CrazyGirls Run

Officially signed up Las Vegas Half Marathon on Dec 4, 2011

2011-07-18T13:23:00.001-04:00

Its official -- the craziness has begun again. Las Vegas Half Marathon - 12-4-11.

It's been a while

2011-06-16T12:15:00.000-04:00

Look what I got myself.

Yup! SO I am starting training like a newbie since I don't want to hurt myself. I am hoping these will help my stride and my blisters and most importantly let me run properly so my knees don't hurt.

I will keep you updated on this.

Next goal - Las Vegas Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon Dec 4, 2011.

A runner...

2010-11-07T12:59:00.000-05:00

I am a runner. I might not be fast. I might start out quicker than I finish. I might not smile each pounding step. I might cross the finish running, walking or crawling but I will cross. I am a runner.

Something really crazy ---

2010-01-15T05:00:00.001-05:00

You want to hear something really Crazy and Insane --- WE ACTUALLY PUT OUR NAME IN THE NY MARATHON RAFFLE --- I know CRAZY!!!! Now I spend half the time praying to whatever god will listen to NOT pick my name and the other thinking whoa that would be cool. I will keep you guys posted on the insanity. I wouldn't take bets on it but I have a feeling that the universe is going to make sure both out names are picked just to spite us and call us out an being lazy.

Thursday and the Treadmill

2010-01-14T16:32:00.004-05:00

This morning at 5:45 I found myself with my frenemy.... the treadmill. My friend when its cold outside and I have no place else to run. My enemy because it constantly points out that I am not running as fast as I think I am and the miles aren't flying by. Nevertheless I prevailed and I managed along with Meg (the crazy generally not morning person) who was so chipper I wanted to trip her --- pounding out the miles. Okay it was only 2 but this morning it felt like a gazillion.

I will have to say this - the new gym is nice and quiet. No one likes to exercise in my neighborhood that early which is fine by me.

Tomorrow is another morning with the frenemy but I am going to beat it into submission.

OKAY -- Life got in the way

2009-12-07T12:03:00.004-05:00

Sorry to say we won't be running the Miami 1/2 marathon again in January 2010.... life got in the way big time and things have been really crazy around here since August 2009. Yes the hits just keep on coming but we are bound to get a break soon, as such we took the leap and signed up for the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon in March 2010. Whoppee! It should be fun. Will get back to you on the details a little later?

Update on our honorary CG Teri - she is surviving in Ethiopia her big day is Dec 17th "Swearing in Day".

The Journey to madness has begun --- AGAIN!

2009-08-18T19:16:00.005-04:00

Okay its August 2009 and the madness has started yet again. We have signed up for the Miami 1/2 Marathon in January 2010. The goal for this one is two-fold. Get to it without being injured - goddess do I remember every knee stepping pain of the last one. Finish it with a better time - since the last one was done while injured I am hoping this one will be quicker.

Megan and I have started the training a little earlier this year. Our goal is to come in under a specific time (which we are keeping quiet on at present) will post that closer to our race. So, with that in mind we are going to be running tons of NYRR races this fall. We have decided that we DO NOT like running in the summer, the summer is not out friend.

So it has begun, we went to the gym at lunch yesterday and did an intense 30mins on the Precor the goal this week is 4 times of cardio. Next week we are starting the Couch to 5K regime (accelerated of course) to get back into the thick of things. Our first official NYRR race is in Septemeber - the 5th Avenue Mile - we are hoping to run it in 10 mins or less (we all have dreams).

Once we have our plan finalized I will post our races and keep you are informed of the torture we are putting ourselves through - hey even though I willing doing this to myself I can call it torture.

Slight Change of Plans

2009-05-28T21:51:00.003-04:00

We will not be running in the Japan Day race this Sunday. Unfortunately due to a nasty cold that has taken root in my apartment both my sister and I have gotten sick.

It wouldn't be very pleasant for either of us & to any of the runners to have us in fits of coughing every 1/4 mile. So nope - not running.

We will be picking another (most likely longer) run to replace this one!!

So that is all at the moment.

