Jingle Bell Jog

Happy Holidays!

Late Fall Weekend Long Run

Race to Deliver: 4M Race

I ran a 4M race today with colleagues to help raising funds and promote awareness for God's Love We Deliver (GLWD)! The orgniazation prepare and deliver nutritious meals to people who are sick and unable to prepare meals for themselves.  For more information about GLWD, please visit their website.

It was a cold morning with temperature below 40F (4.4C), wind was pretty gusty and it felt like 32F. I had two layers and long sleeves all the way, but the temp was cold enough that my joint felt too cold to move. I could hardly wiggle my fingers when we were waiting to start. 

I ran a decent first mile passing through the Cat Hill on the start. I was starting to feel a little warmer but my hands were still frozen cold. The second mile was pretty flat and steady.  At the end of the 2nd mile I came across someone who dressed the same as me - our jacket, pants, and even ear warmer were the same colors.  Usually it's quite easy to notice and remember the person who dresses like you, or running as the same pace as you.  Needless to say she took notice of me as well.  

Incidents like this in races usually leads to competition.  Somehow she decided that I am her competition and she started racing with me.  I knew this because I saw her passing me, falling back behind me, and passing me again repeatedly in the next 2 miles, literally from the initial encounter to the finish line. It was funny as the third mile was 3 rolling hills and we 'battled' through the hills one after another. We had different approach to ascends and descends so we exchanged lead a few times.  Every single time when I passed her at a steady pace, I could see her passing me again within 10 seconds. 

At 3.5 miles I was getting a little tired and her lead widened.  Towards the end everyone started to speed up so I did my best to follow the pace as well. She looked around and saw me coming and she pushed through as well.  My shoe laces were loose suddenly but I ignored it. (If it were earlier in the race I would have stopped).  We sprinted the last 200-300 meters at almost 2'00" quicker than our race pace!  She ended up beating me by about 2 seconds "at the finish line" (I have no idea what corral she was in and what time she crossed the starting line). I was "beat", but my results and pace were much better than I expected so I was happy.  

The advantage of joining a race instead of practicing by yourself is all about motivation, whether it's keeping up with the people running next to you, or even starting a little healthy competition, it only helps pushing your physical and mental limits and letting you realize how much more you're capable of. 

Finally I met up with colleagues and enjoyed a delicious brunch on the Upper East Side. 

First Cross-State Run

Today marks my first time crossing a state border on foot!  It's quite a nice experience.  I took the trail and exited to the street level on 156th street, then run a good 1-2 miles uphill through the streets of Washington Heights.  Then at 178th street, turn left and head down the block for the pedestrian ramp for the bridge. Then climb a steep ascend on the ramp onto the bridge.    The bridge is only a little bit over 1 mile, although by cars you'll feel a lot longer with the queues to get on it and the heavy traffic when passing through it.   

The middle of the bridge, or the NY-NJ border is a great place to take a break, enjoy the view, and snap a picture or two.  You'll see the great Hudson River separately NY and NJ and the landscape of the two states. 

Post Election Day

The city is quiet. Awfully quiet. In a city that is home to millions of residents and commuters, this is extremely unusual and awkward. Morning commute is generally quiet but there are usually a few casual conversations and even some laughter here and there. But not today, everyone is looking down and seems to be in his/her own world. People are glued to the paper or articles on their phone, and their face displayed a bit of melancholy.  

The subway platform was orderly and organized.  Unlike the usual days, no one tried to aboard (or stuff themselves into) the crowded train when it arrives or selfishly bump into everyone trying to step off. 

Just when everyone gets comfortable with this state, a little  boy joined the pool of commuters and started singing his favorite nursery rhymes to break the silence. 

"The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round...The wheels on the bus go round and round, all around the town..."

He missed a few words and notes, but he obviously enjoyed it and had a good time. His little pure and innocent voice was angelic, but hurts when you realize that he is going to grow up in a continuing divided country.

First Half Marathon Race!

I finished my first Half Marathon!

It was an impromptu decision.  I was not trained for it.  Even though I have done 13 miles during training (with many stops), I definitely didn't train regularly for endurance and strength.  I just thought maybe I could finish it.

Then comes to the week of preparation.  I thought I had built good mileage recent, but I started with bad foot pain from training too much (40+ miles in 7 days) and caught a flu on Tuesday with fever.  Weather forecast was pointing to a very rainy day.  I was worried about not making it at all, maybe too much that I couldn't even fall asleep the night before.  But everything worked out somehow! My foot pain improved by midweek and I felt a lot better towards the weekend, and the sky cleared up!

On the race day, I woke up early to eat a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast.  Got to the starting line and did some stretches.  By 8am off I went!

I ran some easy miles, but my running app was telling me that I was running at a slightly faster pace than I anticipated for. I slowed down a bit and ignored all the faster pacers passing me.  The rolling hills came between mile 3.5 to 4.5.  I did ok.  After the first loop I emptied a GU gel did not feel hurt at all.  Then it comes the second loop - another round of rolling hills and endurance challenge.   I was still catching breaths as my heart rate wasn't close to max at all, but my legs started to feel the pain - tiring out, ball of foot pain on the left came back, and the old ligament injury on the right resurfaced.  My head started debating whether I should slow to a walk but my conscious mind refused.  I told myself just one more round of rolling hills and do not regret after the race for not trying my best.  I tried to look at the surrounding and landmark to ease my mind.  

Mile 7 - this is also Mile 13, where I will be finishing, it's gonna be soon!

Mile 8 - MET museum, Guggenheim Museum...how gorgeous!

Mile 9 - take advantage of the downhill, get ready for the climb!

Mile 10 - I did the hilliest part already! Enjoy the greens and breathe!

Mile 11 - I can't believe I just finished all the uphills! Now eat another GU gel!

Mile 12 - Home stretch...this is it!

Mile 13 (.1) - Sprint to the finish line!!!

This is it! I finished!! I looked at my time and realized that I came in slightly under my goal time!!

Summer Exercise Series: The Last Summer Weekend Workout

To celebrate the last summer weekend of 2016, I decided to go the distance!!

Sat: 10K pace & 3K recovery
Sun: Half marathon run (one long way, new scene and nice view!)

I had to make some stops and walking breaks as I'm still relatively new to 13m distance, even though I went 60 secs slower per mile. 

My last 3 miles was full of calf cramps but I'm glad that I could finish it!
The soreness wasn't as bad as I thought. Maybe the intense stretching and foam rolling were the reasons.  I also focused on rolling my old injury and it did not act up at all the next day.  The only pain was my stiff neck + headache.  It could be due to the fact that I start carrying a drinking water bottle and my shoulder was too tensed up while holding it. Maybe it's time for a running belt?