Somebody Up There Likes Me!

This weekend, we did a 5 mile training walk/run from Astoria Park to Roosevelt Island and back. In my case, there was no "and back", since I caught the subway back to Forest Hills for my Weight Watchers meeting, instead of walking back to Astoria Park.

Somebody up there really likes me, that's all I can say. The "Zombie Staircase" restroom was unlocked when we got there, which was perfect timing, since I was trying to figure out how I was going to make it halfway around the island to the tram restroom. We also had free pasta samples courtesy of one of the farmers market vendors, and my train was there within less than a minute of getting to the subway station. Somehow, by some miracle, I only gained .4 lbs over the holiday week. Like I said, somebody up there really likes me!

Please consider making a donation in support of my efforts on behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/halfnyc14/crawlcarolcrawl 

Thank you.

What Could be a Better Race for a Dance Walker...

than the Allstate 13.1 Disco Half Marathon practically right in my own back yard???

Yup, that's right. I've signed up for another 13.1 mile ordeal. One of these days, I may learn my lesson.

Actually, the timing on this is perfect. It comes at a time when I'm really working on getting back on track Weight Watchers-wise, and making a commitment to getting back to walking and going to the gym more regularly. Signing up for the Disco Half at the end of March will help by giving me a purpose and a definite goal to work towards. Since this will be my first half marathon since the Super Hero Half last May, my goals for this race are simple:

• Finish within the 3:30 time limit and get the medal
• Have FUN with it
• Ideally, run/walk using a 1 minute run/2 minute walk interval throughout the entire 13.1 miles
• Have FUN with it
• Pay more attention to strength training this time around
• Did I mention "Have FUN with it"???
• Get the medal :-)

I have some very definite advantages going into this. First of all, I'm very familiar with Flushing Meadows/Corona Park, site of the 1964/1965 World's Fair, as you can see from this picture:

(That's me and my twin sister in the stroller, getting ready to become dinosaur dinner.)

I live within five miles of the park, and I can get in some training miles on the actual race course on the weekends. I've done a few other races in the park, so I have a pretty good idea of what it's like to run/walk it. It's also one of the flattest race courses I've raced on. There's basically one hill, and that's a ramp to an overpass. I've already done a third of the race course back in November, when I did the FDNY Turkey Trot, and that was probably the worst third of it. So, there's no really good reason why I can't do this one.

It sure seems like a good idea...

How We Can Honor and Help Families Left Behind

Please help me as I support Active Heroes and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, by making a donation on my behalf at http://www.stayclassy.org/fundraise?fcid=204875 Every little bit helps me get to my goal of raising $100.00

From the 9/11 Forces Run:

The 9/11 Forces Run event is a special way we can all honor and help those families left behind:

1762 residents of New York
1402 persons in Tower 1
674 residents of New Jersey
658 employees of Cantor Fitzgerald L.P.
614 persons in Tower 2
355 employees of Marsh Inc.
343 firefighters
175 employees of Aon Corporation
37 Port Authority police officers
23 police officers
2 paramedics
1 firefighter was killed by a man who jumped off the top floors

On the airplanes there were 246 members of the crews, and passengers.
87 on American Airlines Flight 11
60 on United Airlines Flight 175
59 on American Airlines Flight 77
40 on United Flight 93

During the attack on the Pentagon 125 military personnel and civilians died.

Let us all run as many miles as we can to remember these people! 

So Glad I Got My Walk in Earlier

Otherwise, I might've had to walk in this:

I didn't get a long walk in today, because it was up around 98 degrees earlier this afternoon, but I did get close to a mile in somehow. At least the thunderstorm cooled things down a little.

Two Half Marathons in May - Over and DONE

I'm still not sure what possessed me to sign up for two half marathons within two weeks of each other, but I did it, I race walked them, finished them, and, most importantly, earned two new medals to add to my collection! The Long Branch Half Marathon with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training on May 6th, followed by the Super Hero Half Marathon in Morris Township, NJ on May 20th.

