A Positive Outlook

Today’s Workout: 8 Miles

Recently, I’ve been really anxious. Work has been crazy – which is usually great, but when I'm feeling stressed, it's mostly terrible. I’ve been dreaming about work almost every single night for the past two weeks. I dream I forgot to prepare for a meeting or think I put in a phone call to work in the middle of the night when I really didn’t… so my sleep to worry ratio has been causing havoc.

While work is generally great and I'm really happy there, yesterday I had one of those unavoidable “bad days.”

I woke up cranky, and couldn’t seem to shake it all day. By the time I finally left work, I was really angry at the world. I wanted to just collapse on my couch and catch up on my DVR, but I had to run 5 miles first. Ugh. Sometimes life is so hard.

But as I was riding the subway home, I realized I shouldn’t be angry with the world at all. I should be celebrating all of the great things in my life. And that’s exactly what I spent my run last night doing.

I left my iPod at home in an effort to clear my mind of work stress, and focus on the positive. Here is what my head came up with:

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Things I’m Thankful For

-My family (They give me so much support and love)

-Keith (He knows how to make me giggle when I’m really cranky and mad)

-Bad days and good days (you can’t have one without the other)

-The Williamsburg Bridge (nothing tests the shape I’m in like that behemoth)

-Autumn (I decided that October is my favorite month. Bring on Halloween and watching Hocus Pocus as much as ABC family allows me to)

-Wine (enough said)



At a winery with Keith!
Wine makes everything O.K. in my book



-Living in New York (this is a cynical one… living anywhere else will seem easy after surviving this city)

-Cold weather running gear (I wore one of my running jackets for the first time since spring last night!!)

-Nail polish (I’m sporting my fave black polish right now. That’s probably all I can share on this point)

-Running

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When I was thinking about why I’m thankful for running, I mentally patted myself on the back for last weekend’s long run.

I ran 15 miles on Saturday – my longest run of 2012!

I decided to run into Manhattan and do a loop of Central Park, since I’ll be running a half-marathon there this weekend. I ran a 10k there in May, and it kicked my butt. So mentally, I wanted to run the course so I would feel confident for the half.

I do 95% of my runs alone, and while my routes in Brooklyn encounter the occasional runner or biker, it’s pretty solitary. Running the outer loop of Central Park sent a shock to my system – so many runners! So many children! So many weirdos! I passed a guy who was running while juggling three baseballs. Awesome.



Proof I ran to Central Park and back.



As I mentioned a few weeks back, I’ve been trying to run the first half of my long runs without music so I’ll get that extra boost when my legs get tired. I had so much visual stimulation in Central Park that I didn’t need my music at all. I still felt really good while running back over the Queensboro Bridge, and realized that I could probably do the whole thing without music. And I did!

15 Beautiful Miles.

I also realized that I only have three long runs left before my taper. It’s exciting but also terrifying, because I fit in more long runs during last year's training. I keep reminding myself that I had a great base going into training, but I’m worried that I’m lacking the long run experience I should have at this point. I guess I will just have to make the most of these last few weeks of peak training, and hope for the best.

The next post will likely be a race report for the half I’m running this weekend - I’m definitely not looking to PR, but I’m hoping use it as sort of a “test run” for the marathon. I’m pumped to get out there and race!!!

Body and Mind

Last week, I went to an AWESOME event that really made me appreciate running.

In conjunction with National Running Day, Scott Jurek, one of the world’s best ultramarathoners, launched his book Eat and Run (buy it. It's really good). The event promised book reads by Scott himself, and the chance to talk with Chris McDougall (author of Born to Run...also buy this. It's also really good) and Peter Sarsgaard. I just had to check it out.

I went with one of my previous bosses, Kali, who is also a big runner. Neither one of us could make it to the “fun run” that started before the event, so we got pad thai and wine instead. We were really going for the gold medal of health for the night.

The event kicked off with Scott reading aloud an excerpt from the book, followed by a Q&A session that was led by Chris McDougall. Chris ended up being absolutely hysterical – full of quick-witted punch lines and interesting questions, it’s no wonder his book has done so well. Scott was honest and open about his often-criticized vegan diet, and how he manages to run 100 miles at a time… through places like the Mojave Desert.

Hey Scott!

