Turkey Swamp Half Marathon

On Sunday, August 18th I participated in the Turkey Swamp Race Day.  Turkey Swamp is a multi-race day of trail running in Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold Township.  It was my first trail running in some time and my first trail half marathon, ever. Imagine 100 or so of your friends all coming together for a footrace and a barbecue.  That's the Turkey Swamp experience.

The day consists of 10 mile, 13.1 mile, 26.2 mile and 50K races all run simultaneously via a 2.5 mile loop through the park.  As a beginner, I wasn't sure whether I was getting beat or not because I wasn't sure who I was running against.  All the participants start at the same time to "Ready. Set. Go!"  Within the first loop you are spread along the race course running at your own pace.  I was lapped by more experienced and faster runners and I also lapped a few people. The lap system is fun because I enjoyed running through the timing mats and seeing my progress.  Plus once you finish, you can watch the other participants complete their race. It lends itself to camaraderie.

What I liked About this race:

• The trail running experience was a blast, beautiful scenery and great food with a very supportive running group. 
• I loved seeing my coach win the 50K (yes, she's an ultra runner! see Coach Shannon at her blog). 
• Meeting Tom in the parking lot and swapping running stories.  He ran the ten miler and was leaving when I finished up.
• Meeting Paul, a fellow beer aficionado and the winner of the marathon.
• Meeting Yvonne and Lucimar and driving them north.  These dedicated runners took a taxi from Queens and didn't have a way to get back to NYC.  They are great company, if you get the chance, give 'em a ride!

The Art of the Run

Last week I ran 40 miles in training.  That's the most I've ever run, in one week, period.

I loved every minute those 40 miles.  It became a personal goal for me to run that mileage and do so with grace and (relative) speed.

This week is a recovery week, giving my body time to heal and to prepare for another push in the mileage. My first run this week was a 2 mile recovery run (aka 11 minutes per mile).  I'm not exaggerating when I say I "didn't break a sweat".  That speed, for that distance, just doesn't feel that hard for me any more.

My initial thought was that 2 miles seems silly.  Then I moved my focused to how I "felt" during each step of the two miles. Was I  running lightly, carefully, gently?  Was my body awareness intact? Were my legs tired from yesterday's 17 mile effort?  Did I feel any strain at all?  In short, I realized that it was practice.

When I learned to play the guitar, I practiced scales at each lesson. Each note played in a particular pattern taught me the notes and trained my fingers to move with grace and ease.   As improved on guitar, I found that practicing the scales had changed from a tedious exercise to a familiar pleasantness.  These slow, repetitive movements were my foundation for building speed and awareness.What was once a strain during my early learning, became an expression of art.  Each note, as I played, rose to it's highest manifestation ringing out in a moment of golden perfection.

Those steps I took last night, on the treadmill, to cover 2 miles in 22 minutes or so, were my scales.  Simple, direct, slow but the foundation for all I have started to do and all I expect to achieve.  There is no "junk", no "throw away", no "purposeless" run.  Each step is a note in the art of running that I create.  Each run a song that I perform with my mind and body in concert.

Six Miles to Yackville

Today's workout was to run 6 miles at a 10 minute pace or better, preferably negative splits.  Negative splits are when you run the second half faster than the first half.

I try to run with the Hoboken Harriers on Tuesday nights, primarily because we drink beer afterwards. Tonight my personal life intervened and by the time I sorted it out, it was 10:15 pm.  My options were to run in the dark or to hit the treadmill in my gym.  I opted for the treadmill.  I'm not a huge fan of treadmill running but it does allow for better control of your pace.

I started out at a 10:06 for the first mile, figuring that I would ratchet it down to about an exact 10 min mile as time went on.  Running on a treadmill allows such great control of the timing of each split, you set it and forget it, Ron Popeil style.  It also seems to be easier on my legs.

So I'm running and sweating and go from a 10:06 to a 10:00, another 10:00 and yet another 10:00.  That speed is exact.  After four miles I had run a 40:06.  The extra 6 seconds is the time lag when you are starting to run at the very beginning.  But I like to be exact and decide to get faster to make up the six seconds.

Here comes the negative splits!  I increase the pace to 9:54 and that only gets me to a time of 50:02!  I speed up for that last mile giving it my all and push the pace to a 9:48.    I really want to be faster for the second part of the run and average at or less than 10 minutes per mile.  Then it happens.  I start to dry heave.  Oh no, I'm going to "yack" on the treadmill!

But I don't want to get off the treadmill. My workout's not done yet.  I swallow the lump in my throat and keep running.  It comes down to a game of "chicken".  I have about 3 minutes left and I am awash with nausea.  Will I throw up before I finish or finish before I throw up?

I watch the readout roll up to 6 miles, jump off the treadmill and stumble towards the  bathroom.  

I dry heave a little and then gain my composure.  As I'm getting it together I decide walk back to my apartment.

Get to my apartment and I think maybe I should have something to eat since I didn't eat dinner and I need to recover.  Experts say chocolate milk is great for recovery and as I picture a frothy glass of chocolate milk, I get nauseous and start to dry heave again.

I decide on lemonade, thinking that the lemon taste and the sugar may revive me.

It does.  Big score for lemonade!

Thank goodness no yacking on the treadmill.