Week 2 of Marathon Training

Total miles: 17

This training week was really tough, because of non running-related things and I just was not feeling the activity of running. It seems like when something is going well in one aspect of your life then 2+ things go to crap in other aspects.

Training Runs:

For the most part my training runs for the week were kind of blah. I do not have the speed that I once had and it is a little disappointing. During one of my runs, I had to stop and walk a few times . . . although that could have been due to the intense humidity during the week. Maybe, my pace and endurance will get better once I start incorporating interval training runs and running races. NYRR Brooklyn R-U-N 5K, NYRR R-U-N 5K, and NYRR Team Championships (5M) are a few races that I have coming up over the summer that may activate my competitive spirit again.

Front Runners New York LGBT Pride Run (5M):

I had the opportunity to volunteer for this race, which was tough for me. The volunteering part was not tough for me; it was the being on a train from Brooklyn at 5am to arrive to 102st street in Manhattan by 6:30am. Ouch!

Unfortunately, it rained and rained HARD during the setup and the race. I was so glad that NYRR provided ponchos for the volunteers. Interestingly, the sun came out as if it had never rained. Actually, it may have been a good thing that it rained, because the sun made it so freakin hot.

 I served as an Ambassador, so I answered questions for the runners (i.e. location of baggage check, bib pickup, start, etc.) and surveyed runners about their race experience.

Standing in the rain

Dedicated volunteers

Crossing guard “trying” to stay dry

As if it never rained

Many people who volunteered was doing it to meet their “+1” requirement of the NYRR’s 9+1 for guaranteed entry into NYC Marathon for 2018. I, as well as other runners, know that the volunteers are very important for the success or the races. The thing is many people only volunteer for their +1, so it is not like some folks are volunteering for the sake of volunteering – they are doing it to enter the marathon. Yes, I have been guilty of doing this. But, I am going to change that by getting more involved within the running community. Going forward, I am going try my hardest to volunteer for a race once a month. Maybe, I will sign up to be a Volunteer Leader for a future NYRR 5 Borough race, but let’s start with the small stuff first.

Random: 

Over the  weekend (the 25th to be exact), I turned 37. It is a little bitter sweet, because I am no where near where I would like to be in life professionally and financially. Around my birthday, I tend to think about all my of the professional mistakes that I may have made. With the biggest question relates to my decision to stay in graduate school to obtain my Ph.D. Many days, I wish that I had dropped out of graduate school to do something else. That said, I did manage to enjoy a random adventure in Jersey City and Hoboken for my birthday.

A must visit

I had a birthday lunch as Lisbon Restaurant in Jersey City and this place is a must visit if you are ever in the area. The food was AMAZING and well worth the trip into Jersey City. If you go, you must get a Steak on Stone for your culinary consumption. Oh, and go during the day because you will not have to wait for a table. As a matter of fact, I think that we were the only two people in the entire restaurant.

Upcoming Goals for the Week: 

1. Start interval training and hill work. 
2. Become more educated about proper nutrition for running.

What are some of your training/fitness goals for the week.