Now I get to take it "easy". "Easy" as in no half marathons for at least another 4 months (the Hershey Half on 10/21 is looking very interesting) or major fundraising efforts for at least another 6 months. (I may reconsider that if Team in Training is doing the Disney Half in January 2013.)

Next up on my race schedule is The Color Run 5K with my niece, Erica. It will be her first race, and I signed us both up as soon as registration opened this past Wednesday. By the end of the race, we're both going to look like Walt Disney threw up all over us. VERY cool! :-)

Taco Tuesday Fundraising Challenge = My First-Ever Tattoo???

In keeping with the personal significance of Taco Tuesday, today starts my Taco Tuesday Fundraising Challenge. If I make my Team in Training fundraising minimum in time for my April 18th deadline, I PROMISE that I will get a smaller version of this tattoo emblazoned on my leg by year-end to honor those I race in honor/memory of. All donations welcome, no amount is too small! Every dollar helps save a life!
http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nj12/crawlcarolcrawl

Source: google.com via Carol on Pinterest

A Typical Marathon Training Walk to Roosevelt Island and Back - A Slideshow

You can hover your mouse over the slideshow and click to pause it and go from picture to picture manually.

If you want to see the full-size photos, you can view the online album at
https://picasaweb.google.com/MsCarolM/ATypicalMarathonTrainingWalkToRooseveltIslandAndBack?authuser=0&feat=directlink

It Was a Hot One - Like Seven Ninjas in the Midday Sun

RELAX! I know those aren't the lyrics!

All I can say is that I am amazed that we not only survived our originally-scheduled 5+ mile run/walk to the Roosevelt Island lighthouse and back in the oppressive NYC heatwave, but we upped the ante! When we got to the lighthouse someone who shall remain nameless, for reasons totally beyond comprehension (including her own) asked the rest of the run/walk group if they wanted to try doing the rest of the way around the island. For reasons equally beyond comprehension, they agreed. So, we did, for a total of somewhere between 7.2 and 8.2 miles, depending on which gadget was doing the tracking.

Given both the record temperatures and the totally suckazoidal air quality, I opted to skip the "run" part of "run/walk" yesterday, and focus instead on race walking it. Very. Wise. Decision. It not only kept me from being totally miserable to be around in the heat, it also helped shift my mental focus. I've been struggling a bit with run/walking in the hot weather, not so much in terms of my legs or feet, but in terms of my breathing. It's also become a bit of a mental struggle, since I don't feel I'm doing as well as I "should" be doing. Focusing on race walking yesterday helped remind me that I'm a very good, strong, fast walker. It felt really good to be able to put in the extra mileage and still feel reasonably human while doing it. Yes, there were some torturously hot stretches (I've re-named Vernon Blvd to BURNIN' Blvd), but there were also several people out there with garden hoses who were very willing to hose us down upon request. The added bonus is that now we know where the sprinklers are on Roosevelt Island!

We also had a chance to see some interesting and cool stuff, like these three pieces:

Overall, it went much better than I had imagined it while I was getting ready the night before! I'm also really glad I brought some non-sweaty clothes to change into afterwards!

7+ Miles, 2 Dead Camera Batteries, 1 Almost-Dead Cell Phone and 200+ Pictures Later...

I'm exhausted!

It was a great day on Governors Island! The weather was a little overcast, but otherwise great. If you click on the album link below, you can view the rest of the pictures in my online photo album. If you select the "view full screen" option, you can watch it as a slideshow. As you can see from the pictures, there was a lot going on today, including the Big Apple Circus Family Fun Day - which included some trapeze work (not me, although I was sorely tempted).

Governors Island 2011 - click to view online album

One of the really cool things I did on the island today was take a tour of New York Harbor School. I remember when the building that now houses it was vacant and being restored, so seeing it transformed into a specialized public high school was pretty amazing.

New York Harbor School from Governors Island 2011

There are more pictures of the interior of the school in the album, including the marine lab. The school is also involved in the attempts to revitalize the oyster population in the Hudson. It's really very impressive.

I also had some time to stop and smell the roses, and indulge myself in a bit of floral photography, too! Click the images below to view larger versions.