AHA Wall Street Run - 3miler

2009-05-19T14:54:00.004-04:00

Its always interesting to run in a new area, makes the distance not seem so daunting and it also can drive you absolutely bonkers. I know it was for a great cause but I don't think that I want to be doing the Wall Street Run again, I have one word for you all - FRUSTRATING - why? TOURISTS. The course had us running along the street infront of the World Trade Center, there were tourist everywhere and I do mean everywhere ( yup the street - where we were trying to run). The most frustrating part was we became a toursit attraction - ugh! Yeah I know running in CP there are tons of tourist but its different because the runners rule!!!

Okay back to the race. I started off okay, I was a little aprehensive because I was very worried that my knee would start acting up again (thanks to the knee pain goddess it didn't). I made it to the first water station without any mishap (but that truly is a story left untold) the rest of the way was pretty uneventful.

As you know Leo (megsman) ran with us. His first race ever and I can say he ran the whole way - he was slow and steady and he did it. Kudos to Leo!!!!!!

The marathon qualifiers begin!

2009-05-18T10:55:00.004-04:00

Yes that is right WE are going to be running a minimum of 9 NYRR races this year and volunteering for one. Why you ask yourself for the simple reason Megan has got it in her head that we should qualify ourselves for the NYC 2010 Marathon, you know just in case we want to run it - keep the option open she said!

As such we have strategically planned our 2009 running schedule in NYC, our first race is tomorrow - May 19 - American Heart Association Start! Wall Street Run. This is an official run but I am not expecting a stellar time due in part to Megan and I running/walking - you see Leo (MegsMan) is participating with us and he isn't a runner yet and we promised to do this race with him. We have decided to run a minute and walk a minute - we are anticipating a large crowd and tons of corporate walkers!

I will be posting a list of all the races sometime in the next couple of days.

Still alive

2009-04-30T23:15:00.002-04:00

Yes... we are still alive. New post with all the details to come in the next week or so. Meg and I are putting together a list of races for 2009 ( she has the insane idea that we need to run 9 qualifing runs so we can get an automatic entry in the 2010 NYC Marathon - certifiable she is) once we have it complete I will post the deets!!!!! I will tell you we have our first official race on May 19th --- American Heart Association Run - Wall Street.

Okay talk to you all later.

Kudos to Teri - She finished her 5K

2009-03-16T14:21:00.002-04:00

A big shootout to CrazyGirl Teri, she finished her first 5K - "Komen Los Angeles Race for the Cure" in an amazing time 34:30!

So from one CrazyGirl to another "High Five to you - we know it wasn't easy".

T had to over come a tough obstacle - shin splints which we all know and love but she persevered and ran the who thing (like the wind I might point out.)

Currently in stand by mode

2009-02-11T16:20:00.002-05:00

Okay - what has been going on? We did the required downtime for 6 - 7 days of no running. Meg then proceeded to get a very nasty cold and as her sister I had a great deal of sympathy for her and decided I could not possibly work-out without her. ( I know you can feel the love!) My knee is still not mended and let me point out to you how hard it is to find a respectable orthopedic sports medicine doctor that takes my insurance here in NYC. (I finally had to call the insurance and have them help me.) I have a call in hopefully I can get my referral and see him next week.

Meg and I did go work out. She dragged me to a trainer that gave us a set of strengthening exercises. The goal for the next half marathon is pick up the speed.

News from Teri, she has had a breakthrough - her pilates instructor discovered a tight hamstring - hopefully this will help her with her stride and make running pain free.

I know this is crazy girls but I do have to mention that a guy we shall name him "Bruno" has decided to join our mayhem and train for the Seattle run!!!! I will see if I can persuade him to post some of his thoughts.

Under Construction

2009-02-06T22:40:00.002-05:00

Bare with us we are still trying to find the perfect pink..... so yes we are still under construction...developing a a better design to compliment our personalities.

Action shot

2009-01-27T22:28:00.002-05:00

Here is an action shot of Meg and Me at mile 10.5.

Check back tomorrow to get a detailed recap mile by mile.

Who are we? We are 1/2 Marathoners!

2009-01-26T21:41:00.004-05:00

Meg and I have done it.(You can see the medal to the right)

We finished our half marathon.

