenge. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-trQwxu3wSws/TctXD18K1JI/AAAAAAAAEZY/jkJxBD8txJE/s1600/7.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-trQwxu3wSws/TctXD18K1JI/AAAAAAAAEZY/jkJxBD8txJE/s320/7.bmp" width="212" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">It is described in their website as “a serious, hardy test for trail runners of any level”. The course consists of “technical terrain and rocky footing, with some trails heading steeply uphill rather than zigzagging at a gentler grade.” </span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">The course has difficulty ratings as follows: 4 out of 5 stars for “elevation change”, 5 out of 5 starts for “technical terrain”, and 5 out of 5 stars for “overall difficulty”. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Several Flyers participated in the different events, special shout out to Scott M. for running the 50 miler in this difficult course. Jessica R. had a great race winning her age group in the half marathon and Nora S. ran the 10K also in an amazing time for this course.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Running the 50K were Ray S. who was unstoppable and PRed in the course, Noel C. who had an amazing performance, Siggy T. running his first ultra-marathon after not even tapering for a day and me running my first trail ultra-marathon as a training run for my next ultra. I will be heading to Washington DC, on June 4th to run the North Face Endurance Challenge 50 miler.</span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mW41wbJeI_c/TctWhUabzvI/AAAAAAAAEZA/z0ftiUIsNq8/s320/1.bmp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="214" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>Crossing the finish line</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Firstly, I must give credit to the organizers as they did a fantastic job. The level of organization is comparable to what you might find at a major city marathon. The registration was online and easy, all the races were caped but the ultras and marathon races did not fill out while the shortest distances were sold out pretty quickly, just something to take in consideration if you plan to attend in the future. </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><span style="color: #351c75;">The entrance fee is also very reasonable and you recover the full price in goodies!! You get a technical t-shirt, arm warmers and a nice bottle. The fee also includes a beer and hot food (with a gigantic brownie!) at the finish line festival. </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">On site, every single detail was taken care of. The shuttles bus from the parking lot to where the race started, heaters all around the waiting area, plenty of porta potties, water, bag dropping, cool music, plenty of chairs and tables to sit and rest, coffee, etc. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #351c75;">Course Description </span></strong><br />
<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Running in the woods is lovely; you can feel connected with the nature and find peace. It is a great way to free your mind and spirit. Not to forget that getting dirty is so fun and makes you look much more hardcore than you really are!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">“Endurance challenge” is by sure the term that best describes the North Face events. Looking at the winners’ time you know they didn’t walk that much and that they ran really fast even in the very rocky parts but for most of us it is a combination of hiking, running and mental challenge! It is not easy to keep you motivated to run for 8 ,10 or more hours in an ocean of rocks!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kgOORUt5ET4/TctW_g1cjMI/AAAAAAAAEZU/txQHXYo5zCQ/s320/5.bmp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="212" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>@Mile 30</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><span style="color: #351c75;">A lot of time was spent walking up and down steep rocky slopes and climbing cliff faces that required both hands but we also ran every single yard that was runnable to make up for the time lost climbing. We jumped streams from rock to rock and we ran in old wooden bridges. We ran with friends but also many miles where we had to run alone in the woods.</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">There are many hills and climbs and as we all know, after a huge hill there is a huge downhill and of course in Bear Mountain there are rocks too!! Running a downhill in a mountain it is not the same than running on a road, sprinting could be very dangerous more when the leaves cover the ground and you are not sure whether there are rocks or roots underneath. </span></div><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Just passing the marathon mark there was the rockiest part of the course, The Timp Pass Road. This section is not only the rockiest part but it is also a long gradual climb. A combination of huge and small rocks that forms a long wall of concrete where you need to watch out for your ankles!! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">At this point the first thing you think is “Do they really expect me to run here?” Well, I have to say that I did. I ran it all the way up, slowly of course but I did it and believe it or not some runners from the 50 miler passed me running at a considerable high speed. Sometimes I just need to stop and watch them doing their job! It is amazing how fast they can run in such uneven terrain. I guess it takes years of experience to do that.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Soon after the Timp Pass and when you think that nothing worst can be ahead…there it was…a very long steep single track uphill. It was so long that you couldn’t even see the end of it! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">The last aid station is just 2.8 miles away from the finish line and the course here is a combination of two climbs and two down hills, if you still have some energy this is a good moment to go for it because the terrain is less rocky here and you can run the whole section without walking or climbing. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7vgS2X10hzw/TctflCiUpMI/AAAAAAAAEZ8/jrgSv9eHYHM/s1600/north+face+endurance+challenge+50K+5.7.11+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7vgS2X10hzw/TctflCiUpMI/AAAAAAAAEZ8/jrgSv9eHYHM/s320/north+face+endurance+challenge+50K+5.7.11+026.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="color: #351c75;"><u></u></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><u>Racing Tips for Beginners</u> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">•Start slow!! And if you think you are going slow…then go slower!!! This course is tough and will catch up with you. Take it easy in the beginning and pace yourself. If after half-way you are feeling good, then is the time to push it. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">•Walk the hills and when you feel you are hitting a wall. Let your body recover and you will come back stronger. It is amazing what just 3 minutes of walking can do in an ultra. Don’t feel ashamed -- some of the best ultra runners in the world sometimes walk; it is part of the experience.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">•When to walk? If you see that everyone else is walking a hill, that is a good signal that you also should walk it. Some people walk all the hills, and others use a walking/running combination by miles or minutes (i.e. run 20 minutes, walk 2 minutes). It is important to practice trail running before your race, including to find out which approach works best for you.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">•Watch out for slippery roots and rocks. When you are running trails, you need to pay close attention to where you step. Continuously scan the ground a few yards ahead of you while you’re running. If it looks dangerous, just slow down or walk. It is better to lose a couple of minutes than to sprain your ankle and need to stop.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #351c75;">Course Markings</span></strong></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">When trail running, you don’t have miler marks every mile, you don’t have watches along the course and sometimes you don’t even have a real path to follow. Most likely, your watch will die after 8 hours, and you cannot just trust to follow other runners because sometimes there aren’t other runners around. These factors make the course markings essential. </span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wYOwpsjfzno/TctWfLL9q5I/AAAAAAAAEY8/QF-NwIy8EHo/s1600/226316_2038020713365_1329676478_32386679_235900_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wYOwpsjfzno/TctWfLL9q5I/AAAAAAAAEY8/QF-NwIy8EHo/s320/226316_2038020713365_1329676478_32386679_235900_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75;">During the race, there were colored ribbons placed every 30-50 ft along the entire 50K course. Each distance had it owns color and courses were sometimes shared with the 50 milers and marathons. It is important to know which color you have to follow. At intersections huge signs in the ground pointed the way. Some ribbons were placed way up high in a tree so they were at times difficult to see but not a major issue. I don’t think anyone could have gotten lost here. It happens that sometimes you are too focused on your running or you are looking at the ground to avoid rocks and roots and you can miss a signal but it was really very easy to go back and figure out the right route. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><u>Tip for beginners: </u></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: #351c75;">•Think ahead. You will find yourself running alone, sometimes for many miles, so always consider the distance and try to visualize the next 2 or even 3 marks ahead. This way you always can be sure you know where you are heading in advance.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">•When in doubt, go back a marker. In major events, markers are placed very close to each other, so if you are running for more than 1 minute without seeing one then you should go back to the point where you saw the last one. You don’t want to run extra miles!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #351c75;">Aid stations</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWs17EWzoNA/TcthjAPkU7I/AAAAAAAAEaA/wo_f-W0cSt4/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWs17EWzoNA/TcthjAPkU7I/AAAAAAAAEaA/wo_f-W0cSt4/s320/12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">In road races we are used to have aid stations each mile or so but in trail and ultra running the aid stations are far from each other. Most of the times they are every 5 or 6 miles but it can be even farther. During the 50K there was one section where we didn’t have any station for 7 miles which in a warm day and considering the slow pace it can be a very long time to be running without water.</span></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">The aid stations were amazing, from the food to the nice volunteers that were trying to help you and cheer you on all the time. </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I carried 1 bottle with water on my hand because it is easy to refill and also like to splash water on my head on warm days. I personally don’t find the hydration backpack comfortable. The stations had everything you could need, chicken soup, potatoes, bananas, oranges, chips, brownies, water, sodas, Gatorade, GU, etc. They also had a complete first aid kit and many volunteers ready to help you. </span></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><u>Tip for beginners: </u></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3evOxNVyUUw/TctWc4mC0TI/AAAAAAAAEY4/A-9q411Eg5M/s1600/3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3evOxNVyUUw/TctWc4mC0TI/AAAAAAAAEY4/A-9q411Eg5M/s320/3.bmp" width="209" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75;">•Know</span><span style="color: #351c75;"> the distance. Be sure to know how far away the next aid station is so that you can ration your fluids and food. