[17] Spring Race Schedule

Race: Credit Union Cherry Blossom 5K
Date: Sunday, April 3, 2011 @8:40AM
Location: Washington, DC

Distance: 5K [ Map ]
Gear: iPhone/ Nike+GPS (No Headphones)
Fashion: Disney Princess 1/2 Tech Shirt

Notes: Currently searching for a hotel along one of the subway lines, so I don't have to pay an arm & leg for something in the downtown area. Mom is coming to hang out with me and see the cherry blossoms, so I have to find something for Friday afternoon until Monday morning. The Health and Fitness Expo is only on Saturday, so if I can manage to get into town on Friday by lunch time, then we'll have time to explore and rest up before and after pick up on Saturday. Currently, trying to see what events will be held that weekend, so we can maximize the time together.

Initially, I intended on running the 10 Mile, but I was unsure of meeting the pacing requirement. My 15K split from the Disney Princess 1/2 was 2:05:00, but I would need to fit in another kilometer and hope I can finish it in under two hours twenty minutes. If I can improve my pacing over the next year, perhaps I will try it next year.

Race: Japan Run @Central Park [ Details ]
Date: Sunday, May 8, 2011 @8:00AM

Location: Central Park, NYC

Distance: 4Mi
Gear: Nike+ SportBand & Polar WearLink+
Fashion: Cherry Blossom 5K Tech Shirt

Notes: Last year, this event was scheduled on the same day as the Japan Day Festival in Central Park, this year, both events are pushed up to May, but are held on separate days. I'll finally be able to put my NYRR membership to use and start working toward getting into the NYC Marathon for 2012. I may need to run more short races between now and then, so I can meet their requirement. I will need to either sort out accommodation for the night before or brace myself for a very early start on Sunday morning. If I can stay over the night before, I can pick up my race packet without making a second trip to the city.

Either way, I will need to sort out public transport and parking, so I don't have to stress out at the last minute. Hopefully, the weather will be gorgeous by then!

[o5] Committing to Myself

Getting back into the swing of things, both running and writing related, has been harder than I anticipated. I got sidetracked for a little while, but I think everyone goes through a funk now and then. With the year winding down, work finishing up for the year, and as I prepare to go home for the holidays, I figure I need to get my ducks in a row.

I will try to chase up this old film over vacay in so Flo!

I started running just over a year ago, and though I shaved off twenty-five pounds, it's high time tackle the remaining thirty. When I signed up for NW1/2M, it gave me the kick in the pants to regularly hit the road and pound some pavement. It also encouraged me to eat healthier and maintain more control of what I ate. Between now and April, I have committed myself to the following races:

• Greater Fort Lauderdale Road Runners' Resolution 5K (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
• Gasparilla Distance Classic 5K (Tampa, FL)
• Disney Princess Half-Marathon (Orlando, FL)
• Credit Union Cherry Blossom 5K (Washington, DC)

I have joined the New York Road Runners, but I haven't made much use of my membership since the UN Friendship Race on the New York Marathon Weekend last month. Once their race schedules get updated, especially for May and June, I am sure I will sign up for something. I can't keep traveling out of town for all of my running fun. Connecticut is close, but I need to see if I can find races in Greenwich and Stamford as both are within 30 minutes.

Once I am in better running shape, I will start making a more concerted effort to get out of bed on Saturday mornings, and join the Nike Store Westchester Run Club. I think one of my main issues with this has been I am simply too cheap to pay for mall parking and not actually go to the mall. Being a regular at my local Nike Store has also resulted in an exponential growth in my running wardrobe. I even ran into one of the employees at the Nike Booth during IGN NYC Marathon weekend and she remembered me. Good thing about my running clothes is they are light and easy to pack, but if I am going to seriously train while at home, I'll be hitting the outlet mall for some extras.

I loved this running image, but click to check out her home!

Sadly, even the Sunshine State has been hit with a cold snap, so I'll be bringing cold weather gear along for the ride. Though I doubt I will need heavy layers in south Florida. There's a great article in this month's issue of Runner's World about dressing appropriately for cold weather running based upon the region one intends on running. In "Comfort Zones" by Lisa Jhung (pages 99 to 102), gear and accessories are presented in six regional models. Being that I live and train primarily in the Northest, but I will be doing several winter-time races in Florida (December and February respectively), I found the article rather informative and helpful. I even passed it onto a colleague of mine who is also into racing.

Speaking of which, I came to the realization that several of my colleagues run. Whether its to get in shape like me or to do triathalons, its nice to know there is a "Run Club" under my roof. It's like Fight Club, but more of a Fit Club. There are also other athletes which makes for fun talk about sports and the best way to train and cross train for them.