The time does not matter ( we did finish in the qualifying 3:30 time limit) the fact we finished does. It was a long 13.1 miles made even longer since my knee lost the adrenaline numbness within the first mile. Lucky for me I had a great training partner (Meg)that stuck with me and refused to let me walk away. I give her kudos for listening to me whine and cry through each mile of KP (knee pain). I also give her props for slowing her pace to keep up with me.

Further updates and cool stories of the event to follow, right now its pain pills, ice and bed.

Miami - Here we are.

2009-01-23T23:46:00.003-05:00

Okay we are here in Miami, less than 48 hours and I will be running my 1/2 Marathon. I thought that I would share a post from my Just Finished blog. But first check out the greeting we got from out hotel.

As originally posted on my blog at www.justfinish.com "January 25th, is the day I do it! Hopefully, by 10 a.m. I will have finished my first 1/2 marathon (Miami ING) I am a little worried because my knee has been acting up but I have been icing and stretching pretty much babying it. I have even promised it a little vacation if it gets me through. My journey has been long and the training pretty intense. I can remember when I started in September and the schedule said 1 minute of solid running, I was like 'you want me to run how long?' The good, no the GREAT thing about this journey is that I have taken it will my little sister. We are going to cross that finish line that is our journey to 'just finish' - I am not worried about speed (at least not this time!) This journey is about us (ME) finishing."

January Updates

2009-01-23T23:45:00.002-05:00

January is the big month. We (meg and I) run our race on Jan. 25th. I haven't run since the week before Christmas went home for the holidays and got stuck in the Midwest Blizzard. Since we've been back we have been running tons - partially outside and when the weather permits outdoors at Central Park.

The big news of this month on my front is that my knee (left to be rather specific and accusatory) has decided in its infinite wisdom to start hurting on the lateral side. Pah to it I say. I won't stop me from running not this close to the game. My friends and extensive research via internet, I believe that I have ITBS (Iliotibial band syndrome) I have all the symptoms. The exercises seem to help and I have been icing it like crazy. I think that it was aggravated on my 5.5 Mile run in CP on Jan 8th - not to sure. I am determined that it won't stop me.

Meg and I did our 10 mile long run on 1.19.09 - the knee started to hurt around mile 4 but I survived and ended up with a blister (that I can deal with). I intend to ice like crazy until my the race... it is only 5 days away.

December Updates

2009-01-23T23:41:00.004-05:00

Okay we started this month running in our first 10K (6.2 miles) Jon Kleinerman- 10K on Dec 6th.
We are still running but are finding it hard to run outside because of the weather (rain, ice and snow). I don't really want to run on a treadmill but I have no choice need to run and can't do outside.

We are running at least 2 times a week. We have incorporated a run indoors to help prepare us for the temperatures in Miami. Lucky the race will be in the morning so the temperature should not be too warm.

I have been breaking in some new shoes, I have noticed that my left quad and knee are feeling a little tight.

Meg is going and going. She is like the energizer bunny.

We didn't run the Hot Chocolate Race. Why? It was below zero and snowed. Unfortunately while home for the holidays we didn't have the chance to run because Michigan was having record snow fall. Basically it was a blizzard.

November Updates

2009-01-23T23:33:00.002-05:00

November hmmm... I know I spent this month running, running and more running. I have learned that I really prefer running outside as opposed to running on a treadmill. Just imagine that its like 30 degrees out and I would rather be running in Central Park than in my nice warm gym. I think that it has to do with the fact that my speed can vary while when I run on a treadmill its consistently the same.

Meg and I have now officially become runners. Why you asked? We went to visit our Mom in Bellingham, WA for Thanksgiving. We actually took our running clothes with us and we ran. FYI the last weekend of November was the Seattle marathon. Meg ran a little more than me because I came down with a horrible cold.

Oh yeah - November 16th we participated in the Race to Deliver, it was a 4 mile run. Went pretty good.

I know its been awhile

2009-01-14T23:46:00.003-05:00

We haven't been posting for a while. There really is no excuse. I can just say that we (meg and I) have been running, racing, working and just going crazy. The holidays created an interesting wrench in the whole training process ( I will get back to that in another post) and the weather is making it so very hard to run outside. Running on a treadmill sucks - big time.