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></div><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">•Think small. Break the ultra into small races and just think about getting to the next station. This is a good technique to keep you motivated and focused.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">•Try to eat food as part of your long runs. Don’t eat for first time on race day. You need to know what your body can handle and what works best for you. I combine food and gels as energy sources, so I ate something at the aid stations and then I'd complement the food by having a gel while running to the next one.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">This is a tough course and I am proud to say that all the Flyers did a great job!! Congratulations to everyone!!</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><strong>Are you going to take the challenge next year? I know I will!!</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-59867618146955621012011-05-05T16:55:00.002-04:002011-05-05T17:07:37.137-04:00What is it healty??<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0f_ZOfcxsEw/TcMOaLAi2II/AAAAAAAAEYg/WRCOPjoQKA0/s1600/Eat-Run-and-Live-Healthy_theytustitlemain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0f_ZOfcxsEw/TcMOaLAi2II/AAAAAAAAEYg/WRCOPjoQKA0/s200/Eat-Run-and-Live-Healthy_theytustitlemain.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #351c75;">As the day of the Bear Mountain ultra approaches I am hearing more and more questions/comments from people about how crazy it is to run this much. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I am starting to be annoyed about this because people speak without knowing what they are saying and or looking at their own life before judging me and my hobby. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I was wondering the other day how come I have to listen people telling me that running a marathon/ultra is not healthy when they do not exercises at all?? or when they eat junk food every day or they are overweight? The other day this person in the office was having a regular coke and chips for breakfast (she is also overweight) and she told me that it is not good for my body to run this much. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I am not slender but I try to eat healthy, maybe I eat more that I burn :) but I watch the quality of my food and I consider myself relatively fit. Is it more healthy to be overweight or have blood pressure, or not exercise than running a marathon??? </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I agree that many people go too far, as keep running while injured or getting many shots to keep running etc, this is not healthy neither!!! but it is not my case and not the case of most of the runners I know. We are all very conscious about these things.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Why is it ok for them to tell me " you are crazy, you are going to hurt your knees, it is not good to run that much" but I am sure I could be judge in a very bad way if I tell them that it is not healthy to eat or weight that much ?? </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #351c75;">Do people realize that these comments bother us (runners) as much as it can bother them if we comment about their non-healthy behaviors?.... just saying</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-54695398369949793172011-05-01T23:11:00.002-04:002011-05-01T23:12:32.513-04:00The Easter Marathon long training run<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HAkGgEV1nOA/Tb4Z2lRgY7I/AAAAAAAAEYY/0qee_1bxSyc/s1600/218076_10150148165836901_584926900_7044672_841207_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HAkGgEV1nOA/Tb4Z2lRgY7I/AAAAAAAAEYY/0qee_1bxSyc/s200/218076_10150148165836901_584926900_7044672_841207_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #741b47;">Last weekend I ran the Easter Marathon in Van Cortland Park. If you have run there you know how hilly it is!! The marathon was organized by "The Holiday Marathons " , a group that wanted to promote healthier habits on holidays and started these races. They wanted to bring together the local running community and promote exercise, nature and healthier habits instead of BBQ on holidays. They don't charge you a fee, rather the races are on a donation based system. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">You can run a 10K, a half marathon, a marathon...or what ever you want!! There are not "chips" instead you track your own time and when you finish you write it down in a book :) ...but please don't cheat!!</span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #741b47;">This was my last long run before Bear Mountain and a major test for my "trail" skills since I don't get to run in trails as much as I should. </span></div><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">The race gave me the opportunity to practice the feeling of an ultra...there were only 1 aid station every 6 miles which means that you need to carry your own water and also food. They were offering bananas and other food but not gatorate so you needed to carry it too. Quantities were also limited and I only got to get 1 banana at the end of the 2nd loop :( everything else was gone when I finished the 3er loop.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">1st Loop: I forgot to mention that Scott Jurek was running :) so I had this little dilemma...Start slow as I always plan or....STALK Scott and try to run beside him....:) I was a lucky girl and he started slow two...so I didn't need to stalk him....5 minutes after we started he was running just beside me ...seriously!! I didn't stalk him!! I was really focus on my run so I didn't even speak to him....everyone was asking questions/tips and I just listened. I was a very good girl!!!. </span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Half the way in the loop I started running with Coach Sid ( if you don't know Sid...well you are not a runner!! I will "give you Sid" soon). We ran together the rest of the loop and he was all the time making sure I was doing ok!! First loop done and I feel good but it is getting a little hot!!