[o4] International Friendship Run 2010

Continental Airlines International Friendship Run 
Race Date: Saturday, November 7, 2010
Location: New York City, New York
Bib Number: 9,494

This run was a light, friendly event on the weekend of the 2010 ING New York City Marathon. With so many international marathon runners and participants from around the globe, this event really showcased that New York is "where the world comes to run". Although people ran in yukata, lederhosen, or even patriotic bras, it atmosphere was all about having fun. 

The event started at the United Nations Plaza (First Avenue & 44th Street). Turning onto 42nd Street, all I could see where a sea of runners and not a single car in sight. Running past Grand Central Terminal at 9:15 on a Saturday morning, was an incredible feeling. Hanging a right at Sixth Aveue and running side by side with people from various countries gave a whole new meaning to "Avenue of the Americas". It was so cool to run past Bryant Park, Rockefellar Center, and and Radio City Music Hall! I never noticed that I could see Central Park from 42nd Street, as I don't make it a habit to stand in the middle of any road in NYC longer than necessary. At the foot of Central Park, I hung a left and made it for Columbus Circle.

Columbus Circle is the last stretch of the NY Marathon, so the spectator section was full of bleachers. My colleague showed up and made my a cheering sign! I was so stoked that she braved the cold to be there. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to catch up with her afterward. The finish line is just short of the NY Marathon Official Finish Line. I may never run the NY Marathon, but I will definitely love to do this again! [Course Map]

Race Stats

• Pace: 10:'27" (per mile; 6'30" KM)
• 4K: 24:27

Next year, I am going to have to play up the American Pride. It was neat to see so many costumes and flags!
Though I didn't participate in the NYC Marathon, I did buy two treats for myself in honor of the race weekend. I was dazzles by the massive size of the Asics Marathon Shop at the Expo. I picked up a racing shirt that said "I Run These Streets" in Lemon Drop (the name alone perks me up) and some awesome Marathon 5 Boroughs Gloves (each digit has one of the five borough names). Also, I stopped by the Nike+ Concierge and the staff members gave me a RUN NYC 2010 replacement SportBand for being a loyal Nike+ User. I was so happy to be able to change out my worn band.

[o3] Bloody Murder Index

I'll be the first to admit that I have a big hate-hate relationship with the Body Mass Index. I learned of it after I gained a lot of weight, and felt it was just one more way to feel absolutely terrible about myself. For the larger portion of 2009, I hovered around a BMI of 30.

Obese.

Obese was never a place I wanted to return to, especially after losing weight when I live in Japan. The stress of returning home and the inability to find a decent job for over six month, drove my weight back up, three pounds over my starting weight before departing for Japan in 2003. Every piece of clothing I had no longer fit, and I was forced to revert back to boxes of clothes that I intended on donating to charity upon returning from Japan.

After starting my job in New York, I was reminded of the extreme health consciousness and body image struggle I had when I first moved to Japan. Finally, I just told myself I to do something about it. I helped out with the school volleyball team a couple of days after school. Unfortunately, I didn't realize how out of shape I was and how frustrating it made playing sports. Playing with the girls helped me get back into being active, but it wasn't enough for me. I wanted more. It wasn't enough to simply play sports anymore. I wanted to enjoy playing again, but my weight stood in the way of it.

Finding a way to workout without joining a gym or searching for others to play team sports was key. Running was an individual sport I always envied people over. I would see people running at the campus next door or along the streets, and I wistfully dreamed I could do the same. Then I realized... why not?

In the last year, I have lost 25 pounds, and lowered my BMI to 27.3. Yes, I am aware that it means I am still in the "Overweight" classification, but it's in the middle of range (25-29.9). Perhaps my take on this progress is overly optimistic, but maintaining a positive attitude is the key to keeping my momentum rolling. I promised myself that I would maintain a healthy path while focusing on fitness and nutrition, so I am satisfied with the progress I am making.

I don't have to worry about screaming Bloody Murder when I step on the scale anymore. That comfort alone puts my heart and soul at ease. I just have to keep putting my feet to the asphalt.

[o2] Busted

Despite losing 25 pounds in the last year, I am still a large busted runner. Today, I read an article by Women's Running Magazine, and found it rather informative. I have difficulty shopping for sports bras, as the local sports shops primarily carry sizes A through D. If I am lucky, I can find a nice and unflattering in one of three color choices: black, white, or nude. I get rather uspet that athletic clothing designers, especially the larger name companies, do not make athletic bras for larger athletes.