From Governors Island 2011

From Governors Island 2011

It was a fantastic day on the island all-around, and I managed to log 7.25 miles by the time I got home! Governors Island is a great place to get a walk or a run in! For starters, if you walk/run around the perimeter of the island, it's flat! One of these days, I'm going to bring my inline skates and roll around the island. There are bikes for rent as well, including tandem bikes and 2-6 person surrey bikes. I might try a bike rental one of these days. At least I won't have to worry about looking any more spastic than some of the other people I've seen riding bikes on the island!

Beating the Heat

Getting a walk in after the storm, and before it hits 90 today.

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A Great Day for a Walk Across the Bridge

This past Saturday, I participated in this year's Walk MS New York to raise funds for multiple sclerosis. The walk route was 6 miles, starting at the South Street Seaport, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, around Brooklyn Heights and then back over the Brooklyn Bridge to the Seaport. This is a walk I've been participating in almost every year since April 2001, and I really enjoy it.

(Click to enlarge photo)

The weather for Saturday's walk started off a bit ominously with grey skies and lots of clouds. Anyone who knows me (especially my Team in Training friends) knows that I don't "do" rain, although last month I not only "did" rain, I finished the Coogan's Salsa, Blues and Shamrocks race in better time than I've ever done before. I'm guessing this was at least partly because I wanted to get out of the rain and into some dry clothes, so I moved a bit faster than usual. While the walk may have started off on a chilly and cloudy note, fortunately, it didn't stay that way. By the time I was halfway across, the sun had started to come out, and the grey skies had turned to blue.

Now, I'm not sure if you know what it's like to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge on a Saturday morning, but it's a bit like bedlam on a normal weekend, due to the oh-so-well delineated and never adhered to pedestrian and bike lanes. There is only one lane for bike traffic and one lane for pedestrian traffic. So, you have people on wheels in one lane, going in both directions, and people on two feet going in both directions in the other lane. And then, you have the people that STOP - right - in - the - middle to take pictures. I don't know what genius granted a permit for not one, but two large charity walk groups to be crossing the bridge in opposite directions at the same time, but forget bedlam - it was chaos. Add to that a bit of bridge construction, and some very potent chemical fumes which smelled like a meth lab exploded over the East River, and it gives "taking a trip across the bridge" a whole new meaning.

(Click to enlarge photo)

At any rate, I was most of the way across the bridge, when I spotted a familiar purple shirt of the Team in Training variety. It was a woman named Monica who is training for the San Diego Half Marathon, and she was meeting one of my favorite Team in Training people, Alison, on the Brooklyn side. So, we walked the remainder of the way across the bridge together, and we were talking so much that before we knew it, we were at Tillary Street. That's one of the really cool things about being part of Team in Training - you run into your fellow "purple people" at other races and events all over the city.

The walk then proceeded into the heart of Brooklyn Heights, which is an area I spent a lot of time in during the late 1980's doing community theatre with The Heights Players. It's a beautiful neighborhood, with some gorgeous gardens and views like this one:

(Click to enlarge photo)

Then, it was time to head back towards the bridge, but not before I stopped several times to take pictures. (I had to keep reminding myself that this was a walk, and not race, and that I could, if I chose to do so, stop along the way.) One of the really cool things I saw was this old Chevy:

(Click to enlarge photo)

The view on the return trip across the bridge was incredible:

(Click to enlarge photo)

(Click to enlarge photo)

I made it back across the bridge, and back towards the walk finish at the Seaport. On the way back to the subway, I spotted this:

(Click to enlarge photo)

Can someone please explain to me why someone would crochet a cover for their bicycle??? Are they afraid it's going to get cold??? It had this huge chain and lock on it, too. I don't know what they're worried about - no one is going to steal a bike with that thing on it! Then again, maybe that's the point.

After the walk, I had a very nice afternoon. I met up with a special friend that I haven't seen in years, had the most delicious Irish Farmhouse Breakfast I've had in a long time (aka "Cholesterol on a Plate"), a Bloody Mary to DIE for, and had an absolutely fabulous time! I can't wait to do it again!