I promise that in the next couple of days I will get up to speed. I can't believe that there is only 10 more days until the 1/2 marathon in Miami. I am not sure if I am excited or going to be sick.

Race to Deliver

2008-11-17T09:19:00.002-05:00

On Sunday, November 16, 2008, my sister and I participated in our third race ...the "Race to Deliver" in Central Park, NYC. A 4 mile race that circled the center portion of the park. We have ran it before (to make sure we could) and yet it still was a challenge. My adrenaline was pumping and I got caught up in the excitement early on and started a tad too fast. This resulted in a side stitch and made the race very uncomfortable. Oh well -- I forged ahead and ran my little heart out. As usual on race days - the hills seemed bigger, the course never ending and some ailment or another decided to show themselves. In addition to the side stitch I somehow developed a cramp in my thigh. I kept going with my sister pushing me on the straights and me yelling at her to get up the hills. Unless the pain is excrutiating I try to run through it! Towards the end I found my second wind and ran faster than I ever thought I could. I had a personal pace record of 12:41 from 13:05. I was not the last person to finish, which was my initial concern and for the first time ever in a race......I RAN THE WHOLE THING (no walking). I am truly proud of myself and am looking forward to my next race on December 7, 2008 - a 10k with even bigger hills and colder weather. Wish me luck!

Running - what I learned!

2008-11-10T22:57:00.005-05:00

Okay, I will start off with saying that at first I really thought that I had gone crazy when I decided or should I say when I agreed to let my sister talk me into signing up for a 1/2 Marathon.

Now, I know that I am crazy!

Me - the person that hates mornings, can't function without 2 cups of coffee, would rather wait for the elevator to go up a flight of stairs, trips over her own feet and probably only ever spent $50 on tennis shoes - now wakes up early on Saturday for a long run ( yup that is right 5 Miles this last weekend and there were even hills). My last pair of running shoes cost over $130 and I didn't even fret. Okay, I still drink coffee, take the elevator ( I am on the 6th floor) and still hate morning but I am out there and I don't nearly complain as much. (There are plenty of people that can back up that claim.)

So what have I learned --
Running makes me feel like I have accomplished something. Running makes me feel graceful. Running makes me feel strong. Running works out all those daily frustrations I have. Running is about me and no one else.

I can't blame anyone else if I don't make the miles or if I don't run as fast as I want. Running is about me listening to myself and learning just how far I WANT and CAN push myself.

ING NYC Marathon 2008

2008-11-02T21:27:00.005-05:00

Check out the photos ( to the right) that we posted of the ING New York City 2008 Marathon winners - Paul Radcliffe and Marilson Gomes dos Santos.

Meg and I trekked out to watch all the runners, one in particular Gail Winiecki - a crazy tri-athlete who was competing in her 2nd ING NYC Marathon. We included a picture of her at the 25.5 mile marker, she was ready to run another one. GO GAIL!

Preparation Is Your Friend!

2008-11-02T01:32:00.000-04:00

The other day I decided to go for a run on a trail that cuts through the city rather than the usual run. Unfortunately, time had erased my memory in regards to the trail. I realized halfway through that there were several steep hills in both directions.

I made it through but I had to really adjust my interval timings. To save anyone else from this heartache (uh, literally), I thought I'd share the following website. You can type in your location and it will show you a bunch of runs suggested by site users, including mileage, course type, etc.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/

Enjoy!

Friendship Run 2008

2008-10-31T16:24:00.002-04:00

Okay - tomorrow is my second "official" race. I have to admit that I have been slacking this past week and have not been training like I should. Of course, my bad habits have rubbed off on my sister (sorry Marnie). We are set to run 2.5 miles tomorrow morning from the United Nations to Central Park. I am hoping that my shins don't give me too much trouble and that the weather remains decent (chances of sprinkles in the AM). I vow that if it goes smoothly, I will not be so lazy about my training going forward. Otherwise, every run from here on out is going to miserable!

Teri - welcome to our CRAZY world of running! I look forward to hearing about your journey -- it's kinda exciting don't ya think -- and running a real race with you in the near future ;o)

Wish me luck!