I had listed what I purchased at the beginning of my training. I figured I could give you an update of what I think of them now that I've put some more miles in.
- GPS watch - Garmin Forerunner 210. Love it. Get one if you run at all. It's so much easier to know the distance and not have to map it out ahead of time.
- Fuel belt water holder - I've used the dorky belt a ton. I guess there's no way around it. The one I have is good because there is a pouch to carry my phone and the gels.
- New sneakers - I'm wearing Brooks. I just bought my 3rd and 4th pair since I started. I read that you are supposed to get new sneakers after 300-500 miles. Kind of a wide range. I can totally feel the difference though when I start using the new ones. This last weekend I bought two pairs and decided to alternate them to have them last longer. I got two of the same kind in two different colors. One of them will be the ones I run in on race day. I'll have to see if it feels like a blue or a purple day.
- New running socks - using the same socks.
- Sweaty band headbands - Out of the 5 I bought, I pretty much wear the same black and white one. Figures.
- Books on running - I read the Kara Goucher and Jeff Galloway book, but haven't been able to get into Born to Run.
- New running clothes - mostly been working on trying to find a better sports bra. I think I'm on my 3rd brand since I started. It's surprising how many of them have really uncomfortable seams that rub on my shoulder or sides at longer distances and of course the better ones cost more. I think I finally found a winner from Lululemon. The style that seems to work is called Ta Ta Tamer. Catchy right? But really, $58 for a sports bra? How is that possible?
- GU Energy Gel - Orange is my favorite flavor.
- Visor - Now I have two visors. I actually wear the visor a lot. It's so much better than wearing sunglasses.
I still check out everything at City sports or Marathon Sports whenever I get the chance, but mostly everything I bought so far I have gotten a lot of use out of.
Lisa
Yesterday was a 16 mile long run. I was up and out at 7AM to tackle the run. For some reason about 3 miles in, I just didn't have it in me yesterday. I wasn't feeling like I had a lot of energy and decided to turn around and head home. That's the first time I've done that and I decided I was allowed a pass for a day. It's weird how sometimes I have a ton of energy and then some days it's just not there. I still have another 15 and 16 mile week before I go up to 18, so I will just need to get through the 16 miles this next Saturday no matter what.
After the morning, I went up to North Andover to hang out with the Chitticks for the day. It was a fun day of picking raspberries and tomatoes, flying kites and eating yummy food. Here are a few pictures from the day.
Jen and Ainsley
Sam with his raspberries
This last picture is of Ruby. The newest addition to the family. It was hard to get a picture because she wouldn't stop moving. Definitely a fun day!
Lisa
This past Thursday night, my training schedule had me running 11 miles. 11 miles on a Thursday night? Really? Well I actually went 10 which I figured was pretty good for a weeknight.
But this is about grilled cheese.....So there is a food truck that has been parked in my neighborhood (Cleveland Circle) recently. It's Roxy's Grilled Cheese. I've seen the truck parked on random nights when I come home from work, but haven't made it over to check it out yet. I also saw it in a segment about Food Trucks making a comeback in Boston on Chronicle. By the way...I am totally hooked on watching Chronicle (which is like a fluffier version of 60 minutes) and 60 minutes for that matter. I used to be so bored when my parents watched 60 minutes when I was a kid, but now it's probably one of my favorite shows. I guess I am sort of a contradiction because Real World is also one of my favorite shows.....whatever....back to the food truck. Anyway, when I finished up my 10 mile run on Thursday night and got back to Cleveland Circle, the Roxy food truck was there waiting for me. I ended up getting a "rookie melt" which was a standard grilled cheese with tomato. It was awesome. I am definitely going to head there again to get a more daring choice next time which has something like lamb or guacamole in it. If you are in Cleveland Circle, check it out or see where else they are stopping by checking out the website.
Lisa
I did get my 13 mile long run in on Saturday morning, but the real fun of the day was the wedding later that night. Of course I didn't take a single picture (if anyone else did, definitely share), but I have to say it was a such a fun wedding and I couldn't have been happier for the happy couple! It was quite a Clarkson reunion and so great to see everyone!
