NYC Insider's Guide to the NYC Marathon

Running in the Cold Again

Today was the coldest day I've run all year. I even wore long underwear (top and bottom) plus a down vest. Thankfully, I had already made plans to meet up with a friend - otherwise, I doubt I would have gotten out there!

Cross Training

Instead of my usual running or wii, I went swimming today with a friend. Great upper body workout for a change!

1/2 Marathon Playlist

I had a short run this morning - it was bitterly cold and not at all pleasant to be out. But since I'm still thinking about that half-marathon, I put my extra (non-running) time to good use, creating a playlist for April's race:

Baby Got Going by Liz Phair
Boom Boom Pow by Black Eyed Peas
I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas
Fire Burning by Sean Kingston
Running by No Doubt
Running by The Fixx
I Drove All Night by Celine Dion
A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton
Whenever, Wherever by Shakira
Objection (Tango) by Shakira
Beautiful Liar (Main Version / Album Version) by Beyonce
Livin' La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin
Vacation by The Go-Go's
Tonite by The Go-Go's
Go - 2006 by Moby
Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) by C + C Music Factory
Gloria by Laura Branigan
Forever And For Always by Shania Twain
You Are Loved [Don't Give Up] by Josh Groban
Bleed It Out by Linkin Park
Hands Held High by Linkin Park
Breathe (2 Am) by Anna Nalick
One Step At A Time (Main Version) by Jordin Sparks
Pinch Me by Barenaked Ladies
Bull In A China Shop by Barenaked Ladies
The Great Escape by Boys Like Girls
Amazing (featuring Young Jeezy) by Kanye West
Beautiful (featuring Colby ODonis, Kardinal Offishall) by Akon
Im So Paid (featuring Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy) by Akon
Jimmy Crack Corn (Cashis Vocal Mix / Edited)by Eminem
Empire State Of Mind [Jay-Z + Alicia Keys] by Jay-Z
Young Forever [Jay-Z + Mr Hudson] by Jay-Z
How Far We've Come by Matchbox Twenty
Quitter by Carrie Underwood
Bring Me To Life by Evanescence
Can't Stop Now by Keane
Don't Stop Me Now by Queen

The More Magazine/Fitness Magazine Women's Half-Marathon

I recently received an email encouraging me to sign up for this April 25th race. The note touted the race as an inspiring event that celebrates fitness and camaraderie for women of all ages. New this year, all participants will be running the half-marathon (13.1-mile) distance. Any woman age 12 or older may take part. It noted further that the race weekend offers a two-day expo at Roseland Ballroom and the More MagazineFitness Magazine Pasta Party at the Hard Rock Cafe Times Square. Sounds fun - I think I'm in!

NYRR Ted Corbitt 15K

Despite my best intentions, it has been quite a while since I've run anything like 9 miles. So I've been a bit apprehensive about today's Ted Corbitt 15K. I've long espoused the idea that your training runs don't have to be the full distance of the race - if you can do 6 or 7 miles, you can certainly do 10; and if you can do 18-20 miles, you can certainly do 26.2 - but since it's been months since I've done much more than 5 miles at a time, the 15K distance was a bit intimidating. And the fact that heavy snow had been forecasted for race day didn't help at all.

The first half was fine. But as I approached the 5 mile marker, I began to feel twinges in my right knee - the one that troubled me so during the 2008 NYC Marathon. And the wind picked up. So it was great that a chance comment about the weather led to me running the next 4 miles or so with a lovely young lady named Leslie. We were both finishing our last of the nine required races that would guarantee us entry to next November's marathon (and she's running the Disney Marathon in early January). Our pace was similar, and running with a companion helped the miles go by more quickly. I finished with almost my best pace of the year!

Running in the Cold

The temperature stayed in the 20s all day today. I really wasn't looking forward to a run in the cold. But I threw on an extra layer - and surprise! - it wasn't as bad as I expected.

Turtle - Slow

Some days I run faster than others, but I'm generally in the same range. I ran Saturday's Holiday 4 Miler with family members and, being more interested in the fellowship than my speed, slowed my pace to match theirs. I knew that we were a little pokey, but I was shocked to see that the race results showed that I ended up with an even slower pace than my marathon and half-marathon pace - both of which I walked quite a bit.