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5L3NIaCzhPk/Tb4ZwOi35qI/AAAAAAAAEYU/qzF6QU0HPZY/s1600/222901_10150148164981901_584926900_7044657_6855159_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5L3NIaCzhPk/Tb4ZwOi35qI/AAAAAAAAEYU/qzF6QU0HPZY/s200/222901_10150148164981901_584926900_7044657_6855159_n.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #741b47;">2nd Loop: the disadvantage of running loops is that you know what it is coming and you can feel a little discouraged about it...paradoxically this is also the advantage!! Once you know the hills you know when to push and when to keep your energy! I ran the 2nd Loop mainly alone but I could see other 4 guys that were running a very similar pace to me and we were passing each other all the time. There were still many people in the loop as many were doing the half (2 loops). Scott was doing the half but he stopped for pictures after the first loop so now he was behind me....not for long though.....I have to admit that it is a pleasure to see him running...he knows what he is doing and the way he runs the uphills and downhills is just fantastic!! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">I was running in a very technical downhill (see picture) when he passed me so fast and in such a gorgeous way that I needed to stop just to watch him going all the way down....wow..."that is how you do it!!" </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">By the end of the 2nd loop I was still feeling strong and without wasting a minute I just refilled my water and kept running...missing all the fun with Scott again :( he was shirtless and taking pictures with everyone !! but I had work to do so I didn't stop!!!!! I kept running. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">3er Loop: I was running with this guys who was also training for Bear Mountain and we were running a very similar pace....pacing each other time to time and running together others. Anyway, I was decided to beat him :)....yeap when you are running distance and you are alone in the middle of nowhere...you need every motivation you can find!! and mine was to beat this guy! LOL </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">I was feeling tired and knew the hills and the heat were taking a lot of my energy. My bottle was empty half way in the loop and I knew there was no more water for the next 3 miles....:( It was a good practice tough .....I took some electrolytes, chewed a newton and kept running but now I started to do some walking breaks in the uphills. It even sounds as a "sin" ...yes I did "walk"!! I still feel weird about the fact of walking during ultras but it is part of the game and you also need to practice it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">For most runners walking could be considered as a "weakness" but in some cases, like it or not, it is necessary. I don't really like the idea but I am not in the level where I can run a complete ultra without walking, nevertheless I try to keep my walking to the minimum. I have to admit that it is a powerful recovery technique for me...with just a couple of minutes walking I can revert a serious fatigue. It does work. I finished the 3er loop behind the guy, but one loop is not the battle!!! There were very few people left after the 3rd loop and there were not more food :(</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">4th Loop: I was tired and it was ridiculous hot for a day that was supposed to rain :( . Some people decided not to keep running and for a moment I wondered myself whether I should stop too but I decided to keep running because I knew that I needed to feel confident for the race...If I hadn't finish it I could be now wondering whether I am able to run next weekend or no. It is all part of the game....we were not expected that weather as you don't know what it is going to happen on race day so ...you need to keep going!! Also I was tired because that was my 4 consecutive weekend running 20+ miles and my legs were really tired...again, this is what a training for an ultramarathon is about "learning how to keep running on tired legs!!!" This loop was very challenging in many ways...not only I was tired but there were only a few people running so you were practically running alone, they started to take out the marks so in the middle of the loop I found no marks of the trail and needed to use my memory and orientation to get to the finish line...I even stopped a couple of time because I wasn't sure about the next turn....good practice though!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">After 2 miles in the loop I passed my "friend" the guy I was competing against LOL...and I never saw him again until the finish line ( he finished 10 minutes after me)!! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">I am getting smartest about keeping my energy and during the last loop I ran much faster than the 2nd and 3rd loop I passed some people and I didn't walk that much in the hills. </span><span style="color: #741b47;">The mission was accomplished and I felt good and strong at the end. </span><span style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">Last week my legs were really tired and my runs were slow, I even kept one day of running and I bike instead. I am sure I will recover for the race. I know my body and I just need a couple of days and good food to be ok again. Furthermore, I went biking today and I can now feel my legs are pretty loose. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">This week I will take it easy and do just 2 easy more runs and will try not to do any other activity!! I need my energy for Saturday!!! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">The challenge is getting mentally prepared because as I always say...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;"><strong>YOU FIRST NEED TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE WITH YOUR MIND THEN YOUR BODY WILL FOLLOW!!!! </strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><strong>I CAN DO IT!! I WILL DO IT!!!!</strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233689946940150628.post-22728086938944230192011-04-27T00:38:00.003-04:002011-04-27T01:04:01.109-04:00I give you: Scott Jurek<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PPS2CJ55KSw/TbeZxNfYLyI/AAAAAAAAEYM/fzYWj7_UF8s/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PPS2CJ55KSw/TbeZxNfYLyI/AAAAAAAAEYM/fzYWj7_UF8s/s200/untitled.bmp" width="160" /></a><span style="color: #351c75;">Running might be one of the few, if not the only sport where you can compete, be coached and ask for advice to the best ones in the sport!! If you were a tennis player, could you be playing with Federer or Nadal? could they be coaching you ?? could you even have the opportunity to take a picture with them? Runners get to do all this and more with the elite runners and we love it!! We feel inspired! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #351c75;">I have been posting on my facebook and speaking about Scott Jurek a lot! I know...I am kinda obsessed :)</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I met Scott last year even before knowing I was going to run an ultra and without really knowing who he were. I am not easy to amaze but I am sure you will understand why I admire him after reading this post. Actually I have this fascination with him that I can't even explain :) </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Scott is not only a fantastic runner, he is also very approachable and kind with other runners. During Saturday and Sunday he was "stalked" by hundred of runners, including me :) , asking for pictures, advice, etc and he was always available and with a huge smile in his face. His accomplishments are huge, nevertheless he seems to be a very down to earth person. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #351c75;">On Saturday he spoke at the Running Show where he found out about the Easter Marathon and decided to go!! no, they didn't pay him to do it, he didn't win any award, his sponsors didn't ask him to attend...he did it because he thought it was fun! </span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pecnF0MeLCs/TbeaaFjPz0I/AAAAAAAAEYQ/5H9_36blV9s/s1600/224364_1996352029580_1266864713_32431671_5983586_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="200" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pecnF0MeLCs/TbeaaFjPz0I/AAAAAAAAEYQ/5H9_36blV9s/s200/224364_1996352029580_1266864713_32431671_5983586_n.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75;">Here a little about him:</span></div><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Scott focuses primarily on trail runs, including some of the most difficult courses on earth. He has won the Badwater Ultramarathon twice!! Bad Water is considered one of the world's most difficult races, with averages temperatures of 120 °F (49 °C). On the conference on Saturday he said that he dealt with the heat by periodically stopping to lay down in a cooler full of ice!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Do you think that running 35/40 miles week for a marathon training is tough?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Scott follows an intense training regimen, running a minimum of 140 miles a week while training and frequently eating 5,000 to 8,000 </span><span style="color: #351c75;">calories</span><span style="color: #351c75;"> a day!! and he is a vegan!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Not impressed yet?? Take a look to some of his accomplishments: </span><br />
<ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lONsynt6kZo/TbeXWIq9lnI/AAAAAAAAEXs/9zlUcXcEK-o/s1600/DSC05839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lONsynt6kZo/TbeXWIq9lnI/AAAAAAAAEXs/9zlUcXcEK-o/s320/DSC05839.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75;">Won the Spartathlon 152-mile (245 km) race from Athens to Sparta, Greece three consecutive times (2006-07-08).</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Won the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run, and held the record time for one year until Kyle Skaggs set a new record in 2008.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Won the Western States Endurance Run seven consecutive times (1999–2005), and held the record time (15:36:27 in 2004) until 2010</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Won the Badwater Ultramarathon twice (2005, 2006), and held the course record for two years (2005).</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Finished first three times (2002–2004) and second three times (2001, 2005, 2006) in the Miwok 100K Trail Race.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Won the Leona Divide 50 Mile Run four times (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004).</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Won the Diez Vista 50K Trail Run twice (2000, 2003).</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Won the Montrail Ultra Cup series twice (2002, 2003).</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">2010 - United States record for 24 hour distance on all surfaces (165.7 Miles) </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Ran with Claudia 2 consecutive years!! ...oh wait...this goes to my accomplishments list ;-)</span></li>
</ul><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">are you impressed now?</span></div><span style="color: #351c75;"></span> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I think I haven't mentioned that he used to "hate" running and veggies!! so he always says " never say, never"!! He said he is not a "fast" runner and he will never win a marathon but he is able to run a trail 100 miles at 9:20 pace!! This is my kind of guy!!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">If you want to read more about him, this is his website: </span><a href="http://www.scottjurek.com/"><span style="color: #351c75;">http://www.scottjurek.com</span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I forgot to mention that he is also very CUTE!!!! :)</span></div><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">ps. I will have another post with tips and advice from his conference on Saturday that not only applies to ultramarathoners but to any runner!! really very helpful advice...coming soon!!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0