I Don't Need to Walk Around in Circles, Walk Around in Circles....

...walk around in circles...[Remember that song from the 90s???]

My handy route map from the Garmin - in case I wasn't sure where I went....

Ah...anyway...it turns out I DON'T need to walk around in Circles, because I did quite alright running them instead :)  After a moving-centric, Beatles-sound tracked weekend (shout-out to James for helping me paint

Tulips and Raccoons and Friends, Oh My!

It's April 19th and the Brooklyn Half Marathon is officially 1 month away!  It's been dawning on me that with the race nearing so quickly my mileage should really be looking a lot better than it has been lately.  I also realize that you can't try to push yourself during every single workout, or else you'll risk burning out, injury, or just not being able to get through the workout.  With all of that in mind, I headed to Central Park on this gorgeous night and decided to let my legs decide the workout.  I wasn't too optimistic, given that they were still feeling pretty tight from Monday's Leg workout and Wednesday' hill workout.

Hump Day Hills!

Happy Hump Day, Everybody!  The week is half way through, and it seemed a bit poetic to infuse my workout with some humps of its own.  Additionally, getting back from my road trip at 10PM made a short sweat sess enticing and hills seemed like the perfect way to justify the brevity of a half hour run.

Love Your Legs Workout...Not so LOVEly

It's not secret that I'm behind on my lunge-a-licious leg workout (it's not - you can check out the Brooklyn half training log on the right to see that I've only done it twice this month, when I believe by now I should have done it at least 4 times to be on track for my April goals).  I thought it was hard to consistently make time to run [except maybe for during marathon training where I pretty much accepted that that was my priority all the time, and I do mean ALL the time because when you're running a 5 hour marathon those pesky training runs take up enough hours to fill a part time job!), so I don't know why I thought it would be any easier to try to get more consistent about running again AND suddenly start being good about cross training, too.  Maybe I thought that the impending bathing suit season would motivate me more?

Friday Night Lights!

Tonight's run was one of those magical [I debated using magical at the risk of sounding cheesier than usual and losing you] nights in Central Park.  I didn't happen to have my Garmin or Ipod tracking devices with me and I generally hate running without being able to track my metrics, so I decided to head out for a short 30 minute jog to at least get some miles in.  (Plus, it was pretty fitting to run without checking in on any devices after the Born to Run lecture which emphasized focusing purely on the enjoyment of running). 

Born to Run AMAZINGNESS!!

I love to read about running.  I love to read stories about people who accomplish amazing things - or have worked at it so much that they've made huge improvements.  I love reading about running so much that I sometimes forget to um, do the running (you may recall my recent "epiphany": Reading about how to become a fast runner will not make you a fast runner.  You have to actually DO THE STUFF THEY SAY...to get faster).  Anyway, back in February when I started this little bloggy blog, I put Born to Run, my favorite running related reading material to date(1), on the list of things I wanted to write about.  Whether you like a good suspense story (who will win the big race whose creation is chronicled throughout the book / finish line nail biter brings it to a close?), Malcom Gladwell style findings from research and scientific studies (Blink meets Runners World, anyone?), or anecdotes about incredible athletes to inspire you to get out there and go for your best, this book is for you.

Scotland Run Review: It's Not about Winning, It's about Looking Good

This weekend brought the NYRR's annual Scotland run - along with about 7,000 runners, face paint, and an awesome amount of plaid.  My friend Kathleen and I signed up for the race together to ensure we'd have some intermediate goals to keep us on track for Brooklyn Half training.   Kathleen e-mailed me after registering, "PS can we wear kilts or at least something plaid for the Scotland one?!"  and I was immediately pumped for the race.  I'm a firm believer in, "It's not about winning, it's about looking good," because, let's face it...I wouldn't even win if they let me into the old folks' category.  Case in point, the Women's Age

Lunchtime Running to the Rescue

We're 5 days into April and I've basically already done more this month than I did all of last month.  I had some legit excuses, but whatever, the point is not to hate on March, but rather to say that I think I'm on the right track for working towards a strong go of it at the Brooklyn half this May.  Of course, I got a little freaked out when Kathleen pointed out that it's only about 6.5 weeks away, but let's focus on the things I can control; currently, the time-space continuum is not one of them.

Turn Up the Training Tuesday

If you read about it, speed will come.  Subconsciously, I think this has been my mantra - and problem - for some time in running.  This is not the Field of Dreams, people.  I have read about a zillion articles (I am a really efficient reader) on how to improve your running - I probably read about 2/3rds zillion of them while training for the marathon before I came to terms with the idea that I wouldn't be able to run a wonderful sub

March and Weekend Review, New Goals, and Maaaybe I can be a Fast Runner!!

March in Review
March was not exactly what you'd call an example in how to set and meet your goals.  I'm not going to beat myself up over it this month, though.  Excuses though they may be, I'd call doctor's orders, bronchitis, and a 103 degree fever pretty good excuses to miss your exercise goals for the month.