You know, more larger ladies would be inclined to work out, if they have effective and strong support. One of the things that has hindered my playing sports and staying consistently active has been my chest. Thankfully, as a result of running, I have gone down a cup size (from 3D/F to DD), but it still isn't enough for high impact sports like running or volleyball. I love these sports as well as tennis and swimming, but the added heft and pulling makes it difficult to enjoy the sports. Many say "pain is temporary, but pride is forever," but I feel there are certain limitations to this addage.

Unfortunately, the best advice I have received about bras for larger breasted women has only been at specialty shops. Though I enjoy shopping at mall boutiques like Victoria's Secret, I have been misfitted for bras on several occasions by their 'specially trained staff'. I do not even bother talking the sales staff at large sporting good stores like Sports Authority and the like as I rarely find an individual who is knowledgable about sports bras. They can sell me shoes, camping gear, string a tennis racket, and show me how to improve my putt, but you ask about sports bras, and they will pass the buck to the one female staff member who is at most a B cup and basically tells me "just find your regular size".

One qualm I have with sports bras for larger chests is the bigger price tag that comes with them. Granted, it isn't Nike, adidas, UnderArmour, Champion or the other large name companies churning out these items, so I guess a higher price is to be paid. In the article, Moving Comfort VP Julie Baxter gives rather informative advice about sizing, fit and maintenance for sports bras. I actually learned a couple of things that I had not known before. I have kept sports bras for years and worn them into threads, but it turns out that's pretty much the worst thing one can do. The best piece of advice for full figured, sports bra wearers:

"Sports bras shouldn't have birthdays."

Looks like one of mine shall be getting the ole heave ho ASAP! I hope I can find a specialty shop in my area for a consultation. If not, I shall wait until Christmas when I am home to go to my beloved friends at The Bra Boutique in Coral Springs, Florida. They sold me a fantastic sports bra by Freya when I was home over the summer time. It was worth every penny I paid for it. I need to find a stocker of MC's line of sports bras. I love how they have color!

[o1] NWM 26.2 Results

Nike Women's Half Marathon [Race Report]
Race Date: Sunday, October 17, 2010
Location: San Francisco, California
Bib Number: 5,930 (Photos & Videos by BrightRoom)
Corral Placement: I <3 Nike+ (Red)

Race Stats

• Race Class: Female 30-34 Years
• Half-Marathon Rank: 9,002 (10,719 Overall)
• Gun: 03:06:01 > Official Time: 03:05:44 (Soft Start)
• Pace: 00:14:10 (per mile)
• Split Times
• 5K: 00:35:05
• 15K: 02:03:26 

Race Swag: Tiffany & Co. Limited Edition Finishers Necklace, Nike Dri-FIT Finishers Shirt (Magenta), Food for refueling from SAFEWAY (Gatorade, Luna Bars, Clif Shot Bloks, fruit, juice, bagels)

[oo] - Start Line

Friends of mine fall into one of three groups: 1) naturally slim, 2) long-time athletes, and 3) happy couch potatoes. I fall unceremoniously into group three. I love desserts, movies, writing, reading, and being a foodie. All of which greatly contributed to my maxing out at 183 pounds last year. I stepped on the scale, had a good cry, dried my eyes and decided to do something about it. On December 5, 2009, I found a pair of Nike+ Bowerman Edition Pegasus 25s at Nordstrom Rack for $48. I had been toying with the idea of taking a stab at running, and when I saw the price tag, I simply couldn't pass it up. In the same building, I picked up a Nike+ for iPod kit, went home, laced up, and gave it a go.

I lasted about two days. Then the snowy winter rolled into Westchester and I threw in the towel. A couple of choice words from relative at Christmas, knocked the wind out of me, but also kicked me back off the sofa. I think part of my motivation to run on snowy January mornings was purely a way to channel my anger. I was angry at myself for not taking better care of myself, but angrier because what they said to me had some vein of truth.

Since then, I've logged over 555 kilometers  (345 miles), dropped 22 pounds, invested in some neat tech gear and participated in my first half-marathon. From here on out, I want to keep running, losing, and learning. Come run with me.