Peter Sarsgaard was disappointingly douchey (sorry Mom and Dad for the vulgar term… there’s no way around it). He sat back the entire time looking bored and tired, and when he did actually talk, he was incredibly pompous in a crowd of modest runners. He lost me when he started going on and on about how he recently ran through the streets of Mumbai. Congrats. You are so awesome.



Lame.



At the end of the event, I grabbed my copy of the book, and used my Wyman genes to edge to the front of the line where Chris and Scott were signing the book. Scott was just as sweet one-on-one, and when I got to Chris, I was bursting with excitement. As I walked up to introduce myself and have him sign my book, he said, “Wait, don’t we know each other?” I said “No…. but we CAN be friends if you want.” And he agreed. It’s cool. Chris McDougall and I are BFF.

This is my new friend.

I was planning on taking the day off from running, but after being on a runners’ high from the event, I couldn’t NOT run on National Running Day. So I did.

I left my iPod at home and ran my favorite route. I had already started reading Scott’s book (have you bought it yet?) and he talks about the reasons why he got into running. He is someone who runs for the pure joy of it (anyone who trains 2-3 hours per day has to freaking love it), and it inspired me to reset and remember why I started to run.



Note the fast splits in miles 5 and 6.
The skies opened up and there were The Day After Tomorrow-style
clouds following me, so I sped up.



While running races and working towards a goal is great, I realized I really want to take time before I begin training for the Philly Marathon to just enjoy running for what it is. I truly believe that running has made me a less stressed, happier person. There’s almost no problem that you can’t forget about or begin to fix after going for a run – and there are so many great people you can meet and connect with about running.

So after taking my last several runs (both good and bad), to leave my iPod at home and focus on my form and my mental running techniques, I feel really excited to start training for the Philly Marathon in just one month.

Which is why I already started my Marathon Training Plan for Philadelphia 2012!!!! Who else is excited?

I’m loosely following Hal Higdon’s Intermediate 1 program, and I’m going to add in some components of a plan I found in Runners’ World this month. It’s much higher mileage than when I trained last year, but I’m actually going for a time goal this year.

Oh, you’re curious what time I want to get? No? Well I’ll tell you anyway.

I would love to beat the 4 hour mark. This means running at around a 9:00 pace, which is scary, but I think doable.

I ran at around a 10:32 pace last year, and felt great. But, I also stopped at virtually every porta-potty (I didn’t know when I would see one again…), chatted with Keith when he amazingly showered me with Gatorade and ibuprofen, and hardly glanced at my watch at all. I think with higher mileage, some speedwork, and my trusty Garmin, I can beat the 4 hour mark.

A New Obsession

In the reality of New York City, where square footage has a depressingly inverted relationship with rent, space is precious.

So to maximize my expensive space, I finally stopped in to the Container Store fully intending to go crazy.

Second only to Target, the Container Store is the kind of place where you feel compelled to purchase absolutely everything in sight (I DO need a rotating Bamboo tray for my spices... Now that I think about it, owning a paper towel holder would make my life so much easier).

Doesn't this make you feel so calm and happy?
No? Just me?

I went in meaning to buy a shoe rack for my dismal shoe situation, and a utensil organizer for my kitchen drawer (I moved into my apartment in October and I still did not have a utensil organizer. My forks have been mixing with the likes of knives and spoons, and wine openers were canoodling with potato chip clips. It's been disastrous). But when I got in there, I had a tough time choosing how I wanted to spend my benjamins.

I thankfully did at least walk out with the items I set out to buy. I went with the mahogany shoe rack, because it clearly suits my personal style:

Downside upside to buying a shoe rack - organizing your shoes and realizing how badly you need to go shopping. And finding that pair of shoes you literally never wore, and put in the back of your closet because you felt too guilty donating them.

Sinkside lookin' fresh with the paper towel holder

And perhaps my favorite purchase - the bamboo rotating rack (official name). It's fun AND practical - gone are the days when I accidentally use a dash of ground red pepper instead of cinnamon!

So all in all, a successful trip. And a lighter wallet.

You have more free time to worry about organizing your kitchen drawers when you're in taper-mode. In 3 days, I will be running the Brooklyn Half-Marathon. I'm taking tomorrow and Friday off from any exercise, and made sure to squeeze in my three scheduled runs in the beginning of the week.

