14.2m training run

(Okay, due to some blogger fluke, I'm writing this from the future.  I set all my posts to auto-post and I typically do it at the start of the week, and this one went through today even though it's clearly dated tomorrow.  Weird...  Sorry for today's double post, and the fact that now there won't be a post tomorrow!)

The weather this weekend was... dare I say it?  Absolutely glorious.  Beautiful.  Awesome.  Amazing.

Perfect weather for running.  And so I did!

On Saturday, I went out for about 4m - enough to test my legs out again and confirm that there was no pain.  Nice.

I stupidly took NO pictures of the event,
so you'll have to settle for a picture of my
really dumb BBQ-loading the night before.

On Sunday, I went along with my plan to do the 14.2m Training Run along the entire length of Manhattan.  I'd gotten a flier for the event ("It's not a race!", according to all the promotional material) at a 5k a few months back, and I thought it sounded like a neat idea.  Plus, you get a ton of swag: a bag, a coffee mug, a shirt, and a medal.  The only problem is the price, which by most standards is kind of steep (I think it was $45 when I signed up, and it went up from there).

That said, those of us who belong to the NYRR are kind of spoiled with our $18 races.  I don't know if I would say this run was worth $50+, but it was a great event: well organized, well supported, and fun.

I didn't know what to expect of myself.  In theory, I only took two weeks off - my running shouldn't have been compromised.  In practice, the week before I took off was pretty weak, and I haven't been the strongest in general for a while.  But, it was a training run.  No clock, no pressure.  Just gorgeous weather, beautiful scenery, and good company.  Not only did I meet up with someone from the Runner's World forums who was running almost exactly my pace, but he was happy to let me chitchat as I'm wont to do.  He's training for his first half - Yonkers.  He'll be prepared for it.  And I'm impressed. That race is infamous.

I was under strict instructions from my sister (that I secretly had no intention of obeying) to only run 10 and to walk the final 4.  As a concession to her, I told my newfound friend to go ahead of me around 10.5 and I alternated running and walking for the last few miles (mostly running... shhh...).  The race set up was clear: they had police blocking the roads for us in northern Manhattan and then flag wavers marking the course once we entered the path along the river (in the 90s).  There were water/Gatorade stations set up every couple of miles with super-friendly volunteers and fruit and bagels at the finish.