I Made it Through the Rain

Today was the day of the Coogan's Salsa, Blues and Shamrocks 5K in Washington Heights. This is a race that I have been looking forward to ever since I first read about it on the NYRR web site right after the Disney marathon What could possibly be more fun than a 5K race with a bunch of live bands along the route? Granted, getting there from Queens took a bit of time, but it was a pretty straight shot once I got on the subway. The key was making the early (as in 6:40AM early) bus from my neighborhood to the subway station. Fortunately, the rain that was predicted in the forecast held out until after I left my house. Otherwise, I might not have made it out my front door. But, it did, and I did.

The commute was surprisingly hassle-free for a Sunday morning, even with MTA weekend service changes. I left my house around 6:30AM, was on a bus by 6:45AM, made it all the way to Times Square by 7:35AM, and up to 168th Street and Broadway well before 8:30AM. There was plenty of time to hang around outside in the rain, waiting for the race to start! Thankfully, it wasn't raining hard at that hour, but it was just enough to warrant whipping out the TOTES rain poncho I had decided to toss in my bag on my way out the door. That was probably the best decision I made today. Seriously, it saved me from being completely soaked and miserable later on, when it started to really rain - hard. And boy, did it rain in spots!

Despite the rain, this was still a really fun race for me!  There was lots of crowd support, I got to see a bunch of my fellow Team in Training folks before and after the race, and the bands were pretty good.  There were lots of children, not just those participating in the kids' race later on, but cheering in the crowd and (and this is the part that totally blew me away) volunteering at the race! They were out there working the food and water stations, in the rain, and smiling! I just thought that was so totally awesome and amazing! The course was hilly, but I didn't think the hills were as intense as either Cat Hill or Harlem Hill in Central Park. I managed to run-walk a good portion of the race, and somehow, amidst getting soaked and enjoying my run-walk, I also managed to beat my previous time, for a PR (personal record) of 5K in 44:39, with an official pace of :::drumroll please::: 14:24/mile!!! That's 28 seconds/mile off my previous best official time. Not bad, considering that my only goal for this race was to do it and have fun with it.

The worst of the rain though, was still waiting for me. It was pouring for the walk home from my bus stop! That was worse than the entire race! The only thing that kept me from being completely miserable was mentally chanting a two-word mantra during that final five blocks: "Dry clothes! Dry clothes! Dry clothes!" Next thing I knew, I was home!

Have I Mentioned That I HATE Blisters?

So, last Wednesday I attempted run/walking for the first time. Not bad! I not only survived it, I felt GREAT the next day. Saturday, I did it again for a total of an hour and forty minutes - one minute of running for every two minutes of walking. Somewhere during my 6.42 miles, I developed a blister. By the time I got home, I had not only logged 11.25 miles, I had rubbed the skin on my one toe raw. Seems the band aid I had put on my other toe rubbed the one next to it in a very wrong way. Lovely! Note to self: Don't use non-latex fabric band aids on your feet - EVER!

So, here I sit on a #7 train on my way home instead of training for my marathon. It's frustrating. I'm crabby and cranky, and writing this blog on my new DROID X using Blogger-droid. If there are no typos, I'll be amazed.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

My Walk This Morning

Courtesy of Runkeeper.com http://runkeeper.com/user/MsCarolM/profile

And the Nike+ version:
http://nikerunning.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikeplus/en_US/plus/#//runs/detail/336410385/1974970699/all/allRuns/

I Think I May Be the Oldest Person on Our Team

For real. Seriously. Unless there's someone else on the Team in Training NYC Chapter Winter Season team who's over 47, I may very well be the oldest person on our team. I could possibly be old enough to be the mother of pretty much most members of our team. Actually, far from the age thing bothering me, I think it's pretty cool. I guess it kind of makes me a mascot of sorts.

