I haven't posted since last year, wow. Well, a lot has transpired since my last post. My training, well. 2012 was a disappointing year with training, Storm Sandy and then the cancellation of the NYC Marathon. It was bittersweet. It was stressful to train in the aftermath, while cursing NYRR for not canceling, I still went to the Expo to pick up my bib, etc. While I was there, there was a rumor that it had been cancelled, I didn't believe it. But alas, that was true, cancelled. What a drag, now what? So I signed up for the Death Valley Marathon in Feb. and continued training. Of course, three weeks before leaving for Vegas, I strained my calf and had to drop out but decided the week prior to switch to the Half instead.
Death Valley. AMAZING, awesome, the best race and place that I have visited!! I didn't feel the normal pressure to run fast, etc. I took it easy, i felt my calf pop a quarter of a mile out. It was reported to be a flat course, it was not. Headphones were not permitted so the silence was like nothing I have experienced before. Silence. The desert is silent, unbelievable. The scenery, amazing, silent. 300 runners in total including the marathoners, 10K and 5K runners. Silent. My time was not the best since I had to walk part and chat with a local man who runs this annually but was having issues. I felt fine afterwards and would like to travel there again to run but there are other places to see and visit but no place on earth like Death Valley.
Running got to be hard, painful and not fun. I took a month off, doing other things instead. Now I have lost the endurance but it's coming back. I did the Brooklyn Half in May...not the best time but not terrible. Skipped the Oakley Mini 10K because of food poisoning, which was a drag. I can't seem to run fast as earlier but i'm out there. Next is the ING Marathon again. Am looking for a 20 week plan which would start tomorrow. LOL, whatever..i need to lose another 5 pounds....gotta stop eating. no dairy, no red meat from my acupuncturist.
