The finish line of the 2021 NYC marathon
I wasn’t sure this would happen in 2022, but here we are – week one of training for the NYC Marathon! So as of writing this, we are 17 weeks out from the big day. Right now, it feels like that time is going to pass in the blink of an eye.
I am somehow more nervous for the miles that I am supposed to run this week than I have been for past training cycles, probably because I am coming off the longest running hiatus I have taken since I first started running in 2015. It has been a few months since I have trained consistently, my last long run being the NYC Half marathon in March. Since then I have completed a total of ONE run that lasted longer than 20 minutes…. So I have my work cut out for me.
I took the time to make my traditional excel sheet, with color coded runs and mileage tallys, which tells me what mileage I need to run on a given day. NYC will be my 10th marathon, and I have tried a bunch of different training plans over the last 5 years. I first pulled up the plan that lead to my marathon PR, the runners world “Break 4 hours” plan. While my race wound up taking 4 hours and 13 minutes, it still stands as my PR, and I was eager to give it another go – but I had to admit to myself that my base fitness is not at that level right now. The first week of that plan has a 7 mile track workout, and I haven’t run that far at even an easy pace in months. So I tucked that plan away, and reached for a more basic plan – Hal Higdon’s marathon novice program. I was a little bummed to make this decision, but I know that starting off with that plan will help me ease into longer runs and higher mileage, and that I can always add in speedwork as my fitness improves.
Since the mileage starts out lower with this plan, I want to make sure I am focusing on caring for my body, with regular strength work, yoga, and solid nutrition. To set myself up for success I spent Sunday with my slow cooker, meal prepping chicken and rice to have for lunch during the week.
Since I didn’t have any mileage planned for Monday, I went to my favorite yoga studio after work. I had an acupuncture appointment scheduled, something I started doing earlier this year after a pinched nerve lead to shoulder pain. I also really like that the sessions force me to unplug and take time to breathe and relax, something that I am not always great at making time for.
When I got home Den and I took a walk to the library to pick up a book I had put on hold, which was about 2 miles round trip. Not running, but I feel like any miles under foot count when you are marathon training. I rounded out the night with a 20-minute restorative yoga class via the peloton app, and then a little reading before bed.
For months I have struggled with morning wakeups, but there is something to be said for having someone else hold you accountable – and my Dad knows that, which is probably why he texted me Monday night saying that his bike would be hitting the road at 6:20 the following morning. It was the exact motivation I needed to get in a morning run, which is really when I prefer to run while marathon training. I got to my parents’ house, and both my Dad and my Mom had bikes ready to go, so I would have company on my run. My primary goal was to get through three miles without walking, regardless of the pace. As we left the house, Dad teased that he didn’t need a helmet because we would be moving so slow – which was unusual, because my Dad is ALWAYS a helmet person. Wearing a helmet while riding a bike is something that was ingrained onto me from a young age…. Perhaps because I was known to ride a little too close to hazards as a kid.
Having struggled to run shorter distances without walking in the previous weeks, I wasn’t sure I would be able to pull this off, but I knew having my parents along with me would give me an extra push. We got moving and chatted a little bit. It was a warm morning, and I was struggling. But I picked a 3 mile route that I had probably run a hundred times before, and focused on landmarks – I knew the fire hydrant that marked one mile, the tree at the two mile location next to the sump, and that I would hit three miles right as we got back to the house. I focused on just getting to each of these, regardless of the pace I was running. It was a “short” run, but damn, I wanted to walk.
Somehow, I pulled it off – which I know, may not seem like much. A big part of me wants to say it was “only” three miles. But for where I am mentally and physically right now, 3 miles is an accomplishment! My legs agreed that it was a big deal, as they felt wobbly as I walked for a minute after hitting the three mile mark.
That night I got in a little cross training, by heading to a group class at crunch fitness with Sophie. We recently joined in an effort to do more strength training, and I am hoping that eventually I will work up the courage to go near the squat rack, like I used to!
My alarm went off Wednesday morning and I once again dragged myself out of bed and headed to my parents’ house, so they would bike along with me as I ran. This time Dad pulled on his helmet, as Dennis had teased him about not wearing one Monday. Dad’s rebuttal included comments about how Dennis has been known to mow the lawn in sandals, so Den is naturally scheming to pick out the safest outfit possible the next time he breaks out the mower – does anyone have a bubble wrap connection?
The miles were just as slow as Tuesday’s, but I felt more at home as I ran. I chatted with Dad about my training schedule, trying to decide if I should tack miles on before or after Saturday’s 5k, or if I should do a separate long run Sunday. I was skeptical about doing an additional long run Sunday, as this was my first week back to running and the training plan only called for 4 days and 15 miles of running, so adding the extra 5k would increase the weekly mileage by 20%. Three miles doesn’t sound like a big adder, but 20% is a significant increase!