Although pretty low-mileage, my runs didn't feel as great this week. I don't know if my legs are sore from last week's higher mileage, or if I'm just not getting in as many carbs as I should be. I really and truly did not feel like doing my tempo run last night, but I went, and ended up making out okay:

Today, I was able to get out of bed before work to do my last run before the race. My body was not feeling up to it at all (not sure whether it was because I did a tempo run just 12 hours earlier, or whether it was the white wine drinking the night before). But it ended up being okay too I guess.

Now for the important question: race-day wardrobe. What to wear?

I got a sweet Nike tank that I am surely going to wear, as well as my neon yellow headband. I have to decide if I'm feeling gutsy enough to wear my LuluLemon shorts, or to stick to comfort and wear my running capris. I'll see how the mood strikes me at 5:00AM Saturday morning.

My favorite running friends and I are carbing up together on Friday night at Jillian's apartment, and I am stoked. I believe gnocchi and garlic knots are in order. I also want to make sure I am really hydrated for the race, so I can enjoy spending post-race with my parents and Keith who will be waiting at the finish line for me. Talking about it all is getting me really excited for what is sure to be a fun and tough race!

Now I'm going to go organize my sock drawer.

Run for the Parks 4M Recap

I spent Saturday drinking wine at my cousin’s bridal shower and carousing with my gregarious family. As most of my cousins are nearing marrying age, I learned all about what “black-tie optional” means and why it’s a real no-no to have a yellow gold engagement ring.

Kelly and my cuz' Ravan won three "party favors"
Magraths know their wine.

Last night, Keith and I carbo-loaded on yummy Chinese food and beers at our favorite local bar. Beer has carbs, right? Who’s with me?

I was dreading going to sleep in preparation of a super early wake-up time. Rain was on the forecast starting at 4AM, which resulted in a bit of crankiness. So I procrastinated going to bed by doing smart things like pinning my bib on my shirt and making nachos.

5:50 AM came, and there wasn’t a raindrop in sight. Hooray! Admittedly, I was a bit nervous for the run, because I woke up with a rumbly tummy. But I popped a tums, shoveled my favorite pre-run breakfast in my mouth, and hit the road at 6:30AM.

I had a plan to run 6 miles before the race as I had 10 miles on the agenda for the weekend. So I mapped out a nice little route through the BK, Queens, and into Manhattan. I decided to save my iPod for the race, and was surprised to find that at 6:30AM in the city that never sleeps, it was eerily quiet. It was really refreshing to start the day without any noise and be left to my thoughts.

Little photo break at Columbus Circle.

I made my way to Central Park with some time to spare, so I hit up the porta potties and made my way to the green corral. Apparently I wasn’t the only crazy person waking up early on a Sunday to support the Parks.

So many people.
Now leave me alone while I turn on Taylor Swift.

I have never tacked on miles before a race before, let alone 6. I was curious to see how my legs would hold up, and intentionally didn’t race this prestigious 4-miler with any crazy time goal.

I clocked in the first mile at around 8:07, and my legs felt great. Just after the first mile marker, I noticed an aggressive woman in pink passing me. I started to pick up the pace and passed her… and then she passed me… and we repeated this cycle a few times. I have to give her some credit, because I clocked in the second mile at 7:33. And then I began to feel mega tired.

Since I was keeping a pretty good pace for the first two miles, I wondered if it was possible to PR.... The third mile seemed to have all of the hills, so I kept up a moderately fast pace, but I wanted to save my last stores for mile 4.

Mile 3 came in at 8:05, and I knew it was possible to try and get under a sub-8:00 pace. Cue some nice downhills and huffing and puffing, and I beat my previous record by a whopping 11 seconds.

I really felt the fast pace in my lungs, but it wasn’t anything a little post-race bagel and water couldn’t fix. I was proud of myself for finishing a ten-mile run so strong, and now I know I can beast this Brooklyn Half-Marathon that so horribly beasted me last year.

I found Jillian, Lauren, Audra and Brad at the end of the race, but the cold and misty weather made us chilly and ready to go home. But not before we got this scenic shot of Central Park.

All I wanted at this point was a hot shower and my warm bed. I got home just as the first raindrop fell, picked up some coffee, and collapsed in my bed. Looking forward to doing it all again next Sunday for the NYRR Run as One Race...

