On Saturday I ran the UAE HK 10K in Central Park. When I was lined up in the corrals I turned to my friend and said I hope this isn’t the Scotland Run route; low and behold it was the Scotland Run route! This route is what I call the reverse run of Central Park. It is the absolute worse because you are constantly running up and down (mainly up hill). So it is very easy to poop yourself out, especially early on during the race. The race starts off with a steady incline, and as I’m running it I think what the heck is this! We run through the start, and the finish line is about 400 meters after the start line, so we run through the finish line at the beginning of the race. When I run this route I always wonder why they just don’t start and finish the race at the same point. Anywho I was off.
I kept a decent pace the first mile 9:50, and the exact thing that I mentioned above could happen did happen…I pooped myself out! As you can see from the elevation chart the start of the race was basically a steady increase in elevation. A quick downhill, then a steady climb during mile 2. The climb was really torturous because I remember once I got to the top I had a bit of a break on a straight away, then a decent, then here comes a whole other climb. It was just really nonstop. Once I reached the 5K mark I never thought I would see the end of that hill. I was so happy to get to the top and get a slight breather.
Me and Allison pre-race
On top of the constant climbing, it was unusually hot out for May in NYC. I was sweating almost immediately once the race started; like sweating so badly I was constantly wiping my forehead. Because I was so hot I made sure to hit every water station for hydration. One of the stations had gatorade so I grabbed two cups there, chugged them down, and kept it moving.
The rest of the race was pretty uneventful. I ran up on a guy and he was stomping so loudly, I tapped his shoulder and he looked at me and I said pick up your feet, we only have a mile to go! He looked at me with the “what the heck did you say face?” He takes out his headphones and I repeat myself and he picks up his feet and takes off. I caught back up to him about 200 meters later and just cruised by him. I think he was a bit tired at the point, but he was no longer dragging his feet. If you see a runner doing this…help em out! I finished the race in 1:06. My slowest time for a 10k in a long time, but I’m ok with that. I’m getting back into the groove of things, and I am bound to improve in the very near future.
Next weeks race…The Brooklyn Half!!
Is this lavender or lilac? I don’t know which one it was, but they smelled wonderful!
So yesterday I had the esteemed pleasure (lol) of running the Queens 10k for the 2nd time. I took the entire week off……I felt I deserved a bit of rest so this was my first run since that disastrous run (walk) at Ironman Eagleman last weekend, and I have to say I was really a bit scared to attempt to run again. After suffering through that unbearable heat I really didn’t know if I could make my legs move in any form of rapid motion again…but alas I did it! Side note…I didn’t realize how slim I’ve gotten until I saw the pic above….check out those guns though LMAO!!!
Anywho, Deb, Allison, and I carpooled it over to Queens. There were severe thunderstorms forecast for
Me and Allison
this day, along with rain all day, so they pushed back the start an hour. BTW, neither happened but it turned out to be a super humid muggy day, and the sun didn’t show her pretty face until the race was over. This race was huge…and I mean ginormous! My number was in the 10,000s, and I believe they went up to like 14,000 so there had to be at least 9k-10k people in this race, and I certainly felt it. It was a tight squeeze at the start. The race started in Corona Park and the
Hey Deb!
pathways are not that wide, so it made the corrals feel very sardine like. Of course we had to have a little bit of fun and get some pre-race selfies in! As I got to the start mat my heart began to race. I was legitimately very nervous. It felt like the exact same feeling that I felt before the start of the swim at Eagleman. I haven’t felt nervous before a running race probably since my first 5k. I think I just needed to get the jitters out. Eagleman did leave me a bit traumatized from the run, so once I mentally let it go I was ok.
Fast forward to running. I was doing a lot of bobbing and weaving the first mile because there were just so many people. On top of that there were sooooo many people walking early on. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with walking, but just like when you drive a car if you are going slower you should stay to the right. Faster runners will run to the left so walking there can easily turn into an unwarranted accident. I was feeling pretty good the first 2.5 miles, but by the time I got to mile 3 the humidity got me. I was soaked with sweat. It felt like I stopped in the middle of the race and took a shower. At one point I looked down at my crotch and asked myself “did you pee on yourself” lmao!! I didn’t but had to ask myself to make sure because it surely looked like it! I stopped at mile 3 to get some water and boy was that a mistake! The water literally tasted like a rusty pipe…it was really disgusting! I believe at mile 4 there was Gatorade so I gladly slurped that down to remove the rusty water taste from my mouth. Looking at my time now, I can see how I shut down after mile 3. I now know that I have to make this summer my training playground, because girlfriend does not do well in heat and humidity…another lesson learned, and I am still chasing that official race sub 60 10k…I’ll get there!