The thing that I have to remember is that, especially after being 100+ lbs heavier for almost 20 years of my life, I am not 27 years old anymore. My body is not in the same shape as it was, and it will probably never be in the same shape as my much younger team mates. I sort of forget that occasionally, and have a habit of beating myself up over it. For example, as part of my Team in Training Fast Track mentor duties, I took a spin class back in the spring. I had to bail after about 40 minutes. I beat myself up over not finishing for a while. Then I realized something. Let's face it - taking your first spin class at the ripe old age of 46, after weighing over 300 lbs for a good part of your adult life is a lot different than taking your first spin class at 27, when you're in reasonably good shape. The fact that I survived 40 minutes of it is quite an achievement in itself! Three years ago, when I weighed in at somewhere around 275 lbs I don't think I would've lasted 5 minutes, let alone 40!

My recent training sessions have also proven that I'm in better shape this year than I was last year. I've had this feeling for the past few weeks that I'm nowhere near where I should be at this point in my training. Two weekends or so ago, I took Harlem Hill in Central Park uphill at under 14:45/mile, mostly around 14:30/mile. Last year when I did Harlem Hill for the first time, I was somewhere around 16:30/mile. I'm also not wimping out on hill repeats. This past week, thanks to some great motivation from a couple of mentees, I pushed it for an extra repeat up the hill, and it felt great!

I just have to watch that I don't start getting too cocky about my ability to finish the marathon because I've done it already. I think that's going to be the biggest mental challenge. Last year it was the fear and panic that I wouldn't finish. But I've been there, done that and know that I can do it now - even at the ripe old age of 47!

Crawl, Carol, CRAWL!!! - The Sequel: I'm Doing it AGAIN!!!

Forget “Run, Forrest, RUN!” I’m doing it AGAIN!!!

LAST YEAR: I DID IT!!! I walked all 26.2 miles in the Walt Disney World Marathon on 1/10/2010. It only took me 7:23:03 (that's 7 hours, 23 minutes and 3 seconds) to do it, too!

YOU DID IT!!! You helped me cross that finish line! Your generous donations and moral support were what kept me going after around mile 18, when things got a bit tough. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

THIS YEAR: Not only am I doing it again, I've also signed up as a Team Disney Mentor! I’ll be training to race walk the full marathon in Walt Disney World to support The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training, AND helping new team members get the most out of their Team in Training experience. I'm committing to walking 26.2 miles in this event, and beating last year's time. I may even attempt the “Goofy Challenge” – a 13.1 mile half marathon on Saturday, followed by a full 26.2 mile marathon on Sunday.

In doing so, my goal is to raise $3,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by November 15th to help bring hope and at least some ease of mind to people facing blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and myeloma.
 
Your donation can make such a huge difference. It funds research, assists patients with small reimbursements for treatment expenses, provides training for peer support programs, and most important- it brings hope to so many. Please donate what you can. I know the economy is tough on us all, but please think as big and dig as deep as you're able. Every dollar counts, and at least 75% of your donation goes directly into cancer research and patient support programs. Also, your donation is 100% tax deductible.

Every single dollar makes a difference!

Please visit my website to donate:
http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/wdw11/cmartzinek

If you're not able to donate, there are loads of other ways you can help me make this happen. I've listed them below. They're equally important and greatly appreciated.

Some other ways you can help me Crawl, Carol, CRAWL!!!:

• If you have a blog or website, if you could post a link to my Team in Training website with a small blurb like the one below, it will help tremendously:

Crawl, Carol, CRAWL!!! - Please support Carol as she trains to walk in her first marathon to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training.  http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/wdw11/cmartzinek

• Visit the Crawl, Carol, CRAWL!!! Shop at http://www.cafepress.com/crawlcarolcrawl - all profits benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!

Thanks for taking the time to read and for anything you can do to help me
Crawl, Carol, CRAWL!!!

Oh Well, I Tried

Had to call it quits after about 2 miles of the More Magazine/Fitness Magazine Half Marathon on Sunday. It was pouring rain, and I was soaked before I got to the starting line. Had my feet not been squishing around inside 2 pairs of absolutely soaking wet socks, I might have hung in there. However, one thing I don't mess with is my feet. (Okay, that's two things:). Long story short, three years ago, I ended up in the hospital not once, but twice with cellulitis, which apparently entered through cracks in my heels. My heels were severely cracked and it took over a year before they fully healed. So, call me over-cautious, but once I felt my feet start giving me grief, I called it quits.