Happy Sunday!!!

California and Me - It's Love

Keith and I got back last night from the most amazing trip to northern California. We spent three full days in San Francisco, half a day driving up the coast of northern California, and a day in Napa Valley.

At Point Reyes Beach!

I’m just going to get this off my chest – I love JetBlue. On-time flights with lots of legroom? Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows on demand? Free blue-colored potato chips? 

Pick the more photogenic one out of the two. 

It was a whirlwind trip, and we did so much that the full story will be saved for my journal and scrapbook. But here is the recap on my favorite stuff:

Highlights

#1 – Wine Tasting in Napa

This was my favorite moment of the trip. My mom and I went to this awesome winery called Hopper Creek two years ago, and I was so happy that I was able to book the same tour this trip. 

I WANT TO LIVE HERE.

We pulled up in our Mustang (yes, Keith got the upgrade and we drove through Cali like in Bullitt. It was awesome.), and happened to walk in with a bike tour that also came for a tasting. The hysterical winery owner had a heavy hand and let us all sit on his patio while we tried his amazing wine. Keith and I completely skipped the other wine tour we had lined up - we were having so much fun guzzling wine that we ended up staying two hours.

I <3 your heavy hand.
Note the stained teeth. 

#2 – House of Nanking

My dear friend Meggie recommended this place to me, which is a delicious Chinese restaurant in San Francisco’s Chinatown. It is without question the best Chinese food I’ve ever had.

Mmm sesame chicken. I begrudgingly shared.

#3 – Bike Tour

Keith and I did a historic bike tour of New Orleans last year, and wanted to keep up the tradition since we had such a blast last time. Our charismatic tour guide, Christopher, took us past the bay, over the Golden Gate Bridge, and into Sausalito. 

I couldn’t help noticing all of the runners we passed along the bay… 50-60 degree weather all year round?! This may have been the moment I decided I will move here one day. Although the history and views were spectacular, Keith was required to keep his helmet on per the tour guide’s instructions (much to his dismay).

Had to post this gem.

#4 – Alcatraz

When we were planning our trip, Keith said that he felt bad I would have to go to Alcatraz again since I went two years ago. I told him I was pumped to go again, as it is a really cool place. He was quickly convinced.

What is that in my purse you might ask?
Keith bought it for me at the gift shop.
I am 23 years old with a stuffed animal seagull.

As chance would have it, we stumbled into a talk by Robert Luke, former Alcatraz Prisoner #1118. He told some stories about being sent to the "hole" in Alcatraz and what it was like when he got out. And he was a bank robber in the 50s – which is pretty B.A.

#5 – The Tonga Room

Introduced to us by Mr. Bourdain, the Tonga Room is a tiki bar in the basement of a hotel that has a pirate ship in the middle of the bar with a fake rainstorm that happens every hour (intentional run-on as there are so many great things about this place). If that doesn’t convince you, the strong neon-colored cocktails will. Oh, and I spotted Colin Hanks while we were there!

Straddling the line between tipsy and drunk right here.

Lowlight

#1 and Only – The Run

I like to focus on the positive, but there was a lowlight that is very related to what I like writing about most – running. After a day of having jelly donuts, breakfast sandwiches, burritos, coronas, and a hot tub soak, Keith and I thought it would be a good idea to go to the gym. I ran a miserable three miles on the treadmill while the gym's thermostat was set to a cool 80 degrees. A guy with no shame did yoga poses in front of me for the entirety of my run. Now I know why yoga rooms are dimly lit.

I had the post-vacation blues today, but I am pretty sure I will be back soon, and have every intention of moving there someday.

To sweat out the goldfish bag, cookies, potato chips, and ginger ale I had on the plane last night, I went for a run after work.

One of my favorite paths.

I decided not to worry about how far or fast I would run as it was my first day back, but let my body take me as far as it would go. I ended up doing 5.85 miles at an 8:53 pace – my goal of running 8:45 miles for the Brooklyn Half-Marathon seems more and more likely!

And last but NOT least – I am officially signed up for the Philadelphia Marathon!!!

They make it so exciting!!!

I’ll be running this beastly out and back with Jillian and Lauren and I could not be more excited. See you in November.