Dad pressed the point that I was just starting to run again, and that I shouldn’t jump into things too fast. He advocated for me to just run the 5k, and wait until next week to do my first “long” run, which was ultimately what I decided to do. When I finished my run, I felt it in my legs, and I was hungry! I headed home and decided to actually make myself eggs before heading to work, at the expense of stretching post run. I know, I know, I should be doing both things, but I started a new job with an earlier start time, so I am still figuring out the timing of morning runs.
Thursday was my final pre-work run of the week, and I really wanted to roll back over after a less than stellar night of sleep. But it was week one, and I knew I would be starting a bad habit to already be hitting snooze – plus, my bike escort was waiting for me.
I changed up the route that morning, instead of going for my standard three-mile loop and spotted a few other runners out at the same time, which is unusual. I wondered if they were starting to train for NYC as well. I really wanted to stop and walk about halfway through but settled for chugging some water as I ran. By the end of the run. Sweat was dripping down my face, and I even ran through a sprinkler as I approached mile 3. I took a 5 minute post-run stretch class before getting on with my day.
After work Sophie and I wanted to go swimming, but mother nature had another plan, as thunderstorms loomed in the forecast. We settled for doing another crunch fitness class, this one called “HIIT the deck,” which felt like a jazzercise class. It did force me to work on single leg motions and squats, so I count it as solid cross training for my legs. We had fun with it, even if it made me feel a little like I was back in high school and trying to learn the dance combo as I auditioned for the school musical.
Friday was a rest day, that I took seriously. I did a restorative yoga class after work and took it easy for the night.
I didn’t really plan on doing a race so early into marathon training, but on Saturday morning my younger bother had invited me to participate in a local 5k that his police academy class was helping with, so I agreed. I really feel like I should be putting the word race in quotes or something, because I was in no way racing this event. Since I decided to participate instead of doing a “long” run, I wanted to try to push the pace a little, and at least finish faster than my week day runs had been.
The race was called “the Bayshore fire department race to the pump 5k.” and on Saturday morning I met my brother at my parent’s house, and he drive Sophie and I with him to the start. Kevin claimed he wasn’t planning on racing, but I knew from past experiences that he would take off as soon as the race started, and we would not see him again until we finished. When we got there Sophie and I hung out and entered a few raffles as Kevin worked with his classmates to set up the food drive tent. We picked up our race bibs and then hung out on the beach as we waited for the race to start. Eventually an announcement was made asking all runners to head to the start line.
They had little cheerleaders chanting at the start, and a blow horn sounded to let us know it was time to go. Sophie and I decided to stick together, and we watched as Kevin disappeared into the first row of runners. The course was on small local roads, all along a channel. We had water views and even some shade covering us at times. Sophie and I chatted and just focused on forward motion as we made our way along the course. At about the half way point there was a water stop, and we grabbed little cups, since it was hot out.
The second half of the course included a little out and back, before we crossed over the channel and headed to the final turn of the race. As soon as we turned the corner we could see the finish line - and a fire truck spouting water on the other side of it! I really liked that it was truly a “race to the pump!”
Sophie and I crossed the finish line together, and Kevin was waiting for us right on the other side - he had finished the race in 19 minutes and change, placing second in his age group and 9th overall! Sophie and I agreed that we had to run though the water that the truck was pouring out, and had fun doing it!
After the race there was a free drink for each runner, which I was pleasantly surprised to learn was not beer - instead it was an alcoholic Gatorade that a local brewery makes! It was dangerously good. There were also bagels, and free stretches from a local PT place, which I took advantage of.
We waited for the award ceremony, and the raffle prizes, which we had some luck with - I won a $50 gift card to a local tattoo parlor, and Sophie won a soft cooler filled with white claw, AND the “basket of cheer!” Her new apartment will be well stocked!
After all that was done we packed it into the car, and headed to brunch to celebrate my Mom’s birthday.
On Sunday I woke up and headed right to the yoga studio, and took a nice stretchy class, that was just on the cusp of a challenge. Normally the Sunday morning class is intense, but it was like the universe knew I needed a slower flow. After the class I had another acupuncture appointment, and was glad that Vanessa offers this service at her studio, as I felt really taken care of.
I spent the rest of Sunday mentally battling my rest day. I felt like I HAD to do something, whether it be a swim, run, or bike, but reminding myself that I need to ease back into doing all these things, and instead cleaned the house and finished reading a book.
That’s the end of week one - thanks for reading, and I hope that we can make it to the NYC marathon finish line together!