Long Distance Training Run: Central Park 20 Miles

Thank you so much for your financial donations to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation in my name and your continued support in my marathon training.
Things are going great! On Saturday, 8/28/10, I completed a 20 mile long distance training run in Central Park New York sponsored by the New York Road Runners. The weather was perfect; the day was gorgeous. This was my first time running in Central Park and it was an amazing experience. I ran strong the whole distance even as fatigue set in around mile 18. All the muscles in my legs were screaming but how many times will I be at this point again? Best to make the most of it and deal w/ the human suffering later. I was very sore after the race. My muscles feel bruised more than stiff. It is still hard to walk. The race was not timed. I finished in between the 8:00 and 8:30 pace setters. I could feel the wall approaching at mile 20. Tom Holland says the best way to prepare for the wall is to keep hydrated and keep taking in carbohydrates. The rest is determination and will power.
I would love to get some advice from the experienced marathoners out there! Mom, Hop, Randi, Justine?

I am so thankful my hard work paid off at the Bronx Half Marathon. It really gives me confidence going forward as the big race day approaches on 11/7/10. I ran 8:17 per mile and finished in 1:48:35. Now comes the hard part-- long training runs of 13, 15 -18 miles. Every time I want to surrender to fatigue and walk the rest of the way home and sleep I remember there is no alternative. I read the Marathon Method by Tom Holland on a regular basis. He is a great teacher and motivator.
On 8/28/10 there is a Long Distance Training run in Central Park NY w/ the Road Runners Club. This will be an excellent opportunity to get a long distance run completed w/ pacing by professionals.

8/11/10 - I ran the traditional 7-8 mile route in Montclair in preparation of the Bronx Half.
8/15/10 - 2010 Bronx Half Marathon. 13.1 miles.
8/18/10 - I ran the same Montclair route mentioned above.
8/20/10 - Back to the Hills of Summit. I did just 5 miles here but there is a great hill climb up Mount View Rd.
8/22/10 - This is the farthest I have run to date. 16 miles starting in Summit, NJ, down Springfield Ave., through New Providence, Berkeley Heights and Gillette and then back on Long Hill Road and River Road and back up Springfield Ave. Luckily I was running down Long Trail Rd on the return as it is about 3 miles long. But I had a feeling I'll have to return and run up the hill. That will be great!

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated to my fund raising efforts. it is for a great cause. Your belief in me to do a good job gives me strength.

Bronx Half Marathon 2010

Today was a great day! What a privilege to run in the 2010 Bronx Half Marathon! 13.1 miles.
The weather was humid but not too sunny. It was perfect. Thousands of runners participated.
We were assigned to various corals according to our number. I was 5787 so I was pretty far back from the starting line. So many different kinds of runners were there to give their best on the streets of the Bronx. The course was blocked off to all traffic and there were water stops every mile and a half or so. Some residents came out to watch and were very supportive. What an encouraging atmosphere! The New York Road Runners Club did a great job. This race was one of five half marathons in each of the 5 boroughs. The last is 10/10/10 in Staten Island which I will be sure to register for.
I started out strong and finished strong. All of that hill climbing in Summit, NJ really paid off. At mile 10 I started to feel winded but I manged to keep pace w/ the other runners around me. The course was a great urban landscape. It went around a huge reservoir and main thoroughfares and up and down hills, under bridges. At mile 12 I had some gas left in the tank. With encouragement from the crowd I had enough to bring the hammer down and finish the last 2/10ths of a mile at a sprint. What a relief to have finished my first race! And and w/ strength. But at the end of the day I realize it is well short of the final goal of the New York City Marathon. And that I need to raise a lot more money for a great cause.

Thanks to all who have donated to my fund raising effort for the multiple myeloma research foundation! Steady progress has been made to the $2,500 goal. I am grateful for any and all amounts pledged. Every penny is earned mile after mile each week! The more money donated the more motivation I have each time I run. Thank you!

I am registered to run the Bronx half-marathon on 8/15/10 and the ING NYC Marathon 20 mile training run on 8/28/10. These will be excellent primers for the real thing on 11/7/10 and will help to gauge my progress since I started long distance training.

7/31/10 - Did an excellent 10 miles in the morning in Montclair at a steady pace down Highland Rd to Normal around the reservoir to Watchung to the Parkway back up to Valley Road. The heat was not bad on this day.

8/4/10 - Ran a 7 mile abbreviated version of the Montclair route laid out above. Montclair heights has many gorgeous homes in bucolic streets which are ideal for training. Completed this run at a steady as well.

8/6/10 - Ran the same 10 mile route as described on 7/31/10 in Montclair, NJ. There can be no avoidance of putting in the mileage if I am going to be successful on race day.