I booked it as best as I could to get to the finishline. All I could remember was running this race 2 yrs ago and seeing people who already finished with no medals around their neck. I know we shouldn’t run for medals, but it is always nice to get one. That wasn’t the case this year (or last) NYRR had nice shiny medals waiting for us at the finishline. A girl asked me to take a pic of her and this was one of the poses she did. I thought it was cute and copied her….her pic came out waaaay better than mine…LMAO!!!
So now I am on to marathon training. The NYC Marathon is about 18weeks away I believe, so I will be pounding the pavement regularly until then. Still triathlon training as well. I’ve mapped out my next race, haven’t registered yet, but I am just a click away….it’ll be in about 4 months, so I’ll be working on improving my bike and swim as well in the coming months.
Well its been a busy start to the year. I haven’t been racing as much because it is frigid out of course, but I did complete 2 races in January:
NYRR Joe Kleinerman 10K January 10, 2015
Call me crazy, but I am doing NYRR’s 9+1 program again. Just in case I have soooo much fun doing the NYC Marathon this year. I’m keeping my options open for 2016. Plus there are at least 7 of their races that are must runs for me, so I may as well add another 2 and volunteer to get guaranteed entry for 2016.
This had to be one of the coldest days of the year. I really don’t know how I survived it! I mean everything on me was frozen. I literally could not move my face and my fingers, forget about it. They felt like I had frostbite (not like I know what frostbite feels like!) I did manage to clock a pretty decent time, and am feeling as though that sub 60 10k is within my reach.
Sayville Running Company 10 Mile Run to the Brewery January 17, 2015
Now this one was a doosey! The course was mostly flat, and ran through local neighborhoods. Why I got up at the crack of dawn to drive an hour for a brewery run when I don’t drink beer, I have no idea, but it was actually super fun.
Mandatory Selfie
Start-line Pic
It was freezing this day too, not as cold as the 10th but cold none the less, but I did manage to stay in the 10min range for the whole race. That’s an accomplishment for me at this distance.
The after race festivities were off the chain! There were two huge heated tents set up with food galore! I mean this was a fat kid that loves cake dream race. I’m not much for sweets but they were flowing.
Since I’m eating healthy I just grabbed a grilled chicken sandwich and a bottle of water. It was so tasty I went back for a 2nd sandwich, and a 3rd and 4th to take home.
The beer was flowing heavily. If you are a beer drinker this is your race. There were all types, and all you can drink. I don’t like the stuff but did bring a cup home for hubby and he said it was really good.
This race sells out in like 40 minutes, so if you like beer, like to run 10 miles in the cold, then this one is for you. Have your finger on the trigger to register when it opens.
I am in week 2 of my Iron Man Triathlon training, and it is fun!! I’m learning a lot, especially on the bike which I desperately need. Also improving my swimming. I thought I was good, but I thought wrong! I still have a ways to go, but I’ll get there. I think I’ll start a weekly post on my training chronicles….they are a doosey…..until next time!
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and Instagram http://instragram.com/str8kim
This past weekend I had the pleasure of traveling to Jamaica for the 14th annual Reggae Marathon. Now in my 2yrs of running I have encountered all types of races, the good, the bad, and the very ugly, and I have to say the Reggae Marathon is one of if not the best race I have ever participated in. First big ups to Lisa of Reggae Runnerz. She planned and coordinated this trip for 100+ people from flights, transport, excursions, race registration…EVERYTHING! All we had to do was pay, pack and show up at the airport.
First the hotel:
We stayed at the Sea Splash Resort. Most of the Reggae Runnerz stayed at Negril Treehouse Resort which is literally right next door and this is where we spent most of our time. I booked late so I couldn’t stay in the host hotel, so Sea Splash it was. Now when I go away 9 times out of 10 it is an all inclusive resort. I like to roll out of my bed have my egg omlett with a side of vodka cran and a splash of sprite (well 7up in the caribbean)! Not the case here. This hotel was more of a bed and breakfast to me. It is a very small hotel which gives more of an intimate feel. The staff was very nice, and we saw the same staff each and everyday which was kool. The front desk attendant which sorry I can’t remember her name even ordered us food from a local restaurant and had it delivered for us which they don’t normally do. We just had to pay for the $2 cab fare…lol. Best darn Oxtails I’ve ever had! I was dying for some authentic Jamaican oxtails and I got them! So anyhoo, the room was nice, which I didn’t take any pics of. It had a full kitchen, king size bed, pull out sofa, and a loft with 2 queen beds. The only downside was there was only 1 bathroom which can get busy with 3 people in the room. Before I got there I knew it wouldn’t be what I was use to, but I figured hey I’d only be sleeping in the room anyway so what does it matter! It wasn’t the most modern of rooms, but it was nice enough.