I know I made the right decision, but I'm really disappointed that the weather was so bad that I had to make that decision. I know I wouldn't have lasted 13.1 miles in the downpour. Not without head-to-toe waterproof attire, anyway! I'm already looking for water-wear for the next rainy race:

Over 7 Miles Before Noon Today

Today, we had our training session up at the Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park. It was nice seeing it in daylight. I was really focused on my race walking, so I didn't stop to take any pictures, unfortunately. It was a great day for it, too! The sun was shining and the temps were in the 60s.

Since I was running early this morning, I got off the subway at my usual 59th and Fifth Avenue station, and walked up to East 91st and Madison to meet up with my team, did my training session, and then walked back down to 59th and Fifth Avenue. By the time noon rolled around, I had put 7.28 miles on my pedometer. Right now, at the end of the day, I'm up to 8 miles. Show you how lazy I was after I got home, doesn't it? :-)

On another note, in less than 3 weeks, I will be walking in Walk MS New York to raise funds for The National MS Society. I'm planning to walk the full 6 mile route, weather permitting. The following weekend, I'll be race walking in the More/Fitness Magazine Half Marathon. These will be followed by AIDS Walk in May, and Walk Now for Autism in June. Then, a much-needed rest until I start gearing up for Walt Disney World 2011!

The marathon may be over, but the blog (and fund raising) continue...

While this blog was initially started to record my training and other "adventures" leading up to my first marathon, I've decided to continue the blog to include my current and future race walking efforts, as well as updates on my fund raising walks between now and next year's Walt Disney World Marathon for The Leukemia &Lymphoma Society's Team in Training.

Next up on my charity walk schedule is Walk MS New York 2010, to take place at the South Street Seaport in Manhattan on Sunday, April 18th. I have a choice of a 3 or 6 mile route. Since I'll be race walking in the More/Fitness Magazine Half Marathon in Central Park the following Sunday, I may opt for the 3 mile route instead of the full 6 miles. I'll see how I feel that morning. If you would like to make a donation to help my fund raising efforts for those with MS, you may do so at
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/carolm2010

26.2 Miles Later...

I did it! I crossed the finish line of my first (and possibly last) full marathon. (Yeah, I know - I say that now.)

I think one of the most amazing things (besides actually being able to see and cross the finish line) was that I did it all with only one pit stop during the race at Mile 9, without another one until I got back to my hotel room after the marathon. We're talking almost 6 hours without a pee break. Considering the amount of water and Power Ade that I drank at each station, and the fact that it was freezing-ass COLD out there, that's nothing short of miraculous!

All in all, I held up pretty well physically. Some minor annoyances like a small blister at the bottom of my little toe that started at around Mile 23, and my left knee started to bother me a little bit after Mile 10, probably due to the pitch in the road. Mentally was another story altogether. There were some long stretches of highway walking - particularly between the starting line at EpCot and the Magic Kingdom. On the plus side, they were flat. On the minus side, they were B-O-R-I-N-G! They were also just a bit windy in spots. Just a bit. I think my worst stretch mentally and physically was between miles 18-24, especially between miles 20-21! (Those of you who were there know what I mean:-) My best miles pace-wise were miles 1-10.

My best miles mentally were miles 24-26.2, when one of my coaches met me and walked through EpCot's World Showcase with me as far as mile 26. It was like strolling through my "home away from home" at Disney. The best part (aside from crossing the Finish Line) was having an unplanned cheering section made up of my friends, the fabulous and wonderful World Showcase Players, who were starting a show right as I passed the United Kingdom pavillion. That was AWESOME!!! Talk about perfect timing!

More to follow a bit later (because there's SO MUCH more great stuff to tell), but I wanted to write at least this much down before I forgot it all. It was a great experience!