GAME ON

Since my last post and that spectacular (hardly) 7-miler, we've had two great workouts with Team in Training, one independent interval workout, and another "easy run" that I wuss-ed out on after getting a stomachache from Cafe Metro's finest Turkey Chili. As I've mentioned on the blog previously, that I'm running and working out with the advanced group is still a pretty big source of humor--and, not gonna lie, pride--for me. I realize I sound like a bit of a dork here, but I love that my body is able to not only withstand what the coaches throw at us, but actually do pretty well with it. Mentally, I can't begin to explain the kind of satisfaction I'm deriving from becoming more of an athlete each practice.

I mean, let's not kid ourselves. Remember when I looked like this? That was my high school graduation more than five years ago. Despite the ridiculous Hello Kitty grin plastered on my face, I was unhappy with my body and completely out-of-shape. I keep this photo on my Blackberry to show friends that there's some sort of legitimacy to my body dysmorphia-lite. Moreover, the pic is inspiration enough to get up at 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning, schlep to Central Park, and bang out 8 miles in 40 degrees with light rain falling. 

Which is exactly what I did today. Today was the second of our "distance" runs - we kept it at a comfortable just-sub-8:00 pace and did the middle 4-mile loop twice. Ran with a really fun group of 7 other people or so; entertaining conversation made the whole thing pass by quickly and I was really pleased to finish feeling still-energized and able to keep hauling ass. The trick, I'm learning, is that slowing down at the beginning makes the later push substantially easier. Next week we're up to double-digits, people! A highlight was running opposite and high-fiving my amazing co-worker and friend Lindsay Schuster, who recently signed up for the Vancouver Half. Look out for more on her progress here, too. 

Where was Celeste, you ask? Oh you know, NBD, just enjoying the sun and art in South Beach for Basel. 

Bastard.

Back to business: the past two workouts have been pretty great. On Tuesday night, we learned about speed intervals. After a brief warm-up, you haul ass for two minutes, recover for three, and repeat the process for a total of six go-arounds. A very different kind of running for me and really enjoyable, particularly with TnT coach Steve kicking our asses in the process. Repeating it alone in Central Park a couple of days later felt awesome. I'm starting to get the hang of some of these nuances and it's exciting for someone who used to be a hot mess couch potato.

If it isn't readily apparent, I'm stoked at this point. Onward, ho(es)!

MAKE IT WORK!

Last night was the first of what I’m sure will be many instances where fitting the TNT schedule into “real life” becomes something of an obstacle. As I was busy filling my liver with toxins during the first training run, I was determined to hit the road with my teammates at the second group session. Plans were nearly thwarted when tickets for a hot show I’ve been really looking forward to seeing became available. The 5-mile training run started at 6:40 in the Park; curtain was at 8:00 in midtown. No way to do both consecutively. When I called Celeste at work and told her I’d likely have to run on my own during lunch to complete the mileage, she turned on the Tim Gunn and ordered me to “make it fucking work.” 

I hopped the train uptown and met up with Celeste, Stephanie, and a crowd of…a lot of women. Gotta admit, before finding Celeste I was a little nervous knowing practically nobody. When the coaches began to explain the four, five, and six mile loops in Central Park (with which, having lived on the UES for a year, I’m really familiar) my own comfort with the various courses alleviated any anxiety. The coaches split us into three groups – beginner, intermediate, and advanced – and, to my surprise, I met the criteria for advanced (the ability to run six miles comfortably). It hit me that this was the first time in my life I’d ever been identified as “advanced” in any kind of athletic context. Ever. The sole exception was being granted the “Most Improved Player” award at Pine Manor Tennis Camp in fifth grade, but I suspect that was more of a pat on the back for building up just enough endurance that summer to stop flooding the court with sweat during matches.

We started with an easy jog and maxed at what felt like a 7:50 pace. Slowing down was honestly a little tough, but both my mom and the coaches have been stressing the importance of it. I suspect they know a bit more than I do, so I’m trying to take their advice. Repeating the Celeste-inspired mantra –make it fucking work – I veered off at the southern edge of the Park, sprinted back to the office, changed (still sweaty) into nicer clothes, and bolted to the theatre with a bag of pretzels for sustenance. I’d like to give a shout-out to my apocrine glands for giving me the gift of limited body odor, as my co-worker appeared not to notice any rank scent. Or at least was nice enough not to mention one. 

Great run, fabulous show; this whole thing may work out after all.

First Group Run

While Scott was boozing and cheering on Yale on Saturday, I was cursing the closed off B train and non-existent C train, dashing to a cab, and getting stuck in traffic in a desperate race to make it to Central Park for the first TNT group run.

Above all, I was wondering why the hell I was awake at 9:30am on a weekend morning. Despite getting to bed early, I was feeling (and looking) rough:

A not all too uncommon occurrence: I was late. Luckily, when I reached Bethesda Terrace, I was greeted by a MASSIVE group. Spot Stephanie, our mentor.

The coaches were just finishing their pep talk so I stealthily slid into the group (or as stealthy as a wild child 6 footer can manage). We were going to run the roughly 1.7 mile lower loop of the park. For beginners and half marathoners, the coach suggest one loop. For advanced and intermediate runners, he suggested two. I eat that loop for breakfast. No problem, I thought, I'm gonna hit the ground running (pun intended) and take off with the advanced group. For longer distances, I've been training with the Galloway technique: running with short walking intervals. I've worked up to 10 minute intervals in the past and can do the flat Reservoir loop without a walking interval in a good 16 minutes. So alright, I thought, I can make this first loop and do a leisurely second loop.