Lisa
This past Saturday I went down to NYC again to participate in one of the Fred's Team training runs. It was great!
Turns out that Park Avenue is closed for 3 Saturdays in August from 7AM to 1PM as part of Summer Streets. We started at the intersection of 72nd and 5th avenue and ran over and down Park Avenue all the way to the Brooklyn Bridge. The far side of the Brooklyn Bridge was 6 miles. After getting back to where we started, we ran a 4 mile loop around Central Park. This is a view coming back over the bridge to Manhattan.
All along the street there were tents set up where you could rent rollerblades or bikes. There was a tent for Whole foods and lots of other places giving out samples of something. We even passed a table with two huge piles of cookies....that was just mean. There were also water fountains along the route where we could fill up.
Here's the view from running back up Park Avenue towards Grand Central Station.
It was great to be running in the city and I ran with two great women who made the time by much faster and we had lots to chat about. We finished the 16 miles in about 3 hours which is around 11 minute miles. Not too bad. The only tough part about driving down and back from Wappingers to run is the 1 1/2 hour drive back to my Dad's after the long run. I felt a little like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz when I got out of the car. All in all it was a great run on Saturday and a great weekend seeing the family. I'm hoping to get down to NY at least one or two more times before the actual race! 90 days from today I will be back running in the city and I can't wait!
Lisa
Here are a few things that I was thinking of today on my run. This is probably more than I should share because it's pretty random, but oh well...what else am I going to write about? :)
- When I run from my house out to Newton and around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir I always run a loop counterclockwise, but when I run around the Charles I always run a loop clockwise. I guess I'm one of those people that once I pick a direction on a route, I always run it the same way. Sort of get in a rut and don't change. I guess that's similar to how I can get hooked on eating a tuna sandwich for lunch for months at a time and then have to quit because I get sick of them all of a sudden one day....ok a little off topic. P.S. - I'm on a tuna sandwich kick now. :)
- I've been filling up my water bottle in two drinking fountains on the Charles on my long runs and filled up today because I brought my hand held water bottle instead of wearing the belt. Is the water from those fountains ok to drink? I mean I haven't gotten sick or anything (knock on wood). Even though I have a Brita, I go by the philosophy that tap water is fine. I mean that's all we used to drink back before cell phones and internet. (That's my old person equivalent of walking to school up hill both ways in the snow). The only thing that made me question the water fountain was on Saturday, I was filling up at the fountain by Community Boating and a woman came up next to me with her dog. There is a tap on one side of the drinking fountain that has a little bowl for the dogs. She filled up for her dog, but didn't drink out of the water fountain herself. Have I basically started drinking the same water that only dogs will drink?
- When I'm running and carrying a water bottle, I always have to carry it in my right hand. If I have a longer distance like today, my shoulder actually starts to hurt a little from carrying it. But no matter how hard I try, I can't manage to really run with it in my left hand. I always try to switch it up, but I get all off balance and have sometimes almost tripped. I tried again tonight, but couldn't do it. I mean the water bottle thing ways 2 pounds, but I am just so uncoordinated that I can't carry it in my left hand. Why is that?
- Do all car salesmen smoke? I run past a car dealership on Comm Ave and the salesmen are always out front smoking. I think it's a thing that there isn't a lot else to do while you're waiting for people to come in. I don't think it's an official prerequisite for the job, but it might be.
- OK last one...There were a pack of about 20 people running in a group towards me today on the street. About 1/2 of them were wearing yellow tepees on their heads and most wearing knee socks with their shorts. They were like those cone party hats, but only about an inch tall and kind of flattened. 2 people in the group had whistles. What was with the yellow tepees? Were they pledging some fraternity? There were girls and guys though? That one had me stumped.
I'll be running down in NY this Saturday for a Fred's Team training run. 16 miles. Yikes.
Lisa