The Pasta Party
The ladies outside the Pasta Party.
I have been to a few pasta parties, and this one was hands down the best one I’ve ever been to. Most pasta parties have just pasta with your basic red sauce, oh no, not this one. They had every type of pasta you can imagine, with many different types of sauces, and everything was delicious! There were probably 20 serving stations. They were giving out tons of bottles of water, and even had a Red Stripe counter giving out different types of Red Stripe beer. It was really first class all the way.
Here are a few different views of the set up:
One of the pasta stations
Our Table
As you can see the setup was awesome! I definitely didn’t expect a pasta party of this magnitude. There was even a calypso band there playing. And when I tell you they were rocking, they were rocking it out!!!
I did take a to go plate back the hotel, but didn’t even eat it because we had no microwave, and your girl was not trying to warm up anything on top of the stove!
On to the race:
This was the earliest start time ever! Gun time was 5:15am to beat the sun. I laid my head on the pillow at like 1am the night b4, so getting up at 4:30am was not fun! but I made it! It was pitch black outside. Not a pinch of sunlight in sight as you can see from the reflection on my brooks. I tried to coordinate my outfit to match the Jamaican flag colors, with a little rasta red thrown in…how did I do?
Anywho, yes super early start meant it would be a super early finish which was great because we had the rest of the day to chilax. Now I did the 10k because I knew I would not want to run any longer distances in the heat. Although we started at 5:15am, by 7am it was burning hot, so I made a wise choice.
Some pics with my homies, and yes I take Usies with every darn body!
The whole Reggae Runnerz crew
So my time was just OK. I wasn’t going for a PR or anything so I’m happy with it.
Oh look I passed FedEx on the course 🙂
An honorable mention has to go out to Super D and Rohan from Quick Silver Striders…Jazzy’s hubby, both completed the full marathon in that crazy heat, and they both were lying on the beach like 2 hours later….talk about beast mode!
Super D
Rohan throwing up his Q’s
The after race festival was off the chain! It was literally right on the beach. They gave out plenty of snacks, water, & sports drinks, and even had someone there chopping up coconuts. This was my first time having coconut water directly from a coconut, and I am now wondering why the coconut water we buy in the states taste so funky?? because the fresh coconut water was so delicious and refreshing! I had to get two by the way, they were just so good I couldn’t resist!
Yummy!
Post Race Pic
Gorgeous Beach Pic
Close up of my double bling
Yes Reggae Runnerz gave us an xtra medal just because we are that kool!!
With the girls on the beach
Some pics of the post race festival
I also got a chance to have plenty of fun the 4 days that I was there:
Catamaran with the crew
Snorkeling in the Caribbean ocean.
Eating crabs on Booby Cay Island
Getting some sun
Yep 4 months post baby bod…still have some way to go, but I’m getting there!
Catching some rays
just hanging
loved that tree!
Watched Luciano perform live
Overall best Runcation ever!! Can’t wait to do it again next year!!
On November 9th I participated in the Trenton 10K. I have to say this race is probably in my top 3 for 2013. Possibly because it was a major Black Girls Run takeover with 700+ BGR members in attendance, but also because races that require a bit of travel are always a little more fun. The race was very organized, the water stations were plentiful AND had gatorade (there is rarely gatorade), and it was a nice flat course with only 2 hills. The medal was gorgeous, and if you were a BGR member we got a little xtra hardware for participating. I think I’ll be back next year.
This was my first time actually recording during a race, and this is no easy feat, but I had a ton of fun doing it, and this is the fruit of my labor….enjoy!!
On Saturday I ran the UAE HK 10K in Central Park. When I was lined up in the corrals I turned to my friend and said I hope this isn’t the Scotland Run route; low and behold it was the Scotland Run route! This route is what I call the reverse run of Central Park. It is the absolute worse because you are constantly running up and down (mainly up hill). So it is very easy to poop yourself out, especially early on during the race. The race starts off with a steady incline, and as I’m running it I think what the heck is this! We run through the start, and the finish line is about 400 meters after the start line, so we run through the finish line at the beginning of the race. When I run this route I always wonder why they just don’t start and finish the race at the same point. Anywho I was off.
happen did happen…I pooped myself out! As you can see from the elevation chart the start of the race was basically a steady increase in elevation. A quick downhill, then a steady climb during mile 2. The climb was really torturous because I remember once I got to the top I had a bit of a break on a straight away, then a decent, then here comes a whole other climb. It was just really nonstop. Once I reached the 5K mark I never thought I would see the end of that hill. I was so happy to get to the top and get a slight breather.
