Haiti 4 Mile Marathon and Cherry Tree 10 Mile

This weekend was the first double long of the year.  That is I ran long on both Saturday and Sunday.  I am starting off small at first, with just 25 and then 10 miles respectively.  I figured it is time to start compounding the mileage and get used to running on tired legs.  From what I’ve read about training for ultra marathons, it is better to do two large back to back runs, than one single very long run over a given weekend.  I supposed I’ll eventually get up to regularly doing 30 miles, plus 20 miles on a weekend.

The first run was part of the NYRR Haiti 4 Mile run in Central Park.  The run was a virtual repeat of the run I did only two weeks previously.  I basically ran the same route to Central Park, raced the same course and ran the same way home with few variations.  I guess I am getting stronger as it really felt like I did nothing.  I saw @bklynrunner during the 4 mile race and she remarked how I looked like I wasn’t even exerting myself.  Well, in truth I wasn’t.  I run so slow these days that I am strictly back of the pack when it comes to racing.  I don’t like the back of the pack feeling.  It makes me think that no one is behind me and that I am going to be the last one to finish the race.  It’s a disconcerting feeling and one that I will have to get used to if I keep doing 9 mile warm-ups before I begin a race.

After the race, I headed for the West Side Highway for my trip south to the Brooklyn Bridge.  For some reason I developed some gut cramps along the way and realized I would need to find a bathroom.  I don’t discuss this much on my blog or with other non-runners, but running can be a very icky sport at times.  You have everything from snot rockets (I’m an expert at that), blisters, chafing, nipple bleeding (from chafing), gas (farting), vomiting and other GI problems.  I seem to only suffer from the occasional GI distress and today it seemed to bother me.  Fortunately, Chelsea Piers along the West Side has a very conveniently located bathroom that I was able to duck into.  It was warm and clean and I spent a relieving few minutes in it clearing myself out.  Usually I just have gas, but every now and again, I have more that I need to get out. 

That business put aside, I got back to the task of running home.  As I was running, I ran into fellow ultra runner extraordinaire Bob F.  I’ve run into him several times over the course of the years while running long.  We don’t live next to each other, but when you start to cover long distances, you will eventually find yourselves on the same trail.  It was good to chat with him for a while and he was kind enough to let me take a swig of some HEED from his water bottle.  We talked about some upcoming races including the Camsuett 50K in a few weeks which we are both doing.

After we parted ways, I didn’t stop again until I got to the Brooklyn Bridge.  At the foot of the bridge is the usual hot dog vendor that @aristorat and I usually buy water.  I stopped to say hello and bought a bottle of water.  I was surprised at how thirsty I was, as before I knew it the bottle of water was gone.  I need to start carrying a water pack with me.  Being dehydrated is not a good thing.  I took my obligatory picture on the bridge and then didn’t stop again until I reached Park Slope.

In Park Slope, I stopped by the race packet pickup for the next day’s Cherry Tree 10 Mile race in Prospect Park.  Someone I know from the Prospect Park Track Club was handing out the packets and we shot the breeze for a little while.  I debated the merits of running a little longer to make the day’s run a full marathon, but I didn’t feel like extending my distance while carrying the race packet around.  So I just exited the store and ran home.  As was the run 2 weeks previously, my distance was a nice 25 miles.  After getting home, I showered, had some lunch and then took a nap.

The next day I slept as late as I could before waking up to run the Cherry Tree.  The race didn’t start until 10am, so I got to sleep a little late, especially with the race starting right by my house in Prospect Park.  I knew I wouldn’t set any land speed records for it and just felt determined to get it over with.  My right shin was hurting a bit and I feared that this would only get worse as the day went on.

I ran for a good part of the race with a group of women training for a marathon with Team in Training.  It was interesting to hear the running point of view from new runners, especially those that are first beginning their training.  Inevitably the conversation got around to what I was training for and how many marathons I did.  I never know how to answer these questions.  Sometime I think to just say that yes I am training for my first marathon.  I all too often get weird reactions from people, especially newbies, when I tell them the distances I’ve run or the training I recently did.  I think the next time, I’ll just say that I am doing my first marathon and ask them for advice.

Not much else is left to say about the Cherry Tree.  I came, I ran, I conquered.  I finished strong and then met up with my friends for some libations at a local pub.  I couldn’t stay long as my children were waiting for me to come home and bring lunch.  I was hungry by the time I got home and ate 3 slices from the pizza pie that I brought home.  I took a short nap after lunch and then spent the remainder of the day with my children.