Worst. Idea. Ever.

These people are runners. Despite it being a "conversational pace", I was quickly wheezing at anyone who wanted to chit-chat. And hello, Hills! I got a good 15 minutes of running in before I started to find myself drifting further and further back in the pack. I opted to do a walking interval and my mentor Stephanie caught up with me and walked it with me. I explained that I had thrown myself in too hard and she assured me that it's okay and I've got nothing to prove. This is a fact that I have a hard time with. I don't want to look like the dopey gym class failure. I finished strong with a run. So here was my predicament: The advanced group was far ahead of me. The beginner group was far behind me. Hang out and look like I shortcutted? What to do? I decided to knock in another half loop on my own.

So I was alone. Meanwhile, an Ultra-Marathon was being held in the park (a marathon and a half...nutsos). Since we were running on part of the course, we got a little cheering from some of the race volunteers. I particularly enjoyed the group of Italian tourists chanting "Run! Run! Run!" as I chugged up a hill.

I was getting kind of down on myself when I heard, "Hey, are you Team in Training?" A nice girl trotted up beside me and she looked like she was struggling (a comrade in arms!). She is a mentor but her knee was giving her some trouble. Together, we ran-walked-ran the rest of the half loop as she explained to me the tragic circumstances that brought her to Team in Training. A coworker went in to get a check up for a bad cough. An X-Ray revealed he didn't have a cough but Leukemia. A few days later, she randomly received a TNT flier and took it as a sign. Sadly, after she completed her first marathon, her grandmother got diagnosed with Leukemia, as well, and now she's back. I was glad she caught up with me.

Since I was between the two groups, I was officially the last person to finish the training loops. Flashbacks to the middle school half-mile run... I wanted to explain to everyone that "No! Really! I did like 2.5 miles! I'm not a beginner, I swear! Circumstances just made me finish last!". I really have to get over that self-conscious gym class failure thing. Anyway, the season has begun!

My calf was bothering me a little bit on Sunday but I figured it was just tight. Yesterday's run with Jenn revealed it is an injury. Because I procrastinated in getting new sneakers, I've been having some pain from the lack of foot and arch support. There was some searing pain and I really had to slow down. It seems I've strained the top of my Achilles tendon. Hopefully it won't be a problem but damn it hurts. At least I finally got the incentive to buy new sneakers (and cold weather gear!):


Second TNT group training run today! And hopefully Mr. Chaloff will make an appearance.

Official Kick-off: Part 2 (Celeste Edition)

What the hell am I doing? Seriously. This was the thought that raged through my head throughout the entire 90 minute kick-off. How did I possibly think this was a good idea? What has Scott talked me into?

The energy in the room was palpable, though, and it was hard not to be swept up in the excitement and anticipation. I'm slowly warming to the idea but the denial is still with me. Being in that room made it that much more real. I'm officially signed up. I am doing this.

A long distance race is a personal battle. But we won't be doing it alone. The coaches and mentors (Stephanie, you do not know what you've gotten yourself into) and teammates will help us finish. Above all, though, the mission of TNT is incentive enough to make it to the finish. Towards the end of the kick-off, they brought up a 5-time TNT marathon runner. Her reason for running? Her six-year-old niece who battled against Leukemia and won. And then the niece spoke. Cue the tears. This beautiful, bubbly girl lost two years of her childhood to the disease and she can't wait to run a marathon herself. Okay, you got me TNT, I'm definitely gonna do this.

The first group run is this Saturday at 10am in Central Park. They repeatedly reminded us that it will be at 8:30am for the rest of the season and not to get used to the late time. Thanks, guys. If you've ever seen me before the hour of 10am, you know it's not a pretty sight. In fact, it looks a lot like this:

Hey sexaaaay.

Official Kickoff - Part 1 (S.C. Edition)

Last night was the official kick-off to Team in Training's Spring 2010 Season. And it was totally insane. And awesome.

Celeste will provide you with additional coverage but the below video pretty accurately sums up our initial feelings. It's a ten-second clip and you'd better watch till the very end.

I think you'll agree that it's all about the facial expression at the end. That, and the blue nail polish.

Celeste and I showed up to a big event space in Murray Hill where what appeared to be a couple hundred future marathoners and triathletes gathered together for a night of inspiration, celebration, and maybe a little bit of anxiety. The Team in Training staff did an incredible job of introducing administrators, coaches, captains, and getting everyone pumped up for training. The support system they provide for all athletes is really something. Each runner is assigned a mentor, a go-to coach, and a race coordinator.

Celeste and I wasted no time in getting to know our mentor, Stephanie. She may or may not have been weirded out by us being the only people taking pictures and videotaping the event. Either way, she agreed to pose for this ultra-closeup. She's training on our team as well and loyal bloggers will get to know her well, I'm sure. Over the course of the next six months, I know we'll become better runners and I can only hope we'll become better photographers.

Most importantly, Celeste and I now have our fundraising pages set up. As runners with Team in Training, we are raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, an outstanding national organization dedicated to eradicating blood cancers. As we train more, so too will we learn more about the work of the LLS and about developments in cancer research. Celeste and I need your help to raise money for this most worthy cause. My web page can be viewed here and Celeste's can be viewed here. I hope you'll consider contributing to the LLS; as I say on my page, we thank you for believing in us and for believing in a cure.

To wrap it up, here are two parting shots:

Stephanie took this picture. At this point, she wasn't that weirded out.

Celeste posing with her baller new running shirt.

At our post kick-off dinner at the diner across the street. Obvi.

Till next time,

Scott